Looking Back: March 1959, 1969, and 1979

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March 26, 1959
• Evangeline Parish’s 1959 cotton acreage will be the largest planted here since 1955, according to ASC Director Al Fuselier, because the parish led the entire state percentage wise in the number of cotton farmers selecting the increased acreage “plan B” program.
In Evangeline, 399 cotton farmers out of 1,871 chose the B plan. This means that 21% went for bigger acreage at lower price supports.
For the entire state, 2,910 farms (only 6.3%) chose the B planting plan, For the entire U.S., a total of 68,559 farmers representing 3 1/2 million acres took the bigger acreage offer. The national percentage figure was not announced.
Evangeline acreage to be planted under plan B totals 6,894, an increase of 2,757 acres because of the added 40%. Without the increase, the parish allotment stood at 17,404 acres. The farmers taking the B plan will boost this figure to 20,161 acres, a 16% increase and the biggest total acreage allowed here in many years.
Under plan B, the farmer was allowed to plant 40% more cotton but guaranteed a lower price support.
• At G. Ardoin’s, 8 oz. of peeled shrimp was .68, 10 oz. headless shrimp was .65, and 10 oz. of breaded shrimp was .67

March 6, 1969
• The Gazette was notified Friday by telegram that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved a $790,290 loan to the City of Ville Platte to finance construction of 50 low rent homes, 12 of which will be for the elderly.
The units are to be constructed on “scattered sites” that have been selected but not yet purchased. The units will include one, two, three and four bedroom homes, according to Mayor Harold Bordelon, who stated the loan had been applied for three years ago.

March 13, 1969
• Fourteen more charges were filed with the Evangeline Parish School Board last Thursday by a group of parents who had attended a school board meeting two weeks ago to complain of the operation of a school bus driven by Lee J. Fusilier.
The group of Pecan Grove Subdivision residents filed the first petition two weeks ago which was signed by 15 parents whose children ride to school on Fusilier’s bus. They were told at that time that one petition alone would not be enough evidence for the school board to take any action because of the tenure law which all bus drivers and school teachers come under after three consecutive years of service.

March 20, 1969
• T.J. Lafleur, a native of Ville Platte, has been named new manager of the clothing and hardware division of Brown’s Thrift City, it was announced today by company officials.
The new manager is a 1948 graduate of Sacred Heart High School and has been away from his hometown for the past 21 years. He has 18 years experience in retail merchandising and was affiliated with a department store in Houma prior to returning to Ville Platte.
The son of Mrs. Isaac Johnson of Ville Platte, T.J. is married to the former Peggy Sims of Beaumont. The couple is making their home on the Opelousas Road with their son and three daughters.

March 27, 1969
• Ville Platte Rotarians will be hosts to a group study exchange team from Belgium Thursday, April 3, according to Dr. Edmund Morrison, Rotary President. A full day of activities has been planned for the visitors by the entertainment committee headed by Prof. J.D. Lafleur.
The Magnolia Garden Club, Mrs. Ramson Vidrine, president, will host a coffee and open house at the Arboretum at 9:00 a.m. with Mayor Harold Bordelon welcoming the guests, who will also hear from County Agent C.J. Tassin and Prof. Lafleur.
Tours of the Cleco plant at St. Landry and the Cabot carbon plant have been arranged with lunch scheduled at the St. Landry site. The group will also tour Chicot State Park and the Arboretum.
• Orange juice was four for $1.00, pizza was .69, and Mexican dinner’s were two for $1.00.

March 8, 1979
• Evangeline Parish test score averages in reading and mathematics in three grades tested fell below state averages in all grades in both fields, but, according to school supervisor Bert Miller, public school administrators are not sure of the accuracy of the parish’s average scores.
The reason for that, Miller said, is that individual test scores for schools in three areas -- Bayou Chicot, Chataignier and Mamou Lower Elem. -- may not have been included in figures from which parish averages were determined, and, therefore, averages as they are figured now for the parish may not be accurate.
The report on parish reading and mathematics test scores was given to members of the School Board Thursday evening at a regular meeting of the board which met in the cafeteria of James Stephens Elem. School in Ville Platte.

March 15, 1979
• At Winn-Dixie, cake mix was two for $1.00, frosting mix was .59, and apple sauce was three for $1.00.