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No, a black pot cook-off is not about to pop up in downtown Abbeville.
Visitors and drivers will now notice several sugar kettles placed throughout the area. These kettles, serving as flower pots, are situated on traffic islands around Magdalen Square.
“The city decided to add Sugar Kettles with landscaping to the newly completed downtown overlay project,” Councilman Brady Broussard Jr. said. 
“Placement of the kettles can now be seen on the various brick islands in our historic downtown.”
Along with beautification, the kettles help make the islands stand out for safety purposes.
“Those islands are to help slow traffic,” Broussard said. “Those can be seen easier now. These (kettles) are visual aids that are also beautiful.”
The total cost for the project is $7,000 for 12 kettles from Brian’s Furniture and Appliances in Port Allen and $4,950 for 12 stands. Council members cover the cost through their respective discretionary spending funds.
“I was happy to see the response of fellow council members to join together and cover the cost of purchase of the kettles,” Broussard said.
As for the stands that hold the pot, those are local.
“The durable custom stands that the kettles rest upon were manufactured by Mr. Brandon Briggs here in Abbeville,” Broussard said.
Public Works Director Chris Gautreaux and members of the street and park crews are handling the potting soil placement in each kettle and now the planting of the chosen species of plants. Horticulturist Mark Riche is consulting with the city to make choices for spring planting in the kettles. 
Vermilion Parish Tourism Director Alison Miller, who can see one of the larger kettles near the front of her office at Abbeville Cultural and Alliance Center, said she feels like they are a great addition to the area. 
 Abbeville Main Street Manager Charlene Beckett, who helped track down the kettles before purchase, agreed.
“I think they add so much to our downtown,” Beckett said, “and sets us apart from other small cities.”
Broussard said it is something exciting to see happen.
“We hope our residents and visitors enjoy the seasonal floral beauty.”

The Vermilion Parish School System is showing why it deserves to be mentioned among the best in the state.
Late last month, the Louisiana Department of Education named Erath Middle School’s Rylann Viator as a Middle School Student of the Year finalist. This week, another parish representative made strides in the award process. 
North Vermilion High’s Whitney Myers has been announced as a semifinalist for Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year. 
“Honestly, I am shocked,” Myers said of finding out the news. “When I read the email, I just stared at it with my mouth hanging open, speechless. I am honored to be a semi-finalist. I am honored to represent Vermilion Parish. I am honored to have an opportunity to share how amazing our Vermilion Parish students are with others.”
Myers, a special education teacher, is among 24 semi-finalist from around the state. Her passion for the job and the people who are in the classroom are big reasons why she is part of that group.
“I love teaching,” Myers said. “I love my schools. I love my students. My students were the focus of most of my application. Our kids are awesome. Their voices, their ideas, their questions, and their passion fuel my teaching. 
“They are the difference.”
Myers said she is proud to have that passion shine brightly for NVHS and the parish.
“North Vermilion has been my home for the last 10 years,” Myers said. “My kids graduated from NVHS. My husband and I were part of the opening of NMVS before we moved to NVHS. I love the NV community. From the beginning, they have been welcoming. The NV schools have provided me the opportunity to grow as a teacher, and I am grateful for the fabulous faculty and staff at both campuses. I work with students across the parish, and I have been welcomed by each and every campus. From Abbeville High to Gueydan, our schools are focused on creating opportunities for our kids. I am honored to have the opportunity to share our work with others.”
North Vermilion High Principal Denise Lotief said everyone knows what Myers brings to the local education system.
“While this honor is well-deserved,” Loteif said, “it comes as no surprise to us. We’ve always known she’s the best! We are so lucky to have you, Mrs. Whitney!”
Myers said she is thankful for the support from a place she happily calls home.
“Now, I have a place I can call home. I have been a part of the North Vermilion school family longer than I have lived elsewhere. The faculty, staff, and community have been so welcoming. North Vermilion is home, and I am honored to be part of the NV community.

The Erath Bobcats won its 11th game of the season after blanking the Kaplan Pirates 6-0 on Tuesday in Ross Granger Field.
The win puts EHS at 1-0 in district and it still keeps them at No. 5 in the Division III Non Select Power rankings.
The Erath hitters were able to get to KHS south paw pitcher Hayes Mire. He allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings, striking out six and walking four.
Erath got on the board in the second inning after Dominic Frederick singled, scoring two runs.
Erath added one run in the third after Seth Leger doubled down the left field line on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.
Leger stepped on the bump first for Erath.. The pitcher allowed four hits and zero runs over seven innings, striking out six and walking none.
Erath allied nine hits in the game. Leger provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led Erath with three runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-4 on the day.
Frederick and Leger each collected two hits for Erath.
Karter Meaux led the Pirates with two hits in three at bats.

January 19, 1927 – March 14, 2025

ABBEVILLE – Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 11 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary Magdalen Church with Reverend Louis Richard officiating, honoring the life of Mary Dyson Duhon who passed away on March 14, 2025 at Maison du Monde in Abbeville, LA.
Visitation will be held at Vincent Funeral Home, 209 S. St. Charles St. Abbeville, La. On Thursday March 20, 2025 from 8:30 a.m., until 10:45 a.m. when the procession departs for church, with the recitation of the Rosary at 10 a.m. Private interment will follow at St. Paul Cemetery, 515 Jacquelyn Street, Abbeville, La.
Born in 1927 in Rayne, La., she was a lifelong resident of Abbeville. She graduated from Abbeville High School in 1944 and attended Spencer Business College. She began her career working in the Clerk of Court office doing abstract work then moved on with the USDA Soil Conservation Service where she remained and retired after 40 years of service.
She was lifelong parishioner of St. Mary Magdalen Church and a devout Catholic with great love and devotion to the Blessed Mother. Belonging to a group dedicated to making rosaries for the missions, she made over 10,000 rosaries over the years. She was a member of the Third Order of Carmelites along with a Living Rosary group out of Dickson, Texas. She had a deep love for the Blessed Sacrament and for years was devoted to her weekly hour of adoration.
She found great joy in her family and family gatherings. She will be remembered for her love of baking her favorite cookies, sweet tarts and treats. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is survived by two sons, Carbett J. Duhon, Jr and his wife Cynthia Dugas Duhon of Abbeville La., Robert “Bob” Duhon and his wife Linda LaFont Duhon, Abbeville, La.; four grandchildren, Carbett “Trey” Duhon, III and his wife Lisa of Hempstead, Tx., Jonathan Blake Duhon and his wife Linda from Corinth, Tx., Alisha Marie Duhon of Baton Rouge, La., and Austin Christopher Duhon of Baton Rouge, La.; two great grandchildren, Jonathan Daniel Duhon and Cadi Anna Duhon of Corinth, Tx.; She is also survived by one sister, Theresa Dyson Abshire of Abbeville, La. and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Carbett J. Duhon, Sr., her parents, Philogene Dyson and Helen Leger Dyson; two brothers, Felix Dyson of Orange, Tx., Israel Dyson of Maurice, La. and seven sisters; Phelonese Dyson LeBlanc of Winnie, Tx., Doris Dyson Pierce of Mermentau, La., Dora Dyson Tomasello of Beaumont, Tx., Eula Dyson Rubert of Folsom, La., Leona Dyson Baudoin of Milton, La., Annie Dyson Firmin of Lake Charles, La., Cora Dyson Morgan of Folsom, La., an infant sister Helen Dyson and two infant grandsons, Jonathan Emile Duhon and Jacob John Duhon.
Pallbearers will be Carbett “Trey” Duhon, III, Jonathan Blake Duhon, Austin Duhon, Jonathan Daniel Duhon, Cadi Anna Duhon, and Jude Broussard.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Jude’s Children Hospital.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, LA 337 893-4661.