Lifestyle

Ville Platte Rotary President Wayne Vidrine (left) is pictured here presenting Rotary pins to newly installed members Bob and Barbara Buroker at a previous meeting in November. The Burokers are the first husband and wife to be inducted into the club. They are pictured here with Rotarian Leonard Fontenot (center) who recruited Barbara, who recruited Bob. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

A new access road from Chicot State Park to the Ward 1 Industrial Park was officially opened on Monday, January 7, 2002. According to Police Jury President Bob Manuel, the new road was necessary because traffic to and from the Industrial Park tended to bottle neck on Tate Cove Road, which was the only entry. Also, Manuel said, the road was across a railroad track, and if a catastrophe occured, there would be no other way for emergency vehicles to access the park. The 1.3 mile long road cost approximately $750,000 and was funded by a state capital outlay grant. The construction company was H&S Construction of Broussard. Pictured, from left, for the ribbon cutting ceremony were Parish Engineer Ronnie Landreneau, H&S Construction Supervisor Charles Chadvick, Juror Turlind Deville, Juror Bill Guidry, Juror Davis Manuel, Police Jury President Bob Manuel, Juror Richard Thomas, and Jury Secretary Dale Reed. (Gazette photo by Roland Manuel)

At the same meeting, Michelle Sonnier (center) was the guest speaker. She is pictured here with Ville Platte Rotary President Wayne Vidrine (left) and Rotarian Mable Foreman (right). (Gazette photos by Tony Marks)