Avoyelles Pages Past

By Donna Culotta

90 Years Ago

From our August 22, 1936 editions

Bud Scott and his band furnished music for the dance at the Blue Moon Night Club in Bunkie.

Barham and Richard’s Department Store announced its intentions to hold a Bargain Day every Saturday during the fall season.

S.P. Firmin, an agriculture teacher at Fifth Ward High School, urged farmers to vaccinate chickens against chicken pox.

William Imperial’s 10-piece orchestra furnished music for a dance at Robert’s Place in Simmesport.

80 Years Ago

From our August 24, 1946 editions

Ruth Ann Gauthier of Moreauville won first place in the Louisiana 4-H Food Preservation Contest.

Frederick Newton, Jr. of Bunkie was appointed a new member of the Avoyelles FSA Committee.

Joseph C. Mulroy, assistant agent in charge of the New Orleans FBI office, spoke to the Bunkie Rotary Club.

Congressman A. Leonard Allen was the slated guest speaker for the Cottonport VFW.

Captain Alton Moreau of Bunkie, well known for his flying heroics in World War II, was flying to Mississippi when he flew over Bunkie, spotted his home and flew around it several times. Mr. Moreau was in the yard, looked up but didn’t recognize that it was his son flying over.

Edgar Coco, Grand Knight of the Marksville Knights of Columbus, attended the National Convention in Miami, Florida.

70 Years Ago

From our August 25, 1956 editions

Landry Escude, of the Escude Gas and Oil Company in Mansura, was awarded a special plaque in honor of his company’s 25 years as a Shell jobber and distributor.

Louisiana State Senator Jack Fruge addressed the Bunkie Knights of Columbus.

The Avoyelles Parish Vegetable Growers Association sponsored a beauty pageant to select Miss Yamlot, who will represent them at the Yambilee in Opelousas. The girls would be judged by a panel of three disinterested persons.

Ab Boatner, Jr., Bunkie attorney was appointed Attorney and Field Representative for the Dept. of Commerce and Industry.

Lester A. Lemoine was unanimously elected president of the Cottonport Bank. Hon. Harold J. Mayeux was chosen cashier and Clarence J. Ducote was named assistant cashier.

60 Years Ago

From our August 24, 1966 editions

The biggest hit of the Old Fashioned Bargain Days in Bunkie were “Can Can Girls” Johnny Juneau, Rale Jeansonne, John Guidry, Herman Graham, Gene and Rick Richard. Ann Redmon was crowned Little Miss Bunkie and Mayor Fred Feeney was the grand prize winner in the beard contest.

The executive board of the St. Joseph High School Alumni Association decided to give a full scholarship to a graduate of each Catholic elementary school in Avoyelles.

Edwin J. Bozek, former member of the Marksville High School faculty and former principal of Lafargue, accepted the 6th grade teaching position at Presentation Convent.

50 Years Ago

From our August 26, 1976 editions

Sheldon Roy praised Bordelonville High School principal James Bordelon for his efforts to promote French in the higher grades.

The police jury approved a 90-day option on six acres of land on Tunica Drive for the new jail site.

Ronald Bordelon of Mansura made the SLU Dean’s List and Mark Paul Dubroc of Marksville made the NLU President’s list.

SSgt. Clyde Bacon (Ret) was one of three honored by Second Union Baptist Church in Bunkie during Veteran’s Honor Day.

The first of a three-part leadership program was held in the home of Marksville Jaycee Jayne President Delores Goux.

40 Years Ago

From our August 26, 1986 editions

The Marksville Chamber of Commerce endorsed the Neighborhood Watch program and donated $250 towards expenses.

Clyde Neck, president of the Hypolite Bordelon Home Society, announced a benefit bridge tournament at the Mansura State Bank camp on Old River.

Sammy Couvillon, Huron Roy, Charles Dupuy and Ben Laborde attended a training session for local officials in Baton Rouge.

Bunkie Mayor Fred Feeney, with six terms as councilman and mayor, received the “Gold Award” from the Louisiana Municipal Association.

30 Years Ago

From our August 22, 1996 editions

Students. teachers and parents flocked to public and parochial schools for the first day classes in Avoyelles Parish. Pictured were Justin Moreau, Angela Dufour, Amanda Normand and Mindy Norris.

The Bunkie city council was deciding how to pay $30,000 for a water line that would run from Williams Street, Louisiana Ave, to the new Winn Dixie that was being built.

Young clogging champions Samantha Bryant, Tiffany Wiley, Justine Luneau and Robyn McNeal helped Samantha prepare for her freestyle competition in Silver City in Branson, Missouri.

U.S. Senator John Breaux addressed a joint meeting of Bunkie and Avoyelles Rotary Clubs and spoke about welfare reform.

20 Years Ago

From our August 24, 2006 editions

Members of the Marksville High School football team were so intent on getting in a practice they worked out in the rain.

School bells rang out for Avoyelles Parish public schools and Supt. of Education Ronald Mayeux reported it had been a quiet first day of school.

Avoyelles High School was the host for the annual high school football Jamboree.

David and Cynthia Flanders of Mansura were featured on the National Resource Conservation Service website for their work as Earth Team volunteers.

10 Years Ago

From our August 24, 2016 editions

A group of 10 local doctors made an offer to purchase Avoyelles Hospital in Marksville, as well as Winn Parish Hospital and Oakdale Community Hospital.

A Unity Rally, designed to start the school year by recognizing and honoring the school teachers and showing support for students. was held on the steps of the courthouse.

Back-to-school photos submitted by readers included, Jared Carnicle, Natalie Descant, Olivia Dixon, Richard Reed, C.J. Guillot, Kinley McDonald and Payton Maddox.

With a $15 million budget and 283 employees, the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff Office was a major employer in the parish.