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Students at Seventh Ward Elementary that met their Accelerated Reader goal for the second nine weeks of school were treated to a bowling trip on Friday. They bowled at Acadiana Lanes, played arcade games, and ate pizza during a visit to the park. These students read books on their individual instructional level and take comprehension tests on the computer to earn a certain amount of points for their grade level. This motivational program is in an effort to improve student reading skills. Pictured are second through fifth graders that attended the bowling trip.

The Vermilion Parish Government Day is currently being held on January 21-22, 2020 in the Vermilion Parish Courthouse in Abbeville.
High school students from across the parish are running for offices like Defense Attorney and Sheriff. A “crime” will be arranged and committed by Louisiana Boy and Girl Staters and a mock trial will be held once those who win the ‘election’ are sworn in. Guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Scott Desormeaux, Commander 2nd Battalion 156th Infantry Regiment.
North Vermilion High students Gracie Wood and Abigail Lopez participated in Parish Government Day at the Court House on January 21. Wood ran for school board office and Lopez ran for Sheriff.
Both students are unsure of if they will run in the future for office but say that it is a fun experience so far. “I think that Government Day is an opportunity for us to not only take government responsibilities seriously, but to set a path and baseline for those who do once we graduate,” Lopez said. “I agree, it’s pretty fun right now, but it isn’t a real trial, so I’m sure this job is a tough one in the real world,” Wood stated.
Both are unsure of their future in politics, but are grateful for programs like Government Day and are happy that it is still functioning.
Sessions began early Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. until approximately 3 p.m. and will begin again on Wednesday at those same times.
This program, sponsored by the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Vermilion Parish School Board and the Vermilion Parish Police Jury, is the only one still functioning in Louisiana.

Beta members from NVHS who placed at the Beta State convention are: Back Row: 2nd place Campaign Skit-Blair Saltzman, Abigail Lopez, New Elected Beta State Vice President-Drew Hebert, Olivia Mouton, Cathryn Hanks, Mallie Gardiner, Ema Cawyer, Caroline Monceaux, Anna LeBlanc, Jacob Romero, Sarah Landry, Brylee Duhon, & Hailey Broussard. Front Row: 4th Place Sculpture-Lindsey Duhon, State Champion Poetry-Kennedy Trahan, Runner Up Language Arts-Jace Meyers, State Champion Woodworking-Benjamin Romero, & 4th Place Science-Avery Franques. In addition to this Blair Saltzman, Olivia Mouton, Hailey Broussard, & Mallie Gardiner were awarded a Golden Ticket as Premier Performers for their outstanding dance skills in the campaign skit. They are invited to perform in the opening ceremony at the National Beta Convention.

KAPLAN - There is a warrant out for the arrest of former Kaplan Police Chief Boyd Adams.
Adams failed to appear in court for a trial docket on Monday at the Vermilion Parish Court House.
Adams’ lawyer was in the courtroom, but not Adams.
Judge Ed Broussard issued the warrant for Adam’s arrest, because he was not in the courtroom.
Three years ago, Adams turned himself in to the Louisiana State Police after they discovered that Adams was unable to provide receipts or records documenting his use of over $19,000 of Kaplan Police Department funds. Investigators were able to determine that Adams allegedly used nearly $7,000 of the amount for personal purposes.
In September of 2017, Adams was charged with a violation of Theft over $5,000 and Malfeasance in Office.
The Legislative Auditor’s investigation found 149 transactions, which equaled to $17,140 in a Kaplan Police Recreation Account.
Out of the $17,140 in transactions, a total of 59 transactions worth $7,650 had no documentation explaining the reason for the cash deposits.
The audit cited several instances of sloppy accounting and of possible improper use of public funds.
Among them include: The chief cashed checks for $200 and $500, drawn on police department accounts, and wrote a $280 check from a police department account to repay an officer who covered the chief’s phone bill.
Auditors noted that 38 minutes after Adams cashed the $500 check in 2014, he made a $500 deposit in his bank account.
Adams told auditors that the cash from the $200 check was deposited in his department’s “cash bag” and was for an undisclosed undercover operation.
Auditors said Adams had no documentation for cashing the $500 check, but the chief said it was not connected to the $500 deposit he made to his account on the same day.
Adams told the auditors that the deposit was from the repayment of a $500 loan he made to a mother to buy school supplies and clothes for her children.
The former chief also told the auditors that he put $280 into the police department’s cash bag to cover the $280 check he wrote to the officer who paid his phone bill.
According to the audit, a log for withdrawals and deposits from the cash bag showed a $280 deposit from the chief. Still, auditors questioned the accuracy of many of the transactions recorded in that log and they could not find any other records to confirm repayment.
Much of the questionable spending was made using two bank accounts that other city officials said they did not know about, until last year.
Adams said both accounts were set up years ago by his predecessors, a statement that the auditors confirmed.
The accounts have since been closed, and all police department funds are held in authorized city accounts.
Adams was the Kaplan police chief since 2010 before, his arrest in 2017. He is no longer living in Vermilion Parish.