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Ernest Lepretre Jr.

The family and friends of Ernest Lepretre Jr. are mourning the loss of their loved one who was called from this life on March 18, 2017, at the age of 85.
Ernest was born in Gueydan to Ernest Lepretre Sr. and Eunice Boudreaux Lepretre on Sept. 14, 1931. He served our nation honorably in the United States Navy. For 22 years, Ernest worked for Bell South as an Installer and Repairman. In his spare time, he enjoyed baseball, playing dominos, gardening and hunting. Ernest was a member and past post commander of the American Legion Post 235. He was also a member of the Woodmen of the World and a Bell South Pioneer. Ernest was a founder of Acadia/Vermillion Baseball. He will be greatly missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Ernest is survived by his wife, Dolores S. Lepretre of Gueydan; five children, Steven (Kathy) Lepretre of Bossier City, Isaac (Kim) Lepretre of Gueydan, Jeanne (Ed) Saal of Gueydan, Rebecca (Richard) Hardee of Gueydan and Monica (Gil) Baker of Gueydan; 10 grandchildren, Leah Saal, Erin Saal, Stephanie Lepretre, Kegan Lepretre, David Hardee, Daniel Hardee, Allison Lepretre, Zachary Lepretre and Benjamin and Isaac Baker; two great-grandchildren, Amorie Hardee and Lane David Hardee; five brothers, Thomas (Betty) Lepretre of Crowley, LeRoy (Vivian) Lepretre of Lyons Point, Wallace (Linda) Lepretre of Gueydan, Floyd (Loraine) Lepretre of Hathaway and Lloyd (Sue) Lepretre of Hathaway; and brothers-in-law, Roy Guidry and Huey Stutes.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Eunice Lepretre Sr.; and sister, Mildred Cormier.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Gueydan on Tuesday, March 21, at 10 a.m. with Father Corey Campeaux officiating. Burial will follow in the Gueydan Cemetery under the direction of Matthews and Son Funeral Home. Visitation was held at Matthews & Son Funeral Home in Gueydan on Monday, March 20, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a Rosary recited at 6 p.m. The family request that visitation resume on Tuesday at 8 a.m. until the time of his service.
Carrying Ernest to his final resting place will be David Hardee, Zachary Lepretre, Benjamin Baker, Isaac Baker, Kegan Lepretre, and Brandon Lepretre.
To extend online condolences, please visit our website at www.matthewsandsonfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Matthews & Son Funeral Home.

Garbage collection trucks destroyed in fire at Progressive Waste plant

DUSON - Several Progressive Waste trucks caught fire at the plant early Saturday, according to Duson Police Chief Kip Judice.
No injuries were reported.
Judice said a firefighter smelled smoke around 6:45 a.m., which is how the fire was originally detected. He said it appears the fire went undetected for a while because of the fog.
The chief said the Duson Police and Fire Departments, along with Progressive Waste and the Lafayette Arson Team are looking into the cause. Judice said it initially appears to be electrical but they are not ruling anything out and records from surveillance cameras at the plant are under review.
A representative with Progressive Waste said the company was bringing in trucks from out of the area to replace the ones lost in the fire and trash pick up will remain the same for residents but may run slower than usual.

Family feud intensifies, police respond

Chief: More than a dozen fights reported during past weekend

Rayne Police continue to sort out the details of a weekend-long feud between two Rayne families that resulted in a number of fights.
Chief of Police Carroll J. Stelly said his department is investigating numerous disturbances over the weekend involving various members of the two families.
The altercations started Saturday evening around 10 p.m. and continued through Sunday night with Rayne Police and Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responding to over a dozen separate reported events of fighting, according to Stelly.
Most of the calls were in the northwest area Rayne area (along and north of Jeff Davis Street and west of The Boulevard) with some spilling over into the northeastern area known as “The O.G.” along North Bradford Street.
Stelly said officers were forced to release chemical agents to break up large crowds that were fighting.
In one incident in the North Bradford area, witnesses reported a shot being fired into the air, Stelly said. Several complaints of criminal damage to property were also reported.
Rayne officers are reviewing witness statements and Facebook videos to determine possible suspects and appropriate charges to file.
Anyone with any information or videos of the incidents is urged to call Rayne Police at 334-4215 or Acadia Crimestoppers at 789-(TIPS), 789-8477.
Callers will remain anonymous and could receive up to a $1,000 cash reward.

Vienna Dronet Lejeune

Funeral Services will be held for Vienna Dronet Lejeune, 71, at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 20, in the Duhon Funeral Home, LLC- Crowley Chapel with her Godchild, Brother Kerry Doucet officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 19, and will continue until just prior to service time on Monday morning. Interment will follow the chapel service and will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Crowley. Mrs. Lejeune passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette.
Survivors include three sons, Paul Wade Lejeune, Kevin James Lejeune, Patrick and Wayne “Pappy” Lejeune; daughter, Dana Dalane Jackson; step-daughter, Roxane Lejeune, all of Crowley; grandchildren, Anthony Paul Lejeune of Crowley and Skyler Lejeune of Egan; step-grandchildren, Melissa Lejeune and Scotty Lejeune; great-grandchildren, Serenidy Sky Lejeune, Sladan Paul Lejeune and Carter Lejeune; brothers, Jimmy Dronet and wife Toni of Duson and Bradley Dronet and wife Carlene of Jackson, Alabama; six sisters, Judy Thibodeaux and her husband Alan of West Monroe, Norma Thibodeaux and her husband Loveless of Rayne, Kolita Jarnagin and husband Michael of Plaquemine, Donna Guidry and her husband, Jesse of Biloxi, Missisippi, Patricia Broussard and her husband Clay of St. Amant and Becky Dronet of Biloxi, Mississippi; numerous nieces and nephews along with great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her spouse, Paul W. Lejeune; one sister, Brenda Leger; father, Atlas Dronet; step-mother, Willie Mae Dronet; step-father. Olema Benoit; mother, Amelia Campbell Benoit; nephew, Atlas Dean Leger; and great-niece, MaLiyah Hollingsworth.
You may view the obituary, sign the guest registry and express condolences online to Mrs. Lejeune’s family online at www.duhonfuneralhome.com.
Duhon Funeral Home, LLC, Crowley, (337)783-1395,1529 Crowley-Rayne Hwy., Crowley, LA, 70526 is in charge of all of the arrangements.

Kathleen G. Toups

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 18, at 1 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, for Kathleen G. Toups also known as “KT”, age 91, who passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at Lafayette General Medical Center.
The Very Reverend Chester C. Arceneaux, VF, Rector of Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, will be the Celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Concelebrated by Reverend Monsignor Richard von Phul Mouton and Reverend Patrick Broussard, assisted by Deacon George Jourdan. Homilist will be Deacon Tim Maragos.
Entombment will be in St. John Mausoleum.
Miss Toups, born in Jennings, was the daughter of the late Louis Z. Toups and the former Marie Nohe. A graduate of Jennings High School, she earned a B.A. degree from Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
She worked briefly at the Lafayette Daily Advertiser before joining the staff at SLI where she worked in the News Bureau for seven years. In 1949, she began reporting news of the Diocese of Lafayette for Catholic Action of the South. In 1954 when Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard, first Bishop of Lafayette, established the Southwest Louisiana Register, she was appointed assistant editor. She continued to write for the Acadiana Catholic, under succeeding Bishops, Maurice Schexnayder, Gerard L. Frey, Harry J. Flynn, Edward J. O’Donnel, and Michael Jarrell. She retired in 2009, but continued writing for the diocesan paper. In addition to her newspaper work, her journalistic credits include co-authorship of the memoirs of Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard, entitled The Gentle Shepherd.
For most of these years, she took care of publicity for the Discalced Carmelite Monastery, and for many years had a Girl Scout Troop at St. Mary’s Home, and was active in the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. In 1990, when Serra International accepted women members, she was the first to join the Lafayette Serra Club, since then served as Vice President for Communications and for the last five years as secretary. She has also been a member of Catholic Daughter Court Immaculata for over 60 years. She was a charter member and served as president of the Bishop’s Helpers, and diocesan secular institute, which existed for some thirty years.
A parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, she was a former member of the parish council and served as a lector until her retirement. She received the first Parish Medal of St. John when parish honors were instituted in 1991, and has also received papal medals, Benemerenti and Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for her parish and diocesan work.
She is survived by two nieces, Ms. Carol Ann Shipp of Houston, Texas and Mrs. Shelby (Susan) Comeaux of Crowley; and grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Charles N. Toups.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Al Rees, Shelby Comeaux, Christopher Comeaux, Anthony Watson and Craig Toups. Honorary Pallbearers will be George Arceneaux, Hubert Dumesnil, Girard St. Martin and Charles Coignard.
Memorial contributions can be made in Kathleen’s name to the Discalced Carmelite Monastery, Mary Mother of Grace, 1250 Carmel Avenue, Lafayette, LA, 70501.
Visitation will be held at Martin & Castille’s DOWNTOWN location on Friday, March 17, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will continue on Saturday, March 18, from 8 a.m. until time of service.
A Rosary will be prayed by the Catholic Daughters on Friday, March 17, at 6 p.m.
View the obituary and website online at www.mourning.com.
Martin & Castille - DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street, Lafayette, LA, 70506. 337-234-2311

John William Monceaux

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 17, at 10 a.m. in the Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel for John William ...

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Sheriff releases annual report

Acadia Parish Sheriff K.P. Gibson has released his annual report for 2016. The report highlights the progress made by the department in the areas of increased enforcement divisions and equipment as well as budgets and expenditures.
The full report can be read by clicking on the link below.

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Acadia Parish Today

Crowley Post-Signal
602 N. Parkerson Ave, Crowley, LA 70526
Phone: 337-783-3450
Fax: 337-788-0949

Rayne-Acadian Tribune
108 North Adams, Rayne, LA 70578
Phone: 337-334-3186
Fax: 337-334-8474

Church Point News
c/o The Eunice News, 465 Aymond St., Eunice, LA 70535
Phone: 337-457-3061