By: HEATHER BOGARD
Associate Editor
Today, we take a look back 25 years ago at the events happening in Ville Platte in October 2001.
•Three juveniles faced serious charges for terrorizing after calling in bomb threats to three parish schools in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
•Sacred Heart High School beat Ville Platte High School 37-7 in the second annual Tee Cotton Bowl. Emergency personnel were honored during the game.
•The wives of the Ville Platte Fire Department held a successful bake sale with proceeds going to the New York Fireman’s Widow and Children’s Fund. In total, $7,000 was raised between the bake sale and two boot drives collecting money.
•Young Bryce Richard of Mamou, along with his friends, held a lemonade sale for the Red Cross Relief Fund to help the victims of 9/11.
•A proclamation declaring Danny Ardoin Day was signed, recognizing star Ville Platte athlete Danny Ardoin.
•Danielle Saucier was named Miss Pine Prairie.
•The 48th Annual Cotton Festival was dedicated to long time volunteers Cassie S. McQuater and Thomas “T.L.” Hadley.
•Cleveland Manuel and Verna Henry served as Le Roi et La Reine of the 48th Cotton Festival.
•Queen Cotton XLVII Theresa Martin received the surprise of her life when her boyfriend of seven years, Dwayne Jenkins, got down on one knee in front of the crowd and proposed at the coronation shortly before crowning the new queen. He said, “Ville Platte had her as a queen for one year, now I want her for the rest of my life.” Martin happily said yes to the roaring cheers of the entire crowd in attendance.
•Annie Caillouet, daughter of Henrietta Caillouet of Abbeville and the late David Caillouet, was crowned as Queen Cotton XLVIII, and Senator Don Hines served as King Cotton XLVIII alongside her.
•Sale items at Brown’s Furniture included: a five-piece butcher block dinette set ($150); and a five piece cherry sleigh bedroom suite with head board, foot board, wood rails, dresser and mirror ($999).
Sale items at Champagne’s included: Community Coffee (one pound for $3.49); whole ribeye ($3.39 per pound); 10-pound bag of Champagne brand rice ($1.99); red delicious apples (one bag for $1.79); and five-pound bag of red potatoes (2 for $3).
•Movies showing at the Queen Cinema in Eunice included: “Zoolander,” starring Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor; and “Training Day,” starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.
•Movies showing at St. Landry Cinema in Opelousas included: “Serendipity,” starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale; and “Bandits,” starring Bruce Willis and Cate Blanchett.
•Popular songs of October 2001 included: “Fallin’,” By Alicia Keys; “I’m Real,” by Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule; “You Rock My World,” by Michael Jackson; “Only in America,” by Brooks and Dunn; and “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,” by Aaron Tippin.
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