Jeremy Alford
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Junior Auxiliary of Abbeville’s Renee Bertrand (left) and Tanya Istre speak to members of the Kiwanis Club of Abbeville about the JA’s annual school supply drive, Project Backpack.
While in the midst of summer fun, kids may not want to think about the start of school, but it is getting close.
For many families, the beginning of the school year means the reality of not being able to afford all of the supplies that are needed.
Members of the Junior Auxiliary of Abbeville are working with the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce and other groups to make a new reality for many of those families, one that has their children receiving everything they need for a successful school year. The group is promoting Project Backpack, its annual school supply drive.
Tanya Istre and Renee Bertrand spoke to members of the Kiwanis Club of Abbeville about the drive Tuesday afternoon as well as members of the Rotary Club of Abbeville on Wednesday. Junior Auxiliary began Project Backpack in 1999.
“It originally started as giving 20 backpacks to kids in Vermilion Parish,” Istre said. “We had just started out our (JA) charter at that time. They didn’t have a large budget, so they did what they could with the 20 backpacks.”
The effort has grown to more than 100 backpacks and supplies being donated.
“We were able to help 101 kids last year,” Istre said.
The effort has been able to grow thanks to partnerships like the Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club, Istre said. Both clubs made donations this week to the JA’s effort.
“We need those partnerships,” Istre said. “We hope more people can help and have the desire, as we do, to fill these booksacks for these children.
“There is a drastic need.”
It is not only school supplies for which the need is drastic. An extension of the project has been the collection of school-approved jackets for students. With the help of some local companies, JA provided 90 jackets during the last school year.
“There is more of a need than just school supplies,” Bertrand said. “It was after the first big freeze last school year. We reached out to the schools and found dozens of kids needed jackets. This was after a freeze. My heart just broke.”
Partnerships played an important role in bringing jackets to the students who needed them. Business and civic partners for Project Backpack include Acadiana Ford, FUEL, Rotary, Kiwanis, Vermilion Chamber, Manuel’s Screen Printing, Tans Haven, Todd Touchet Family Dentistry, Mula Family Pharmacy, G&H Tire & Collision, Omega Protein, East Ridge and Super 1 Foods. If anyone is interested in partnering with JA Project Backpack please contact jaofabbeville@gmail.com. School supplies are collected throughout the year.
“We are gearing this project in the right direction,” Bertrand said. “The only way we can keep going in the right direction is to have that support.
“It’s a community effort.”
Here are the names of the 10-year-old All-Stars and their jersey numbers. #00 - Kaine Stevens, #1 - Braylon Himel, #2 - Jax Smith, #3 - Cooper Petrey, #5 - Mason Hargrave, #6 - James Higginbotham , #7 - Joshua Rupert , #8 - Jackson Romero, #10 - Caleb Whitlock, #12 - Wyatt Kline , #13 - Caleb Hebert and #54 - Aiden Feverjean. In the picture, head coach Clay Young talks to his players in between innings.
Next week the North Vermilion 10-year old All-Stars are taking their 10-game winning streak on the road to compete in the Mustang South Zone Tournament in Deer Park, Texas.
The squad leaves Wednesday and will play two pool play games. The first game is a week from today and then again on July 27.
North Vermilion will open the tournament playing Loredo, Texas at 9 a.m.
The next pool play game will be against Houston Meadow Place.
After the two pool play games, each team will be seeded.
North Vermilion All-Star head Coach Clay Young knows little to nothing about the teams in the tournament.
“The only team I know about is the team we just beat,” said Young after winning the South Region Mustang Tournament in Abbeville last week. “SLYSI out of Lafayette also qualified because they reached the finals against us. They are the only team we are familiar with.”
SLYSI and North Vermilion are the only teams not from Texas.
The other teams are coming from Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Eagle Pass, Austin, and Houston.
The finals are July 29, a Sunday, at 12:30 p.m.
Rene Rost Middle School in Kaplan is 78 years old. It is the oldest school in the parish.
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A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, July 21, 2018 in St. Alphonsus Church for Anna Vincent Broussard, 97, who passed away on July 17, 2018.
Reverend Paul Bienvenu, Pastor, will be Celebrant of the Mass.
Burial will take place in St. Alphonsus Cemetery.
Anna Vincent Broussard, more affectionately known as “Mom”, “Maw Maw” & “Taunt Tin”, took her last labored breathe, at 2:10 PM on July 17, 2018. Anna was born in Leroy, Louisiana on November 24, 1920. Anna was the daughter of Francois Vincent and the former, Elia Trahan. On November 11, 1939, Anna married Albert Broussard. They had four children and were married for 47 years prior to his death. After tending to the needs of others most of her life, Anna had been cared for by her loved ones who had once relied on her. Anna was an unyielding woman, not wavering in her beliefs and principals. She always said what was on her mind or how she felt about a topic or situation. Anna lived 97 years and was a pillar of the community and the cornerstone of her family. She had many stories to tell, which one can sit and listen to her for hours. She was selfless and spent the majority of her lifetime making sure all others were taken care of and would do anything for anybody. Her sense of humor was one of the last remnants of her humanity to leave her. Anna wasn’t one to laugh easily, but when she did laugh it was genuine, and it delighted all who heard it. Her chair at the table of life is empty now, but a more glorious seat in Heaven awaits her. You will always be loved and missed.
She is survived by her daughter, Debra B. Broussard and husband, Michael C. Broussard; grandchildren, Kevin Broussard and wife, Jill, Keri Broussard, Shannon Broussard, Blaine Broussard and wife, Gwen, Meaghan Broussard and Jess Broussard and wife, Lauren; fourteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Albert Broussard; three sons, Curtis Brouusard, Warren Broussard and Randy Broussard; siblings, Alfred Vincent, Freddie Vincent, Augustine Vincent, Edia Vincent Breaux and Ena Vincent.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home on Saturday July 21, 2018 from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Honorary pallbearer will be her late Godchild, Rayward Vincent.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Broussard family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 200 Chief H. Fred Road, Maurice, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.
November 10, 1951 ~ July 17, 2018
KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, July 20, 2018 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Gary Wayne Bertrand, 66, who died Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at his residence. He will be laid to rest at Kaplan Cemetery with Reverend Nicholas DuPre’ officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Jimmy Rung, Garland Langlinais, Randall Gaspard, John E. Herpin, Mark Hebert, Stanley Morvant, and Dennis Gordon.
He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Deborah Landry Bertrand; his daughter, Ashley Bertrand Martin and her husband, James Martin, II of Abbeville; his granddaughter, Emily Rose Davis of Abbeville; two sisters, Gloria Bertrand Faulk of Kaplan and Barbara Bertrand Guidry of Kaplan; and his brother, Cresswood Bertrand of Kaplan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Molear Bertrand and the former Laura Mire; and one brother, Darryl Bertrand.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Thursday, July 19, 2018 from 3:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Friday, July 20, 2018 from 8:00 AM until the procession departs for the church.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Bertrand family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
October 8, 1950 ~ July 15, 2018
GUEYDAN — Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 20, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Gueydan honoring the life of Mike Hartwell, 67, who died Sunday, July 15, 2018. He will be laid to rest at Gueydan Cemetery with Reverend Corey Campeaux officiating the services.
He is survived by his son, Colton Hartwell of Gueydan; two daughters, Myka Hartwell of Lafayette and Robyn Hartwell of Crowley; his brother, Pat Hartwell and his wife, Pam of Gueydan; two nieces, Kelsey Hartwell Rogers and Kandace Hartwell Hargrave; and one granddaughter, Abigail Myers.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte Venable Hartwell; his parents, Lloyd G. Hartwell and the former Marjorie Mae Vincent; and his brother, Stephen Hartwell.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Gueydan, 311 Fourth St., on Thursday, July 19, 2018 from 3:00 PM until 10:00 PM; Friday, July 20, 2018 from 8:00 AM until the services.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Gueydan, (337) 536-6124 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Hartwell family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
On Wednesday, several candidates signed up as qualifying for the Nov. 6 elections.
Qualifying will end Friday afternoon. Those interested in qualifying can do so Today until 4:30 p.m. in Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court Diane Meaux Broussard’s office. That office is located on the first floor of the Vermilion Parish Courthouse in downtown Abbeville.
Elections will include each of the eight district seats on the Vermilion Parish School Board.
There will be municipal races for Mayor, Chief of Police and Council members in the Town of Erath, the Town of Gueydan and the Village of Maurice.
There will be an election for Justice of the Peace for Ward 1 (Erath area).
Vermilion Parish voters will see a statewide race for Secretary of State and a race for U.S. Representative for the 3rd District as well as a multi-parish election for judge on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.
The following candidates have filled out paper work to qualify as of Wednesday:
Town of Erath
Mayor
• John Earl LeBlanc
• Taylor Mencacci
Chief of Police
• Bart Bouillion
• Anna LaPointe
Aldermen
• Scott Antoine Bernard
• Jason Connor
• Robert “T-Bob” Domingues
• Earl “Boo” Landry
• Michael “Mike” Richard
• Robert B. Vincent
Town of Gueydan
Mayor
• Jude Reese
• Chris Theriot
Chief of Police
• Virgie C. LeMaire
• Tony Stelly
• Shawn Theriot
• Lori Touchet
Aldermen
• Kevin “Turtle” Cormier
• Anita Freeland Dupuis
• John Ryan Laseter
• Chad J. LeMaire
• “Zim” Livingston
• Claudette Simon Price
• Gale Smith
• Jason Suire
• Scott D. Vallo
Village of Maurice
Mayor
• Wayne Theriot
Chief of Police
• Neil Arsement
• Kelly Broussard Hardy
• Guy Nerren
Aldermen
• Sherry Sherman Howell
• Phyllis Catalon Johnson
• Warren Rost
• Jonathan Schlicher
Justice of the Peace Ward 1
•”Chris” Langlinais
• Brian Richard
• Carl Toups
Vermilion Parish
School Board
District A
• David Dupuis
District B
• Chris Gautreaux
District C
• Laura LeBeouf
District D
• John Breaux
• Stacy Landry
• Dale Stelly
District E
• Jean Broussard
• Charlotte C. Detraz
District F
• Kibbie P. Pillette Sr.
District G
• Sara Bourgeois Duplechain
• Jason Roy
District H
• Christopher Hebert
• Kristy Kloesel Hebert
Judge, Court of Appeal
3rd Circuit, 3rd District
• Jonathan Perry
U. S. Representative 3rd
Congressional District
• “Rob” Anderson
• Aaron J. Andrus
• “Josh” Guillory
• Clay Higgins
• Mildred “Mimi” Methvin
• Larry Rader
• Verone Thomas
Secretary of State
• Kyle Ardoin
• Heather Cloud
• “Gwen” Collins-Greenup
• A.G. Crowe
• “Rick” Edmonds
• Renee Fontenot Free
• Thomas J. Kennedy III
• Matthew Paul “Matt” Moreau
• Julie Stokes
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Funeral Services will be held at 10:00AM on Thursday, July 19, 2018 in Delhomme Funeral Home of Maurice for Charles Octave Gallet, 78, who passed away on July 16, 2018.
Burial will take place in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cemetery.
Charles was employed by Ray Chevrolet for over 40 years and a Maurice Volunteer Fire Fighter for 47 years.
Charles, a resident of Maurice, was the son of the late Marcel Gallet and the former Julia Cloteaux.
He is survived by his sister, Jean Broussard; brother, Jimmy Gallet and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Ann Gallet and two nieces, Kelsey Gallet and Lilli LaLande.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home - Maurice on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 from 2:00PM to 9:00PM. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00PM on Wednesday evening. Visiting hours will continue on Thursday from 8:00AM until the time of service.
Pallbearers will be Eddie Gallet, Dustin Gallet, Phil Gallet, Brandon Mathers, Ryan Mathers and Brent Broussard.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Gallet family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 200 Chief H. Fred Road, Maurice, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.
318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022
219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548