Staff Report
We made another trip around the sun. Welcome to 2026!
This year promises to be one of intrigue and captivating storylines with somebody other than the Kansas City Chiefs playing in the Super Bowl, Taylor Swift marrying Travis Kelce, and federal elections taking place that could decide the balance of power in Congress.
Before we look too far ahead, though, let us take a step back and reflect on how we got here. The past year has produced numerous newsworthy events across Evangeline Parish. At the end of the year and the beginning of another year, one question remained. Where would these stories rank in terms of top stories of the year?
To answer that question, staff members of the Ville Platte Gazette were tasked with ranking the top 10 stories of the past year. The undertaking to whittle down the entries was a difficult one, and some stories just missed the cut.
Just missing the cut were stories about Kevin Veillon being elected president of the Evangeline Parish Police Jury and Darwan Lazard being unanimously elected second vice president of the National Baptist Convention of America (NBCA) International, Inc.
The following are the ones who cracked the list of top stories and are revealed here starting from number 10 to number 1.
No. 10
Good-bye and hello
After a hearing was held on Monday, January 6, the honorable Judge Marcus Fontenot, of the 13th Judicial District Court, ruled the District 8 seat on the Evangeline Parish School Board is vacant because board member Wanda Skinner does not meet the domiciliary requirements of the office.
The lawsuit was originally filed by District Attorney Trent Brignac after complaints were filed with his office alleging Skinner did not reside in the district.
On the third ballot, the Evangeline Parish School Board voted 6-5 to appoint Kimberly Coleman to fill the vacancy in District 8.
Voting for Coleman, in the third round, were board members Kristy Briley, Calvin Leday, Fannie Soileau, Wayne Dardeau, Monica Andrus, and Karen Vidrine.
Board members Donald Anderson, Nick Chaumont, Bobby Hamlin, Sheila Joseph, and Lonnie Sonnier voted for William Blake.
Board member Mike Fontenot was absent from special meeting, which was held Wednesday, January 29.
Coleman then served on the school board until Jerry “Mr.” B” Bottley was elected in a special election on Saturday, October 11.
Bottley received 74% of the vote compared to Coleman’s 26%. Unofficial turnout was 18%.
No. 9
Enshrined
Among the honorees inducted into the Louisiana Sport Hall of Fame was George “Bobby” Soileau, of Ville Platte.
After making a name for himself as one of the most dominant boxers, which included claiming multiple high school championships and an individual NCAA title for LSU’s nationally-renowned program, the Ville Platte native became a championship-winning football coach at his alma mater -- Sacred Heart High School. Soileau’s first boxing state title came in the eighth grade in the 90-pound weight class in 1950. He followed with the 100-pound crown in 1951, the 110-pound crown in 1952 and 125-pound crown in 1954. His lone defeat at state came his junior year in 1953 when he lost the 115-pound title match to Bruce Boudreaux, which is considered one of the greatest fights in state history. Soileau, known for his powerful left jab, was awarded the Francis G. Brink Trophy as a senior which was given to the state’s best boxer. In his five-year prep boxing career, Soileau went 96-2-1 and was inducted into the inaugural Louisiana High School Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013. As a sophomore at LSU, who signed him to a boxing scholarship, he helped the Tigers to a 7-1-1 dual-meet record and won the 1956 NCAA national title in the 125-pound (featherweight) division.
No. 8
Rest easy
•Evangeline Parish Superintendent Darwan Lazard reported Nancy Hamlin, former school board member and mother of Board President Bobby Max Hamlin, died on the evening of Thursday, January 23.
•Garland Ray Forman Sr., a loving father, grandfather, and pillar of the community entered his eternal home on Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Ville Platte, at the age of 87.
Funeral services were held at Calvary Baptist Church in Bayou Chicot on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 1 p.m. with Pastor Wade Lambright officiating the services. Ray was laid to rest in Vandenburg Cemetery.
•A beloved member of the community, affectionately known as “Taunt Sue de Mamou,” passed away on Tuesday, April 1, at the age of 93.
Her Christian name was Carina Alice Vasseur, and she was known worldwide for keeping the Cajun culture of Mamou alive while being involved with the iconic Fred’s Lounge.
For her efforts, Vasseur was twice recognized by the Cajun Music Festival.
•A well-respected businessman of Ville Platte and the wider community passed away on Monday, April 21, at the age of 81.
Visitation for Jasper J. Fontenot began at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 28, at LaVille Funeral Home, in Ville Platte, and continued until 8 p.m.
Visitation resumed on Tuesday, April 29, at 9 a.m. at Laville Funeral Home. A funeral followed at Our Lady, Queen of All Saints Catholic Church, in Ville Platte, at 1 p.m.
•Beloved long-time local physician Dr. Wayne LaHaye passed away Thursday, May 1, at the age of 86.
A native of Vidrine, Dr. LaHaye dedicated his life to serving his community and caring for his patients at Vidrine Community Clinic and Savoy Medical Center into his 80s.
•Carissa Hebert, who served as editor of the Ville Platte Gazette from 1998-2011, passed away on Wednesday, May 21, at the age of 59. A Catholic funeral service was held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Eunice on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 1 p.m. Deacon Gary Gaudin officiated.
•Leon Estes, a respected civic leader, educator, entrepreneur, and sportsman, whose service to the community spanned generations, passed away on July 16 at the age of 87.
Estes served as president of the Evangeline Parish Solid Waste Commission from its inception in 1984 until his passing, leading efforts to modernize and maintain the parish’s waste management systems for over four decades. He also served for a time on the Evangeline Parish Tax Commission, further extending his dedication to public service.
•Reverend Thomas Montelaro, former associate pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Ville Platte and former chaplain of the Ville Platte Fire Department, passed away on August 29, in Las Vegas, Nev., at the age of 78.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Eunice on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 2 p.m. Entombment followed in the St. Paul Mausoleum with Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel, Bishop of Lafayette, as celebrant.
•Gary Richard Steckler, well known for his art, passed away on September 23, at the age of 86.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 27, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Visitation was held at 11 am, followed by the Rosary at 12 p.m. and Mass at 12:45 p.m.
No. 7
Reading well
During the August 20, meeting of the Evangeline Parish School Board, Superintendent Darwan Lazard stated while they are still waiting on additional data from the state, he wanted to congratulate Cheri Fontenot and staff members on their work on improving literacy scores in Evangeline Parish. They received wonderful news from the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) regarding literacy growth in Evangeline Parish.
Fontenot then proudly said it was her honor to announce Evangeline Parish was recognized by the LDOE as being the number one top improving districts on the literacy screener in the entire state. For the 2024-2025 school year, the parish saw a growth of 31.3 percent in students reaching benchmark goals by the end of the school year. She added from the end of the 2023-2024 school year and the end of the 2024-2025 year, there was a growth of 25 percent of K-3 students reading on grade level. As a result, the benchmark goals reached has increased from 34 percent to 59 percent in one school year.
No. 6
Reddell tension
The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a standoff which occurred on Thursday, December 4, in the Reddell area.
As a result, Gerald Chapman was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, fake explosive device, and terrorizing.
No. 5
Booking.no
The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office reports an arrest in connection of an alleged altercation between a Mamou councilman and Rufus Searile.
According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint on Fuselier Road of a person trespassing on their property on September 5.
About a month later, Searile was arrested and booked on the charges of computer aided solicitation of juveniles (under 13 years old), indecent behavior with juvenile (under 13 years old) and child grooming (under 13 years old).
No. 4
Trial and error
A bench trial against the Evangeline Parish School Board, Assistant Superintendent Michael Lombas, and Superintendent Darwan Lazard began on Monday, August 11, in front of the honorable Judge Marcus L. Fontenot. A separate jury trial against West will occur later.
The plaintiff, Kayren Ortego testified on Tuesday, as the bench trial entered its second day. She said she has been an educator for the past 37 years and that her first year at Pine Prairie High School was in 2017 after transferring from Ville Platte High.
Then in October, Judge Fontenot ruled in favor of the Evangeline Parish School Board. Judge Fontenot, in his written decision, found the plaintiff, Kayren Ortego, “failed to meet her burden of proof that she was subjected to sexual harassment or any other tortious act.”
No. 3
Burnt crawfish
As the area was emerging from a blanket of snow, tragedy of another element struck overnight on Saturday, January 25.
At 12:26 a.m., 38 firefighters and 15 firetrucks from the Vidrine Fire Department, Mamou Fire Department, W.C. Read Fire Department, and Ville Platte Fire Department responded to a fire at The Crawfish Barn, in the Vidrine area.
Kelli Jo Soileau, owner of the restaurant, stated, “We are heartbroken by this loss. The Crawfish Barn has been a beloved part of our community for many, many years, and we are deeply saddened to see it damaged in this way.”
“We want to express our sincere gratitude for the outpouring of support and encouragement from our community during this difficult time. Your kind words and offers of assistance mean the world to us.”
No. 2
Indicted
Nearly two years after Brittany Guillory Fontenot was found dead at her residence in the Chataginier area, the victim’s husband, Ray Charles Fontenot, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the incident.
Fontenot, age 33, was then indicted on the charge of second degree murder for the death of Brittany Guillory Fontenot on Wednesday, March 26. The charge stems from an incident which occurred on or about April 13, 2023. Arraignment on this case was set for May 5.
No. 1
Mardi Gras
mayhem
“Laissez les bons temps rouler” was happening all weekend in Mamou for Mardi Gras celebrations on Tuesday afternoon. Family, neighbors, and friends gathered along Sixth Street to listen to Cajun and Zydeco music. But it all changed in a few horrific seconds when a gunman or gunmen opened fire with an automatic weapon in front of the North Stage on Sixth Street. According to Mamou Police Chief Pat Hall it left two people (both juveniles) killed and 11 other people injured in the shooting, including two critically.
A large crowd was standing in front of the stage dancing and celebrating Mardi Gras music with Zydeco musician Chris Ardoin playing the music despite severe weather earlier in the day. There was a short blast of gunfire that could be heard on a video followed by a longer blast of automatic gunfire. The large crowd scrambled for cover to escape the gunfire and some were injured trying to leave the area immediately following the shooting. Moments later victims were seen laying on the ground needing medical assistance. Victims were rushed to Savoy Medical Center for treatment while others were airlifted to area hospitals. Later, a large group of people were seen at the hospital with some in a group prayer.
On March 8, members of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Conroe Police Department, in Texas, serving alongside the U.S. Marshals in the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force, successfully apprehended Trea’land Ty’rell Castille, 19, a wanted fugitive facing multiple homicide and assault charges.
Castille was taken into custody after being found hiding at an apartment complex in South Montgomery County. He is currently confined in the Montgomery County Jail, awaiting extradition.
This arrest followed an intensive manhunt after Castille allegedly opened fire during a Mardi Gras celebration in Mamou, killing and wounding numerous victims. Castille later appeared in an Evangeline Parish courtroom for the first time on Monday, March 17.
During the hearing in front of the honorable Judge Marcus L. Fontenot, of the 13th Judicial District Court Division “A,” Castille was declared an indigent and was referred to the state’s public defender office for appointment of counsel.
Castille is charged with two counts of first degree murder, 10 counts of attempted second degree murder, illegal carrying of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence, and reckless discharge of a firearm at a parade or demonstration.
Judge Fontenot, during the hearing, ordered Castille to be held without bond on the murder charges and set a bond of $5 million on the attempted murder charges and a bond of $100 thousand each on the firearm charges.
Castille’s arraignment was set for Monday, May 5, in Division “A.”
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