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RAYNE - A reminder was given and plans were announced Tuesday evening of the upcoming 2017 installation meeting of Arceneaux Post 77, American Legion slated Tuesday, July 11, at the Legion Home.
As announced by Commander David Guidry the sitting slate of officers will return for another term and will be installed during the meeting scheduled on July 11 due to the July 4th holiday.
Also to be include during the evening will be the installation of the new Auxiliary officers of Unit 77 and officers for the newly re-organized Sons of the Legion. The joint event will be hosted by the Auxiliares with start time slated for 7 p.m. at the Legion Home. Legionnaires will also invite guests and spouses.
Also to be included during the Installation Banquet is the awarding of the Law Enforcement Officer and four 50-year membership awards.
Discussion was heard of the annual Boys State Program which will include only one Rayne High student, Jordan McCrory. He has already received his registration packets for the summer event slated June 25-July 1 on the campus of Northwestern State University. Local sponsors are Post 77, Rayne Lions Club, Woodmen of the World and Bank of Commerce. Chairman Ray Olinger noted Post 77 will host the 7th District East orientation on Wednesday, June 14, between 5-7 p.m. prior to the trip.
The memorial report included the death of legionnaire Horace Foreman. Thanks were expressed to all who attended the funeral on behalf of Post 77. A thank you card was received from the family of Gil Cormier of Post 77’s funeral attendance.
Sick call included Cliff Owens, Andrus Fontenot, Robley Moroux and Gene Comeaux.
Ray Olinger gave the membership report as 173 or 89 percent of paid dues. New membership cards were received from the Department with members reminded to get an early start for the coming year.
A reminder was given for the 2017 Annual Department Convention (formerly Summer Conference) slated June 8-11 at the Best Western in Alexandria. Delegates were named who will vote on behalf of Post 77.
Post 77 hosted the 2017 annual Memorial Day program on Sunday, May 28, at 10:30 a.m. Special guests included family members of veterans who have passed away during the past year, in addition to Gold Star family members. Chairman Olinger also thanked all legionnaires who attended and volunteered their time and assistance for the Legion program, in addition to the local Woodmen of the World who provided refreshments.
The 2017 spring fundraiser, a pork jambalaya dinner, was held Sunday, May 21, with thanks expressed to all who helped in any way. Proceeds will benefit the programs Post 77 provides for the community and schools.
Commander Simon reported of the recent weekend musical entertainment held at the Legion Home including a well-attended Richard LeBouef show last weekend.
He also gave a report on the Legin awards presented during end of the school year awards programs, including: Rayne High senior scholarship, along with eighth grade awards to a boy and girl at Armstrng Middle, Rayne Catholic, Mire Elem. and Branch Elem. He also thanked the Legionnaires for making the many school presentations.
Also noted during the evening was the 73rd anniversary date of D-Day. The World War II event included the Normandy landings (code-named Operation Neptune) on Tuesday, June 6, 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The largest seaborne invasion in history, the operation began the liberation of German-occupied northwestern Europe from Nazi control, and contributed to the Allied victory on the Western Front.
With no further business to come before the Post, the meeting was concluded with a delicious meal

Three people were escorted by police from Monday’s Rayne City Council meeting.
Officers led Theresa Richard and her ex-husband Mitchell Ross Richard, along with Dowell D. “D.D.” Folds from the June meeting after Richard accused Folds of threatening her.
The council was hearing an appeal of a decision last month to reclassify two lots from a commercial zoning to residential. The action barred the owner of those lots from obtaining a liquor license required to open a bar there.
Theresa Richard, a self-described “government accountability activist,” was video-recording the meeting with her phone from the front row of the gallery.
Folds also was recording the meeting from the second row of the audience, directly behind and two seats over from Richard.
Folds’ video was streamed live on Facebook and has been posted there.
About an hour and 15 minutes into the meeting, Folds made a comment to Richard, who turned her camera toward Folds. She then leaned over and whispered something into her ex-husband’s ear.
He then turned toward Folds and told him, “You need to watch your language in front of her,” and accused Folds of “calling her names.”
That’s when Richard stood up and announced, “He’s threatening me ... and calling me names” and “He should be arrested.”
Folds can be heard denying threatening her, saying, “I just told her to turn the camera around.”
Richard exclaimed, “You need some security in this building,” at which point Mayor Charles “Chuck” Robichaux replied, “We have security,” then instructed the two police officers present to escort all three out of city hall.
Chief Carroll J. Stelly joined officers to escort everyone out of the building and off the grounds.
Richard continued protesting and told officers she wanted to make a statement concerning the alleged threats by Folds.
No charges were filed in connection with the incident.
Concerning Nathan Jauberty’s appeal of the council’s rezoning action, the matter was tabled pending the acquisition of public records.
Jaubert’s attorney, Marcus Allen, claimed that Sylvia Mouton, in making the original request to have the property reverted to it’s R-3 classification from C-2, failed to properly follow city ordinance.
Quoting the ordinance, Allen said that Mouton’s petition for rezoning along with a $50 fee should have been filed five days prior to the Zoning and Planning Commission meeting or before that.
He presented a receipt showing that the fee had been paid on April 3, however, Mouton’s statement to the commission was dated April 24, the day of the actual meeting.
Mark Daigle, city inspector, explained that Mouton had, indeed, filed the requisite petition the same day she had paid the fee. However, he continued, he had been out of state on vacation at the time of the public records request and Mouton’s statement, not her original petition, had been submitted by mistake.
On Robichaux’s recommendation, the council tabled Jaubert’s appeal until the proper documentation was made available.
Daigle said Tuesday morning that the receipt and original notice were available.
No timeline was given on the council’s reconsideration of the rezoning.
Action on other items on Monday night’s agenda will be reported in next week’s Acadian-Tribune.

Funeral services will be held for Calvin Raymond Kibodeaux, 79, at 2 p.m. on June 14, in the Duhon Funeral Home-Crowley Chapel with Bro. Len Whitaker and Bro. Rick Pavlu officiating. Visitation will begin on Wednesday, June 14, at 10 a.m. and will continue until service time at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow the chapel service and will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Crowley. Mr. Kibodeaux passed away on Saturday, June 10.
Mr. Kibodeaux is survived by his children, Carl Raymond Kibodeaux and his wife Sandra of Rayne, Robert Kibodeaux of Eunice, Calvin R. Kibodeaux Jr. and his wife Becky of Crowley, James Kibodeaux of Eunice, Regina Kibodeaux of Youngsville, Brian Kibodeaux and his wife Joanie of Crowley and Kevin Kibodeaux and his wife Shawn of Church Point, LA; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded by his parents, Henry Kibodeaux and Agnes Campbell Kibodeaux; brothers, Blackie Kibodeaux, Russell Kibodeaux, Melvin Kibodeaux , C.J. Kibodeaux; and one sister, Zada Thibodeaux.
Pallbearers will be Jason Kibodeaux, Blake Menard, Carl Kibodeaux Jr., Michael Kibodeaux, Raymond Mouton and Taylor Moresi. Honorary pallbearer will be Bradley Driscoll.
You may view the obituary, sign the guest registry and express condolences online to Mr. Kibodeaux’s family at www.duhonfuneralhome@yahoo.com.
Duhon Funeral Home, LLC-Crowley, (337)783-1395. 1529 Crowley-Rayne Hwy., Crowley, LA 70526 is in charge of all of the arrangements.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Robert Lee Richard, 72, was celebrated on Wednesday, June 14, at 2 p.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church. Father Kevin Bordelon, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church, served as celebrant.
Interment with military honors followed in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery No. 2 in Rayne.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, June 13, from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. in Gossen Funeral Home in Rayne, with a rosary being recited at 7 p.m. Visitation continued on Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in the funeral home.
Mr. Richard passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2017, in LaMarque, Texas.
A native of Rayne, Mr. Richard was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with Attack Squadron 164, known as Ghost Riders Squadron. He served honorably, attaining the rank of Aviation Electronics Technician Third Class (Petty Officer Third Class). He remained a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for the rest of his life.
Mr. Richard worked in the petrochemical industry, having worked for Texas City Refinery (later Hill Petroleum and Valero). He spent 15 years at Firestone in Orange, and also worked for Chevron in Port Arthur.
Mr. Richard was a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan, but his greatest joy in life was spending time with and caring for his family.
Survivors include his daughter, Julie Ann Huerta of Grand Prairie, Texas; sons, David Richard and wife Amanda of Alvin, Texas, and Daniel Richard of LaMarque, Texas; brother, Michael Richard and wife Judy of Abita Springs; sisters Emelda “Molly” Foreman and husband Horence of Orange, Texas, and Joan Gervais of Lafayette; grandchildren, Austin Tyler Huerta, Rivers Joseph Richard, and Stella Gale Richard; brother-in-law, Andrew Habetz Jr. of Rayne; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Preceding Mr. Richard in death were his wife of over 20 years, Louetta “Kitty” Habetz Richard; parents, Thomas Richard Sr. and Bertha Gary Richard; sister, Jeanette Habetz; and brother Thomas “Tommy” Richard Jr.
Serving as pallbearers were Austin Tyler Huerta, Bryan Foreman, Shannon Foreman, David Speyrer, Hans Weber and Quinton Richard.
Named as honorary pallbearers were T.J. Gervais and Mike Patin.
Paula Castille and Renee Patin delivered the readings, and Beth Speyrer and Marisa Weber served as gift bearers for the Funeral Mass.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.gossenfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were entrusted to Gossen Funeral Home, Inc. of Rayne, (337) 334-3141.