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End of affair leaves many issues unresolved

DEAR ABBY: I had an affair with “Harold,” a man I was helping. He’s 76; I am 52. His wife stays in Florida for extended periods of time. For 34 years I have been married to a man who quit having sex with me because I stopped taking the pill. “Harold” provided me with the attention I needed.
I finally confessed to my husband after I was caught in too many lies. My husband has forgiven me, but I can no longer be friends with Harold or help him anymore. I’m worried about him living alone and needing help. Can I still help him if I have ended the affair? – WORRIED ABOUT EX-LOVER

DEAR WORRIED: No, not if you value your marriage to the man who has denied you a sex life for the last 34 years. Surely you both must have known there are/were successful methods of birth control besides the pill. IS this what you want for the rest of your life?
Because the physical aspect of your affair with Harold has ended, there is still an emotional tie that needs to be severed. You won’t be able to do this while you are taking care of him. Harold should be told he needs another caregiver, and you need to find a way to satisfy or sublimate your sex drive, because this problem isn’t going to go away.

DEAR ABBY: My mom passed away a year ago, and I struggle with it every day. I had promised her I would never put her in any kind of home, but she ended up in one because the hospital placed her there. I feel so guilty for letting her down.
While she was in there, I saw her only once, through a window, but I never got to talk to her. I don’t know how to cope with this. Since her death, many family members no longer talk to me. They blame me for it. Abby, I’m the one who was with her 24/7 for years. I’m the one who cooked for her and did her laundry, yet I’m the bad person. Do I need professional help for blaming myself? Please help. – LOST DAUGHTER IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR DAUGHTER: Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your mother. Your relatives are wrong to blame you for her death. Much of what happened to her was because that’s what her doctors ordered. You are not a bad daughter. You are a daughter who cared – and still cares – about the mother to whom she devoted herself. You took care of her for as long as you could. Talk with a mental health professional about this. You may find it beneficial, if only to help you stop blaming yourself for circumstances that were beyond your control.

DEAR ABBY: My husband passed five years ago. I have two grown daughters, and a granddaughter who will turn 21 soon. On her birthday I would like to give her the wedding ring my husband gave to me. Is that being rude to my daughters? – GRANDMA LOOKING AHEAD

DEAR GRANDMA: I don’t think it would be rude. I think it would solve the question of what to do with your wedding ring without creating jealousy between your daughters.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Federal student loan repayment ‘pause’ extended through May 1

On Wednesday the Biden administration announced that it is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments for an additional 90 days – through May 1, 2022.
The pause was initiated on Biden’s first day in office to help Americans struggling to stay afloat during the financial crisis that came with the COVID-19 pandemic. It was set to expire in September, but in August it was extended through Jan. 21, 2022.
In a release, the White House stated, “Now, while our jobs recovery is one of the strongest ever – with nearly 6 million jobs added this year, the fewest Americans filing for unemployment in more than 50 years, and overall unemployment at 4.2 percent – we know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments.”
The Dept. of Education will continue to work with borrowers to ensure they have the support they need to transition smoothly back into repayment.

APSO Daily Bookings: Dec. 18 - 20

December 18
• Dallas Guidry, Denham Springs: Arrested by Duson P.D. for possession with intent to distribute Schedule I narcotics ($5,000 bond); possession of drug paraphernalia (no bond).

December 19
• Kyle Hogness, Church Point: Arrested by Duson P.D. for stalking ($5,000 bond).
• Joseph Prudhomme, Rayne: Arrested by Louisiana Probation and Parole on a probation hold (no bond).
• John Guidry, Branch: Arrested by APSO on a bench warrant (no bond).
• Cody Scott, Crowley: Arrested by Crowley P.D. for domestic abuse battery with child endangerment (no bond); possession with intent to distribute Schedule I narcotics ($30,000 bond); possession with intent to distribute Schedule II narcotics ($30,000 bond).

December 20
• Rosanna Boyle, Welsh: Arrested by Estherwood P.D. on a bench warrant (no bond).
• John B. Guidry, Evangeline: Arrested by Mermentau P.D. on a bench warrant (no bond).
• Tori Premo, Midland: Arrested by APSO for theft of a motor vehicle ($5,000 bond).

Christian Care says ‘thank you’ for food donations

Editor,
Once again Crowley Christian Care Center says a huge thank you to all of Crowley for their generous contributions to Food Net Food for Families Food Drive.
Individuals, schools, businesses and churches brought 8,764 pounds and donated $2,355 in cash for the event.
Your gifts will help stock out pantry shelves for several months.
Thank you to all the volunteers who worked to organize out pantry.

Marilyn Lawson
Food Net Chairperson

LSU announces Fall Dean’s List; President’s Honor Roll

LSU has announced the names of the students who have made the Dean’s List and the President’s Honor Roll for the fall 2021 semester.
Undergraduate students enrolled in at least 15 credit hours who earned grade-point averages of 4.0 or higher during the semester are listed on the President’s Honor Roll. Undergraduate students who earned grade-point averages of 3.5 to 3.99 in at least 15 credit hours are listed on the Dean’s List.
Dean’s List students form Acadia Parish include:
• College of Agriculture: Michael Paul Johnson, Rayne
• College of Art & Design: Abram Wesley Broussard, Crowley
• College of Engineering: Jack F. Nickel, Crowley
• College of Humanities & Social Sciences: Emma Ruth Gielen, Crowley; Maddie M Lyons, Church Point; Blair McKenzie Petitjean, Rayne
• College of Science: Makayla Ashlee Dronet, Rayne; Ellie Fields, Crowley
• E. J. Ourso College of Business: Olivia June Flatt, Rayne
• Manship School of Mass Communication: Victoria Brook Cates, Church Point
• University College Center for Advising and Counseling: Caithin Myshell Dregin, Crowley; Isabelle Elaine Hanks, Rayne
• University College Center for Freshman Year: Peyton Olivia Dubose, Iota; Gabriel James Leonards, Rayne; William Liu, Crowley; Taylor Vautrot, Church Point
President’s Honor Roll students from Acadia Parish include:
• College of Agriculture: Taylor M. Perrodin, Crowley; Claire Scheufens, Crowley
• College of Engineering: Jacob Thomas Miller, Crowley
• College of Human Sciences & Education: Elise K. Landry, Crowley; Caroline Elizabeth Trisler, Rayne
• College of Humanities & Social Sciences: Ansleigh K. Fontenot, Rayne
• E. J. Ourso College of Business: Patrick Alan Scott Cormier, Rayne
• University College Center for Freshman Year: Halle Alece Davis, Iota; Jadyn Pauline Devillier, Crowley; Page Burns Gray, Crowley; Josh Thomas LeJeune, Egan
The completed lists are available online at LSU’s commencement website, www.lsu.edu/commencement.

Crowley Rotarians get unique Bible lesson

Pastor: Variations in translation key

Rev. Warren Langford, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Crowley, shared some interesting facts about scripture at Tuesday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Crowley.
Langford, who is also a research and programs consultant with the New Testament Textual Studies Foundation, uses artistic and paratextual material to create “family trees” that show how Biblical manuscripts are connected to one another.
He explained that the Christmas story we read comes from a critical translation of the Greek New Testament, of which there are over 5,000 copies, all hand-scribed by humans, leaving a lot of room for variation.
Langford presented three variations of Matthew 1:16:
• “Jacob was the father of Joseph to whom was betrothed Mary the virgin bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.”
• “Jacob was the father of Joseph, to whom being engaged to the virgin Mary bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.”
• “Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
The different variations may appeal to different audiences in terms of their wording, but the intent behind each is to make clear that Joseph is not Jesus’ father.
Backing off of that technical topic as he closed his program, Langford reminded the group that families are diverse and that character is built by the giving and receiving of life on a day to day basis.
He encouraged everyone to experience the connection between us and our world that allows us to observe service above self, not just during the Christmas season but throughout the year.

Church Point family connects with previously unknown English brother

Peter Fletcher, of Stone, a town in England, along with his recently discovered Louisianan siblings, sister Linda Richard and brothers Elton “Tony” and Chuck Estilette, accompanied by their spouses, visited the Le Vieux Presbytère Museum.
Fletcher received an “Honorary Church Point Citizen” plaque from Mayor “Spanky” Meche who also gave the international family a complete and exclusive preview tour of the museum which is set for an official grand re-opening early next year.
This special event was made possible when, in 2020, Linda received a surprising letter in the mail. In it, Fletcher cautiously explained his story of investigations and DNA tests, hoping that the news would not result in a negative reaction. He knew nothing of their mutual father’s wish, imparted to his Louisiana children before his death, that they find his English child.
Instead, the English child had found the Louisianan children, who themselves had been aching for answers.
Linda said she was crying happy tears when she read the letter because everything her father had told her was completely confirmed. She called her daughter first to share the news. Then she called her brother Elton and his daughter Kelly so they could all go to Elton’s house.
They all read the letter and did not waste a moment in calling Peter, who was eagerly awaiting the call in England.
“Dad had told me in 2010, when his health was failing,” said Linda. “I had prayed that the day would come when we could one day find him, but we didn’t have the resources. He found us though.
“My dream had come true. At that point I had no clue how to find him or whether or not he was even alive.”
Fletcher said he didn’t know what to expect.
“Basically it started out with ‘My DNA matches that of your grandparents.’ I didn’t want to start by saying, ‘Hello, I’m your brother,’” he said. “I was careful. I was fascinated, excited and nervous. I didn’t want to feel that I was spamming them because they didn’t know anything about me. There was doubt, and I expected I might have to do another DNA test to prove it. But I didn’t have to do any of that.”
The historical saga which led to these extraordinary circumstances truly began in a world torn asunder by the most terrible war man had ever known.
World War II had barely begun when Aldon Estilette joined the Army in 1942 and was assigned to the 816th Aviation Engineering Battalion. The unit was set up to build, repair and defend forward air bases in the war zone.
In early 1943, the 816th was sent to England to build airfields for the American bombers that were beginning to pummel Germany from the air. The young soldier suffered an attack of appendicitis and was sent to the Southend-on-Sea General Hospital in Essex County, England. He left the hospital for a while but had to return after contracting a case of pneumonia.
While at the hospital, Aldon met a nurse from Ireland named Judith Anne Mulligan. Love soon blossomed between the nurse and the patient, and they moved in together after he left the hospital.
Soon after, Judith found out that she was pregnant, but Aldon was transferred back to his unit.
She couldn’t return to her Irish Catholic home to have an illegitimate baby, so a friend took her to Hemsworth in northern England. There, her doctor arranged for an adoption of the baby boy by Stanley and Ivy Fletche. They named him Peter.
Aldon sent part of his meager Army earnings to Judith Anne. He was sent to France shortly after D-Day to build airbases across that country and later across Germany for the advancing American forces. He tried to find her after the war ended but couldn’t in the mass confusion of war-torn England.
He was told she likely didn’t want him to find her.
The war ended and Aldon returned to Church Point. He had previously been engaged to Nedia Colligan back home and told her about Judith Anne and the baby boy in England.
Even after learning this information, Nedia married Aldon, but they didn’t tell the story to their children who came later, Chuck, Linda and Tony and Aldon Jr., the latter of whom passed before he could meet Peter.
The young veteran first drove trucks for a living. He delivered Jax beer for the distributorship held by Elton Richard. Then he hauled sweet potatoes for packer Irvin Wimberly, followed by a stint driving a dump truck for Lowray Chachere and another working for Evangeline Brokerage.
Aldon would then switch careers around 1958, becoming an upholsterer and antique finisher for the rest of his working life. He also raised quail and sold pickled quail eggs.
A skilled horse trainer, Aldon and his paint horse, Dutch, performed tricks (such as sitting at a table) for area rodeos.
Two years before his death, Aldon told his children for the first time about their half-brother in England. He asked them to try to find him.
Peter always knew he was adopted, but knew almost nothing of his birth parents. He worked as an art and music teacher, and when he retired, he decided to learn what he could of his birth parents with very little to go on except the name of his biological mother, which his adopted mother had told him when he was a teenager.
He found his mother’s friend, Veronica Kinsley, the one who had taken Judith Anne to Hemsworth, who then introduced him to some of his Irish cousins and aunts. Judith Anne was deceased and had no other children besides him. She had continued to work as a nurse in England before retiring to Ireland.
Then came the modern wonder of DNA tracing. Peter applied to a DNA testing site in 2019 and found that he had close matches in southern Louisiana and in Ireland. After contacting several of the Louisiana matches, asking of soldiers stationed in England and other investigation, the search narrowed toward Aldon Estilette.
Instead of a negative reaction, as Peter had convinced himself was possible, Fletcher received a heart-warming welcome from his just-found half-siblings. He and his wife, Marlee, planned to come to Church Point that year but, of course, the world-wide coronavirus pandemic and the resultant travel restrictions canceled that idea.
However, Peter and Marlee Fletcher made new plans, and arrived at the Lafayette airport on Nov. 13 to an enthusiastic welcome by the Estilette clan. During his visit, the Fletchers had their fill of Louisiana cooking with all parts of his sibling’s family and even got to take part in a jam session in Eunice.
The Fletchers left Sunday, Dec 1,2 to return to England with his siblings and extended family seeing him off. But this story will continue as each sibling has vowed to continue to communicate as much as possible in the future.
A trip to England is 100 percent set to occur in the future as well.\

‘Coach Pizz’ scholarship fund secured

Monetary donations can be made to Community Foundation of Acadiana

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.
Pizzolatto died suddenly on Thursday, Dec. 16, doing what he loved doing best: making other people happy.
The Crowley legend was delivering Christmas poinsettias when he suddenly suffered an apparent heart attack.
He was 85.
According to his express, written wishes, there was no funeral or obituary.
Since his untimely death, however, many people have asked how they might contribute to his memory.
One of Coach Pizz’s wishes was that a scholarship fund be established in his name. This has been done through the Community Foundation of Acadiana, a tax-exempt, donor-centric, entrepreneurial foundation whose core purpose is building legacies and improving communities by connecting all generous people to the causes they care about.
CFA has established the Coach Pizz Memorial and Scholarship Fund and it is ready to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Checks can be made payable to “Community Foundation of Acadiana” (Memo: Coach Pizz Fund) and mailed or delivered to Community Foundation of Acadiana, 1035 Camellia Blvd., Ste. 100, Lafayette, LA 70508.
Easy credit card contributions can be made by clicking on “Coach Pizz Memorial and Scholarship Fund” on the CFA website (www.cfacadiana.org).
Anyone with an already-established Donor Advised Fund at CFA can simply recommend a transfer amount from their fund to the new Coach Pizz fund by visiting donorservices@cfacadiana.org.
If someone is interested in another gift type — appreciated securities, IRA Charitable Rollover, etc. — or method, contact Elise Faucheaux, director of finance, at 337-769-4850 or Katie Lahey at 337-760-4844.
For more information about the Community Foundation of Acadiana, see www.cfacadiana.org.

Anthony “Tony” Laperous

RAYNE - Anthony (“Tony”) Laperous died on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Rayne. He was born in Rayne on ...

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