RSS Feed

Gueydan has a new landmark, an oversized chair that welcomes visitors to the town.

Members of the Gueydan Chamber of Commerce Holiday Decorating Committee; Top row- (L-R) Kelly Guillory, Candace Istre; Middle Row- (L-R) Paula dePerrodil, Dotty LaComb, Emily LaComb, Cheyenne Guidry; Bottom row (L-R) Celena Breaux, Nancy Boudreaux

Members of the Gueydan Museum & Cultural Arts Society — Top row L-R Celena Breaux, Suzanne Abshire’s Paula dePerrodil; middle row- Cassie McCain; bottom row- (L-R) Jerri Chapman and June Rogers.

People in attendance during the unveiling of the “Welcome to Gueydan” chair — (L-R) Randy
Primeaux, Chad Vallo, Nadine Lepretre, Jerri Chapman, Brenda Primeaux, Suzanne Abshire, Judy Leblanc, Cassie McCain, Celena Breaux and Dani Trahan.

‘Welcome to Gueydan’

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:08am

Chamber Holiday Decorating Committee creates oversized chair to serve as new town landmark

On Thursday, Feb. 6, the Gueydan Chamber of Commerce Holiday Decorating Committee proudly unveiled a new community landmark: an oversized “Welcome to Gueydan Chair.”
Cheyenne Guidry, one of the committee members, said this vibrant addition to the community, now proudly displayed at the Museum and Cultural Arts Society grounds thanks to its members, serves as a welcoming landmark for locals and visitors passing through the town. The chair was built by Ryan LaComb, painted by Dotty Lacomb, Kendra LaComb and Emily LaComb, and Cheyenne Guidry did the artwork.
The Decorating Committee works year-round to decorate the town for holidays and organize events like Christmas in the Park, the Thanksgiving Community Meal, and other gatherings that bring our town together. Each year, we try to bring something new and special to the town, and the “Welcome to Gueydan” chair became the focal point of our efforts, in hopes that it would become a fun and inviting symbol of this town’s hospitality.
The Members of the Gueydan Chamber of Commerce Holiday Decorating Committee:
• Dotty Lacomb
• Cheyenne Guidry
• Nancy Boudreaux
• Celena Breaux
• Kelly Guillory
• Paula Deperrodil
• Kendra Lacomb
• Candace Istre
• Misty Matthews
• Emily LaComb
“As a small town, we face challenges,” Guidry said, “but our committee’s goal is to keep a light shining in our little town and offer a warm welcome to all who pass through.”
Through the decorations and events, Guidry said the committee hopes to help make Gueydan an inviting place for visitors and encourage them to stop and take in the beauty of our town and now even stop for a picture on our new chair.
“We do various fundraising during the year to support our initiatives and ensure the town looks festive for residents and anyone passing through,” Guidry said. “We as a committee would like to express our deep gratitude to the residents of Gueydan for their unwavering support, both in the past and moving forward. We love this town and its people; we are truly thankful for this wonderful community and all of its people. We are excited to keep making Gueydan a place everyone can be proud of.
“We hope the “Welcome to Gueydan Chair” will become a must-see spot for residents and those passing through, offering a fun photo opportunity and will become a beloved fixture in our community.”

An area resident told Mayor Roslyn White and members of the Abbeville City Council that speeding has been an issue on South State Street.

Abbeville resident brings issue of speeding on South State to City Council

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:01am

Speeding is a concern not only for law enforcement but also for citizens who live in areas where drivers are ...

PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today to the Abbeville Meridional or Gueydan Journal or Kaplan Herald.

Shawndell Perron

Breaux Bridge man arrested after allegedly firing multiple shots at home in Abbeville

Thu, 02/13/2025 - 9:36am

A Breaux Bridge man has been booked in Vermilion Parish after he allegedly fired multiple shots at a residence in Abbeville.
On Monday, Feb. 10, at approximately 6:48 p.m., the Abbeville Police Department received a call for shots fired at the 200 block of South John Hardy Dr.
A complainant stated that someone shot at her house, hitting it five times, and the vehicle was still riding around her home. When officers arrived, they found several casings in front of the residence.
The Abbeville Police Department identified Shawndell Anthony Perron, 25, as the suspect. The department obtained a felony warrant for the following charges:
• Assault by Drive-by Shooting,
• Illegal Use of Weapons or Dangerous Instrumentalities
• Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property.
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at approximately 4 p.m., the Breaux Bridge Police Department arrested Perron on the warrant. The Abbeville Police Department picked up Perron, booked and transported him to the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center.
Abbeville Chief of Police Mike Hardy urges the public to provide any further information regarding any other crime by calling the Abbeville Police Department at (337) 893-2511. You may also contact our “Tips” line at (337) 892-6777. All callers may remain anonymous. Citizens may also send anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers of Vermilion by calling (337) 740-TIPS or the P3 app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or at Google Play Store.

Unrestrained Morse Woman Killed in Acadia Parish Crash

Wed, 02/12/2025 - 10:16am

MORSE – On February 10, 2025, shortly after 4:00 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop I responded to a two-vehicle fatality crash on Louisiana Highway 92 (W Whitney Street) near Everglade Road in Acadia Parish.
The crash claimed the life of 50-year-old Cora Barrios of Morse.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by Barrios, was traveling west on LA Hwy 92. At the same time, a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by 78-year-old Raymond Knieper, was following behind. For reasons still under investigation, as the Trailblazer slowed to turn right onto Everglade Road, the Silverado failed to slow and struck its rear.
Barrios, who was unrestrained, suffered serious injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital where she later died. Knieper, who was properly restrained, suffered moderate injuries and was also transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Standard toxicology samples were collected from both drivers and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers wish to remind motorists that while not all crashes are survivable, proper seat belt usage can drastically decrease your chance of severe injury or death during a crash. Seat belts work by distributing crash forces across the strong bones of the body.
Additionally, distracted, inattentive, and reckless driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in our state. Taking simple precautions like ensuring every occupant is wearing a seatbelt and following all traffic laws increases safety on the road.

Nourish to Prevent series to be offered in Vermilion Parish

Wed, 02/12/2025 - 10:11am

The LSU AgCenter Nutrition & Community Health (NCH) program is pleased to announce a new program, Nourish to Prevent aimed at helping residents reduce the risk of cancer through diet and lifestyle.
The Nourish to Prevent series will be offered by NCH Agent and Registered Dietitian, Mandy Armentor, at the Vermilion Parish LSU AgCenter office (1105 W. Port Street, Abbeville, LA) on Thursday, Feb. 20, 27, and March 6, 2025, at 5:30 pm.
The program will last one hour long each Thursday evening and different topics will be covered at each class, so participants need to attend all three classes offered. The program is FREE of charge and the class size is limited to 12 people.
To attend the classes, please call 337-898-4335 or email Mandy at marmentor@agcenter.lsu.edu with your name, email, and phone number to reserve your spot. All participants will receive a folder of information presented and more! The deadline to register for the class is Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. If we fill all 12 spots, a waiting list will be started.
For more information or to register contact Mandy Armentor, 337-898-4335 or marmentor@agcenter.lsu.edu.