Looking Back: Highlights of July and August 1998

This week, we take a look back at July and August 1998
•Dale Sittig, public service commissioner, announced the 318 area code may change within the next couple of years, as soon as 2002, due to the area code running out of numbers.
•Ville Platte Elementary received 25 new computers for the kindergarten-second grade lab. An 8g grant in the amount of $96,000 was utilized for the project, which allowed students in grades kindergarten-second access to 30 minutes of computer instruction each day, 15 minutes of math and 15 minutes of reading.
•Paula Landreneau was named principal of Sacred Heart for the 1998-1999 school year. Under her were Eva Guillory, elementary assistant principal; and Andrew Ducote, high school assistant principal.
•Martin M. Fontenot, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Chretien of Mamou and 1962 graduate of Joseph Celestine High School, received the honor of reaching fellow grade status membership in the International Air and Waste Management Association.
•A minor fire occurred at the Acadian Cinema on Main Street.
•The widening of State Hwy 3042 (Chicot State Park Road) was underway and expected to take three-six months to complete.
•Bob Eastin was named Pharmacist of the Year.
•15-year-old Jodi Sylvester spent the summer traveling, performing as a member of the Tobasco Kids.
•Ruthie Evans was named Member of the Year for the Pine Prairie Garden Club.
•The Ville Platte Medical Center Wellness Center held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on July 31.
•Burger King held its grand opening on August 27.
•Sale items at Winn-Dixie included: sliced pork loin ($1.98/lb), two-liter bottles of coke products (.78), various 13.5-20 oz size Kelloggs cereal ($1.88), and Superbrand half-gallon ice cream (2/$4.50.)
•Sale items at Heilig Meyers Furniture store included: a four-piece bedroom set for $877, with an additional matching dresser available for $1; and a five-piece dining set for $699, with an additional pair of matching chairs available for $1.
•Sale items available at Teet’s included: rib-eye ($1.98/lb), five-pound bag of flour (.89), and gallon of various LouAnna oil ($3.99.)
•Movies released in July/August 1998 included: “There’s Something About Mary,” starring Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller; “Saving Private Ryan,” starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon; “The Parent Trap,” starring Lindsey Lohan, Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson; “Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later,” starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Josh Hartnett; and “Ever After,” starring Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Houston.
•Popular songs of July/August 1998 included:”My Way” by Usher, “Ray of Light” by Madonna, “Adia” by Sarah McLachlan, “Crush” by Jennifer Paige, and “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith.