Ville Platte 10U Girls Benefit June 29, 2022 The Ville Platte 10U girls softball all stars will be competing in the Pony League World Series in July. Coaches, Parents and players are planning a number of fund raising events to help raise enough money to make the trip for the girls. The following bake sales are scheduled: Friday 11:00am- 2:30pm at the Ville Platte Walmart; 11:0am to 2:30pm at Doucet's Barber Shop; 2:30pm- 6:00pm at Ville Platte Walmart; Sunday 10:00am- 1;30pm- at B&S Grocery; 10:00am- 1:30pm- at Teet's Food Store; 7:00am Mass at Sacred Heart; 8:00am Rev. Jack Mass; 8:00am- Our Lady Queen of All Saints Mass; 10:00am Mass Sacred Heart Mass ; `0:30am Mass-Our Lady Queen of All Saints; 4;00pm-Sacred Heart Mass. You are invited to purchase your baked goods or make a donation to the girl's softball team.

Rotary Club hears from Thomas Soileau of Progressive Tractor and Power Sports June 28, 2022 The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from Thomas Soileau, co-owner of Progressive Tractor and Power Sports. Soileau, a native of Ville Platte, now resides in Bunkie. He and his wife are the parents of four children. He is the son of Luke Soileau, former State Representative and part owner of G&S Implement Company in Ville Platte. Progressive began in 1991 with the purchase of G&S Implement and Dixie Ag as a Case Kubota dealer. The dealership expanded to Eunice, Cecelia, New Roads and Opelousas. In 2006, Soileau and his partners purchased the Progressive dealership. The company continued to expanded where it is now in 25 locations throughout Louisiana and Arkansas employing 435 employees. The company is utilizing the G&S location as a distribution center for parts and equipment. Recently the company purchased Boco's Incorporated, the local Honda dealership. They are planning to move to a larger location, in the former Morein Motors dealership building in the next week as a Honda dealer and Bad Boy mowers and outdoor power equipment. The location will also be a satellite retailer for their Industrial Rental dealership headquartered in Lafayette. The company has expanded to own a Case Construction Equipment dealership in Lafayette. However, the company's main focus remains is agriculture. Soileau told club members "We're happy to be back in Evangeline Parish." Soileau was the guest of Rotarian Steve Phillips. Last week, during the Rotary Installation Banquet, Kermit Miller and Dr. Joey Soileau were honored as Rotarians of the Year.

Deputies arrested and charged June 21, 2022 Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory reported to KVPI News that during the month of May, sheriff's office investigators began investigating reports of drugs and contraband being smuggled into the parish jail. They soon discovered that a number of deputies were utilizing outside contacts in order to have drugs and contraband delivered to the outside grounds of the jail at night and during the early morning hours. Those items were later brought into the facility by corrections deputies. After obtaining multiple cell phones that were confiscated from inside the jail, investigators were able to link jail deputies involved in orchestrating multiple transactions with prisoners and providing them with drugs and other items considered to be contraband. Two deputies have so far been arrested and charged: Hadden Quebedeaux age 18 of Ville Platte and Martin Richard age 25 of Opelousas were both charged with malfeasance in office, abuse of office, taking contraband into a penal facility and criminal conspiracy.. Sheriff Guilory said the investigation is still pending and more arrests are expected.

Evangeline Parish School Board Meeting June 21, 2022 The Evangeline Parish School Board Wednesday night honored a number of special teachers and educators. Supervisor Grace Sibley announced to the board, the school district has proudly had eight teacher and principal of the year award winners in the last eight year who exceeded the district level competition and placed on the state level: Cheri Fontenot of James Stephens Montessori, the overall Elementary State Principal of the Year winner; Brandi Marcantel of Vidrine, Elementary Teacher of the year Semin Finalist; Christine Bacon of W.W. Stewart, elementary state principal of the year semi finalist; Liz Chatelain of Mamou, High School State Principal of the year Finalist; Heather Demoruelle of James Stephens Montessori, elementary state teacher of the year semi finalist; Lisa Celestine of Vidrine, the overall Middle School State Teacher of the Year Semi Finalist; Kayla Joseph Jones of Chataignier, the middle school state teacher of the year semi finalist and Emee Aswell of Ville Platte High, high school state teacher of the year semi finalist. Also recognized were National board certified teachers in the district: Angelle Fuselier, Casey Fontenot, Grace Sibley, Julie Landreneau, Melissa Coreil, Cheri Fontenot, Kimberly Daire Soileau, Sheryl Fuselier, Althea Young, Kay Fontenot, Kimberly Jorden Soileau and Nina David. Three students were recognized for getting their Associates Degree from LSUE when they graduated from high school in the dual enrollment program: Erin Fontenot from Ville Platte High, Shawn Gaspard and Nathaniel Reese Romero from Basile High. In other business, the school board recognized the Jobs for America (J.A.G.) program specialist Diana Johnson for achieving all five national standards in her local program. Superintendent of Schools Darwan Lazard informed the school board that he has met with the sheriff to develop plans to beef up security at all parish public school in the parish following the shooting at Uvalde, Texas. They are working on having a single point of entry at schools, more fencing and cameras at schools. Former Mamou High Principal Liza Chatelain has been selected as grants coordinator for the new reimagine grant in Evangeline Parish; It was announced that there will be only one meeting in July: on July 13.

Drug Arrests June 21, 2022 Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory reported to KVPI News that a number of suspects were arrested on drug related charges after deputies executed a search warrant Sunday at a home on Crooked Creek Parkway. Agents arrived at the residence and detained a number of people. The owner of the home fled into the woods but was quickly captured without incident. The following suspects were arrested: Darold James Cole age 32 of Crooked Creek Parkway charged with possession with intent to distribute Methamphetamine, cultivation of Marijuana, Possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of Hydrocodone, Possession of Oxycodone, Resisting an Officer and Battery of a Dating Partner; Also, Rustin Ray Naquin age 39 of Crooked Creek Parkway charged with probation and parole violation and a warrant for failure to appear for court; Randy Ardoin age 58 of Harmony Road arrested for outstanding warrants; and James Woodruff age 25 of Jenus Road arrested on an outstanding warrant for Livingston Parish; Also on Monday, June 20, the sheriff department K-9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle. K-9 Diego was deployed to conduct a free air sniff of the outside of the vehicle. The dog gave a positive alert and a search was conducted on the vehicle. Deputies arrested Justin Wade Carroll age 33 of Opelousas charged with possession of clonazepam.

Ville Platte Rotary Club Meeting June 14, 2022 Dr. William Holmes, the new Evangeline Parish Librarian and members of his staff were featured speakers at today's (Tuesday) meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club Meeting. Holmes is a native of Mamou and was previously employed at LSU Eunice teaching business and finance. He shared the following stats: the parish library system has 23,800 registered library card holders out of a parish population of 33,500; the library, last year during Covid, still had 31,000 patron visits to the various branches; 82,600 books were circulated last year while 16,500 E-books were circulated. He announced a major expansion to the main Ville Platte branch, an increase of 3000 square feet to the main branch. Plans call for additional parking, a new conference room, a new genealogy room and a children's and adolescent room. The work should be complete by next year. Also, the library board is in the process of constructing a new Basile library branch. The land is being purchased on Stagg street. Also speaking were Outreach coordinators Suzie Lemoine and Keesha Ford discussing the summer Reading program. The speakers were the guests of Rotarian Kermit Miller. Rotary Club President Jimmy Leblanc reminded club members that next Tuesday, June 21, will be the annual Rotary Club Installation Banquet at Café Evangeline at 6:00pm. There will be no noon luncheon.

Ville Platte City Council Meeting

June 13, 2022

 

 

     The Ville Platte City Council, Tuesday, introduced its new fiscal year budget. Mayor’s Assistant Dirk Deville presented the budget figures to the city council and to those in attendance. The proposed budget includes 152 million dollars in funds to replace the city’s old gas lines. Deville remarked the federal government is mandating local governments to update their old utility likes like gas lines. The city is losing about 33 percent from leaky gas lines. The city has called a special meeting and public hearing to adopt the new fiscal year budget for June 27 at 12 noon with a public hearing at 11;45am.

 

    Sonia Christopher representing a group of volunteers assisting with the city animal shelter gave a report to the mayor and city council. She and her group met recently to prepare a policy and procedures manual for animal shelter workers. She also distributed a minimum list of requirements for animal shelters issued by the state. Mayor Jennifer Vidrine commented that many of the comments being made on social media about the conditions at the shelter are exaggerated and not factual.

 

     City Engineer Ronnie Landreneau said the street improvement project is about 70 percent complete with some 25 streets included in the original project. All asphalt streets except for those needing rebuilding have been done. Those still waiting to be done include Desoto, a portion of Hickory and St. Marie Streets. The work came in under budget so additional streets will be done.

 

          Ryan Williams addressed the mayor and city council over action taken last month. The city council on May 27 approved a financing plan  with a firm known as Sustainability Partners to pay off its bond obligations. Williams said 23 million dollars of business was conducted with no input from the city’s legal advisor.

 

          Councilmen Bryant Riggs and Mike Perron disagreed with Williams assessment. Riggs and Perron said the action taken was good for the city and the residents.

 

             In other action, the city council:

 

--heard from Mayor Jennifer Vidrine report that some 100 students have enrolled in the Girls and Boys Place;

 

--received news that there will be a fireworks display on July 4;

 

--heard from Fire Chief Chris Soileau report there were four structure fires, two vehicle fires and five grass fires in May;

 

--received the May police report from Chief Neal Lartigue: 1134 calls, 14 citations, 10 felony arrests and worked 17 accidents including one fatality. The council approved hiring two new patrol officers.

   

KVPI would like to correct a posting regarding a police matter that appeared on our website on May 27, 2022. The posting was about an incident involving Mr. Rufus Searile and did not mention any specific date. Some readers may have concluded the posting was about a recent event even though the incident mentioned in the posting happened in May of 2016 . KVPI does not know what made an incident from May of 2016 reappear on our website on May 27, 2022 but we apologize to Mr. Searile for any inconvenience caused by lack of clarity in that website posting.

Evangeline Parish Police Jury Meeting June 6, 2022 The Evangeline Parish Police Jury tonight (Monday) in a committee meeting heard from its building inspector and electrical contractors needing guidance and policy on temporary permit applications. The parish building inspector's main concern is safety. A number of property owners are requesting 200 amp electrical service for smaller projects such as electric fencing and wells when all they need a smaller 100 amp service . However, the jury does not have a policy or ordinance to deal with these issues. Secretary Treasurer Donald Bergeron confirmed there is no ordinance on the books on regulating these projects. Jury President Bryan Vidrine said "Right now we are in limbo until we adopt some type of ordinance". The police jury has called a public hearing for 4:00pm to get public comment on a proposed ordinance. Also, the police jury has gotten complaints from at least one resident in the St. Landry community against the proposed installation of a new 5-G cell tower adjacent to his property. The home owner complained how the tower will impact the value of his property and concerns about the health effects of 5-G service. The jury voted to table discussion on the issue. Also in the executive committee, the police jury called a public hearing to get public comment on the proposed merger of the Lone Pine Fire District with the Ward Five Fire District. The hearing is planned for 4;30pm July 11. In other action the police jury: --approved moving the Lake Cove voting precinct from Berl Clark's store where it has been for the past 40 years and moving it to the Lake Cove Baptist Church in time for the Fall elections; --voted to call a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to regulate solar power farms in the parish. It was learned that at least two companies are interested in starting farms In Evangeline Parish; --received news from Secretary Treasurer Donald Bergeron that the 2 percent sales tax revenues brought in $336,060 for the month of May, down slightly from this time last year but still 19 percent higher year to date.