VILLE PLATTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING

OCTOBER 15, 2012

   The Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce today (Monday) heard from Dr. Natalie Harder, the new Chancellor for the South Louisiana Community College System.  The Coreil Campus of La. Technical College has been merged with other Acadiana Technical Colleges into the new South Louisiana Community College System as of July 1. The system has 7000 plus students across nine campuses in 7 of the 8 Acadiana parishes.

   Chamber Executive Director Camille Fontenot , who was a long time instructor at Coreil School, expressed concern over the changes going on at the local school. “I am not for what is happening at our local school. Welders are having to take English courses to gain credit. Our big welding shop has become a warehouse. We have no more accounting program. I have a fear we may lose our local school. “

   Dr. Harder said there has been a lack of attention at all the technical colleges, She said “The rumors are not true, we are not closing programs and campuses.”

   The chamber also heard from Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel who took office three months ago after being elected last year. He said there 11 of the 14 employees who were with his predecessor remains on the job.

   He announced that the police jury is planning to use  the library building once the new library is built  as an archives building to store old records from his office as well as records from other department in the courthouse. Deshotel also announced that his office is now providing birth certificates and starting next year, death certificates and pass ports as a service to parish residents.

   In other business, the chamber:

--received a report that there are 137 current paid up members;

--heard that the Chamber Open House Holiday social is set for December 5 at the Cock’s Tail restaurant;

--received news that the Christmas parade is scheduled for Sunday Dec. 9 at 5;00pm.

--the city wide garage sale is planned for November 3 at the Grand Pavillion.