News

At the Library

Happy Memorial Day to all! Wishing you and your families a safe, healthy and happy holiday! The main library and all branches will be opened for their regular hours on Tuesday, June 1 as summer reading registration continues around the parish. Programming begins the week of June 8.

Story behind the statue

The beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that graces the front lawn of the St. Augustine Church Rectory has been watching over the local church parish and the entire Basile community for 75 years. The story behind her erection here is rooted in American history as well as local history and is highly appropriate to share this Memorial Day weekend.

LGAP is discussed at special meeting

The Ville Platte City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, May 26 to discuss their Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP) grant. A few months ago, the council approved the LGAP to apply for more money for the entrance to the city. Because the city received money for the entrance already, the grant program said the city needed to come up with another project. Mayor Jennifer Vidrine consulted City Engineer Ronnie Landreneau to see what projects were needed.

A trip to the boss’s museum

FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS — No one wants to get caught kicking back in the boss’s chair with their feet on the desk, especially if that boss is a five star admiral in the U.S. Navy, but local U.S. Navy Veteran Joe Richard laughs about the time he got caught doing just that.

Benoit receives B.S. from McNeese State

LAKE CHARLES - Tara Fontenot Benoit of Duralde, a Basile High School Class of 2018 alumnus, graduated from McNeese State University in Lake Charles on Friday, May 14 at 10 a.m. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness and will be teaching Agricultural studies at Notre Dame High School in Crowley in the Fall.

Rasa receives B.S. from Univ. of La.

LAFAYETTE - Courtney Bergeron Rasa, a 2015 Basile High School graduate, recently received a B.S. degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her degree is in Science with a concentration in Elementary Education for grades one through five. She has accepted a position at Glendale Elementary in Eunice with plans to complete her Master’s degree later.

BEST SAUCE

Tracy Richardson of Basile took first place honors at the 2021 Bike Fest and Sauce Cook-Off held in Oakdale on Saturday, May 1. She was representing the Pineywood Trailriders and was sponsored by Top Dollar Trucking. Jeremy Fruge and the Zydeco Hot Boyz of Basile provided entertainment for the event. (Photo provided)

Sisters graduate on same day

NEW ORLEANS / BATON ROUGE - Harry Jenkins of Basile is twice proud as both his oldest daughter Ursula and his youngest daughter Kelsey received graduate degrees recently. Ursula Lorenz graduated from Northwestern State University in May 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and received her Master’s degree in Criminology and Justice from Loyola University New Orleans on May 15, 2021 at 6 p.m.

Additions to list BHS graduates 51

Lynesse Thompson, pictured above, is one of the graduates of the Basile High School Class of 2021. Her name and photo were inadvertently left out of last week’s graduation edition of The Basile Weekly.