Looking Back: Recalling events of June 1983

MAYOR BUYS POPPY - Ville Platte Mayor Hottell Fontenot (left) purchased the first poppy from Poppy Queen Ashli Prejean during the annual poppy sale sponsored by the American Legion. Also shown, from left next to Fontenot are members of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary who sold the poppies at several shopping centers around Ville Platte. They are Rosie Guillory, Lynette DeBaillon, Cherie DeBaillon, Jeanette Perron and Iris LaTour. (Gazette archive photo)

By: HEATHER BOGARD
Associate Editor

This week, we take a look back 40 years at the events of June 1983.
•Poppy Queen Ashli Prejean sold the first poppy during the annual American Legion Poppy Sale to Ville Platte Mayor Hottell Fontenot.
•Dawn Cox, 11 years old, attended the LA USTA State Baton Twirling Championship and placed third in solo, second in two-baton solo and third in fancy strut baton routine.
•Ashlyn Adams, a member of the seventh and eighth grade Sacred Heart 4-H Club, placed second in the state 4-H dairy poster contest.
•Lezima Dupre celebrated her 100th birthday at Maison de Sante Nursing Home. The party, which included French music and refreshments, was attended by Mayor Hottell Fontenot and Father Joseph Arul.
•The Sacred Heart of Jesus Shrine in Duralde was dedicated.
•A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new Pine Prairie Village Hall.
•Jimmy Prejean was named president of the Ville Platte Lion’s Club.
•Kip Manuel was installed as president of the Ville Platte Rotary Club.
•State Senator John Saunders was appointed to the senate fiscal review committee.
•Jack C. Fruge Sr. was named acting president of Evangeline Bank and Trust.
•Danny Lemoine of Ville Platte was named president of the LSUE Alumni Association.
•Sale items at Winn Dixie included: picnic roast (.89/lb), gallon Arrow bleach (two for $1), Thrifty Maid various canned vegetables (4/$1), and peaches (.69/lb).
•Sale items at Eckerd included: pack of Kodak 12-exposure film (.99), Igloo six-quart cooler ($7.99), Kodak Kodachrome instant camera ($11.95), and Grand Prix portable stereo with headphones ($16.88.)
•Sale items at Otasco included: Fastrack Uniroyal radial tires ($41.99) and Kraco auto sound system ($89.97).
•Movies released in June 1983 included: “Wargames,” starring Matthew Broderick and Dabney Coleman; “Trading Places,” starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy; and Octopussy,” starring Roger Moore and Maud Adams.
•Popular television shows of June 1983 included: “Family Ties,” starring Michael J. Fox and Meredith Baxter Birney; “Cagney and Lacey,” starring Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless; and “Dynasty,” starring Joan Collins and John Forsythe.
•Popular songs of June 1983 included: “Flashdance (What a Feeling),” by Irene Cara; “Let’s Dance,” by David Bowie; “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” by Bonnie Tyler; and “Faithfully,” by Journey.