Although the rule is scheduled to take effect Oct. 20, schools will not be required to implement the mandate until the 2027-28 academic year.

The regulation, approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education earlier this year, requires students in kindergarten through high school to read at least one fulllength literary selection annually with teacher guidance.

The Louisiana Department of Education’s newly released Classic Literature List includes works ranging from children’s books such as “Where the Wild Things Are” and “Charlotte’s Web” to novels such as “Animal Farm,” “A Tale of Two Cities” and “The Odyssey.”

The seven-page document identifies 10 selections for each grade from kindergarten through eighth grade and another 10 for high school students.

Eighth graders, for example, could read George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” Jane Austen’s “Emma” or Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Evangeline.” High school selections include Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” Frederick Douglass’ autobiography and Homer’s “The Odyssey.” Third graders could read “Charlotte’s Web,” “The Jungle Book” or “The Wind in the Willows,” while fifth graders could choose from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “The Secret Garden” and “The Phantom Tollbooth.”

Lawmakers have already appropriated $2 million for classroom library support, funding that a fiscal statement accompanying the regulation identifies as helping finance the initiative.

The department’s new guidance identifies American Reading Company’s Louisiana Classic Literature portal as one option for purchasing the books, although school districts are permitted to purchase materials from other vendors.

According to Gas-Buddy price reports, the cheapest station in Louisiana was priced at $3.39/g Sunday while the most expensive was $5.29/g, a difference of $1.90/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.39/g while the highest was $5.29/g, a difference of $1.90/g.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 5.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.24/g today. The national average is down 23.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.26/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: October 19, 2025: $2.58/g (U.S. Average: $2.98/g) October 19, 2024: $2.72/g (U.S. Average: $3.15/g) October 19, 2023: $3.07/g (U.S. Average: $3.54/g) October 19, 2022: $3.36/g (U.S. Average: $3.84/g) October 19, 2021: $3.09/g (U.S. Average: $3.34/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Baton Rouge$3.75/g, down 13.0 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.88/g.

New Orleans$3.79/g, down 9.9 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.89/g.

“Average gasoline prices declined in the vast majority of states over the last week, led by a combination of state fuel tax suspensions and price-cycling markets working their way back down, while diesel rose in most states, though the largest diesel decline was driven by a state tax suspension,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “For now, the outlook remains tied to geopolitical developments, and some pricecycling states could see upward swings in the days ahead if oil markets firm at all. Motorists in states that benefited from tax suspensions may continue to see some insulation from broader market pressures, but the overall picture remains fluid.”

Source: Gas Buddy

I always loved to sing Neil Diamond’s best-known song, “Sweet Caroline.” His words say: Hands Touchin’ hands Reachin’ out Touchin’ me, touchin’ you. (As a side note, the first time I heard Neil Diamond perform was quite a day. I got married at noon, went to see Tulane beat LSU, and went to a late Neil Diamond concert at the LSU Assembly Center.)

Holding someone’s hand is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to express affection, love, and human connection. Sometimes, a hand can say what words cannot. COVID-19 changed all that for many of us. We started fist bumping or just waving. People were reluctant to hold someone’s hand because of what proved to be an unfounded worry about infection.

I always have looked forward to the priest or preacher telling their flock, “Peace be with you.” We would turn to one another and shake our neighbors’ hands. It seems like we’ve drifted away from the special symbol of taking a hand close by us. I’m here to advocate that we take up this tradition again.

I believe all of us need connection. A hand, held with tenderness, can help someone feel valued, accepted, and remembered. It reminds us that we are part of one another’s lives. So now, when I go to church on Sunday, I’m making it a point to hold the hands of those seated around me. In the stressful world we live in today, it seems like a small gesture, but an important thing to do.

There is something quite special about holding another person’s hand. You don’t have to solve their problems, entertain them, or explain their feelings. You simply have to be present.

A hand can say: I am here. You matter to me. You don’t have to face this alone. For this moment, let us share the world together.

Author Roger Rosenblatt puts it this way: “You pray with your hands. You sign language with your hands. Some read the lines in your hands as predictive of your life. Approval is indicated by a show of hands. To celebrate, you give a high five. Extend your hand towards a baby, and it will cling to a finger.”

And sometimes, holding someone’s hand is also a way of saying, I don’t know how much time we have, but I want you to know that you are special to me. Perhaps the most important thing about holding someone’s hand is for a few moments, two people are reminded that, despite all the independence we cherish, none of us is meant to go through life entirely alone.

From those of us who follow the teachings in both the Old and New Testaments the “laying on of hands” has special significance. Jesus Christ used his hands to heal the sick and bless small children. In his epistle, James instructs church elders to pray over the sick and anoint them with oil, a practice I observe each week when taking communion.

In the book of Genesis, Jacob (Israel) placed his hands on the heads of Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to bestow a patriarchal blessing upon them.

OK, I know I’m an old guy, and I certainly miss a number of friends who have passed away before me. But it’s still not too late for me to make special connections with both old and new friends. And shaking hands, even holding a hand for a bit longer than normal, seems like a really nice gesture in this crazy world we live in today. So if you pass me on the street, see me in a restaurant, or sit close to me in church, be aware that I’ve become a renewed hand holder. I’m OK with that, and I hope you are too.

Peace and Justice Jim Brown

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

I’ll finish explaining an idea, pause for a moment, and ask, “Does that make sense? Does anyone have any questions?”

Almost every time, the same thing happens. The students look around at one another. Then they look back at me. Silence.

Now I’m left trying to decide exactly how long to let the awkward pause continue. After a few seconds, I begin searching the room for someone – anyone – who might make eye contact. Eventually I find a student and give them the universal teacher look that says, How about you?

Almost invariably, they nod. Well, that settles it. Everyone understood. Time to move on. Except…That’s almost never true. When the exam comes around, it quickly becomes obvious that several students didn’t understand the concept at all. So why didn’t they ask? Over the years, I think I’ve figured it out. When I ask whether anyone has questions, confused students don’t just look at me. They look at everyone else. They don’t see anyone raising a hand. They don’t hear anyone saying, “I’m lost.”

So they conclude that everyone else understands and that they’re the only one who doesn’t. Rather than risk looking foolish, they stay quiet.

The strange thing is that many of the other students are doing exactly the same thing. Then it hit me.

A room full of confused people can look exactly like a room full of people who understand.

Once I realized this, I started changing how I checked for understanding. In some classes, instead of asking students to raise their hands, I’ll ask them to respond anonymously through their phones or laptops before they know how anyone else has answered.

Every time I do, more students tell me they don’t understand than when I simply ask for raised hands.

The difference isn’t the lesson. It isn’t the students. It’s the social situation. Without realizing it, we’ve removed one important question from their minds: “What is everyone else thinking?” The more I thought about it, the more I realized this isn’t just a classroom problem. It’s a human problem. We don’t just learn from what people tell us. We also learn from what they don’t say. It’s one of the reasons I’ve always found survey research so fascinating.

Every few months, a poll comes out showing that a surprisingly large majority of Americans support – or oppose – something. My first reaction is often the same: If so many people privately believe this, why doesn’t it sound that way in public?

Perhaps it’s because, unlike survey researchers, most of us can’t conduct anonymous polls of the people around us. We can’t see inside other people’s heads. So we do the next best thing. We watch. We look for clues about what everyone else is thinking. If no one objects, we assume everyone agrees. If no one asks a question, we assume everyone understands. If no one speaks up, we assume everyone is comfortable with what’s happening.

The problem is that silence is not nearly as informative as we think it is. Much of what we think we know about other people isn’t based on what they’ve actually told us. It’s based on what we’ve inferred from their silence.

Sometimes those inferences are correct. Often, they aren’t. Silence can mean agreement. It can mean understanding. But it can also mean uncertainty. Confusion. Discomfort. Fear of looking foolish. Or simply waiting for someone else to go first.

The next time you’re tempted to assume everyone agrees, everyone understands, or everyone is okay with the way things are, remember the classroom.

A room full of confused people can look exactly like a room full of people who understand.

And sometimes all it takes is one person speaking up for everyone else to realize they weren’t alone.

Dr. Raymond E. Barranco is Professor of Sociology at Mississippi State University and the creator of the Public Dignity Standard.

Instead, the crowds were “small, but spirited” at rallies held throughout the country. For example, in Springfield, Illinois, “the crowd was smaller than previous events held to protest the Trump administration.” Most of the attendees were farleft socialists with signs protesting President Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, “military supremacy,” or “rampant sexism.”

To get into the spirit of the event, some participants wore costumes, while others “played protest songs.” One attendee, Phil Blazich, led the small crowd in various chants, but he was bitterly disappointed. He said, “There should be a million people right here against Trump right now speaking out… It makes me upset because they should be here; they should care about America.”

Well, Phil, here is a news flash: people didn’t show up because they don’t agree with the socialist agenda. They remember what happened during President Joe Biden’s administration, and they don’t want to return to open borders, unconstitutional government mandates, and 9.1% inflation, the highest since the economic “malaise” of President Jimmy Carter’s administration.

When President Trump left office in January 2021, inflation was only 1.4%. Under Biden’s disastrous leftist policies, cumulative inflation topped 20% during his four years. As U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) noted, the high inflation rate drove the Federal Reserve “into the highest interest rates in 23 years.” Accordingly, American “workers lost more than $2,900 in real purchasing power.”

No wonder millions of Americans do not want to attend rallies calling for the return of Democratic Party policies like those that were delivered during the Biden administration. Even the New York Times admitted that “Saturday’s gatherings were more subdued than some past events, and many prominent Democrats skipped them.”

In many of the “red” states, Democratic Party candidates are trying to pretend they are moderates, so they did not want to be affiliated with the far-left base of their party. As a result, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico of Texas did not attend any “No Kings” rallies in their states.

However, neither Ossoff nor Talarico is a moderate politician. There is “not a dime’s worth of difference” between the far-left activists at the “No Kings” rallies and most Democratic Party candidates running in the 2026 midterm election.

Another reason Democratic Party candidates stayed away from the rallies is that they knew few people would attend. Rhein Amacher, a conservative commentator, labeled the “No Kings” rally in Portland, Oregon, “an absolute embarrassment.” He posted on social media, “For all the non-stop screeching, manufactured outrage, and media hype, the turnout looked pathetic, and the enthusiasm was practically nonexistent. The anti-Trump resistance is looking more like a retirement parade for a dying political movement.”

Andrew Kolvet, Turning Point USA spokesman, posted that “they emptied out the nursing home” for the “No Kings” rally in Northwest Arkansas. According to Kolvet, the rally featured “the Raging Grannies of Northwest Arkansas. Sun hats. Folding chairs. Song sheets. Little American flags. A walker in the back.”

It was even more bizarre at the “No Kings” rally in Arlington, Virginia. Among the speakers at the sparsely attended event was a drag queen who spoke about “Our America.”

The “No Kings” rallies involve “a network of about 500 organizations.” The sponsors have “an estimated $3 billion in combined annual revenues.” In St. Paul, Minnesota, one of their event coordinators is an organization “funded by billionaire George Soros.”

The differences between the two parties have never been greater than they are in this midterm election. For the Republicans, President Trump is traveling nationwide to spread his message about the One Big Beautiful Bill, the tax relief Americans have received, the new investment pouring into the country, and the secure border.

In response, the Democrats are trying to fire up their socialist base with events like the “No Kings” rallies. Saturday’s events marked the fourth “No Kings” rally day since the second Trump administration began in January of 2025.

Instead of building momentum and expanding their crowds by attracting independent and moderate voters, Saturday’s events were smaller and drew mainly from the Democratic Party’s far-left core. As a result, only two dozen people showed up at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and only 200 participated in Baton Rouge at the Louisiana state capitol.

This should put Republicans in a better mood about their midterm election chances. It shows that a “Blue Tsunami” or “Blue Wave” won’t happen, and Republicans have a fighting chance to defy the oddsmakers, the media, and the pollsters and deliver a much betterthan- expected result in this crucial 2026 midterm election.

Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian and provides regular commentaries on the Jeff Crouere YouTube channel and on www.JeffCrouere.com.

100 Years Ago October 22, 1926

A Licensed Veterinarian will be here in the course of the coming week to give the Tuberculin test to cows. Those desiring to have their cows tested please get in touch with the County Agent.

Sweet potatoes that brought as much as $8 per barrel at one time are down to $1 a barrel. Some of the farmers are trying to store their surplus while others are ing their crop at the market price.

The Foti Moss Co., is erecting a building on their lot near the Bayou and as soon as completed, will install a Moss gin and press, and will ship their moss by the carload.

The Parish of St. Martin was awarded Third Prize, for the display of all kinds of agricultural products at the Southwest District Fair at Lafayette.

The report for the Louisiana cane crop of October 1, being 51 per cent, which is about 10 tons of cane to the acre. The average in 1925 was 14 tons, which means that this years crop with low prices, will be short.

The new officers of Breaux Bridge Council Knights of Columbus were Grand Knight, P. L. Begnaud; Deputy Grand Knight, Gaston Thibodeaux; Chancellor, Henry Mills; Advocate, Wade Martin; Warden, John Castille; Financial Secretary, Robt. Angelle; Treasurer, Holden LeBlanc; Recorder, Sidney Thibodeaux; Trustee, Alfred Broussard; Inside Guard, Rousseau Patin; and Outside Guard, J.W. Hoffman.

Clarence Broussard graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, left for Los Angeles, California, where he will embark one of the U.S. Navy Cutters to take his Commission in the U. S. Navy.

Elected officers of the St. Martinville Knights of Columbus were C.T. Bienvenu, Grand Knight; Jas. F. Halphen, Deputy Grand Knight; Chas. J. Gauthier, Chancellor; Leo J. Bulliard, Recorder; Robt. Gauthier, Financial Secretary; R. J. Gary, Treasurer; J.A. Guerin, Warden; Fred Fournet, Inside Guard; Sevigne Bienvenu, Outside Guard; Ubald Melancon, Dumas Bernard and Lawrence Levert, Trustees; Father Peeters, Chaplain; and Jas. D. Simon, Lecturer.

50 Years Ago October 20, 1976

One of the largest fires in the Breaux Bridge community’s history destroyed the main administration building on the Junior High Campus.

Rededication ceremonies were held at the Acadian House Museum in the Longfellow-Evangeline State Park.

Parks Elementary 4-H officers were Denise Roberts, president; Chellie Chitty, vice president; Adria Theriot, secretary- treasurer; Julia Gardemal, reporter; and Stephen Hypolite and Renee Hebert, song leaders.

Francis LeBlanc of Breaux Bridge Senior High was named to the All-State Honor Chorus and District Honor Chorus.

Cecilia Senior High students selected to All State Honoe Chorus were Millie Calais, Greg Gautreaux and Robin Hebert.

40 Years Ago

October 22, 1986

Members of the homecoming court at St. Martinville Sr. High were Dawn Bonvillian, Tiffanie Levert, Claire Bienvenu, Deidre Williams, Liz Duplantis, Karen Broussard, Felicite Leon, Natalie Orphe, Tiffany Blanchard, Tonya Theriot, Stephanie Mc-Neely and Christie Fontenot.

Tonya Stoute of Arnaudville was crowned International Rice Queen.

25 Years Ago

October 23, 2001

At the huge Martin Mills plant just north of St. Martinville, employment went down from a onetime peak of 3,400 to 177 employees, according to the Martin Mill corporate office. Some claimed it was far fewer than that - numbers ranged as a low as 15 still left.

After nearly 35 years St. Bernard School was again fielding a football team.A group of dedicated parents banded together to launch a grade 6-8 team and restore a cherished tradition.

The Revenue Estimating Conference certified the fund’s balance Monday as part of its annual review. The conference is responsible for officially recognizing the balance under state law.

The fund now holds roughly $1.393 billion, including about $167 million in recent deposits.

The largest piece — roughly $144 million — came from Louisiana’s fiscal year 2025 surplus. State budget documents show Louisiana ended that fiscal year with a $577.1 million general fund surplus, meaning the state collected more money than it ultimately spent or otherwise obligated.

Louisiana law requires at least 25% of revenue officially classified as nonrecurring to be deposited into the Budget Stabilization Fund. In this case, that translated into roughly $144 million from the surplus.

Another approximately $23 million came from investment earnings generated by the fund itself.

The latest deposits continue a yearslong buildup of Louisiana’s reserves following a string of budget surpluses. The state recorded a $595 million surplus in fiscal year 2024, its eighth consecutive year with a surplus, according to the state’s annual financial report.

The rainy day fund is designed primarily to cushion the state against revenue downturns and budget deficits. Louisiana law tightly restricts when the money can be withdrawn, including when the Revenue Estimating Conference lowers its forecast and creates a projected budget shortfall.

Growing the fund can also strengthen the state’s financial position when borrowing money. Credit-rating agencies consider reserves and other fiscal cushions when evaluating states, which can ultimately affect the interest rates governments pay when issuing bonds.

A 2024 Louisiana Legislative Auditor analysis found that the state already had substantial reserves before the latest increase. At the time, the auditor said Louisiana’s two major reserve accounts — the Budget Stabilization Fund and Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund — held a combined $3.8 billion as of September 2024. The auditor found that was above the largest reserve level implied by major credit-rating agencies’ criteria, which it estimated at about $2.2 billion.

The Budget Stabilization Fund is also approaching a constitutional ceiling. State law generally prohibits deposits that would push the fund above 4% of the previous fiscal year’s state revenue receipts, excluding certain disaster-related revenues. The Legislative Auditor calculated that ceiling at about $1.5 billion for fiscal year 2024, although the applicable cap changes annually with state receipts.

That leaves Louisiana substantially closer to the limit than it was only a few years ago.

The growth comes as rainy day reserves nationally have begun to retreat from pandemicera highs. The Pew Charitable Trusts reported in March that states’ median rainy day fund capacity fell in fiscal year 2025 for the first time since the Great Recession, with 26 states seeing declines in the number of days their reserves could finance government operations. Louisiana, however, was among the states reporting a record-high rainy day balance that year.

Louisiana also maintains the separate Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, created to capture portions of unusually high corporate and mineral tax collections. Unlike the traditional rainy day fund, lawmakers have broader authority under certain circumstances to tap that account for infrastructure or other purposes.

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

EVANGILE DE JESUS CHRIST SELON ST. MATTHIEU

Les pharisiens, ayant appris qu’il avait réduit au silence les sadducéens, se rassemblèrent, et l’un d’eux, docteur de la loi, lui fit cette question, pour l’éprouver: Maître, quel est le plus grand commandement de la loi? Jésus lui répondit: Tu aimeras le Seigneur, ton Dieu, de tout ton coeur, de toute ton âme, et de toute ta pensée. C’est le premier et le plus grand commandement. Et voici le second, qui lui est semblable: Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même. De ces deux commandements dépendent toute la loi et les prophètes.

Parks - Outside of the usual vote to accept the minutes of the September meeting, there were no other votes needed during the October meeting of the Parks Vllage Council.

Mayor Kevin Kately gave the council an update on some projects that have previously been discussed.

“The well is probably 80 percent complete,” Kately said. “They still have to put the pump on, the motor on. And those have been ordered and are just waiting to be delivered.

“They are about to start construction of two separate buildings at the new well which will give us a plan B in case something should happen.”

The mayor explained that there had never been a Plan B with Parks Water in case there was an emergency or a problem. But now they were in a position to have a Plan B just to handle such an emergency.

Parks

The mayor also said that they were going to construct a new water tower to help with the water plant as well.

The mayor also added that the plan was to also add some automatic flushers to the system to keep the water fresh and clean.

“Once we know where we’re at cost wise with the new well, then we can start looking into adding another 1,000, to 1,500 new water meters,” Kately said.

The mayor also announced that the annual “Trunk or Treat” will be held in the park from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on October 24.

Kately also told the council that the new library was coming along well. And that, hopefully by November or December, it will be complete.

With no other business to discuss the council adjourned until November.

The Boot, a Louisiana- based organization dedicated to attracting, retaining, and advancing military talent across the state, will establish and operate the new Louisiana VBOC, expanding its statewide mission from connecting military talent with Louisiana careers to helping veterans and military families build businesses, create jobs, and invest in communities across the state. Since its founding, The Boot has worked to connect transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses with Louisiana employers and career opportunities; the new VBOC adds entrepreneurship and business ownership as another pathway for military-connected families to build their futures in Louisiana.

Through the Louisiana VBOC, The Boot will assist entrepreneurs at every stage of business ownership, from developing a business plan to accessing capital, pursuing government contracts, and scaling an existing company. Services will include individual business counseling, financial and business planning, accessto- capital assistance, government contracting guidance, veteran business certification support, and marketing and outreach, along with SBA’s Boots to Business program, delivered through the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program, introducing transitioning service members and military spouses to the fundamentals of business ownership.

“Louisiana’s veterans don’t just serve their country, many of them come home and build businesses that serve their communities,” said Secretary Charlton Meginley of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. “This grant means more of them will have a partner in that journey and there is no better organization than The Boot to lead this effort. I am grateful for its leadership in making this happen, and to SBA for recognizing what Louisiana veteran entrepreneurs have to offer.”

“From the beginning, The Boot has been built around a simple idea: Louisiana should be a place where our service members and their families want to build their lives after military service,” said Andrew Ward, Founder of The Boot. “That means more than connecting veterans to great careers. It means giving them the opportunity and resources to build companies, create jobs, and become the next generation of business leaders in our state. Bringing a dedicated VBOC to Louisiana is a major step forward in that mission, and I believe it can fundamentally change how we support veteran entrepreneurship and retain military talent in Louisiana.”

“The Boot exists because Louisiana wants to build talent and access, and our exiting service members and veterans deserve the opportunity to build something here,” said Ben Armstrong, CEO of The Boot. “There’s no good reason those two things shouldn’t find each other faster. This designation is what happens when public and private partners commit to cutting through the noise and delivering real results. Our job is simple: remove the barriers, connect the right people, and make sure Louisiana keeps and empowers the talent she’s already earned.”

“The Small Business Administration’s Office of Veterans Business Development is honored to team with The Boot to deliver best-in-class entrepreneurial services and training to our fellow veterans and military spouses in Louisiana,” said Kevin Barber, Assistant Administrator at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Veterans Business Development. “Under the leadership of Administrator Loeffler, SBA and OVBD are expanding our impact and ensuring that we meet veterans, service members, and military spouses where they are in their entrepreneurial journey.”

The Louisiana VBOC will build partnerships across the state with military installations, veteran-serving organizations, economic development groups, chambers of commerce, universities and community colleges, lenders, and government and private-sector partners to create a coordinated entrepreneurship ecosystem for Louisiana’s military-connected population, connecting veteran entrepreneurs with the broader SBA resource network available to veteran- owned and servicedisabled veteran-owned small businesses.

The Boot is a Louisianabased organization dedicated to attracting, retaining, and advancing military talent across the state, connecting transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses with Louisiana employers, career opportunities, and resources designed to help militaryconnected families build successful lives in Louisiana.

Louisiana is home to approximately 250,000 veterans. The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs serves veterans and their families through a statewide network of benefits counselors, state veterans homes, state veterans cemeteries, and educational-support programs.

Early voting locations include the St. Martin Registrar of Vot- ers Office, St. Martin Courthouse Annex, 415 St. Martin St., St. Martinville; the Sydnie Mae Durand Senior Citizen Center, 391 Cannery Rd., Breaux Bridge; and the Stephensville Fire Station, 1227 Stephensville Rd., Morgan City.

Vote

Parish voters face a lengthy ballot.

U.S. Senate In the U.S. Senate race, “Jamie” Davis (D), of Ferriday, will face Julia Letlow (R).

Congressional races

In the 3rd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins (R), of Lafayette, faces challengers “Kate” Cotton (R), of Lake Charles; John Day (D), of Lake Charles; Priscilla Gonzalez (D), of Lafayette; Tia LeBrun (NP), of Sulphur; and Caleb “With a C” Walker (D), of Lafayette.

U.S. Representative, 6th Congressional District contenders are Monique Appeaning (R), of St. George; Chauna Banks (D), of Baton Rouge; Rufus Craig (L), of Baton Rouge; Larry Davis III (R), of Denham Springs; “Rick” Edmunds (R), of Baton Rouge; Patrick “Pat” Forbes (D), of Baton Rouge; Lindsay “Rubia” Garcia (D), of Walker; Michael Mebruer (R), of St. Francisville; Blake Miguez (R), Baton Rouge; and Stephen Wagley (R), of Baton Rouge.

School Board

Candidates for the District 2 seat are Jess E. “Poppa Dk” Crosier (D), Shirret Davis Leday (NP), and Benjamin Lopez (R).

In District 3, incumbent Edna “Maw Maw” Mitchell Johnson (D) faces Warrenina “Weenie” Batiste (D).

District 7 candidates are Marvin “Rock” Crockett (D) and Albert “Da Da” Menard (D).

Justices of the Peace and Constables

In Ward 2, Benjamin Crosier (NP) and Kelton “Blackjack” Marshall (NP) will face one another. Ward 3 candidates are Lance Laviolette (NP) and Spencer Poirier (R).

For constable in Ward 2, Jess Crosier (D) will face Leander “Cush” Williams (D).

Breaux Bridge, Parks and Henderson

Lee C. Durio (R) and Bart Hebert (R) will face off for Breaux Bridge City Court judge.

Breaux Bridge Police Chief Albert “Buz” LeBlanc faces challenger Hubert Augustine (NP).

In Parks, Mayor Kevin Kately (D) faces Amanda Poirier (R).

Consitutional Amendments

Amendment 1 Property tax exemption transfer for disabled veteran’s spouse.

Amendment 2 - Local authority over property tax rates.

Amendment 3 - Postconviction bail for certain offenders.

Amendment 4 - Term limits for governors.

Amendment 5 - Retirement debt payments.

Amendment 6 Property tax exemptions for the elderly.

Amendment 7 - Public spending on drinking water utilities.

Amendment 8 - Expropriation of property by foreign adversaries.

Amendment 9 - Expansion of property taxfreezes.

Amendment 10 - Tax exemptions for rehabilitated property.

The full guide to the Fall 2026 Constitutional Amendments at www.parlouisiana.org.

(R) denotes Republican; (D) Democrat; (L) Libertarian; and (NO) No Party.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Louisiana was priced at $3.49/g Sunday while the most expensive was $4.99/g, a difference of $1.50/g.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen .4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.29/g today. The national average is up .4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.28/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: October 12, 2025: $2.63/g (U.S. Average: $3.02/g) October 12, 2024: $2.76/g (U.S. Average: $3.19/g) October 12, 2023: $3.14/g (U.S. Average: $3.61/g) October 12, 2022: $3.38/g (U.S. Average: $3.92/g) October 12, 2021: $3.00/g (U.S. Average: $3.28/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Baton Rouge- $3.88/g, up 5.2 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.83/g.

New Orleans- $3.89/g, unchanged from last week’s $3.89/g.

“More states saw average gasoline prices decline than rise over the last week, with diesel falling approximately 5 cents per gallon nationally,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “On the policy front, the Trump administration’s proposed diesel deal raises more questions than it answers, and I remain skeptical that it will deliver significant relief to the trucking industry and consumers who depend on diesel. Meanwhile, Hurricane Isaias has passed, but we are awaiting updates on two refineries that were in its path, the outcome of which could impact the supply picture in the days ahead. For now, the trend is cautiously in the right direction for motorists, but between hurricane season and continued geopolitical uncertainty, it is far too early to declare the pressure on fuel prices resolved.” SOURCE GasBuddy

Mayor Ricky Calais reported September sales tax collections of $640,181, an increase of 4.5 percent over the same month last year. He thanked the business community for its efforts in reporting sales taxes, which help fund city services.

Calais also announced that sewer line repairs were beginning in the Bridge Street, St. Charles Street and Ophelia Street areas. New playground equipment had arrived for Parc Hardy, he said, and installation began Oct. 13.

Finances

Councilman Scotty Borel introduced members of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Knights of Peter Claver. The council presented the group with a resolution recognizing 100 years of service to the church, God and the community.

Chez Hope Director Kelli Cantu addressed the council about the organization’s work supporting victims of domestic violence. She also received a proclamation recognizing those efforts.

Police Chief Albert “Buz” LeBlanc presented his annual report on the Breaux Bridge Police Department’s work and thanked the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office for its assistance.

With no further business, the council adjourned until November.

This is the second day here with no school. The calendar says “Spring Break,” but it starts with Columbus Day on Oct. 12. I did read somewhere that not every state recognizes Columbus Day on the 12th. A few put it on the 11th and some apparently don’t acknowledge it at all. It was pointed out in one article that Columbus wasn’t the first to discover America, not by a long shot. People lived here thousands of years earlier and it is acknowledged that Columbus found San Salvador, not America exactly. I believe I also read that one of his discoveries was the banana but I might not have that right.

It is beautiful out. I have started walking on the levee again in the evenings when the temperature has dropped to a comfortable level. It’s a little muggy but the mosquitoes have abated. Pretty much the only activity is some off road vehicles of various sizes. They just zip on by.

I am staying on the batture of top of the levee. I’d like to walk along the bayou in the woods but the memory of my dog being caught by an alligator is still fresh. She doesn’t seem inclined to venture far either.

Yoga tonite. Tomorrow night I plan to attend the Assumption Parish Police Jury meeting and see what they have to say about a proposition which will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. Voted one way, the proposition will give the jury the authority to take money from the library funds. Voted another way the funding is left alone. And I know the library badly needs funds. Two of the parish libraries are very small and old and pretty ramshackled but very popular. They need repairs.

The police jury meeting was very interesting and I hope it results in a vote on the Nov. 3 ballot that is favorable to the library system in the parish. I doubt if this jury is much different from others or other councils in their need for funds, but it seems these entities have spent their money unwisely and now want to take money from the library.

I don’t know for a fact, but I would guess that many on the St. Martin Parish Council have never been to the public library nor any of its branches. People don’t have any idea just what libraries offer. Not just books but all the paper work for tax filing, helping with official work, looking up things. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve personally gone to my nearest library to ask for help with my phone after I’ve messed something up or just can’t figure out how to do something.

My pharmacist and my library are my two most important go-to places. (My daughter is number one but she doesn’t live here and isn’t always available.)

Here goes the beepbeep, beeping of the bulldozers and whatever else. It started at 7 am and appears to be continuing all day. A good day for a long walk just to get away.

My phone weather app shows temps in the 50s this weekend. How wonderful. I’m going to find a good book, drag out my heated throw and hunker down in the chair with a cup of hot coffee. Heaven!

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

BANKRUPTCIES

Lori A. Mayon, 2761 Main Hwy, Breaux Bridge. Chapter 13.

Michael S. Jackson, 716 Cormier St., Breaux Bridge. Chapter 13.

CASH SALES

Tacdoc LLC to Eduardo S. and Linsey Z. Hernandez. Ground with improvements, Sec 31 8-7, Lots 11, 12, 13 & 14 Henderson Heights Subd. $187,500.

Christopher J. Segura to Shane L. Marin. Ground with improvements, Sec 18 11-6, 1.810 ac., Lot 6. $20,000.

James R. Gaudin, Corey J. Gaudin and Ariane G. Bienvenu to Cedar Properties LLC. Ground with improvements, Sec 17 11-6, Lot 7 Little Oaks Subd. Ext 1. $9,500.

MD Roberts No 1 LLC to Paul H. LeBlanc. Ground with improvements, Tract 27, Lot 90. $17,500.

Kerry D. Dupuis, Gayle D. Lacy, Denice D. Thibodeaux ad Deirdre D. Robertson to Fair Meadow Properties LLC. Ground with improvements, Sec 110 8-5, W4 PARCEL Z-A, 1.36 ac. $170,000.

Cecilia Farms 3 LLC to Charles T. Beaullieu Jr. Ground with improvements, 1/6th int oil, gas, minerals & rights in Sec 52 8-8, 2.62 ac., etc. $10,000.

Courtney B. and Ian M. Thomassee to Taylor G. Robeau. Ground with improvements, Sec 40 9-5, .180 ac., Lot 2. 479 Broussard St., Breaux Bridge. $232,500.

Amy Bonwell to Richard M. Landry. Ground with improvements, und 1/2 int in W5W, 40 Arp, Lot 3 & und 1/7 int in W5W. 2274 Main Hwy, Arnaudville. $110,000.

Desiree L. Potier to Beatrice M. Johnson. Ground with improvements, Lot 36 & SE/20’ of Lot 37 Maraist Addit., Ext 1. $25,000.

DR Horton Inc. Gulf Coast to Dasia D. Prince and Thaddeus J. Bowie. Ground with improvements, Lot 121 in Parc Ridge Ph 3A. 646 Griffiths Ct., Breaux Bridge. $324,500.

Auston J. Anzalone to Brennan L. Sauce and Karissa R. Delahoussaye. Ground with improvements, Sec 22 & 116 9-6, Lot 5-C, 1.085 ac. & mobile home. 1161F Cormier Rd., Breaux Bridge. $140,000.

Joseph L. and Glenda B. Boudreaux to Matthew S. and Jessica A. Boudreaux. Ground with improvements, Sec 7 9-8, Lot 58 of Atchafalaya Acres Subd, 1070 Evangeline St., Breaux Bridge. $150,000.

Greg VanVeckhoven to William H. and Melissa G. Woodward. Ground with improvements, Sec 7 15-13, Lot 20 Sec B Claville Subd. & mobile home. 1048 Edna St., Morgan City. $40,000.

Kevin M. and Sally C. Stelly to Drew M. Theriot and Alyssa C. Melancon. Ground with improvements, Sec 25 8-5, Lot 8-A, 4.044 ac. 1532 Declouet Hwy, Breaux Bridge. $78,500.

Fair Meadow Properties LLC to Tristela Bayou Properties LLC. Ground with improvements, Sec 80 10-6, .680 ac. 1119 N. Main St., St. Martinville, etc. $560,000.

Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC to Dylan T. Calais. Ground with improvements, Sec 60 8-6, Lts 3, 4, 5, 5-A & Lot 6, and mobile home. $94,500.

Equity Trust Co. to DS Holdings Group LLC. Ground with improvements, Sec 4/or 5 9-6, 4.043 ac., Tract 1D. $65,000.

Tristela Bayou Properties LLC to RNL 2025E Owner LLC. Ground with improvements, Sec 80 10-6, .680 ac. 1119 N. Main St., St. Martinville, etc. $949,000.

DONATION

Judith B. Keim to Bernard P. Beaullieu. Ground with improvements, 1/5TH int in Sec 46 8-6, 192.67 ac., Lot 59.

Ronnie J. Davis Jr. to Jacoby Fontenette. Ground with improvements, Lot 2 Blk C Delaureal Addition, 423 N. Vivier St., St. Martinville.

Clopha N. Derousselle to Michelle L. Johnson. Ground with improvements, Sec 15 9-5, W4 Lots 41 thru 46 of Tract 5, Martin Begnaud Subd., Ext 1. 985 W. Patin St., Breaux Bridge.

Clayton P. Melancon to Ledia Melancon. Ground with improvements, Und 1/2 int in 8.44 arp., “Odette Fredrick”.

JUDGMENTS OF DIVORCE

Wilbert Alexander vs Roxanne A. Alexander.

Matthew J. Geoffroy and Jordan D. Geoffroy vs Matthew J. Geoffroy and Jordan D. Geoffroy.

Selina D. Broussard vs Bren J. Broussard.

Cali R. Rogers vs Barry J. Rogers Jr.

Latasha C. Walker vs Mondo M. Walker Sr.

JUDGMENTS OF POSSESSION

Succ. of Neal J. Burke. Donna D. Burke, Darci B. Meyerhoffer and M. Hunter Burke are heirs.

Succ. of Patsy M. Mahfouz. Leslie M. Patout and Alexis A. Mahfouz Jr. are heirs.

JUDGMENTS

Credit Acceptance Corp. vs Suzy M. Antoine. $14,061.37 int, fees.

Gulfco Of Louisiana LLC vs Mathaniel C. Batiste. $3,458.00 int, fees.

Capital One vs Mary Sylvester. $9,199.26 int, fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs Christopher Castille. $17,977.12 int, fees.

Velocity Investments LLC vs Garrick Breaux. $10,471.36 int, fees.

Credit Acceptance Corp. vs Nakyria J. Johnson. $10,911.52 int, fees.

Midland Credit Management Inc. vs Chelsea L. Richard. $4,214.56 int, fees.

MORTGAGES

Mark Willis to Dart Collateral Manager LLC. Ground with improvements, Sec 21 T11S R6E Lot A, 1.5777 ac. 1050 Fontelieu Rd., St. Martinville. $35,389.

Drew M. Theriot and Alyssa C. Melancon to B1Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 25 T8S R5E Lot 8A, 4.044 ac. 1532 Declouet Hwy, Breaux Bridge. $78,500.

Linsey L. Zeringue and Eduardo S. Hernandez to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 31 T8S R7E Lot 13 & 14 Henderson Heights Subd. 1120 Huval St., Breaux Bridge. $189,393. Taylor G. Robeau to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 40 T9S R5E, .180 ac., Lot 2. 479 Broussard St., Breaux Bridge. $212,911.

Lori M. and Todd J. Theriot to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 1 T9S R6E, 6.629 ac., Lot B-3. 1080 Mitchell Boyer Rd., Breaux Bridge. $100,000.

Dylan T. Calais to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 60 T8S R6E Lot 3, .52 ac., etc. & mobile home. 1062 Anse Broussard Hwy, Breaux Bridge. $80,750.

Jamie R. and Danielle F. Broussard to Hancock Whitney Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 31 T8S R7E Plot 1-A, .498 ac. 1040 Whidley Johnson Rd., Breaux Bridge. $87,500.

Dane M. Hardy To Hancock Whitney Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 106 T8S R5E Lot 1. 1235 Declouet Hwy, Breaux Bridge. $80,000.

Cody J. Mouton to Gulf Coast Bank. Ground with improvements, Sec 121 T9S R6E Lot 4, 1.002 ac. 1116 A Barras Rd., St. Martinville. $23,987.

Dasia D. Prince and Thaddeus J. Bowie to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Lot 121 Parc Ridge Phase 3A. 646 Griffths Ct., Breaux Bridge. $318,621.

Brennan L. Sauce and Karissa R. Delahoussaye to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 22 & 116 T9S R6E Lot 5-C, 1.085 ac. 1161-F Cormier Rd., Breaux Bridge and mobile home. $137,464.

Matthew S. and Jessica A. Boudreaux to Mortgage Electronic. Ground with improvements, Sec 7 T9S R8E Lot 58 Atchafalaya Acres Subd. 1070 Evangeline St., Breaux Bridge. $142,500.

TAX LIEN

Internal Revenue Service vs Gill A. and Theresa C. Frederick. $260,082.82.

SUCCESSIONS

Succ. of Todd A.

Dalbor Succ. of Isabelle P.

Domingues.

CIVIL SUITS

Roland Daigle vs Wendell Daigle. Protective order.

Evangeline Bank and Trust Co. vs Jessie J. Robicheaux. Executory process.

Capital One and Discover Bank vs Chanin Broussard. Open account.

Capital One and Discover Bank vs Adam L. Hyatt. Open account.

Capital One and Discover Bank vs Matthew P. Vicknair. Open account.

Brett M. Tabor, Christopher Tabor and Angela Tabor vs Merrick LLC. Damages.

St. Martin Parish School Board vs IN RE. Petition to open Discovery.

Joseph J. Sylvester vs Angel M. DeJesus. Damages.

Madeleine Bergeron vs Madeleine Bergeron. Interdiction.

Matt Talley Construction LLC vs Sonnier Investments LLC and Ryan Sonnier. Damages.

Emmanuel LaGrange vs Ashley Roberts. Damages.

Acadian Federal Credit Union vs Clarence Charles Jr. Note.

Christina Pennington vs Patrick Pennington. Divorce.

Amerihome Mortgage Co. LLC vs Michael J. Griffin Jr. Executory process.

Chad M. Blanchard vs Estate of Steven Blanchard, Bridge B. Huval and Blair N. Hulin. Partition.

Jessica C. Brasseaux vs Trinity C. Brasseaux.

Divorce.

Vivian Robinson and Vivian Robertson vs Vivian Robinson and Vivian Robertson. Name change.

Michelle Mamou vs Linda M. Green. Damages.

DNF Associates LLC vs Harold Sam. Open account.

The toxicology results indicated that Clawson was impaired at the time of the crash.

Based on those findings, Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop I obtained an arrest warrant for Clawson through the 16th Judicial District Court on the following charges: • Vehicular Homicide; • Vehicular Negligent Injuring;

• Reckless Operation of a Vehicle;

• First Degree Vehicular Negligent Injuring;

• Child Passenger Restraint (3 counts);

• No Seatbelt;

• and DWI First Offense with Child Endangerment.

Clawson was arrested and booked into the St. Martin Parish Jail on the outstanding warrant on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

State police began investigating the crash shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 12. The crash remains under investigation.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2013 Hyundai Elantra was traveling west on I-10 in the left lane. At the same time, a 2020 Ram ProMaster was traveling west on I-10 in the right lane.

For reasons still under investigation, the Hyundai traveled from the left lane into the right lane, struck the concrete barrier, and then struck the rear of the Ram. After impact, both vehicles struck concrete barriers.

A 13-year-old passenger in the Hyundai, who was unrestrained, sustained critical injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment, where she later died on Sept. 15. The teen was a resident of Bellevue.

The driver and three additional passengers were also unrestrained and transported to an area hospital for treatment. One of the passengers was an infant in a child safety seat; however, the child safety seat was not properly secured to the vehicle.

The driver of the Ram, who was properly restrained, reported no injuries.

The driver of the Ram showed no signs of impairment and voluntarily submitted to a breath test, which showed no alcohol detected.

Impaired driving remains a leading factor in serious injury and fatality crashes. Louisiana State Police urges all motorists to drive responsibly and never get behind the wheel impaired.

Thursday, October 8

Brown, Brennen, 22, 300 Block of Burndap Way, Lafayette, domestic abuse battery-- child endangerment--simple assault (1); false imprisonment (1); resisting an officer (1); Breaux Bridge Police Dept. (BBPD).

Chester, Ty, 46, 2200 Block of Atchafalaya River Hwy, Breaux Bridge, operating a vehicle while impaired (1); careless operation (1); driver must be licensed (1); Louisiana State Police (LSP).

Jacquet, Gary, 40, 1100 Block of Fontelieu Rd., St. Martinville, aggravated assault with a firearm (1); St. Martin Sheriff’s office (SMSO).

Reed, Hunter, 18, 1100 Block of Ragan Rd., Breaux Birdge, possession with intent to distribute schedule I (2); distribution to a student (2); soliciting minors to distribute (1); violation of uniform controlled dangerous substances law; drug free zone (1); following too close (1); general speed law (1); no seat belt (1); contributing to the delinquency of juveniles - violate any law (1); (SMSO).

Sias, Kason, 18, 3600 Block of Kevin Dr., New Iberia, first degree murder (1); (SMSO).

Williams, Carter, 22, 900 Block of Moss Oak Dr., New Iberia, principal (1); first degree murder (1); (SMSO).

Williams, Fabian, 23, 1800 Block of Rees St., Breaux Bridge, handling of machine guns unlawful (1); failure to appear; issuance of arrest warrant (1) (SMSO).

Friday, October 9

Daniels, Viveca, 38, 1800 Block of Declouet Hwy, Breaux Bridge, probation violation (1); (SMSO).

Saturday, October 10

Thibodeaux, Gaige, 26,1500 Block of Grand Anse Hwy, Breaux Bridge, domestic abuse battery--child endangerment-- simple assault (1); (SMSO).

Sunday, October 11

Dore, Darren, 60, 1500 Block of Cypress Island Hwy, St. Martinville, domestic abuse battery - simple assault (1); (SMSO).

Laborde, Anthony, 28,100 Block of Resweber St., St. Martinville, domestic abuse battery--child endangerment-simple assault (1); battery of a police officer--simple (1); St. Martinville Police Dept. (SMPD).

Reed, Seth, 39, 1700 Block of Duchamp Rd., Broussard, contempt of court (1); (SMSO).

Monday, October 12 Dorsey, Stanson, 29, 12400 Block of Hwy 23, Belle Chasse, failure to appear; issuance of arrest warrant (1); (SMSO).

James, Jaleel, 34, 100 Block of W. Hyacinth St., St. Martinville, aggravated assault (1); possession of firearm/concealed by convicted felon (1); self-mutilation by a prisoner (1); (SMPD).

Tuesday, October 13

Cavalier, Fabian, 28, 1900 Block of Levee Hwy 997, Pierre Part, failure to appear; issuance of arrest warrant (1); (SMSO).

Frederick, Travis, 71, 1300 Block of Rue de la Porte, Arnaudville, aggravated criminal damage to property (1); aggravated assault with a firearm (5); manslaughter--attempted (1); (SMSO).

Thibodeaux, Brannon, 32, 1000 Block of Hebert Ln., St. Martinville, violations of protective orders - all other offenses (1); (SMSO).

Williams, Joey, 43, 1100 Block of Semere Rd., Breaux Bridge attempt (1); unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling (1); failure to appear; issuance of arrest warrant (1); entry on or remaining in places or on land after being forbidden--all other offenses (1); (BBPD).

Wednesday, October 14

Clawson, Ezekiel, 22, 1000 Block of Pete Guidry Rd., St. Martinville, vehicular homicide/ driving under the influence (1); child passenger restraint system (3); reckless operation of a vehicle (1); vehicular negligent injury (1); first degree vehicular negligent injuring (1); child passenger restraint system (1); operating a vehicle while impaired (1); (LSP).

Hyatt, Logan, 39, 1100 Block of Dupe Dom St., Breaux Bridge, charges violations of protective orders - all other offenses (1); domestic abuse battery--strangulation--simple assault (1); (BBPD).

Noel, Jessie, 44, 400 Block of Guilbeau, Breaux Bridge, possession with intent to distribute schedule I (4); manufacture; distribution; pwitd-schedule II narcotics (3); create, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute, a counterfeit schedule III (1); manufacture; distribution - schedule IV (1); sale, distribution, or possession of legend drug without prescription or order (2); violation of uniform controlled dangerous substances law; drug free zone (9); prohibited acts-possession of drug paraphernalia (1); illegal carrying of weapons while attempting to commit a crime (1); (SMSO).

He was born in France on January 10, 1888. In 1889, Auguste Pelafigue travelled by ship with his family from France to the United States and settled in Arnaudville where spent most of his life.

As Auguste grew older, he was given the nickname, “Nonco” derived from “Nonc,” the French word for uncle, and the first syllable of his name which is pronounced “oh”. Nonco was an appropriate name, because Nonco was considered everybody’s uncle. He became a beloved teacher, catechist, and devoted servant of the Church. Guided by a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, he walked countless miles along the rural roads of Acadiana, visiting families, sharing devotional materials, encouraging prayer, and spreading the Catholic faith. In recognition of his extraordinary service to the Church, Pope Pius XII awarded him the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal in 1953. Nonco died on June 6, 1977, at the age of 89.

His journey toward possible sainthood reached an important milestone on January 11, 2020, when Bishop Deshotel officially opened his cause for beatification and canonization, granting him the title Servant of God. The diocesan investigation concluded in 2023, and its documentation was sent to Rome for further examination.

The faithful throughout Acadiana are invited to continue praying for Nonco’s beatification and canonization.

(Diocese of Lafayette)

The nomination form can be obtained online at www.louisianaagriculturehallofdistinction.com or through any parish LSU AgCenter office. The deadline for receiving nominations is Nov. 20.

The Hall of Distinction is a cooperative effort of the Louisiana Radio Network, LSU Ag-Center, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. It recognizes individuals who have had a profound effect on Louisiana agriculture or agricultural enterprises. Nominees can represent any area of agriculture or agriculture-related industries, including farming, ranching, aquaculture, fisheries, education and agribusiness.

“Behind every success in Louisiana agriculture are leaders who have invested their time, talents and passion in strengthening our industry,” said Matt Lee, LSU senior vice chancellor for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture. “The Hall of Distinction recognizes the leaders whose contributions have strengthened our industry and exemplify the innovation and service that continue to drive Louisiana’s impact at home and around the world.”

The three individuals inducted last year were David Cupp, a forester from Natchitoches; Rogers Leonard, the former AgCenter program leader for plant and animal sciences, of St. Joseph; and Jim Simon, general manager of the American Sugar Cane League since 2004, of New Iberia.

Since its inception, 40 individuals have been inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction.

For more information, contact Jennifer Marsh with the Louisiana Radio Network at 225-921-8576, or jennifer@ louisianaradionetwork. com or Bobby Soileau with the LSU AgCenter at 225-5783659 or bsoileau@agcenter. lsu.edu.

The council agreed to grant the waiver at its meeting Monday night after hearing from Cheri Adams, the local WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) Dislocated Worker Program manager.

“We have been supported very well from this community,” Adams said. “We are holding this event in hopes to connect job seekers to jobs, and also those who want to find skills, we have resources that will be available to help them get a higher-paying job.”

The job fair is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the community center located in Adam Carlson Park on Isadore Street.

Julia Castle of Acadiana Workforce Solutions also discussed partnering with the city to address business workforce needs.

“We have a plethora of services that we do offer to businesses,” she said. “My particular division works directly with business owners. We just want to promote awareness because we feel like a lot of businesses are not aware of the services we offer.”

Job fair

Castle particularly highlighted the on the job training program.

“This particular program is geared for businesses for new hires,” Castle said. “They have the opportunity to identify potential hires that may qualify for the on the job training program. We actually could reimburse up to 50 percent of their starting salaries, up to $5,000.”

The program is for new hires and must be for permanent hires. Workers are referred to the job center where they meet a career coach.

“I just really want to be very resourceful to the cities and want to make sure that I’m promoting awareness and that businesses are aware of the benefits that are offered to them and that they are actually taking advantage of it,” she said

Garden Club events 

The St. Martinville Garden Club requested permission from the city council to hold its annual Tour of Homes on Dec. 16.

The council approved the request and the closing of Evangeline Boulevard during the tour.

The club also requested permission to plant a Native Bed planing behind the African-American Museum, near the Evangeline Oak.

Amber LaPierre of the Garden Club said there is a sign already in place from a previous Native Bed.

“We partnered with the Acadiana Native Plant Project,” LaPierre said. “They do a lot of work in Lafayette helping design landscapes and stuff to bring native plants in, and they’re going to give us some guidance on what we should plant there that will grow well and attract pollinators. We want to put a bench and like a little bird bath so that you can actually sit and enjoy it and take a little break on the boardwalk.”

The club would like to label plants for visitors as well, LaPierre said.

The council approved planting of a Native Bed behind the museum.

Abandoned property 

The council heard from Planning & Zoning Director Otis Chatman about abandoned property off Honore Street and opted to have Chatman get bids on removing the mobile home from the property.

The council also approved having Chatman get quotes for clearing adjudicated properties at 130 Labbe Street, 1012 Knight Street, 215 Mary Ann Street and 720 St. Ann Street.

Mayor Jason Willis said the city was awarded $50,000 in direct appropriations for blighted property and suggested using that money for the city’s adjudicated properties.

Councilman Brad Horton asked if the fire department could do a controlled burn to demolish some properties but some of those properties are in tight quarters that would not allow such burns or might have hazardous materials inside that would not allow for a burn.

The city would get quotes from contractors, rather than bids, and then decide if it could afford to go ahead with the work on those properties.

In other business

City Culture and Tourism director Michelle Broussard told the council that the beautification project along Evangeline Boulevard was completed on Friday.

“And then on Saturday morning when we arrived for the Cancer Walk, we were notified that someone had (driven) on half of our boulevard and everything that was fixed,” Broussard said. “They did damage two trees, one of the light poles and quite a bit of the area of the landscape that we have done. So we will have to go back in and get that all refurbished and get that all fixed again. We’re getting quotes to make sure all the irrigation is back up, all the electricity is back up. We had to turn all that off.”

She thanked interim Police Chief Andrew Broussard and his staff for arresting the person responsible.

Horton said city work crews were out quickly Saturday morning cleaning up the area.

Broussard said that a large cypress tree along the walkway behind the African-American Museum measured 17 feet in diameter was inspected by Sierra Club Delta Chapter member Harvey Stern and qualified to be recognized as part of the Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy Project. The project identifies and landmarks old growth bald cypress trees in the state that are at least 215 years old, or alive at the time of the Louisiana Purchase (1803).

“He was able to tell us that this tree has been here since the Louisiana Purchase in 1803,” Broussard said. “So he provided us with a plaque and our tree is now registered. So I wanted to let everybody know that. When you’re walking on the boardwalk you can go and check out the plaque. I’m excited to have that here.”

Broussard also highlighted more events this month, including:

• an Art Walk on Oct. 24 handled by the Main Street Association, with participation from St. Martinville Senior High and the St. Martin STEAM Academy, and including music by Chubby Carrier;

• and Trunk or Treat on New Market Street in front of City Hall and the museums, from 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Saturday October 31, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Trick or Treating in Downtown Breaux Bridge. East Bridge St. will be closed from Main St. to Washington St. for traffic free trick or treating. Anyone interested in handing out candy that night can set up a table on East Bridge St. and participate in Trick or Treating. Call Jeanne McBride at 337-849-9191 for more information.

ST MARTIN PARISH LIBRARY ST. MARTINVILLE 

Instructor Lead Yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

Book Club (adult, no limit) Thurs., Oct. 15, 3 p.m. Now reading: The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave.

Let’s Get Leafy!

(youth, limit 10) Thurs. Oct. 29, 4 p.m. Create a beautiful leaf printed banner with handmade painted leaves.

BREAUX BRIDGE 

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

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

Stitch & Chat (teen-adult, limit 10) Wed., Oct. 28, 12 p.m.

Book Club (adult, no limit) Wed., Oct. 21 3 p.m. Now reading: “The Golden Spoon” by Jessa Maxwell.

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.

BINGO! (general, limit 30) Wed., Oct. 21, 6 p.m.

Books For Breakfast! (early childhood, limit 10) Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. Spend your morning with an engaging story and put together a festive pumpkin craft.

Color Me Calm!

(general, limit 30) Thurs., Oct. 29, 10 a.m.

National Cat Day!

…meow you’re talking… (general, limit 15) Thurs., Oct. 29, 5:30 p.m. Celebrate National Cat Day with a “paws-itively” special craft!

PARKS Pumpkin Palooza!

Pick A Pumpkin. Paint Your Style! (adult, limit 10) Tue., Oct. 27, 1 p.m.

Book Club adult, no limit) Wed., Oct. 28, 3 p.m. Now reading: The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave.

******************

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 meetings are scheduled for Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.

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, 337-2422174.

God’s Pantry of Love is in need of non-perishable items to restock its food pantry. Henderson Bible Church, Lisa Trautwein, 915-4120758.

The St. Bernard/ St. Francis Food Pantry, 701 W. Bridge, Breaux Bridge is open Tuesdays from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Call 337-314-9494 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 318272-0262. 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.