Avoyelles Pages Past

90 Years Ago

From our Feb. 15, 1936 editions
A government warehouse under the supervision of Mr. R. N. Scroggins as well as the Sewing Department operated by the federal government and under the supervision of Mrs. Gladys Heard, was relocated in the old Guy Goudeau brick building on Main Street.

Some snippets from the Evergreen High School news:
Miss Rose Lillian Fennel spent the weekend with Mildred Thayer in Bunkie.
Miss Witty Belle Earline Newton visited with Pauline Dill in Bunkie on a Saturday and senior class members enjoyed a very entertaining party at the home of Anna Burk.
Mrs. P. Medici was the Marksville dealer who delivered the Alexandra Daily Town Talk to people’s door for only 15 cents a week, which did not include Sundays.

80 Years Ago

From our Feb. 16, 1946 editions
Gaston Roule received an honorable discharge from the Army where he had served three years and nine months in the European Theater of Operations and had been stationed in England, France, Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Austria.
Clem LaMartiniere, Fifth Ward; L.C. Danehaus, 7th Ward and L.P. Lemoine, 9th Ward received their commission from Governor Jimmie Davis to fill out the unexpired terms of Modelis Guillot, George Desselle and Leonard Goudeau.
Chief Pete Strauss, of the Bunkie Fire Department had at his home a homing pigeon which took refuge in his garage. The pigeon was banded OLNEY PHILA 39 633 on its right leg and a sim ring on the left leg.
The Electrical Center owned by the Gremillion Brothers featured a selection of electrical and plumbing fixtures and other hard to find items.

70 Years Ago

From our Feb. 18, 1956 editions
The Hessmer High Band, under the direction of Richard Normand, provided pre-game and halftime music at the Polio Benefit basketball game.

Donna Montgomery and John Laborde, 4-H members from Presentation School were presented awards.
Joan was chosen as the outstanding club member in the parish in Frozen Foods and Donna was outstanding member in Canning.

The Avoyelles Parish Health Unit announced that dogs not wearing a rabies vaccination tag after a certain date would be destroyed. Vaccinations cost $1.50.

60 Years Ago

From our Feb. 18, 1966 editions
Steve Mayer, president of the Bunkie High School student body and son of Mr. and Mrs Sol Mayer, had been granted a George Washington Honor Medal by the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge, for winning the state American Legion oratorical contest.

The Marksville Jaycees announced plans for various activities. President Andre Coco highlighted the road sign project, a record hop, a pamphlet printed about Marksville and a golf tournament. Following the meeting a delicious meal was served by Jaynes Doris Basher, Beth Dupuy, Aggie Neck and Geri Schwartzenburg.

Anna Dubroc announced a donkey basketball game in the Fifth Ward High School gym The entrance fee was 75 cents for adults and 50 cents for school children.

50 Years Ago

From our Feb. 19, 1976 editions
Miss Ruth Laney, Avoyelles Parish Poet-in-Residence, visited Hessmer High School for two weeks.

Gretchen de Wailley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. V.P. deWailley of Bordelonville, joined the “Opelousas Daily World” as a staff writer.

Richard A. Gremillion, Chamber of Commerce president, announced that a permanent farmers market building was to be built in Marksville in time for the summer vegetable market.

Clay Joseph Barrilleaux of Bunkie was among 42 students who graduated following one year of study in Health Services Administration Development, a program within the School Community and Allied Health Services of the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

40 Years Ago

From our Feb. 20, 1986 editions
Miss Carmen Dubroc, Marksville native, was promoted to Vice-president of Marketing for Charles of the Ritz Cosmetics in New York City.

Brothers Albert and Billy Townsend were named Farmers of the Year at the Bunkie Chamber of Commerce's 19th Annual Farmer Appreciation Banquet.

The Avoyelles Parish Library announced that patrons who returned all overdue books would receive a coupon good for a free hamburger, fries and soft drink at the local Starks restaurant.

30 Years Ago

From our Feb. 15, 1996 editions
The Oak Street Bar in Bunkie was destroyed by an early morning fire. No one was injured in the blaze that was contained by the work of the Bunkie and Hessmer fire departments.

Michael Ryan Chedester, 13-years old, died at this residence in Whiteville after a long and courageous battle with AIDS. He traveled all over the United States as an AIDS activist and educator.

A pilot and two passengers survived a plane crash near Cottonport when their small Cessna aircraft suddenly lost power and the pilot forced to land in a soybean field. The two passengers were Mark Lemoine and his father, James Lemoine.

20 Years Ago

From our Feb. 16, 2006 editions
Police jury President Henry Hines of Bunkie was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace, simple battery and resisting arrest. The charges stemmed from a post Mardi Gras Ball breakfast at a local hotel where Hines became uncooperative.

A 14-year old juvenile was arrested for the murder of Elton Dupar, 22, of Odenburg. Dupar had been in the National Guard and just returned home from serving in New Orleans.

There would be a true citywide election in Marksville as all those running had opposition including Dr. Richard Michel who was being challenged by Rene Borrel.

10 Years Ago

From our Feb. 18, 2016 editions
Charles and Helen Simon of Mansura were honored for 73 years of marriage. They were married Aug.2, 1942 at St. Paul Catholic Church, Mansura. Two months later Charles was drafted in the Army, the couple was reunited four years later.

The Krewe des Medames held their first Mardi Gras ball with royalty: Queen Allison Ferguson and Duchesses Lindsay Scott and Chrissie Jeansonne.

The boys and girls basketball teams at St. Mary’s School in Cottonport recorded undefeated seasons.