Tout en ordre

By: TONY MARKS
Editor

As the Evangeline Parish Police Jury reappointed Gregory Monier to the Mamou Fire District No. 1 for two additional years and Lucas Berzas and Robert Lejeune to Acadia/Evangeline Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners for two additional years and approved to advertise for bids for the water sector grant for Wyble Subdivision, the members did so in a Cajun dialect during the annual French meeting on Tuesday, December 12.
The meeting was mainly ceremonial with an introduction of the many guests, which included State Representatives Rhonda Butler and Mike Huval. The two legislators presented the jury a congressional commendation for conducting its December meetings in French every year since 2004.
Another guest, Evangeline Parish Tourist Commission Vice President Wanda Verrette, informed jurors about the inaugural Mardi Gras celebration in Bastrop, Texas. The event is scheduled for February 2024.
According to Verrette, Bastrop is located 30 miles southeast of Texas’ capital in Austin and has a population just north of 10 thousand people.
Kathy Danielson, the city’s director of the Convention and Visitor’s Center, reached out to the members of the Evangeline Parish Tourist Commission to learn about the annual Mardi Gras celebrations in Evangeline Parish, specifically in Mamou, according to Verrette.
As Verrette went on to explain, Bastrop has planned several events which include traditional Cajun celebrations blended with Carnival events to attract groups of all ages.
A king and queen will be crowned on January 6, the traditional beginning of the Mardi Gras season. The royalty will reign over the events will take place from February 2 through February 3.
During that weekend in February, there will be a salute to Fred’s Lounge, a gumbo cook-off, parade, and a children chicken’s chicken chase.
Additionally, according to Verrette, Bastrop has invited officials from Mamou and Evangeline Parish to attend and participate in all of the events.