Avoyelles Past pages

By Donna Culotta & Abi Guillot

90 Years Ago

From our Feb. 22, 1936 editions
- The USS Arkansas visited New Orleans during the Mardi Gras celebration.
- The Gremillion Bus Line announced that it would operate its buses on a daily basis between Marksville and New Orleans.
- The parish courthouse was falling to pieces after being only eight years old.

80 Years Ago

From our Feb. 23, 1946 editions
- A Mass was said at St. Joseph Catholic Church in tribute to the memory of Mrs. Anna Yperes van der Putten, Father Van’s mother.
- Edgar Coco and Senator Chester Coco attended the first annual convention of the Louisiana Wholesale Grocers Association.
- Captain Mona Voinche, one of Bunkie's finest young ladies, arrived from New York City, where she spent time after her separation from the Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
- W.J. Nolin of Hamburg, president of the Marksville Farm Loan and Association, reported the Association enjoyed a 5% dividend.

70 Years Ago

From our Feb. 25, 1956 editions
- F.O. “Potch” Didier was elected sheriff.
- Bunkie Colored High School students took part in the 5th District Rally held at Peabody School, in Alexandria.
- Leroy Jackson, senior, won first and third place wood sculpture;
- Alice Rose Keller, senior, won first place in oration;
- George Ann Christian, junior, won third place in serious reading;
- Jessie Foster, senior won fourth place in chemistry and third place in painting.
- The Mixed Chorus won third place in choir music.
- Avoyelles Parish School Board President Hannon Sayes, Levi O. Campbell, Jr., Bienvenue Coco and Superintendent L.A. Cayer attended the National School Board Convention.
- John Englesman, manager of the Alexandria Social Security office, announced that sharecroppers of Avoyelles were generally considered self-employed for social security purposes.
- Marksville Garden Club members Mesdames Claudette McMath, David Friefeld and Ryan Couvillion won special recognition from the La. Garden Club Federation for their winning floral arrangements.

60 Years Ago

From our Feb. 24, 1966 editions
- The Bordelonville High School FFA placed second in the Cotton Yield contest.
- Avoyelles Parish School Board president Marvin Voinche scheduled a special meeting concerning consolidation.
- Garland (Catu) Wright of Morrow caught a quarter pound crawfish.
- The monster measured 11-inches from claw tip to claw tip and the body was six-inches long.
- Avoyelles ACS Chairman Harold J. Mayeux announced that soybean loans would help prices drop.
- Marksville Hospital submitted a request for eligibility in the Medicaid program.

50 Years Ago

From our Feb. 26, 1976 editions
- The police jury approved the creation of an industrial district.
- Wanda Ducote of Hessmer High School placed first in the District III Yam Contest.
- Mrs. Sherman H. French was appointed the new part time social director of the Avoyelles Country Club.
- M. Peter Roy and Jane Dupuy won first place at the Soil-Water Conservation Contest.
- Evergreen farmer Stebo Pearce showed Lions Club members a cookie made out of soybeans, that actually tasted good.
- Keith Juneau, Philip Lamartiniere and Timothy Lemoine received the Eagle Badge.
- Cottonport High School won first place in the marching band competition at the “Youth Expo.”

40 Years Ago

From our Feb. 27, 1986 editions
- The Marksville Garden Club celebrated its 50th anniversary at the home of Louise Schneider.
- Dr. Don Hines and Mrs. Elizabeth Reed made presentations at the Louisiana School Board Convention.
- David Smith of Bunkie was elected president of the Avoyelles Economic Development Board.
- A Hamburg prison site was proposed.
- LPN Brenda Barnes was selected Bayou Vista Manor Center's Employee of the Month for February. Barnes, was first employed by Bayou Vista as a part-time LPN in October 1979.

30 Years Ago

From our Feb. 22, 1996 editions
- A trash fire at the home of Paul Moreau in Marksville spread and destroyed two sheds.
- The Avoyelles Senior Center officially burned its last mortgage note, which indicated the loan was paid. Participating in the ceremony were: - Harris Ducote
- Dr. Richard Michel
- Lionel Bordelon
- Raymond Laborde
- Paul Gravel
- Joyce Laborde
- John Guillory
- Connie Lemoine
- Louis Mayeux
- Judge John Saunders
- The Bunkie Lady Panthers made another step towards the Sweet Sixteen Basketball Tournament with a 66-58 win over the Caldwell High School on Monday.
- A restored 1960 passenger train from the Kansas City Southern line carried top officials through Avoyelles after they viewed the bridge over the Red River in Alexandria.

20 Years Ago

From our Feb. 23, 2006 editions
- Crawfish season was in full swing but the harvest was a concern because the mud bugs were small and the amount was very low.
- The Main Street railroad underpass in Simmesport was closed due to safety concerns.
- Police jury President Kirby Roy proposed two options for taxes to fund a mosquito control program for the parish.
- A flat $35 fee per household or
- A 7-mill property tax above the homestead exemption.

10 Years Ago

From our Feb. 25, 2016 editions
- The project to widen Hwy. 1 between Marksville and Mansura was completed with four lanes and a turning lane.
- Stanley Celestine, Jr., a 16-year old from Cottonport and a leader in the 4-H program at LaSAS, was one of Louisiana’s two 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Award recipients.
- Eric Dupas of Cottonport was ruled incompetent to stand trial in a 2014 attack and carjacking and was committed to a state mental health hospital.
- Ruben John Dauzat of Marksville was inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Distinction in Baton Rouge. Dauzat, a master farmer, was honored for his agricultural production.