Ville Platte City Council Honors Local Soldiers Buried at Arlington Cemetery

May 10, 2016

     Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine and members of the City Council Tuesday recognized two Ville Platte solders killed in Viet Nam that are  buried at Arlington National Cemetery. They are Air Force Col. Oscar Dardeau Jr. and Army Master Sgt. Willie Roy Senior.

        Family members of both soldiers were in attendance at the city council meeting and were given special photographs of their monuments photographed by Mayor Jennifer and council members. They were in Washington DC attending a Louisiana Municipal Association Mayor’s Conference when they visited the large national cemetery where more than 473,000 soldiers are buried. The group placed a dozen red roses at the resting places of both soldiers.

     Also, the city council approved a request from the Smoked Meat Festival Association to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement to receive the city’s help in placing barricades and using trustee labor during the festival. Spokesman Renee Brown,  who represents the non -profit group said this year, the association will bring a carnival for the children. For the first time in the festival’s 24 year history, children will be enjoying carnival rides. The association and the city will determine where the carnival rides will be located. Preliminary plans are to have the rides located in the Pony League field at City Park. The council also approved a liquor permit for the association to sell alcoholic beverages during the festival.

    The council approved a benefit cook off to be held in front of the Sports Bar on Main Street Saturday May 21 from 8:00am to 8:00pm. There will be a $5 charge to enter. All monies raised for the event will be for the benefit of the new Ville Platte Boys and Girls Club.

    In other action, the council:

--approved  the sale of beer during the TV 10 live event at the Grand Pavilion Friday May 20 from 5-7pm. All money raised during the beer sale will be for the Boys and Girls Club;

--received good news that city expenses decreased by $98,000 for in April as compared to the previous month; Also sales tax collections in the city showed a 6% increase over the same time a year ago;

--reappointed Hillary Hill for another term to represent the city on the Evangeline Parish Solid Waste Commission;

--and applied for a $50,000 grant through the Community Water Enrichment Program.