Latest news with #Lavergne
American Press
04-07-2025
- American Press
Vinton police officer earns national hero award
Special to the American Press Chief Scott Spell of the Vinton Police Department has announced that Sgt. Dempsey Lavergne has been awarded the prestigious Carnegie Hero Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States, in recognition of his extraordinary bravery and selflessness in the face of danger. The Carnegie Hero Medal is awarded to individuals who risk their lives to save others, and Sgt. Lavergne's actions exemplify the courage, integrity, and service that define our profession. Without hesitation and at great personal risk, Sgt. Lavergne intervened during a life-threatening incident, placing the safety and well-being of others above his own, said Spell On July 15, 2022, 4-year-old Ellyse R. Mercer and her grandmother Pamela A. Dennis, 54, were inside a sport-utility vehicle that left a Vinton, Louisiana, road and continued down an embankment into a canal. The vehicle came to rest about 30 feet from a bank in the canal as its front end began to submerge in water 10 feet deep. Police sergeant Dempsey Lavergne III, 31, of Ragley, Louisiana, was alerted to the incident by his police radio and responded to the bank. Bystanders alerted him that Ellyse and Dennis were trapped in the vehicle when one bystander provided him with a pocket knife that had a glass-breaking tool. He descended the bank and removed his duty belt, ballistic vest, but kept his boots on before he waded and swam out to the vehicle. Water quickly filled the front-passenger compartment as Dennis moved to the rear, removed Ellyse from her car seat, and held her above the water. Lavergne heard them screaming and arrived at the rear of the vehicle, where he stood on the bumper and broke out the glass of the rear windshield. He reached inside to grasp Ellyse by an arm as Dennis handed her to him. Once Ellyse was out of the vehicle, he held her above the water's surface and swam to shallow water. A bystander aided her to safety as Lavergne returned to the rear of the vehicle. He again partially entered through the rear-windshield where Dennis handed him a small dog. Lavergne exited and tossed the dog toward the bank where it swam to safety. Lavergne returned to the SUV's rear and was joined by a police corporal. The SUV had almost completely submerged with only the roof visible and water filling the interior. By this point, Dennis was submerged. Lavergne climbed onto the roof and broke out the sunroof glass with the same tool. The corporal followed his lead onto the roof as Lavergne leaned inside through the broken-out sunroof. He submerged his head and found Dennis' hand where he grasped it to lift her upward. Once her shoulders were above the opening, Lavergne and the corporal lifted her the rest of the way out. The corporal then towed Dennis to shallow water and was aided by another bystander to take her to safety on the bank. Lavergne, too, returned to the bank and exited the canal. Both Ellyse and Dennis were taken to the hospital by ambulance for scratches. Dennis had also swallowed water and broke her right ankle attempting to kick open the sinking vehicle's window, which required surgery. They recovered. Lavergne was not injured. 'On behalf of the entire Vinton Police Department, I extend my deepest congratulations to Sgt. Lavergne. His actions were nothing short of heroic and are a reflection of the highest standards of public service. Sgt. Lavergne's bravery reminds us of the incredible sacrifices our officers are willing to make to protect and serve our community. 'Sgt. Lavergne's recognition by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission is a proud moment not only for him and his family but for the entire Town of Vinton. His selfless act serves as an inspiration to us all and reinforces the unwavering commitment of the men and women in law enforcement,' said Spell.
American Press
31-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Ella Kay defends goat tying title, Ty Lavernge closing in on first bull riding title
Barbe's Ella Kay gets ready to tie a goat during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Barbe Ella Kay secured her second consecutive goat tying state championship on Friday, and DeQuincy's Ty Lavergne is close to winning his first bull riding title today at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. The short-go round starts at 5 p.m. After not scoring any points in the first-go round Thursday (13.79 seconds), Kay bounced back to win the second-go round on Friday with a 7.42-second run. The nine points for the win put her at 111 and over the 21-point lead threshold needed to keep Sage Raymond (Briarfield Academy, 85.8) and Abbey Anderson (Shepherd HS, Texas, 82.8) from catching up with her today in the short-go round. Lavergne's path to his first bull riding state championship is simple: stay on for eight seconds in today's round. He leads defending champion Brennan Polito (Epic Charter) by 12.9 points, 106.75-93.85. A scoring ride plus at least a seventh-place finish in the average standings will give Lavergne the 8.2 points he needs to hold off Polito. The pair tied for second in the first-go round with 73-point rounds. Lavergne was second in the second-go round on Friday with a 78-point ride, while Carter Shaw (Magnolia Bend) won the round at 79, and Polito was third with a 66. Lavergne currently leads the average title race with 151 points. Three cowboys have already secured state championships. Wyatt Lavergne won his fourth consecutive saddle bronco state championship, while Bryer Prince (Sulphur) won three in a row in bareback riding. Turbo Baxter (Slaughter Community Charter) is the steer wrestling state champ. The top four in each event qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 13-19. Here is a look at how the other events at the LHSFR are shaping up: Barrel racing Defending champion Rylee Jo Maryman (University View Academy) leads Abbey Anderson (Shepherd HS, Texas) in a tight race by 9.9 points, 97.3 to 87.4, for the barrel racing state title. Maryman needs a combination of 11.2 points between the short-go and points from her placing in the average standings to secure the state title. She placed in the top four in the first two rounds, including the top time on Thursday at 14.935 seconds, the only sub 15-second round. Maryman (30.083 seconds) leads the average standings by .316 seconds. Tie down roping Cruz Melanson (Vinton) and Cougar Racca (Bell City) cut into Braxton Guillot's (La. Virtual Charter) lead on Friday in tie down roping. Racca won the second-go round with a time of 8.85 seconds, while Melanson was second at 9.09 seconds. Racca (17.26) and Melanson (17.66) are one-two in the average standings, putting the pressure on Guillot. Guillot's magic number is 11.2 points to win his first tie down roping state championship. Breakaway roping The most contested event of the week is breakaway roping. Seven cowgirls are within 10 points of leader Kensley Mudge (Magnolia Bend), who has 42.8 points. Faith Dubois (Home School) is just .2 points off the lead, and Jillian Fontenot (Beau Chene) is 1.8 points back at 41. Mudge has no margin for error as she essentially needs to win the short-go round and the average. Dubois is currently the leader for the 12 points that go with the average title at 4.65 seconds on two runs, giving her a strong chance of overtaking Mudge (8.16 seconds) Team roping A fourth-place finish today in the short-go round will be enough for Cole Steib (Catholic-Point Coupee) and Kayson Lasyone (Magnolia Bend) to win the team roping title regardless of the outcome of the average standings. Steib and Lasyone, the defending champion, have 147.4 points, while Carter Perry (Cedar Creek) and H.D. Willis (Home School) are currently second at 117.8 points. Steib and Lasyone had the second-best time in the second-go round Friday at 8.03 seconds, while Braxton Guillot and Johnny Price won with a time of 7.65 seconds. Pole bending Kodi Miller (Simpson) is on the verge of winning her second consecutive pole bending state championship. Despite placing ninth (21.330 seconds) in the second-go round on Friday, Miller is still in the lead and needs 9.9 points to wrap up another state title. Gemi Robinson (Magnolia Bend) is second at 91.3 points. Addison Krieg had the best second-go time at 20.165 seconds. Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo Standings after second-go round All-Around Cowboy 1, Braxton Guillot, La. Virtual Charter 126.10 2, Turbo Baxter, Slaughter Comm. 117.30 3, Cruz Melanson, Vinton 109.20 4, Jayden Nunez, S. Cameron 97.00 5, H.D. Willis, Home School 89.90 Rookie All-Around Cowboy 1, Cole Steib, Catholic-PC 114.00 2, Cain Martin, Sulphur 43.40 3, Skinner Wilkinson, Home School 41.10 All-Around Cowgirl 1, Abbey Anderson, Shepherd 254.45 2, Rylee Jo Maryman, Univ. View 217.70 3, Addison Rains, Magnolia Bend 197.00 Rookie All-Around Cowgirl 1, Addison Rains, Magnolia Bend 197.00 2, Kinley Walker, Home School 96.70 Bareback riding 1, *#Bryer Prince, Home School 102.2 2, Fisher Burnworth, Home School 54.2 3, Ethan Parrott, Darbonne Woods 28.0 Barrell racing 1, *Rylee Jo Maryman, Univ. View 97.3 2, Abbey Anderson, Shepherd 87.4 4, Gemi Robinson, Magnolia Bend 70.0 3, Ava Nunez, Bell City 69.9 5, Kynnedy Nunn, Welsh 51.1 Saddle bronc riding 1, *#Wyatt Lavergne, DeQuincy 98.0 2, Austin James, Rosepine 54.0 3, Brant Schexnider, xxx 16.1 Tie down roping 1, Braxton Guillot, La. Virtual Ch. 99.1 2, Cruz Melanson, Carol Acad. 89.2 3, Cougar Racca, Bell City 68.0 4, Carter Primeaux, Erath 64.2 5, Gentry Silver, Bell City 59.3 Breakaway roping 1, Kensley Mudge, Magnolia Bend 42.8 2, Faith Dubois, Home School 42.6 3, Jillian Fontenot, Beau Chene 41.0 4, Caroline Fontenot, Beau Chene 36.1 5, Saige Martin, Sulphur 36.0 Steer wrestling 1, #Turbo Baxter, Slaughter 103.3 2, William Gunter, Sulphur 73.7 3, Kyler Landry, Ascension Cath. 71.1 4, Noah Weeks, Magnolia Bend 45.0 5, Jayden Nunez, S. Cameron 44.0 Goat tying 1, *Ella Kay, Barbe 111.0 2, Sage Raymond, Briarfield Acad. 85.8 3, Abbey Anderson, Sheperd 82.8 4, Abbie Savant, Home School 79.8 5, Rylee Jo Maryman, Univ. View 75.8 Team roping 1, *Kayson Lasyone, Magnolia Bend 147.4 Cole Steib, Catholic-PC 2, Carter Perry, Cedar Creek 117.8 H.D. Willis, Home School 3, Carter Huffman, Jena 109.4 Andrew Paul, Jena 4, Teddie Austin Guynn, Home School 92.4 Wyatt Sonnier, Welsh 5, Grant Engel, Jeff Davis Home School 82.2 Skinner Wilkinson, Home School Pole bending 1, *Kodi Miller, Simpson 102.5 2, Gemi Robinson, Magnolia Bend 91.3 3, Addison Rains, Magnolia Bend 81.1 4, Kenzie King, Jeff Davis Home School 62.4 5, Abbey Anderson, Sheperd 51.4 Bull riding 1, Ty Lavergne, DeQuincy 106.75 2, *Brennan Polito, Epic Charter 93.85 3, Carter Shaw, Magnolia Bend 65.5 4, Briggs Cooley, Christ Bridge 45.5 5, Luke Simon, Notre Dame 44.3 *Defending state champ #2025 state champion Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo At Burton Coliseum Results from the second-go round on Friday, May 30 Bareback riding 1, Bryer Prince 69 2, Fisher Burnworth 55 Barrel racing 1, Abbye Anderson 15.053 2, Kanely Cooper 15.066 3, Gremi Robinson 15.145 4, Rylee Jo Maryman 15.148 5, Addison Krieg 15.153 6, Ava Nunez 15.203 7, Kynnedy Nunn 15.374 8, Kenzie King 15.432 9, Logan Krieg 15.441 10, Addison Rains 15.469 Saddle bronc riding 1, Wyatt Lavergne 75 2, Brant Schexnider 44 Tie down roping 1, Cougar Racca 8.85 2, Cruz Melanson 9.09 3, K.J. Rideaux 9.66 4, Kyler Landry 10.87 5, Colt Guillot 11.02 6, Brennan Aucoin 12.42 7, Austin James 12.48 8, Braxton Guillot 12.53 9, Colton Summers 12.72 10, Tyler Lavergne 13.00 Breakaway roping 1, Steeley Franklin 1.92 2, Faith Dubois 2.08 3, Reese Broussard 2.37 4, Abbey Anderson 2.45 4, Alex Poole 2.45 6, Emma Bain 2.78 7, Michelle Hesnor 2.84 8, Jenna Vincent 2.96 9, Kensley Mudge 3.03 10, Keylee Izard 3.20 Steer wrestling 1, Cain Martin 5.53 2, Turbo Baxter 6.20 3, Jadon Leonard 14.61 4, Kole Landry 18.17 5, William Gunter 25.80 6, Cale Carpenter 27.13 7, Kyler Landry 30.82 Goat tying 1, Ella Kay 7.42 2, Kynnedy Nunn 7.51 3, Brantlee Colbert 8.27 4, Abbie Savant 8.29 5, Lauren Williamson 8.32 6, Abbey Anderson 8.73 7, Sage Raymond 8.80 8, Rylee Jo Maryman 8.98 9, Katie Abshire 9.07 10, Jamie Kile 9.25 Team roping 1, Braxton Guillot/Johnny Payne 7.65 2, Cole Steib/Kayson Lasyone 8.03 3, Teddie Austin Guynn/Wyatt Sonnier 8.78 4, John Wade Hoffpauir/Trace Watkins 9.34 5, Hayden Walker/Grant Boudreaux 10.36 6, Bill Odell/Tucker Wright 11.69 7, Grant Engel/Skinner Wilkinson 12.02 8, Caleb Brister/Kaden Doughty 15.15 9, Hollis Davis/Brayson Manuel 15.47 10, H.D. Willis/Carter Perry 16.62 Pole bending 1, Addison Krieg 20.165 2, Addison Rains 20.463 3, Gemi Robinson 20.543 4, Stella Aucoin 20.564 5, Abbey Anderson 20.744 6, Brinna Jo Wagner 20.890 7, Rylee Jo Maryman 20.930 8, Jossy Gantt 21.108 9, Kodi Miller 21.330 10, Logan Krieg 21.379 Bull riding 1, Carter Shaw 79 2, Ty Lavergne 78 3, Brennan Polito 66
American Press
31-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Poised champ, Lavergne locks up fourth consecutive state title with strong bounce-back ride
DeQuincy senior Wyatt Lavergne clinched his fourth consecutive saddle bronc riding state championship on Friday, May 30, 2025, with a 75-point ride in the second-go round of the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) The first-go round Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum was a rare miss for DeQuincy's Wyatt Lavergne, but the seasoned cowboy was unfazed. He turned in one of his best rides of the season Friday in the second-go round and locked up his fourth consecutive saddle bronco riding state championship. 'It is a blessing to say (I have won four state championships),' Lavergne said. 'I don't know how many people have done it. I am sure there are a few. I am definitely proud of what I have accomplished.' He scored a 75-point ride Friday morning in the first session of the second-go round. 'I thought I did everything I could do with the stock that I drew,' Lavergne said. 'It was fun, and I had a good time.' In four trips to the state finals, Thursday's miss was Lavergne's first at the state rodeo, but his experience showed Friday. It was the eighth time in 11 rounds at the state rodeo that he scored more than 70 points. 'I knew what I did wrong,' Lavergne said. 'I just needed to go full throttle (Friday) morning and give it everything I had, and it ended up working out. 'I knew what I could do. I knew it didn't set me back yesterday. It was just a mental thing. I just had to overcome that challenge and forget about it. If you keep looking at the rear view you are going to run into something.' Rosepine's Austin James was the lone saddle bronc rider scheduled for the evening session. Even if James tops Lavergne's 75-point ride, the eight points for second place would give Lavergne 97 points and an insurmountable 34-point lead. The top 15 in each event will compete in the short-go round at 5 p.m. Saturday. The top four in each event qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 13-19. First-go round Jeff Davis cowboy Cale Carpenter won the first round of steer wrestling with a stunning sub- 4-second time of 3.56 seconds on Thursday. Welsh High School's Wyatt Sonnier teamed up with Teddie Austin Guynn to win the opening round of team roping at 7.64 seconds and 0.15 seconds ahead of Stratton James and Gus Dorris. Sonnier and Guynn moved up to fourth place in the standings. In tie down roping on Thursday, Cougar Racca, the 2023 state champion, edged Cruz Melancon for the top time of the day at 8.41 seconds. Melancon posted a time of 8.57 seconds. The battle for the breakaway roping title remains tight after the first round. Kensley Mudge (Magnolia Bend Academy) and Jillian Fontenot (Beau Chene) lead with 41 points each, and Caroline Fontenot (Beau Chene, 36.1) and Saige (Sulphur, 36) Martin and Faith Dubois (34.5) were not far behind.
