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Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) and Hancock Whitney Bank are pleased to announce the 2022 Leaders in Philanthropy Award honorees for Vermilion Parish, Karen & Fred Hoyt.
The Hoyts' passion for philanthropy was infused into the culture of their local business, through which Karen and Fred contribute a portion of sales proceeds to support designated community organizations. These include the Abbeville Police and Fire Departments, St. Theresa and St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Churches, Vermilion Foundation, an affiliate of Community Foundation of Acadiana, the Boys & Girls Club, children’s sports leagues, American Legion and Veterans programs, Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, and the Louisiana Military Museum in Abbeville.
John T. Landry, friend of the Hoyts said, “Fred and Karen Hoyt have been ardent supporters of Abbeville, and Vermilion Parish organizations, for over 40 years. Their generosity has helped improve the lives of the citizens of Vermilion Parish. They are always ' Giving Back ' when asked to step up and assist worthy causes.”
“The Hoyt’s have big hearts and are known to help many less fortunate citizens who are “down on their luck.”, said friend Charles Sonnier.
Leaders In Philanthropy Awards are presented annually to outstanding individuals, couples, and corporations who have supported nonprofit organizations, churches, and schools through charitable giving and/or philanthropic work.
Individuals and couples are selected from each of the eight parishes of Community Foundation of Acadiana’s (CFA) primary service area which includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parishes.
CFA welcomes nominations from the general public at www.cfacadiana.org/lip. Nominees need not be donors or have a Fund at CFA. CFA’s Past Board Members consider nominations and submit their recommendations to the CFA Board of Directors for final approval, including those proposed by any Parish Affiliate Advisory Board.
Community Foundation of Acadiana’s core purpose is to build legacies and improve communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. CFA has realized more than $348 million in philanthropic activities since inception in 2000.. CFA’s donor-directed grant distributions now exceed $185 million. While donors are not limited geographically, CFA’s primary service area includes the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion. CFA is the third largest community foundation in the state and expects to soon be included in the Top 100 U.S. community foundations by assets. These important milestones ensure CFA’s position as one of Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations.

Abbeville head coach Roderick Moy knew what the Wildcats’ first eight plays of the game would be before the game began.
However, by the time he completed calling seven out of the eight plays, Abbeville had a convincing 28-0 lead.
The Wildcats cruised to a 51-6 win over West St. Mary in a non-district game.
Abbeville improves to 4-1 on the year.
“The first eight plays were going to be the first eight plays,” said Moy. “Those were the plays we practiced all week long. We were only able to run seven plays. We did not get through the eight plays.”
Moy said he got the idea of running scripted plays from former San Franciso 49er head coach Bill Walsh. Walsh, however, had 15 straight plays he would call. So Moy tweaked it and did eight consecutive plays.
On Abbeville’s fourth play of the game, the Wildcats were in the end zone.
Trasean Greene had back-to-back carries for 10 yards, including a four-yard TD run. The Wildcats needed only two minutes to lead 7-0.
On their second possession, the Wildcats only took two plays to score seven more points.
Jaysen Shelvin, playing quarterback, connected with Chad Westley for a 40-yard touchdown reception.
Shelvin scored on the two-point conversion for a 15-0 lead.
While the AHS offense was scoring, the AHS defense was shutting down West St. Mary.
After three possessions, West St. Mary had 10 yards of offense.
Abbeville scored two more touchdowns in the final four minutes of the first quarter.
AHS quarterback Tahj Judge completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ronale Walker at the 3:52 mark.
Then, the Wildcats scored their fourth touchdowns thanks to a 40-yard punt return by Tazavian Andrews, who was tackled at the 6. On the first play from scrimmage, Chad Westley scored on a jet sweep to the right side.
Abbeville scored on its first six possessions of the game. At halftime, it was 44-0. AHS kicker Edwin Ramirez made a 23-yard field to end the first half.
“I was proud of how went out and took care of business early,” Moy added.
The Wildcats dominated on offense and defense.
Abbeville had 346 yards of offense in the first half. They threw for a season-high 160 yards and ran for 186 yards.
Five different Wildcats caught the football.
Walker and Edmar Simon had each a catch for 43 yards. Westley had a catch for 40 yards.
As far as running the football, Braylon Moore had the most carries with nine for 58 yards. Andrew had four carries for 64 yards.
West St. Mary had 15 total yards in the first half and only one first down. They finished the game with 69 total yards of offense.

The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning people not to be fooled by the latest scam.

According to the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Eddie Langlinais, potential victims across the Acadiana area are receiving notifications via mail that they are the “lucky” winners of a sweepstakes prize money, and unfortunately Vermilion Parish residents are not immune to these scams.
Langlinais says that the latest scam that has surfaced in the parish most recently is in the form of a NORTH AMERICAN EAGLE SWEEPSTAKES SCAM indicating that you, the “potential victim” have been selected with a group of 10 lucky winners to receive the sum of $950,000.
Langlinais further stated that the enclosed a check, which is “fraudulent,” covers only the administrative payment and clearance fees of your winnings, and for authorizing and processing of your prize you must contact your agent at a specific phone number.
Langlinais also states that you must keep this information confidential until your funds are secured.
“This is a scam and residents are urged to be cautious when dealing with lottery or sweepstakes solicitations and should ignore all mail and phone solicitations for such promotions and should never give out their credit card or bank account information,” he said.

Here are a few simple scam prevention tips:

If you get an alleged award notification letter, several things become evident. The text is a very generic-sounding name.
You will then be congratulated on being the winner of a large amount of money, given a reference number, and asked not to make your winnings public until everything is finalized.
If at any time you should receive solicitations indicating that you must pay something for you to claim your prize, a red flag should come up.
Regardless of where the claim may originate, many of the contact representatives are of foreign descent.
Included with the letter will almost always be a legitimate-looking check, with an amount that can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.
Many times, these checks may appear to come from well-known and/or Fortune 500 companies with wide name recognition, which may put you in a fake comfort zone.
Good common sense is the key to preventing you from becoming a potential victim, and if you feel that you may be the target of a potential scam, you are urged to contact your local law enforcement authority or the Better Business Bureau at 981-3497.
Finally, Langlinais says that “Nothing is free. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

February 14, 1948- August 18, 2022

Tessa Marie Hebert : a Resident of Webster, Texas. (located about 26 miles north of Galveston) passed away Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 10 a.m. she was under the care of cardiac professionals in the I.C.U at U.T.M.B Hospital.
Tessa Marie Hebert, former Louisiana Native, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 14, 1948. She was one of five loving children born to Dr. Ardly & Elaine Hebert of Abbeville, Louisiana her home town. As a child she loved art, sewing & piano. As a young adult she loved outdoors, duck hunting & fishing. Tessa won a Tarpon Rodeo with 132 lb. catch at only 15 years old. She Held the title as the Louisiana State champion in Typing & because of her experience working for her fathers Medical practice, Tessa secured a stable career at U.T.M.B of Galveston in medical records. Pushing her education further and as a single mom she attended night school where she received her Para Legal Certifications and later became a Certified Title Clerk. Tessa ultimately retired but only after authoring several manuscripts and operating her business, an internet book website page. Driven by her huge Love for books she fulfilled her hobby & passion for buying , appraising and selling books. She loved fishing, crabbing & reading. Loved seafood, cheesecake and ribeyes. Elton John was her favorite and something about the beach seemed to sooth her internal peace. She was especially unapologetic about her addictions which included books, chocolate, coffee, cokes and yes, her cigarettes. Tessa’s last request was that there be no funeral festivities & that she be cremated and buried beside her son at the time of his passing along with William “Bill” Fulkerson , her long time friend and companion.
Tessa M. Hebert is survived her only son Jason Blake Williamson. Kimberly Williamson her daughter-in-law. Gary B. Williamson/ First husband. David P. Hebert/ brother. Mary Hebert/ sister in law. Loving nephew & God child Samuel Hebert & Stephanie Hebert / his wife. Jackie Hebert Hall & Jason Hebert their daughter & son and also their families. Tom Liebsch / brother-in-law. Amber Liebsch Young, Cheryl Armstrong Smith, and Charlene Smith and their families. Jesse & Lindsay Winship and Family. Other very important nieces & nephews : John Hebert, Tom Hebert, Jill Hebert, Leah Hebert Dupre. Wesley Hebert, Chawn Hebert, Rachel Hebert Richard and their families. As well as Loving Step Mother & Friend, Beatrice “ BeBe” Hebert. Serena Hebert Bailey / Half Sister. Molly Gooch / step sister. & Lauren Gooch / her daughter.
Proceeded in death by: Dr. Ardly Hebert / father. Elaine Duclos Hebert /mother. Jan Hebert Liebch / sister. Robert Hebert / brother. Chris Hebert / brother. Gregory Hebert / nephew. Robert T. Williamson / brother-in-Law. Charles Humphrey shadle III “chip” /second husband & soul mate. David N. Duncan / third husband. William “Wild Bill “ Fulkerson / best friend & long time companion.
God grant me the serenity to except the things I can not change. The courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down. Tessa & Lindsay 3/2/2013