People of all ages enjoy dancing to zydeco music at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Competitors from all over the world compete in the crawfish eating contest during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Bill Perkins and his daughter Annie Perkins compete in the Cajun music dance contest during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival The crawfish eating contest draws a big crowd during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Joshua Kirby and Moriah Hargrave compete in the Cajun music dance contest during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Strawberry and Caramel with Bacon burritos during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Poisson Rouge cajun band entertains the crowd during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Breaux Bridge was the place to be this weekend From crawfish eating contests to zydeco dance-offs many of Acadiana's most beloved pastimes were on display at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival — including eating drinking and sweating outside with family and friends a time-honored tradition as Louisiana's spring festival season gives way to the heat of summer Festivals in this part of the world are often centered around food and the 65th annual crawfish festival was no exception Vendors hawked specialty items like Bon Creole's crawfish beignets and crawfish spinach boats and thousands of pounds of boiled crawfish were peeled by hungry attendees over the course of the weekend The tasty crustacean also had a strong sartorial presence at the festival with attendees arriving in crawfish-festooned dresses SEE MORE: Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival 2025 "She just loves crawfish," said Kate Conrad of Baton Rouge who attended the festival for the first time this year with her husband and young daughter who arrived festooned in a crawfish outfit and matching boots But she probably could have eaten it all herself."  The mudbug is undoubtedly the weekend's biggest star but other aspects of Cajun and Creole culture were also on display at this year's crawfish festival Organizers highlighted Acadiana's love affair with music and dance by including Cajun and zydeco dance lessons in the programming culminating in dance contests where couples showed off their moves in each genre READ MORE: Dance 'is the heartbeat of Cajun music': Learning the waltz and two-step in Acadiana fun-to-watch waltz and two-step that highlighted their comfort with traditional Cajun tunes Both said they had been Cajun dancing since they were kids and it was a close contest between them and the 2nd place winners Joshua Kirby and Moriah Hargrave (founder of LA Danser training studio.) and I learned to dance coming to festivals like this," said Kirby who won the zydeco dance contest earlier in the day and is also the 2024 Scott Boudin Festival zydeco dance champion Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@theadvocate.com Email notifications are only sent once a day News Tips:newstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: LAFAYETTE PARISH (BREAUX BRIDGE) — The 2025 Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival has officially come to a close — but not without one last celebration of Cajun culture the three-day event served up crawfish in nearly every imaginable form and selling out of their unique takes on the classic mudbug One standout was a crawfish beignet creation from “Any Special Occasion,” a local food stand co-owned by Mark Rito “We take all the seasoning from a crawfish boil — crawfish tails corn — and mix it in a fresh bread batter and fry it,” Rito said The dish is topped with a house-made “Son-in-law sauce,” which Rito — the namesake son-in-law — described as “a little spicy a little creamy — the perfect dip to go with a crawfish ball.” the New Iberia-based restaurant Bon Creole Seafood was just as busy drawing crowds for their spinach and crawfish bread bowls It’s been a busy festival this weekend,” manager Chris Louviere said For purists who prefer their crawfish the traditional way — boiled — Chez Sidney Catering from Catahoula Parish delivered The team cooked more than 7,500 pounds of crawfish throughout the weekend “What’s in your seasoning mix?” KATC asked “That’s locked away,” a Chez Sidney staffer replied with a smile As plates were filled and fingers were stained with seasoning the festival delivered yet another year of Louisiana flavor and fun BREAUX BRIDGE, La. (KMDL-FM) - The world-famous Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is happening this weekend, May 2-4, 2025, at Parc Hardy in Breaux Bridge features crawfish prepared in almost every imaginable way There are also a ton of great events like the Crawfish Races Martin Parish town on the first full weekend in May to listen and dance to some of the best Cajun Organizers of the festival have unveiled this year's complete music line-up 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm -- Four Horses7:45 pm - 9:45 pm -- Damon Troy & Louisiana Beat10:00 pm - 12:00 am -- Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie 5:15 pm - 7:00 pm -- Mais Oui7:15 pm - 9:15 pm -- Corey Ledet9:30 pm - 11:30 pm - Rusty Metoyer & Zydeco Krush 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm -- Trahan-Huval Throwdown 10:00 pm - 11:30 am -- Dylan Aucoin & the Ramblers11:45 pm - 1:15 pm -- Chere Elise with Steve Riley1:30 pm - 3:00 pm -- Poisson Rouge3:15 pm - 5:15 pm -- Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Family Band5:30 pm - 7:30 pm -- Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band7:45 pm - 9:45 pm -- Wayne Toups & Zydecajun10:00 pm - 12:00 am -- Jamie Bergeron & the Kickin' Cajuns 10:15 am - 11:45 am -- Amis Du Teche12:00 pm - 1:30 pm -- Gerald Delafose & the Gators1:45 pm - 3:15 pm -- Huval Family Band3:30 pm - 5:00 pm -- Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Chas5:15 pm - 7:00 pm -- Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rodailleurs7:15 pm - 9:15 pm -- Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express9:30pm - 11:30 pm -- Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners 9:00 am - 10:30 am -- Treble on the Teche10:45 am - 12:15 pm -- Paul Daigle & Cajun Gold12:30 pm - 2:00 pm -- Jambalaya Cajun Band2:15 pm - 4:00 pm -- Nik-L-Beer 10:30 am - 12:00 pm -- Cajun Roots12:15 pm - 1:45 pm -- Keke Bourque & Stone Cold Cajuns2:00 pm - 4:00 pm -- Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm -- Brazos Huval School of Music Admission prices for the 2025 Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival are as follows: a big part of the festivities for the kids is the rides While the main events of the Crawfish Festival are Friday through Sunday And you can save big with Family Nights on Wednesday and Thursday of the Festival Ride wristbands are available for each of those nights which allow you to ride all you want from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm For complete information regarding this year's Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, visit BBCrawfest.com The world-famous Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is happening this weekend, May 2-4, 2025, at Parc Hardy in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.\nRead More BREAUX BRIDGE, La. (KMDL-FM) - The world-famous Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is happening this weekend, May 2-4, 2025, at Parc Hardy in Breaux Bridge For complete information regarding this year's Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, visit BBCrawfest.com Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Breaux Bridge - It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Carla Jean Marceaux Boudreaux who departed from this earth on May 3 A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM A visitation will take place at the funeral home in Breaux Bridge on Wednesday from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM and will continue on Thursday A Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 PM on Wednesday Garrett McIntyre will officiate at the Funeral Mass and Concelebrants will be Rev Readers will be Madalynn Boudreaux and Zöe Boudreaux Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Lafayette and unwavering devotion that will continue to inspire generations to come Her grandchildren were the light of her life and she cherished every moment spent with them and the delightful sounds of children at play Carla's selfless spirit extended beyond her family she was always active in her church parish of St she would spend hours of her day praying for others She served the homebound by visiting them and bringing Communion weekly She was a servant to the Lord who touched the lives of many leaving a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of knowing her Carla is survived by her loving husband Herbert "Herbie" Boudreaux to whom she was married to for almost 42 years Her ten beloved children and their spouses; Christina (David) Crain Brother Bernard "Jeff" Boudreaux who will forever hold her memory close to their hearts Carla was preceded in death by her beloved mother John "Chip" Moreaux; and her first husband Steve Sonnier Pallbearers will be her 5 sons and oldest grandson The family would like to thank the staff of the Hospice of Acadiana's Calcutta House and all the friends and family who have shown kindness and support during her illness Pellerin Funeral Home of Breaux Bridge (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors MARTIN PARISH — While the Crawfish Festival is one of Breaux Bridge’s biggest and most beloved celebrations—filled with food and plenty of dancing—it’s more than just a weekend of fun What many festivalgoers may not realize is the lasting impact the event has on the community From new playground equipment to park improvements funds raised during the festival help enhance public spaces throughout Breaux Bridge "What the festival association does help with is when you see playground equipment in this park when you see the improvements that are made in this park,” said Breaux Bridge Councilman Eddy LeBlanc “A lot of that money has been contributed to enhance the park so I would say most of it comes back to the community to make the whole community better.” While the festival draws crowds for crawfish LeBlanc says attendees are also fueling something bigger every plate served—it all helps build a better Breaux Bridge “The Crawfish Festival is a big part of making our city better for families and for everyone,” he added The festival continues to be a key part of community growth turning a weekend celebration into year-round impact for the people of Breaux Bridge This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Brazos Huval entertains the crowd on his fiddle in the Huval Family Band the Cajun music dance contest during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival from Arkansas enjoys driving a car on the race car ride during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Riders on ferris wheel get a great view of the festival during the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival MARTIN PARISH — Excitement filled the streets of St Martin Parish on Friday as thousands of visitors and locals gathered for the return of the annual Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival People lined up early to get their hands on fresh steaming crawfish and other regional delicacies president of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Association It was such a huge success that in 1960 it became the Crawfish Festival — and we’ve been rolling ever since.” Breaux Bridge has proudly worn the title “Crawfish Capital of the World,” and the festival has become one of Acadiana’s longest-running cultural traditions Bernard says they expect to welcome more than 30,000 attendees over the course of the three-day weekend and family-friendly events throughout the weekend MARTIN PARISH — The scent of seasoned crawfish and the laughter of families filled the air Wednesday evening as the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival began its two-day Family Night preview The festivities mark the unofficial start of one of Louisiana’s most celebrated cultural events drawing locals and international visitors alike to the heart of Cajun Country offers early festivalgoers a chance to enjoy rides and local food ahead of Friday’s official kickoff of the full Crawfish Festival Organizers expect thousands to attend over the weekend owner of Crazy 'Bout Crawfish and a longtime festival sponsor said the event gives out-of-town guests a firsthand look at what makes Breaux Bridge unique “They wanna experience the good food and the good music and all the arts and crafts that are out there,” Buckner said “It’s a really good way to show them our culture and our heritage and all the Cajun experiences that you’d wanna come for if you’re out of the country.” With a full lineup that includes live zydeco the weekend is a vibrant celebration of Cajun life Buckner emphasized that the festival offers more than just entertainment; it brings people together they support… this is the weekend where we get a lot of people in,” she said are also preparing to meet the crowd’s appetite Owner Rocky Sonnier shared some of the festival favorites that will be on the menu: “We have crawfish étouffée and the seafood jambalaya with crawfish and shrimp.” the festival offers a stage for Cajun traditions to shine who have been teaching festivalgoers for about 15 years said the joy of the event lies in sharing their passion “I love to dance to Cajun music and I love to see other people start it also,” said Lou Courville “It’s always so nice and they are always so appreciative when we work with them.” The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival officially opens Friday and runs through Sunday While Family Night provides a taste of what’s to come the full weekend promises a deep dive into Louisiana’s rich Cajun culture MARTIN PARISH — Festival International has wrapped up but festival season is just getting started in Breaux Bridge Crews are already setting up for the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival organizers say there are a few important rules and new safety measures to keep in mind we get around 30,000 to 35,000 people coming into the festival grounds," said Mark Bernard president of the Crawfish Festival Association Bernard said crews are working to move in equipment and make sure the grounds are safe and ready organizers are enforcing a clear bag policy — no exceptions they are printed on signs throughout the festival grounds so everyone can see and read them Bernard also said the festival is stepping up its security efforts In addition to officers from Louisiana State Police and Breaux Bridge Police Department will be on-site Bernard says they are working to prevent crime that took place in the town of Mamou during Mardi Gras and New Iberia during the Spanish Festival but we do not want that happening here," Bernard said "We will do everything we can to control it." metal detectors will be in use at the Crawfish Festival and security cameras will also be set up Bernard said security has always been a priority but this year they are "beefing it up" even more to ensure festivalgoers can safely enjoy themselves Bernard said the Crawfish Festival plays a vital role in preserving local culture and heritage the fishermen we represent who have fought and fished all their lives," Bernard said as well as the music and the culture of our area and that's what we're trying to preserve." Bernard added that last year the festival welcomed visitors from 16 foreign countries and 34 U.S and organizers are hopeful for another strong turnout this year Purses and bags must be clear and visible on the outside to enter the festival grounds For more information about the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, click here MARTIN PARISH — At the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival one of the most memorable experiences comes from hitting the dance floor Cal and Lou Courville have been helping festivalgoers find their rhythm through Cajun dance lessons held under the Breaux Bridge tent "Usually there's a lot of folks that come in and dance with us and it’s enjoyable to watch that," Cal said The Courvilles' lessons welcome dancers of all skill levels and participants often find themselves surprised by how quickly they catch on Even those hesitant to step onto the floor tend to leave with a new groove ‘I have two left feet,’ and we get them to dance a little bit—and then they start dancing with both feet," Cal added one-two-three-four,” she said with a smile The couple’s history with dance stretches far beyond their time at the festival Cal and Lou began their dancing days with rock and roll before eventually finding their way to Cajun dance in the mid-1990s so we were dancing rock and roll first of all and then we did other kind of dancing,” Lou explained “We didn’t do Cajun dancing until I think it was ’94 That invitation turned into a passion—and soon enough The Courvilles have since taken their Cajun steps around the world sharing Louisiana’s rich cultural tradition with communities far beyond Breaux Bridge they say there’s nothing quite like coming home to the festival that helped define their journey Lou added that it’s the people that make each lesson special They’re always so appreciative when we work with them.” “Guys are more reluctant to get up and dance Whether you're looking to master the two-step or just give Cajun dancing a try Cal and Lou Courville will be teaching under the Breaux Bridge Tent from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m Their lessons are open to all and filled with the same charm and community spirit that make the Crawfish Festival unforgettable MARTIN PARISH — The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is just weeks away and preparations for the highly anticipated event are well underway As the heart of festival season unfolds in Louisiana the city of Breaux Bridge is preparing to welcome thousands for its annual celebration of culture “Well this is the nerve wracking part cause you’re ready to go but it’s not quite time to start you can’t wait actually for those three weeks to put your pieces together and as I’ve said all the pieces have been falling in place throughout the year,” said Mark Benard president of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Board Benard confirmed that organizers have completed the process of booking bands and lining up vendors ahead of the three-day event “Now we’re on the back side of all that where now we’re about a week and a half out of beginning to actually bring the things here and start setting up in the par and bringing the ticket booths and etcetera ya know it’s a huge puzzle that takes all year to put together,” Benard said Planning for this year’s festival began shortly after last year’s event wrapped up “Actually as of yesterday evening we were slightly off but after working together with our volunteers we pretty much caught it back up so I’m confident at where we are at this point,” Benard noted In preparation for the influx of attendees Benard said he placed a strong focus on safety improvements for this year’s festivities “We want the public to know we have a clear bag policy we felt we had a good team but we improved it and we added additional people the main thing we want is to be safe for all the people that come,” he said Organizers expect large crowds to flock to Breaux Bridge to enjoy the festival’s signature lineup of live music crawfish — a true South Louisiana tradition A 38-year-old Breaux Bridge man was killed after colliding with a school bus Thursday morning Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at 7:00 am regarding a two-vehicle crash involving a school bus in the 1000 block of Poche Bridge Road deputies learned that a 2011 Hyundai Elantra traveling northbound crossed the center line for unknown reasons and collided head-on with a southbound St Amant Joubert was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries No other injuries were reported regarding the occupants of the bus The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing How to watch Louisiana high school baseball: North De Soto vs April 25Data SkriveBreaux Bridge High School plays at North DeSoto High School on Friday How to watch Breaux Bridge vs. North De Soto baseballBreaux Bridge and North De Soto will match up on Friday, April 25, at 4 p.m. CT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country Follow your favorite team and never miss a game Want to track your alma mater, local team or family member's school throughout the playoffs? NFHS Network has high school baseball streaming live plus on-demand replays and highlights of all the action from thousands of schools across America Watch North De Soto vs. Breaux Bridge on NFHS Network! Watch Breaux Bridge High School all season long on NFHS Network! Watch North DeSoto High School all season long on NFHS Network! Team schedules reflect available data from NFHS and may not include every upcoming game All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at NFHS Network and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU Louisiana - A visitation will be held at Pellerin Funeral Home in Breaux Bridge on Friday March 21 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM for Elizabeth "Betty" LeBlanc She is survived by her husband of 58 years Scott LeBlanc and Mike (Kelli) LeBlanc; grandchildren Gerry Beaven and Jimmy Beaven; and her sisters George and Helen Mills Beaven; and her sisters Margaret Bash and Mildred "Mic" Spalding we announce the untimely passing of Andre Francis Arceneaux A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. A visitation will take place at the funeral home in Breaux Bridge on Sunday from 10:00 a.m A rosary will be prayed by the Men's Rosary Group at 6:00 p.m Reed Bellingham will officiate the funeral mass and Deacon Marcel "Butch" Hebert will assist Altar server will be Seminarian Cameron Gary Readers will be Kayla Huval and David Arceneaux Gift bearers will be Neil and Shannon Huval Andre was known for his infectious laughter He had a big heart and was friendly to everyone he met He was always there to offer help to his grandparents and aunts or running errands for them; he did it with a grateful heart Andre loved spending time with his family and friends He cherished moments with his beloved girlfriend of four years and warmth that touched everyone around him He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him Lisa Huval Arceneaux; maternal grandmother Kermit and Monika Arceneaux; paternal great grandmother Derek Arceneaux (Sara) and Neil Huval (Shannon); cousins He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Honorary pallbearers will be Derek Arceneaux Pellerin Funeral Home (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements Breaux Bridge - A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday at Pellerin Funeral Home in Breaux Bridge for Jesse Lee Cormier A visitation will take place at the funeral home in Breaux Bridge on Wednesday from 10:00 am until the time of service at 2:00 pm A Rosary will be prayed at 11:30 am on Wednesday morning Father Garrett McIntyre will officiate at the Funeral Service It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jesse Lee Cormier Lyla and he cherished their time spent together His love for the outdoors was reflected in his passion for hunting and fishing Jesse will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him Gary Cormier and Mona Gravouia Cormier; sister He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Francis and Cecile Gravouia; and paternal grandparents The Teche Center for the Arts hosted the annual Courir des Enfants Joyce Valenti wears a traditional Mardi Gras costume during the Courir des Enfants hosted by the Teche Center for the Arts Monday Kids gather for a group photo in front of St Bernard Catholic Church during the Courir des Enfants Musicians and other revelers prepare to start the Courir des Enfants leads musicians during the Courir des Enfants Musicians and revelers begin the Courir des Enfants Musicians lead young reverlers and their families during the Courir des Enfants Peter Harris holds a chicken as revelers approach during the Courir des Enfants Musicians lead young revelers to a field for the first chiken chase during the Courir des Enfants Musicians play during the Courir des Enfants smiles proudly after catching a chicken during the Courir des Enfants Peter Harris holds a chicken before tossing it out for children to chase during the Courir des Enfants holds onto a chicken after catching it as other kids swarm during the Courir des Enfants Peter Harris tosses out a chicken for children to chase during the Courir des Enfants Kids run out to chase a chicken during the Courir des Enfants Children attempt to catch the chicken during the Courir des Enfants hosted by the Teche Center for the Arts Monday Kids take off to catch the chicken during the Courir des Enfants Kids run to catch a chicken during the Courir des Enfants Musicians lead revelers to the next stop during the Courir des Enfants lets other kids pet the chicken after he caught it during the Courir des Enfants Revelers young and old head down North Main Street during the Courir des Enfants is dressed as a king as he and other revelers head down North Main Street during the Courir des Enfants Young revelers dance in the street during the Courir des Enfants Kids dance for their prizes Ñ gumbo ingredients Ñ at a stop during the Courir des Enfants Simone Simon hands out gumbo ingredients to young revelers during the Courir des Enfants Peter Harris holds a chicken before tossing it out to be chased during the Courir des Enfants hosted by the Teche Center for the Arts heads up North Main Street Monday Kids take off to catch a chicken tossed into the air during the Courir des Enfants Kids race to catch a chicken during the Courir des Enfants is swarmed by other kids after making his second chicken catch of the morning during the Courir des Enfants A young reveler hides behind a tree with an onion one of the gumbo ingredients handed out at a stop during the Courir des Enfants Kids race after a chicken as musicians perform during the Courir des Enfants hands over the chicken he caught to Peter Harris Young revelers wear crawfish-themed traditional Mardi Gras costumes during the Courir des Enfants Peter Harris tosses out a chicken for kids to chase during the Courir des Enfants ST. MARTIN PARISH — UPDATE: A GoFundMe has been set up for Joubert's family. If you'd like to help, click here A two-vehicle crash involving a school bus claimed the life of 38-year-old Arthur Joubert early Thursday morning in Breaux Bridge As investigators work to determine what caused the crash Joubert’s family is focused on honoring his life and preserving his memory are sharing their grief publicly in hopes that the community will remember their brother not for how he died Begneaud reflected on the deep bond they shared.“Even though he was my baby brother I knew he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me or my kids” Joubert was traveling northbound in a 2011 Hyundai Elantra when he crossed the centerline for reasons still unknown and collided head-on with a southbound school bus His sisters explained that he had been on his way to work at the time of the crash “He just rode 15 minutes down the road to meet his boss in Carencro,” Devillier said.“We have no way of knowing the complete reasoning behind it.” leaves behind a grieving family — including his youngest His sisters say his children were everything to him He would do anything for those little girls and they loved their daddy so much,” Begneaud shared the family experienced a delay in being notified Because Joubert’s phone was destroyed in the collision emergency responders had difficulty locating next of kin they had no way to contact us and it took a while for them to send officers to locate us so we didn't get to see him at the hospital The family is now urging others to keep a written or printed emergency contact list accessible outside of a phone the sisters say their priority is giving Joubert a respectful and meaningful farewell “We just really wanted to have a funeral where we can have an open casket to be able to tell him goodbye and be able to see him one last time they want his name — and his spirit — to be remembered “I don’t ever want anybody to stop saying his name I want everybody to always say his name — Arthur Joubert I don’t ever want him to be forgotten,” said Devillier While the investigation into the crash remains ongoing one thing is certain: Arthur Joubert’s family will continue to speak his name and share his story GOFUNDME TO SUPPORT HIS FUNERAL SERVICES HERE is shown relaxing at home recently with her daughter Our Lady of Lourdes vascular neurologist and stroke specialist During her recovery at Our Lady of Lourdes after suffering a massive stroke in July 2024 Megan Claire McCarty kept cherished pictures and other items close by for inspiration is shown at a recent event with her daughter Although she worked out regularly and ate a clean diet McCarty unexpectedly suffered a massive stroke in July 2024 She received treatment at Our Lady of Lourdes Acadiana’ first Stroke Center of Excellence Megan Claire McCarty was the picture of health this single mom of one suffered a massive stroke that nearly left her unable to care for herself or her young daughter After state-of-the-art treatment at the Our Lady of Lourdes Stroke Center of Excellence This article is brought to you by Our Lady of Lourdes Megan Claire McCarty always took pride in living a healthy lifestyle She worked out three to five times per week for more than a decade She ate clean and avoided alcohol and smoking she was right back into her fitness routine and lost the additional weight within a month Her only vice was caffeine – multiple energy drinks and cups of coffee were part of her daily routine it came as a complete shock last July when McCarty suddenly blacked out and felt out of sorts while visiting with a friend but the sensation I had is what I imagine being drugged would feel like.” who received medical training while serving in the military immediately suspected she was having a stroke ‘You are having a stroke.’ I told him I wasn’t I was trying to grab the phone from him,” she said That’s when I knew something bad was going on.” McCarty was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Acadiana’s first Stroke Center of Excellence Doctors quickly confirmed the diagnosis and told McCarty she had the option of receiving a powerful medication called a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) that would destroy the blood clot causing the stroke Studies show that 32,000 neurons die in one second when somebody is having a stroke That means the brain is aging more than normal,” said Dr “That means that every minute a stroke patient doesn’t receive treatment McCarty was initially apprehensive about taking the medication with concerns about its effectiveness and possible side effects The potential for long-term brain damage ultimately outweighed any fears McCarty received the medication and dozed off they called me the miracle child because I have had no deficiencies Karim that if I had chosen not to have the tPA that I probably would have been paralyzed or unable to talk because of where the clot was and how big it was.” Our Lady of Lourdes is 1 of 3 hospitals in Louisiana and the only one in Acadiana to earn the American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus honor for 10 consecutive years demonstrating the facility’s adherence to the latest research-based clinical guidelines that support better outcomes for stroke patients Innovative treatments available include the tPA clot-busting injection and thrombectomy a procedure used to remove larger clots and stop strokes in their tracks “We are able to do a lot of tests and calculations to see how much of the brain has died and how much more is at risk,” Dr a lot of doctors were more apprehensive about treating stroke patients because of a risk of bleeding That has changed in the last four to five years based on a lot of new research We are able to treat bigger strokes now because we’ve established the treatment is safer and the benefit to the patient’s brain is much higher.” Although most strokes occur in people with a history of diabetes alcohol or drug abuse and a sedentary lifestyle She is still unsure exactly what caused her stroke although she has stopped consuming energy drinks and some optional medications as she has become more mindful about what she puts in her body McCarty also discovered she has irregularity that causes her heart to beat too fast at times She now sees a cardiologist for regular monitoring and has routine check-ups with a neurologist but my workouts are less intense now,” she said I’m much more conscious about what I put in my body I walk a lot more and a drink more water than I ever did The whole experience made me open my eyes to how I live my life and how I treat my body.” Karim said younger stroke patients like McCarty often experience better outcomes because their brains are younger several doctors and clinicians at Our Lady of Lourdes meet regularly to review all recent stroke cases discuss the patient outcomes and collaborate on ways to help heal as many patients as possible “We have target goals on how quickly a stroke patient is evaluated in the emergency room how quickly they see a neurologist and other steps in the patient journey,” Dr including what went well and if there are any areas to improve Our standing as a Stroke Center of Excellence means a lot to us so we work hard to make sure we live up to that credential.” Email Amanda McElfresh at amcelfresh@theadvocate.com Breaux Bridge - A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday 2025 at Pellerin Funeral Home in Breaux Bridge for Javeuin "Sexy" Javon Williams A visitation will take place at the funeral home in Breaux Bridge on Saturday from 7:00 am until the time of service at 11:00 am A rosary will be prayed at 9:00 am on Saturday morning Reverend Darren Benoit will officiate at the Funeral Service Javeuin was a proud graduate of Breaux Bridge High School and a passionate basketball player His love for the game only mirrored his larger-than-life personality Javeuin had a way of lighting up every room he entered always ready to share a laugh and bring joy to those around him whether it was gaming on his PS5 or just hanging out with friends-each moment was to be cherished who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him Janaya Alexander and Janaisha Alexander; brother Kesha Wells (Derrick) and Erica Grace; great-aunts Alma Zenon and Emily Williams; great-uncles Armani Owens; and special friend who helped raise him Robert Grace and Donna Jean-Batiste; and uncles residents of Breaux Bridge have used the wall located at the intersection of Reese and Bridge Street to share everything from positive messages to birthday wishes a project to transform those heartfelt expressions into a mural has been completed the artist behind the mural explained that the mural is a symbol of community love The reason I put ‘For the Love of Breaux Bridge’ at the top is because that’s exactly what it should be called it literally is the heart of Breaux Bridge,” Newton said Community members and local artists gathered Monday to celebrate the mural's completion and Newton shared the inspiration behind the endeavor “I started talking to a few people around the city and said we really want to start painting murals and give back to beautify our community,” Newton explained the wall was covered with posters containing messages from local residents Newton noted that the posters presented certain challenges “The posters ended up falling off and going into the gutter and into the bayou so we decided that we wanted to create a more permanent installation,” she said Newton wrote a proposal for the Birthday Wall and submitted it to the Acadiana Center for the Arts which she says significantly contributed to the project's success “The grant started writing itself; the community supported it so much that I almost didn’t have to do much I just had to channel everyone’s love into this one of the artists who contributed to painting the mural expressed her passion for the project and the deep connections she made with the community We even had someone come and want to sleep out here just to watch us paint” another artist involved in the mural’s creation shared how the experience had a lasting impact on her I’m able to be touched by the stories behind the messages,” Melancon said Newton hopes the mural will continue to stand as a symbol of love and community for years to come A judge sentenced a Breaux Bridge man to 40 years of prison in connection to a 2016 killing Kieon Alexander was sentenced on Wednesday for the 2016 killing of Miguel Edmond, according to a district attorney's office announcement. A St. Martin Parish jury convicted Alexander of manslaughter in November 2023 Alexander will have no chance at probation parole or suspension for the first 20 years of his sentence of Cecilia twice in a robbery attempt at a Breaux Bridge apartment complex in the 600 block of Tina Street Witnesses and personal cell phone records placed Alexander at the crime scene Alexander and an unnamed accomplice arrived at Alexander's aunt's home where he said he "did something bad" and believed he had killed someone Breaux Bridge police arrested Alexander on Dec a 2016 Breaux Bridge Police Department Facebook post said His arrest came after an all-night search by U.S where he was later found near Potato Shed Road and Levee Road Assistant District Attorney Renee Louviere prosecuted the case with assistance from Jonathan Songy The Breaux Bridge Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory Stephen Marcantel writes for The Acadiana Advocate as a Report for America corps member. Email him at stephen.marcantel@theadvocate.com Breaux Bridge - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Francis of Assisi Catholic Church honoring the life of Melvin Celestine A visitation will take place at the funeral home in Breaux Bridge on Friday from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM A rosary will be prayed at 9:00 AM on Friday.  Geroge Bede Ajuruchi SSJ will officiate at the Funeral Mass Melvin was a beloved member of his family and community where he was known for his dedication to making lawns look pristine and beautiful He was a man who found joy in the small things participating in the nursing home Senior Olympics His warm spirit and kind heart touched the lives of many in the community Kevin Johnson (Jackie); 3 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; brother Johnella (Michael Sr.) Breaux; and his niece Hanley and Anna Mae Thibodeaux Celestine; and his sisters Vergie Lewis and Leona Celestine; brothers Honorary pallbearers will be James Demouchet — Breaux Bridge High School will be closed today "All staff must still report to work as usual," said Wiltz Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInST (KPLC) - A Breaux Bridge man is facing dozens of charges after authorities say he solicited children for sex offered minors money and gifts in exchange for sex Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Maj Deputies began investigating in July after receiving a report of indecent behavior Demouchet was arrested Tuesday on 59 counts of trafficking of children for sexual purposes These charges are related to one of Demouchet’s victims but more charges related to other victims are expected Martinville’s Tyren Syon (10) pursue a loose ball during St A good basketball shooter needs to have little or no conscience Martinville senior Makharee Narcisse's shots weren't falling for most of Friday's nondistrict rivalry game at Breaux Bridge but his 3-pointer with less than a minute remaining put the Tigers ahead for good in a come-from-behind 43-40 win he's one of those shooters where missing doesn't bother him at all," St Martinville coach Ihmaru Jones said of Narcisse "It's like a quarterback throwing an interception; it's onto the next play." tied the game at 39-39 with a 3-pointer from the baseline Narcisse faked a defender into the air before sinking the game-winner He made 3 of 13 field goals and finished with eight points "Both teams played hard," Breaux Bridge coach Lorenzo Williams said They came in with a game plan and executed Jones started his freshmen with Narcisse and other seniors coming off the bench which he also used in a win earlier this week over Abbeville paid off again despite Breaux Bridge taking a 9-0 lead more than five minutes in "I'm giving my younger people an opportunity," Jones said "The best time to give them an opportunity is at the beginning of the game Kervin Fontenette had 10 points for the Tigers Thomas responded with six straight points for Breaux Bridge (9-7) which had a seven-game winning streak snapped "We gave them a lot of chances and went away from who we are," Williams said "We have to get back to playing Breaux Bridge basketball — rebounding and contesting shots — and start another streak." Fontenette was the only Tiger in double figures Kristian Batiste and Tyren Syon combined for 15 points Ray Narcisse had two assists that led to easy layups in the fourth quarter and Skylar Felix (five points) hit a free throw with 15.1 seconds left for the Tigers "We've had a lot of guys standing around in isolation mode like it's the NBA," Jones said "We're getting after them to get on the glass and get an extra opportunity." Breaux Bridge led 12-3 after the first quarter but shot 2 for 14 from the field in the second After a Fontenette basket put the Tigers (7-13) ahead by four points in the third quarter Thomas responded with another flurry of points The 6-foot-2 senior made three baskets to put Breaux Bridge ahead 25-23 but Syon made a 3 and freshman Lyle Potier banked in a shot for the Tigers — Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Breaux Bridge Police responded to Hollier Road before midnight on March 2 — Nathan Simon was found guilty on all charges related to a deadly shooting incident in November 2020 The jury trial concluded with Simon being convicted of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder Simon forcibly entered his in-laws' home where his wife Simon threatened Jennifer and shot her in the hip was also shot twice when he attempted to intervene while Jennifer and Young were admitted to the hospital but survived Both testified against Simon during the trial Simon had outstanding warrants for domestic abuse aggravated assault and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling Simon was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Hawthorne and two counts of attempted first-degree murder for the injuries inflicted on Jennifer and Young The mandatory sentence for first-degree murder is life in without the possibility of probation The penalty for attempted first-degree murder ranges from 10 to 50 years at hard labor The sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 6