Three companies sub-mitted bids for the city-wide street and drain-age improvements for the City of Kaplan.

The winning bid went to Elliot Construction of Grand Coteau with a total bid of $1,262,250.

The low bidder was actually Glenn Lege Construction of Abbeville, with a bid of $1,127,189, but was dis-qualified due not adher-ing to bid law procedure.

“He made a simple

mistake by not acknowl-edging both adden-da on the bid,” said Champagne. “Because of that one small error, it is mandatory his pro-posal be disqualified. So, the city had to go with the next lowest bidder.”

City Attorney Calvin Woodruff added, “Louisiana law requires that bidders on public works projects strictly comply with the require-ments of the Public Bid Law.

“Bids that do not con-tain the legally mandat-ed information must be rejected.”

The third bid was from Diamond B. Construction Company from Alexandria, La., with a bid of $1,356,514.

These improvements will be funded through the $1 million property bond renewal which vot-ers passed in early 2015.

They city will also receive addition funding through two Vermilion Parish Police Jurors who have allocated portions of their roads funds to the city project.

Police Juror Cloris Boudreaux allocat-ed $50,000 towards improvements on Jan

Street, while Ronald ‘Dago’ Menard, allocated $30,000 toward improve-ments on Cantey Street, West Third and Eleazar.

With proceeds from the bond renewal and the police jury, leaves the city having to under-write $187,00 to com-plete the project.

“This overage will be taken out of our sales tax fund,” said Champagne. “And, as of 2015, we have $811,000 in that account.”

The following is a list of which streets will be overlayed and patched:

•Jan Street from LA

35 to the corporate lim-its.

•W. 8th Street from N. Cushing to N. Eleazar.

•Patch at Jackson and 8th Street.

•Patch at Herpin and Second Street.

•N. Eleazar from HWY 14 to West Fourth.

•N. Eleazar from W. 8th to W. Fifth Street.

•N. Herpin from E. 11th to E. 9th St.

•Deshotels Ave. from W. Veterans Memorial to W. 9th Street.

•Bert Street from Dick Street to N. Irving Ave.

•Bert Street from Dick Street to LA 35.

•W. Second Street from N. Church to N. Hebert Ave.

•W. Second Street from N. Hebert to Trahan Ave.

•W. Second Street from Hazel Ave. to Trahan.

•W. Third Street from Hazel to Canal.

•W. Tenth Street from Bourque to N. Irving Ave.

•W. Tenth Street from N. Church to N. Boudreaux Ave.

HERALDHERALD

K A P L A N S TAT E B A N K . C O M

201 Cushing Ave., Kaplan, LA(337) 643-7110

Email us at:judy.mire@

vermiliontoday.com

See Bids, page 2

By: Judy T. MireManaging Editor

judy.mire@vermiliontoday.com

www.vermiliontoday.com

Gateway to Acadiana’s Coastal Gateway to Acadiana’s Coastal WWetlandsetlands

The Kaplan

51st Year #3 JANUARY 20, 2016 EIGHT PAGES • $1.00HOME OF THE CHIC-A-LA-PIE MARDI GRAS

“The Ruby”, a trophy given to the best display of the spirit of Mardi Gras, is once again up for grabs for 2016.

For the tenth consecutive year, the tradition is being implemented by the Krewe Chic-A-la-Pie for businesse to get involved in Mardi Gras by deco-rating their store fronts in purple, gold and green.

The winner of the contest would claim rights to “The Ruby” for one year.

The trophy was named in honor of Ruby Bailey, the first Queen Jambalaya.

Judging will be held Friday, February 5.

The winner of 2015, the Special Education Class at Kaplan High School, will relinquish their hold on the trophy when the 2016 winner is announced.

The krewe will name the 10th winner during a live broadcast of Channel 10’s Passe Partout pro-gram at B’s Wild Wings on Monday, February 8 at 5 a.m.

The Chic-A-La-Pie parade is sched-uled to roll down Cushing beginning at 2 p.m. on Mardi Gras, Feb. 9.

Anyone interested in being a part of the parade, or being a vendor, can pick up the forms at the Copy Cat, Marlene’s Flower Shop in Kaplan, or can be downloaded from the

Chic-A-la-Pie Facebook page. For more parade information, con-

tact Linda Vincent at 652-8463.The Mardi Gras ball will be held

at the Vermilion Fair and Festival Building on Saturday, January 30. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Marlene Flower Shop.

The 2016 Mardi Gras shirts can be purchased at Manuel Screen in Kaplan.

By: Judy T. MireManaging Editor

The ‘Ruby’ trophy up for grabsThe ‘Ruby’ trophy up for grabs

Bids opened for city-wide street improvements

A queen’s social was held Sunday at the home of Nancy Mathews to honor past Queen Jambalayas. Attending were Marlene Romero, Donella Hargrave, Nancy Mathews, Marion Landry, Patricia Mire , Renella Hargrave, Theresa Bodker (seated) Rose Broussard, Linda Vincent (cur-rent) and Linda Primeaux. Photograph by Aimee Abshire.

Honoring past Mardi Gras queens

Mary Terro

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated for Mary D. Terro, 95, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at St Basil Catholic Church in Judice, LA with Rev. Rex Broussard as Celebrant.

Interment followed the service and was in St. Basil Catholic Cemetery in Judice, LA. Mrs. Terro passed away on Monday, January 11, 2016 at her residence in Ridge, LA.

She is survived by her children, Deanna Terro Landry of Lafayette, LA, Brandt Terro and his wife, Stella of Kaplan, LA, Ramona Terro Besse of Rayne, LA and Robin Terro and her partner, Karen Prejean of Ridge, LA; grandchildren, Trisha Landry Marks and her husband, Brian , Sonya Terro Jummonville and her husband, Glenn, Melissa Landry Hebert

and her partner, Chad Romero, Shawn Terro Lege and her husband, Kevin, Cory Terro and his wife, Wendi, Chad Landry and his partner, Danielle Dugas; eleven great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Terro was pre-ceded in death by her husband, Rufus Terro; two brothers; three sisters; parents, Gaston and Anastasia Dupont; three son - in –laws and one great grandchild, Robbie.

Pallbearers were Kevin Lege, Cory Terro, Glenn Jummonville, Chad Landry, Brian Marks and Chad Romero. Honorary Pallbearers will be Seth Chason, Chase Landry, Connor Hebert ,Ty Jude Lege and Coy Terro.

You may view the obituary, sign the guest registry and express condolences online to Mrs. Terro’s family at www.duhonfuneral-home.com.

Duhon Funeral Home, LLC, (337) 334-3600, 900 East Texas Ave., Rayne, LA, 70578 is in charge of all of the arrangements.

Joyce Mae Nunez1930 ~ 2016

Kaplan—Funera l services were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Joyce Mae Nunez, 85, who died Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at Post Acute Medical Specialty Hospital of Lafayette. She was laid to rest at Harrington Cemetery with Pastor Tommy Faulk, Sr. offi-ciating the services.

She is survived by her two sons, Mitchel and Wendell Broussard; one daughter, Peggy Petrey; one sister, Verna Chauvin; 16 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchil-dren.

She was preceded in death by her par-ents, Shelton Nunez, Sr. and the former Louise Broussard; one sister, Maria Trahan; three brothers, Minos Ray Nunez, Mansel Nunez, and Shelton Nunez, Jr.; one son,

Craig Broussard; and one daughter, Shelia Broussard.

All funeral arrange-ments are being con-ducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan. Condolences may be sent to the Nunez family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net

Newton Paul Trahan1926 - 2016

Kaplan—Funera l services will be held Monday, January 18, 2016 at a 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honor-ing the life of Newton Paul Trahan, 89, who died Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Lafayette General Medical Center. He will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery with Reverend David Broussard officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Bryan Trahan, Justin Trahan, Rocky Trahan, Brady Meaux, Brandon Meaux, and Lance Primeaux.

Honorary pallbearers will be Wilson Trahan, Earl Trahan, Larry Primeaux, and Todd Saltzman.

Newton served in the United States Navy dur-ing World War II from 1945 until 1948. “Fair winds and Following Seas”. He was a member of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church and served as an altar serv-er, usher, Eucharistic Minister at Mass as well as the home bound, and retreat captain for over 30 years. He also assist-ed in over 1,330 funer-als during his lifetime. He was definitely a great example to our com-munity in serving Our Lord in whatever capac-ity that was needed and doing so with a smile. Pop was known by many and will be missed by all.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Mary E. Trahan of Kaplan; one step-daughter, Sandra Martin of Kaplan; two sons, Gerald Trahan and his wife, Sybil of New Iberia and Bryan Trahan and his wife, Kim of New Iberia; one daughter, Mary Lynn Trahan of Abbeville; three grand-children, Megan Trahan Burley of Youngsville, Hilary Trahan of New York City, NY, and Justin Trahan of New Iberia; three great grandchildren, Riley Spahr, Luke Burley, and Amelia Trahan; two

step-daughters, Linda Marceaux of Kaplan and Laura and her hus-band, Larry Primeaux of Kaplan; one step-son, Jimmy C. Meaux and his wife, Vicki of Rayne; six step-grand-children, Kelly Potier of Lafayette, Brady Meaux of Kaplan, Jeremy Primeaux of Abbeville, Leslie Saltzman of Kaplan, Brandon Meaux of Kaplan, and Lance Primeaux of Kaplan; eleven step-great grand-children, Kade Stutes, Hannah Boudreaux, Mallory Meaux, Morgan Meaux, Addisyn Meaux, Summit Saltzman, Brinley Saltzman, Logan Primeaux, Bailey Broussard, Kamren Primeaux, and Kane Primeaux; and two brothers, Wilson Trahan of Lafayette and Earl Trahan of Lafayette.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clomer Trahan and the former Marie Hebert; his first wife, Amelia Romero Trahan; two sisters, Earline Trahan Hebert and Ethel Trahan Romero; one brother, Harold Trahan; one step-son, Paul Meaux; and one step-grandson, Blake Meaux.

All funeral arrange-ments are being conduct-ed by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan. Condolences may be sent to the Trahan family at www.vincentfuneral-home.net.

Obituaries:

The Kaplan Herald Page 2 Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Bids, from page 1

By Harlan KirganLSN STAFF WRITER

LAFAYETTE — The state faces a $487 mil-lion shortfall in its cur-rent budget and there is no single solution to the problem, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said Friday at a meeting hosted by One Acadiana at the Picard Center.

In addition, a $1.9 bil-lion deficit is projected for the next fiscal year, he added.

Dardenne became commissioner of admin-istration as John Bel Edwards was sworn into office as governor Monday.

“We all agree that these numbers are accu-rate and this is reality,” Dardenne said. “The dif-ference between what you are going to see from this Gov. Edwards and the Jindal administra-tion is we are going to tell the truth and we are going to be honest and unvarnished about what our budget situation looks like.

“We are not going to rely, as has been done in the past, on one time money, on sweeping funds to balance the bud-get. Even if we wanted to,

and we don’t, we couldn’t because the pots have all been drained.”

The budget woes are a result of revenue short-falls and spending.

“That’s not a pretty picture for the current fiscal year,’ he said. The budget must be adjusted by the end of June, he said.

The $487 million shortfall estimated by the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference in November may not be the full extent of the deficit.

Revenues are declin-ing, Dardenne said. The revenue decline includes $326 million less than expected in cor-

porate income taxes, he said. In addition, sales tax revenues slowed in November.

The deficit may bal-loon to $700 million to $750 million in the cur-rent year as revenues drop, he said.

“Everything is on the table,” he said of the bud-get.

“When the dust clears and when the legisla-tive leadership issue is resolved on Monday ... they will be involved with us in this discussion every step of the way,” he said.

Dardenne said the goal is to establish a sta-ble budget “... and not create the smoke and mirrors that have been created in the past.”

Of the state’s $26 billion budget, there is about $8.9 billion avail-able for cuts, he said.

Louisiana’s state bud-get crisis is dramatically worse than it was dur-ing the 1980’s oilpatch downturn.

“The jury is still out on the oil patch and what is going to happen with the price of oil overall and what it does to the econ-omy of south Louisiana,” Dardenne said.

Dardenne: State budget problems are severe

Dardenne speaks about the state’s budget shortfalls at the One Acadiana meeting.

KAPLAN BAPTIST CHURCH400 N. Trahan Ave. • Kaplan

Hear NBA and NFL Sports Chaplain Rick Elder at

Kaplan Baptist Church on Sunday, January 24th at

10:30am and 5:00pm. Nursery provided. Children’s Church provided during the morning worship service.

For questions call 643-2656 or Lee Rodgers, Pastor at

lee.rodgers@att.net

KAPLANKAPLANLOAN & MORTGAGELOAN & MORTGAGE

5555 YEARS YEARS in Business! in Business!

210 1/2 N. Cushing Ave. - Kaplan210 1/2 N. Cushing Ave. - Kaplan643-6411643-6411

KAPLAN LOAN & MORTGAGE was left out of The Honor Roll Of Business Page that ran in our January 13, 2016 edition in error. We regret any inconvenience that it may have caused.

Again, our deepest apology.

•Gladys Street from N. Irving to St. John Street.

•Saint John Street from Bert Street to Gladys Street.

•Bourque Street from J.E. Viator to Gladys Street.

•W. Seventh Street from N. Lejeune to N. Hebert Ave.

•Louis Street from American Legion to the dead end.

•Cantey Avenue from HWY 14 to last mobile home on right.

•Louis Street near cemetery (drainage).

•W. 8th Street (drainage).

•Dronet Street from N. Herpin to dead end.

•Herpin between Ninth Street and curve (drainage).

•United Methodist (drainage).

These repairs consti-tute approximately five miles of roads to be over layed.

“City engineers will begin drawing up the contracts for construc-tion to begin hope-fully by April,” said Champagne.

PORK JAMBALAYA DINNERPORK JAMBALAYA DINNER Indian Bayou Volunteer Fire Dept.Indian Bayou Volunteer Fire Dept. Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016

$8.00$8.00 per plateper platePick up at Fire Dept on Hwy 700Pick up at Fire Dept on Hwy 700

Live ELive Entertainment by - ntertainment by - Donny BroussardDonny Broussard& the Louisiana Stars& the Louisiana StarsLive Auction & Homemade SweetsFor tickets call 652-8854

9:30am9:30am toto 12:30pm12:30pm

Pork jambalayaThe Indian Bayou Fire

Department will host its annual jambalaya fund raiser on Sunday, February 7. Cost is $8 per plate. Serving from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the fire station. Live entertainment by Donny Broussard and the La. Stars. For tickets, call 652-8854

Cake Bingo Rene Rost Middle

School Parent Advisory Committeeis hosting its annual cake bingo on Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. at the American Legion Home. All proceeds go to ben-efit students and teach-ers at RMS. Tickets are $1 a card, FMI, call 643-8545.

VFW meetingsThe Guidry-Hebert

VFW Post 3793 in Kaplan holds their meet-ings the first Thursday of each month beginning at 6 p.m. All veterans are invited to attend. A meal is always served. We are now on Facebook.

KC MeetingsThe Kaplan Knights

of Columbus meeting are held the third Monday of each month at the KC Hall in Kaplan.

Lions ClubThe Kaplan Lions

Club monthly meet-ing is held every second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the KC Hall.

BingoThe American Legion

in Kaplan is sponsor-ing Bingo held every Thursday at 6 P.M. Refreshments are avail-able. FMI call 337- 643-

7991.

By Jim BradshawThe roads weren’t all

paved but neither were they crowded when one of the first ocean-to-ocean highways stretched through south Louisiana.

The details came out in 1926, when state high-way officials were plan-ning one of their most ambitious projects ever. They were upgrading the Old Spanish Trail, also known then as Star Route 2, to “modern” standards.

The highway had only recently been given a state highway number. Louisiana highways were known only by names until 1921, when Act 95 of a special session of the legislature established Routes 1 through 98. By 1926 there were 162 defined and numbered routes.

That system gave the lowest numbers to the most important high-ways. What had been known as the Jefferson Highway, running north from New Orleans, was designated LA 1, and followed essentially the route of today’s LA 1 along the Mississippi River to the vicinity of Baton Rouge, then ver-tically across the state. The Old Spanish Trail, which was made LA 2, was considered the sec-ond most important in the state.

Louisiana highways were renumbered in 1955, based on an A-B-C system of classification: An A road was a major artery and was given one- or two-digit numbers, B routes were secondary roads and given three-digit numbers below 300, and C routes, farm-to-market roads, were given high numbers.

The Old Spanish Trail, which stretched

from St. Augustine, Fla., to Los Angeles, entered Louisiana near Slidell and left it at the Sabine River at Orange, Texas. In between, it ran for 350 miles through New Orleans, Houma, Morgan City, Franklin, New Iberia, Lafayette, Crowley, Jennings, Lake Charles, and the smaller towns in-between.

A 1926 report on the status of the high-way by the Old Spanish Trail Commission said the 350 miles of road in Louisiana had been built at an average cost of $16,500 per mile and were “all graveled and well maintained.” In addition to paving, the highway needed bridges across the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers. Ferries crossed from New Orleans to Gretna and from Morgan City to Berwick.

Huey Long’s ambitious road-building project helped to fix some of the problems. When he took office in 1928, Louisiana had roughly 300 miles of paved roads, only 60 miles of which were maintained by the state. By the end of his term in 1932, the state had 5,000 miles of new paved and gravel roads. He started construction on the Huey P. Long Bridge across the Mississippi River at New Orleans in 1932.

But Long’s program was only a political promise — if even that — when Old Spanish

Trail planners looked at Louisiana in 1926. Part of their plan was to try to figure out how many cars would travel on the road when it was paved. State highway workers stationed themselves at various places on this important route and counted the traffic.

They estimated that 691 vehicles crossed the Pinhook Bridge, the main river crossing into Lafayette. That wasn’t in one day, or even a week. That was for all of 1926. The count included 44 horse-drawn vehicles.

Improvements didn’t seem to immediately spur a lot more traffic on the state’s second-ranked highway. A count made a mile south of Broussard in 1930 showed 1,290 total vehicles traveling between New Iberia and Lafayette. Some of them were still pulled by hors-es.

There are still bits and pieces of the Old Spanish Trail in south Louisiana, although much of it was buried beneath the old U.S. 90, which was then supplemented by I-10 from Texas to Lafayette, and the new U.S. 90 from Lafayette to New Orleans. (The OST Club in Duson, named for the Old Spanish Trail, is a reminder that the road once passed through that community.)

If you want to try to follow its approximate route, either on the map or in your car, remem-ber that it essentially fol-lowed the railroad, which is pretty much still in the same place that it was when the road was built.

You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jim-bradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 The Kaplan Herald Page 3

Jim Bradshaw

Traffic jam? What traffic jam?

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Fri: (4:20), 6:50, 9:05; Sat & Sun: (1:50, 4:20), 6:50, 9:05; Mon: (1:50, 4:20), 6:50; Tue to Thu: 6:00, 8:00JOY C

Fri to Sun: 6:40, 9:05; Mon: 6:40; Tue to Thu: 8:00ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP B

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MOVIE HOT-LINE: 893-6772Bargain Mat inees shown in ( )

SHOWTIMES: JANUARY 15 - JANUARY 21

Chief Boyd Adams advises officers investi-gated the following:

January 7Alarm on the 1200

block of N. Guidry.Suspicious vehicle

on the 300 block of N. Herpin/

Theft on the 100 block of E. Veterans Memorial Drive.

Theft on the 200 block of Church.

Traffic accident on the 300 block of N. Cushing.

Disturbance on the 600 block of E. Third.

Alarm on the 200 block of E. Second.

Alarm on the 400 block of E. Veterans Memorial Drive.

Hailey E. Lege, 21, 116 Judice Rd., Sunset, was cited with no driver’s license on person.

Kyle D. Griffin, 20, 434 La Hwy 696, Kaplan, was cited with wide turn with accident.

January 8Alarm on the 400 block

of E. Veterans Memorial Drive.

Marcus Chambers, 36, 902 Wilson, Kaplan, was

arrested and booked with theft.

January 9Domestic disturbance

on the 300 block of N. Faye.

Theft on the 200 block of Pirates Lane.

Alarm on the 1200 block of Guidry.

Theft on the 400 block of Abshire Drive.

Alarm on the 100 block of Cushing.

James Mouton Jr., 46, 805 E. Fifth, Kaplan, was arrested and booked with four counts resisting an officer violently and disturbing the peace by public intoxication.

January 10Criminal damage to

property on the 100 block of E. Veterans Memorial Drive.

Disturbance on the 300 block of Frederick.

Alarm on the 400 block of E. Veterans Memorial Drive.

Disturbance on the 300 block of N. LeMaire.

Noise complaint on the 100 block of N. Trahan.

Disturbance on the 1100 block of N. Church.

Corbin S. Hayes, 21, 514 E. Spruce, Crowley, was cited with simple criminal damage to prop-erty.

Blake Guidry, 27, 12017 La Hwy 695, Kaplan, was arrested and booked on a warrant for probation and parole.

January 11Disturbance on the

100 block of Pelican.Disturbance on the

100 block of Ferdinand.Theft on the 200 block

of E Second.

January 12Alarm on the 400 block

of E. Veteran Memorial Drive.

Alarm on the 400 block of N. Louisiana.

Theft on the 500 block of Boudreaux.

Suspicious vehicle on the 200 block of N. Herpin.

January 13Suspicious person on

the 100 block of Lege.Traffic accident on the

500 block of N. Irving.

Kaplan Police Report

What’s cooking in the Sauce Piquante?

Remembering Kaplan’s history

The popularity of the neighborhood grocery stores in Kaplan flourished for many decades. In 1950s-60’s there were at least 22 neighborhood stores. The following is a list and address of those establishments:

A. Aube Store 712 North TrahanJean Bouillion Store 301 North BoudreauxLedier Broussard 913 North Hebert

Noah F. Broussard 318 West First StreetOvey ‘Cal’ Broussard 700 West SecondChauvin Grocery 613 West SecondRudolph Clostio 905 North WilsonDulva Compete “Besho” 408 North ChurchHanks Grocery 212 East ThirdJimmie’s Grocery 200 Block of CushingOvie Hargrave 114 North JacksonHarrington Store 401 North FrederickEdlar Hebert 818 North CushingO.G. Hebert North CushingOtis Hebert Grocery 509 North BoudreauxHollier’s Friendly Store 500 North LouisianaLandrys Grocery and Market 415 North FayeLeon ‘Petit’ Landry 700 North FayeLandry Market & Grocer 403 N. LemaireLege’s Food Store 113 N. Irving Palombo Store & Market 311 North DeshotelWallace Primeaux 503 North WilsonSimon Cash Store 406 W. Fifth

Melancon Jewelers2423 Veterans Memorial Dr. • Abbeville • 893-1900

Open Monday-Friday 9-5:30 • Saturday 9-2

40% offAll Engagement Rings

In recent years, a small but growing number of peo-ple have advocated a con-vention of states to propose amendments to the Consti-tution of the United States. The reaction to the proposal has been hostile, out of all proportion to either the originality or the danger of such a convention.

The political left has been especially vehement in

its denunciations of what they call "messing with the Constitution." A recent proposal by Governor Greg Abbott of Texas to hold a Constitutional con-vention of states has been denounced by the Texas branch of the American Civil Liberties Union and nationally by an editorial in the liberal "USA To-day."

The irony in all this is that no one has messed with the Constitution more or longer than the po-litical left, over the past hundred years.

This began with Progressives like Woodrow Wil-son, who openly declared the Constitution an im-pediment to the kinds of "reforms" the Progressive movement wanted, and urged judges to "interpret" the Constitution in such a way as to loosen its lim-its on federal power.

It has long been a complaint of the left that the process of amending the Constitution is too hard, so they have depended on federal judges -- especially Supreme Court Justices -- to amend the Constitu-tion, de facto and piecemeal, in a leftward direction.

This judicial amendment process has been going on now for generations, so that today government offi cials at the local, state or national level can of-ten seize private property in disregard of the 5th Amendment's protections.

For nearly 40 years, the Supreme Court has been evading the 14th Amendment's provision of "equal protection" of the law for all, in order to let government-imposed group preferences and quotas continue, under the name of "affi rmative action."

Equal rights under the law have been made to vanish by saying the magic word "diversity," whose sweeping benefi ts are simply assumed and pro-claimed endlessly, rather than demonstrated.

The judicial pretense of merely "interpreting" the Constitution is just part of the dishonesty in this process. The underlying claim that it is almost impossible to amend the Constitution was belied during the very years when the Progressive move-ment was getting underway in the early 20th cen-tury.

The Constitution was amended four times in eight years! Over the years since it was adopted, the Constitution has been amended more than two dozen times. Why, then, is the proposal to call a convention of states to propose -- just propose -- amendments to the Constitution considered such a radical and dangerous departure?

Legally, it is no departure at all. The Constitu-tion itself lists a convention of states among the ways that amendments can be offi cially proposed. It has not yet been done, but these proposals will have to be put to a vote of the states, three-fourths of whom will have to agree before any amendment can become law.

Is it better to have the Constitution amended de facto by a 5 to 4 vote of the Supreme Court? By the unilateral actions of a president? By administra-tive rulings by anonymous bureaucrats in federal agencies, to whom federal judges "defer"?

The idea that a convention of states could run amok and rewrite the Constitution overlooks the fact that it would take the votes of two-thirds of the states just to convene a convention, and then three-fourths of the states to actually pass an amend-ment.

Far from proposing radical departures from the Constitution, most of Governor Abbott's proposed amendments would restore Constitutional protec-tions that have been surreptitiously eroded by un-elected federal judges and by unelected bureaucrats in administrative agencies, who create a major part of "the law of the land," with the help of "deference" from federal judges.

Why are "We the People" to be kept out of all this, through our elected representatives, when these are the very words with which the Constitu-tion of the United States begins?

Despite the left's portrayal of themselves as champions of the people, they consistently try to move decisions out of the hands of the general pub-lic and into the hands of offi cials insulated from the voters, such as unelected federal judges and anony-mous bureaucrats with iron-clad job protection.

No wonder they don't want to have a conven-tion that would restore a Constitution which begins with "We the People."

EEDITORIALDITORIALPage 4 The Kaplan Herald Wednesday, January 20, 2015

Thomas Sowell

‘Messing With The Constitution’

LifestylesLifestylesWednesday, January 20, 2016 Kaplan Herald Page 5

Deadline for engagements & weddings is

Thursday noon prior to publication.

Birthdays & anniversariesJanuary 20

Simone BourqueWillis Hebert Jr.Jordan Mouton

Yuan YuanBrian & Gigi Bertrand

Ethan GaryLinda Hardee

Jamison Clements

January 21Allie C. Trahan

Michelle BourqueKaren & Rusty

PalomboGidget Menard

Alexandra Trahan

January 22Nicholas Clark

Glenn JumonvilleSue H. TrahanRonnie Landry

Christine JohnsonEmma Winch

January 23Taylor MeauxMickey MireCorey Terro

Jerome VincentDarren Lake

Keno & Donna Lege

January 24Paul Weston Trahan

Edward FreelandEdward MelebeckJanet ClementsAnnie Melancon

January 25Wayne CouvillonDamien DeBlanc

Joey RobertsBrenda Simon

Dana V. TrahanChad & Val Meaux

B.J. BenoitLerin Cormier

Patrick Frederick

January 26Clint Hebert

Jose Puente, Sr.Dexter TrahanSteven BenoitJulia Trahan

Charlotte LemaireJonathan Perry

January 27Jonathan PerryJosh Bourque

Lanis CallahanJosh ClementsJoseph Vincent

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These locations only: New Iberia, St. Martinville, Abbeville, Franklin, Kaplan & Broussard (Wal-mart)

Recognizing ‘Students of the Year’

Rene Rost Middle School student of the year 2015-2016 for 5th grade is Claire Broussard. Pictured with her from left to right is her grand-mother Karen Broussard, her parents Gordy and Cynthia Broussard, Claire Broussard, Assistant Principal Gina Davidson and Principal Dr. David Dupuis.

The Kaplan High 2015-16 Student of the Year is Caroline Grace Guidry.

Rene Rost Middle School student of the year 2015-2016 for 8th grade is Gabrielle Mar-ceaux. Gabrielle is the daughter of Gabe and Richelle Marceaux. Pictured with Gabrielle is from left to right her father Gabe Mar-ceaux, Gabrielle Marceaux, Assistant Princi-pal Gina Davidson, and Principal Dr. David Dupuis.

SportsSportsThe Kaplan Herald Page 6 Wednesday, January 20, 2016

ClassifiedsClassifieds Ads

1 Run..................$4.00First 10 words per day. 10¢ each added word per day.

Garage Sale Ads1 Run....................$5.00

DEADLINESFriday, 10:00 before the

Wednesday Your Ad Will Run

Please check your ad the first time it

runs. If we make an error, we will rerun

the ad free.

Payment required in advance for garage sale ads, auctions,

moving, homes-mobile homes for sale, new accounts and out of

state ads.

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All over town there are individuals just waiting for your service! Whatever your business, if you would like to be included in this Service Directory, call or come by The Abbeville Meridional today for more information. The advertisement will run at least 1 month. Updates in the advertisement can be made as needed. Your advertisement will reach over 84,000 people, many of whom are looking for a service like yours. Don’t miss your pro-spective customers. ONLY $65/month. Call today for Assistance.

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By Chris RosaManaging Editor

It came in with a bang and it left with a bang.

LHSAA commissioner Ed-die Bonine said in a press conference Friday that the process by which the “split” playoffs were adopted back in 2013 actually contradicted the organization’s constitu-tion.

What this means in simple terms is that the football se-lect/nonselect separation has come to an abrupt end.

It began in 2013, and it looks to have ended in 2016.

Parish principals were not expecting the decision.

“This came out of the blue to most principals,” said Ab-beville High Principal Ivy Landry. “I felt at the last principals convention we would pass the metro/ru-ral, which would get rid of the split. But I am very sur-prised by the ruling.”

“I was in attendance at the LHSAA meeting where the Louisiana Principals voted in favor of the split,” said EHS Principal Marc Turner. “Now that we have participated in both, I see the pros and cons of each. At this point, I just

want an explanation of this unexpected decision.

The Times Picayune news-paper reported that the pro-cess by which the LHSAA ini-tially adopted the format in 2013 actually contradicted its constitution, according to an analysis provided to Execu-tive Director Eddie Bonine this week by the organiza-tion’s legal counsel, Mark Boyer.

Bonine said in the Times Picayune, “The communica-tion I received from Mark was that in this case he feels, of his opinion, like we violated the constitution, that if that’s

the case, then the split then becomes null and void. And I believe we go back to where we were before the split.”

Bonine discovered a po-tential issue last Thursday when reviewing the proposed agenda items for the upcom-ing convention with the as-sociation’s parliamentarian, Brian LeJeune, and sought further clarifi cation from LeJeune and Boyer.

Kaplan head coach Ste-phen Lotief said it is what it is about the LHSAA decision. He admits it “smells fi shy” that “suddenly” the LHSAA found the split to be illegal.

Erath head football coach David Comeaux, said, “I am glad it’s back together. It should be the best against the best.”

Vermilion Catholic Princi-pal Mike Guilbeaux likes the LHSAA decision.

“I think it is a good thing,” said Guilbeaux. “I am happy. People want to see one state champion.”

Starting next football sea-son, there will only be one Class 5A, Class 4A, Class 3A, Class 2A and a Class A state champion.

LHSAA ends private/public school splitIt is back to being one state champion

Parish hoop tournament will remain

Vermilion Parish principals met on Fri-day and came up with a possible solution to making the Vermilion Parish basketball tour-nament better.

The good news is that the tournament

will continue.The principals

brought up ideas on how to make it better.

What the coaches did not like is the one and done rule. If you lose in the fi rst round of the tournament, you were out of the tournament. Coaches want to play more games.

A possible idea the principals are looking at is having the parish tournament shorten (three days) and played at two different high schools at the same time. The principals did agree to have a winner’s bracket and a loser’s bracket tournament. It guarantees a team two

games.

Two gym idea pro-posed

There will be a main host school and a sec-ondary gym at another high school.

Example:VC will be the main

host of the parish tour-nament next year and

Kaplan is in 2017.So, the girls will play

at Kaplan on a Thurs-day and Friday.

At the same time, the boys will play at VC on the same Thursday and Friday.

Then on Saturday, the fi nals and the conso-lation fi nals of the boys and girls games will be

held at VC.In 2017, Kaplan

High will be the main host and whatever high school puts on the par-ish tournament in 2018 will also put on the girls parish tournament on a Thursday and Friday.

Principals looking at playing it in two different high school gymnasiumsBy Chris RosaManaging Editor

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 The Kaplan Herald Page 7

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed bids will be received by the Board of Commissioners,Hospital Service District No. 1,of the Parish of Vermilion,State of Louisiana,until 12:00 Noon,WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016. Bids will be opened and read at 1:00 p.m., THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016 for the following:

EXCESS SURPLUS PROPERTY - MOVABLE 1992 CAIRO 16’x60’

2 BEDROOM, 2 BATH MOBILE HOME

(Moveable property is being disposed of by the Hospital in “AS IS”condition with No Warranty.)

The property may be viewed by making an appoint-ment with the Facility’s Maintenance Department of Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital,1310 W. 7TH Street, Kaplan, Louisiana 70548, between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. Monday through Friday.

Bids must be marked and sealed “EXCESS SURPLUS PROPERTY-MOVABLE” Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital, 12:00 noon, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016.

BUILDING REMOVAL AND SITE CLEAN UPThe successful bidder shall furnish and pay for

all labor, material, and equipment required for the

removal of the building. All work shall be done in accor-dance with these specifications and in accordance with local ordinances and regulations. In the event there is a conflict between these specifications and local ordinanc-es and regulations the local ordinances and regulations shall govern.

The successful bidder shall, at the bidder’s own expense, obtain all required licenses and permits for moving the building.

The successful bidder shall have the municipal water service and sanitary sewer service connections into the building cut off and permanently sealed in accordance with the regulations and ordinances of the governmental jurisdiction in which the building is located. (Bidders are cautioned that most municipalities will require that the water service and sanitary sewer service connections must be cut off and plugged at the street main before a moving permit will be issued.) The successful bidder shall make arrangements with utility or public service companies for removal of meters and other equipment owned by such companies.

The successful bidder shall, at all times, keep the premises free from the accumulation of waste materials and debris.

The successful bidder agrees to indemnify and save harmless the hospital, its officers and employees from all suites,actions, and claims of any character brought because of injuries received or damages sustained by any person, persons, or property arising out of the removal

operations; or in consequence of any neglect in safe-guarding the site; or because of any act or omission, neglect, or misconduct of the successful bidder, or by any person or organization employed directly or indi-rectly by the successful bidder.

The successful bidder will have 30 days from the award of the bid to complete the removal and cleanup operation.

Each bidder shall submit with his bid, a certified check on a solvent Louisiana bank for the full amount of his bid. The check shall be payable to the Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital.

The Hospital Service District Board will review and award the bid during its meeting on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 and reserves the right to reject any/all bids, and to waive informalities incident thereto.

Publication dates:January 6, 2016January 13, 2016January 20, 2016

Vermilion Parish Hospital Service District No. 1

Bryce Quebodeaux Secretary-Treasurer

PUBLIC NOTICES

The Kaplan Herald Page 8 Wednesday, January 20, 2016

HOPE FOR THE FAMILY

People are looking for direction for their lives in all sorts of places. They talk to pyshics and so called for-tune tellers, they talk to their friends who may be just as lost as them. Money time and energy are spent to find answers for their lives.

The easiest and best way to get direction for our lives is to look to God’s Word the Bible. Listen to what it says in Proverbs 3, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will direct your steps.”

That is a simple and sure fire way to get direction for our lives. Trust God, Lean not on your own understanding in other words get your own ideas out of the way. Seek His will which simply means what does God say about this and He will direct your steps. The Bible has wisdom to share with us on every subject you can think of. There is nothing in life we will face that the Bible does not have something to say about.

I believe that trusting the Lord is something we all can and should do. And if we would follow His direction for our lives. there would not be so much confusion in our lives.

God Bless You Today Your Friend Pastor,

Faith Christian Church

To put your business on the church page,

call the Herald at 643-002.

BARBECUE SAUCE

1/2 cup onion, chopped fine1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped1 (8 oz) can any barbecue sauce 1 bottle ketchup1/4 cup sugar1/2 cup celery, chopped2 cloves garlic, minced fine1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce5 drops Worcestershire Sauce1/4 cup salad oilDirections

Sauté onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic in the salad oil. Add the remain-ing ingredients, one at a time. Cook over low heat for one hour. Use on any of your grilled meat.

BAKED BEETS 6 fresh beets1 tbsp. SplendaDisposable gloves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.Trim roots and stem but don’t do any-

thing else to the beets. Bake whole beets on a foil-lined cookie sheet until tender when pierced with a fork, about two hours. Cool and then peel, cut in chunks and sprinkle with splenda. Don’t forget to wear dispos-able gloves to keep your hands from being dyed red!

ANGEL PINEAPPLE SURPRISE

1 package 4 oz. Jello vanilla flavor instant pudding and pie filling1 can 20 oz. crushed pineapple with juice1 cup Cool Whip1 package 10 oz. prepared angel food cakeseasonal berries

Mix dry pudding mix with pineapple with juice in medium bowl. Gently stir in cool whip, let stand 5 minutes. Cut cake hori-zontally into 3 layers. Place bottom cake layer (cut side up) on serving plate. Spread l l/3 cups of the pudding mixture onto cake layer, cover with middle layer, top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining pudding mixture. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving. Top with your favor-ite seasonal berries such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberry.

CABBAGE AND POTATO BAKE

2 to 2 1/2 lbs. head of cabbage2 1/2 lbs. Potatoes12 ounces lean bacon, diced2 cups yellow onions1 tsp. salt1 tsp. ground black pepper2 cups chicken stock

Rinse the cabbage under cold running water and remove the tough outer leaves. Cut the cabbage into quarters and remove the hard core. Cut the cabbage quarters into halves and place, rounded side down, in a roasting pan. Cut the potatoes in half crosswise and peel. Cut the peeled potato halves into quarters, and arrange in the roasting pan, alternating with the cabbage pieces. Fry the bacon in a heavy medium skillet for 7 minutes. Add the sliced onions, salt, and black pepper to the pan and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Evenly distrib-ute the bacon mixture and pan drippings over the cabbage and potatoes, then pour the chicken stock on top. Tightly cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 1 1/2 hours. Remove the pan from the oven and allow to sit, covered, for 15 minutes before serving. Serve the vegetables with the bacon and broth spooned over them.

BOUDIN OMELETTE

4 eggs1 link cooked pork boudin2 tablespoon water or milkScallions Green onionsJalapeno pepper (optional)

Remove boudin stuffing from casing and warm in microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside. Over medium heat, spray PAM or melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet. Whisk 2 eggs with 1 tablespoon water or milk in a bowl then pour into the skillet.

When the eggs firms up slightly, add half of the boudin mixture on one side of the omelet; fold the opposite side over.

Cook for 30 seconds or less based on taste; flip and cook for 30 more seconds. Slide onto plate and garnish with chopped green onions and sliced jalapeno pepper

Try adding a “lil bit” of cane syrup and a couple of cracklings” as a side.

Scrambled Eggs and Boudin

Remove boudin stuffing from casing and warm in microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside. Over medium heat, spray PAM or melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet. Whisk eggs and water; saute a handful of onion and pepper, add the boudin, pour in the whisked eggs and cook until desired done-ness.

realcajunrecipes.com

By Harlan KirganLSN STAFF WRITER

LAFAYETTE — With U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy present, the completion of Interstate 49 was tout-ed as one of the state’s top infrastructure priori-ties at meeting hosted by One Acadiana, a nine-parish chamber of com-merce.

Gregg Gothreaux, Lafayette Economic Development Authority president and CEO, said, “You are talking about the most important proj-ect we can do in the histo-ry of the community, sec-ond probably to creating the university, maybe.”

Cassidy, Louisiana freshman senator, joined in the chorus of sup-port for completing the 160-mile highway link-ing Lafayette to New Orleans during a meet-ing Friday at the Picard Center.

The I-49 project, a new

Mississippi River bridge and six-laning Interstate 12 are the top infrastruc-ture projects in the state, Cassidy said.

The recent passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act provides a six-year authorization of projects, Cassidy said. The longer period allows for projects

to be contracted through completion, which saves money, he said.

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, soon to be commissioner of administration, also attended the meeting and said the state has a major obligation to make I-49 happen.

Completing the 5.5-mile stretch of I-49 is

expected to cost about $900 million and the entire project tops out at about $3 billion.

Jason El Koubi, One Acadiana president and CEO, said, “I want to emphasize that complet-ing I-49 South is easily the top priority for One Acadiana. We believe that upgrading the cur-

rent U.S. 90 to interstate standards will greatly improve a vital link, not just for America’s energy corridor, but tie the region to America’s heartland.”

I-49 is eventually to stretch from New Orleans to the the U.S. border with Canada.

“It is within reach,” El Koubi said. “One-hundred of the 160 miles are already complete or under construction.”

Beyond its economic benefit, El Koubi said the interstate will allow safer travel, hurricane evacua-tion and ease traffic con-gestion.

Gothreaux said the interstate’s route from Lafayette to New Orleans is adjacent to 24 percent of the state’s population.

Other factors cited by Gothreaux included:

• South Louisiana’s energy corridor is one of the top 10 in the U.S.

• The Lafayette

Metropolitan Statistical Area is among the 100 biggest markets in the U.S.

• Completing I-49 would add a billion dol-lars of gross domestic product to the Lafayette MSA’s present $20 bil-lion.

• 3,762 jobs would be created by completing I-49.

A One Acadiana news release stated, “The imperative for the Lafayette Connector is to get it right from the start — to repair and enhance our urban fabric, to leverage neighborhood cohesion and vitality, to remediate environmen-tally contaminated sites, to provide an engine for investment, to provide an aesthetically compelling gateway to the commu-nity, and to inaugurate a new era of Lafayette’s urbanization.

By Jeremy AlfordLaPolitics.com

Although the regular session doesn’t convene until March 14, and the new Legislature was just fully sworn in on Monday, lawmakers are already requesting and filing bills.

All of them have come from the House side so far and are available to review at www.legis.la.gov.

There are 11 bills total, out of hundreds that will eventually be introduced. Four deal with appro-priating money for judg-ments delivered against the state while the others address firearm issues, criminal expungements and the open burning of certain waste.

The latter catego-ry refers to HB 11 by Reps. Gene Reynolds, D-Minden, and Terry Brown, No Party-Colfax, would ban open burn-ing as a method to dis-pose of explosive mate-rials. The filing comes after an extensive battle with the U.S. Army and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency over the best disposal meth-od for 7,800 tons of M6 propellant abandoned by Explo Systems.

Rep. Barry Ivey, R-Central, has a consti-tutional amendment in HB4 that would expand the definition of the right to keep and bear arms to include carrying a con-

cealed handgun with-out a permit. The only exception would be if an individual is already pro-hibited from carrying a firearm under state law. Ivy is also sponsoring HB6, which seeks to do the same by statute.

Presidential players flocking to Louisiana

From the president to presidential candidates, the next two weeks in Louisiana will see a number of national play-ers moving through the state.

While Monday was inauguration day in Baton Rouge, it was also Ted Cruz day. The junior U.S. senator and presi-dential candidate was in Baton Rouge for a lunch fundraiser at Mansurs On The Boulevard. Cruz also attended a rally with local tea party lead-ers at the Baton Rouge Marriott before heading to a reception in New Orleans at the home of GOP consultant Mary Matalin.

On Thursday President Barack Obama will be in Baton Rouge as well, although details have not yet been released. He’ll arrive during the first full week in office for Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards, who officially becomes governor at noon. The White House has issued a statement recognizing Edwards’ willingness to expand Medicaid and it’s thought that the visit

may be an effort to offer executive support for the move.

Next Tuesday, on Jan. 19, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend a fundraiser for her presidential bid in New Orleans hosted by the Fayard and Landrieu families. Various lev-els of interaction with Clinton are being offered to donors.

While he’s not mak-ing a personal visit this week himself, Donald Trump did give the green light earlier this month to a Louisiana leader-ship team that includes Jay Batt of New Orleans as chairman and Tim Breaux of Lafayette and Wayne Ryan of Alexandria as co-chairs.

Wildlife department close to accepting adver-tising

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department closed the public comment period last week on its proposed rule to begin selling advertisements to pri-vate companies.

Last year the state Legislature approved legislation permitting the department to move forward with the process that could eventually lead to paid sponsorships. The legislation does not spell out exactly where the advertising can be placed, but it allows for

signage to be put on the department’s property.

T h e Wildlife and F i s h e r i e s Commission is charged with coming up with the

specific regulations. The guiding rules it has pub-lished, and that public comments are no longer being accepted, calls for a much broader scope that originally envisioned.

William Guste, an attorney for the depart-ment, said the program will likely launch next fiscal year, after July 1, 2016, and will focus pri-marily on sponsorships and banner ads in regu-lation brochures and the department’s website, www.WLF.Louisiana.com.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department is follow-ing in the footsteps of the Department of Transportation and Development, which began selling ad space on its motorist assistance vehicles to State Farm in 2014.

A recent analysis from the Legislative Fiscal Office noted that the revenue generated by Wildlife and Fisheries under the proposed pro-gram “will be dependent upon the advertising con-tracts.” DOTD, through its current advertising

agreement with State Farm, is collecting $250,000.

Pastors group behind flip of House seat

The American Renewal Project, a group that is plotting a new approach to evangelical politics with a network of 100,000 pastors nation-wide, is taking some of the credit for the upset in House District 51 this fall. That’s where state Rep. Beryl Amedee of Houma beat out for-mer Rep. Joe Harrison of Napoleonville by 318 votes.

While Amedee also had the support of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and other groups, a new piece out from Reuters stated ARP director David Lane wants to recruit 1,000 pastors to run in 2016 and 500 have already committed. Amedee, a pastor, was among those ranks this cycle.

Lane told Reuters he has been bringing together candidates like Amedee for “two-day, all-expenses paid retreats. There are lectures on run-ning political campaigns, turning out voters, and injecting sermons with a healthy dose of politics.”

“In the 1970s, our atti-tude was, ‘We are not of this world, Jesus is com-ing, so why bother with government?’,” Amedee was quoted as saying in the piece. “Now, we know

we are the government.” The goal of the

American Renewal Project is to get pas-tors elected on local and regional levels in an attempt to influence gov-ernment from the bottom on up.

Scalise chief of staff resigns

Lynnel Ruckert, the chief of staff to House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, stepped down from her post late last year and has been replaced by Brett Horton, Scalise’s floor director, according to a report in Politico.

She is married to Kyle Ruckert, the chief of staff and campaign manager to U.S. Sen. David Vitter, who is not seeking re-election next year.

They Said It“When I was sitting in

prison I never thought I would be attending an inauguration for another Edwards.”

—Former Gov. Edwin Edwards, on Baton Rouge’s TALK 107.3 FM with Leo Honeycutt

“Resign.”—EWE, offering his

best budget deficit advice for Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards

For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Jeremy Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 The Kaplan Herald Page 9

Jeremy Alford

By Harlan KirganLSN STAFF WRITERLAFAYETTE —U.S.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, said he will work with John Bel Edwards after Edwards becomes governor.

Edwards was sworn in during ceremonies on Monday.

“John Bell and I are going to disagree on some issues, but it isn’t about me or John Bel, it isn’t about being a Democrat or Republican, but the state of Louisiana mov-ing forward,” Cassidy said Friday at a meeting hosted by One Acadiana at the Picard Center.

“It is my commit-ment to John Bel and to you that I will do my best so that the state of Louisiana moves for-ward,” he said.

Cassidy, the state’s junior senior, said he worked with Edwards

when they both served in the state House.

Cassidy focused his remarks to mostly eco-nomic issues at the One Acadiana meeting.

One Acadiana is a nine-parish chamber of commerce, created out of the Lafayette chamber.

Cassidy, a medical doctor, also described himself as a man of the people.

“I don’t come from money,” he said. “My dad did not go to college.

“The prosperity in Acadiana is going to come from you. My job is to clear out the obstacles and provide the resourc-es and to bring togeth-er those coalitions that allow you to create the prosperity.”

Cassidy’s overview of “big” issues included:

• Passage of a six-year authorization for the highway transportation

fund. The move should allow for long term con-tracts, which saves money, he said.

• The Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be tapped to help pay for the transportation proj-ects.

“Now as you might guess, that is not my favorite way of paying for it,” he said. But there is a provision to allow the sale to be timed for the market over 10 years, he said.

• A provision was added to offshore drilling rules that requires rules to be cost-effective said.

“You and I know oil and gas creates a great opportunity for working-class families to have a better job and kind of ascend that economic ladder, but if you have a president saying that oil and gas is destroying the earth ... he wins the

argument,” Cassidy said. “One of the things

we have done over the last year is try to cre-ate the argument that oil and gas is good for the economy, is good for national security, it is good for international security and it is actu-ally better for the envi-ronment that we develop it in Louisiana or in the United States as opposed to ceding the market share to Iranians,” he said.

Emissions from Iranian wells are three times those from the wells in the Gulf of Mexico, he said.

• Mental health issues being addressed in leg-islation he believes will gain bi-partisan support.

•Louisiana needs to focus on “big data.” Research can grow white-collar jobs in the state, he said.

Sen. Bill Cassidy ready to work with Edwards

I-49 completion cited as one of state’s top building projects

Bills being filed ahead of regular session

Senator Bill Cassidy with El Koubi.

Senator Bill Cassidy attended the One Acadiana meeting to discuss the I-49 completion.

The Kaplan Herald Page 10 Wednesday, January 20, 2016

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL!BEST OF LUCK TO ALL!

608 EAST VETERANS MEMORIAL DRIVE

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“Like A Good Neighbor,State Farm is There”

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Good Luck!

A CAJUN TRADITION!A CAJUN TRADITION! • FULL BAKERY & DELI •• FULL BAKERY & DELI •

Come in before the game & stock up on your Game Day Meat!

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A CAJUN TRADITION! • FULL BAKERY & DELI •GOOD LUCK!

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“Gateway to Acadiana’s coastal wetlands”

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Get Ready for the Game!Get Ready for the Game!

GOOD LUCK!

Highway 35 • Kaplan, La.

PLAYOFF

PLAYOFF PAYOFFPAYOFF

nflnfl

Name: Name:

Address:Address:

Phone Number:Phone Number:

Super Bowl Winner

Final Score

20162016

ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN Jan 22, 2016

Please address all mailed entries to:

FOOTBALL CONTEST c/o THE KAPLAN HERALD, 219 N. CUSHING • KAPLAN, LA. 70548 Only one winner will be chosen.

CONTEST RULES: Each person must fill out the entire 4-Team bracket and then predict a winner and a score of the final game only. The person who correctly predicts the most wins, including the Super Bowl game, and gets the score closest to the final score, will win $50 from the Herald. All filled out brackets have to either be mailed into the Herald or dropped off at The Kaplan Herald drop box by January 22. There is a mail drop-off slot. No brackets will be accepted on Jan. 23, 2016.

The winner will be announced after the Super Bowl. ONLY one entry per person.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 The Kaplan Herald Page 11

The Kaplan Herald Page 12 Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Deadline for engagements and weddings is Thursday noon

prior to publication.