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How hot does it get in a school bus when the temperature is 97 degrees outside?
On Monday, assistant superintendent Marc Turner and school district risk man ager Scott Meyers went on a school bus ride at noon to see the actual temperature in a school bus with no air conditioner.
Long-time school bus driver Tony Meaux drove the bus through Abbeville and then to Perry. Half of the windows were down, creating a nice breeze when the bus moved.
The temperature outside at noon was 97 degrees in the sun and 96 in the shade.
When the bus got on the road, the temperature dropped to 88 degrees inside. It stayed that temp as the bus drove through Abbeville.
When the bus drove on La. 82 towards Perry at 40 miles per hour, the temperature dropped to 87 degrees.
The conclusion of the temperature test indicates that sitting inside a moving bus is 10 degrees less than sitting outside.
“I am not denying it is hot,” said Turner, who had a long sleeve shirt and pants and was sweating. “But it is cooler inside the bus than outside.”
Turner directed Transportation Supervisor Ken Small to send an email to all bus drivers letting them know that all windows must be open when their route begins. And drinking water is allowed on buses.

Everyone knows it is hot. But what many don’t know is that Vermilion Parish is having major drought issues.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest map, one third of Vermilion Parish is under extreme drought conditions. The other two thirds of the parish is under a severe drought.
Also experiencing extreme drought conditions are parts of Iberia, Lafayette and Acadia parishes.
Since 2000, it is only the second time Vermilion Parish has experienced extreme drought conditions. The last time was in 2011.
The Drought Monitor is a map of the United States that comes out every Thursday. The map uses precipitation data to determine the drought conditions throughout the United States.
Categories for the Drought Monitor are divided into five sections labeled D0-D4.
• D0 stands for “abnormally dry,” meaning the region is experiencing dry weather, but a formal drought has not developed yet.
• D1 stands for “moderate drought,” which means the region is experiencing some damage to crops and water levels are getting low.
• D2 stands for “severe drought,” where crop damage is likely and water restrictions might occur.
• Things only get worse in D3 “extreme drought,” where crop losses become major and water levels go extremely low.
• Finally, there is D4 “exceptional drought,” which is the highest category. This final category means widespread crop damage and historically low water levels leading to significant restrictions.
While most parish residents have noticed the drought conditions because their lawns are turning brown, Vermilion Parish sugar cane farmers have more to lose than grass.
Because of the lack of water, sugar cane growth has been stunted by more than 75 percent.
With planting season underway, sugar cane farmers must selectively take the healthiest and tallest sugar cane to cut and plant.
A handful of sugar cane farmers are not waiting for rain and have taken matters into their own hands by pumping water in their sugar cane fields.
Jim Domingues of Erath, who farms 6,000 acres of sugar cane in the parish, recently got a few old water pumps running and began trying to flood his fields with water.
“I have to try something,” Domingues said.
One way to tell sugar cane is in distress is the lack of growth, and the tips at the end of the leaves are beginning to turn brown.
Domingues said any rain would help, but it may be too late because sugar cane is finished growing.
He added that the sugar cane mills have the final say on when harvesting will begin.

December 3, 1962 ~ August 13, 2023

ABBEVILLE — Memorial services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2023, honoring the life of Frankie Dean Deville, Sr., 60, who died Sunday, August 13, 2023 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. Pastor David Rousse will office the service. He will be laid to rest at Bancker Cemetery at a later date.
He is survived by his wife, Edna Paguigan Deville; four sons, Frankie Dean Deville, Jr. and his wife, Chantel of Missouri, Zechariah David Deville and his wife, Pauline of North Dakota, Gabriel Luke Deville of Houma, and Christopher "Petey" Reuben Deville of Colorado; three daughters, Tabitha Elizabeth Roath and her husband, Jack of Lafayette, Natalie Nichole Landry and her husband, Chad of Springfield, LA, and Naomi Grace Deville of Mississippi; fourteen grandchildren; mother, Enola Duhon Connor; brother, Daniel Dean Deville of Abbeville; sisters, Brenda Lee Shaver and her husband, Bub of West Virginia, and Sarah Jean Romero and her husband, Shane of Scott, LA; and his beloved pup, “Buddy”.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wilson Deville; step-father, Bradley James Connor; infant son, Frankie James Deville; and brother, Freddie Deville.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Friday, August 18, 2023 from 10 a.m. until time of service.
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.

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.
On Aug. 7, after a lengthy investigation, agents were able to seize a large amount of various narcotics as well as a firearm from Fabian Mitchell, (Date of birth: 7-23-1982).  Mitchell was placed under arrest without incident after attempting to discard the narcotics and the firearm.  Mitchell was charged with the following offenses:
• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• Possession of a Firearm in the presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I, (MDMA)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II, (Crack Cocaine)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II, (Methamphetamine)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II, (Cocaine)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule III, (Hydrocodone)
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule IV, (Alprazolam)
• Transactions Involving Drug Proceeds
• Possession of Schedule I, (Marijuana)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
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.
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.