Avoyelles Past pages

By Donna Culotta & Abi Guillot

90 Years Ago

From our April 4, 1936 editions

• Moreauville and Hessmer Chapters of FFA were the winners in the District Three Public Speaking and Parliamentary contests.
• The U.S. Civil Service Commission announced the competitive examination for postmaster in Mansura.
• The city of Baton Rouge decided to use electric busses and do away with street cars.
• Mrs. Thomas Holland became the first woman state senator in Louisiana.

80 Years Ago

From our April 6, 1946 editions

• The Union Bank purchased a “Blue Ribbon Winner” Black Angus heifer at the Central Louisiana Livestock show.
• Mltchell Normand of Marksville returned home from military service.
• J.J. Jeansonne, chief sheriff’s deputy for Avoyelles Parish, died in the hospital in Pineville.
• Faye Brouillette was one of the winners in the Marksville Garden Club Contest.
• The Marksville Methodist Church sponsored a study course for children.

70 Years Ago

From our April 7, 1956 editions

• Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Rachal of Moreauville celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.
• Cliffe C. Laborde Jr. of Marksville made an excellent grade average at LSU.
• T-Joe’s Record Shop opened in Marksville.
• United Gas Corporation was granted a 25 year franchise to the Village of Hessmer.
• Plans for weekly teenage dances at the National Guard Armory were announced.
• The Bunkie Knights of Columbus Council dedicated its initiation to Bishop Charles Greco of Alexandria.
• Ferdinand Laborde and Tucker Couvillion won first place at the First Annual Easter Egg Knocking Contest in Marksville.
• Albert Gremillion, Avoyelles Parish Service Officer, announced that war veterans were entitled to vocational counseling.

60 Years Ago

From our April 7, 1966 editions

• Linus A. Brou of Marksville graduated from Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois.
• Gov. John McKeithen planned to participate in the Cochon de Lait Festival in Mansura.
• The school board decided to build a new lunchroom at Moreauville High School.
• Mayor Raymond Laborde headed the Marksville delegation at the annual convention of the Louisiana Municipal Association.
• Robert Couvillion of Marksville was the newly elected president of the Avoyelles 4-H Executive Committee.
• Charles Charrier of Moreauville was listed as a charter member of the Circle K International Club at Northwestern State University.

50 Years Ago

From our April 8, 1976 editions

• Elaine Schwartzenburg Edwards, Marksville native and the wife of Governor Edwin Edwards, was named State Mother of the Year for 1976.
• Sister Concetta Augustine and Sister Josephine Francisco celebrated their 25th anniversary of entering the Holy family order of New Orleans at Holy Ghost Church in Marksville.
• Gary Arnold, Greg Guillory, and Donnie Rabalais, all from Avoyelles Parish, were honored at the USL Honors Convocation.
• Joi Gauthier of Bunkie High School was elected State FHA President.

40 Years Ago

From our April 10, 1986 editions

• The Marksville city council adopted an ordinance that would create the Historic District Commission.
• The Avoyelles Parish Bar Association asked the sheriff not to move the tax office.
• The Moncla River Festival was planned.
• Dr. Richard Michel overwhelmingly won a third term as mayor of Marksville.
• Gov. Edwin Edwards appointed Bunkie native Melvin Meyers, Jr. as undersecretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources.
• Mr. Norman Gremillion of Plaucheville served as Cystic Fibrosis Campaign chairman for Avoyelles.
• Noelle Moreau of Cottonport was named the State Free Throw Champion.

30 Years Ago

From our April 10, 1996 editions

• St. Joseph Catholic Church held a Good Friday procession through the streets of Marksville, in honor of the suffering of Jesus.
• David M. Perkins of Hamburg was inducted into the prestigious Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.
• Betty Comeaux, Director of Food Service at Avoyelles Hospital, was recognized for her contribution in decorating the cafeteria, which made it more pleasing for patients and family.
• Garden of the Month was awarded to Paul and Gertrude Borrel of Marksville.
• Pam and David Mitchel were awarded Member Garden of the Month.

20 Years Ago

From our April 6, 2006 editions

• Chad Daigrepont of Marksville was killed in a one-car accident between Hessmer and Marksville.
• Jake DeSoto of Marksville, who was found guilty on a charge of negligent homicide in the death of Kain Roy, was sentenced to five years.
• Earl Adams defeated incumbent Janet Gros for District One in the Marksville city council election. Dale Bernard, Richard Tassin and Joyce Prier were reelected.
• Voters in Bunkie returned Mary Fanara as Chief of Police.
• Matt Armand and Josh Bordelon were the winners of the 12-foot boat at the Lions Club Fishing Tournament.

10 Years Ago

From our April 7, 2016 editions

• Former Senator Don Hines and the Bunkie city council expressed their opinions about the bill Rep. Robert Johnson was trying to push through concerning changing the way the port commission members were selected. Both Hines and the city council passed a resolution they were against HB 853.
• Jay Ducote, native of Cottonport and a contestant on Food Network’s “Next Food Network’s Star,” opened a restaurant in Baton Rouge called “Gov’t Taco.”
• Pictured at the Cottonport Easter Festival were: Anna Wixon, Bailey Trichell, Butch Ducote, Cole Lemoine, Alice Pete, Andre Guilbeau, Tylan Gauthier and Blaine Juneau.