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Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry speaks Friday morning during the
memorial.

Memorial honors fallen officers from Vermilion Parish

Mon, 12/23/2019 - 1:54pm

ABBEVILLE — There is an understanding among members of the law enforcement family; the next shift may be their last.
Members of the Vermilion Parish law enforcement family and others gathered Friday morning at the Abbeville Police Department for the John “Dooley” Hardy Memorial, remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The memorial is held each December by the Fraternal Order of Police John “Dooley” Hardy Memorial Lodge 48 to honor fallen officers from Vermilion Parish.

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Photo by Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette
From left to right: Troy Hebert, UL Lafayette Alumni Association president, Victoria Furka, UL Lafayette Outstanding Graduate, Tina Billberry, UL Lafayette Outstanding Master’s Graduate, and Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, during the University’s Fall 2019 Commencement General Assembly on Friday at the Cajundome. A total of 1,358 degrees were awarded.

UL Lafayette awards record number of master’s degrees during Commencement

Fri, 12/20/2019 - 5:46pm

LAFAYETTE — The University of Louisiana at Lafayette awarded 1,358 degrees during its Fall 2019 Commencement on Friday.
Bachelor’s degrees were presented to 1,077 graduates. Master’s degrees were awarded to 255 graduates, the largest number in UL Lafayette history. Twenty-four graduates received doctoral degrees. One graduate certificate and one post-baccalaureate certificate were bestowed.

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Abbeville Police to conduct sobriety checkpoint

Fri, 12/20/2019 - 12:11pm

​On the night Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, the Abbeville Police Department will be conducting a Sobriety Checkpoint looking for impaired drivers and other traffic related offenses.
The checkpoint will be conducted between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. somewhere within the city limits of Abbeville.
This checkpoint is part of a year-long grant program provided through the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, designed to improve driver safety and reduce impaired driving.

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Several from Vermilion Parish take part in McNeese State Fall graduation ceremony

Thu, 12/19/2019 - 9:19am

McNeese State University awarded 628 degrees to 618 graduates at the university’s two fall commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 14, at the new Health and Human Performance Education Complex.
Fall 2019 graduates from Vermilion Parish are:

Abbeville
Nia A. Cole, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Joanna M. Pillette, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Andrew G. Vallot, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences

Erath
Drake M. Guidry, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Krysta N. McMullen, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences

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Jontae Kelly

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Amanda Rice

Additional arrests made in connection to August homicide in Abbeville

Wed, 12/18/2019 - 5:07pm

On Dec. 18, detectives with the Abbeville Police Department made two additional arrests stemming from the investigation conducted for the homicide of Jacoby Lee which occurred on August 21, 2019.
A grand jury indictment was handed down against Amanda Nicole Rice and Jontae Marie Kelly, both of Abbeville. Rice and Kelly were officially charged with Accessory to 2nd Degree Murder by harboring a known fugitive. Bonds for both Ms. Rice and Kelly have been set at $75,000 each.
Kelly has a child with the victim of the homicide, Jacoby Lee. Rice is the mother of Ms. Kelly.​

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