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The bridge on South John Hardy Drive in Abbeville has been closed since Nov. 30. The state made the decision to close the bridge following an inspection.

Abbeville to have bridge on South John Hardy Dr. repaired

Abbeville officials learned on Nov. 30 that one of the most heavily trafficked bridges in the city had to be ...

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Pictured receiving their awards at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome are (L-R) Jean-Paul Touchet, Mason Granger, & Payne Touchet.

Three Erath Bobcats on All-Academic Composite team

Although no Vermilion Parish teams made it to the finals for the State Football Championship game this year, three Vermilion Parish players were recognized and received awards at the LHSAA State Championship game Friday night.
All three young men are members of the Erath High School Football Team and received the honor of Academic All-State as members of the 2017-2018 LHSAA All-Academic Composite Football Team. This award is presented for exemplary academic achievement by maintaining the highest Grade Point Average among all athletes during their academic career while participating in varsity high school athletics. All three young men have maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout their high school career.
These young men not only represent Erath, but they are also the only players in the Parish to make the Academic All-State Composite Team.
Jean-Paul is the son of Francis & Kesha Touchet and the late Suzanne Alexander Touchet. Mason is the son of Nathan & Dana Granger. Payne is the son of Michael & Theresa Touchet.

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Edna Joan Morris Schultz

August 2, 1934 ~ December 9, 2017

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Edna Joan Morris Schultz, 83, who died Saturday, December 9, 2017 at her residence. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon Cody Miller officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Buddy Braly, Donald Braly, Ronald Braly, Lane Schexneider, David Parrish and Mark Langlinais. Honorary pallbearer will be William Braly.
Edna is survived by her husband, Loison J. Vincent, Jr.; daughter, Gladys Bumgarden and her husband Ronnie; step children, Daleen Vincent, Darla Comeaux and her husband Steven, and Mandy Vincent and husband James LeBlanc; grandchildren, Cherida Parrish and her husband David, Shelly Schexneider and her husband Lane, Ronald Braly, William Braly and his wife Marlene, Donald Braly and his wife Raven Brasseaux, Buddy Braly and his wife Wanda LeBlanc, Kelby Henry, Christian Theriot, Courtney Theriot, Samuel Theriot, Luke Theriot, Austin Landy, and Matthew LeBlanc; numerous great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild; brothers, Earl Dean Morris and Donald Ray Morris; and sisters, Margaret Wooley and Mary Frances Flowers.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugo Morris and the former Mildred France; brothers, Sonny Morris and Donny Morris; and sisters, Dorothy Morris, Betty Jean Alanis, and Patricia Morris.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM; Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from until 8:00 AM until time of services.
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.

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Donna Gauthier and Jake Broussard

Donna Gauthier - Jake Broussard announce engagement

Miss Donna Gauthier and Mr. Jake Broussard, both of Abbeville, are announcing their engagement and forthcoming plans of marriage.
The wedding will take place at 6 p.m. on March 3, 2018, at the Erath Community Building in Erath.
The future bride is the daughter of Karen Chapman of Marksville, LA and the late Glenn Gauthier of Hessmer, LA. Her grandparents are Geradline Guillot and the late Idal Guillot of Marksville.
She is a 1997 graduate of Marksville High School and is the general manager at B & G Foods.
The prospective groom is the son of Luke and Romy Broussard of Abbeville, LA. His grandparents are Gerald Nunez of Abbeville, LA and the late Ruby Nunez, Velma Broussard of Abbeville and the late Calvin Broussard.
He is a 2000 graduate of Abbeville High School and is an over the road driver for Falcon Freight.

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Mrs. Everett Sashary Young II

Miss Allison Rosa becomes Mrs. Everette Young II

Miss Allison Claire Rosa of Erath and Mr. Everett Sashary Young II of Maurice, were joined in marriage during a ceremony held on Friday, December 8, 2017, at Le Pavillon-Parc in Lafayette, La.
Judge Laurie Hulin officiated the 7 p.m. ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Rosa of Erath, LA. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Allen Landry of Erath and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rosa of Maurice.
Parents of the groom are Mr. and Mrs. Kim Young of Maurice, LA. His grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. Roy Young and the late Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Trahan.
Readings were given by Mikela Sultzman, sister of the groom.
Crandall Landry, uncle of the bride, served as the usher.
The mother of the bride was escorted by her brother, Crandall Landry. She wore an elegant navy floor length gown with cold shouldered sleeves, embellished with beaded trimming.
The mother of the groom was escorted by her husband. She wore a floor length deep purple dress with a lace bodice.
Escorted by her father, the bride wore a femme and sophisticated designer Monica gown which featured a short sleeve style allover graphic embroidery with the softest sequin and bead sparkle. Demure from the front, the open back and sheer side cut-outs offered a dramatic twist. The bride was also adorned with a floral hair crown made of soft blooms.
She carried a whimsical bouquet filled with blush pink and peach garden roses accented with soft pink ranunculus and white anemones.
Shiloh Eastin, friend of the bride, served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids included Chelsea Poret, friend of the groom; Kasey Landry, friend of the bride; Truc Ngo, friend of the bride and Meraiah Young, sister of the groom. Flower girl was Abbie Koonce, niece of the groom.
Each attendant wore a floor length blush dress in their own unique style. They carried a similar floral bouquet like the bride.
Matt Miller, friend of the groom, served as best man. Groomsmen included Eric Pham, friend of the bride; Baron Rosa, brother of the bride; Stuart Ellis, friend of the groom and Douglas Koonce, brother of the groom. Ring bearer was Dorian Young, godchild of the groom.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Le Pavillon-Parc ballroom in Lafayette. The venue was beautifully decorated with lighted Christmas trees. The guests were welcomed at their tables with metallic gold painted wine bottle centerpieces tied with navy ribbons. Each centerpiece sat on a mirror decorated with beaded wedding garland.
The wedding cake was an elegant mix of blush and white backgrounds garnished with gold accents. Also incorporated into the cake was Harry potter and hello kitty which reflects some of the bride’s interest.
The groom’s cake is a replica of the Zelda shield, made out of chocolate cake filled with chocolate pudding.
The couple will honeymoon in Paris, France.

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James “Jim” Knott

LAFAYETTE — Funeral Services for James “Jim” Knott, 67, will be 11:00AM Saturday December 9, 2017 in David Funeral Home of Lafayette with Deacon Cody Miller officiating . Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Mausoleum.
Visitation will be in David Funeral Home of Lafayette Friday December 8, 2017 from 4:00PM until 10:00PM with recitation of the rosary at 6:30PM. Visitation will resume Saturday from 8:00AM until service time.
Jim, born in Lafayette and a resident of Broussard, passed away Wednesday December 6, 2017 in Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. He was a U.S. Army Veteran Stationed in Germany. He retired as a Carpenter after many years in residential construction. He was a loving grandfather.
He is survived by his son James “Tony” Knott and wife Winter of Abbeville, his daughter Lainey Coon and husband Tim of Broussard, 5 sisters Betty K. Vining and husband John of Scott, Bernice Tate and husband Wilson of Sunset, Marie Knott of Arnaudville, Delores Olivier and husband Marcel of Arnaudville, and Gerri Knott of Breaux Bridge, 15 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren
He is preceded in death by his parents Clebert and Helena Guidry Knott, his siblings Eula Mae Moran, Mildred Richard, and Lloyd Knott, his son Benjamin Michael Knott
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Lafayette is in charge of arrangements 316 Youngsville Hwy Lafayette, LA 70508 (337) 837-9887.

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Florine Luquette Meaux

November 27, 1935 ~ December 7, 2017

KAPLAN — Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM on Friday, December 8, 2017 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Florine Luquette Meaux, 82, who passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. She will be laid to rest at Kaplan Cemetery with Reverend Nicholas DuPre’ officiating the services.
She is survived by her two sons, Dexter Meaux and his wife, Roxane of Abbeville and Kenneth Meaux and his wife, Laurie of Springdale, AR; five daughters, Renella and her husband, David Guidry of Leroy, Charlene and her husband, Paul Trahan of Kaplan, Joanice Meaux of Lafayette, Janice Meaux of Lafayette, and Colette of Maurice; eleven grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pershing Meaux; her parents, Odeon Luquette and the former Alida Trahan; and one brother, Irby Luquette.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Friday, December 8, 2017 from 9:00 AM until services with a rosary being prayed at 2:00 PM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Meaux family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

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Jim Bradshaw

Saloom an icon, and much more

Judge Kaliste Saloom Jr., who died Dec. 2 after a long and fruitful life, was elected and re-elected to the Lafayette city court for 40 years, even though friends said his first election would be his last because he refused to “fix” traffic tickets.
That didn’t bother him, he told me in a long interview in 2006, because he’d been reluctant to run in the first place.He was already deeply involved in community affairs, was building a successful law practice, and was a part of the generation who went off to fight World War II and who believed it was their duty to contribute to the life of the community when they came home.
“We came back and saw that Lafayette had nothing done in … six or seven years,” he said. “The war had blocked all development.”
As it turned out, his election to the bench did nothing to inhibit his public contributions. It would be difficult, maybe impossible, to name a major project or worthy cause in Lafayette that did not benefit from his work and wise counsel.
He was born on May 15, 1918, so was only a half-year from his 100th birthday, but doctors present at the beginning gave him little chance for such a long life.
His premature birth “was an emergency deal,” the judge told me. “The doctors said, ‘We don’t think the baby can make it.’” But a neighbor, Ida Naomi (mother of the late jeweler Paul Naomi) thought differently. According to the judge’s account, “She said, ‘No, the baby is fine. Get me a shoebox, Get me a blanket. Heat some bricks in the wood stove.’ They did, and she made an incubator for me and I survived.”
He was the fifth child of Kaliste Saloom Sr. (for whom the Lafayette road is named) and Asma Boustany Saloom, Lebanese emigres who came to Louisiana about 1890. He attended Mount Carmel grammar school, was valedictorian of the Cathedral High class of 1935 and quarterback of its regional champion football team (“I was small, but I was fast”), was sports editor of the newspaper at SLI (UL today), and won a scholarship to the Tulane law school.
He got his law degree in 1942, just after the United States was pulled into World War II, and immediately signed up, although he technically could have been deferred. (“You had to be 5-foot-7 and weigh 130 pounds. I was 5-feet-6 and weighed only 120.”)
He said he didn’t know what it meant when he was assigned to counterintelligence work. He thought he was going to be a spy, but was told, “No, you’re going to do the opposite. You’re going to catch spies.” He was first sent to North Africa, “to watch the Nazi … sympathizers infiltrating from Spanish Morocco and Tangiers.”
As a French-speaker, he became particularly valuable after the Allied invasion of France. He was sent first to Marseilles, “where I ran across Cajun troops from Lafayette . . . and ate my first gumbo in almost two years.” He served under Gen. George Patton in Europe and at the end of the war helped capture a notorious German general.
He returned to Lafayette and opened a law firm at the end of the war, involved himself in community life, and was elected city judge in 1953. “I didn’t want to run for judge,” he said. A good friend was also considering the race. But the friend decided not to run and talked Saloom into seeking the judgeship he held until August 1993.
His life and commitments broadened even more after he married Yvonne Adelle Nassar in 1958 and they began rearing a family that eventually included four children: Kaliste Joseph III, Douglas, Leanne Isabelle, and Gregory, all of whom followed his footsteps and earned law degrees.
When his death became known and people who knew him began to reflect on Judge Saloom’s life, certain words kept coming to the fore: “Stern but compassionate,” “kind and genuine,” “brilliant,” “willing to share,” “icon.” The two that came first to me were “visionary” and “gracious.”
Even as a young man, he was able to look beyond the immediate, apparent effects of a plan or project or public work, understand its history, and see its wider implications. That’s why his counsel was so valuable. And despite a list of accomplishments and honors that might have turned another man’s head, he was one of the most gentlemanly and gracious men I’ve known. That’s why he was so widely admired and loved.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, Cajuns and Other Characters, is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

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Vermilion Parish schools closed on Friday

All schools and offices in the Vermilion Parish School System will be closed on Friday because of inclement weather that is expected in the area.
Vermilion Catholic High, Mount Carmel Elementary and Maltrait Memorial will also be closed.

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