The Acadiana Advocate 11-29-2025 by The Advocate

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T H E A C A D I A N A A D V O C AT E.C O M

S at u r d ay, N ov e m b e r 29, 2025

“My drug of choice is a microphone and a crowd of people.” HAL MCMILLIN, mayor of Westlake and auctioneer

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La. dodges hurricanes in 2025 season Researchers still consider it above-average for activity

BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer

PHOTO By CHRISTOPHER R. VINN

Hal McMillin, auctioneer and mayor of Westlake, calls bids at the McNeese State University women’s tennis team dinner and auction on Nov. 20.

Westlake mayor doubles as auctioneer

McMillin finds passion in auctions, serving community BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer

Westlake Mayor Hal McMillin has the typical southwestern Louisiana drawl of the people he represents, but he can switch to the musical, urgent chant of an auctioneer at a moment’s notice. McMillin, 70, was captivated by auctioneers as a young child, but he didn’t pick up the profession until he was about 50. He’s since made up for lost time by using his talent to raise millions of dollars for causes

he cares about. “My drug of choice,” he said, “is a microphone and a crowd of people.” When McMillin was 7 or 8 years old, he went to auctions each Friday night with his parents. “I liked doing impersonations,” McMillin said. “So I started impersonating the auctioneer, learning how to count and listen to him.” The auctioneer, Dave Black, took McMillin under his wing as a child. Black allowed him to “be part of the team” by doing chores, such as loading and unloading auction items.

Later, as a young adult, McMillin attended Ducks Unlimited auctions that raised money for waterfowl and wetlands conservation. He got more experience when another auctioneer, Charlie Willis, allowed McMillin to ﬂag items for him. “It was just being in an auction atmosphere that was exciting to me,” McMillin said. “It gave me a real kind of thrill, but I never really thought about being an auctioneer until years later.”

ä See AUCTIONEER, page 5A

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close Sunday as the latest in a long line to see above-average tropical storm activity, but an unusual set of circumstances left Louisiana and much of the nation unscathed. For the ﬁrst time in 10 years, this season will end without a hurricane landfall in the U.S. Only one named storm, Tropical Storm Chantal, hit the country this year, bringing gusty winds, heavy rainfall and millions in damages to the Carolinas in early July. Tropical Storm Barry, which hit Mexico in June, was this year’s only system to reach the Gulf. Louisiana never found itself within a forecast cone. But despite the quiet in nearby waters and another midseason lull in tropical activity, the hurricanes that were able to form developed an explosive strength, eventually bringing the season in line with historical norms, and — depending how you crunch the numbers — beyond. A total of 13 named storms formed in the

ä See HURRICANES, page 5A

Suspect in National Guard shooting facing murder charge BY COLLIN BINKLEY and BEN FINLEY Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Charges against the man accused of shooting two National Guard members have been upgraded to ﬁrst-degree murder after one of the soldiers died, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia announced Friday, while investigators continue to seek a motive. Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24 were hospitalized in critical condition after the Wednesday afternoon shooting near

ä See SHOOTING, page 4A

Comeaux High senior inspires others with his resilience School rallies around homecoming king BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Comeaux High’s Taeshawn Moore would have loved nothing more than to be able suit up as a member of the Spartans’ football and basketball teams. Unfortunately for Moore, participating in those sports wasn’t in the cards for his life. Moore, an 18-year-old senior, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 6 months old.

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So, instead of playing the games he loved, Moore did the next best thing to remain involved — he joined those programs as a manager helping with equipment and running the practice clocks to keep the Spartans on schedule. “He was a manager for the basketball team ﬁrst,” Spartans athletic director and basketball coach Montrell Taylor said. “He is such a good kid. He has a great attitude, and he is always looking to help out.” “He’s such a hard worker,” Spartans football coach Marquis Newsome said. “He never misses practice and if anyone needs anything,

or needs help with something, he’s got it.” Whether he’s walking the Comeaux hallways or along the sidelines during Spartans football or basketball games, the student known by his peers as “TM” can always be seen with “an infectious smile” on his face. “Despite the adversity he has faced, TM always is in good spirits,” Taylor said. “He faces every day with a smile. He can be in real pain, and you’ll never know it. There’s just a joyfulness about him. He’s the deﬁnition of what it

ä See INSPIRES, page 4A

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The Comeaux High Homecoming Court and King Taeshawn Moore watch their team during the Northside vs. Comeaux High football game on Oct. 24. PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

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