State

(Left photo) The Ville Platte 8U Elite All-Stars claimed the championship at the PONY World Series, which was played in Buda, Texas. Team members and coaches are pictured as they ride in a championship parade on Tuesday, July 14. Head coach is Sam Miller; and players are Aimee Fontenot, Alyssa Blood, Ava Fontenot, Eleanor Fontenot, Emma Kate Fontenot, Jolie Ludeau, Journey Broussard, Landry Leger, Lyla Miller, Nora Delafosse, Remi Veillon, and Ro’Miyah Hill. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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World Series champions are honored

News Staff

Thursday, July 16, 2026

By: TONY MARKS Editor VILLE PLATTE - For the first time in memory, two Ville Platte All-Star teams were crowned World Series champions at the same time. Earning that distinction this year were the 10U and 8U Elite PONY League All-Stars.

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EPSO, ATC conduct joint operation at businesses

News Staff

Thursday, July 16, 2026

By: TONY MARKS Editor The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction the state, recently conducted a joint operation that resulted in citations being issued to local businesses.

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Parish jail is cited for health issues

News Staff

Thursday, July 16, 2026

By: TONY MARKS Editor After a recent inspection, the kitchen of the Evangeline Parish Jail, located inside the parish courthouse, received a notice of non-critical violations from the state’s Office of Public Health.

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Parish sees uptick in LEAP scores

News Staff

Thursday, July 9, 2026

By: TONY MARKS Editor Louisiana students achieved the highest overall Mastery+ rate in state history, according to new assessment data released, according to a press release from the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE).

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Mamou residents are arrested for DWI on water

News Staff

Thursday, July 9, 2026

By: ADAM EINCK LDWF In support of Operation Dry Water and in partnership with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Louisiana State Police (LSP), the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division arrested 13 boaters statewide for alleged driving or operating a vessel...

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Louisiana revenues climb in May, trail last year’s pace

News Staff

Thursday, July 9, 2026

By: MISTY CASTILLE The Center Square (The Center Square) – Louisiana tax collections increased in May compared with the previous month, but major state revenues remain hundreds of millions of dollars below last year’s pace, according to the latest figures from the Department of Revenue May Net...

Raymond Partsch III (left) and Tony Marks (right) hold their major awards that they won at the 2025 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Awards Contest luncheon in Natchitoches on Sunday, June 28. (Photo by Tina Partsch)

Major hardware

News Staff

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Staff Report NATCHITOCHES - The Ville Platte Gazette and The Oakdale Journal received hardware after staff members earned top honors at the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Awards Contest luncheon held on Sunday, June 28.

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Davis, Letlow earn nominations

News Staff

Thursday, July 2, 2026

By: TONY MARKS Editor The field is now set for the United States Senator election in November after candidates clinched their party’s nominations on Saturday, June 27. “Jamie” Davis won the Democratic nomination after edging out Gary Crockett with 80% of the vote statewide.

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Victim is killed in crash on Oakdale Road

News Staff

Thursday, July 2, 2026

OAKDALE – On June 27, at approximately 12:25 a.m., troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I responded to a single vehicle fatal crash on Louisiana Highway 106 near Liz’s Lane in Evangeline Parish. The crash claimed the life of 29-year-old James Woodruff III of Ville Platte.

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City is awarded La. Endowment for the Humanities Grant

News Staff

Thursday, July 2, 2026

VILLE PLATTE — Mayor Ryan LeDay Williams is proud to announce that the City of Ville Platte has been awarded the Parish America 250 Program Mini Grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH).

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