Flashback: Avoyelles Past Pages from 90 Years Ago!

By Donna Culotta & Abi Guillot

90 Years Ago

From our Feb. 29, 1936 editions
Mr. Earl Edwards of Marksville was selected to represent Production Credit Association of Marksville
Former Marksville resident Mr. B. F. Porterie had full charge of the insurance department at the Reeves-Morgan Funeral Home
Sims Gauthier of the Moreauville High FFA chapter won first place in the sub-district contest

80 Years Ago

From our March. 2, 1946 editions
Rev. Garland C. Dean, pastor of the Marksville Methodist Church attended a Pastor’s Training School in Chicago
Clerk of Court Louis Travasos received a honorable discharge from the service
L.P. (Poobin) Lemoine was appointed police juror for Ward 9. He replaced Leonard Goudeau
Mr. A.J. Melancon, Jr, assistant extension agent in Avoyelles, was appointed agent in St. Charles Parish

70 Years Ago

From our March 3, 1956 editions
LaNell Hines of Centerpoint was listed on the semester honor roll at Northwestern State College
L.M. Haynie, Jr., local Ford tractor and implement dealer announced that all new tractors on display featured power steering as standard equipment
The first parishwide music festival was termed a magnificent success
Mr. and Mrs. James McNabb of Bunkie celebrated their golden wedding anniversary
Dallas Janet, Jr. of Mansura was awarded the 4-H Farm and Home Electric Award

60 Years Ago

From our March 3, 1966 editions
Preston J. Baudin, Earnest J. Dubea, Edwin Bozek, Twyman Guillory and Ira Schneider all sought election to the Marksville town council
Marine Private First Class William L. Simpson, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Simpson of Bunkie was serving in the Chu Lai sector of Vietnam with Company "B' of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines
The school board unanimously agreed to submit a one-cent sales tax for teachers salaries
Bruce Juneau of Moreauville made the LSU Dean’s List
Marksville High students Stanley Lemoine, Kathy McClung and John Guillot won the showmanship honor at the parish livestock show
Richard Gremillion, owner of the Gremillion Appliance Store in Marksville received the Frigidaire “Award of Merit”
1966 rice allotments were scheduled to increase by 10%

50 Years Ago

From our March, 4, 1976 editions
The choir at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marksville presented a sacred concert
Mrs. Azelia Juneau, Mr. Jack Juneau, Mrs. Ida Dubea and Mrs. Agnes Guillot of Colonial Nursing Home received certificates of appreciation for submitting letters that told of the good things they feel about living in a nursing home
Rowena Ann Johnson was selected as the winner in the Hessmer Woodmen queen contest
Margaret Juneau was elected president of the Cottonport High Art Club
Patti Bordelon, Donna Caubarreaux and Brett Roy were all winners in the Marksville Middle School Bookmark contest

40 Years Ago

From our March 6, 1986 editions
The Hessmer Branch of the Union Bank held its Grand Opening
Ronald Coco was chosen as the first president of the Cajun Riding Club in Fifth Ward
Judge Gano Bergeron, Avoyelles Justice of the Peace for Ward Nine was appointed Justice of the Peace for Ward
Temperatures in Bunkie dropped from 70 on a Thursday afternoon to 44 degrees early Friday morning and down to 41 by noon
Kathleen LaCombe-Reuter of Hessmer made the Pacific University Dean’s List
Francis Burke of Bunkie was renovating the old Bennettville Store north of Bunkie. Burke opened the store as "Fran's Unique Boutique" which offered 'collectibles’ from various periods during the 1900's

30 Years Ago

From our Feb. 29, 1996 editions
Amy Mitchell of Mansura, an 11-year old afflicted with cerebral palsy and scoliosis won the International “I Can” Award which recognized outstanding achievements of children and young adults
Record rainfall was recorded for April 11, 1995 when 12.67 inches fell in a 24-hour period
Sarah Brouillette was pictured as a clown and riding a bike in the Moncla Mardi Gras parade
The Bunkie Record hosted a foreign exchange student for next seven weeks
The student, Olivier Marechal, was a Belgian college student at Iesn College located in Namur, Belgium. He was a senior majoring in marketing

20 Years Ago

From our March 2, 2006 editions
The school board opposed adding a third minority seat and decided to stay with the current district plan
It was extremely cold for the annual Mardi Gras parade in Marksville
Crowds were very thin and a cold north wind did not help the lack of parade goers
Marksville candidates who announced for the spring election were:
- Janet Gros
- Richard Tassin
- Russell Marcotte
- Connie St. Romain
- Elliot Jordan
Mitchell Mayeux, age 41 of Plaucheville was found guilty of forcible rape after a four-day trial
Miss Avoyelles Parish 2005 Adrienne Strong congratulated the new Miss Avoyelles Parish 2006 Morgan Palermo. Both girls were students at Bunkie High

10 Years Ago

From our March 3, 2016 editions
Doris Leary of Bunkie New Tech was chosen as Teacher of the Month
In an attempt to improve discipline and behavior on campus a school board committee revised and tightened policies concerning cell phones and dress code
Catholic School Students of the Year were:
- Molly Roy, Camryn Brown, St. Anthony
- Hailey Tigner, Lawson Marchand, St. Mary’s
- Tate Deshotels, Macie Bernard, Sacred Heart
- Alexis Barker, St. Joseph High
The La. Public Service Commission rejected a $4.9 billion proposal by a Canadian-Australian group of investors to buy Cleco Power
Police Juror McKinley Keller of Bunkie was charged with DWI-first offense early on a Sunday morning. He was also charged with driving on the right side of the road and failed a sobriety test
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