The first quarter of the year has come and gone, and numerous newsworthy events have already occurred in 2019. Here is a rundown of several newsworthy events that have transpired during the month of March.
March 3, 2019
City officials respond to recent budget cuts within
Ville Platte Police Dept.
A day after news broke that the Ville Platte Police Department made cuts to its budget which involved the cutting of 11 positions, Mayor Jennifer Vidrine and several members of the city council shed light Wednesday on the reasons why the cuts had to be made.
According to Mayor Vidrine, the police department’s budget has grown to $2.4 million. Evidence received from City Hall shows the police’s budget was under $1.5 million in 2008. The budget remained steady for the next two years before spiking in 2011 to above $1.5 million. Since then, it has continued to rise to its current level which includes salaries for 43 employees.
“We’re decreasing in population in Ville Platte, but we’re increasing our budget by giving the police department more money,” said Councilman Bryant Riggs. “Just honestly, I haven’t seen where is the return on investment.”
March 7, 2019
Ville Platte High Bulldogs drop out of post-season play with loss to Rayville in Class 2A semi-finals
LAKE CHARLES -- The fourth time was not the charm for the Ville Platte High Bulldogs, as they fell to the Rayville Hornets 115-52 in the LHSAA Class 2A semi-finals Monday afternoon.
Ville Platte ended their magical season with an overall record of 29-4 and the District 6-2A championship title. The Bulldogs lose only one senior off of this year’s squad, making the future bright for the Evangeline Parish squad.
“Even though we did not get the state title that we wanted, we did have a tremendous season,” stated Ville Platte Head Coach Tommy Jones after the game. “The year we had began this summer during workouts and continued up to this point. The players went all out and played every minute of every game, including this one.”
March 10, 2019
Female arrested
in deputy involved
shooting enters plea of guilty
A defendant in a 2017 matter where an individual was shot and killed by an Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Deputy, entered a plea of guilty Thursday in 13th Judicial District Judge Gary Ortego’s courtroom.
Dequincy Brown was sentenced to five years at hard labor, three and half suspended and three years of active supervised probation upon release from prison. She received this sentence for her plea of guilty to the charge of battery on a police officer.
Brown, who was represented by attorney Jacob Fusilier, also entered a plea of guilty for attempted disarming of a peace officer, and received a sentence of two year at hard labor, two years suspended, and two years of active supervised probation.
March 14, 2019
90 years and counting
Yesterday on March 13, a milestone was reached as the Ville Platte Rotary Club turned 90-years-old. At the club’s meeting a day earlier, the Rotarians celebrated the occasion and heard from the longest active member about his memories of being in the club for 45 years.
“On February 23, 1905, Paul Harris founded Rotary,” said Brent Coreil, “and, in June of 1974, I became a member and a Rotarian.”
He continued, “My sponsor was Jimmy Vidrine. He asked me to become a Rotarian because I asked him what does the Rotary Club do. He gave a great answer and said ‘nothing.’ You do not have to do anything at all except visit on a weekly basis, share a meal with the rest of the business members of the community, have a little dialogue at your table, let people know about what’s going on in your life, and find out what’s going on in their life.”
He continued, “All you have to do is come to the meetings and sit across from your friends and neighbors who are working in this community to make it better.”
March 17, 2019
PPPD arrest man for simple
burglary and theft
A Pine Prairie man wanted on a probation warrant for the Eunice City Marshall’s Office was arrested recently by the Pine Prairie Police Department for simple burglary and theft.
In the release from the PPPD, it states, “On March 14, 2019, Pine Prairie Police received a report of a break-in and theft from Second Chance Flea Market on Railroad Street.”
After investigating the incident, 36-year-old Stacy P. Fontenot, of 985 9th Street, Pine Prairie, became a suspect in the matter.
The release stated, “Upon further investigation, one of the stolen items, a hand held jigsaw, was recovered and Fontenot was arrested for the burglary and theft.”
March 24, 2019
Sacred Heart, Ville Platte bring home big time hardware
It was a banner day for several parish powerlifters, as the Sacred Heart Trojans brought home two individual state championship titles while the Ville Platte High Bulldogs added three individual state titles to their haul.
Competing in Alexandria last weekend, Sacred Heart’s Dylan Vidrine and Wesley Launey both produced some great lifts to be crowned champions. Launey also hauled in another honor, as he was named as the Best Overall Lifter for Division V.
In Division IV, Ville Platte’s Jakailyn Fontenot, Quincy Bias and Travian Ardoin all took home state champion honors. Ardoin also set the Divisional state record for total weight after lifting 1,445 pounds in three four lifts.
As a team, both Sacred Heart and Ville Platte High finished in third place, just barely missing a state runner-up trophy.
March 28, 2019
Passing the torque
Ever since the first wheel was hitched to a cart in ancient Mesopotamia, man had a vehicle to transport goods and other people over long distances. Advancements such as Henry Ford’s assembly line have made this mode of transportation more accessible to the public.
Through the evolution of the vehicle, one thing remained constant. That constant was the need to provide repairs to the body of the vehicle, and, for the past 22 years here in Ville Platte, this need was met by Mark Duplechain.
Much like the parts of the vehicle and the tools used to fix them, change has come to Mark’s Body Shop with his recent retirement.
March 31, 2019
The end of an era
After more than 30 years, Boggy Bayou Festival Boardmembers Bernice Ardoin and Sandra Book are stepping down from their positions on the board they have served on since its creation.
The two ladies have played a major part in providing the Pine Prairie community, as well as surrounding areas, with the opportunity to gather with family and friends to make lasting enjoyable memories.
Throughout their time on the board, Ardoin and Book have had the great fortune of keeping alive the brain child of beloved St. Peter’s Catholic Church Priest, Father Leslie Prescott, and Jim Conway.
As the two women sat across from one another in the board’s meeting room located on the festival grounds, they gasped in disbelief that it had already been 35 years since the very first festival was held where the Prairie Manor Nursing Home sits today.