Ville Platte City Council Meeting December 23, 2019 The Ville Platte City Council, in a special meeting today (Tuesday) approved a request from Ville Platte Police Chief Neal Lartigue to enter into a contract with Evangeline Parish 9-1-1 Communications District to provide dispatching services for the city police department. The chief said the action will save the city some $100,000 a year. All but one police department dispatchers will remain on in another capacity such as jailers. Chief Lartigue addressed concerns about the police station remaining open after hours. He reported that the police station will remain open and there will be a phone for the public's use in the police department lobby for emergency usage. He expects the move over to 9-1-1 will take place in the next few months.

New director of Evangeline Chamber of Commerce and Evangeline Parish Tourist Commission to take over January 1 VILLE PLATTE, La., December 18, 2019 The board members of the Evangeline Chamber of Commerce and the Evangeline Parish Tourist Commission are pleased to announce that Ms. Erin Hoffpauir will begin serving as the Executive Director of both organizations at the beginning of 2020. Erin, an Evangeline Parish native, grew up on her family's farm in Vidrine. Erin has almost a decade of experience in multiple facets of retail management. Her experiences focus on business development, customer service and retention, and employee supervision. With a heart for animals, Erin has worked directly with animal rescue organizations to raise funds for housing and care of displaced animals. She plans to put her fund-raising skills to work in her new position in Evangeline Parish. Erin is a passionate, driven individual who plans to give her all to Evangeline Parish. She understands the needs and potentials of the communities in this heritage-rich area and looks forward to putting her experiences, training, and education to use with the Evangeline Chamber of Commerce and the Evangeline Parish Tourist Commission. Hoffpauir fills the position following former executive director Renee Brown's departure to begin a new career with Mercy Regional Medical Center.

2019 Food Net Food Drive Dec. 10, 2019 Despite the winter weather conditions and a power outage, local and area residents braved the inclement weather to make a donation at local drop off locations for the Food Net Food Drive. Here in Ville Platte, the drop off location was at the Ville Platte Civic Center pavilion. Volunteers were there from 5;00am to 8:00pm to greet donors and remove the boxes of food from vehicles. DJ Jude Dardeau provided holiday music for the volunteers throughout the day. KVPI was there during the morning with a live remote. TV 10 was there with a report. At mid day, Gene Fontenot with the Christian Care and Share Center announced that monetary donations had already matched last year's total : $2000. Other drop off locations included Mamou, Pine Prairie and Eunice.

Evangeline Parish Police Jury December 10, 2019 The Evangeline Parish Police Jury held their annual all French meeting today (Tuesday) in the courthouse before a standing room only crowd of dignitaries, visitors and well-wishers. The all French meeting has become a tradition for the police jury and is the only police jury in the state that is conducting an official meeting in another language. Police Juror Eric Soileau conducted the meeting for President Ryan LeDay Williams. Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel offered an opening prayer in French. The camp jammers Cajun music group performed the National Anthem. The French Immersion students from Ville Platte and Mamou performed special Christmas songs sung in French. Attorney Gilbert W. Aucoin and his wife, Margaret "Chicken" Aucoin announced to the group that the next Grand Hoorah Cajun music event is planned for April 17-24 at Chicot State Park. Margaret Aucoin announced that she will begin hosting classes in the new year to teach residents how to speak French. Musician Dave Johnson of Basile introduced the members of his musical group who entertained the crow in the foyer. State Representative mike Huval thanked Supt. Of School Darwan Lazard for supporting and introducing the French Immersion program in Evangeline Parish schools. He urged residents to support our Cajun French heritage and not lose it. The police jury recognized retired police jury Larry Buller who was in attendance. Buller served on the jury for 24 years and also served as president. In other action the police jury: --reappointed Greg Monier to the Mamou Fire District Board for another two year term; --reappointed Randall Fruge and Albert Neil LeJeune to the Acadia-Evangeline Fire District for a two year term; --reappointed Opal Johnson as a member to the Evangeline Tourism Board; --recognized all of the public officials that included: Senator Elect Heather Cloud; Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel; Assessor Dirk Deville, Judges Chuck West and Gary Ortego, Chataignier Mayor Justin Darbonne, District Attorney Trent Brignac, City Marshal Lisa Doucet, Sheriff Elect Charles Guillory, Rep. Mike Huval, Rep. Elect Rhonda Butler, Ville Platte Councilwoman Faye Lemoine, Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine, Turkey Creek Mayor Phillip Cavins, Supt of Schools Darwan Lazard and Registrar of Voters Lucas Buller.

Ville Platte City Council December 10, 2019 The Ville Platte City Council Tuesday, voted to deposit $209,174 to begin a reserve fund for future uses. The excess funds come from a Louisiana Workers Compensation dividend check. The council agreed to use $15,000 from the dividend to purchase equipment such as weed eaters and lawn mowers to be used in work projects. The city is planning to use inmate labor along with new workers to pursue those work projects. Mayor Jennifer Vidrine said the city spent $26,000 more in November than it did in October. She blames the cost increase to the purchase of a new pump for a sewer lift station and repairs on a water well. Mayor Jennifer Vidrine announced that the city will have a new free app for local residents to use with their smart phone . The app is called "Tips Ville Platte." Local residents can send a tip on a crime to police without giving their identity. The app should launch sometime in January. In other action the Ville Platte City Council: approved the appointment of Trojan Harrison as a new fulltime paid firefighter; approved a mandatory 2 percent increase in pay for Ville Platte firefighters; received a report from Fire Chief Chris Harrison that the month of November showed there were six structural fires, six grass fires and one vehicle fire for a total of 24 fire calls; appointed Coach Lionel Anderson as new Mayor Pro Temp; voted to call their January meeting to be held January 21 at 5;00pm; approved eight more properties for demolition in the city limits; voted to approve the sale of liquor for the Evangeline Arts Council sponsorship of a New Year's Eve dance; received a police report from Chief Neal Lartigue: 299 calls in November, issued 19 citations, 39 arrests including 9 felony arrests and worked 38 traffic accidents.

Ville Platte Rotary Club December 3, 2019 The Ville Platte Rotary Club met today (Tuesday) at the Family Life Center. The guest speaker was Doug Ireland, executive director of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is located in Natchitoches. Out of 150 sports figures nominated this year, eight were chosen to be inducted in Hall of Fame next year in June: Phil Robertson, Nick Saban, Charles Tillman, Angela Turner, Ronnie Coleman, Lou Dunbar, Joe Horn and Kerry Kittles. The Hall of Fame began by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association in 1958. There are three inductees from Evangeline Parish including Pine Prairie High Basketball Coach Leslie Gaudet, who won over 1000 games in his long career and never received a technical foul. Also in the Sports of Fame is Opelousas native Rod Milburn of Opelousas who won the 1972 Olympics in the 110 meter hurdles. He was the guest speaker of Rotarian Garland Forman. In other business, Rotary Club President Nicole Wenger announced the proposed slate of officers approved by the club to begin the new year in July: President Peter Strawitz; President Elect-Michael Lemoine; Vice President -Jimmy LeBlanc; Treasurer-Vic Slaven; Secretary- Susan Saunders. The board members will include: Annette Johnson, Larry Lachney, Dr. Jerry Veillon, Wayne Vidrine, Dr. Joey Soileau and Nicole Wenger. Wenger announced that the annual club Christmas social will be held Tuesday night Dec. 10 at 6;00pm at Café Evangeline. Due to the social, there will be no noon luncheon next week. She also reminded club members to turn in their toy donations and names of needy families for gift baskets.