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Avoyelles Pages Past

By Donna Culotta

90 Years Ago

From our July 4, 1936 editions

A modern post office building was scheduled to be built in Bunkie.

Assessor Ulysses Roy announced the Louisiana Tax Commission will review Avoyelles Parish assessments.

Welcome rain gave Avoyelles relief in a time of drought.

Messers. Gay DeBellevue and Dallas Laborde of Marksville announced the formal opening of the Bamboo Beer Garden on the Marksville-Mansura highway.

80 Years Ago

From our July 6, 1946 editions

Fred Neucere of the Hessmer FFA Chapter was the winner of the State Judging contest.

Edgar A. Coco was elected president of the Marksville Knights of Columbus.

A Catholic hospital was scheduled to be built in Alexandria.

The July meeting of the Marksville Garden Club was held at the home of Mrs. P.P. McNeely.

70 Years Ago

From our July 7, 1956 editions

Rev. Dr. Robert L. Lee, executive secretary of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, was the guest speaker at the Marksville Baptist Church weekend revival.

Miss Dolores Couvillion, third grade teacher at Moreauville Elementary, attended an instruction workshop at the University of Colorado.

Miss Betty Gremillion of Cottonport was selected 1956 Queen of the Avoyelles Parish Cattleman’s Association.

Jeanette Venable and Jane Ponthieu of Marksville attended the National FHA Convention.

Carol Moncla of Marksville was elected parliamentarian of the Louisiana College Booster Club.

60 Years Ago

From our July 7, 1966 editions

Nikkie Lee Rivet of Marksville graduated from the Charity Hospital School of Nursing.

Marilyn Bordelon of Marksville was listed on the LSU Dean’s List and Kermit J. Ducote was named to the Louisiana College Dean’s List.

Marksville’s July 4th celebration drew over 5000 people. Pam Milton, who stated she believed Miss Bunkie should be “200 percent a lady,” won the crown.

Linda St. Romain and Cliffe Laborde attended the 4-H Camp at Chicot State Park.

Bill Masling of Marksville was elected president of the Dixie Citizens Band Radio Club.

50 Years Ago

From our July 8, 1976 editions

Mrs. Warren Laborde and Clay Mayeux announced their candidacy to the school board election.

Dr. Randall Evans joined the Johnson Dental Office.

The police jury organized the Avoyelles Parish Fish, Game and Recreation Committee.

The garden of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gauthier won first place from the Garden Club as the “Bunkie Bicentennial Garden.”

Michael Brinkley and Terry Mayeaux were appointed coordinators for the Simmesport and Marksville High, respectively.

The book “From Alsace to Avoyelles,” a genealogy on the Neck family, was published.

40 Years Ago

From our July 10, 1986 editions

Filmore P. Bordelon III was named the 1986 Top Young Farmer by the La. Farm Bureau Federation.

Eddie Rabalais served as Master of Ceremonies for the Annual Mrs. Avoyelles contest.

The new administration in Bunkie was Bud Lemoine, Danny Melancon, Mayor Fred Feeney, Steve Gremillion, Lem Bassett and Steve Sheppard.

Huey Gagnard of Bunkie was appointed the new secretary-treasurer for the police jury.

The Moncla Community float won first place in the 4th of July Parade.

30 Years Ago

From our July 4, 1996 editions

Sammy Couvillon, Avoyelles Clerk of Court, was sworn in to another term of office by Judge Michael Johnson.

Along with Couvillon, Deputy Clerks were also sworn in:

• Gail Simon
• Willie Rae Carmouche
• Jan Loughman
• Rebecca Soileau
• Jeanette Guillot
• Rose Batiste
• Connie Lacour
• Helen Dousey
• Delores Harris
• Connie Couvillion
• Debra Laiche
• Sonya Gagnard
• Chief Deputy Clerk Cotton George.

Bobby Jeffers of Cottonport grew a 17 1/2 pound cabbage. Jeffers used compost from the Lagniappe Cotton Gin as his only fertilizer.

Bunkie lawyer Dan McKay refused to return a $13,000 check that was sent to him incorrectly by the Avoyelles Indigent Board. McKay said the matter was being resolved by district judges.

Connie Ducote and Bessie Bannister joined NBC’s Today Show host Bryant Gumbel. The Mansura Middle School Library Club was on a trip to New York City and they presented Cochon de Lait posters to Gumbel and Al Roker.

20 Years Ago

From our July 6, 2006 editions

Eddie and Jeanette Knoll of Marksville were honored for their preservation efforts in rescuing and restoring the former Thomas A. Lemoine plantation home in Moreauville.

The completion of five-laning of Hwy 1 between Marksville and Mansura was moved to 2008.

Participants in the Stars of Coteau basketball camp at St. Mary’s in Cottonport included:

• Cydney Moreau
• Triston Mills
• Jordan Temple
• Michelle Messer
• Ashley Dupont
• Kassey Gauthier
• Melissa Messer
• Joel Fletcher.

10 Years Ago

From our July 7, 2016 editions

Sheriff Doug Anderson announced that his department had finally paid off the $300,000 bill that was owed Acadian Ambulance.

Barbara Lemoine, Title 1 aide at Bunkie Elementary was honored at a retirement party for 21 years of service.

Corey Strange, 2-year old toddler drowned July 1 in a pond near his home in Hessmer.

Haley Gauthier, a graduate of Avoyelles Public Charter School and Allyson Reed, 8th grade student at Sacred Heart, were awarded the Catholic Daughters scholarships.

Cameron Stithem of Marksville was pictured competing in the cherry pie eating contest at the July 4th festival. Stithem, with hands behind his back, went face first into the pie.

Bunkie Elementary students collected 22 gallons of pull tabs for St. Jude Hospital. Displaying the jugs were students Kayla Sampson, Callie Ducote and Jason Ducote.

A school board committee recommended that all student athletes have a drug test before the season and random tests throughout the year.