State

Local Headline

Local Headline

Chataignier accepts sidewalk grant

By: TONY MARKS Editor Ronnie Landreneau, with J. Ronald Landreneau and Associates, told the Chataignier village council, during its meeting on Monday, October, 16, the village was approved to receive a $1.3 million grant for sidewalk improvements.
Local Headline

Local Headline

Tri-Parish area lags behind state in health ranking

Staff Report The Tri-Parish lags behind the state and nation in most health rankings, according to the 2023 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps issued by he University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Some 24% of St. Landry Parish residents live in poor or fair health.
Local Headline

Local Headline

Election Day is set for Saturday

By: TONY MARKS Editor During the early voting period for the October 14 election, 1,717 parish residents cast their ballot in person at the registrar of voters office. On election day, the polls will open at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m.
Elementary Teacher of the Year candidates from left are Olivia Guillory (WW Stewart Elementary); Eric Fontenot (Ville Platte Elementary School); Josie Guillory (Vidrine Elementary School); Faith Ducote (Pine Prairie High School); Amber Aymond (Mamou Elementary School); Lauren Thidodeaux (James Stephens Montessori School); Beth Brown (Chataignier Elementary School); and Kassidy Sanders (Bayou Chicot Elementary School). (Gazette photo by Heather Bogard)

Elementary Teacher of the Year candidates from left are Olivia Guillory (WW Stewart Elementary); Eric Fontenot (Ville Platte Elementary School); Josie Guillory (Vidrine Elementary School); Faith Ducote (Pine Prairie High School); Amber Aymond (Mamou Elementary School); Lauren Thidodeaux (James Stephens Montessori School); Beth Brown (Chataignier Elementary School); and Kassidy Sanders (Bayou Chicot Elementary School). (Gazette photo by Heather Bogard)

Evangeline Parish District Teachers of the Year announced following competition

By: HEATHER BOGARD Associate Editor Evangeline Parish Teacher of the Year School winners competed before judges throughout the day on Friday, September 29.
Le Roi Earnest Anderson (left) and La Reine Bernadine Fontenot (right) enjoyed the festivities at last year’s Contradanse to kick off the 2022 Cotton Festival. On Tuesday evening, October 10, they will crown the next Le Roi et La Reine of Heritage Manor to participate in this year’s Cotton Festival events. (Gazette photo by Heather Bogard)

Le Roi Earnest Anderson (left) and La Reine Bernadine Fontenot (right) enjoyed the festivities at last year’s Contradanse to kick off the 2022 Cotton Festival. On Tuesday evening, October 10, they will crown the next Le Roi et La Reine of Heritage Manor to participate in this year’s Cotton Festival events. (Gazette photo by Heather Bogard)

Le Roi et La Reine: Reigning over the Contradanse to kick off the Cotton Festival

By: HEATHER BOGARD Associate Editor For reigning La Reine Bernadine Fontenot (86) and Le Roi Earnest Anderson (83), serving as the Heritage Manor Cotton Festival Royalty was a fun experience.
CALHOUN TALKS COTTON FESTIVAL - Katelyn Yates Calhoun (center) was the guest speaker for the October 3, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. She is shown with Rotarian Annette Johnson (left) and Rotary President Brian Ardoin. (Gazette photo by Heather Bogard)

CALHOUN TALKS COTTON FESTIVAL - Katelyn Yates Calhoun (center) was the guest speaker for the October 3, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. She is shown with Rotarian Annette Johnson (left) and Rotary President Brian Ardoin. (Gazette photo by Heather Bogard)

Ville Platte Rotary: Calhoun shares Cotton Festival plans

By: HEATHER BOGARD Associate Editor Rotarian Annette Johnson welcomed Katelyn Yates Calhoun with the Cotton Festival Association as the guest speaker for the October 3, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club.
Queen Cotton LXVIII Amber Hope Borne

Queen Cotton LXVIII Amber Hope Borne

Queen Cotton LXVIII Amber Hope Borne

By: HEATHER BOGARD Associate Editor For Amber Hope Borne, being crowned Queen Cotton LXVIII last October was the culmination of a five-year journey attempting to claim her dream title. Borne shares, “My journey to becoming Queen Cotton took five years.
King Cotton Eric Smith

King Cotton Eric Smith

Smith, state FFA advisor, is set to be crowned King Cotton

By: TONY MARKS Editor King Cotton LXIX will be Louisiana Future Farmers of America State Advisor Eric Smith. “I feel honored to have been nominated by the community,” Smith expressed. “It’s not something I applied for or sought. It kind of found me.
Colonel Cotton Pat Derouselle

Colonel Cotton Pat Derouselle

Former association president now serves as colonel cotton

By: TONY MARKS Editor Born in 1964 to the late Leola “Blondie” and Ellis Derouselle, Patrick Derouselle has been a lifelong resident of Evangeline Parish. Upon graduating from Ville Platte High School, he served as a legislative aide for the Louisiana State legislature from 1984 to 1987.
Grand Marshal Kim Deville

Grand Marshal Kim Deville

Deville, 4-H youth agent, will lead Grand Parade of Cotton as marshal

By: HEATHER BOGARD Associate Editor 4-H Youth Development Agent for Evangeline Parish Kimberly Deville has been selected by the Cotton Festival Board to serve as Grand Marshal over the Grand Parade of Cotton to close out the Cotton Festival Week festivities on October 15.