State

(L-R) Shelsy Williams, principal of VPHS; Mike Lombas, assistant superintendent; Rhonda Thomas, high school teacher of the year; Darwan Lazard, superintendent; Bobby Hamlin, EPSB president; Sheila Joseph, EPSB vice president.

(L-R) Shelsy Williams, principal of VPHS; Mike Lombas, assistant superintendent; Rhonda Thomas, high school teacher of the year; Darwan Lazard, superintendent; Bobby Hamlin, EPSB president; Sheila Joseph, EPSB vice president.

Teachers of the year are honored at ceremony

News Staff
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Staff Report VILLE PLATTE - Lights were flashing. Plastic swords were waving. Unity choir members were singing. Teachers and principals were soaring.
Jackson Soileau, of Sacred Heart, is pictured as he competes at the state outdoor track meet. (Photo by Matthew Louviere)

Jackson Soileau, of Sacred Heart, is pictured as he competes at the state outdoor track meet. (Photo by Matthew Louviere)

Soileau is state champion

News Staff
Thursday, May 15, 2025
By: TONY MARKS Editor The accolades keep coming the more Jackson Soileau keeps running. The Sacred Heart runner earned a state championship and a top-three finish in two events at the LHSAA Track and Field Meet held last Thursday at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium.
Local Headline

Local Headline

House committee advances state budget

News Staff
Thursday, May 15, 2025
By: QUINN MARCEAUX LSU Manship School News Service BATON ROUGE -- The House Appropriations Committee advanced a $49.4 billion state budget Monday that funds $2,000 teacher stipends for next year, closes a nearly $200 million shortfall and balances the books without raising taxes.
LSUE SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTED - During the May 6, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club, the group presented its annual LSUE Scholarship donation to the school. Shown, from left, are Rotarian Beau Wilson; Carey Lawson, Executive Director of the LSUE Foundation; Dr. Nancee Sorenson, Chancellor of LSUE; Rotarian Clem LaFleur; Rotary President Bob Manuel; and Dr. John Hamlin, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at LSUE. (Gazette photo by Heather Bogard)

LSUE SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTED - During the May 6, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club, the group presented its annual LSUE Scholarship donation to the school. Shown, from left, are Rotarian Beau Wilson; Carey Lawson, Executive Director of the LSUE Foundation; Dr. Nancee Sorenson, Chancellor of LSUE; Rotarian Clem LaFleur; Rotary President Bob Manuel; and Dr. John Hamlin, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at LSUE. (Gazette photo by Heather Bogard)

Ville Platte Rotary: LSUE Scholarship presented, campus updates given

News Staff
Monday, May 12, 2025
By: HEATHER BOGARD Associate Editor Rotarian Clem LaFleur welcomed Dr. John Hamlin, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at LSUE, as the guest speaker during the Tuesday, May 6, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. Dr. Hamlin addressed the group about LSUE’s recruiting program.
Local Headline

Local Headline

Louisiana OMV alerts residents of text message scam

News Staff
Monday, May 12, 2025
The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) is alerting residents about a text message scam that has the potential to steal personal information and charge unnecessary fees.
Local Headline

Local Headline

Proposed bill would further cut state income tax rates

News Staff
Monday, May 12, 2025
By: QUINN MARCEAUX LSU Manship School News Service BATON ROUGE– The House of Representatives voted 86-13 Wednesday to approve a bill that might further cut the state’s new flat individual income tax rate and create a tax break for seniors starting in 2027.
Macy (M.J.) Chauvin (8) legs out a single in Pine Prairie’s 3-2 loss to Jena in the softball state semifinal game. She had two of her team’s four hits. (Photo by Craig Franklin)

Macy (M.J.) Chauvin (8) legs out a single in Pine Prairie’s 3-2 loss to Jena in the softball state semifinal game. She had two of her team’s four hits. (Photo by Craig Franklin)

Not enough shot in their sling

News Staff
Thursday, May 8, 2025
By: TONY MARKS Editor David once killed the mighty giant Goliath with just a slingshot. A slingshot, though, was not enough for the Pine Prairie softball team to get past the Jena Lady Giants in the state softball semifinals as the Lady Panthers fell 3-2.
This photo of Marcus Guillory reacting as he collects all seven rings during the first round of the Tournoi earned 1st place in Best News Photo.

This photo of Marcus Guillory reacting as he collects all seven rings during the first round of the Tournoi earned 1st place in Best News Photo.

“Ledeing” by example: Ville Platte Gazette, The Basile Weekly combine for 28 LPA awards at banquet

News Staff
Thursday, May 8, 2025
The Louisiana Press Association announced the winners of the 2024 Better Newspaper Competition on May 2, at the Baton Rouge City Club. Each taking home 14 awards were the Ville Platte Gazette and The Basile Weekly. Both newspapers tied for second place for newspaper of the year in Division 4.
Local Headline

Local Headline

DOTD warns residents of toll scam texts

News Staff
Thursday, May 8, 2025
BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), along with GeauxPass, Louisiana’s statewide toll system, would like to remind residents of a nationwide “smishing” scam.
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