Avoyelles Pages Past

By Donna Culotta

90 Years Ago

From our Dec. 28, 1935 editions
An Irish potato program for Avoyelles Parish was discussed.
C.C. Couvillion, formerly named master Teacher of Louisiana among the Smith-Hughes agriculture teachers of the state in 1932-33, assumed his duties as country agent of Terrebonne Parish.
Miss Louise Cailteteau of the Southwestern Louisiana Institute, enjoyed a Christmas vacation at her parents home in Marksville.
Mrs. Sidney Lemoine hoasted the Mansura Home Demonstration Club’s December meeting.

80 Years Ago

From our Dec. 28, 1945 editions
The reception of candidates into the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin was held at St. Anthony Church.
Rev. A. Olinger, director, received the candidates who were presented by Miss Margaret Carter, Sodality secretary.
The following were received:
- Dorothy Matime
- Mary Cerami
- Frankie Baronne
- Ralph Wayne Axtle
- Alcine Bordelon
- Paul Richard Giglio
- Frank Palermo
- James Tassin
- Walker Cecil
- Glynn Villemarette
- Mac-Gerald Landry
- Clyde Goudeau
- August Mason
- Elliot Duplechin

Lt. Jimmie Dupuy, who had been spending the holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Burton Dupuy, left for Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, where he was stationed.
Mrs. Edna Chance entertained members of the National Geographic Club at her home.
Those attending were:
- Mesdames W.C. Stewart
- Edwin Pearce
- O.C. Arnold
- James L. Dudding
- Lynn Pomeroy
- Miss Mary Taliaferro

Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Heath had as their holiday guests, Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Heath and daughter, Dary, of Oklahoma City, Okla.

70 Years Ago

From our Dec. 30, 1955 editions
Winners in the Bunkie Christmas Lighting Contest for 1955 were:
- First place-religious scene went to Mr. and Mrs. R.O. Ladnier with St. Anthony Parochial School placing second.
- Window decoration-
- Mr. and Mrs. Sidney J. Lemoine, first
- Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mulhearn, second
- Door decoration-
- Col. and Mrs. W.D. Haas, first
- Mr. and Mrs. Nick Glorioso, second
- Outdoor decoration-
- Mr. and Mrs. Warren Constant, first
- Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Moulier, second

Judges for the Lighting Contest were Mesdames L.L. Lovell, Wayne McNutt and Edgar McNutt, all members of the Cheneyville Garden Club.
Six members of the Bunkie High School football team were chosen as All-District 3-A representatives for the 1955 season.
They were:
- Stafford Holland, fullback
- William Cullen, tackle
- Terry Brown, end
- Irby Bordelon, tackle
- George Vollman, center
- Pat McCoy, halfback

60 Years Ago

From our Dec. 30, 1965 editions
Members of Bunkie High School's home economics class visited the Bayou Vista Manor Nursing Home.
They presented patients with small Christmas trees and sang Christmas carols.
Present were:
- Linda Dubroc
- Linda Bordelon
- Evelyn Watts
- Cynthia Daigrepont
- Toni Griffin
- Elaine Clark
- Dorothy Roy
- Regina Goudeau
- Bonnie Lefler
- Lavergne Reed
- Katie Socia
- Patricia Duplechin

J.O. Charrier of Moreauville was elected Mr. Northwestern State College in Natchitoches.
S.L. Waters, manager of the Marksville Southern Bell, announced that Marksville telephone customers would get full benefit of the reduction on the federal excise tax imposed on telephone service.

50 Years Ago

From our Dec. 25, 1975 editions
Carlos Mayeux, Jr., Dale Walker, Vivian Laprarie, George Broussard and Ronald Mayeux participated in the Title IV Consolation Workshop held at the State Dept. of Education.
Ricky Lacombe and Stephen Bordelon of the Marksville High School football team were selected as members of the All-District Football Team.
Hessmer FFA members:
- Kent Guillory
- Robin Moreau
- Terry Laborde
- Blaine Villemarette

all completed in the State Soil Judging Contest.

40 Years Ago

From our Jan. 2, 1986 editions
Avoyelles 4-H members Scott Dubea and Charlotte Desselle attended the National Congress.
Louisiana mayors proclaimed the week of Jan. 13-17 as “School Attendance Awareness Week.”
A one-third tuition exemption was available for teachers wishing to attend Louisiana college.
The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus of the Western District, which included Avoyelles, were asked to contribute $23,000 to a program to provide scholarships for religion teachers.

30 Years Ago

From our Dec 28, 1995 editions
The paper featured Top Stories of 1995 and included such items as:
- Louise Schneider being named Avoyellean of the year
- David Mitchel being appointed CEO of Avoyelles Hospital
- The home of District Attorney Eddie Knoll and Judge Jeanette Knoll heavily damaged by fire
- A replica of the Nina, the ship Columbus used in his voyage to America, sailed up the Red River through Avoyelles to Alexandria.

Avoyelles High students:
- Alyssa Lemoine
- Danielle Soldani

along with Mansura Middle students:
- Nika Bordelon
- Emily Gremillion

worked together on a campus 4-H project to paint trash barrels to put on the campus grounds.
Members of the Moreauville Garden Club worked on flower arrangements to be given patients at the hospital.
The group included:
- Peggy Laborde
- Diane Bordelon
- Shawn Bordelon
- Ann Bordelon
- Edith Bordelon

20 Years Ago

From our Dec 27, 2005 editions
U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal visited Avoyelles Public Charter School in recognition of the school enrolling 76 students who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
The Mansura town council discussed concerns over Club Secrets lounge in light of a shooting incident that allegedly involved patrons of the bar but did not occur on the bar property.
Brian Lachney of Mansura was charged with 2nd degree murder in connection with the Nov. 25 shooting of Derrick Jackson of Bunkie.
There were 16-FEMA trailers delivered to Baudin Trailer Park in Marksville to provide temporary housing for people displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

10 Years Ago

These editions were not available.