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Henri Clay Bienvenu

Tue, 11/07/2023 - 9:21am

September 21, 1941 – November 2, 2023

ST. MARTINVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at St. Martin De Tours Catholic Church for Henri Clay Bienvenu, 82, who died on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at Iberia Medical Center surrounded by his family.
A visitation will take place at Pellerin funeral home in St. Martinville on Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. until time of service on Saturday. A eulogy will be delivered by Paul Hardy at 6:00 p.m. and a rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Father Vidrine will officiate at the funeral Mass. Readers will be Mary, Elizabeth, and Victoria Hebert, and Isabella Domino. Pallbearers will be Gerard Bienvenu, Leroy Domino, Brent Hebert, Shane Bennett, Ian Knemeyer, Jerome Broussard, Ben Landry and Patrick Bienvenu. Honorary pallbearers will be Fred Bienvenu, Reuben Bienvenu, Butch Thornton, and his eight grandsons.
Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery.
Henri Clay was born on September 21, 1941, and raised in St. Martinville. He was a graduate of St. Martin High School and USL. He served honorably in the U.S. Army becoming an artillery officer, was a member of the Jaycees, the Rotary Club, and the Louisiana Press Association, serving as president of each. He also was a member of the State Parks and Recreation Commission and began “Neighbors in Need.” He was the editor/publisher of the Teche News Newspaper for most of his life and although he “retired” in 2007 continued working and being an active part of the newspaper up until his death.
Henri is survived by his wife of 59 years, Maria Comeaux Bienvenu; son Gerard M. Bienvenu (Lori), daughters, Catherine Knemeyer(Ian), Therese Bennett(Shane Sr.), Monique Domino(Leroy), and Suzanne Hebert(Dr. Brent Hebert); 19 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; siblings Marcelle Bienvenu Lasserre and Bruce Bienvenu.
He is preceded in death by his father, Marcel “Blackie” Bienvenu; mother, Rhena Broussard Bienvenu, and sister, Edna Bienvenu Landry.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Community of Jesus Crucified, 103 Railroad Avenue, St. Martinville, LA 70582.
Pellerin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Cocaine, marijuana, a pistol and illegal narcotics were allegedly located when Maxie Mitchell was arrested.

Cocaine, marijuana, pistol found during arrest in Abbeville

Mon, 11/06/2023 - 3:23pm

According to Sheriff Mike Couvillon, the Vermilion Municipal and Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force made the following arrest for narcotics related offenses within the parish.
After a lengthy investigation into the sale of illegal narcotics inside the city limits of Abbeville, agents were able to apply for and secure a search warrant for 1108 South Saint Valerie.
Upon execution, with the assistance of the Abbeville Police Department Patrol and Detective Divisions, agents were able to safely detain multiple subjects inside of the residence without incident.
After a thorough search of the residence, agents were able to locate a loaded Glock handgun with an extended magazine, which was easily accessible by the occupants of the residence, as well as a large amount of various types of suspected illegal narcotics.
As a result of the investigation, Maxie Mitchell, (Date of birth: 12-31-1987 of Abbeville), was arrested and charged with the following offenses:
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I, (Marijuana)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I, (MDMA)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II, (Methamphetamine)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule IV, (Alprazolam)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II, (Crack Cocaine)
• Manufacturing of Schedule II, (Crack Cocaine)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• Possession of a Firearm with a Controlled Dangerous Substance present. Sheriff Couvillon would like to note that more arrests are expected as a result of this long term investigation.
Sheriff Couvillon would like to thank the Mayors, and their council, of Abbeville, Gueydan, and Erath, along with their Chiefs of Police, for their support of the Vermilion Municipal and Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force.
Sheriff Couvillon also applauds the concerned citizens of Vermilion Parish for their awareness and assistance in helping the Task Force in fighting the war on illegal drugs.
He encourages all citizens with information in regards to illegal drug activities to contact the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office or the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit at 337-740-4501 or E-mail the Task Force anonymously at taskforce@vpso.net and your e-mail will be held in the “strictest of confidence” and replied to in a very timely manner. Sheriff Couvillon and the agents of the Task Force will continue their fight against narcotics dealers and narcotics traffickers inside of Vermilion Parish and will continue to network with other agencies in this fight. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
More information on reporting drug activities can be seen on our Web Site at www.vpso.net. Click on Narcotics and fill out the TURN IN A PUSHER information.

VC's Ross Dartez, shown running for a touchdown, and the rest of the Eagle team will rest this Friday in the first round of the playoffs.

Kaplan lineman Carter Petrey (90) helps hold up fullback Jed Devoltz during a running play.

Abbeville’s Edmar Simon III makes a tackle with Daylon Turner (44) closing in to help.

Three Vermilion Parish teams will make the playoffs

Sat, 11/04/2023 - 1:18pm

VC gets bye, AHS at home, Kaplan on the road

On Sunday, the LHSAA will release the high school playoffs, and three Vermilion Parish teams are in.
Those teams are Abbeville High (8-2), Kaplan (7-3) and Vermilion Catholic (10-0).
Abbeville is expected to be seeded No. 13 in the Division II Non-Select power rankings.
According to Geauxprep.com, at noon on Saturday, the Wildcats look like they will be playing Pearl River, ranked No. 20.
Pearl River enters the game with a 5-4 record, losing three out of its last four games. In Pearl River’s five wins, they averaged 46 points a game.
Abbeville head coach Roderick Moy said there is a chance that Abbeville’s opponent could change because some teams in the New Orleans area play on Saturday.
“I am not going to start researching Pearl River until Saturday night,” said Moy. “By then, all of the Saturday games will have been played.”
The Pirates are back in the playoffs after missing it last year.
The Pirates are expected to be No. 23 and will travel in the first round.
The Pirates won’t need to travel too far to face off against the No. 10 Jennings Bulldogs (7-3).
Jennings’ three losses this season were against Leesville (32-14), Iowa (35-28), and St. Louis (7-0).
In Division II Non-Select, North Desoto (9-1) is expected to be the top-seeded team, followed by Cecilia (9-1) at No. 2. St. Martinville, with a record of 3-7, is expected to make the playoffs, seeded at No. 26.
The Vermilion Catholic Eagles (10-0) have secured the No. 1 spot in the Select Division IV power rankings for the second year in a row.
The team will enjoy a first-round bye on Friday.
Southern Lab (8-1) is expected to be the No. 2 team, followed by defending state champions Ouachita Christian (9-1) at No. 3. St. Martin’s is at No. 4 with a record of 8-1.
In the second round, the Vermilion Catholic Eagles will play the winner of the No. 16 and No. 17 seeds.
According to Geauxprep.com’s ranking on Saturday, the winner of No. 16 Slaughter Community Charter (6-4) and No. 17 Delhi Charter (4-6) will be the Eagles’ opponent in the second round.
VC’s head coach, Broc Prejean, is looking forward to the bye week and said, “We’re excited to be able to work on us next week. We can get into the weight room, get some rehab, and get some rest and get ready for the playoffs.”

EHS kicker Hunter Comeaux, (41), prepared the football for kickoff at the start of the game. Little did the EHS kicking team know, they were about to have a very busy game. Erath scored 10 touchdowns on Friday. (Photo by Shana Bernard LeBlanc)

The Erath defense tried its best to stop Donaldsonville.

Erath scores school-record 68 points in win

Sat, 11/04/2023 - 1:12pm

Bobcats produce 595 yards of offense, score 10 touchdowns

ERATH - The Erath Bobcats ended their year with a remarkable non-district win against Donaldsonville, setting a new school record for most points scored with a final score of 68-42.
This victory helped them finish the season with a 2-8 record.
The game witnessed a total of 16 touchdowns, out of which Erath scored 10.
The Bobcats’ 68 points is a new record in the school’s history, surpassing the previous record of 61 points set in 1998.
The game produced a total of 595 yards of offense for Erath. The 595 yards was the second most yards in the school history.
Despite the loss, Donaldsonville (1-6) had a total of 375 yards of offense, with 264 yards passing.
Both the teams combined for a total of 42 first downs, out of which Erath secured 27.
Three offensive linemen were able to see what it was like rushing the football. They combined to rush eight times for 50 yards and three touchdowns.
Center Jadon Soirez had two carries for 12 yards and a touchdown.
Right guard Branson Word had two carries for seven yards and a score.
Right tackle Wyatt Richard had four carries for 31 yards and a score.
Left guard Ryan Fobbs attempted a pass to tight end Lynkon Romero.
During the game against Donaldsonville, the Bobcats started off strong and quickly took a 20-0 lead in the first half.
Bo Lancon scored a 69-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, followed by Christian Pillette’s 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jack Landry.
Although the extra point was missed, the Bobcats were still in the lead with 13-0.
Brayden Landry scored the third touchdown with a 12-yard run, and Payton Pickens kicked the extra point, bringing the score to 20-0.
The Bobcats cemented their lead with Jadon Soirez’s 6-yard run, bringing the score to 33-8 by the end of the second quarter.
Donaldsonville managed to score a 47-yard pass and ended the first half with a score of 33-14.
The Bobcats maintained their lead throughout the second half, with Trevan Williams scoring a 4-yard run that brought the score to 47-20 at the end of the third period.
In the game, Donaldsonville started the fourth quarter with a 14-point scoring run and narrowed the lead to 47-34.
However, the Bobcats quickly sealed the game by scoring three consecutive rushing touchdowns by Branson Word, Wyatt Richard, and Brayden Landry from 4 yards, 4 yards, and 18 yards respectively.
Pickens kicked six extra points for EHS, and six different Bobcats scored rushing touchdowns.
Mason Hebert led EHS with six carries for 84 yards, while Brayden Landry had 10 carries for 80 yards and scored twice.
Lynkon Romero had six rushes for 37 yards, and Wyatt Richard had four carries for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Jack Landry completed nine out of 12 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
In addition, Romero, who was playing as a tight end, made six catches for 90 yards and a score, while Pillette made three receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns.

FYI: Lynkon Romero broke Elijah Mitchell’s career total offensive yards record of 6,556 yards. Romero finished his high school career with 6,571 yards.

Abbeville High School’s football team celebrates an 18-14 win over Kaplan on Friday with the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy, given to the winning team of the game each year since 1961 in honor of a former AHS football player who died while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II. Abbeville won the game for the third straight year, and captured the District 5-3A championship for the first time since 1997 in the process.

Abbeville tight end Chayson Gray (29) catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Da’Zavien Maze in front of Kaplan defender Brayden Bearb (6) on Friday.

Daylon Landry (15) of Kaplan runs upfield as quarterback Sabe David watches on Friday.

Justin Montgomery (9) of Abbeville takes a spill over Kaplan defender Coy Terro (8) on Friday.

Kaplan fullback Jed Devoltz (11) is tackled by Abbeville cornerback Tahj Judge (1) on Friday.

Abbeville senior quarterback Tahj Judge (1) gets outside on a 12-yard run to score a touchdown on his only carry of the game on Friday against Kaplan. Giving chase is Kaplan defender Remy Broussard (13).

Kaplan quarterback Sabe David (10) carries the ball after faking a handoff to Brayden Bearb (6) on Friday.

Abbeville fullback Zaylun Williams (32) celebrates after scoring the game-winning touchdown against Kaplan on Friday.

Abbeville wins district title

Sat, 11/04/2023 - 12:23am

Wildcats keep Russo Trophy by edging Kaplan for 1st crown since 1997

Chris Landry

The Abbeville Wildcats marked a number of high spots with a come-from-behind 18-14 win over the Kaplan Pirates on Friday.
The Wildcats held onto the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy for the third straight season after having lost the previous 15 games against Kaplan.
Abbeville also solidified a home spot in the Non-Select Division II football playoffs after entering the game as the No. 14 team in the unofficial power rankings.
Perhaps biggest on the list was the District 5-3A championship that the ’Cats captured. It’s the first outright district title for Abbeville since the 1997 season.
It’s been a satisfying journey for head coach Roderick Moy and the seniors, who were freshmen in his first year as head coach.
“These seniors really banded together,” Moy said. “A lot of people told me a lot of things these kids wouldn’t be able to do. Fast forward four years, they’re the district champs and we’re holding the Russo (Trophy) for the third year in a row. I think they’ve done pretty damn good, if I do say so myself.”
Moy noted how long it’s been since Abbeville last won a district crown outright.
“Nineteen ninety-seven,” he said. “I’m 42 years old, and in 1997 I was still in high school.
“I’m so happy for our city. And hopefully, across town, VC sealed the deal and went 10-0. We’re 8-2 and going to host a playoff game next week. Both of us district champions. I can’t speak to how much this means for our city, and to see those people so happy at the end of the night.”
Kaplan made a big return this year after going 4-6 in 2022 and just missing the playoffs. The Pirates probably were a year ahead of schedule in vying for a district title with only five seniors on the roster.
“Credit to them,” Kaplan coach Cory Brodie said. “A lot of seniors on that team. We just didn’t make plays when we needed to.”
Moy said his team’s senior leadership was “completely evident.”
“They echoed the sentiments of the coaches — stay together, stay together,” he said. “Kaplan was making some plays, put together some nice drives. We did not bend, we did not break. We stayed with each other. And when we started to get going with that veer, we’re tough to stop.”
Paced by a big first half, Kaplan outgained Abbeville 212 total yards to 206. The teams were nearly identical with 157 rushing yards for the Pirates and 156 for the Wildcats.
“Hats off to Kaplan,” Moy said. “The first half they played — my God, they took it to us. I don’t know if we ran 12 plays in the first half.”
The Wildcats actually ran 16 plays, not counting punts, to Kaplan’s 31 offensive plays.
“We knew what this ballgame was going to be,” Moy said. “(That’s a) great ballclub over there, well-coached. But at the end of the day our guys were a little bit tougher and made a few less mistakes.”
That offensive dominance by Kaplan included a 13 play drive that ended in a turnover on downs and a 14-play scoring drive capped by Jed Devoltz’s two-yard touchdown run with 3:27 left in the first half, giving the Pirates a 6-0 lead.
Abbeville answered with its only sustained drive of the half, going 54 yards in 10 plays to knot the game up at 6 apiece on a 12-yard quarterback keeper by Tahj Judge with 24.3 seconds remaining.
Kaplan nearly recovered an onside kick to start the second half, then got the ball on Abbeville’s second snap of the half when a pass toward the sideline went backwards and was recovered by the Pirates at their own 46.
Two snaps later, KHS quarterback Sabe David hooked up with Brayden Bearb for a 57-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point conversion run by Devoltz made it 14-6.
Devoltz led Kaplan with 60 yards on 20 carries. Daylon Landry added 45 yards on 10 carries with Dane Frick (6 yards) and Bearb (18) also getting carries.
Abbeville came back with its longest drive of the night to that point on the next series, going 62 yards in 13 plays, with QB Da’Zavien Maze passing over the middle to Chayson Gray for a 12-yard touchdown at the 3:30 mark of the third period. The 2-point try failed and Abbeville trailed 14-12.
“Big play down there,” Moy said. “Sophomore quarterback hits our freshman tight end in the back of the end zone, and gave us life.”
Kaplan then lost the ball on a fumble recovered by Abbeville’s Brian Gordon and an interception by Joseph Davis on its next two possessions, and the Wildcats went 86 yards in 12 plays, with fullback Zaylun Williams powering in from three yards out at the 2:58 mark to give AHS its first lead at 18-14.
“We have to make sure in games like this that we get off the ground and hand the ball to the referee,” Brodie said.
Maze led Abbeville with 45 yards on six carries. Williams added 32 yards on six runs and Justin Montgomery had 6 yards on eight carries.
Judge had one run for 12 yards and one reception for 38 yards.
“I’m so proud of our quarterback Da’Zavien Maze, and so proud of Tahj Judge coming in and being ready when called,” Moy said.
Kaplan was stopped on downs on its final series and the Wildcats ran out the final 1:12 to seal the big win.
The LHSAA announced playoff pairings on Sunday with both teams set to reach the postseason.
“The goal is going to be to go on the road and handle our business,” Brodie said. “After a game like this, we’ve got to remind the guys that it’s not over. The season’s not over. I’m sure it feels gloom and doom right now but we’re going to get back to work Monday.”

VC quarterback Jonathan Dartez (left) celebrates with teammate Hudson Hebert after Dartez scored a touchdown.

VC's Jyrin Bessard keeps his eye on the football before he catches it.

VC's Allen McLain tackles a Hanson player.

VC receiver Ross Dartez hauls in a reception.

VC defensive back Phillip Summers (21) knocks the ball out of a Hanson receiver's hands after he caught the ball.

VC seniors have not lost district game in their four years

Sat, 11/04/2023 - 12:05am

They go 22-0 in district

It’s a rare achievement for seniors not to lose a district game during high school. Still, this year’s Vermilion Catholic High School seniors can proudly say that they were part of four perfect district seasons, having gone 22-0 in the district.
The eight seniors who accomplished this impressive feat are Ethan Landry, Dane Richoux, Andrew Prejean, Roy Bertrand IV, Phillip Summers, Tyjh Williams, Ty Williams and Connor Golden.
They secured their perfect district record by crushing Hanson 43-14 in their final regular-season game at home.
This is the second consecutive year that Vermilion Catholic High School has finished the regular season with a 10-0 record.
Ethan Landry and Andrew Prejean are two of Vermilion Catholic High School’s eight seniors, and for them, staying undefeated in the district was a significant achievement.
Landry, a wide receiver and defensive back, acknowledged the pressure to maintain their perfect record in the district, saying, “We all wanted to do it. We had to get the job done.”
VC has maintained an undefeated record of 27-0 in the district, dating back to the 2019 season.
It’s a remarkable achievement for the Eagles, who have not lost a district game in five seasons.
Andrew Prejean, a tight end and defensive end for the Eagles, commented that continuing the streak of winning district games is crucial because that is what the team expects. He added that it is amazing to keep the streak going, and the team behind them needs to maintain the winning trend.
Prejean mentioned that the team did not discuss the idea of keeping the district alive before heading into the district.
He said, “We don’t look ahead. We play one game at a time.”
The last time VC lost a district game was in 2018 against Louisiana Christian Academy (LCA).
VC head coach Broc Prejean has been with the team for four years and has not lost a district game, just like the seniors.
He said, “We have not lost a district game. I just put on the headset. Good players and coaches surround me. It is an unbelievable effort by this group of kids. I am not sure if there were many expectations at the start of the season with this group. I know they had high expectations. I am proud of this team and what they accomplished this season.”
The Eagles used more aerial passes in this game than in any other this year.
Jonathan Dartez, the quarterback for VC, had an impressive performance in the game.
He completed 12 out of 23 passes for a total of 196 yards.
In addition to this, he rushed for 132 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns.
The game was won by the Eagles in the final eight minutes of the second quarter, during which they outscored Hanson 29-0.
At the 8:01 mark in the second quarter, the score was tied at 7-7, but VC took the lead when Dartez had a 38-yard touchdown run, making the score 14-7.
With 4:23 left to play in the second quarter, Dartez scored another touchdown by darting three yards up the middle, making the score 22-7.
VC’s third touchdown came in just 16 seconds, thanks to a 21-yard pass from Jonathan Dartez to Ross Dartez. Ross finished the game with three catches for 75 yards. The Dartez to Dartez connection happened again, this time for a 49-yard touchdown play, making the score 28-7 in favor of VC.
VC kicker Dane Richoux nailed his third extra point and put the Eagles up 29-7.
VC’s fourth touchdown of the second quarter was a 25-yard pass to Hudson Hebert for a 36-7 lead heading into the half.
Hebert had five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown on the night.
Dartez’s final touchdown pass was a corner route to Jyrin Bessard for a seven-yard TD reception. Bessard had three catches 57 yards in the game.
With VC tailback Tyjh Williams sitting this game out due to an injury, Luke McLain and, Joe Langlinais, Caleb Guidry stepped in to carry the load.
McLain had 14 carries for 64 yards. Langlinais had two totes for seven yards, and Guidry had four carries for 19 yards.
VC gets a bye in the first round of the Division 4 Select playoffs.

Brigadier General Retired Robert Joseph LeBlanc

Fri, 11/03/2023 - 11:29am

November 6, 1921 ~ October 29, 2023

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 6, 2023 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Robert Joseph LeBlanc, 101, who passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at his residence, surrounded by his family. Reverend Chester Arceneaux will be the Celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Concelebrants will be Reverend Louis Richard, Reverend Manny Fernandez and Reverend Nicholas DuPre’. He will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Mausoleum with full military honors. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be his grandsons, Robert J. Tinker, Jonathan Tinker, Brooks Thibodeaux, Ron Dore, Timothy Wright, and Adrian Vega. Honorary pallbearers will be son-in-law, John R. Ziegler, son-in-law, Joseph B. Tinker, and treasured friend and neighbor, Gerald LeBouef.
Our father lived a full and blessed life and we all witnessed it and were blessed by it...He always had a strong sense of values and priorities. His priorities were the Lord first, then family, then friends who were treated like family. He was our first example of how a husband should love and respect his wife. He was the perfect "girl dad" providing for us, treating "his girls with respect" and as he said, enjoying watching each of us grow up and create our own lives which he was always a part of....He was loved and fulfilled by every generation of his family that came into existence. He always said it is the "bee-bees" that make the world go round. His eyes kept a twinkle and reflected the love and joy in his heart. When it came to hardships, he lived by his faith thinking "Thy will be done.”
He was an officer and a gentleman in his military career, but for his family he was our Hero. He will always be greatly missed, loved, and remembered. When it comes to fathers, we feel like we won the lottery!! Our hearts are thankful.
He is survived by his daughters, Dr. Denise L. Ziegler and her husband, John, and Donna L. Thibodeaux; son-in-law, Joseph B. Tinker (Retta); sister, Shirley L. Ditch; sister-in- law, Gertrude D. LeBlanc; grandchildren, Adrienne Tinker Wright (Tim), Robert Joseph Tinker (Kumiko), Kathryn Tinker Vega (Adrian), Jonathan Tinker (Christina), Courtney Thibodeaux Dore (Ron), Brooks B. Thibodeaux (Ashley), and Brittlyn C. Thibodeaux; great grandchildren, Maria Wright Halverson (Mike), Timothy Wright, Erin Wright Earl (Josh), Benjamin Wright, Raemi Omari Tinker, Taro Omari Tinker, Alexander Tinker, Anastasia Tinker, Andrew Tinker, Jace Dore, Elliana Dore, Jonah Dore, Amelie Grace Dore, Kennedi Thibodeaux, Kohynn Thibodeaux, and Ridge Joseph Thibodeaux; and great-great grandchildren, James Earl, Logan Halverson, Evelyn Halverson, and Eleanor Halverson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward J. LeBlanc, Sr. and Neda Comeaux LeBlanc; beloved wife of sixty three years Helen LaPlace LeBlanc, daughter, Bobbie Lane Tinker; brother; Dr. Edward J. LeBlanc, Jr.; brother-in-law, Retired Air Force Colonel O.P. Ditch. Also he was preceded in death by his in laws; Raymond and Ruby Billiau, George “Buster” and Eula LaPlace, Paul “Boo” and Laura LaPlace, Nathaniel “Nat” and Fee Miguez, Pervis “Pee Wee” Meaux and nephews Tommy LaPlace and Claude Roy LeBlanc.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Sunday, November 5, 2023 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a rosary being prayed at 6 p.m. by the Men’s Rosary Group of New Iberia, LA Monday, November 6, 2023 from 9 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. when the procession will depart for the church.
The family would like to thank all for their care and friendship that many provided for our father.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robert Joseph LeBlanc’s memory to Vermilion Catholic High School, 425 Park Ave., Abbeville, LA 70510, The Acadian Museum of Erath, LA P.O. Box 53597 Lafayette, LA 70505 or Jackson Barracks | Louisiana National Guard Museum, 6400 Saint Claude Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana 70117-1456 or charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

Roland Bouillion

Fri, 11/03/2023 - 11:26am

Roland Joseph Bouillion, a devoted husband, loving father, and skilled builder contractor, left this world on November 1, 2023, at the age of 87. He passed away peacefully in his home in Abbeville, Louisiana. Roland was born on November 3, 1935, to his parents, Octave Bouillion and Lily Richard Bouillion, and he was one of six siblings.
Throughout his remarkable life, Roland dedicated his talents and skills to the construction industry, working as a building contractor and carpenter. He left an indelible mark on his community by constructing over 100 homes from the ground up. The last house he built was a testament to his love and dedication, as he built it for his cherished daughter. Roland was not only a master builder but also a true craftsman.
Roland found immense joy in the outdoors, tending to his bountiful vegetable garden, which flourished under his caring hands. His garden was a source of pride and nourishment, and it was a testament to his nurturing spirit. He also had a passion for fishing and hunting, especially when it came to sharing these experiences with his grandson, creating cherished memories during their goose hunting adventures.
Roland is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Vernelle Pedigo Bouillion, who stood by his side through all of life's joys and challenges. He is also survived by his daughters, Laurie B. Fitch and her husband, Anthony, and Debbie B. Lachaussee and her husband, Keith. Additionally, he is survived by his sisters, Vivian B. Blake and her husband, Steve, and Belinda B. Lasalle and her husband, Allen.
Roland's legacy lives on through his grandchildren, Lacy Lortz and Colby Niclos Fitch, and his great-grandsons, Logan and Jackson Lortz. His dedication to family and the love he shared will be a lasting memory in their hearts.
Roland was preceded in death by his parents, Octave and Lily Bouillion, a brother, Curless "Curtis" Bouillion, and sisters, Clarisse "Sue" Brown and Judith "Judy" Theall. He also joins his in-laws, Elbert Eugene and Laura Mazie Hoffpauir Pedigo, in eternal rest.
A funeral service to honor Roland's life will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 2:00 pm at Evangeline Funeral Home in Delcambre. The service will be officiated by Rev. Mary Rachael Moore, who will guide us in celebrating the life of a remarkable man. Following the service, Roland will be laid to rest at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Earth, where he will find eternal peace.
Visitation hours will take place at the funeral home on Saturday, starting at 10:00 am and concluding just before the service begins.
Pallbearers for this final journey will be Patrick Blake, Steve Blake, Allen Lasalle, Jason Lasalle, Scotty Brown, and Michael Theriot, individuals who held a special place in Roland's heart.
In the embrace of loving memories, Roland Joseph Bouillion's legacy lives on in the hearts of his family and all who knew him. His kindness, craftsmanship, and love for the outdoors will forever be cherished and celebrated. May he find eternal peace, and may his family find comfort in the knowledge that his spirit lives on in the beauty of the world he helped create and the memories he leaves behind.
Family and friends are encouraged to share their condolences and memories with the family by visiting Roland’s memorial page at www.evangelinedelcambre.com.
Evangeline Funeral Home of Delcambre is in charge of arrangements.

Vermilion Catholic placekicker Dane Richoux (8) prepares to kick an extra point as Jonathan Dartez (1) holds the ball during a district game at Jeanerette this season. The Eagles are currently No. 1 in the LHSAA’s power ratings in Select Division IV and are expected to have a first-round bye in the playoffs. Playoff brackets and first-round pairings will be announced on Sunday.

Abbeville running back Edmar Simon III (5) carries the ball against St. Martinville this past week. The Wildcats close out the regular season tonight at home against Kaplan. The winner will claim both the District 5-3A title and the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy. Abbeville is No. 14 in the Non-Select Division II power ratings.

Kaplan fullback Jed Devoltz (11) carries the ball against North Vermilion in the 2023 season opener. The Pirates close out the regular season at Abbeville tonight with the District 5-3A title and the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy on the line. Kaplan is No. 20 in the Non-Select Division II power ratings.

3 VP teams aim for playoffs

Thu, 11/02/2023 - 4:55pm

Power rankings have VC, Abbeville and Kaplan squarely in picture

Chris Landry

Three Vermilion Parish teams are solidly in the playoff picture with one game remaining in the 2023 high school football season.
Vermilion Catholic, Abbeville and Kaplan each are situated in the top 20 in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s unofficial power ratings for their respective divisions.
The top 28 ranked teams in each non-select division at the end of the season will receive bids to the playoffs. The top 24 teams in each select division receive playoff bids. Select schools are any private, full magnet and lab schools, and some charter schools. Non-select schools are any public schools not classified as magnet schools, lab schools or those charter schools not classified as select schools.
VC (9-0) is currently the No. 1 team in the unofficial Select Division IV power rankings. Division IV is for schools with the smallest enrollments, with Division I for the largest.
The Screaming Eagles have the fourth highest power rating of any school in any select or non-select division at 16.17. The only schools with higher power ratings are Calvary Baptist (17.34), St. Charles Catholic (16.71) and Isidore Newman (16.71) in Select Division III. Jena (16.15) of Non-Select Division III and St. Thomas More (16.03) of Select Division II are the only other schools in any division with a power rating above 16.00.
Vermilion Catholic will draw a first-round bye in the playoffs as the top eight teams in each select division have byes and open the playoffs at home in the regional round. Teams seeded ninth through 16th host first-round games. The higher seeded team is home in each matchup until the championship round.
Abbeville (7-2) is currently No. 14 in the Non-Select Division II power ratings with an 11.57 rating. Kaplan (7-2) is 20th in Non-Select Division II with a 10.62 power rating.
The top four seeds in the non-select divisions receive byes, with teams seeded fifth through 16th hosting first-round playoff games.
Geauxpreps.com, a website dedicated to Louisiana prep sports, projects Abbeville as the No. 13 seed in Division II and matches the Wildcats up with No. 20 Rayne (6-3) at Wildcat Stadium.
Geauxpreps projects Kaplan as the No. 23 seed with a first-round road game at No. 10 Franklin Parish (6-3).
Bi-district playoff games will be played Nov. 9-11. Regional round games are scheduled Nov. 16-18. The quarterfinals are set Nov. 24-25. The semifinals are Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
The Ochsner LHSAA Prep Classic championship games will be played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans from Dec. 7-9.
North Vermilion (2-7) is No. 33 in the current power ratings in Non-Select Division II and Erath (1-8) is 40th in Non-Select Division II.
Five teams that compete in District 4-4A with North Vermilion are currently in the playoff picture.
Westgate (5-4) is No. 21 in the Non-Select Division I power ratings.
The remaining teams are eligible for the Select Division II playoffs, including No. 1 St. Thomas More (9-0), No. 2 Lafayette Christian (8-1), No. 5 Teurlings Catholic (6-3) and No. 16 Northside (4-5).
Delcambre (0-9) is No. 34 in Select Division IV and Gueydan (0-9) is No. 40 in Non-Select Division IV.
Several schools in District 8-2A alongside Delcambre are in position for the playoffs. Loreauville (6-3) is No. 12 in Non-Select Division III. Franklin (4-5) is No. 19 in Non-Select Division IV. Catholic High of New Iberia (7-2) is fifth and Ascension Episcopal (6-3) is 15th in Select Division III.
Teams in District 5-A alongside Gueydan also have playoff aspirations. Oberlin (7-2) is No. 15 and Elton (5-3) is No. 24 in Non-Select Division IV. Hamilon Christian (4-5) is No. 2 in Select Division IV.
Vermilion Catholic also has several district opponents set for playoff bids. Jeanerette (7-2) is No. 5 and Centerville (5-4) is No. 23 in Non-Select Division IV.
In Select Division IV, Central Catholic (6-3) is No. 7, Hanson Memorial (7-2) is No. 15 and Covenant Christian (3-6) is No. 20.
The LHSAA power ratings remain unofficial until after the regular season concludes and teams are given the opportunity to appeal their seedings or results. The playoff brackets will be released by the LHSAA on Sunday.

Vermilion Catholic will look to finish 10-0 in the regular season and unbeaten in district for the second straight year when the Eagles take on Hanson Memorial on Friday for Senior Night at VC.

VC looks to stay sharp against Hanson Memorial

Thu, 11/02/2023 - 10:37am

Chris Landry

Vermilion Catholic faces one final district test before the playoffs start, and the Screaming Eagles face an opponent on Senior Night that will make sure they do that.
VC (9-0 overall, 5-0 in District 7-A) is No. 1 in the unofficial LHSAA Select Division IV power rankings, while Hanson Memorial (7-2, 4-1) is 15th.
“We’re excited,” VC coach Broc Prejean said. “You get a quality opponent in Week 10, and that’s what you hope for, to kind of get to sharpen the sword before the playoffs.
“Hanson’s had another great year. They’ve had three tremendous years over there in this latest run. They’re battle-tested, so it’s going to be another great game. The message to the guys this week is to go out there and have fun and let’s enjoy and have a little bit of perspective over what a great season we’ve had so far.”
The Eagles are enjoying their own strong run over the last few years, having gone 10-0 in 2022 to earn the No. 1 seed in the playoffs last year and reaching the state championship game.
But VC graduated a big senior class, and the coaches have worked to let this year’s team develop its own identity.
“I think we’ve made a point of letting these guys be their own team,” Prejean said. “We had a lot of fun and there were a lot of opportunities to talk about last year’s team, but we want to let them stand alone, and they’ve earned their spot in our history books in the school program, and we’re proud of them.”
Seven seniors will be honored at Friday’s home game — Ethan Landry, Dane Richoux, Andrew Prejean, Roy Bertrand IV, Phillip Summers, Tyjh Williams, Ty Williams and Connor Golden.
“I think there were some things we knew we had,” the coach said. “We had some things coming back that were proven commodities. But I think it’s been our senior class, stepping into roles and keeping the standard the same and keeping their expectations the same. That senior group has been a tremendous group for four years, but this year they’ve really answered the bell.”
Prejean said good leadership is contagious, and the 2022 team had great leaders.
“I can remember having conversations this summer with the staff where we just said let this group find their way, and let it organically evolve into who’s going to step up and be the voices in the locker room, and the guys that show up at practice every day and hold that standard,” he said. “This group’s done a tremendous job of it.”
Prejean said he’s been proud and happy watching Golden, the only senior on the offensive line, staying steady and patient since his freshman year.
“You flip the side of the ball and talk about Ethan Landry, who has been a force in practice with the way he goes about his business,” Prejean said. “He’s a kid that’s never really played two ways, and you fast forward to this year and he never really comes off the field.
“Andrew Prejean is stepping in from a DB to a tight end is really doing a great job with it. That senior group has exceeded expectations.”
Quarterback Jonathan Dartez ranks first in Vermilion Parish in rushing yards (1,377 yards and 20 touchdowns on 172 carries), passing yards (900 with 11 TDs to only two interceptions) and scoring (122 points) and is in the top 15 in receiving yards (112 and 1 TD on five catches).
VC’s Ross Dartez is the leading receiver in the parish with 374 yards and three touchdowns on 20 catches, while Tyjh Williams ranks third in rushing (93 carries, 853 yards, 14 TDs) and in the top 10 in receiving (10-141, 1 TD).
“(Williams) was a guy that had to split carries (in 2022) to keep people fresh last year, but we saw the glimpses of it last year, and he’s evolved into that bell-cow guy this year, and done a tremendous job,” Prejean said. “That’s been our identity. That’s what we preach. We want to make sure that you have to defend all five of those skill guys that are on the field.”
Jyrin Bessard (7-105, 2 TDs), Richoux (8-104, 2 TDs) and Landry (6-78) also rank among the parish receiving leaders.
Hanson returns a big chunk of its team from 2022 that went 8-2 in the regular season, Prejean said.
“They motion a lot of guys and they keep your eyes moving to try to find some creases in the run game,” he said. “If you get a little too nosy, they’re going to try to take their shots deep. They have some dynamic perimeter players, and they do make it tough offensively.”
Staying disciplined on defense will be a key, Prejean said.
“I think the statement this week is we’ve got to find a way to step up and win the game,” he said. “We’re not putting any pressure on points or anything. But that defense takes a lot of pride in what they do, and they’ve established over the last three or four years that Vermilion Catholic defense is tough to deal with and they’re going to play hard.

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