Avoyelles Pages Past

By Donna Culotta

90 Years Ago

From our July 11, 1936 editions

Louis E. Moncla, president of the Avoyelles Parish Police Jury, appointed various committees.

The Marksville mayor and the Board of Aldermen attended a meeting in the courthouse with Mr. Irion Lafargue, an engineer, who explained that many Louisiana towns had blacktopped their gravel streets.

Paved sidewalks were constructed in Moreauville.

80 Years Ago

From our July 13, 1946 editions

Bunkie students Wayne Sharp, Joe Gray and Willard Barron were selected by the Community Civic League to attend Boys State in Baton Rouge.

Rev. F. S. Flurry of Monroe conducted revival services at Oak Grove Methodist Church in Effie.

Murrell Normand was installed as president of the Bunkie Rotary Club.

R.J. Quartermont was appointed to the newly-created office of City Manager of Marksville.

70 Years Ago

From our July 14, 1956 editions

H.P. Bordelon was elected commander of the Cottonport American Legion Post.

Prentise Bourgeoise was elected president of the Marksville Lions Club.

Mrs. Aubrey Thevenote was the delegate who represented the Bunkie Pilot Club at the International Meeting at Miami Beach.

Noah Chatelain was installed as Grand Knight of the Bunkie Knights of Columbus.

Marksville Mayor Edgar Coco announced that work on the Old River Park Road had begun.

Cottonport High students Judy Brassette, Joyce Couville, Mary Ann Juneau, and Fay Perret attended the Northwestern State College cheerleading camp.

60 Years Ago

From our July 14, 1966 editions

Preston Baudin was named Mayor Pro-tem of Marksville.

The Knights of Columbus Council 1217 honored 50-year members Cliffe Laborde, Sr., Ulysses Roy, Earl Edwards, Lester Bordelon, Lewis Roy, Jr., and Rev. Msgr. H. van der Putten.

A snake caused a Cleco power interruption.

The Hessmer Camp of the Woodmen of the World sponsored the play, “The Womanless Wedding.”

Mrs. Carmen Heywood, parish librarian, attended the annual conference of the American Library Association in New York City.

A $20,450 addition to the Marksville Telephone Central office was completed.

Bunkie High students Billy Tebow and Jerry Lee returned from Boy Scout Camp where they received the Order of the Arrow.

George R. Juneau of Mansura was promoted to a Marine lance corporal.

50 Years Ago

From our July 15, 1976 editions

Dr. James C. Childress, Jr. of Marksville announced his candidacy for re-election to the Avoyelles School Board.

Mrs. Bernadette Harrel was appointed to fill the position of coordinator of Simmesport High upon the resignation of Michael Brinkley.

Leonard Neyland joined the Fenwick Laborde Pharmacy.

The Marksville Town Council approved a $325,000 budget for the current year.

Pamela Caubarreaux received her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Texas at Arlington.

40 Years Ago

From our July 17, 1986 editions

James L. “Boosie” Bordelon sought re-election to the school board.

Bunkie Rotary President Danny Melancon presented perfect attendance plaques to Curry Elliot and Mayor Warren Constant.

The Altar Society of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Fifth Ward welcomed their new pastor Father Angelo Messina.

William Daigrepont of Hessmer and Norman Gremillion of Plaucheville were ordained deacons in the Catholic Church.

Bunkie added another festival to the state’s list with the advent of the Louisiana Corn Festival planned to be held next year.

30 Years Ago

From our July 11, 1996 editions

The annual July 4 parade and celebration was declared the most colorful in Marksville’s long running history. After the parade a memorial honoring the veterans of Avoyelles was unveiled.

The July 4th parade in Fifth Ward had over 30 entries and the top three were: - Chipmunks T-Ball team - first place - Union Bank - second place - Piazza and Sons - third place

After months of remodeling, the Bunkie Drivers License Office opened after being moved to Shirley Road.

Cottonport Elementary held a math olympics and the winner was Kathy Joffrion’s class.

20 Years Ago

From our July 13, 2006 editions

Dr. Richard Michel was sworn in as Marksville mayor for the seventh time. His first term was in 1978.

Ereika Tagliarino of Evergreen was killed and a Bunkie woman severely wounded in a traffic accident in Plaucheville.

Bunkie Mayor Gerard Moreau took the oath of office administered by Judge James Mixon, who also swore in Bunkie Chief of Police Mary Fanara.

The Marksville 4th of July parade was full of spectators and parade riders: James Strother, Ethan Strother, Chance Johnson, Errol Ponthier, Maria Ponthier, David and Pam Mitchel, Logan Vitrano, Josh Ellis, Andre Boyer, Kagan Jacobs and Desmon Simon.

The most popular baby names in the country for 2005 were Jacob and Emily.

10 Years Ago

From our July 14, 2016 editions

Superintendent of Schools Blaine Dauzat issued a plan to improve Avoyelles schools, which revolved around higher pay for teachers.

Stanley Celestine, Jr., a senior at LaSAS, received the Prudential Spirit of Community Award which included $1000.

Mansura town council voted to pay full time employees an additional 50 cents an hour which amounted to a yearly raise of $1,040.

The Council on the Aging fundraiser “Hot Dogs for Seniors” raised $10,000, which benefitted the Meals on Wheels program.

Judge Dee Drell ruled in favor of the school board on plaintiff Allen Holmes being paid $28,000 instead of the $2.7 million he asked for on the parish deseg case.