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RAYNE - Returning from a summer hiatus, the board of directors of the Rayne Chamber of Commerce faced a full agenda for its September meeting.
The first topic address was the Chamber’s Open House planned for Thursday, Sept. 11, in observance of the 20th anniversary of the Chamber office completion.
Chamber President Jeremy Lavergne announced a day-long open house will be held for Chamber member, businesses and the public, along with a special Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m. when the Business of the Quarter will be announced and awarded.
Executive Director Fran Bihm added that an historical section will be on display, along with special dedication paid to past Chamber presidents and Board members.
Committee reports included a report from Frog Festival Chairman Jeremy Lavergne from the 2019 Frog Festival held in May.
“We had a great line-up but you can’t control Mother Nature,” Lavergne stated concerning the weather interference of the weekend event held May 9-11. “We exceeded our sponsors goals, had a great parade line-up and entertainment was great. We just didn’t have the people in attendance because of the weather.
“But on a good note, we did make a little money and stayed in the black. We will just have to work hard on our other fundraisers of the upcoming year to stay afloat.”
The 2020 Frog Festival budget was approved as submitted by Lavergne, who also noted that summer meetings have taken place and chairmen have been named for an early start for next year’s festival.
Rayne Marketplace Chairman Marietta Leonards Sikat gave an update of the September 14 event to be held once again at The Depot. Chamber members were noted of who will assist with the September market.
“We have a good number of vendors signed up for this month’s market,” stated Sikat. “We will also have a football theme day, complete with football players and fun for the kids.”
Sikat also noted a change for the annual holiday market to coincide with the “Shop Small Saturday” event slated the Saturday of Black Friday in the downtown area of Rayne.
Dr. Eddie Palmer gave an update of the OST Committee as plans are being finalized for the 4th Annual OST Day Celebration on Saturday, Nov. 2, at and around The Depot Square. Antique cars, period dress, displays, food and many other activities have been planned. More definite plans will be announced as they are finalized, according to Palmer.
Palmer also reminded everyone of another OST Dine and Dance to be held at the Legion Home in Rayne on Friday, Nov. 1, to kickoff the weekend.
“We have a number of commitments who will be in attendance for the event,” Palmer noted, “including speaker Stella Tanos better know as the Louisiana History Lady. We have also received a number of donations and things are looking good.”
Chamber Executive Director Fran Bihm gave a report of summer activities she attended including the Miss Rayne Pageant, Chamber Summit and a number of ribbon cuttings held throughout Rayne.
Special guests in attendance for the meeting were Dineen and David Constantin. They gave a report of the ongoing Scouting project of the frog pond area at the Chamber. In addition to cleaning and restoring a number of devices, the Scouts have renovated a number of areas of the frog pond and re-landscaped the entire space. Special thanks were expressed to the adult leaders and the Scouts for this long, overdue project.
New business discussed:
• re-landscaping of front yard of Chamber Office in time for the special Open House;
• Committee meeting for Mardi Gras events and announcements;
• new Chamber sign by Rayne High Ag. Department;
• new Board members sought to replace outgoing members; and
• Tri-Parish event to be held Sept. 25, at LSUE by area chambers.
Reminders included Hand To Hand grand opening Sept. 7, Chamber Open House Sept. 11, Rayne Marketplace Sept. 14, KBON Music Fest Oct. 4-6, Germanfest Oct. 5-6 in Roberts Cove, and Tuscany Italian Restaurant opening Nov. 1st in downtown area.

RAYNE - The first football game of the 2019 regular season looked promising for the Rayne High Wolves throughout three and one-half quarters of play.
With a 16-14 lead on fourth down with less than two minutes remaining in the ballgame, Welsh quarterback Landen Broussard connected with Gavan Guillory for a 80-yard completion and the go-ahead touchdown for the 20-16 Greyhounds win.
“It’s hard to loose one like that, especially the season opener,” stated Rayne High’s Kaine Guidry as he lead his first season opener as head coach.
“We fought hard and never gave up,” he continued. I told the kids they fought hard and one play won’t define who you are. Just so happen, that one play defined the final score.”
The Wolves posted 182 total offensive yards on the night.
In the air, Wolf quarterback Collin LaCombe connected with four completions for 81 yards.
Rayne receivers tallying completions were Jamarcus Monroe (38 yards), Ron Charles (20 yards), Reid Dupont (14 yards) and Deuce Comeaux (nine yards).
Leading Rayne’s rushing game were Monroe with 69 yards on eight attempts, Reid Dupont with five tries for 19 yards and Ron Charles tallying 17 yards.
“Our offense is beginning to come around and they are slowly fitting into the offense we’re running, Guidry continued.
“They are starting to understand the concepts. It will take some time as we have a completely new front five. But they are coming along and getting better every time we face a new opponent.”
Rayne’s first score of the game came on a strange hike by Welsh’s center, sending the football into the endzone. Rayne’s Tony Cormier fell on the ball and gave the Wolves a 6-0 lead as the first quarter ended.
The Greyhounds answered with a tochdown and extra point to gain a slim 7-6 lead in the second quarter, but that didn’t last long.
Rayne’s Jamarcus Monroe used some of his rushing yards to touch the endzone later on in the second quarter. An extra point by Deuce Comeaux put Rayne up 13-7 for the halftime break.
The Wolves gained the only points of the third quarter with a fieldgoal, adding a trey for a 16-7 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Greyhounds saw the endzone midway through the fourth quarter, placing the score at 16-14, still in favor of the Wolves.
But, the 80-yard touchdown pass in the final two minutes sealed a 20-16 win for the Greyhounds.
“Our defense played well tonight,” Guidry noted. “Our front five did a good job all night long. I’m anxious to see the stats, because I don’t think they got many rushing yards from our defensive line.
Of Welsh’s 249 yards of total offense, the Rayne defense held strong allowing only 94 yards on 31 attempts. However, QB Landen Broussard tipped the scales as he finished the night with 155 yards in the air for the Greyhounds.
“Our usual guys who excel did a good job tonight,” Guidry noted, “like Damarcus (Richard) is Damarcus. He played well as usual.
“Ron (Roberts), what can you say about him. He always plays well defense -- he’s a beast out there.
Leading the Rayne defense Friday was Ron Roberts with 9 tackles, 8 assists, a quarterback sack and 3 tackles for a loss.
Jamarcus Monroe, Will Arceneaux and Deuce Comeaux recorded 4 tackles, with Monroe nabbing an interception.
Miguel DelValle, Miles Doucet and Bleyton Francis recorded 3 tackles on the night, while Peyton Francis, Brandon Aguillard, Tony Cormier, Jamarcus Richard and Griffin Champagne tallying 2 each.
“We had a lot of guys play well tonight and it looks like they are starting to jell. I hate to harp on that, but we do struggle with lack of depth with all the rookies we have on the field most of the time.
“We try to roll guys in a out the game to get the most out of everyone, especially on a hot night like this. It will come, but it will take some time and more experience.”
“One guy who stepped it up tonight was Deuce Comeaux -- he really played really well. Plus, he made that big kick to give us the lead. That’s always a plus for high school football when you see a fieldgoal on Friday night. He played really well tonight.
“We had a couple of chances to extend our lead and ice it down and we stalled. It is what it is. You just have to work on what we have and come back better next time. I really believe that our guys believe we can do that. That’s what I like to see in players -- wanting to get better and working hard to get there.
The Wolves will hit the road to Abbeville on Friday where they will face the Wildcats. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

RAYNE - Roland and Veronica “Ronnie” Landry Guidry of Rayne were joined by their family and friends on Friday, Sept. 6, in celebration of the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary.
The couple were joined as husband and wife on Sept. 6, 1969, and have resided in Rayne for the past 43 years.
The evening celebration was hosted by the couple’s children and their spouses at Chef Roy’s Frog City Café in Rayne.
Mr. Guidry is the son of the late Dominic and Bertha Guidry. He is retired from Rayne State Bank where he served as CEO and Board Chairman
Mrs. Guidry, the former Veronica “Ronnie” Landry, is the daughter of the late George and Lillian Landry. She is a retired librarian from South Crowley Elementary.
They are the parents of a son, Bart Guidry, married to Venus Guidry of Duson, and a daughter, Shelley Guidry Miller, married to Brian Miller of Duson.
They have six grandchildren, Madelyn Miller, Lillian Miller, Collin Miller, Hayden Miller, Landon Miller, Ethan Guidry, and three step-grandchildren, Alec Arceneaux, Grant Arceneaux and Garon Arceneaux.
For the special event, elegant glass vases and votives adorned the guest tables, which highlighted an assortment of ivory hydrangeas, dahlias and baby’s breath.
Among the refreshments was a special anniversary cake provided by Makenzie Abshire (Cakes by Mak). The stylish double-layered confection (the groom’s favorite) was topped with a gold “ Cheers to 50 years” cake topper.
The couple is active parishioners of Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church of Rayne and active members in two RV clubs, Cruisin Cajuns and Bayou Kruisers. The retired couple enjoys traveling the United States and Canada in their RV.
Roland is an active member in Acadiana Amateur Radio Club and spends his retirement time on his amateur radio, while Ronnie is an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church Choir.
They both enjoy gardening with Ronnie enjoying working in her flower beds when she is home from the couple’s travels.