LIST OF EMERGENCY CLOSURES DUE TO THE WEATHER:

SACRED HEART SCHOOLS AND EVANGELINE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. SUPT. HAMLIN ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT ALL SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CANCELLED FOR THE TWO DAYS.

COURT SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY IN 13^TH JUDUCIAL DISTRICT COURT, DIVISION B HAS BEEN CANCELLED ACCORDING TO JUDGE TOM FUSELIER.

NO COMMUNITY PRAYER LINE TUESDAY MORNING.

CAMMIE’S PRE SCHOOL ACADEMY  AND DANIELLE’S EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENTER WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

EVANGELINE COUNCIL ON AGING ANNOUNCES NO MEALS AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE TUESDAY

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH  OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY ALONG WITH THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE CANCELLED

THE NINTH BAPTIST CHURCH BUSINESS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR TUESDAY

PINE PRAIRIE SILVER EAGLES SOCAIL CANCELLED TUESDAY

VILLE PLATTE CITY HALL AND PINE PRAIRIE CITY HALL CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

EVANGELINE PARISH PUBLIC LIBRARY AND BRANCHES WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

THERE WILL BE A PARISH WIDE CURFEW IN EVANGELINE BEGINNING TUESDAY NIGHT AT 6:00PM TO 6:00AM WEDNESDAY. ANYONE CAUGHT ON THE ROADS AND STREETS WITHOUT A GOOD REASON WILL BE ARRESTED.

THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT LIVESTOCK SHOW IN LAKE CHARLES HAS PUSHED BACK THE DAY IT WILL PERMIT ANIMALS TO ENTER INTO THE SHOW TO WEDNESDAY AT NOON RATHER THAN TUESDAY.

THE PARISH OFFICE OF SACRED HEART WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. THE PERPETUAL ADORATION CHAPEL AT MERCY HOSPITAL WILL CLOSE TONIGHT AT 9:00PM AND REOPEN THURSDAY AT 12 NOON. DAILY MASSES SCHEDULED FOR 6:30AM TUESDAY AND WEDNEDAY MORNING WILL CONTINUE BUT NO 8:10AM SCHOOL MASS WEDNESDAY MORNING. PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION AND PRUDENCE ON ATTENDING HOLY MASS ON THESE MORNINGS ACCORDING TO REV. FR. JASON VIDRINE, PASTOR OF SACRED HEART PARISH.

EVANGELINE BANK AND CITIZENS BANK WILL BOTH BE CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY…JD BANK WILL BE CLOSED ALL DAY ON TUESDAY. HANCOCK BANK WILL ANNOUNCE LATER.

PARISH WIDE CURFEW IN ST. LANDRY PARISH TUESDAY 6:00PM TO 6:00AM AND AGAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT 6:00PM TO 6:00AM.

    The Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce today (Monday) voted to authorize Executive  Director Camille Fontenot to send a letter to state officials including the governor opposing any move or plans to close the Coreil Campus of Louisiana Technical College. Chamber members agreed that the school is a vital part of the community for students wishing to learn a technical skill. Fontenot reported the school is down to only one business teacher while two have are no longer there.  The school only has one welding instructor and the mechanic instructor is at the school only two days a week. Chamber members are being urged to also write letters to the State Representative and Senator showing their support to keep the school open to serve local and area students.

    In other business, the chamber heard from Michael Morris, Director of Acadiana Works. The non- profit group assists residents in finding employment. He urged chamber members to contact local Acadiana  Works director Judy Guillory to assist them in filling vacant positions.

   In other action, the chamber:

--received news that there are 154 members enrolled in the Chamber;

--announced that the chamber will be sponsoring a bus trip to New Orleans Sept. 21 to the World War Two museum to view the Bob Hope All Star Pacific Week;

--announced that the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet is planned for May 1;

--reported that a committee is working on plans for a July 4^th celebration in Ville Platte.

UPDATED LIST OF CLOSURES AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION:

BOTH CITY POLICE AND SHERIFF’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES ALL STREETS AND ROADS ARE OPEN HOWEVER UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY, STAY HOME AND STAY OFF THE ROADS. THE ROADS ARE SLICK AND ICED UP. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE ICY CONDITIONS.

DOTD ANNOUNCES THAT IN ST. LANDRY PARISH, I-49 NORTH IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM US 190 NORTH TO LA 29 DUE TO ICY CONDITONS AND SNOWFALL

CLOSURES:

EVANGELINE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE, NO ATHLETIC EVENTS TODAY, NO BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE AT JAMES STEPHENS MONTESSORI SCHOOL.

SACRED HEART HIGH AND ELEMENTARY..DANYELLE’S EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENTER..CAMMEY’S PRE SCHOOL ACADEMY..

COURT IN JUDGE TOM FUSELIER’S COURT, DIVISION B, HAS BEEN CANCELLED TODAY.

EVANGELINE PARISH POLICE JURY OFFICE AND MAMOU HEALTH UNIT.

VILLE PLATTE CITY HALL

EVANGELINE COUNCIL ON AGING WILL NOT DELIVER MEALS TODAY ACCORDING TO LISA DEROUEN.

EVANGELINE PARISH HEAD START CLASSES.

EVANGELINE PARISH LIBRARY AND ALL BRANCHES…

VILLE PLATTE HIGH PO BOY SALE HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND RE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT TUESDAY FROM 11-1:30 AT THE FOOTBALL STADIUM.

ACADIANA WORKS

ALL COURT PROCEEDINGS AT THE ST. LANDRY PARISH COURTHOUSE WILL BE SHUT DOWN TODAY

ST. LANDRY PARISH GOVERNMENT OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED TODAY. ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL ARE TO CONTACT THE PARISH GOVERNMENT OFFICE FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

CLOSURES FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 DUE TO THE WINTER WEATHER

EVANGELINE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SACRED HEART ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL

DANYELLE'S EARLY DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL

CAMEY'S PRE-SCHOOL ACADEMY

EVANGELINE PARISH HEAD START CLASSES

EVANGELINE PARISH LIBRARIES AND ALL BRANCHES..EVANGELINE PARISH POLICE JURY OFFICE AND MAMOU HEALTH UNIT. ACADIANA WORKS WILL BE CLOSED.

       The Ville Platte Fire Department responded to a late night fire Tuesday that destroyed the End Zone Sports Bar on Pine Point Road. Fire Chief Ted Demourelle reported to KVPI News that the building was owned by Donald Ray Thomas. A passerby contacted the fire department at 11:48 last night. By the time, the fire department arrived the wood frame building was totally engulfed in flames. Fire fighters were able to extinguish  the fire but the building was gutted.  There were a total of 16 firefighters and  five fire units that responded .

    The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from James Newsom with the Acadian Baptist Center. Newsom gave a brief history of the facility. Acadian Baptist Center was formerly known as Acadian Baptist Academy through the mid 1970’s. The center is now primarily a camp and retreat center used by churches, groups and businesses throughout the region.  Newsom announced that the center is in the middle of a capital expansion project. Their plans include renovating the dorms, construction of a dorm, new parking lot, and a new roof for the lodge. The center has raised $1.9 million of their goal of $1.45 million dollars. Newsom was the guest of Rotarian Anita Fontenot.

    In other business,  Rotarian Mark Suellentrop announced that the St. Landry-Evangeline United Way is sponsoring the Harlem Ambassadors visit to our area for the benefit of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The Ambassadors will take on Team United February 20 in Eunice. Team members will also be visiting students in Evangeline Parish at Ville Platte High that morning. Their message to students is to stay in school and stay off drugs. The United Way is attempting to get enough sponsors in the Ville Platte area to have them play a game here next year.

    Rotary Club President Bill Brunet announced that on  June 17 the club will hold a special program for the induction of new officers and to celebrate the club’s 85^th anniversary. The District Governor and spouses will be invited. The location of the special program will be announced at a later date.

   Brunet encouraged new members to volunteer to serve on the board and as officers.

EVANGELINE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

JANUARY 15, 2014

    The Evangeline Parish School Board, Wednesday, received good news from its business manager Amy Lafleur.  Lafleur shared the findings of the just completed audit report on the school district’s financial records for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. She said the auditor called it “a clean audit”. The school board’s general fund had an ending fund balance of $9.2 million dollars. The summary of the audit showed no significant deficiencies and no instances of non -compliance. The school board approved the audit report.

     In other business, Connie Bertrand,  Supervisor of the Technology Department, shared with the board the school district’s planned application for E-Rate funding for the 2014-2015 school year. E-Rate is a federal program that provides funding for technology based on the number of students who received free or reduced lunches.  Under Priority One funding, for example  email service under E-Rate will only cost $487 a month rather than the full retail price of $3250 a month and  Internet Access will only cost $2039 a month rather than $13,599.

     Also under Priority One, Wide Area Fiber Network being provided by DETEL to prepare every school with online testing will cost the school district $3567 a month rather than the total retail cost of $23,786 a month. The service should be ready in parish schools in July.

    In other action,, Superintendent of Schools Toni Hamlin announced there will be no classes on Friday because it is a staff development day. On Monday January 20, it is a school holiday for Martin Luther King day.

   Hamlin also announced that Tony Bertrand has been named acting school principal at Basile High School while Principal Georgie Courville recovers from surgery for the rest of the school year.

     The Ville Platte City Council, Tuesday, received the 2013 audit findings from city auditor Vic Slaven who reviewed the city’s 2013 financial records. Slaven reported that the city has corrected most of the findings in the city’s Section 8 Rent Subsidy program that were reported on in last year’s audit. The program is funded through federal HUD dollars that help pay the rent for low income tenants in rent housing in the city. The city council accepted the findings of the audit report.

      In other business, the council approved sponsoring the summer feeding program again this summer at Ville Platte High School. Allen Freeman told the council that the program last year fed over 500 children at no charge to the youth. This year the program will take place June 2-July 31 from 11;00am to 12:30pm Monday through Friday. Children between the ages of 1 and 18 are eligible for the daily free lunch. Buses will be provided to transport the students.

     Arthur Sampson addressed the council urging the city to assign a department to help clean up  debris on the street following a traffic accident in the city. Police Chief Neal Lartigue said he will contact the wrecker companies to take care of the clean up. In the event there is no clean up, police will notify the city street department to help clean up the broken glass and debris.

    City Engineer Ronnie Landreneau announced work crews have installed about 700 out of about 3000 smart meters throughout the city as part of the city’s second phase of the city water improvement project. Also plans will be turned in to the state fire marshal’s office  for improvements for the proposed Ville Platte Boy’s and Girl’s Club at the old city hall building. The club is due to open in June.

     In other action the city council:

--received news that the city spent $73,632 less in December than it did in November;

--approved a beer and liquor permit for the Swamp Pop Museum for its annual benefit Mardi Gras Eve dance at the civic center;

--heard from Fire Chief Ted Demoruelle that the fire department responded to 316 calls and 81 structure fires in 2013;

--heard from Police Chief Neal Lartigue report the police department responded 567 calls in December, made 45 arrests, 14 citations, 6 felony arrests and worked 54 traffic accidents;

--announced that there will be free income tax preparation service for city residents during the month of February at city hall;

--received news that the city has received a grant from the United Way for a limited version of the Y.O.U. student mentoring program.

EVANGELINE PARISH POLICE JURY

JANUARY 13, 2014

       The Evangeline Parish Police Jury, Monday, referred to its road committee a list of parish roads presented by the parish 9-1-1 office. Jurors are anxious to name parish roads, both public and private however 9-1-1 officials are asking the jury not to give a road the same name that is already on the map.

        Liz Hill, Evangeline Parish Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, said her office staff at 9-1-1 spent 111 hours to prepare the list of parish roads for the jury to review. She is urging jurors to contact her office before naming a new parish road. “You are only responsible for your district but I am responsible for 1400 roads throughout Evangeline Parish. There are a lot of Fontenot and Lafleur roads.”

        Ward Five Fire District Chief Bobby Guilbeau and Police Juror Kenny Burgess both asked the jury to support Hill’s position on the naming of parish roads. Guilbeau said there are two roads that sound alike: “Beaver road” and “Bieber road” that causes problems to the fire service and other emergency officials. Burgess, who has been working in the EMS business for more than 20 years, said “it is confusing and causing delays because of identical road names”.

         In other action, the police jury:

--elected  Ryan Ardoin as new President replacing Bryan Vidrine and Ryan Williams as new Vice President replacing Ryan Ardoin;

--referred to committee a proposal raising fees for campers using Crooked Creek Park: $5 a night increase for campers and $2 a night increase for seniors;

--approved its committee meeting authorizing jury employees 18 paid holidays despite objections by juror Kenny Burgess who felt there were too many holidays;

--approved attendance for jurors to attend annual state police jury conference in Baton Rouge in February and the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington DC in March;

--received a report from Parish Engineer Ronnie Landreneau that the work on the new parish library building is being completed by the contract surety company. The contract has been terminated by the police jury since the general contractor did not complete the project. Landreneau said the sub- contractors have been contacted to complete the small amount of work remaining.

VILLE PLATTE ROTARY CLUB MEETING

JANUARY 7, 2014

     Centurytel  Regional General Manager John Dreher from Arkansas was the featured guest speaker at today’s (Tuesday) meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. He shared a short history of the telecommunications company that had its humble beginnings as a phone company near Monroe in 1930. Centurylink, through its acquisitions, has become the third largest telecommunications company in the United States behind AT&T and Verizon. Centurylink operates a 230,000 mile fiber network in the USA. The company offers a full range of services  to the consumer, business, other communications companies and Data Hosting.

    On a local level, the company employs 15 employees in the Ville Platte office and 100 employees in Louisiana. Last year, the company donated to local festivals and events such as the Smoked Meat Festival.  Also speaking were Andrew Dugas and Benny Fontenot with the local Centurylink Office.

    Rotarian Mark Sullentrop reported on the progress of the “Choices” program being offered  for 8^th grade students in  local schools. He announced so far 362 students have participated in the program sponsored by local Rotary club. The program will be expanded to Mamou, Evangeline Central and other parish schools.

   Rotarian Ronnie Landreneau gave an update report on the new Ville Platte Library project. He announced the police jury has terminated the contract with the general contractor for not completing the project on time. The surety company has contacted the sub contractors to complete the work  which are to begin next week and all work should be completed within the next 30 days.

EVANGELINE PARISH SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS TONI HAMLIN ANNOUNCES THAT THERE WILL BE NO CLASSES AT EVANGELINE CENTRAL SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL IS CLOSED TODAY BECAUSE THE SCHOOL COULD NOT ESTABLISH A WATER CONNECTION. BUSES WILL BE TRANSPORTING STUDENTS BACK HOME THIS MORNING. EVANGELINE CENTRAL IS THE ONLY PUBLIC SCHOOL CLOSED TODAY.

EVANGELINE PARISH SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS TONI HAMLIN ANNOUNCES THAT THERE WILL BE NO CLASSES AT EVANGELINE CENTRAL SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL IS CLOSED TODAY BECAUSE THE SCHOOL COULD NOT ESTABLISH A WATER CONNECTION. BUSES WILL BE TRANSPORTING STUDENTS BACK HOME THIS MORNING. EVANGELINE CENTRAL IS THE ONLY PUBLIC SCHOOL CLOSED TODAY.

      Evangeline Parish authorities are investigating the cause of death of an elderly woman. A spokesman for Evangeline Parish Sheriff Eddie Soileau, Chief of Detectives Billy Wolff,  said deputies discovered the body of an elderly woman in a rural area in the northern part of the parish this(Monday) morning. The identity of the person has been withheld until notification of the next of kin. The body has been turned over to the Coroner’s office for an autopsy. No other details were available at this time.