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The news about the operating budget for the 2025-26 school year was mostly positive, as presented by Superintendent Tommy Byler. 
The school district operates with a budget of $93 million. During last week’s school board meeting, Byler forecasted that the budget would be only $160,000 under budget.
“Being $160,000 short of a $93 million budget isn’t bad,” said Byler. “I know other districts projected to be $2 million short.”
The school district has lost around 1,100 students over the last three years, resulting in a reduction of around 40 teachers, compared to three years ago.
Last year’s budget was just over $93 million, and Byler is predicting the number to be around $93 million again for this school year.
Byler said every department trimmed the fat and is operating on a streamlined budget. 
Despite the budget being almost balanced, school board members shared their vision for the future of education. With oil and gas revenue drying up because there are no oil or gas wells on property owned by the school district, and students leaving the public school system at a rapid pace, changes are going to have to be made, three board members said.
School Board member Dr. David Dupuis, who was once mayor of Gueydan, said, “We are going to have to make some tough decisions that are not going to be popular. But we are going to have to make them.”
School Board member Nick Touchet added, “We stopped a lot of bleeding this year. However, we know more is coming.”
Then the dreaded word that no one wants to hear was uttered by a school board member: “consolidation.”
School board member Kibbie Pillette discussed consolidating some schools to save money.
“We may have to look at consolidation,” said Pillette. “You listen to Mr. Byler’s report and hear the number of students who have left the school system,  which is a lot of students.  It is becoming increasingly difficult for the school district to create a balanced budget each year. 
“We are going to come to a point where the money we have is going to get tougher to operate the school system,” Pillette added. “Because of that, we are going to have to fix our school system to operate with the money we have. That may mean closing schools.”

CROWLEY — The North Vermilion Patriots had an impressive first half, leading the Crowley Gents 21-0 at halftime. However, the second half saw some sloppiness in their play.
Despite this, the Patriots secured a 21-0 victory over the Gents on Thursday night in the second game of the Acadiana-Vermilion Parish Jamboree.
This Thursday, the Patriots will kick off the season with an away game against the Church Point Bears, who finished last year’s regular season with a 7-2 record.
NV head coach Roderick Moy stated that the coaching staff will focus on correcting the mistakes made in the second half during practice this week.
“We got sloppy in the second half,” said Moy. “We made too many mistakes. We are not good enough to shoot ourselves in the foot.  If we do not make mistakes, and be us, like we did in the first half, we are good. 
  “I thought we came out and played well in the first half. We were hungry and wanted to play better than we did last week against Mamou.
“We answered the bell this week because this is our last dress rehearsal.”
Things went the Patriots’ way in the first half. On an attempted punt,  the snap was bad, and Justin Romero alertly recovered a fumble.
On the Patriots’ first play after the fumble recovery, Kole Seibold had a 25-yard run that set up the Patriots’ first touchdown. Avery Stutes had two runs for 15 yards and then Gage Wise darted  17 yards for a touchdown with 8 minutes left in the first half.
Kicker Logan Blanchard nailed all three of his extra points in the first half.
The Patriots cashed in Crowley’s three special teams miscues for three touchdowns.
The Patriots regained possession after holding the Gents on four downs, and it would be another mishandling of the ball on a punt attempt by Crowley.  Jaiden Payne tackled the punter to prevent the kick.
Four plays later, then, Stutes trotted up the middle from 10 yards out to score NV’s second touchdown of the night that made it 14-0.
Crowley had another misfortune with special team’s play, and NV’s Tucker Faulk recovered a fumble, giving the Patriots the ball 38 yards from the end zone.
Stutes hauled in a 38-yard pass for a touchdown with 3:02 left before half time.
“We got better from last week to this week. Now we have to take the next step,” said Moy.
NV had 139 total yards. The Patriots rushed for 101 yards.
Leading the Patriots’ rushing was Avery Stutes, who had seven carries for 32 yards. He also scored a running touchdown and a 38-yard reception touchdown.
Gage Wise had four carries for 30 and quarterback Eli Dubois rushed for 16 yards on four carries.

November 16, 1966 ~ August 23, 2025

ABBEVILLE — Memorial services will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Ken Allen Harrington, 58, who died Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 at Lafayette general Hospital with his family by his side.
He is survived by his two children, daughter, Lindsey Harrington, son, Alex Harrington and one granddaughter, Avery Suire all of Erath, La.; His friend, Katelyn Tupper and her two children, Laney and Teagan of Abbeville, La.; His Mother, Rita Joyce Harrington of Maurice, La.; His brother, Troy A Harrington and his wife Christie of Maurice, La.; Nephews, Andrew Harrington and his wife Shalon of Maurice, La., Trey Harrington and his wife Megan of Meaux, La. and Christian Harrington and his wife Katie of Denham Springs, La.; Great nieces, Brynn Harrington, Bethany Harrington and Great nephew Zander Harrington.
He was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Dale Harrington; Grandparents, Shelton "Black" Touchet Sr., Anastasie Touchet, Carrie Lege Cuvillier and Roy Harrington, Sr.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on August 28, 2025, from 1 p.m. until time of service.
Special thanks to the staff at Lafayette General Hospital for their professionalism and Compassion during the families time of need.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday afternoon that the body of Jimmy Jett had been recovered.
According to reports, Jimmy Jett fell overboard from a fishing boat off the coast of Iberia Parish on Sunday.
Multiple agencies took part in an effort to locate Jett, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the United Cajun Navy, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.