Avoyelles Pages Past

By Donna Culotta

90 Years Ago

From our August 15, 1936 editions

The Central Cash Store, purchased by J.M. Brouillette, held its grand opening.

The 32nd morbidity report indicated there had been one case of typhoid fever in the parish.

Jules Escude announced that he had purchased the Schlessinger property on Main Street in Marksville and would construct a modern filling station.

Avoyelles residents received over $167,000 from the Home Owners Corporation.

Avoyelles schools were eligible to receive books for the school libraries from the State Library.

80 Years Ago

From our August 17, 1946 editions

Ewell Paul Roy of Hessmer received his American Farmers Degree from the FFA.

Mary L. Tassin Home Demonstration Agent encouraged people to help fight famine by conserving grain products.

Miss Marion Hall received her bachelor of music degree from LSU.

The Carter Jewelry Company located in Bunkie held a successful grand opening of their new store.

70 Years Ago

From our August 18, 1956 editions

Merlin Coco was installed as Grand Knight of the Mansura Knights of Columbus.

From its beginning on June 6, 1841 when John O’Quinn made a public profession of his faith in Jesus, the Bayou Rouge Baptist Church in Evergreen has continued to tell everyone about Jesus.

James Lee qualified in the upcoming election for judge of the Bunkie City Court.

Noah Chatelain, Grand Knight of the Bunkie Knights of Columbus, was slated to leave for the national KC convention in Detroit.

Marksville residents Billy Masling, Daniel Edwards and Fenwick Swann received their master degrees from LSU.

60 Years Ago

From our August 17, 1966 editions

Veronica Ann Guillot of Bunkie and the daughter of Theresa Guillot of Monroe received her degree at the summer commencement of Northeast Louisiana State College.

Charles A,Riddle Jr. of Marksville was elected Avoyelles Parish District Attorney and Mrs. Frances Moreau won the Avoyelles Parish Assessor office.

Camille Gaspard of the Hessmer FFA was elected as a member of the state board of directors for a three-year period.

St. Joseph’s School third grade class received recognition for having raised the most money for crippled children.

Van Roy of Marksville resigned from the Progress Action Committee.

Barry Barr of Simmesport was awarded the Louisiana Youth Safety Council’s Award of Merit.

Forest Tassin Jr. and Jude Normand received their degrees from LSU.

50 Years Ago

From our August 19, 1976 editions

Jack Roy, salesman for Lewis Roy Motors, won an all-expense trip to Las Vegas.

Bunkie Panther football began drills and four new, young assistant coaches were present for it. They were Larry Gilbert, Donald Gagnard, Talbert Courville and Andrew Brown.

Dr. James Childress and Clay Mayeux scored victories in the school board elections. Jessie Mayeux and Linton Walls qualified in the run-off election for District-C.

Mr. T.P. Fuqua of Effie celebrated his 96th birthday.

Eldridge Guillory, Ernest Mayeaux and Gaston Rabalais graduated from CLECO’s three year electrical utility training.

Mr. and Mrs. Lance Coco of Hamburg celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

40 Years Ago

From our August 19, 1986 editions

Charles Masters was named Central Louisiana District Campaign Co-Chairman for the Republican Party by Henson Moore.

Former Baltimore Colt player and LSU quarterback Bert Jones was stranded in Bunkie for three hours when his truck broke down.

Kent Milton was elected co-chairman of the Avoyelles Deanery Catholic Youth Board.

The Marksville Prehistoric Park was expected to close.

30 Years Ago

From our August 15, 1996 editions

Earnest Freeman, Avoyelles Parish County Agent, announced the corn yield as well as the prices were up and the farmers were more excited than he had seen them in years.

Superintendent of Education Al Lemoine recognized the 4-H Award of Excellence winners for 1995-96 who were Josh Mayeux, Sacred Heart School; Jennifer Rico, Camille Swafford, Emily Gremillion, Tiffany Pepper and Laura Dorgant all from Mansura Middle.

Murdis Juneau, 66 year old retired nurse of Bunkie, placed first in Race Walking and the Walkathon Race at the Regional Senior Olympics.

20 Years Ago

From our August 15, 2006 editions

Department heads were appointed by the Marksville City Council as: Mark Bordelon, Fire Chief; Norris Greenhouse, Chief of Police; Myron Gagnard, Sec/Treasurer; Jerry Ducey, City Manager; Ken Lacombe, Asst. Street Supervisor; Kim Temple, Asst. Sec/Treasurer; Wayne Cooper, Sewer Dept; Curby Carmouche, Water Supt.; Paul Marcotte, Utilities Supt. and Michael Kelly, City Attorney.

Julie Fletcher, a senior at Bunkie High School and the daughter of Dr. John and Leta Fletcher, was elected president of the National Sr. BETA Club.

Summer Reading Programs at the Avoyelles libraries always ended with door prizes and the Cottonport prize winners were: Airia Hall, Kylie Savage, Jordan Firmin, Aliya Callegari, Devon Kelly, Vanessa Laborde, Tricia Laborde.

Artist Juanita Courtney Faciane of Bunkie gave a presentation on her art and techniques to the Keenagers group meeting at the First Baptist Church.

10 Years Ago

From our August 17, 2016 editions

Mansura was mourning the loss of longtime Mayor Harold Quebedeaux who died August 12 in his home.

Supreme Court Justice Jeannette Knoll won another 10 years on the La. Supreme Court after she ran unopposed.

Concerned citizens attended the Cottonport town council meeting expressing their distress over a spike in recent crime activity and what the Cottonport police were doing about it.

Marksville hired a new engineering firm Marksville - based URS Corp. with senior project manager Rene Borrel.

Laura Hargis was appointed the new principal at Bunkie High School and Amy Volentine became the new principal at Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy.