Avoyelles Pages Past

By Donna Culotta

90 Years Ago

From our Sept. 19, 1936 editions

Ury Michot was elected president of the Hessmer High FFA Chapter.

Marksville High School enrolled 804 students.

County Agent Percy Lemoine and District Agent A. Swann attended the Louisiana Experimental Station Field Day.

The Avoyelles Parish Medical Society met at the home of Dr. R.G. Ducote in Bordelonville.

Mrs. Tucker Couvillion was elected president of the Marksville Mothers Club.

80 Years Ago

From our Sept. 21, 1946 editions

The Marksville Soil Conservation office opened.

A tract of land designated for the Avoyelles Country Club was purchased.

The Avoyelles Parish fair date was set.

Eighty men and women of Bunkie met at the Bunkie High cafeteria for a “Kick off Breakfast” of the Boy Scout Attakapas Council for the annual finance campaign.

70 Years Ago

From our Sept. 22, 1956 editions

J. Paul Coco was appointed chairman of the building committee of the Marksville Lions Club.

W.A. Bill Keller of Bunkie was appointed by Governor Kennon to the State Parks and Recreation Board.

Linda Gremillion began her reign as the 1956 Marksville High Queen.

Statistics showed that the Bunkie Panthers outplayed their strong and experienced opponent, the Basile Bears in the opening game of the football season. It was a Panther fumble that cost them the game.

The largest circus in the nation, Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey, was scheduled to come to Marksville.

Patricia Juneau was chosen as Fifth Ward High Queen and Betty Ann Dicket was chosen as Hessmer High Queen.

Cynthia Lemoine of Cottonport was named Miss Yamlot III.

Levi Campbell, Jr. and Melvin Sharpe were named to the board of directors for Trans America Development Corporation.

60 Years Ago

From our Sept. 22, 1966 editions

Johnny Johns, Bunkie’s longtime fire chief, who landed in Bunkie as a professional baseball player, wanted the world to know he could still chunk the apple. Johnny was once the property of the New York Yankees before bursitis put his shoulder out of action.

Leonard Rachal was installed as commander of the Mansura American Legion Post.

Becky Gremillion of Marksville was pledged to the Phi Sigma Mu Sorority at USL.

Miss Cleta Gauthier was selected as Moreauville High Homecoming Queen.

Michael Gauthier of Moreauville was commissioned to the CPA State Boards.

Margie Bordelon was named president of the Methodist Youth Fellowship in Bunkie.

50 Years Ago

From our Sept. 23, 1976 editions

The grand opening ceremony at the Central Louisiana Bank in Effie was held.

Rick Laland was elected president of the St. Anthony Quarterback Club in Bunkie succeeding C.A. Voelker. Other officers were: Nick Glorioso, vice president; John Juneau, secretary-treasurer; and Charles Candella, publicity.

The Willing Workers Homemakers Club had a summer fan fare at the home of Mrs. Curry Dupas.

Burnell Lemoine announced his intentions to renovate the Victorian Edward Coco home in Mansura.

The Bunkie Chamber of Commerce was approved for $1586 in federal funds for tour brochures announced by the Development Office of Kisatchie-Delta.

40 Years Ago

From our Sept. 23, 1986 editions

Dr. Rene Desselle opened his dental office in Mansura.

Bunkie’s fledgling Louisiana Corn Festival was incorporated and chartered by the State of Louisiana as a state festival.

Fabian Barbin of Marksville was slated to compete in a national talent television show.

The Avoyelles Interfaith Ministerial Association sponsored a four-week training program for effective parenting of teenagers that was held in Bunkie.

30 Years Ago

From our Sept. 26, 1996 editions

The number of visitors to the Hypolite Bordelon Home in Marksville had quadrupled.

At the Marksville High School mock elections David Duke won over Mary Landrieu for the senate seat.

Flossie Piazza of Marksville was honored at a retirement party given by the Wal-Mart store and the associates.

Senior Girl Scouts of troop 293 were honored with 10-year pins. They were: Tiffany Gaines, Kisha Thomas, April Hudson and Anna Chatelain.

Mary Lynn McManus, wife of U.S. Senate candidate Chuck McManus, made a brief stop in Bunkie asking the locals to vote for her husband.

20 Years Ago

From our Sept, 21, 2006 editions

Simmesport Mayor Boo Fontenot was at odds with port commission member Tommy Maddie about who should decide the annexation of Canadaville into the town limits.

Brent Whiddon was named acting principal at Avoyelles High School.

Bunkie General Hospital hosted a health fair at Haas Auditorium with speakers, entertainment and health services.

A special excursion of antique passenger cars rolled through Avoyelles. They included private cars belonging to Carnegie Steel, Woolworth Co, and Rockefeller families.

Having a great time at the St. Martin of Tours Church fair in Belledeau were Shirley Mayeux, Kaylie Lambert, Isabelle Savoie, Troy and Lily Ducote, Tina Lachney, Raymond Blanchard, Erin Kelly and Derrick Foti.

Bunkie city employees said the 1/2 cent sales tax on the ballot was desperately needed for them to get a raise.

Bunkie Panthers won their football game at Lake Providence; Marksville High was shut out by Abbeville and Avoyelles High lost a defensive battle to Northwest.

10 Years Ago

From our Sept. 22, 2016 editions

Avoyelles Parish police jurors expressed their disapproval of “BYOB” night spots and asked the district attorney to research ways the businesses can be regulated, if not outright prohibited in the parish.

The Mansura Town Council reluctantly raised sewer rates to ensure the municipality is able to cover the debt obligation of its sewer department.

Dan Wright, owner of Avoyelles Office Supply in Marksville, retired from the business after 41 years and said, “I would like to go fishing.”

Michael Mayeaux was charged with two counts of murder in the double slaying of his grandparents, Eloise and Hillman Mayeaux in Big bend.