St. Martin Parish Library Director Charlar Brew, Parish Library Board President Tommy Romero, Parks Mayor Kevin Kately and St. Martin Parish President Pete Delcambre were among the officials taking part in the ceremony, along with parish council members and Parks city council members. The Rev. David Rozas of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Parks led a prayer and blessing for the new library.

The library will be 3,599 square feet with a budget of $2.184 million.

The building will include a meeting room children’s room, teen and adult area, collection shelving, two collaborative study rooms, public computers, public restrooms, a staff area and lounge seating and storage.

The project is expected to be complete in February of 2027.

Kately said the having the new library next to City Hall was “a perfect, perfect opportunity to have a brand new City Hall next to a brand new library, perfect for the community. But understand it was all teamwork, because we had to have our Parish Council on board, we had to have our Library Board on board, Parish President. Everybody had to be on board, even the community. And we did it.”

Library

He also singled out City Council members Yvonne Narcisse and Eva Potier for their work in helping get the library project together.

Delcambre said that though he came on late to the process, being elected after the wheels had begun spinning for project, but was thankful he could help the project move forward.

“The kids and the community, this library, are going to be the recipients of everything good that has happened here,” he said.

Brew thanked everyone who worked to get the library approved.

“This moment represents far more than the beginning of the Parks Library project,” she said. “It marks the beginning of new opportunities for a stronger connection and a lasting investment in our community. Libraries have always been a place where knowledge, imagination and opportunity come together. They are places where children discover the joy of reading, students pursue their dreams, job seekers build new skills, and people gather.

“I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the St. Martin Parish Library Board of Control, elected officials, community leaders, the architects, the contractor and my staff, and every resident of the Village of Parks who believed in this vision and made this day possible. Your commitment led us to this exciting milestone.”

jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com

Could Pecan Island become the next Cape Canaveral? There is much speculation that the little cheniere known mostly for its hunting camps could become a busy base for shooting rockets into space instead of one for shooting ducks in the marsh.

Rumors abound that Elon Musk’s SpaceX company is negotiating for 136,000 acres of Vermilion Parish marshland just west of Intracoastal City and generally south of Pecan Island. The land is currently owned by Exxon-Mobil, which bought the land in the 1950s to use principally as an oil-producing property. The company said in 2022 that it planned to develop a big carbon storage facility there but has since apparently shelved the plan.

According to the rumors, Exxon-Mobil is willing to sell the land and SpaceX wants to expand its space operations to a site close to the Gulf. Knowledgeable people say the site makes sense for SpaceX for several reasons.

First, the entire parcel is owned by one, also large, company that is used to making big deals. Buying it would be a relatively simple transaction. Second, it is on the Intracoastal Waterway, which connects Brownsville and Cape Canaveral, two SpaceX launching points. It would be an ideal place to build and test rockets that could easily be barged to either of the launch sites. That’s important because SpaceX’s reusable rockets are too big to be carried by truck or train; they have to be moved by barge from a test site to a launch pad. They also have to be barged to someplace they can be readied to use again after they are recovered from the Gulf.

Some people think SpaceX may want to use the site to launch satellites for its Starlink communications system. The company owns about 9,500 of the 14,000 satellites orbiting Earth and has plans to launch thousands more as part of a plan for artificial intelligence data centers in space.

However it would be used, a SpaceX base would bring a huge change for a cheniere that didn’t even have electricity until the 1950s, and there is divided opinion over whether that would be a completely good thing.

State Senator Bob Hesgens, who is from Gueydan, is one who thinks it could bring billions of dollars to the parish, including the millions needed to build a hurricane protection levee along the coast. He points to a recent press release from Brownsville that said, “Each launch draws thousands of spectators … but beyond the spectacle SpaceX’s presence is fueling serious momentum in jobs, education, tourism, and local spending.”

Realtor Jim Keaty recognized another view in a recent internet posting. “I love Acadiana’s economy and want to see it grow,” he wrote. “I also love the Sportsman’s Paradise we grew up in. These two things are about to be in real tension. If SpaceX comes, the prosperity will be enormous. … But the cost will be real too – a piece of the marsh, a piece of quiet, a piece of the way things have always been.”

The tension Keaty sees is not new to the island. It has been reflected in one way or another since the first settlers ventured into the marsh. For years Pecan Island had a reputation as a place where people lived because they wanted to be left alone.

In 1953, when sixteen miles of shell road finally linked the island to the mainland, a newspaper article described the island as “one of the last frontiers of Louisiana.” That article said, “It’s 450 residents lead quiet, peaceful lives, and are not bothered by any established law or interference from outsiders.”

Until then, the only way to get to Pecan Island was by boat from Abbeville, down the Vermilion River, through the Intracoastal Waterway, across White Lake, then through narrow canals to a private landing. A mail boat that made deliveries three times a week linked the island to the world.

That 1953 report said that most of the people felt that the new road would “change the way of life considerably,” and that a good number of the residents were “somewhat reluctant to see the advent of heavy vehicular traffic, an influx of outsiders, new development, and other innovations of the modern civilization which will undoubtedly follow on the heels of the road completion.”

The article concluded, “With the project completion … Pecan Islanders will for the first time have a direct land link to Louisiana and the nation.” Will a new venture link the little island not only to the nation but to the far reaches of space? Is that what it wants? Does it have any say?

All of those are open questions.

You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@ gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

After seeing the driver speed off, a deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop, which led to a pursuit.

The driver, later identified as 34-yearold Demarion Savoy, of Opelousas, lost control of his vehicle in the 4100 block of I-49 Frontage Road in Opelousas, causing the vehicle to overturn into a ditch.

Deputies received assistance from Louisiana State Police and the St.

Pursuit

Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office in apprehending Savoy.

His passengers included one adult and two children. No one was injured.

Savoy was arrested on the following charges:

• La. R.S. 14:108.1 Aggravated Flight (1 count);

• La. R.S. 14:46 False Imprisonment (1 count)

• La. R.S. 14:93 Cruelty to Juveniles (2 counts);

• La. R.S. 14:95.1 Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of Certain Felonies (2 counts);

• La. R.S. 32:415 Driving under Suspension (1 count);

• La. R.S. 32:1304 Expired MVI (1 count);

• La. R.S. 47:521 Display of Temporary Registration License Plates (1 count);

• La. R.S. 14:96 Aggravated Obstruction of a Highway of Commerce (1 count);

• and La. R.S. 32:861 Insurance Required on Vehicles (1 count).

Because the arrest occurred in St. Landry Parish, Savoy was booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail and is pending transfer to the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center.

Tauzin had suggested that the board approve allowing the City of St. Martinville’s water service to provide water to customers in Catahoula, who are served by Water District 4 via water from the St. Martin Parish Industrial Park water system.

Those three systems are in the process of combining to form the Consolidated Water District No. 4.

Tauzin suggested at the previous board meeting that once St. Martinville gets both of its current water wells online, that the city and the Catahoula water system enter into an intergovernmental agreement to allow the Catahoula system to use money to purchase a generator for the second water well ahead of schedule. Tauzin’s reasoning is that the money will eventually be pooled into the same accounts for the consolidated water district.

The consolidation process includes rehabbing both Well 1 and Well 2 in St. Martinville, with the first one completed and awaiting a two-week testing process, after which Well 2 will be taken off line and rehabbed.

Before the city can provide water to another water district, the state requires that it have two wells running and that both have outside power sources. The city currently has a generator for Well 1 but it cannot be used for Well 2 because it does not have the amperage to generate the power to reach the second well from its location, so another generator must be purchased for it.

The disagreement came after Tauzin referred to complaints by customers in the Catahoula area about bad water. Parish Councilman Hoyt Louviere said he saw several Facebook posts complaining of the water quality.

Quality

“My recommendation was that we’re refurbishing the second well,” Tauzin said. “The first one has been refurbished. The second one is being refurbished in a six-week period. My recommendation was to get these people good water. The water is terrible. I don’t care what anyone says. The water is bad.

“They were complaining on Facebook all weekend.”

If a new soft-start generator could be purchased via the intergovernmental agreement, when the second well refurbishment is completed, he said, the city would be able to provide water to the Catahoula residents.

Tauzin said he just wanted to find a way to provide better water to Catahoula residents.

Louviere said his concern was that people in his district were complaining of brown water. If the engineers were to say it was possible for St. Martinville to provide better water to Catahoula residents, he would be all for it.

Daigle said that last week the chlorine residuals were low in Catahoula, and to get the chlorine levels up the system had to move more water.

That stirs up the water in the line, he said.

“To flush at this rate, you stir up stuff in the line, and that’s what they saw,” Daigle said. “They didn’t see bad water like you’re saying. The water’s not bad.

“Even if we go with the city water right now we’re going to get color in the water.”

Tauzin said that when he said bad water he was referring to discolored water. Daigle said that if customers see discoloration they should turn on an outside faucet and let it run until the water clears.

“Because we have a news reporter, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t say ‘bad water,’” Daigle said. “Discolored is the correct term.”

“When you’re saying discolored water, you’re going to take that white shirt you’re wearing and make it brown,” Tauzin said.

Daigle said that is the result of either lime or iron that has been loosened from the pipes getting into some homes, but the quality of water tested regularly by the district and the state show the water is good quality. The color would be there no matter the source of the water because the coating in the line is being scoured and therefore putting color in the water.

Daigle also asked that customers who see discolored water in their homes call the water district office rather than complaining on Facebook.

Daigle again said he would appreciate if the word “bad” not be used to describe the water.

“I don’t correct you when you talk, and I don’t really appreciate you trying to correct me,” Tauzin said.

“Well, I apologize to you for that,” Daigle said. “But as a water professional, I have to say that.”

“I’m a leader of this parish, a parish representative, and we’ve been fighting bad water for a long time,” Tauzin said. “I consider bad water to be water that’s not drinkable or that discolors your clothes when you wash them. To me, good water is clear water. My determination of bad water and good water is different. I’m just voicing my opinion.”

“Well, I apologize for any misunderstanding,” Daigle said.

“Not a problem,” Tauzin said. “We’re good.”

The district can’t respond to complaints on Facebook because they might not be seen, he said, but any call to the office would result in someone being sent out to look into the problem, even at night if needed, Daigle said.

Parish President Pete Delcambre, who is overseeing the consolidation process, and board members also raised other reasons for not having St. Martinville provide water to Catahoula ahead of the finish of the consolidation process, including issues of billing for Catahoula customers not being handled in the St. Martinville office as well as engineering questions and other concerns.

Tauzin said that his concern was getting better quality water to customers in Catahoula whether it was two weeks or three months ahead of schedule. Any relief would be appreciated by the consumers, he said.

Office space

Delcambre said the parish is negotiating with b1Bank for office space for the new water district. The building on Honore Street was formerly an office for Judge Paul deMahy when he was an attorney but has been unused for years.

It has not been determined if the building would be rented or purchased yet. The building also has no drive-up window but Delcambre said that the option to add a drive-up window would be explored.

A response from b1Bank’s corporate office was expected within a week, after which board members might get a chance to inspect the building.

Senate Bill 121, authored by Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, creates 5 majority-Republican districts and 1 majority-Democratic district following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case restricting the use of race in the drawing of congressional maps.

The map bill now goes to Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, who had suspended congressional primaries while waiting for the new maps. He is expected to sign it.

The Legislature was forced to redraw the maps quickly after the court decision. But the change from the current split of four Republican and two Democratic seats also fits with national Republican efforts to use redistricting to gain more seats in the midterm elections and try to hold onto control of the U.S. House.

Morris said the new map is similar to a 2022 map approved by the U.S. Supreme Court as well as a 2011 congressional map that had been green-lighted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“This was pre-cleared by the Justice Department (under) President Obama as being an appropriate map,” Morris told lawmakers. “So, what we have now is a continuation of those maps in a very similar form that were pre-cleared by the United States Justice Department.”

Despite Morris’ assurances of the map’s ability to withstand legal scrutiny, many are concerned about the potential for litigation on either side of the political aisle. Democrats in the House and Senate assert that the map suppresses Black voters, unfairly packing them into one district.

Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, said Black Democrats are considering a lawsuit challenging the map on the other side of the issue.

“Our motto has always been over the last few years, what we can’t win through legislation, we’ll win through litigation,” Jordan said in a news conference Wednesday. “So we are prepared to do that. We’re going to continue to fight for the African Americans not only of this state but throughout the whole country.”

Some White voters aren’t pleased with the 5-1 map, with the Callais case plaintiffs saying in court filings this week in the Western District of Louisiana that the Legislature is still failing at removing race from consideration of the map.

“If the Legislature fails to enact a new map by then [June 1] or enacts SB 121 without any substantial changes to the current structure, Plaintiffs may well ask the Court to schedule proceedings to impose a remedy that fully complies with Callais,” the court filing says.

Morris emphasized his avoidance in using race to create SB 121, saying he strictly used political affiliation to designate districts. He added that litigation is unavoidable when it comes to congressional maps.

Morris’ map emerged from a process that began more than two weeks ago, when members of a Senate committee stayed up most of the night to hear from dozens of witnesses about various proposed maps.

The Senate then passed Morris’ map, and the House amended it Thursday, making tweaks such as keeping the districts of some state lawmakers within one congressional district rather than being split among two.

Avery White contributed to this story.

GM ASEP is a premier partnership between General Motors, participating dealerships, and select colleges designed to prepare students for careers as highly skilled automotive service technicians. Through the program, students receive handson training using current GM vehicles, technology, tools, and curriculum while gaining valuable real-world experience through dealership internships.

SoLAcc was recently welcomed into the GM ASEP International Association, joining a select network of colleges nationwide authorized to offer the program.

“This is an exciting milestone for South Louisiana Community College and for workforce development across Acadiana,” said Dr. Vincent June, Chancellor of South Louisiana Community College. “A huge demand exists for skilled automotive technicians, and this GM ASEP program answers this call in a transformative way. Programs like this demonstrate the power of partnerships between education and industry to create real pathways to economic mobility and workforce growth.”

Students enrolled in the program will alternate between classroom instruction and paid dealership experience, allowing them to graduate with both technical knowledge and valuable industry experience. The curriculum includes advanced instruction in diagnostics, electrical systems, engine performance, brakes, steering and suspension, transmissions, and emerging automotive technologies.

The addition of GM ASEP further strengthens SoLAcc’s expanding automotive and transportation workforce programs, creating additional pathways for students interested in manufacturerspecific training and certifications.

“Our goal has always been to provide students with the kind of training that leads directly to meaningful careers,” said Bryan Morris, Automotive Program Coordinator at SoLAcc. “GM ASEP gives students the opportunity to learn using current industry technology while building hands-on experience inside dealership environments. This program will help students graduate workforce-ready with a strong foundation for long-term success in the automotive industry.”

“This partnership between South Louisiana Community College and GM ASEP brings together the College, General Motors, local dealerships, and students in a proven training model designed to develop highly skilled service technicians for GM dealerships,” said Anthony T. Ratkowiak, National GM ASEP Manager for Dealer Service and Warranty Operations at General Motors. “By combining classroom instruction with structured cooperative work experience and close collaboration among all partners, GM ASEP strengthens student career pathways while supporting the long-term dealership talent pipeline. South Louisiana Community College will be an excellent resource in preparing ASEP students for successful careers in the automotive industry.”

The program aligns with SoLAcc’s continued investment in workforce education and strategic industry partnerships designed to meet regional labor market needs and strengthen Acadiana’s workforce pipeline.

Students interested

Americans will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in July 2026, and the word “semiquincentennial” may come up in conversation during those celebrations. Some people may not be familiar with the term and what it means. A semiquincentennial is the 250th anniversary of something. It breaks down to “half” of a “quincentennial,” which is 500 years. Synonyms may include sestercentennial, bisequicentennial or quartermillennial. Each term refers to a period of 250 years. It’s a rather large word for a simple meaning, but people are bound to in the GM ASEP program will have access to industry-aligned instruction, dealership partnerships, and career opportunities with General Motors dealerships throughout the region.

Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort are now open. For more information about So-LAcc’s GM ASEP program, visit solacc.edu/ auto.

hear more of it as 2026 goes on and Independence Day is celebrated on July 4.

Americans are reading less and less, and it has become a disturbing trend. The average reader claims to have read only two books this past year. One in four adults say they have read no books at all. Book sales are flat throughout the country, and with some exceptions, independent bookstores are becoming more and more a thing of the past.

There was some good news in a new poll released last week. People in the south read a little more than those from other regions, mostly religious books and romance novels. Democrats read a little more than Republicans but not by much. And surprisingly, surveys show that those who say they never attend religious services read now twice as many books as those who attend frequently.

I guess you can blame both television and the Internet. But we also do not seem to get away enough. I am surprised at the number of my own friends who don’t take off with their family for several weeks like we traditionally did in the past. And when we do, there are the proverbial companions including our cell phone, iPad, and laptop. Distractions galore that do not lend oneself to curl up with a good book.

I will give it my best shot on a number of hot June nights, and hope to complete my eight novels specifically set aside. Next on my list is James Lee Burke’s, “The Tin Roof Blowdown,” that my friends who have read it say was the first important novel to come out of the ruins of Hurricane Katrina. Burke has always been a reliable witness in the maelstrom of the modern American South. Most of his works are located in New Orleans and south Louisiana. He says plaintively that “the New Orleans I knew is gone forever, and its destruction is a harbinger of what’s ahead for the nation. If they want to see the future of this country, come visit Louisiana.” Disturbing. Really disturbing. It’s at the top of my list on my nightstand.

Another in my stack is “Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis.” I’ve read it before. But it is a book I reread every few years. Author Howell Raines gives his own middle age experiences that will resonate to any guy who is aging, been through a divorce, deals with the growth of his children and the death of friends, mentors and relatives. I’ve lost a number of friends and mentors in the past year. I passed my midlife crisis (on several occasions) but there are lessons remembered here.

And finally, “Little Cowboy Poetry.” I used to want to have a ranch with horses and plenty of cows. I never did, but I’ve always enjoyed a number of irreverent cowboy poets like Baxter Black and Ross Knox. Poets who write about cowboys generally focus on the ordinary stuff of life, but there are some genuine truths here with some poems that are primitive and funny that intersperse truths that are no less eternal.

The vacation thing has got to be revisited. For me at least, the days spent on the seashore, looking through a box of books have always been as pleasant and fulfilling, if not more so, than most of the better things that I have experienced. And there are more good books to add to my list that seem to come out every week.

As an accommodation to making a living, I will always throw a laptop in the car and have a cell phone somewhere around. But I will do my best to make these items secondary to the fiction and other works I’ve enjoyed for so many years in the past and hopefully, for many years to come. Let me end with a quote from popular science fiction writer Ray Bradbury.

“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture.

Just get people to stop reading them.”

Peace and Justice, Jim Brown

You can read Jim Brown's past columns and see continuing updates at http://www. jimbrownla.com.

Preliminary data released by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program that covers crime statistics from over 17,000 agencies across the U.S. shows steep declines in crime from 2024 to 2025. The FBI reports an 18.5 percent decline in robbery, an 18.1 percent decline in murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, a 12.4 percent decline in property crime, a 7.6 percent decline in sexual assault, and a 7.2 percent decline in aggravated assault. These numbers are preliminary numbers for 2025 and will be adjusted as the FBI compiles more data, but the trend is clear: crime numbers fell steeply in President Trump’s first year in office.

President Trump routed funding to law enforcement agencies to complete a crime crackdown and deliver on his mass deportation of illegal aliens in 2025. The One Big Beautiful Act included close to $16 billion to DHS and other law enforcement agencies to hire more staff. The bill provided Customs and Border Protection with $4 billion, Immigration and Customs Enforcement with $8 billion and the Bureau of Prisons with $3 billion.

President Trump is also implementing mass deportation of illegal aliens, focusing on illegals with criminal records. The Department of Homeland Security is focusing on arresting and deporting criminals, with DHS removing thousands of illegal aliens convicted of any number of crimes. Between December 2025 and January 2026, ICE arrested on average 1,264 illegals per day according to an analysis of DHS data from the American Immigration Council, which constitutes a 300 percent increase compared to the previous year.

According to American Immigration Council analysis of DHS data, the Trump Administration is routinely deporting around 30,000 illegal aliens per month directly from detention centers. This number does not include the numbers of illegal aliens who are “self-deporting” or choosing to return to their home countries of voluntarily.

The President and his administration have made tackling crime in Washington, D.C. a central focal point. In March 2025, President Trump enacted a crime crackdown in Washington, D.C. that has led to steep declines in crime.

Data from the Metropolitan Police Department in D.C. shows that between 2024 and 2025, crime fell steeply across the city. Homicide fell 32 percent, sex abuse crimes fell 29 percent, assault with a dangerous weapon fell ten percent, burglary fell 28 percent robbery plummeted 37 percent. These are significant, tangible drops in crime, making individuals and property significantly safer in D.C. in 2025 than they were in 2024.

Metropolitan Police Department data for the first half of 2026 shows those rates continuing to plummet. Between 2025 and 2026, homicide declined 40 percent, dropping from 57 homicides to 34 homicides. Sexual crimes fell 21 percent, dropping from 38 incidents to 30 incidents. Robbery dropped 25 percent, from 571 cases to 431 cases, and vehicle theft dropped 58 percent, from 1,931 cases to 808 cases.

The crackdown on crime in cities, support for law enforcement, and the deportation of criminal illegal aliens, are all contributing to a steep decline in crime under the Trump Administration.

This month’s preliminary findings from the FBI released midway through 2026 align with projections from the independent nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice, which predicted in February of this year that once crime data was fully tabulated, 2025 would see the lowest crime rate since 1900. These projections affirm a rapid decline in crime across multiple categories over the past year and a half, indicating President Trump’s crime crackdown is finally forcing crime to trend downward.

Manzanita Miller is the senior political analyst at Americans for Limited Government Foundation.

W hen-from the Teche News files

100 Years Ago June 5, 1926

Mrs. Earl Conrad entertained the Bridge Club Thursday night. A nice lunch was served to the guests before the game of Five Hundred was played, which was much appreciated. Prizes were awarded to Mrs. L. J. Montegut, 1st prize; Mrs. P. H Fleming, 2nd prize and Miss Mina Guidry, Consolation.

A very impressive ceremony took place on the grounds of the Convent of Mercy. Our Blessed Mother, embowered in garlands and flowers, was carried in procession by Misses Mathilde Barras, Genevieve Bienvenu, Stella Gaudin and Alice Fournet. The other pupils followed carrying ing flowers and banners, and singing the praises of the Mother of God. Miss Nelia Halphen, who was elected by the pupils, had the privilege of crowning our Blessed Lady, Queen of May. Miss Marcelle Halphen read the Act of Consecration; Miss Genevieve Bienvenu said the Litany of Our Blessed Lady; and Miss Jeanne Bienvenu read the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart.

An announcement was made at the interior department in Washington, D. C. of opening to settlement and entry under the general land laws of the former naval reserve of 675 acres in St. Mary and St. Martin parishes in Louisiana. Originally set aside because of live oak timber suitable for wooden naval vessels, the department today authorized its restoration to the public domain. Settlers will be required to pay the appraised price of the land, $1.25 per acre, and $2 per thousand feet board measure for the timber.

50 Years Ago June 2, 1976

Newly elected officers of the Breaux Bridge Lion’s Club were Nicky Guidry, president; A. J. Broussard, vice president; Walter Broussard, second vice president; Douglas Champagne, secretary-treasurer; Earl Hollier, tail twister; and Chris Dupuis, lion tamer.

Receiving advancement at a court of honor in St. Martinville were Eugene Resweber, 2nd class; Jose Lasseigne, star scout; and Bryan LeBlanc, 2nd class.

Newly elected officers of Zeta Kappa Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi were Priscilla Breaux, president; Bonnie Landry, vice president; Mickie Castille, corresponding secretary; Lou Ella Blanchard, secretary; Betty Frederick, extension officer; and Sylvia Green, treasurer.

Officers of the newly formed La Sertoma Club in Breaux Bridge were Mrs. Wayne Huval, president; Mrs. Jake Kern, vice president: Mrs. Russell Reed, secretary; and Mrs. Charles Lilly, treasurer.

Officers of the Breaux Bridge Crustacea Association were Felix Menard, president; Mrs. Lorine Ozens, vice president; Mrs. Mildred Lewis, secretary; and Mrs. Cecilia Jean Lewis, treasurer.

40 Years Ago June 4, 1986

A handful of concerned citizens who showed up at a police jury sponsored public hearing showed concern over the environmental effects of a proposed solid waste incinerator.

Inez Gauthier of St. Martinville was named Insurance Woman of the Year at the annual banquet of insurance women.

Officers of the St. Bernard Home/School Association vice were Betty LeBlanc, president; Kay Dugas, vice president; Tommy Guidry, corresponding secretary; Virginia Champagne, recording secretary; and Pauline Landry, treasurer.

25 Years Ago June 6, 2001

Serving on the Student Government Association at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during the upcoming semester were Cassie Soignier of Breaux Bridge, elected as a senator from Business Administration; and Nick Patin of St. Martinville who represented Nursing as a senator.

Winners in the writing division of the Language Arts Fair included Jasmine Lewis of Parks Middle School, Erin Huval of Cecilia Jr. High and Jason Egland of Breaux Bridge High School.

Senior High School writing winners of the Language Arts Fair were Gerard Williams and Danitra George of St. Martinville Sr. High School; and Tessy Ables, Todd Williams and Sarah Boudreaux, Cecilia High School.

Members of the Trinity Cub Scouts participated in a “Raingutter Regatta” in which they made model sailboats and raced them in a water-filled gutter section, using their breaths to power the tiny crafts. Wolf winners were: 1. Dustin Hebert, 2. Branson Cormier, 3. Aaron Baudoin and Tiger winners 1. Jean-Paul Lancon; and 2. Joshua Delahoussaye Bears regatta winners were 1. Alex Oubre, 2. Keithlyn James and 3. Derientroy Guidry.

Webelos (4th grade) winners were 1. Joshua Hebert, 2. Blake Citty and 3. Caleb Dore.

Webelos (5th grade) regatta Winners were 1. Kelly Gooch, 2. Kristopher Simon and 3. Zane Kidd.

St. Martin Parish AARP #4460 meets the second Thursday of the Month at 6:00 p.m. at the Magnolia Center in St. Martinville. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17, Oct. 8, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10. No meetings are held during the summer (Jun., Jul., and Aug.).

ST MARTIN PARISH LIBRARY ST. MARTINVILLE Green Thumb Creations: Chia Pet Edition – (general, limit 12) Thurs., June 4, 3 p. m. Create and plant your own Chia Pet.

Tea Time Garden Treasures! Teacup Bird Feeders Sip, Create, Feed the Birds! (adult, limit 15) Tues., June 9, 4 p.m. Join us for a charming tea-themed picnic and craft your own whimsical teacup bird feeder!

BREAUX BRIDGE Instructor Lead Yoga Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2 p.m.

Instructor Lead ZUMBA (adult) Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m.

Dig In and Discover!

– (teen-adult, limit 20) Thurs., June 4, 10 a.m. Gain knowledge of key gardening principals & how to save seeds from heirloom varieties!

Berry Good! – (general, limit 20) Fri., June 5, 10 a.m. Take a closer look at blueberries, which are in season then witness how blueberry jam is made!

Shades of Sunshine!

(general, limit 20) Mon., June 8,10 a.m. Engage in natural dying techniques using marigolds and leave with your finished result!

Stitch & Chat Sewing Club (teen-adult) Wed., June 10 & 24 at 1 p.m. and Wed., July 8 & 22 at 1 p.m.

CECILIA STEM Playground (youth) Wednesdays, 4 p.m. Encourage socialization while developing basic problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Instructor Lead Yoga (adult, limit 10) Mondays and Wednesdays, 2 p.m.

Stitch & Chat Sewing Club – (teen-adult) Wed., June 3 & 17, 12 p.m., Wed., July 1, 15 & 27, 12 p.m.

Bingo! – ( general, limit 30) Wed., June 17, 6 p.m., Wed., July 1, 6 p.m., Wed., July 15, 6 p.m.

Free Movie Friday – (early childhood, limit 20) Fri., June 5, 2 p.m. The Lorax-Rated PG – (general, limit 20) Fri., June 12, 2 p.m. The Odd Life of Timothy Green-Rated PG – (general, limit 20) Fri., June 26, 2 p.m. The Secret Garden-Rated PG.

Juice & Paint Party (early childhood-youth, limit 10) Animal Farm Style! Sat., June 6, 10 a.m. Create your own farm animal masterpiece!

Plant Paint...Panache! Tues., July 7, 6 p.m. Sip, paint, and let’s paint your favorite plants!

Explore The Sweet Side Of The Bayou!

From Familiar Favorites to Hidden Gems (general, limit 30). Tues., June 9 at 2 p.m. Which fruits are traditionally harvested in Louisiana?

PARKS Birds in the Window! Birds Suncatcher! – (youth-teen, limit 12) Wed., June 3, 11 a.m. Create stunning birdthemed suncatchers.

Vibrant Visions! Art that speaks in color! – (teen-adult, limit 15) Mon., June 8,1 p.m. & Mon., July 6, 1 p.m. Step into a vibrant painting session with acclaimed local artist Carolann Broussard.

Home for the Birds!

Birdhouse Decorating Studio! (general, limit 15) Wed., June 10, 11 a.m.

Rooted in Tradition, Rising in Purpose (general, limit 30) Fri., June 12, 10 a.m. Rooted in growing good food and honoring ancestral skills, this program highlights farming as a path to a healthier, more connected future— where tradition meets tomorrow. ********

Join Cub Scout Pack 301 or Boy Scout Troop 174. Cub Scouts for boys and girls in Kindergarten thru 5th grade; Boy Scouts for boys 11-17 years old. Contact Bianca Bonin at 337-654-7336.

The Arc of St.

Martin, 405 N. Main, St. Martinville and Main St., Breaux Bridge open Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 12 noon. Accepting donations.

Arnaudville French Table meets on the last Saturday of every month at 9:30 a.m., at the NuNu’s Art Gallery, 1510 Courtableau Hwy. Free event, open to the public. For additional info 337-580-5536.

St. Teresa Center

for the Works of Mercy in St. Martinville is currently in need of canned goods. Any product donation can be dropped off Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. - 12 noon. 600 South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, 337242-2174.

God’s Pantry of Love is in need of nonperishable items to restock its food pantry. Henderson Bible Church, Lisa Trautwein, 915-412-0758.

The St. Bernard/ St. Francis Food Pantry, 701 W. Bridge, Breaux Bridge is open Tuesdays from 8:3010:30 a.m. Call 337314-9494 to inquire, make an appointment, or to volunteer.

Honor Guard services available for deceased military funerals. Must provide DD214 to funeral home. Contact Tom Goscienski at 337-258-4462 or John Dupre 318-2720262. Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site 1200 N. Main St. St. Martinville

St. Martinville French Table - Every Wed., 10:00–11:00 a.m. A fun hour of French conversation and activities— Cajun, Creole, and international French welcome! Beginners to native speakers meet indoors in the AV room.

The grants are provided by SLEMCO’s Operation Round-Up program which is funded by SLEMCO customers who allow their monthly electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar each month, allowing small change (average yearly donation is $6 per customer) to make a big difference in the lives of real people right here in Acadiana.

To date, some 5,158 fully-vetted individuals and organizations have received a total of $8.6 million in grants since the program began in 1995.

SLEMCO provides electric power to 120,000 homes and businesses in Acadia, Avoyelles, Cameron, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion Parishes.

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live for ever. The bread that I will give him is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live.” This started an angry argument among them. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked. Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. The living Father sent me, and because of him I live also. In the same way whoever eats me will live because of me. This, then, is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread that your ancestors ate. They later died, but those who eat this bread will live for ever.”

EVANGILE DE JESUS CHRIST SELON ST. JEAN

Je suis le pain vivant qui est descendu du ciel. Si quelqu’un mange de ce pain, il vivra éternellement; et le pain que je donnerai, c’est ma chair, que je donnerai pour la vie du monde. Là-dessus, les Juifs disputaient entre eux, disant: Comment peut-il nous donner sa chair à manger? Jésus leur dit: En vérité, en vérité, je vous le dis, si vous ne mangez la chair du Fils de l’homme, et si vous ne buvez son sang, vous n’avez point la vie en vousmêmes. Celui qui mange ma chair et qui boit mon sang a la vie éternelle; et je le ressusciterai au dernier jour. Car ma chair est vraiment une nourriture, et mon sang est vraiment un breuvage. Celui qui mange ma chair et qui boit mon sang demeure en moi, et je demeure en lui. Comme le Père qui est vivant m’a envoyé, et que je vis par le Père, ainsi celui qui me mange vivra par moi. C’est ici le pain qui est descendu du ciel. Il n’en est pas comme de vos pères qui ont mangé la manne et qui sont morts: celui qui mange ce pain vivra éternellement.

Friday, May 22

Accardo, Denise, 59, 700 Block of Herald St., New Orleans, illegal possession of stolen things; Breaux Bridge Police Dept. (BBPD).

Brasseaux, Jordain, 39, 1000 Block of Pat St., Arnaudville, failure to appear; issuance of arrest warrant; failure to appear; issuance of arrest warrant; St. Martin Sheriff’s office (SMSO).

Carias-Tejada, Carlos, 27, hold for USM; St. Martin Parish Government.

Landry, Brandon, 36, 1100 Block of Patin Rd., Breaux Bridge, contempt of court; (SMSO).

Minix, Charlie, 45, 200 Block of Margaret St., Breaux Bridge, attempt; first degree rape/vaginal; attempt; home invasion - simple assault; (BBPD).

Nedie, Jasmine, 31, 1100 Block of Benoit Dr., Breaux Bridge, hold for USM; (SMSO).

Rochon, Blaine, 28, 300 Block of Randolph St., St. Martinville, probation violation; Lafayette Sheriff’s office (LSO).

Saturday, May 23

Mouton, Amynie,18, 800 Block of Agnes Dr., Breaux Bridge, domestic abuse battery-child endangerment--simple assault; domestic abuse battery-- child endangerment--simple assault; (BBPD).

Sunday, May 24

Daigle, Ted, 59, 1000 Block of Bayou Portage Rd., St. Martinville, domestic abuse battery - simple assault; (SMSO).

Monday, May 25

Breaux, Teddy, 63, 1600 Block of Herman Dupuis Rd., Breaux Bridge, failure to appear; issuance of arrest warrant; (SMSO).

Hammond, Mylie, 19, 1100 Block of Oleus Champagne Rd., St. Martinville, second degree battery; (SMSO).

Tuesday, May 26

Joiner, Jules, 29, 100 Block of Lachene St., Pierre Part, probation violation; (SMSO).

Landry, Joshua, 36, 1200 Block of Alcide Bonin Rd., Breaux Bridge, possession of schedule II narcotics; flight from an officer; operating vehicle while license is suspended; maximum speed limit; (SMSO).

Taylor, Kenneth, 58, 2800 Block of Rodeo Rd., Abbeville, organized retail theft; (BBPD).

Wednesday, May 27

Antoine, Paul, 40, 100 Block of Tennessee St., Lafayette, failure to appear; issuance of arrest warrant; (SMSO).

Celestine, Horace, 63, 100 Block of Cypress Garden Rd., St. Martinville, domestic abuse battery - simple assault; St. Martinville Police Dept. (SMPD).

Fuselier, Daniel, 73, 2000 Block of Terrace Hwy, St. Martinville, obstruction of justice/ intimidation/ threats; (SMSO).

Gregoire, Ashley, 43, 100 Block of Mariast St., St. Martinville, filing or maintaining false public records; (SMPD).

Jeanlouis, Rickey, 65, 100 Block of Radcliff Dr., Lafayette, hold for court; (SMSO).

Sonnier, Ray, 42, 1000 Block of Bayou Alexander Hwy, St. Martinville, hold for court; (SMSO).

Thursday, May 28

Auguillard, Jarret, 40, 1400 Block of Breaux Bridge Senior High Rd., Breaux Bridge, issuing worthless checks/bad checks; (SMSO).

Horton, Dillon, 32, 300 Block of Coteau Holmes Rd., Loureauville, parole violation; Probation and Parole (P&P).

Maiben III, Earl, 47, 400 Block of Castille St., Breaux Bridge, flight from an officer; aggravated flight from an officer; reckless operation of a vehicle; (BBPD).

Melancon, Jeremy, 50, 1300 Block of Nina Hwy, Breaux Bridge, failure to appear; issuance of arrest warrant; (SMSO).

Savoy, Demarion, 34, 800 Block of Guidry St., Opelousas, flight from an officer; aggravated flight from an officer; false imprisonment; cruelty to a juvenile- minor injuries-family offenses nonviolent; possession of firearm/concealed by convicted felon; operating vehicle while license is suspended; expired mvi; display of temporary registration license plates; aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce; insurance required on vehicle (security required); (SMSO).

Thomas, Dvontreal, 28, 1600 Block of Railroad St., St. Martinville, probation violation; (P&P).

According to Gas-Buddy price reports, the cheapest station in Louisiana was priced at $3.23/g while the most expensive was $4.99/g, a difference of $1.76/g.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 19.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.26/g today. The national average is down 17.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.18/g higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

Historical gasoline prices in Louisiana and the national average going back five years: June 1, 2025: $2.68/g (U.S. Average: $3.09/g) June 1, 2024: $3.06/g (U.S. Average: $3.52/g) June 1, 2023: $3.08/g (U.S. Average: $3.54/g) June 1, 2022: $4.25/g (U.S. Average: $4.71/g) June 1, 2021: $2.70/g (U.S. Average: $3.04/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Baton Rouge$3.75/g, down 19.3 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.94/g.

New Orleans$3.81/g, down 16.6 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.98/g.

“Average gasoline prices declined in all 50 states over the last week, with GasBuddy now tracking 15 states where the average price of gasoline has fallen below $4 per gallon, offering motorists some of the most widespread relief seen in weeks,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Much of the decline was driven by falling oil prices and the unwinding of recent price cycles, as growing optimism surrounding a potential U.S.-Iran agreement helped ease concerns over global oil supplies. Diesel prices also posted a substantial decline, falling more than 15 cents per gallon nationally. However, the coast is anything but clear. Oil prices edged higher Sunday evening as uncertainty surrounding a potential deal persisted and renewed Israeli attacks added another layer of geopolitical risk. While motorists may continue to see some short-term relief, some price-cycling states could soon experience another upward swing as retailers run out of room to lower prices further. Overall, any setback in negotiations could quickly reverse the recent decline in fuel prices.”

Source: GasBuddy

On Memorial Day, it had been nice all day so I decided to take the dog on the levee even if the grass was still wet. We barely got in the car when rains came, so hard and heavy I could not see the road. Foolishly, I continued just a way to put books in the Little Free Library at the community center and by the time I passed my house on the return, the rain had stopped. So we sat at the pavilion and then moved to the levee where we joined one friend and his dog and another neighbor joined us on his ATV.

I like these visits on the levee. It’s fun to just chat and pick up gossip and learn all sorts of things I didn’t know. My dog gets so excited when she sees the other dog but when they actually meet they just sniff various parts and then go their separate ways.

At the landing, I first watched some guy pull up to the floating dock, walk to get his truck backed into a ramp and when he went back to his boat it wouldn’t start. The poor guy tried and tried and eventually it did start and he was able to load his boat but I know he must have been soaked.

The same day, or maybe the next, I watched two boats come in, both packed from front to back with crawfish traps. I’m told a few people are catching some crawfish, but not much. Right or wrong, some fishermen leave their traps out from year to year, hanging in trees or in the water but that’s not a good idea and lots of traps get stolen.

Now the holiday weekend is over. School is over and it’s quiet on Belle River. The water is up but doesn’t seem to be going higher.

I currently have one daughter who is hiking the Appalachian Trail with four others. Four days and three nights she tells me, carrying everything in backpacks. I don’t think cellphone communication is very good or even possible so I’ll not hear the details until she gets home.

The husband of my other daughter is in a big VA hospital in Nashville, Tn where he had part of his intestine removed because of an obstruction. We don’t know if there is any cancer but he’s slowly recovering from the major surgery.

As I type I can hear the Purple Martins chirping away but still not a sign of a hummingbird. I may check in with Mr. Huet today. I think I missed a call from him.

I spent an hour this morning listening and watching my greatgrandson in Eugene, Oregon, at his recent recital. He plays the piano. Other young people from this same music school played horns and sang.

I’ve just learned that the French Immersion program at Pierre Part Elementary will be cut. Not sure quite why but the current French teacher has been here for many years and she will continue by teaching English. Such a shame to lose the French Immersion program. I believe totally that learning a second language, whatever it is, is good for a young person.

To be honest I am saddened by the lack of so many things that once were taught in school and are no more. Or not necessarily taught, but available. There seems to be so much ‘required’ that there is no room for the extras. Those that emphasized social interactions not just academics.

Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be emailed at lindacooke1939@ gmail.com.

Senior Senior Travel Discounts: How to Save on Your Next Trip

Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I are retiring later this year and hope to travel more while we’re still healthy and active. Our budget will be tighter, so every dollar counts. Are there worthwhile senior travel discounts you can tell us about, and at what age do they begin?

--Ready to Roam

Dear Ready,

Retirement is the perfect time to start checking destinations off your wish list. Senior travel discounts can make a real difference. Whether it’s airfare, hotels, cruises, train tickets or attractions, the savings can add up – sometimes hundreds of dollars per trip – if you know where to look and compare.

To qualify, you’ll need to meet the age requirement, which varies by company. Some start as early as 50, but most don’t kick in until 55, 60, 62 or 65. Knowing these benchmarks helps you plan and save as soon as you’re eligible.

Ways to save

One of the best ways to uncover senior travel deals is through membership organizations. AARP, with membership starting at 50, offers the deepest travel discounts, including savings on hotels, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. AAA also provides travel-planning services and member savings on lodging and car rentals to adults of any age.

Another simple but often overlooked strategy is to ask. Many hotels, tours and attractions don’t advertise senior discounts but may offer one if you inquire. Keep in mind, though, that the “senior rate” isn’t always the lowest price. Promotional sales, advance-purchase fares and seasonal specials can sometimes be cheaper, so compare before booking.

Flexibility is another powerful money-saving tool. Traveling midweek, avoiding peak holidays, booking during shoulder seasons, or adjusting your dates slightly can significantly lower costs. You may also find last-minute deals on cruises, rail trips and guided tours, especially during slower travel periods when companies are eager to fill unsold space.

Here’s a rundown of some different discount deals currently available: Airlines: Senior airfare discounts are less common than they once were, but some still exist. AARP members can get discounts on select British Airways flights, about $65 off economy and up to $200 off business class. United and Delta may offer limited senior fares, usually for travelers 65 and older, on select routes if booked by phone or using “Senior” search tools. Loyalty programs can also add value through free checked bags or seat upgrades.

Trains: Amtrak offers about 10 percent off for travelers 65-plus on many routes, with some crossborder discounts starting at 60. Rail passes and multi-city tickets may provide additional savings.

Rental cars: AARP members can save up to 30 percent with companies like Avis and Budget, often with perks like a free additional driver and reduced rates on optional coverage. Hertz offers discounts through its 50 Plus Program.

Hotels & lodging: Many hotel brands offer senior or AARP rates, typically 10 to 15 percent off. Examples include Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (Days Inn, Ramada, Super 8, La Quinta), Best Western, Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Quality Inn), Cambria, and Rodeway Inn. Booking directly or through AARP usually ensures the rate.

Cruises: Some lines offer discounted fares for travelers 55-plus on select sailings, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC, and Viking River Cruises. AARP members may receive additional onboard credits through affiliated providers. Offpeak sailings often provide the best value.

Restaurants: Many chains offer senior menus, complimentary beverages, or percentage discounts for ages 55 or 60-plus, including Applebee’s, Arby’s, Burger King, Chili’s, Chick-fil-A, Denny’s, IHOP, Boston Market, and CiCi’s Pizza. Participation varies by location.

Entertainment & attractions: Museums, theaters, zoos, aquariums, and golf courses often offer reduced admission for seniors 60 or 65-plus. One of the best bargains is the America the Beautiful Senior Pass from the National Park Service. For $20 per year or $80 for a lifetime pass (available at 62), it provides access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Send your questions or comments to questions@ savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has invited the general public to take part in its annual Free Fishing Weekend on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7.

Louisiana’s Free Fishing Weekend allows residents and visitors to fish Louisiana waters without an otherwise required fishing license.

“This weekend there is no need to purchase a fishing license, so please bring your families and friends to enjoy one of our state’s most beloved pastimes,” LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth said. “Please take this opportunity to make memories with your loved ones and introduce them to the great sport of fishing.”

While a fishing license is not required, all fishing regulations, including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions, will remain in effect during Free Fishing Weekend.

For an added bonus, LDWF will hold the following events to teach the skills necessary to give you the best opportunity to catch fish. Events range from lessons on bait choice, tackle setup, casting, and knot tying to fishing techniques, landing, handling, and taking the fish off the hook.

• Introduction to Fishing – Parent-Child Waddill Wildlife Refuge 4142 N. Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70814 June 6th 2026: 9 a.m. - Noon Register at https:// louisianaoutdoors. com/ events/ 196027

• Introduction to Fishing – Parent-Child Waddill Wildlife Refuge 4142 N. Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70814 June 6th 2026: 1 p.m. - 4p.m. Register at https://louisianaoutdoors. com/ events/196028 In addition, a free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit is still needed during Free Fishing Weekend when possessing tunas, billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers, snappers, hinds, cobia, wahoo, dolphinfish, and gray triggerfish.

Anglers should choose the “Free Fishing Weekend” option for the license type. Anglers can skip the “LDWF Fishing License Number” field. A Free Fishing Weekend ROLP will be valid only on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7. An annual ROLP is still needed if possessing offshore species outside of Free Fishing Weekend.

Register for a ROLP at https://ldwf.wlf. la.gov/rolp/login.

LDWF reminds the public that, at any time outside of Free Fishing Weekend, anglers 18 and older must possess a Louisiana fishing license to fish in any Louisiana public waters. Anyone who decides to continue fishing for the remainder of the year must purchase a state fishing license at Louisiana Outdoors, https://louisianaoutdoors. com/.

LA Creel, LDWF’s near-real-time landings data collection program, is responsible for the estimates.

The private recreational Red Snapper season began May 1 in both state and federal waters, running seven days a week with a daily bag limit of four fish per person and a 16-inch total length minimum size limit. The season will remain open until recreational landings approach or reach Louisiana’s allocation.

Resident and Non-Resident Recreational Anglers:

• Must possess valid Louisiana basic and Saltwater Recreational Fishing Licenses (https://louisianaoutdoors. com/) and a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) (no fee) to fish for or possess Red Snapper, and other offshore and reef fish species.

• Anglers get a ROLP via the ROLP website (https://www.wlf. louisiana. gov/ page/ rolp).

• Once anglers have registered, they can save an electronic copy on their mobile device or print a copy of the ROLP indicating their valid ROLP and carry it on their person along with applicable licenses while fishing offshore. ROLPs are also displayed on LA Wallet.

State For-Hire Charter Vessels:

• State for-hire charter captains (those who do not have a federal Gulf of America charter/ headboat permit for reef fish) are not allowed to fish in waters beyond 9 nautical miles.

• Must also possess a ROLP (no fee) to fish for or possess Red Snapper, as well as other offshore and reef fish species.

• May only fish for Red Snapper in statemanaged waters (within the 9 nautical miles from shore), when the Louisiana recreational Red Snapper season is open.

Federal For-Hire Charter Vessels:

• Vessels with federal reef fish for-hire permits will remain under federal regulations and may only fish during the federal season, which will open June 1.

• May only fish in federal waters during the federal for-hire season – June 1 through September 16.

• If a federal forhire charter captain also holds a Louisiana charter license, he/she may also fish state waters, but only when the federal for-hire charter season overlaps with the Louisiana season. When the federal for-hire season closes, the federal for-hire captain may not fish state waters.

LDWF encourages anglers to reduce barotrauma while fishing for Red Snapper and other reef fish by using descending devices to return fish to a survivable depth before being released. Please see the LDWF barotrauma website (https:// www.wlf.louisiana.gov/ page/barotrauma) for more information. Federal regulations require that anglers have a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use while fishing for reef fish in federal waters.

Visit the 2026 Red Snapper season webpage (https://www.wlf. louisiana. gov/ page/ red-snapper) for detailed landing estimates.

2025 was a fairly mild hurricane season with 13 named storms — including five hurricanes, four of which were major.

This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting another below-normal hurricane season with the potential of eight to 14 named storms, three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes with a 70% confidence in these ranges.

When preparing for a hurricane, keep foods on hand that do not have to be refrigerated before or after opening, will not spoil over a period of a few days, require little to no preparation and can be prepared without electricity, said Sandra May, Ag-Center registered dietitian. Examples are ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables, protein or fruit bars, crackers, tortillas, nuts, nut butter, dry cereal, canned juices, dried fruit and shelf-stable milk.

“Be sure to have at least a three-day food supply for each person in the household,” May said.

AgCenter nutrition and community health agent Shannon Coleman echoed May’s instructions and added that a three-day water supply is crucial.

“It is best to buy bottled water and prepare for 1 gallon of water per day per person,” she said.

To keep food safe in the event of a power outage, keep the doors of your refrigerator and freezer shut as much as possible.

“Frozen foods can be safely refrozen if they still have ice crystals on them or the temperature is 40 degrees or lower,” Coleman said.

She also said to make sure you have a manual can opener, a food thermometer to monitor temperatures and bleach if you need to sanitize utensils, pots and water.

Cleaning and disinfecting items such as soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and general household cleaning and disinfecting supplies for surfaces are important, especially if a storm necessitates cleanup because of floodwaters or storm damage, Coleman said.

Finally, if you or your family are forced to evacuate to a shelter, she said it’s important to follow that individual shelter’s safety policies.

Another step for storm preparation is to make sure your home is ready.

Carol Friedland, director of the AgCenter La-House Home and Landscape Resource Center, said to remember the letter “s” for home projects. She said to inspect shingles, soffits, seals, shutters and surroundings.

Homeowners looking to replace a roof have hurricane- hardy options such as wind-rated shingles (Class H is best) and tearresistant, synthetic underlayment. But if a replacement isn’t in the plans, Friedland said, homeowners can strengthen existing shingles with roofing cement.

“Put some dabs under the first course of shingles and along gable ends where the roof covering is most vulnerable,” she said. “Roofing cement in the valleys of hipped roofs can also prevent water damage because those areas are prone to leaking with immense amounts of rain. Roof damage is the biggest homeowner insurance loss following hurricanes.”

Friedland also recommended securing soffits with polyurethane sealant and stainless steel screws.

“Well-fastened soffits are less likely to get blown around, allow wind-driven rain into your attic and cause major damage,” she said.

Friedland went on to say that rooftop vents should be checked to assure they are secured to the rooftop and to replace any missing or corroded screws.

“Low-profile vents can be a more aerodynamic replacement for turbine vents, which are prone to blow-off,” she said. “Inexpensive caulk can be used to seal holes where wires, cables and pipes enter or exit your house.”

Friedland added that when high winds are expected, check your surroundings for anything that could fall, tip over or become flying debris. Elevated air conditioner condensers should be strapped down to keep them from blowing off their platforms in high winds. Any source of debris can damage windows. Shutters such as lightweight, translucent, removable storm panels are a much more convenient alternative to heavy plywood boards.

“Examine your surroundings for anything that could become flying debris, and store or secure it,” she said.

AgCenter horticulture agent Ashley Pereira warned that home landscapes can become hazardous during storms. She urges homeowners to inspect large trees and shrubs for dead or weak branches and to contact a licensed arborist as soon as possible to remove any that pose a risk.

Secure anything that strong winds could pick up, including tools, chemicals, trellises, planters — anything that could become a projectile.

Pereira also stressed the importance of keeping drainage systems clear of debris to help prevent flooding. She said to set your irrigation system to rain delay or turn it off entirely to avoid saturating the soil further, which can worsen flood conditions.

“If your lawn is overgrown and you mow it just before a storm, be sure to collect or properly mulch the clippings so they don’t end up blocking storm drains,” she said. “Once the storm has passed, inspect your trees and shrubs again for damage. Do so safely, and contact a licensed arborist.”

Pereira recommends acting as soon as possible — don’t wait until a storm is on the radar. She noted that arborists’ schedules fill up quickly, and many trees are still recovering from drought stress from 2023.

Preparation also means getting pets and livestock ready for a storm. AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Christine Navarre said animals should have vaccinations and a checkup if necessary.

“Healthy animals will be better prepared to handle the stress of relocation,” Navarre said.

Microchipping pets or having identification for them in some way will help if you are separated from your animals. Navarre recommended storing identification numbers online in the cloud so they can be retrieved from anywhere.

She also said to prepare an emergency to-go box that includes contact information for animals’ veterinarians, medications, feed and leashes. It also is important to familiarize a pet with its pet carrier and get horses accustomed to loading in a trailer before it is necessary for animals to be transported.

More information can be found at the American Veterinary Medical Association website at https:// bit.ly/3m0XU3y.

Finally, for farmers and ranchers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has published tips on how to better protect your investment in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster. They can be found at https://bit.ly/Farmer-HurricaneTips.

Beginning with grade 8 and the four students who will go on to 9th grade - Addison Rink, Desarae Daigle, Presley Dardar and Carson Gros, who was named student of the year.

Principal Christopher Shirley and Secretary Melinda Hymel, along with all the teachers handed out certificates and trophies for just about everything you could imagine.

In addition to straight A students Cheyanne Bailey, Luna Duval, Jaiklyn Morales and Zaylee Tran, first grade; Anna Kate Blanchard and Ryli Jo Hartdegan, second grade; Evangeline Verret, third grade; straight Lucy Acosta, fourth graade; straight Gavin Harvey,who was also the student of the year, and Corlin Mayon and Kaden Ohmer,fifth grade.

There were also awards for AR reading count, citizenship, master of manners, neatest handwriting, fashionista, positive attitude, sports, most helpful and outstanding artist, conduct and others.

A truly comprehensive recognition ceremony for academics and the social involvement of every student.

BANKRUPTCY

Kylie L. Guidroz, 1070 Jed Dr., Breaux Bridge. Chapter 7.

CASH SALES

Dexter Guidry to Ely J. Comeaux. Ground with improvements, Sec 3 9-6, Lot 11, .661 ac. Trosclair Estates. $163,000.

Dean P. Derouen to SBC Land Management LLC. Ground with improvements, Sec 15 8-5, 2arp., Tract F. $4,200.

Donald W. and Peggy T. Taylor to Benjamin B. and Kimberly B. Eggart. Ground with improvements, Sec 67 & 68 10-5, 4.11 ac. Lot 37 of Beau Coteau. 130 Beau Coteau Pwy, Broussard. $115,000.

James J. Bernard to Kenneth and Karen C. Vicknair. Ground with improvements, Sec 27 & 28 10-7, W3E Lot 8, 16.01 ac., etc. $85,000.

Susan C. Winkler to Wendy B. Reaux. Ground with improvements, 1/2 int in Sec 44 9-6, City of Breaux Bridge. $50,000.

Monica G. Dugas to Chad and Cheryl Billiot. Ground with improvements, Sec 118 9-6, Lots 32 & 33. 2743A Doyle Melancon Rd., Breaux Bridge. $239,000.

Joyce Broussard to Cory Dawkins. Ground with improvements, Sec 25 11-6, .50 ac., Lot 3E, 1026 Boudreaux Rd., New Iberia. $75,000.

Doug S. and Susanne G. Schroeder to Jason M. Bonin. Ground with improvements, Sec 106 9-6, Tracts 1A & 1B. 114 Van Buren St., Breaux Bridge. $151,000.

Jerrell J. Wiggins, et al, to Denny Jett. Ground with improvements, Sec 18 15-13, Item A of Lot 8 Tract 1, .694 ac. 1156 Stephensville Rd., Morgan City. $42,000.

Karen M. Spears to Penguin Rentals LLC. Ground with improvements, 702 South Poydras St., Breaux Bridge. $100,000.

Ethan J. and Stacey H. Branom to Jacob M. and Eden J. Etcheverria. Ground with improvements, Sec 42 11-5, W2W Cade, Lot 3-B. $33,000.

James L. Bouterie to Stacey B. Lancaster. Ground with improvements, Sec 7 15-13, Lots 12 & 14 of Gustave Acres Subd. 1098 Landry Rd., (Lane), Stephensville. $500,000.

Charles J. Judice and Jonathan J. Judice to Demarcus T. and Latoya Mack. Ground with improvements, Sec 7 11-6, 3.682 ac., Lot 2-B, Loreauville Hwy, St. Martinville. $70,000.

JLS Properties LLC and S&A David LLC to Hebert Thomasson. Ground with improvements, Sec 38 8-5, Lot 8-A of Big Oak Subd. $100,000.

Allstate Credit Plan LLC to David L. Lee Jr. Ground with improvements, east 63’ of Lot 1 Block M, Ameal Subd. 207 Mary Ann St., St. Martinville. $23,000.

Cyrus J. Hardy and Byron R. Branch to Holden J. Huval. Ground with improvements, Sec 1 9-6, Parcel II, 9.943 ac. 1004 Newton Rd., Breaux Bridge. $118,000.

Homegrown Cattle LLC to Alden K. and Tenisha A. Prout. Ground with improvements, Sec 38 8-5, Plot C-2, 1.001 ac. $35,000.

M&C Contractors Inc. to 3A Farms LLC. Ground with improvements, Sec 57 11-6, 4.28 ac., etc. $240,000.

Wendell L. and Linda R. Carroll to Michael Soileau and Thomas Ude Jr. Ground with improvements, Sec 38 8-5, Lot 3 of Subd, 1 ac. 1022 S. River Dr., Arnaudville. $193,500.

DONATIONS

Benjamin Francis Jr. to Joy M. Woodard Revocable Trust. Ground with improvements, Sec 38 107, W1E. 1152 Banker Rd., St. Martinville.

Melissa A. and Donald J. Wiltz to Andrea Wroebel, Tom Wroebel, Kathrin Hinz and Raimund Hinz. Ground with improvements, Sec 30 8-8, Lot 27 Elm Point Est. 2232 Atchafalaya River Hwy, Breaux Bridge.

Bobby J. and Aleathia H. Celestine to Jonny J. Laviolette. Ground with improvements, Sec 68 9-6, Tract 3D, .73 c.

Succ. of Malcolm P. Calais to Ian C. and Dolly Z. Calais. Ground with improvements, Sec 24 8-6, Lot 7A, .192 ac. 1184 Grand Anse Hwy, Breaux Bridge.

Willie P. Calais to Verna M. Calais and Kimberly R. Calais. Ground with improvements, Sec 62 11-6 & Sec 52 11-7, W1E Lot 5.

Jacqueline P. Wallace to Michael J. Latiolais. Ground with improvements, Sec 36 8-6, W5E 10-3/4 RP., Lot 3.

Jarrid Z. Benoit to Taylor R. Girard. Ground with improvements, Sec 111 8-5, 3.42 ac., Tract 2.

JUDGMENTS OF DIVORCE

Cody R. Theriot vs Brittany B. Theriot.

Mounthana Vongprathoum and Judy S. Vongprathoum vs Mounthana Vongprathoum and Judy S. Vongprathoum.

Kizzy C. Richard vs Reginald P. Richard.

JUDGMENTS OF POSSESSION

Succ. of Billy M.Philbeck and Succ. of Celest H. Philback. Amanda P. Nunez and Shawn J. Philbeck are heirs.

Succ. of Michelle B. Smith. Charles R. Smith and Blair N. Hulin are heirs.

Succ. of Dallas J. Sonnier. Peggy G. Sonnis, Brad D. Sonnier, Kimberly S. Duplechain, Ryan T. Sonnier and David P. Sonnier are heirs.

JUDGMENTS

Southwest Loan Co of Acadiana LLC vs Lavin S. Auzenne. $2,059.41 int, fees.

Lendmark Financial Services LLC vs Helen K. Castle. $8,954.29 int, fees.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Alex Kidder. $4,013.67 int, fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs Shannette Wilson. $8,747.844 int, fees.

Pelican State Credit Union vs Javon Williams. $13,137.60 int, fees.

Discover Bank vs Mattie Prejean. $6,883.60 int, fees.

Synchrony Bank vs Misty D. Melancon. $6,957.61 int, fees.

Southwest Loan of Breaux Bridge vs Brittany Bergeron. $979.00 int, fees.

Southwest Loan of Breaux Bridge vs Harry L. Charles. $1,656.00 int, fees.

Southwest Loan of Breaux Bridge vs Latoya Mitchell. $903.00 int, fees.

Southwest Loan Of Breaux Bridge vs Shannon LeBlanc. $1,510.00 int, fees.

Conn Appliances Inc. vs John Alexander. $4,212.35 int, fees.

Galaxy International Purchasing LLC vs Albertha Conday. $2,650.79 int, fees.

Synchrony Bank vs Barbara Schexnider. $3,304.99 int, fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs Ashley P. Babineaux. $5,373.02 int, fees.

Southwest Loan Co. Of

Gulfco of Louisiana LLC vs Terri L. Etienne. $2,803.19 int, fees.

Barclays Bank Delaware vs Stacy Savoy. $2,666.50 int, fees.

MORTGAGES

Ely J. Comeaux to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 3 T9S R6E Lot 11, .661 ac. Trosclair Estates. 1014 Stanley Robert Rd, Breaux Bridge. $164,646.

Nicholas O. and Caroline R. Pitre to Bank of Abbeville and Trust Co. Ground with improvements, Sec 52 T8S R6E Lot 6, 5.05 ac. 1089 Mitt Naquin Rd., Arnaudville. $331,500.

Demarcus T. and Latoya Mack to Meritus Federal Credit Union. Ground with improvements, Sec 7 T11S R6E Lot 2-B, 3.682 ac. $60,000.

Christopher S. and Amy L. McLemore o Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 6 & 118 T10S R6E, 1.281 ac. Lot C. 1012 Dautreuil Ln., St. Martinville. $254,000.

Steven J. and Connie B. Broussard to Hancock Whitney Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 13 T9S R6E Lot 2, 2.795 ac. 1059 Rusty Rd., Breaux Bridge. $75,000.

Holden J. Huval to Hancock Whitney Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 1 T9S R6E, 9.943 ac. Parcel II. 1004 Newton Rd., Breaux Bridge. $118,000.

Kenneth and Karen C. Vicknair to Community First Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 27 & 28 T10S R7E Lot 8, 16.01 ac., etc. $45,000.

Jason L. and Kristy A. Faulk to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 66 T8S R6E Lot 20 Hammocks Subd. Phase I. 1018 Hammock Ln., Breaux Bridge. $45,000.

Chad and Cheryl L. Billiot to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 118 T9S R6E Lots 32 and 33. 2743A Doyle Melancon Rd., Breaux Bridge. $227,050.

Melissa A. Ryes to Acadian Credit Plan Inc. Ground with improvements, Sec 52 T11S R7E and Sec 62 T11S R6E, 2 arp. $12,546.

Wyatt Tabor to Hancock Whitney Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 17 T11S R6E., west bank Bayou Teche. 1027 Alan Ln., St. Martinville. $80,000.

Cory Dawkins to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 25 T11S R6E, .50 ac., etc. and mobile home. 1026 Boudreaux Rd., New Iberia. $73,641.

Jason M. Bonin to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 106 T9S R6E Tract 1A and Tract 1B. 114 Van Buren St., Breaux Bridge. $148,265.

Denny R. Jett to CLB The Community Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 18 T15S R13E ITEM A of Lot 8 Tract. 1156 Stephensville Rd., Morgan City. $35,031.45. Jacques and Charlotte Doiron to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, 1041 Main St., Parks. $45,000.

Tiffany A. and Claude M. Begnaud Jr. to Hancock Whitney Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 111 T8S R5E Lot, 1 3.50 ac. 3081 Main Hwy, Breaux Bridge. $250,000.

Jeanette Thibodeaux to First Horizon Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 61 T9S R6E Lot 1. 4595 Bridge St. Hwy, St. Martinville. $20,000.

Austin R. and Chynna S. Calais to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 65 T8S R6E Tract 4 & Lot 4B, .42 ac. & Lot 3A, .08 ac. 1204 Bordelon Rd., Breaux Bridge. $280,709.

Jessica G. Landry and William J. Thomas IV to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 80 T10S R6E Lot 19 Westpoint Subd., Phase 1. 215 Liz Dr., St. Martinville. $68,732.

Tina M. Ray to B1Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 68 T10S R6E Tract 5B, 1.90 ac. 5917 Main Hwy, St. Martinville. $35,000.

Bryan J. Collette and Sheila M. Collette to Community First Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 51 T9S R6E Lot A-1, La Belle Place. 505 Rue La Belle Place, Breaux Bridge. $40,000.

Michael Soileau and Thomas Ude Jr. to Evangeline Bank And Trust Co. Ground with improvements, Sec 38 T8S R5E Lot 3, 1 ac. 1022 S. River Dr., Arnaudville. $140,250.

SEIZURE

Wells Fargo Bank vs Scott E. Lewis. Ground with improvements, Lot 17 LaPointe Village Subd. 1081 Jordan Dr., St. Martinville.

Wilmington Savings Fund Society vs Ruby A. Joseph. Ground with improvements, Sec 23 & 24 T8S R5E & mobile home.

21st Mortgage Corp. vs Jonasia E. Williams and Succ. of Keitrick C. Sam. Ground with improvements, Lot B, 3.36 ac. PLAT 7.

SUCCESSIONS

Succ. of Dallas J. Sonnier.

Succ. of Lane M. Smith Succ. of Mary M. Webre.

Succ. of Myrtis M. Montet.

Succ. of Louis Gary. Succ. of Lucille Berard. Succ. of Try V. Nguyen.

CIVIL SUITS

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Darlene K. Fontenot. Open account.

Brittany Morgan vs Edward B. Morgan. Divorce.

Jamie C. Martin vs Richard C. Martin. Divorce.

Foti Financial Services vs Desanette Batiste.

Promissory note. Alex Anthony vs Linda L. Anthony. Divorce.

US Bank National Assn. vs Mary Priester. Open account.

Synchrony Bank vs Randal T. Brown. Open account.

Synchrony Bank vs Dawn Granger. Open account.

Synchrony Bank vs Zakiya M. Edmond. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Faith J. Greene. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Ernie Cole. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Alzada Harrington. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Kathy Lavergne. Open account.

Synchrony Bank vs Alton P. Gardner. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Robert Doucet. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Cheryl Allen. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Joshton C. Dugas. Open account. Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Annie Keobupha. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Donald Phillips. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Orel J.

Ledet. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Timmy Huval. Open account.

TD Bank USA vs Kasey R. Dautreuil. Open account.

Captial One vs David Delahoussaye. Breach of contract.

Synchrony Bank vs Amanda Guilbeau. Open account.

Synchrony Bank vs Jeanella Huval. Open account.

Synchrony Bank vs Doug Shaw. Open account.

State of La. Dept. of Trans. and Devel. vs Margaret Zenor. Expropriation.

TD Bank USA vs Doreen Wiggins. Open account.

Synchrony Bank vs Latonya Provost. Open account.

TD Bank vs Otis Comeaux. Open account.

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs Melovi Jacob. Open account.

TD Bank USA vs Joseph A. Fitch. Open account.

Synchrony Bank vs Twolla Babineaux. Open account.

Janeke Corp. LLC and Breaux Bridge Acres vs City of Breaux Bridge. Declaratory judgment.

Danielle Malveaux vs Jermaine O’Brien. Protective order.

Lynda Laforge, Luke Breaux, Cruz Breaux, Blake Breaux and Abel Breaux vs Paul B. Laforge. Protective order.

American Express National Bank vs Wendy L. Foreman and Auto Glass Experts LLC. Contract.

Paul R. Veillon vs Catherine B. Veillon. Divorce.

21st Mortgage Corp. vs Rebecca Mouton. Executory process.

Western Funding Inc. vs Alton J. Smothers Jr. Breach of contract.

Jefferson Capital Systems LLC vs Faron A. Broussard. Open account.

Capital One vs Clifton Chaisson Jr. Open account.

DACO Investments LLC and OUPAC Financial Services vs Tina M. Roche. Executory judgment and garnishment.