Avoyelles Pages Past

90 Years Ago

From our March 21, 1936 editions
The Marksville Lumber Company was awarded the contract for the Leonard Guillory home in Hessmer.

Samuel Gardiner of Marksville and William Perkins of Hamburg died.

Mr. and Mrs. Collier of Oakdale visited Marksville and demonstrated their new linotype machine.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Moncla of Marksville was appointed Acting Remittance Clerk of the Alcohol Tax Unit.

80 Years Ago

From our March 23, 1946 editions
Louis H. Swann, FSA Supervisor for Avoyelles Parish, cited John Brouillette’s farm near Moreauville as an outstanding example of farm development work done under the FSA Farm Ownership Program.

Mr. Hannan Sayes was elected president of the Avoyelles Parish School Board.

Friends of little Bobby Richardson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Richardson, were glad to know that he was getting along fine. He will be confined to his bed for a number of months and wanted all his little friends to come see him.

Marksville Attorney Winston K. Joffrion was appointed to serve on a committee at a meeting of the La. Bar Association.

Grand Knight Ben Laborde was chosen to lead the Marksville Knights of Columbus delegation.

70 Years Ago

From our March 24, 1956 editions
Miss Carole Ann Drouin of Mansura won an excellent rating for two piano solos at the Louisiana Music Educators Association Festival.

Dr. Elmo J. Laborde of Marksville was among those in attendance of more than 5000 at a national meeting of family doctors in Washington D.C.

The Bunkie High School band, under the direction of Richard Robichaux, again took top honors at the Louisiana Music Educators Annual Festival in state and district. Soloists who performed received the following ratings: - Lander Pearce, tenor saxophone, Superior
- Errol Ponthier, baritone, Superior

Glenda Dupuy of Cottonport was named champion in the Chicken of Tomorrow contest and Jeanette Venable was elected district FHA representative.

Dwight Normand was selected as the “Handsomest Boy” in the 1956 Marksville High School senior class.

60 Years Ago

From our March 24, 1966 editions
Mrs. Ellen Ruth Didier of Vick was selected as a nominee to serve on the Mortar Board at LSU. It was one of the highest honors to be earned at the university.

E.J. Lacombe of Cottonport and Terry Brouillette of Hessmer received “Leader of the Year” awards from the Central State Insurance Company.

Nettie Chenevert, daughter of Mrs. Dorothy H. Chenevert of Bunkie, was one of five Central Louisiana piano students who appeared in a concert with the Northwestern State College Symphony in Alexandria Convention Hall.

Ronald J. Juneau of Mansura made the LSU Dean’s List.

Annette Guilbeau of Hessmer was selected as the Avoyelles Parish Farm Bureau Queen and Russell Bordelon won first place in the Farm Bureau Youth Speech Contest.

Marc Dupuy, Jr. succeeded J.O. Brouillette as president of the Marksville Chamber of Commerce.

50 Years Ago

From our March 25, 1976 editions
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Roy of Marksville were the recipients of an original oil painting by Della Normand, who donated the painting for a raffle which benefitted Operation Rice Bowl.

James Kelly was elected president of the Bunkie Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Don Fletcher was named vice-president and Ken Breaux, treasurer.

Mrs. Thelma Carmouche of the Fifth Ward Homemakers Club “made a hit” at a garden forum when she dressed in pioneer attire for the clothing review.

James Neal Ballard of Marksville was inducted into the LSUA Honor Society.

Miss Sherry Spruill was selected as the 1976 Avoyelles Parish Farm Bureau Queen.

40 Years Ago

From our March 27, 1986 editions
Leo P. Rogers, a Representative for the Pillsbury/Joan of Arc Company, announced the company would offer a $500 Plant Community Scholarship.

Hessmer High School won a sweepstakes award.

Former Marksville resident, Morgan E. Messick, completed an Army primary leadership course.

Members of the 1986 Bunkie High School track team were: - Ruby Green
- Jeannel Lemoine
- Debra Descant
- Keri Tubre
- Pauline Guient
- Charlotte Green
- Thesia Wade
- Robin Arnaud

Sidney Hebert accepted his appointment as office manager of Gulfco Finance, Inc.

30 Years Ago

From our March 21, 1996 editions

Evelyn Elliott of Marksville was named the “Older Worker of the Year” in Avoyelles Parish.

Jessie Lachney of Marksville was appointed to the Red River District Levee Board by Governor Mike Foster.

The search for a new administrator at Bunkie General came to a close with the appointment of Don Kannaday.

The Marksville city council recognized Patrolman Chris Bordelon, John Augustine and Donavan Tassin for outstanding work in two cases of criminal activity.

20 Years Ago

From our March 23, 2006 editions
The Marksville Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet and presented awards to: - Clay Fuqua - Small Business of the Year, Clay’s Barbeque - Susan Brouillette - Outstanding Woman in Business, Synergy Home Health - Wilbert Carmouche, Special Award
- Sheriff Bill Belt, Mayor’s Award

The school board received good budgetary news that it was in the black after a year of belt tightening and cuts.

A large number of people attended the funeral of SSgt. Bryan Lewis of Bunkie, who was killed in action in Iraq.

10 Years Ago

From our March 3, 2016 editions
Twenty-five families in Brouillette evacuated with more expected as the Red River continued to rise to a 74-year high.

The police jury adopted a new ordinance concerning Section-16 hunting. A board-issued permit was needed to hunt those lands otherwise it would be illegal with fines and jail time.

The George Washington Carver Community Center, Inc. met to discuss the acquisition of the vacated Bunkie Middle School cafeteria to use as a community center.