January 3, 2002
• Law enforcement authorities reported a quiet New Year’s holiday with no serious occurrences. Ville Platte Police Chief, Romeo Hargrove said the new year came in quietly. No other major occurrences were reported in the parish by other law enforcement agancies. Troop I’s public information officer Wille Williams Jr., reported there were no fatalities in the Troop I area over the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Celebration. He said other data was still being collected in reference to DWI, seat belt, and speeding violations.
January 6, 2002
• Jessica McIntosh, a senior at Bayou Chicot High School, has recently received notification that she was selected as a semi-finalist out of the 91,000 applicants nationwide in the 2002 Coca-Cola Scholars Program. She is one of 2,000 semi-finalists, which are the top two percent of seniors who applied this year. Jessica is the daughter of Wesley and Charlotte McIntosh of St. Landry.
• The Cajunette Family and Community Education Association held its Christmas social at the home of Winifred Veillon. The Club admired the beautiful blue lap robe embroidered by Jackie Miller, titled “A Garden of Memories,” and was presented to Miss Mabel Thompson, a resident of Grand Cove Retirement Center in Lake Charles. The outstanding F.C.E. Club Member of the Year had been voted at the November meeting. The three members eligible for the honor were: Earleen Boyce, Nelda Fontenot, and Sarah Webb. The Cajunette Outstanding Member of the Year 2001 was Nelda Fontenot. The club enjoyed the exchanging of gifts, followed by a Christmas lunch.
January 10, 2002
• A Ville Platte man had been charged by Eunice Police for Possession of Schedule II narcotics. Bryan Paul Andrus, 21, 1148 Tate Cove, Ville Platte, was stopped by Eunice authorities during a routine traffic stop. Andrus was charged January 7, 2002, with possession of Schedule II CDS (crystal methamphetamine
January 13, 2002
• A Ville Platte man led officers on a chase through the city Thursday, January 10, 2002 after an officer attempted to stop him when the officer noticed the driver was driving a vehicle with switched plates. Aaron Hagger Jr., 36, 307 N. Chataignier St., Ville Platte, was charged with seven violations of failure to stop at a stop sign, no turn signal, improper lane usage, switched plates, speeding, careless operation, no driver’s license, no registration, no insurance and flight from an officer.
January 17, 2002
• A methamphetamine lab was discovered operating in Pine Prairie that week by state officials. On January 14, 2002, West District Narcotics Agents received information on a methamphetamine lab that was operating in the town of Pine Prairie in Evangeline Parish, according to Louisiana State Police Troop I public information officer Willie Williams Jr.
January 20, 2002
• Information obtained by the Ville Platte Police Department led to the arrest of a former nurse and to the recovery of several prescription drugs which she had obtained illegally. Linda Ann Fralick, 44, 1898 Highway 1185, Cottonport was arrested after officers discovered that she had obtained several prescriptions at a local pharmacy in January. On Thursday, officers stopped Fralick after she obtained another prescription locally.
• Two brothers were facing possession related charges after officers executed a search warrant and discovered crack cocaine. Ville Platte Police Sgt. Neil Lartigue said a search warrant was obtained for a Calcasieu residence after officers received information that indicated illegal narcotics were being sold.
January 24,2002
• Evangeline Parish selected one boy and one girl to represent Evangeline Parish at the Governor’s Mansion. The students submitted a painted Christmas ornamnet that best represented Evangeline Parish. The two students were from Vidrine High School. They were Margo Fontenot and Jesse Rider. They painted the Christmas ornament at the Governor’s Mansion with other students throughout the state. The ornaments were placed on the Christmas tree in the Governor’s Mansion. Each parish was represented by ornaments painted by students throughout the state.
January 27, 2002
• The Evangeline Parish Family and Community Education Council sponsored its annual Arbor Day Ceremony on Thursday morning at the Extension Office. Mrs. Lynn Landreneau opened the ceremony and Ville Platte Mayor Bennett Baquet welcomed the group that gathered for the special event. Monsignor Bob Romero provided the invocation, and Mrs. Elaine MacArthur led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Keith Fontenot introduced members of the Extension Service staff and thanked the group of public officials, F.C.E. members and guests attended.