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While coronavirus mitigation continued to dominate the news in 2021, other “happenings” in and around Crowley were being reported in the pages of The Crowley Post-Signal.
This review is not intended to be a comprehensive record of the past year and we’re sure readers will remember some events that are not outlined here.
We conclude our review today with the final quarter of 2020 —October through December.
OCTOBER
Oct. 1: By official proclamation signed at City Hall, Mayor Tim Monceaux has designated October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Crowley.
Oct. 3: Sheriff K.P. Gibson unveiled a new mobile app that makes navigating critical information easier than ever.
Oct. 5: It was National 4-H Week and Mayor Tim Monceaux issued a proclamation recognizing such in Crowley.
Oct. 6: Taking top billing during the October meeting of the Acadia Parish School Board were two topics, the wearing of masks by students and a salary supplement for teachers.
Oct. 7: Jeff Willis, head baseball coach and athletic director at LSU Eunice, spoke to members of the Crowley Lions Club about his coaching philosophy.
Oct. 8: Using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the City of Crowley was planning a couple of major upgrades at the Wastewater Plant.
Oct. 10: Nearly every building along Historic North Parkerson Avenue has a story and those fortunate enough to get a ticket to the first History Alive! series were treated to many of them.
Oct. 12: It was the beginning of Rice Festival week and, true to form, forecasters were predicting a cold front to move through the area on Friday bringing ... you guessed it, Rice Festival Weather!
Oct. 13: Barbara Thibodeaux reigned over the 57th Annual Golden Age Coronation Ball as queen.
Oct. 14: Celebrating her long history of volunteer service with the Rice and Creole Cookery Contest and the Acadia Parish 4-H Program, The Crowley Post-Signal dedicated this year’s Rice and Creole Cookbook to Letha Vincent.
Oct. 15: Kindergarten and pre-K students — possibly with a little help from their parents — designed a plethora of “floats” using shoeboxes for the school’s annual parade in observance of Rice Festival.
Oct. 17: Chosen from among a total of eight contestants, Caroline Elizabeth Hardy was crowned the 84th International Rice Festival Queen. Crowned as the 2021 International Rice Festival Junior Royalty were second-grader Layne Michael Oestriecher, son of Bo and Allyson Oestriecher, of Estherwood Elementary and second-grader Audrey Lasch, daughter of Ryan and Jamie Lasch, of Mire Elementary.
Oct. 19: With one of the largest turnouts in recent memory, the 84th International Rice Festival came to a close.
Oct. 20: The third annual “Take Back the Night” march and candlelight vigil was held by Shattered But Not Broken, Inc., to bring awareness to domestic violence.
Oct. 21: Plans for a proposed nature/birding trail that have been on a back burner for four years were officially abandoned by the city council.
Oct. 22: The Acadia Parish Assessor’s Office, in partnership with its online mapping consultant, Fenstermaker, and marketing agency, Klout 9, introduced “Acadia Mobile Maps,” a new, mobile-friendly version of the Acadia Parish parcel grid and supporting information.
Oct. 24: Mayor Tim Monceaux signed a proclamation acknowledging the efforts of the “PUSH” program — “Pray Until Something Happens” — which was entering its sixth year.
Oct. 26: Crowley Lions hosted members of CAB, Citizens Against Blight, as guest speakers.
Oct. 27: A crew from Triton Construction worked on drainage along the parking lot at historic Miller Field.
Oct. 28: Gov. John Bel Edwards lifted the state’s indoor mask mandate on Tuesday, but added that face coverings will still be required in some locations.
Oct. 29: The Acadia Parish Tourist Commission sponsored a “Fall in Love with Acadia Parish” Scarecrow Competition with entries on display through Thanksgiving.
Oct. 31: The Acadia Parish Police Jury voted to contribute $3 million toward the expansion of broadband Internet using American Rescue Plan Act funds.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 2: Better weather couldn’t have been ordered for the hundreds who crowded into the parking lot at the Crowley Enterprise Center for the 17th Gumbo Cook-off, hosted by the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce.
Nov. 3: Veneeth Iyengar, executive director, Broadband and Connectivity, Division of Administration, was in Acadia to witness the process of boring underground to lay the fiber optics cable.
Nov. 4: Four units designated as surplus by the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office were donated to two local law enforcement agencies — the Church Point Police Department and the Rayne Police Department.
Nov. 5: Janie Morrison, who was appointed head of the Crowley Main Street program in May, introduced herself to the Crowley Lions Club and explained the inner workings of the Main Street program.
Nov. 7: Another attempt to have a digital billboard erected in Crowley ran headlong into the city’s Gateway Overlay ordinance and was tabled indefinitely.
Nov. 9: Demolition of the large warehouse at the corner of Mill Street and South Parkerson Avenue was a sore subject at the recent meeting of the city council’s Public Works Committee.
Nov. 10: Barely 1,000 early votes were cast in Acadia Parish in advance of the Nov. 13 election.
Nov. 11: The Crowley First United Methodist Church Youth Group was sponsoring a “Share the Warmth” winter coat drive.
Nov. 12: Veterans Day was celebrated in Crowley through programs at schools and at Levy Park.
Nov. 14: The 13th annual Taste of Crowley was termed a huge success by organizers with nearly 20 sweet and savory tastings along with art exhibits, a silent auction and music.
Nov. 16: Recovery from the COVID pandemic recession has stalled and Louisiana is currently ranked 50th in the country in cumulative job recovery, Dr. Gary Wagner, UL Lafayette professor and economist, told attendees at the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon.
Nov. 17: Community Foundation of Acadiana and Hancock Whitney Bank announced the 2021 Leaders in Philanthropy Award honorees for Acadia Parish — Dr. Cason and Isabella L. de la Houssaye.
Nov. 18: The holidays were rapidly approaching and the Crowley Kiwanis Club was getting ready to roll with its annual Christmas Parade.
Nov. 19: Notre Dame football coach Lewis Cook addressed members of the Crowley Lions Club on coaching and life in general.
Nov. 21: A wide assortment of tourism officials from across Louisiana took part in the Acadia Parish Tourist Commission’s recent “Familiarization Tour” — or Fam Tour.
Nov. 23: The Mermentau Boat Launch officially opened to boaters after being closed for eight months for repairs and renovations.
Nov. 24: Although it was Thanksgiving break, Acadia Parish public schools were celebrating National Family Week, which is designated as Nov. 21-27.
Nov. 25: Deputies with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office took money out of their own pockets to support the elderly during this Thanksgiving season, donating nearly $1,000 to purchase 25 Thanksgiving baskets.
Nov. 26: Members of the Crowley Solitic Club gathered at the Acadia Parish Library in Crowley to assist with the erection and dedication of the library’s International Tree Exhibit.
Nov. 28: Leah Hoffpauir, president of the Crowley Art Association, brought the past, present and future of the association with her when she spoke to the Rotary Club of Crowley.
Nov. 30: The city of Crowley’s workers were already out hanging the city’s Christmas lights.
DECEMBER
Dec. 1: Winners were awarded in the Crowley Main Street’s “Deck the Streets!” competition. They included: First National Bank, first place; Crowley City Hall, second place; The Balcony, third place; and Echelon Salon, honorable mention.
Dec. 2: Crowley Christian Care Center’s Rachel Meaux was preparing for the Dec. 7 Food Drive.
Dec. 3: The Crowley City Council’s Public Safety Committee took an unusual turn when members voted to recommend that the full council deny beer and liquor license applications for four local businesses. (Three of those were ultimately approved.)
Dec. 5: Santa Claus came riding into Crowley with the annual Crowley Kiwanis Club Christmas Parade.
Dec. 7: It was a Christmas miracle when Santa Claus and the Grinch hugged out their differences during the annual Christmas in Crowley.
Dec. 8: The 26th Leadership EXCEL Graduating Class met at the Grand Opera House for a reception and graduation ceremony.
Dec. 9: Members of Crowley’s Citizens Against Blight (CAB) organization were on hand to address the Rotary Club of Crowley and tell Rotarians of the organization’s efforts to eradicate blighted housing in the city of Crowley.
Dec. 10: An addition to the Acadia Parish Police Jury’s annual holiday schedule for 2022 is the observance of Juneteenth, which was declared a federal holiday earlier this year by President Biden.
Dec. 12: By unanimous vote, the city council renamed the Crowley Recreation Department Sports Complex in honor of Crowley’s native son and former Ragin’ Cajun baseball coach. It will henceforth be known as the Tony Robichaux Sports Complex.
Dec. 14: The Crowley Lions Club, in cooperation with the Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation, conducted free CubSight screening at St. Michael Elementary School.
Dec. 15: Parker Mitchell was sworn in as Acadia Parish’s first Administrative Law Judge.
Dec. 16: LeGros Airport near Estherwood will get $110,000 from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Dec. 17: Revenue from the Hotel Occupancy Tax has seen a dramatic increase in the past two years, due unfortunately to the hurricanes that impacted Louisiana, according to Nancy Loewer, APTC executive director.
Dec. 19: A historical marker in the front of the David L. and Jeanette Ross May home here was dedicated in ceremonies led by Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser.
Dec. 21: Members of Foy and Jennifer Cradeur’s extended family, many from Texas, were at Crowley City Hall to relive and realize a part of their history. Two of the antique cars at city hall — one on the mezzanine level and one on the second floor — are owned by the family of Maxi Cradeur, Foy’s father.
Dec. 22: Community Prayer Shield teamed up with Northside Christian School Elementary students recently in bringing joy to the world of local law enforcement in the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Crowley Police Department.
Dec. 23: Ms. Helen’s Soup Kitchen closed out one of its busiest times of the year, serving “Christmas Lunch” to an overwhelming crowd.
Dec. 24: No paper was printed.
Dec. 26: In recognition of the many contributions he made to the city of Crowley during his lifetime, a scholarship fund is being established in the name of Richard “Coach Pizz” Pizzolatto.
Dec. 28: The Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce and Supreme Rice began planning for the annual Farmers’ Appreciation Dinner in honor of the farmers who make such a large contribution to the culture and economy of Acadia Parish.
Dec. 29: More unusual spring warmth was in the forecast for Acadiana for the balance of 2021 with big changes, including a strong and energetic cold front, in store for the weekend.
Dec. 30: Sheriff K.P. Gibson reinstated COVID protocols at the Sheriff’s Office in light of the spike in Omicron variant cases.

A popular stocking stuffer this year has morphed into what Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard calls “a whole new level of stalking.”
Apple’s new AirTags are $30 wireless devices that help you locate just about anything. Simply clip the button-sized devise onto your keys and it’ll help you find where you accidentally dropped them in a parking lot.
However, if someone else slips an AirTag into your bag or car without your knowledge, it could also be used to covertly track everywhere you go.
An app named “Find My” on iPhones tracks how far away the tag is and displays a map with the location.
But the AirTag connects with more than the owner’s iPhone. Using Bluetooth technology, an AirTag sends a signal that any nearby iPhone, iPad or Mac can detect. Those devices can then send the location of an AirTag to Apple’s cloud computing network and on to the owner.
Apple says that only the owner of an AirTag can see where it is, and that the device itself doesn’t store location data or history.
To discourage what it calls “unwanted tracking,” Apple built technology into AirTags to warn potential victims, including audible alarms and messages about suspicious AirTags that pop up on iPhones. Unfortunately, similar warnings aren’t available for the roughly half of Americans who use Android phones.
Broussard said that, in the past month, his department has seen two cases of people concerned about notifications they received on their iPhones. He noted that, while this number may not seem like a lot, his department isn’t alone. Other departments in other parishes are seeing it as well.
“We see crime evolving into something new. The old days of someone just breaking in and stealing a television and leaving, that’s by the wayside,” Broussard said. “Today we’re seeing, using means of internet and media and technology; they’re committing bigger crimes.”
The police chief said that these devices can facilitate a variety of crimes for criminals.
“This has kind of been linked to sex trafficking, where (the perpetrators) can keep an eye on (the victims) until it’s a ‘good time,’ so it’s a very dangerous situation.”
He also said that criminals are using the AirTags to track cars in order to steal them.
“I’m not trying to scare people, I’m just saying we have to be cautious in today’s society,” Broussard said.
Apple’s website says AirTag is “designed to discourage unwanted tracking,” which is why you may receive an unusual notification to your iPhone.
Officers, however, still encourage you to report any suspicious activity you experience so they can help you, noting that if they can’t, a mechanic can.

Half of Louisiana’s 42 public defenders’ offices spent more money than they took in during the last fiscal year, according to a new report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.
COVID-19 and weather disasters were blamed for the deficit spending because they diminished the amount of traffic tickets administered by local authorities — a main source of public defender funding.
Traffic tickets represent the bulk of “conviction and user fees” (CUFs), the report said, which go directly to public defender offices on a monthly basis in the judicial districts where the so-called revenues were generated.
Such revenues have declined every year since 2009, the report said, forcing state taxpayers to make up the difference.
“Our experience tells us that traffic filings decline and don’t bounce back up,” State Public Defender Remy Starns said in a statement included in the audit report. “The singular event of the first COVID-19 outbreak in the spring of 2020 devastated collections but continued new outbreaks along with periodic weather disasters have prevented an expected rebound.
“After failed efforts to improve local funding through increasing the court costs per ticket, state funding is becoming a greater proportion of the overall district funding,” the statement continued.
Starns sits on the Louisiana Commission on Justice System Funding, a 30-member bipartisan group tasked with overhauling how the state’s justice system is paid for.
Reform advocates said funding Louisiana’s justice system through fines, fees, charges, ticketing and other costs creates perverse incentives, often indebting those who can least afford it.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the most-recent information contained in the report, 22 of the 41 public defenders’ offices that submitted financial reports to the LAA had negative financial balances.
All public defender revenues during the period totaled $56 million, auditors said, while statewide combined expenses totaled $55.4 million. Calcasieu (-$499,146), Bossier/Webster (-$269,328) and Vernon (-$217,632) parishes had the largest deficits.
The legislative auditor recommended overdrawn districts submit corrective action plans to the state Public Defender Board, which would then provide financial guidance.
“The Board should continue to monitor the fiscal operations and financial position of all public defenders,” auditors said.
In a response letter, Starns recounted how diminished local revenues have led to increasing shares of state financial support over the previous decade. The Board also keeps an emergency fund to manage district shortfalls, he said, “but there is every possibility that sharp declines may overtax this fund.”
Starns said relying on traffic tickets and other CUFs is “unreliable, unpredictable and unsustainable” and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it worse.
The Justice Funding Commission is slated to produce a reform report for state lawmakers ahead of the 2022 regular legislative session. In recent meeting, Starns said, “Identifying a stable funding option is the whole game here.”

Defense was the name of the game on Tuesday in the Large School Bracket semifinals of the St. Edmund Holiday Shootout.
Notre Dame forced over 20 turnovers and limited Eunice to nearly 30 points below their season average in a thrilling 29-28 victory over the Bobcats.
The victory sent the Pios to 7-0 and also propelled them into last night’s championship game against Class 5A Sulphur, which defeated Mamou, 57-54, in their semifinal contest.
“When we rotate on defense and we play as one, it’s going to be hard to score the ball against us,” said ND coach Duke Daigle, whose squad held the Bobcats to just seven points in the first half.
That was obvious in the first quarter when the Bobcats, who were averaging just below 60 points per game, were limited to just two points on a basket by Clarence Arceneaux with under two minutes remaining in the period.
The Pios, on the other hand, got going with seven straight points from junior standout Teddy Menard and Zach Lamm drilled a 3-pointer late in the period to give Notre Dame an 11-2 advantage.
The pace slowed to a near crawl in the second quarter with the two teams combining for just nine points.
Tylon Cooper knocked down a shot seconds into the frame for the Bobcats and Notre Dame answered nearly four minutes later with a putback by Nick Swacker. Menard added another driving layup with under two minutes remaining and Eunice’s Rondrelyn Mitchell buried a 3-pointer just before the half to trim the lead to 15-7.
“We have a level that we can go up and I think we showed that today against a very good Class 4A team,” said Daigle. “When we rotate wisely and play in the scheme, we can make it tough on our opponent and that’s what happened in the first half.”
The Bobcats inched back into the game in the second half with some big defensive stops of their own.
Eunice forced the Pios into six turnovers in the third period and went on a 7-2 run to start the frame.
Jackson Casanova scored the Pios’ first basket midway through the quarter on a layup and Lamm added a floater in the lane to give the Pios a 19-14 advantage. Nick Swacker closed out the period by hitting one of two free throw attempts to push the lead to 20-16.
Eunice’s pressure defense continued to cause the Pios trouble in the final frame and created seven more turnovers, enabling the Bobcats to make a late push.
After a layup by Menard to start the period, Eunice got seven straight points from Cooper to tie the game at 23-23 with seven minutes remaining.
A pair of free throws from Swacker and another driving layup from Menard pushed the lead back to four (27-23) but Terrance Shilon’s 3-pointer got the Bobcats back within one at 27-26 near the midway point of the period.
The two teams traded layups and turnovers from there, leaving the Pios with a one-point advantage (29-28).
The Pios had a chance to seal the victory with three seconds left, but they missed the front end of a 1-and-1, giving the Bobcats one last chance.
Eunice standout Dedric Vigers launched a shot from near half court at the buzzer but came up just short to end the game.
“I think our offense did a good job with our scheme tonight,” said Daigle. “We knew we weren’t going to score a ton of points with two freshmen on the floor, but we played possession basketball and we were able to withstand their run.
“We turned it over a bit more in the second half, but I think that was due to fatigue because they pressured us. All in all, rotations on defense and strength and possession on offense won the game for us.
“This was a total team win.”
One of the biggest keys for the Pios was shutting down Vigers and guard Jon’darius Mayo. Neither was able to score in the loss.
“We knew that they ran their offense through No. 10 (Vigers) and Jackson Casanova and Grady Faulk did a great job defending him,” said Daigle. “That made their offense have to be different.
“To hold a team like that to 28 points, that’s a great win.”
Menard finished with a game-high 14 points, including five of the Pios’ nine points in the fourth quarter. He also had two rebounds and two assists.
“We know that Teddy can get to the rim and he did a great job today of finishing,” said Daigle.
Swacker followed with six points, eight rebounds and six assists and Lamm had five points, seven rebounds and six steals. Casanova finished with four points, two rebounds and two steals.
Other Action
In other tournament action at St. Edmund, the Lacassine Cardinals used a smothering defense and had three players score in double figures in an 80-37 thrashing of Northside Christian.
The loss sent the Warriors (10-12) into yesterday’s Small School Bracket consolation game against Basile.
The Cardinals (17-5) took on Grace Christian in the championship game.
In Tuesday’s contest, the two teams played to a 16-16 tie after the first quarter before Lacassine broke the game wide open with a 20-5 run in the second frame.
The Cardinals forced 13 turnovers in the period and 18 more over the final two frames.
A 19-4 run by the Cardinals in the third quarter pushed the lead to 55-28.
The Cardinals outscored the Warriors 25-9 in the final stanza.
Aaron Garcia led the Cardinals with a game-high 24 points. Taiwan Jones and Kane Broussard also scored in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Caleb Hanks paced the Warriors with 16 points and Joseph Woods added six. Jagger Thibodeaux followed with five points, Jake Morgan scored four and Garrett Kidder had three. Christian Myers and Andrew Woods rounded out the Warriors’ offense with two and one point, respectively.
Gents upend Red Devils
PORT BARRE – The Crowley Gents ended a three-game skid on Tuesday by upending Port Barre, 54-33.
Zuri Poullard and Chris George each scored four points in the second quarter to help the Gents take a 25-15 lead into the half.
The Gents (3-11) added to their lead in the third quarter by outscoring the hosts 14-9 thanks to four points each from Poullard, Dustin Walters and Trevonta Ben.
Ben added six more of his team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter and the Gents outscored the Red Devils 15-8 over the final eight minutes.
Port Barre’s Paul Mallet led all scorers on the night with 20 points, including all nine of the hosts’ points in the final stanza.
Ben’s 14-point outburst paced the Gents and Poullard had 10 points.
Walters added nine points in the victory, George scored eight, Trevon Flugence and Floyd Flugence each had four and Rasheed Charles rounded out the offense with one point.