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Henrietta Handy

Thu, 06/08/2017 - 2:32pm
CROWLEY

Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 10, 2017, at 10 a.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church for Henrietta Handy, 71, who died June 3, 2017, at Lafayette General Medical Center.
Services will be conducted by Father Sonny Brown.
Interment will be in South Crowley Cemetery.
She is survived by one daughter, Rose Simms of Crowley; two sons, David Handy and Jonathan Wilson, both of Crowley; five grandchildren, Larisa Simms of Crowley, John Simms of Crowley, Robert Simms Jr. of South Korea, Jonerica Whiting of Houston, Texas, and Kristen Wilson of Crowley; five great grandchildren, Monica Thomas, Tyrese White, Roselina Simms, Kayden James and Tera Whiting; five remaining siblings, Dorothy Vallier of Houston, Gilbert Handy of Crowley, Abram Handy of Houston, Ann Marie Guidry of Richmond, Texas, and Delores Handy of Crowley; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one son, John Christopher Wilson; granddaughter, Monica Simms; parents, Bob and Virginia Handy; six siblings, Lula Bailey, Gertrude Handy, Archie Handy, Joseph Handy, Martin Handy and William Handy.
A rosary will be recited on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at St. Theresa Catholic Church at 9 a.m.
Sign the guestbook online at www.syriefh.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Syrie Funeral Home, Inc. of Lafayette.

Rena Mae Menard

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 4:17pm
GUEYDAN

Rena Mae Menard was born in Morse on May 24, 1929, to Ivy Thibodeaux and Pauline Conner Thibodeaux. She was called to her Heavenly Father on June 6, 2017. Rena worked as an Associate for Sears until her retirement. She loved to play cards and dancing, but mostly she loved caring for her family. Rena was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Rena is survived by her son, Nason Keith Menard of Morse; granddaughters, Kim (Barton) Kibodeaux of Morse and Jennifer (Eric) Thompson of Lyons Point; grandson, Shawn (Shawntel) Richard of Lafayette; two great-granddaughters, Haley (T-Wayne) Kibodeaux of Rayne and Kennedy Thompson of Lyons Point; four great-grandsons, Steven Kibodeaux of Morse, John (Robbie) LaPointe II of Lyons Point, Drew Thompson of Lyons Point and Henry Richard of Lafayette; and two great-great-granddaughters, Mia LaPointe of Rayne and Evelynn-Grace Istre of Rayne.
Rena was preceded in death by her parents, Ivy and Pauline Thibodeaux; beloved husband, Nason Menard; son, Steven Menard; sister, Verdie Richard; and brother, Paul Thibodeaux.
A Funeral Service for Rena Mae Menard, 88, of Morse will be held at Matthews and Son Funeral Home Chapel in Gueydan on Friday, June 9, at 10 a.m. with Pastor Jimmy Broussard officiating. A gathering of family and friends be held at Matthews & Son Funeral Home in Gueydan beginning on Thursday, June 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary beginning recited at 7 p.m. The family request that visitation resume on Friday, June 9, at 8 a.m. until the time of her funeral service. Rena will be laid to rest in Hanks Cemetery.
To extend online condolences, please visit our website at www.matthewsandsonfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Matthews & Son Funeral Home.

Ruth Marie Spell

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 4:16pm
CROWLEY

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 9, at Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel for Ruth Marie Spell, 71, who died June 7, 2017, at The Carpenter House in Lafayette.
Rev. Jimmy Broussard will be officiating for the services. Visitation will be held Friday from 9 a.m. to the time of service. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Ms. Spell is preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Bernice Hunter Spell; and one brother, Leonard “Pep” Spell.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her name to a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family by www.geesey-ferguson.com.
Arrangement have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley.

City’s Children’s Fishing Derby re-scheduled July 15 in Rayne

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 10:36am
Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Due to inclement weather last weekend, the 2017 Annual Children’s Catch & Release Fishing Derby has been re-scheduled for Saturday, July 15, at the ponds located on the grounds of Maison d’Memoire (Ken & Lynn Guidry) at 8450 Roberts Cove Road (Hwy. 98) just north of Rayne.
The City of Rayne will again join a number of community partners for the event, including The Acadiana Sportman’s League, Rayne Lions Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Maison d’Memoire.
The event will take place between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. with the awards ceremony to follow. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m.
This catch and release fishing event is being held for children up to 15 years of age with category breakdowns in different age groups. Children must be accompanied by an adult for the day.
Activities planned include a short briefing on the rules and guidelines for the day’s activities, an educational packet containing information on tying a knot, baiting a hook, identification of fish, general fishing safety and an approximate 2 hour fishing derby with the assistance from members of Acadiana Sportsman League.
Prizes awarded at the end of the fishing tournament will include largest fish in each age category and most fish caught in each age category.
A light lunch of hot dogs and cold drinks will be available, with the assistance of the Rayne Lions Club, for those enjoying the day’s activities.
Participants must bring their own fishing poles and are encouraged to bring suntan lotion, bug repellent, lawn chairs and hats for protection from the sun.
In the past ice chests were not allowed, but ice chests will be allowed this year with the following condition: they will be inspected prior to being allowed to leave for reasons of controlling the catch and release element of this derby.
While there is no fee to fish, pre-registration is a MUST! When calling, you will need to have your child(ren)’s name, age and t-shirt size.
Please make a special note that participants will not be allowed into the fishing area prior to 8:30 a.m. out of respect to patrons staying at Maison de Memoire.
Make your plans to attend today by calling Suzette Leonards at 337-334-6682 or stop by Rayne City Hall.

June ceremony announced

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 10:32am
Wednesday, June 7, 2017

RAYNE - A one-thirty afternoon Nuptial Mass at Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, June 17, 2017, will unite in holy matrimony Mariah Day Hukins and Eric John Miller, both of Carencro. A reception will follow at The Grand Opera House in Crowley.
The bride-elect is the daughter of Colin and Charlotte Hukins of Carencro. Her grandparents are Huey Arnaud of Carencro, the late Lucy Arnaud, and A.M. and Dru Hukins of Lafayette.
Mariah is a 2011 graduate of Carencro High School, 2015 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education, and is currently employed as a teacher with the Lafayette Parish School Board.
The prospective groom is the son of Daniel and Theresa Simoneaux of Rayne, Mildred Miller and the late Terry Miller of Crowley. His grandparents are Azetille Jean Primeaux of Crowley, the late Oliver Primeaux, and Sylvia and James Lubert Miller of Crowley.
Eric is a 2010 graduate of Rayne High School, 2014 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a focus in education, and is employed as a teacher and coach with the Lafayette Parish School Board.
Following their wedding, the couple will reside in Crowley.

Couple plans August wedding at Rayne venue

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 10:31am
Wednesday, June 7, 2017

RAYNE - The American Legion Home will serve as the setting on Saturday, August 5, 2017, for a wedding ceremony that will unite in marriage Brittany Boudreaux of Lafayette and Alex Bourque of Breaux Bridge. A reception will follow on site.
The bride-elect is the daughter of John and Rebecca Dupont Boudreaux of Rayne. Her grandparents are the late Earl and Joyce Dupont of Rayne and the late Hilbert and Rita Boudreaux of Church Point.
Brittany is a 2005 graduate of Rayne High School, attained a CNA degree from SLCC Acadian Campus, and is employed by Centurion Neuro-Muscular Skeletal, LLC.
The prospective groom is the son of Michael and Melissa Romero Bourque of Breaux Bridge. His grandparents are Maria Carroll of Breaux Bridge, the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bourque Sr. of Lafayette, the late Ethel Thibodeaux of St. Peterburg, Florida, and the late Ernest Romero of New Iberia.
Alex is a graduate of The Academy of Wisdom in Breaux Bridge and is currently employed by Goldin Metals, Inc.

Jimmy J. Menard Sr.

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 10:28am
Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 5, at 11 a.m. in the Duhon Funeral Home Chapel in Rayne for Jimmy J. Menard Sr., 62, who passed away at his home in Branch on Friday, June 2, 2017, at 11:35 p.m.
Mrs. Ellen Cormier, pastor of Victory Family Worship Center in Scott, officiated for the services.
Burial was in St. Edmund Catholic Church Cemetery in Branch.
The family requested the visitation to be held on Sunday, June 4, at 10:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. in the funeral home chapel in Rayne. A Rosary was recited on Sunday at 7 o’clock in the evening. Visitation resumed on Monday, June 5, at 8 a.m. until time of services.
Mr. Jimmy was a resident of Branch. He retired from SLEMCO with 29 years of service in Crowley and Lafayette.
He enjoyed riding horses and trail rides, spending time with family, fishing and cooking. He will be missed by his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 36 years, Susanna Susan Menard of Branch; one daughter, April and husband, Jammie Degeyter of Cecilia; one son, Jimmy “Jay” Menard Jr. and companion Latrell Primeaux of Branch; his mother, Loretta Lanclos Babineaux; three sisters, Laura and husband Harold Marceaux of Lafayette, Gertrude Guillory of Lafayette and Sandra and husband Henry Winn of Lafayette; two brothers, Rickey Menard Sr. and wife Annette of Youngsville and John D. Menard Jr. and wife Juanita of Cecilia; one step sister, Melanie and husband Glen Landry of Erath; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers for the services were Jammie Degeyter, Terry Broussard, Nick Denais, James Marceaux Jr., Jason Menard and Rickey Menard Jr.
Honorary Pallbearers for the service were Lane Menard, Jade Degeyter, Mason Winn, Bryce Arabie, John Dudley Menard Jr., Rickey Menard Sr. and Harold Marceaux.
Mr. Menard was preceded in death by his father, John Dudley Menard Sr.; his step father, John Babineaux; one brother, Julian Menard; one sister, Dianne Menard Hebert; one nephew, Robin “Boo’ Marceaux; one niece, Rachelle Guillory.
You may view the obituary, sign the guest registry and express condolences online to Mr. Menard’s family at www.duhonfuneralhome.com.
Duhon Funeral Home, LLC - Rayne, (337) 334-3600, 900 E. Texas Ave., Rayne, was in charge of all of the arrangements.

Mary Ellen Picard

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 10:27am
Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 6, at 2 p.m. in the Duhon Funeral Home Chapel in Rayne for Mary Ellen Picard, 84, who passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 10:53 p.m. at Southwind Nursing Home in Crowley.
Deacon Tommy Adams, from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rayne officiated for the services.
Burial was in the St. Joseph Catholic Church New Cemetery in Rayne.
The family requested the visitation to be held on Monday, June 5, at 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. in the funeral home chapel in Rayne. A Rosary was recited on Monday at 6 o’clock in the evening. Visitation resumed on Tuesday, June 6, at 8 a.m. until time of services.
Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Joseph Picard; two sons, Carrol and wife Ruth Picard of Church Point, and Gerald and wife Marian Bernard of Lafayette; one daughter, Dianne Bernard and husband Ronnie Desormeaux of Rayne; three sisters, Bella Trahan of Carencro, Mary Lou Bernard of Carencro and Ruby Guidry of Jennings; nine grandchildren, Sean, Shane and Byron Bernard, Sonya Alleman, Shannon and Shavon Desormeaux, Carissa Sharbeno, Traci and Evan Picard; several step-grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Picard was preceded in death by her son, Patrick Bernard; one grandson, Christopher Bernard; her parents, Arvilin and Rose R. Faul; several brothers and sister.
Pallbearers were Carrol Picard, Evan Picard, Donald Faul, Shannon Desormeaux, Sean Bernard and Gavin Desormeaux
Honorary pallbearers were Terry Martin and Donyel Martin
You may view the obituary, sign the guest registry and express condolences online to Mrs. Picard’s family at www.duhonfuneralhome.com.
Duhon Funeral Home, LLC - Rayne, (337) 334-3600, 900 E. Texas Ave., Rayne, was in charge of all of the arrangements.

City of Rayne awarded State Cleanest City Award

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 10:18am
Wednesday, June 7, 2017

STATE CLEANEST CITY PLAQUE PRESENTED: During ceremonies held Monday, June 5, at City Hall, the city of Rayne was officially awarded the 2017 State Cleanest City Contest plaque for Category F from judging held throughout the state by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation. Among those on hand for the presentation were, from left, Garden Club president-elect Fran Bihm, Police Chief Carroll Stelly, immediate past LGCF president Jeanette Gatzman, Street Superintendent Robert “Foot” Senegal, Mayor Charles “Chuck” Robichaux, LGCF State Cleanest City Contest Chairman Jean Gilstrap, Garden Club Cleanest City Chairman Lisa Soileaux, and Garden Club members Desiree Casey and Dianne Sonnier. (Acadian-Tribune Photo by Josie Henry)

Judge rules for city of Rayne in records suit

Wed, 06/07/2017 - 10:16am
Steve Bandy, Rayne Acadian-Tribune
Wednesday, June 7, 2017

crowley - A lawsuit demanding that the city turn over specific paperwork pertaining to the installation of culverts at a home on Second Street was denied after two days of testimony last week.
The suit was filed by Theresa Richard, a self-proclaimed “government accountability activist,” demanding that the city turn over copies of a delivery receipt of culverts that had been delivered to the Rayne City Barn in January, 2016.
Richard contended that the receipts were public record and would indicate who had purchased the culverts.
The city claimed that, since the culverts were not purchased by the city, there is no documentation, thus, no public record.
However, though he denied Richard’s request, 15th Judicial District Judge Patrick Michot stopped short of ruling that the requested paperwork was not, in fact, public record.
“If the city had the tickets, I would have ordered (them released),” Michot said Wednesday evening (May 31) after two days of testimony. “However, evidence shows that the city does not have the tickets, therefore, the mandamus is denied.”
Had Michot granted Richard’s demand, Richard would have been eligible to collect up to $100 per day in fines from the city dating back to her original request for the paperwork in June, 2016.
Through a public records request, Richard was asked that the city turn over copies of a delivery receipt of culverts that had been delivered to the Rayne City Barn in January, 2016.
Those culverts were to be used in the 400 block of Second Street at two houses that had been purchased by Rob-Rob, Inc., a company owned by Mayor Charles “Chuck” Robichaux and his brother. The houses were being refurbished as possible rental properties.
During testimony, it was brought out that, when the culverts — 15 in all — were originally ordered from Doug Ashy Building Materials of Rayne by Peggy King, Mayor Robichaux’s fiancé and operations manager of the company, the order was mistakenly charged to the city of Rayne’s account.
“When I heard, ‘delivered to the Rayne City Barn,’ I just assumed they were for the city,” explained Tracy Carter, the floor salesman at Doug Ashy who took the phoned-in order.
Both Carter and Store Manager Danny Melancon admitted under oath that similar mistakes — charging merchandise to the wrong account — “happens more often than we would like” and that the issuance of a credit memo is the store’s internal bookkeeping method of correcting such a mistake.
It was also noted during testimony, that it is a common practice for citizens to “store” culverts at the city barn to avoid possible theft if they are stacked in the homeowner’s yard.
Also, since the installation and covering of the culverts is a service offered by the city — “as long as they are installed in the city right-of-way,” the mayor added — and that work is done “as time permits,” it is convenient to have the culverts in one area.
Robichaux testified that, immediately upon learning that the culverts had been charged to the city, he corrected Carter, who said he would have a manager (Melancon) change the billing from the city to Rob-Rob.
Subsequently, a credit memo was issued the following morning, removing the charge from the city’s account.
In the meantime, however, three of the culverts — all that were available at the Rayne store — were picked up by Anthony Monroe, city street department employee.
The remainder of the order was to be shipped from the Doug Ashy store in Breaux Bridge.
Monroe testified that, since the installation of culverts for private citizens is “common practice” for the city, he handed that delivery slip over to one of the workers at the house.
The fate of the delivery slip for the rest of the order that was delivered to the city barn, as had been recommended by Street Supervisor Robert “Foot” Senegal, is unknown.
City Clerk Annette Cutrera testified that it was never turned in to anyone at city hall.
“We have no purchase order for any culverts, no invoice for any culverts and no delivery slip for any culverts,” Cutrera said.
She added during subsequent testimony that a “thorough search” for any documentation concerning the purchase of those culverts was conducted three time, each time with the same result.
“It is not common practice for us to hold on to any kind of paperwork that does not directly pertain to the city,” she explained.
Asked directly if she would have turned over the requested documents if she had them, Cutrera answered, “Certainly.”
In a related lawsuit, Cutrera had counter-sued Richard on behalf of herself, the city of Rayne and “other, unnamed officials,” claiming defamation related to a number of posts on the “Eyes on Rayne” Facebook page.
Michot ruled that Cutrera had no legal standing to file such a lawsuit and that a city cannot be defamed.
Cutrera’s lawsuit was dismissed.
With each “side” claiming victory in one lawsuit, Michot instructed the attorneys to submit briefs pertaining to the assignment of legal fee responsibilities.

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