Jeremy Alford
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LEBEAU – Shortly after 1:30 pm on September 18, 2019, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a single vehicle crash on LA 361 near LA 71 in St. Landry Parish. The crash ultimately took the life of 61-year-old Steven Lambert of Mansura.
The initial investigation by State Police revealed Lambert was driving a 2014 Freightliner tractor-trailer when he failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the right side of the roadway. After exiting the roadway, the Freightliner struck a tree and burst into flames.
Lambert was restrained at the time of the crash. He was transported to a local hospital with severe burns and in critical condition where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Impairment is unknown but standard toxicology samples were obtained from Lambert. This crash remains under investigation and there is no further information at this time.
Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists that all occupants in a vehicle must be restrained, regardless of seating position. While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a crash rise significantly when properly restrained. Making good choices while in motor vehicles such as observing all traffic laws, never driving while impaired, and always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained can often mean the difference between life and death.
Ryan Hebert and Julie Broussard Grisaffe
ERATH - The Erath Backers Club is proud to announce the selection of two individuals for induction into the Erath High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Julie Broussard Grisaffe and Ryan K. Hebert will be inducted into the Hall of Fame tonight.
The induction will take place at the Erath Community Building, located at 100 City Park Drive in Erath, beginning at 7 p.m. The banquet is open to the public and free to attend.
Grisaffe, a 1988 graduate of Erath High, was a record setting high jumper for the Erath track team. Hebert graduated from Erath High in 1992 and was standout member of the football and track teams.
The two honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the homecoming game on Friday.
LAFAYETTE — A Catholic Funeral Service will be held Friday, September 20, 2019 at 11:00 AM in Martin & Castille’s La Fleur de Lis Chapel in Lafayette for Michael Forrest Warren, Jr., 29, who passed away on Tuesday, September 17 at his residence in Lafayette.
Interment will be in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
Reverend William Schambough will conduct the funeral services.
Michael was born March 31, 1990 in Houston, Texas. He lived his early years in Texas and moved with his family to Lafayette in the early 90’s. His family eventually settled in the Maurice area. Michael attended Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Lafayette, Mount Carmel Elementary in Abbeville, and Vermilion Catholic in Abbeville.
Michael’s smile was infectious and he loved his family dearly. His humor and smile matched no other, and he was always the comic relief at any gathering. He had a love for the outdoors. Hunting and fishing with his grandfather were precious memories. Michael always had a special way with horses. He and his sister, Mary, enjoyed many years of rodeoing together. Their bond was very special.
Michael was loved by his family and extended family throughout Louisiana and Texas.
Michael’s greatest gift and accomplishment was his daughter Emma Grace. He adored and loved her and she brought such joy to his life.
Survivors include his daughter, Emma Grace Warren; the mother of his child, Racheal Roy; his mother and step-father, Melissa King Allen and Bobby; his father, Michael Warren Sr.; his sister, Mary Kathryn Sturm and brother-in-law Brett; his maternal grandmother, Paulette Broussard King; his uncle, James V. King, Jr. and wife Debbie; his aunts, Michelle King May and husband Jonathan, Margaret King Greene and husband Randall, Kathryn Warren and husband John Sanford, his uncle, James Warren and wife Karen; and many cousins and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, James V. King, Sr.; both of his paternal grandparents, Forrest and Emily Warren; and his great-grandparents, Paul and Freida Broussard, and James A. and Alice King.
Pallbearers will be Andrew Goodyear, Tyler Gibson, Brett Sturm, Dakotah Klein, James King III, John Thibeaux, and Randall J. Greene.
The family requests that visitation will be observed in Martin & Castille’s SOUTHSIDE location on Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Friday from 9:00 AM until the time of service.
A rosary will be prayed by Laurie Lee Domingue on Thursday at 6:30 PM in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made in Michael's name to Mt. Carmel Elementary, 405 Park Avenue, Abbeville, LA 70510.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin & Castille-SOUTHSIDE-600 E. Farrel Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508, 337-984-2811.
The Abbeville Police Department is increasing its crime-fighting arsenal with a new app to help residents connect with the department to find information, view alerts, and submit anonymous tips from their smartphone.
Developed by tip411, the Abbeville PD app puts a powerful new crime-fighting tool into the hands of community members of all ages. The Abbeville PD app is available for download for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, by visiting the Abbeville Police Department website at www.abbevillepd.com, or the official Abbeville PD Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AbbevillePoliceDepartment/.
“Only together, can we keep Abbeville safe,” said Chief of Police William Spearman of the Abbeville Police Department. “Working together, we are more likely to make lasting improvements in the safety of our community, I believe the new Abbeville PD app from tip411 will help better connect our department to our residents.”
The new Abbeville PD app enables the public to share an anonymous tip with police and lets officers respond back to create an anonymous two-way conversation.
“We’ve listened to feedback from partners like Abbeville Police and have built a more advanced and innovative product to help departments better engage their communities,” said tip411 President Terry Halsch. “The Abbeville PD app powered by tip411 will greatly improve the public’s access to agency alerts, social media channels, important information, and more to help fight crime.”
The Abbeville PD app and tip411 anonymous text a tip system are 100% anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips and there is no way to identify the sender.
Residents in Abbeville without a smartphone can share information with police by sending an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to police by texting keyword APDTIPS and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the department’s website at www.abbevillepd.com or the official Abbeville PD Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AbbevillePoliceDepartment/.
In order to help the public, Lt. Jonathan Touchet will also be holding two community meetings, which will review the new tip system as well as covering Neighborhood Watch programs and some basic safety neighborhood tips. These meetings are scheduled for the following times and places:
• Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 6:00 P.M. at the meeting room next to the Vermilion Parish Chamber of Commerce (1907 Veterans Memorial Drive)
• Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 6:00 P.M. at the Vermilion Parish Library in Abbeville (405 E. St. Victor Street)
The Kaplan Pirates have a lot to celebrate this week. They are 2-0 and ranked No. 6 in the latest Class 3A poll.
Class 5A
1. John Curtis (8) 2-0
2. West Monroe (1) 2-0
3. Catholic-BR 2-0
4. Rummel 2-0
5. Acadiana 2-0
6. Haughton 2-0
7. Destrehan 2-0
8. Alexandria 2-0
9. East Ascension 1-1
10. Zachary 0-2
Others receiving votes: Captain Shreve 21, Scotlandville 13, Ruston 8, Terrebonne 8, Slidell 5, John Ehret 3, Live Oak 2.
Class 4A
1. St. Thomas More (5) 2-0
2. Karr (4) 1-1
3. Lakeshore 2-0
4. Neville 2-0
5. Leesville 2-0
6. Warren Easton 1-0
7. Eunice 2-0
8. Northwood 2-0
9. Evangel 1-1
10. Bastrop 2-0 21 NR
(tie) Assumption 2-0 21 NR
Others receiving votes: Breaux Bridge 11, Carver 10, Plaquemine 6, Tioga 6, Landry-Walker 5,
Class 3A
1. Sterlington (5) 2-0
2. St. James (4) 2-0
3. Iota 2-0
4. University 1-1
5. Union Parish 1-1
6. Kaplan 2-0
7. St. Martinville 1-1
8. North Webster 2-0 NR
9. Lake Charles Prep 1-1
10. De La Salle 1-1
Others receiving votes: Jena 19, E.D. White 16, Loranger 8, Baker 7, Brusly 6, Hannan 5, Marksville 5, Caldwell Parish 5, Madison Prep 4.
Class 2A
1. Notre Dame (9) 2-0
2. Lafayette Christian 2-0
3. Newman 2-0
4. Amite 1-1
5. St. Charles 2-0
6. Ferriday 1-1
7. Kentwood 1-1
8. Many 0-2
9. Catholic-NI 0-2
10. Dunham 2-0 NR
Others receiving votes: East Feliciana 24, St. Helena 19, Lakeview 11, Lakeside 2, Rosepine 2, Welsh 1.
Class 1A
1. Oak Grove (6) . 1-1
2. Southern Lab (1) 1-1
3. Calvary Baptist (1) 2-0
4. Ascension Catholic (1) 2-0
5. Vermilion Catholic 1-1
6. Country Day 1-1
7. Haynesville 0-2
8. West St. John 1-1
9. Ouachita Christian 1-1
10. Montgomery 2-0 24 NR
Others receiving votes: Oberlin 20, Logansport 14, Central Catholic-Morgan City 7, Basile 4, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 3, Opelousas Catholic 1, St. Edmund 1.
Jeff Crouere
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Jim Brown
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New French teacher Magali Forêt helps the students at LeBlanc Elementary.
“Un, deux, trois! C’est bon pour moi,” says Madame Forêt as each student gets a drink of water.
The French Immersion class at LeBlanc Elementary in Vermilion Parish is starting its fifth week.
Most of these kindergarten students have gotten over the hump. They don’t cry for mom anymore and they know the routine. At nap time, every student opens a mat and gets under a blanket. The difference here is that their teacher gives instructions only in French.
Just minutes before, students were sitting in front of the Smartboard, fully engaged with a lesson about the family. The next minute, the teacher had them on their feet swaying and dancing, repeating the vocabulary. All attention was on the flash cards. The lesson continued with desk work. Madame Forêt went to each table to help her 24 students stay on task.
Magali Forêt is from a village near Liège, Belgium, where she is a teacher of immersion in English.
“I’m so happy to teach immersion in French,” says Madame Forêt. “The French here is amazing. Some of the words are just like in our Belgian countryside. It’s a wonderful experience for me and my husband.”
Principal Rachelle Brown echoes that sentiment. “We are so happy to have Madame Forêt. French immersion at LeBlanc Elementary is a wonderful experience for all of our students. Our entire school community is excited about it. We have an awesome team of educators making it happen.”
The librarian, Kim Langlinais, is creating a special place for the donation of French books by the Rotary Club of Abbeville and the French Acadian Music Festival, Inc. Lauren Schexnayder, the music teacher, is working to incorporate folksongs in French. Last May, she taught the third graders how to waltz and two-step. The English teacher in Immersion, Kelly Such Stewart, is all in.
“We call ourselves the most Cajun place on earth, so we need to live up to our name,” says Stewart. “I have been volunteering for Festivals Acadiens et Créoles for years and have witnessed the positive effects of French immersion.”
“I provide 90 minutes of Language Arts and enrichment in English every day,” adds Stewart.
The principal is also excited about the newest group at LeBlanc Elementary, the LeBlanc Roaring Fiddlers. Roaring because their mascot is the lion.
“Our fourth grade participants will receive the use of a fiddle and instruction two days a week starting in October,” says Rachelle Brown. “French Supervisor, Madeline DeHart, has helped us to obtain this grant from the Acadiana Center for the Arts with additional support from the Vermilion Arts Council and the Al Berard Foundation. Our students will get to meet Cajun fiddler, Michael Doucet. That’s awesome!”
“We have also been approached by the sports club, Pétanque Lafayette. They would like to introduce our whole school to this French pastime. They have visited our playground to scout out the best place to play,” adds Brown.
“Plus, our immersion students have been invited to participate in the Omelette Festival.”
“These are all wonderful opportunities for our students. We are so proud that it’s all happening here at LeBlanc Elementary,” Brown says with a big smile.
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318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022
219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548