Abbeville Meridional from Abbeville, Louisiana • 1

GCB is your preferred ed SBA lender. Talk to us about your small business loan. Small Business Administration 337-893-7733 Bank Local! For Convenient Home Delivery Please Call 893-4223 Meridional www.vermiliontoday.com Friday, January 6, 2017 A bbeville Voice of Vermilion Parish Most Cajun Place on since 1856 Vol. 161 No. 5, 50 cents, 1 section 10 pages Rain Hi Lo 40 26 By Chris Rosa Managing Editor By Howell Dennis LSN Editor (See FRANCIS, Page 2) CROWLEY Mike Francis was sworn in by Judge John Trahan as District 4 Public Service Commissioner on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Acadia Parish Courthouse.

Francis, a Republi- can, is the founder of Francis Drilling Fluids, one of the oldest drilling uid on the Gulf Coast. Francis Drilling Fluids current- ly has locations in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Wyoming. The headquarters is located in Crowley. want to thank our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ as well as the woman who gave me this Bible, my lovely Like, District 49 State Rep. Blake Miguez needs something else on his plate.

But, right before the start of the new year last week, Miguez got word that he quali ed to represent the United States at the World Shoot XVIII in Chateuroux, France. So, in between running his business, SeaTran Marine in New Iberia, being the executive vice president of Miguez Fuel, being a state representative in Vermilion and Iberia parish, coupled with the session beginning in Baton Rouge in April, he also has to nd the time to be a father and a husband. Rep. Miguez now has to nd more time to practice in hopes of winning the World Shoot XVIII. has added more stress, but I am happy to know I can still compete at the professional level but still be an armature.

I know I will be counting down the days to the competition. In the back of my mind, I know I will be thinking of nding time to The World Shoot occurs every three years and it is considered the World Cup of pistol shooting. Miguez will be on a four-man team that will compete against 80 other four-man teams from around world. It is a ve-day competition in held August of this year. He will use his 40-caliber pistol to shoot at 35 different stages.

The shooter with the fastest time and the most accurate after 35 stages of shooting will be declared the winner. Miguez, 35, won this same competition six years ago when it was held in Greece. He just missed it three years ago. He quali ed for World by having the best scores at major shooting meets over the last two years. Not bad, considering he competed in only half of the shooting meets that he did six years ago when he rst quali ed.

Over the next six months, Miguez said in order to be a World caliber shooter, he will have to practice two or three times a week at his own shooting range in Jeanerette. Not knowing what to expect, Miguez will practice different types of shooting styles, ranging from shooting on the run to shooting on his belly. The rst person he called after receiving word he quali ed was his father, Steve. His parents, Steve and Glenda, are expected to watch their son compete in France. They made the trip to Greece six years ago.

He is working on getting his family to France. Competing is nothing new for Miguez. Known in the shooting community for his speed, Miguez began competing in the USPSA at age 12 and reached Grand Master rank by the time he was 17. He has been the Louisiana State Champion and a top 16 nisher in the U.S. Nationals for the past 10 years.

Qualifying for World Rep. Blake Miguez learns he will represent United States at World Shoot XVIII in France Over the next six months, Rep. Blake Miguez will be practicing a lot with his 40 caliber pistol. Francis takes oath as Public Service commissioner; his district includes Vermilion A couple of elected positions will be on the ballot for the March 25 election. Anyone looking to run for one of the positions will have the opportunity to take the rst step next week.

Qualifying will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8:30 a.m. It will conclude at 4:30 p.m. on Friday Jan. 13.

Potential candidates can qualify on either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court Diane Meaux of ce. The of ce is located on the rst oor of the Vermilion Parish Courthouse in downtown Abbeville. On the ballot will be Chief of Police in Erath.

The election will be to ll the expired term of the late Chief Gerald Hebert, who passed away last September. The Erath Board of Aldermen voted to appoint Anna LaPointe as the interim chief. A spot on the Delcambre Board of Aldermen will be open for qualifying. No one quali ed for the District 5 seat ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

There will also be an election for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to ll the spot vacated when voters elected Judge Jimmy Genovese to the Louisiana Supreme Court last November. The election is scheduled for Saturday, March 25. Should any of that elections lead to a runoff, those will take place on Saturday, April 29. The Vermilion Parish School Board has a renewal for a tax millage on the March 25 ballot. That vote will be parishwide.

Qualifying begins Wednesday for March 25 election The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is expected to complete work on the Granges Coulee Bridge near Maurice. The bridge has been closed since Tuesday for repairs. Work is estimated to be completed today by 5 p.m., weather permitting. The bridge is located south of Maurice on LA 343 (South Rich- eld Road) between LA 92 and LA 699. Bridge near Maurice expected to reopen Mike Francis, District 4 Public Service Commissioner.