Ville Platte Police Chief Neal Lartigue reports search for two suspects in separate incidents. On November 20, 2019 Officers with the Ville Platte Police Department responded to a disturbance on East Jefferson Street where a male suspect forced his way inside of a residence and assaulted two people inside. After further investigation, an arrest warrant has been issued for Carlos Skinner age 37, last known address of 2517 2nd Street, Ville Platte. Skinner is wanted on one count of home invasion and one count of simple battery with other charges pending. On September 15, 2019, Officers with the Ville Platte Police Department responded to a report of an altercation at a store on Edward Knotoe Thomas Street. During the altercation the suspect pulled a weapon on another male. After further investigation a warrant has been issued for Reonna Freeman age 21, last known address of 502 Dr. Carver Street, Ville Platte. Freeman is wanted on the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. If you have any information on the whereabouts of any of these suspects, you are asked to call the Ville Platte Police Department at 363-1313. Your call will remain anonymous.

) Ville Platte Police Chief Lartigue asks for information on suspect. October 30, 2019 Officers responded to a report of an attempted armed robbery of restaurant located on West Main Street. Upon arrival Officers learned that a black male suspect entered the restaurant and attempted to rob the employees. The suspect was unsuccessful and fled the area on foot. A reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect involved. If you have any information regarding the attempted armed robbery, you are asked to call the Ville Platte Police Department at 363-1313. Your call will remain anonymous.

Ville Platte Rotary Club hears from LSU Eunice Athletic Director Jeff Willis November 19, 2019 The Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from LSU Eunice Athletic Director and Baseball Coach Jeff Willis. Coach Willis is one of the winningest coaches in baseball. In his 17 years with Bengal baseball, he has amassed a record of 779 wins and 178 losses, that is an 81 percent winning rate. He has coached six national championship baseball teams and has won numerous coaching awards. Coach Willis told club members that the accolades "really doesn't matter". He said his primary goal and aim every day is to help young people reach their full potential. The coach said he is excited to report that the addition of three additional sports being played at LSU Eunice: Men and Women soccer and Men's Basketball. As a result of the new soccer programs, it has drawn 20 international students to the school from such countries as Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Brazil. The coach shared a personal story about a student from Iraq who said he was being persecuted in his home country because of his family's Christian faith. The new soccer programs are doing well with the men's team currently listed as #6 in the country and are the regional champs after only two years. The ladies program is currently #9 in the country in division two. The men's basketball program currently has a 6 and 1 record this season. Last year the men's baseball team had a 51-8 record. Both the women's basketball and women's softball programs have new coaches. Coach Willis was the special guest of Rotarian Mitch Fontenot.

Ville Platte Police Chief Lartigue reports break in and burglaries of a local school. The Ville Platte Police Department has responded to two calls from James Stephens Montessori where a break in occurred on both occasions. The first incident occurred on November 12, 2019 where a nurse's office, classroom and maintenance van were broken into. Windows were busted on the classrooms and maintenance vehicle. Items stolen were a battery powered drill with accessories, television, apple play box and mini fridge. In the second incident it is reported on November 18, 2019, that eight or more classroom windows were broken and the suspect(s) entered these rooms and started gathering items to take. It is unclear at this time if anything was removed. Both incidents are under investigation. Both break-ins appeared to have happened on weekends. Anyone noticing anyone suspicious in the area of James Stephens Montessori over the weekend of November 9th -12th or 16th- 18th are asked to contact the Ville Platte Police Department at 363-1313. Your call will remain anonymous.

Complete but unofficial election returns from Saturday's election shows that Charles Guillory was elected as sheriff in Evangeline Parish. He defeated opponent Brian Ardoin: 7426 votes to Ardoin's 4800 votes. There was no incumbent in the race. In the Police Juror District One race, incumbent Rocky Rider was defeated b y challenger Keith Saucier. The final vote total was : Saucier receiving 816 votes to Rider's 732 votes. In the Police Juror District 7 race, incumbent Bryan Vidrine with 929 votes beat challenger David Ortego who got 618 votes. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards was reelected to a second term in office over Republican Challenger Eddie Rispone. The final state wide vote total showed Edwards had 51 percent of the vote to Rispone's 49 percent of the vote. Here isn Evangeline Parish, Rispone was the top vote getter with 61 percent of the vote to Edwards 38 percent. For Secretary of State, incumbent Kyle Ardoin was reelected to another term in office with 59 percent of the statewide vote over challenger Gwen Collins Greenup who received 41 percent of the vote. Here in Evangeline Parish the vote totals showed Ardoin, a native of Evangeline Parish, getting 71 percent of the vote whole his opponent receiving 28 percent of the vote. All four of Pine Prairie's millage tax renewal propositions were approved by voters. The Eunice Gravity Drainage District #9 millage proposition which includes portions of St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes was approved by voters. Here in Evangeline Parish, the district includes the Duralde area failed by a vote of 25-3. KVPI-FM was there broadcasting complete election returns with Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel.

Rotary Meeting Hears Book Author November 12, 2019 The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from Glen Duncan, the author of a new book "The Modern History of the Louisiana Pelican Flag". Duncan is a former journalist and a civil engineer. Duncan gave an interesting tale on the history of our state flag and how the current design came to be. Through his research, he discovered that an 8th grade F.F.A. student who prompted the state to amend a law on the official state flag in 2005. The flag at the time did not have the three drops of blood as required in the legal description of the flag's insignia. It shows the pelican wounding itself and shedding drops of blood to feed her young. Duncan began researching and discovered there were many different state flags and the state motto as well through the years. The motto is "Union, Justice and Confidence." He realized the pelican used in the state flag and motto came from one of three sources: Religious theme- The original "Pelican in Piety" showing the mother pelican feeding her young is still used in many Catholic scenes; Tradition or Folklore- research shows a news article going back to 1813 about pelicans in Louisiana; Masonic Symbol-the pelican is used in the 18th degree masonic symbol. It took about 100 years in 1902 for the Louisiana Secretary of State to publish the criteria of the state seal. Evangeline Parish Library Outreach Director Suzie Lemoine introduced the guest speaker. They were both guests of Rotarian Leonard Fontenot. Club President Nicole Wenger reminded club members to turn in the names of needy families for gift baskets. The annual Christmas Social is set for December 10.

It was one of the biggest celebrations for Veteran's Day in Mamou in many years. The weather was spring like. Crowds of people lined up on both sides of Sixth Street to view the extra long Veteran's Day parade that included marching bands from Mamou High and Basile High, classic cars, political candidates and queens. The crowds of people poured around the speaker's stand on the grounds of the American Legion Post 123. The emcee was Post Commander Charles Perdices. The guest speaker was Julian Green, commander of American Legion Post 551 in Lake Charles. One of the major fund raisers of the year, the cake auction, took place with guest auctioneer Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel. More than a dozen cakes as well as bags of pecans and satsumas were all auctioned. Two cakes, each brought the highest bids, R$130 each. One was a coconut cake while the other cake was honey bun cake. State Representative Elect Rhonda Butler and State Senator Elect Heather Cloud both spoke to the crowds. Evangeline Parish Sheriff candidates Charles Guillory and Brian Ardoin also spoke.. Here are the Mamou elementary show box float winners according to the judges: First Grade- First Place- Noah Granger; Second Place- Jaylen Richard; Third Place- Bentley Lavergne; Third Grade- First Place- Blaine Duplechain; Second Place- Riley Rudd; Third Place- Jeremy Semien; Fifth Grade winners- First Place- Camille Bieber and Second Place- Jekila LaSalle. KVPI's Mike Perron and Mark Layne covered both the parade and memorial program at the Legion post with a live remote.

The Ville Platte Rotary Club, today (Tuesday), heard from guest speaker, Zack Hager, with One Acadiana, the nine parish regional economic agency in South West Louisiana that includes Evangeline Parish. Hager works on helping local agencies and property owners develop their property as a certified site by the state for business and industry. He reported that currently Evangeline Parish has one certified industrial site and that is at the Ward One Industrial Site, north of Ville Platte that is industry ready. There are 15 such sites in the region. The cost to do the study and prepare a site to become certified is $40-50,000 and takes 4-6 months to complete. Hager was the special guest of Rotarian Mark Suellentrop. In other business, the club members: --heard from Mayor Jennifer Vidrine announce that Governor John Bel Edwards will be visiting Ville Platte High School Friday afternoon to recognize the school for being named as one of the top schools by U.S News and World Report; --was notified that the Evangeline Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Commission is advertising for the position of executive director; --was reminded that club members need to turn in the names of needy families by November 12 for gift baskets for the holidays.

KVPI and the Ville Platte Gazette teamed up tonight to co-sponsor a political forum targeting the two run-off candidates for Evangeline Parish Sheriff: Charles Guillory and Brian Ardoin. The free event took place at the Ville Platte Civic Center with a large audience in attendance. The emcee was Ville Platte's woman of the year: Connie Lamke. The questioners were Garland Foreman, publisher of the Ville Platte Gazette and Mark Layne, General Manager of KVPI AM/FM. The candidates were each given ten questions to answer plus given a five minutes closing statement. KVPI streamed the forum live on our website at kvpiamfm@gmail.com and will be loaded as a podcast on our website Tuesday while the Gazette had it on Facebook live.

A total of 559 Evangeline Parish voters voted early today on the first day at the Registrar of Voters office in the courthouse. Thanks to Registrar of Voters Lucas Buller for the voter information. Early voting continues through Saturday for the November 16 runoff election for races such as Governor, Sheriff and two police jury elections. Let your voice be heard, go vote!!!