February may be the shortest month out the year, but that fact did not cause a shortage of newsworthy events around Evangeline Parish. Here is a rundown of those events as they occurred chronologically.
February 3, 2019
An expired sales tax for one Evangeline Parish community is prompting the parish sales tax commission to stress the importance of communication between outgoing and incoming government officials.
This topic first arose when Pine Prairie Mayor Quint West discovered late in 2018 an expired sales tax for roads had continued to be collected by the Sales Tax Commission and disbursed to the Village of Pine Prairie.
February 7, 2019
Officials from the City of Ville Platte were center stage at Monday night’s Evangeline Parish Police Jury meeting with an agenda to set forth a plan to work together to clean blighted properties and canals throughout the city.
According to Mayor Jennifer Vidrine, the police jury owns a total of 53 properties in the city alone that need to be cleaned.
February 10, 2019
During a recent Evangeline Parish Police Jury meeting City of Ville Platte officials addressed the jury requesting assistance in cleaning city canals.
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine said, “We need help from the police jury to clean the canals in the city. And, we don’t understand why the police jury cannot clean the canals in the city, especially now since that amendment passed last election that is allowing public political subdivisions to loan equipment to one another.
February 14, 2019
After 32 years with the Evangeline Parish School District, Roxane West announced she will be taking the skills she learned and executed in her home parish elsewhere.
At a recent school board meeting, she said, “It is the support of my family and prayers answered from God that has allowed me to do this, but I do thank you all so much for the years I’ve been here. I know the district is going to continue to do great things under the leadership of Mr. Darwan Lazard (School Superintendent) and the staff. ”
February 17, 2019
Recent developments in the oil and gas industry forced the laying off of approximately 70 employees at the Cameron-Schlumberger plant located inside the Industrial Park.
Evangeline Parish Police Jury President Ryan “LeDay” Williams confirmed the layoffs in a statement and said, “The Cameron-Schlumberger layoff that happened last week was most likely due to the downturn in the oil and gas industry along with the price of natural gas not being stable.”
February 21, 2019
A Ville Platte man was arrested in St. Landry Parish on February 14 after he allegedly beat a disabled veteran at a gas station in Nuba.
The individual arrested was Kenneth Shergold.
February 24, 2019
For the first time in decades, the Evangeline Parish School Board voted to give board members a $200 raise during Wednesday night’s meeting.
Board President Wayne Dardeau said, “I got on the board in 1990, and I know we have never voted for a raise. I also spoke with Doc (Bobby Deshotel), and he told me he doesn’t recall school board members ever getting a raise since he was elected in 1969.”
The increase in pay will now boost each school board member’s monthly paycheck from $600 to $800 a month - the maximum amount a school board member is allowed to make by law.
February 28, 2019
A pillar in the community for her efforts in the Pro-Life Walk and the Perpetual Adoration Chapel has succumbed to her battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Winifred Ann “Pitchy” Tuminaro entered eternal rest Tuesday morning at the age of 74. Her funeral was held Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church.