Drug Arrests July 26, 2022 Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory reported to KVPI News the following drug arrests: Last Saturday, July 23, the sheriff's department narcotics unit conducted a traffic stop on two vehicles for traffic violations. Upon coming into contact with the first vehicle, the driver was identified and it was determined the vehicle she was driving was stolen and she had an active warrant for her arrest. Agents conducted a search of the car and located illegal narcotics. Agents then made contact with the second vehicle and identified the driver. After a short interview, the K-9 drug dog, Diego was deployed and gave a positive alert. Agents conducted a search of the car and located illegal narcotics along with over $11,500 in U.S. currency. The suspects were identified as Heidi Alaine Brignac age 24 of 7734 Veterans Memorial Highway, Ville Platte charged with Theft of a motor vehicle and Possession of Methamphetamine. Also arrested was Brandon J. Deshotel, age 25 of 325 Rue D'Aimme, Ville Platte charged with possession of Methamphetamine and Transactions involving drug proceeds On Tuesday, July 26, the narcotics unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation. After a short interview, the drug dog was deployed and the authorities discovered illegal narcotics. The two suspects were identified as: Shawn Allen Murphy age 32 of 11 Martin Springs Road, Forest Hill charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and a traffic violation and Jamie Alexandria Allred, age 23, same address charged with Possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Also on Tuesday, the narcotics unit conducted a search warrant on a residence on Highway 167 North in the Bayou Chicot area. The action was taken after weeks of investigation into illegal drug activity. Agents entered the home and detained one female without incident. Agents conducted a search of the residence and located a large amount of US currency ($15,000), a stolen shotgun, 2.8 pounds of marijuana, scales and packaging. Agents also seized a large number of firearms. The suspect was identified as Mary Rebecca Rachal age 62 of 6050 Highway 167 North charged with possession with intent to distribute over 2.8 pounds of marijuana, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm in the presence of controlled dangerous substance and transactions involving drug proceeds

Candidate Qualifying July 22, 2022 Today (Friday) was the final day of qualifying for candidates seeking political office in Evangeline Parish, according to Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel. Here are the candidates that filed their qualifying papers today (Friday) : School Board: District One-Lonnie Sonnier; School Board District Two: Nicky Chaumont; School Board District Five-Chasessica Basco; City of Ville Platte: District B-Anna Frank and Jorie Randle; Alderman District D-Cortez Fontenot; Town of Mamou- Alderman at Large-Joe Paul Deshotel and Alderman District Four -Lisa Celestine; Village of Chataignier-Chief of Police Willtee Eric Gallow; Village of Turkey Creek-Mayor Joey Ducote; Turkey Creek Council member: Ashley Melancon; Town of Basile: Chief of Police -Allen Ivory Jr; Alderman at Large- Charetha Ceasar Rankins, Darrel Reed, and Carmen Cortez; Basile Alderman District One-Jessica Ceasar and Chesley Ortego; and Alderman District District Two- Jennifer Fontenot Ivory, Kristy Miller, Caleb Delafosse, Roger Cortez 2nd and Evelyn Lafleur Williams. Here is the complete list of candidates that qualified: Congressman Mike Johnson has been reelected with no opponents; Judge Gary Ortego has been elected with no opponents to serve as the Third Circuit Court of Appeals from the Third District; Marcus Fontenot has been elected as Judge from the 13th Judicial District Court, Division A with no opponents; For U.S. Senator, incumbent John Kennedy is seeking re-election with 12 opponents from around the state; For Public Service Commissioner incumbent Mike Francis is facing two opponents: Keith Bodin and Shalon Latour; For the special election for Police Juror in District Four: Incumbent Lelia Johnson Thrasher and Stan Leger; For School Board Members: District One-Incumbent Lonnie Sonnier has been reelected with no opponents; For School Board District Two-Incumbent Nicky Chaumont and Rebecca Wall Berzas; For School Board District Three-incumbent Karen Vidrine was reelected with no opponents ; For School Board District Four, Incumbent Wayne Dardeau and Bobby Godwin; For School Board District Five with no incumbents: Monica Blood Andrus, Chasessica Basco, Curtis Henry Jr., and Craig Whittington; For School Board District Six: Incumbent Mike Fontenot was reelected with no opponents; For School Board District Seven: Sheila Joseph was reelected with no opponents; For School Board District Eight: Wanda Skinner, the incumbent was reelected with no opponents; For School District Nine: Incumbent Scott Limoges and Kristy Briley; For School Board District Ten: Arthur Savoy, the incumbent and Fannie Soileau; For School Board District Eleven: Tanicia Doyle and Bobby Max Hamlin; For School Board District Twelve: Ellis Guillory Sr. incumbent and Calvin Leday Jr.; For School Board District 13:Incumbent Georgianna Wilson and Donald Anderson. For the City of Ville Platte: Mayor: Karl Bordelon, Renee Brown, Jennifer Vidrine, incumbent and Ryan LeDay Williams; For Chief Of Police: Neal Lartigue, incumbent and A. Perry Thomas; For Alderman: District A Councilman-Faye Lemoine was reelected with no opponent; Alderman District B:Anna Frank, Incumbent Jerry Joseph and Jorie Randle; For District C:Tracie Jagneaux and Shirleen O'Conner; District D Councilman: Incumbent Jordan Anderson, Cortez Fontenot, Renaldo Frank, Shawn Roy, and Vashansky Shanky Thomas; District E: Earl Edward, incumbent Christina Sam and Adam Toussaint; and District F: Brant Riggs and Leroy Robertson Jr. In The Town of Basile: For Mayor: Mark Denette, incumbent and Latoya Howze; For Chief of Police, incumbent Allen Ivory Jr. was reelected with no opponents; For Alderman at Large: Charetha Ceasar Rankins, Carmen Cortez, and Darrel Reed; Alderman District One: Jessica Ceaser and Chesley Ortego; For Alderman District Two: Kenny Burgess, Roger Cortez 2nd, Caleb Paul Delafosse, Jennifer Fontenot Ivory, John JJ Jenkins, Evelyn Lafleur Williams and Kristy Miller. For the Town of Mamou: Mayor-Leisa Deshotel and Incumbent Ricky Fontenot; for Mamou Chief of Police: Pat Hall and Incumbent Brent Zackery; For Alderman at Large: Cora Chretien-Veal, Joe Paul Deshotel, Ricardo "Reko"Goodley, and Jimmie "JT" Thomas; Alderman District One: Ricky Allison and Derrell "Sheaky" Thomas; District Two Councilman- Brook Chapman, incumbent reelected with no opponents; District Three: Allen Dicks, Eugene Manuel and Allen Noel Sr. and District Four: Lisa Celestine and Incumbent Robin Young; For the Village of Chataignier: Mayor-Incumbent Justin Darbonne and Henry Watson; for Chief of Police: Willtee Eric Gallow and Brandon Watz; Councimen: Three to be elected: Carilyn "Tu" Arvie, Maria Calvin, Tom Frank, Duncan Johnston, and Kelly Watz; For the Village of Turkey Creek: Mayor- Bert K. Campbell, Victoria "Vicki" Chaddrick, and Joey Ducote; For councilman, three to be elected: Eric Chapelle, Shawn "Heavy" Fontenot, Krista Hebert, Jessie Johnson, Billy Neal King Jr., and Ashley Melancon.

Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court reported to KVPI News the following candidates who qualified on Thursday during the second day of qualifying for the November Primary elections. School Board: District 7 Sheila Joseph-incumbent School Board: District 9 Kristy Briley Scott Limoges-Incumbent School Board: District 11 Tanicia Doyle City of Ville Platte: Mayor: Karl Bordelon Chief of Police: Neal Lartigue Alderman, District E Adam Toussaint Alderman, District F Bryant Riggs Town of Basile: Alderman, District 2 John "JJ" Jenkins Town of Mamou: Chief of Police: Brent Zackery Alderman At Large: Cora Chretien-Veal Village of Turkey Creek Council Members: Eric Chapelle Jesse E. Johnson Shawn "Heavy" Fontenot Qualifying ends Friday afternoon.

As per Clerk of Court, Randy Deshotel, candidates that have qualified as of 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 20, 2022, to run for office in the upcoming Fall election are as follows: District Judge; 13th Judicial District Court, Div. A Marcus L. Fontenot Police Juror: District 4 Lelia Johnson Thrasher Stanley "Stan" Leger School Board: District 1 School Board: District 2 School Board: District 3 Karen Vidrine School Board: District 4 Wayne Dardeau Robert "Bobby" Godwin School Board: District 5 Craig Whittington Monica Blood Andrus Curtis Henry Jr. School Board: District 6 Micheal "Mike" Fontenot School Board: District 7 School Board: District 8 Wanda Anderson-Skinner School Board: District 9 School Board: District 10 Arthur Savoy Fannie Soileau School Board: District 11 Bobby Max Hamlin School Board: District 12 Ellis Guillory, Sr. Calvin Leday, Jr. School Board: District 13 Georgianna Wilson Donald R. "Don" Anderson City of Ville Platte: Mayor: Ryan Leday Williams Jennifer Vidrine Renee Brown Chief of Police: A. Perry Thomas Alderman, District A Faye Lemoine Alderman, District B Jerry Joseph Alderman, District C Tracey Jagneaux Shirlene O'Connor Alderman, District D Jordan Anderson Renaldo J. Frank Shawn C. Roy Vashanski "Shanky" Thomas Alderman, District E Christina F. Sam Earl Edward Alderman, District F Leroy Robertson, Jr. Town of Basile: Mayor: Chief of Police: Alderman At Large: Alderman, District 1 Alderman, District 2 Kenny A. Burgess Town of Mamou: Mayor: Leisa Deshotel Ricky Fontenot Chief of Police: "Pat" Hall Alderman At Large: Jimmie "JT" Thomas Ricardo "Reko" Goodley Alderman, District 1 Rickey Allison Derrell "Sheaky" Thomas Alderman, District 2 Brook Chapman Alderman, District 3 Allen S. Noel Allen Dicks Eugene Manuel Alderman, District 4 Robin L. Young Village of Chataignier: Mayor: Justin Darbonne Henry Watson Chief of Police: Brandon Watz Aldermen: Carilyn "Tu" Arvie Maria Calvin Kelly Watz Tom Frank Duncan Johnston Village of Turkey Creek: Mayor: Bert K. Campbell Victoria "Vicki" Chaddrick Council Members: Billy "Neal" King Krista J. Hebert

Rotary Club Meeting July 19, 2022 The Ville Platte Rotary Club, today (Tuesday) heard from guest speaker Mrs. Jackie Miller. She is the host of the weekly French Table at Hundred Fold Coffee every Monday at 3;00pm. Since the month of March, some 10-20 people attend the weekly gathering to learn and speak French. She urged those wanting to learn our French language to attend the meetings and purchase a copy of "Cajun Self Taught" by Fr. Jules Daigle. Mrs. Miller is a retired legal secretary who worked for a number of local attorneys including Jules Ashlock. She was the guest of Rotarian Dan Poret who was in charge of the weekly program. Photo compliments of Ville Platte Gazette.

On Sunday July 10, 2022, at approximately 2130 hours, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office Patrol Division responded to an Armed Robbery in progress located at the Dollar General Store on the 1700 Blk. of the Chataignier Rd. just outside of Ville Platte. The victim reported that a Black Male, between 5-10 and 6 feet tall, medium build, wearing blue jeans, a long sleeve hooded shirt, and a mask resembling a skull, entered the store and pointed what appeared to be a small pink hand gun at the victim demanding money. The victim then immediately retreated from the suspect and locked herself inside the manager's office. During that time, the suspect attempted to open the register but was unsuccessful. Prior to Deputies arrival, the suspect fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction. If anyone has any information in reference to this incident please contact the Evangeline Parish Criminal Investigations Division at 337-363-2161.

Mamou Police was notified of a 4 wheeler theft that occurred in the early hours of June 22, 2022. After the initial officer answered the complaint, Chief Zackery, Assistant Chief Mitchell and Captain Benoit were notified of the theft and began an investigation. This case was able to be solved within the first 24 hours of the ATV being stolen. Through thorough investigations they were able to recover and return the ATV to the owner along with having a suspect apprehended. In another case, On June 23, 2022 Mamou Police were contacted about a residential burglary on the 600 block of 5th Street. Officers responded and started their initial investigation. Captain Benoit was then notified and assigned the case where he further investigated the incident. Chief Zackery, Assistant Chief Mitchell and Capt Benoit were able to gather information and leads to suspects that were involved in the burglary. Arrest warrants have been secured and executed on several individuals. Several firearms and an ATV has been recovered. Still missing is a 2006 Chevrolet Z71 pickup truck grey in color with a deer antler decal on the back glass. Officers are also seeking the identity of one juvenile suspect who goes by the name "Tuttie" or Pah-Tuttie". If anyone knows or can identify this subject are asked to contact the Mamou Police Department. All calls will remain anonymous.

Jacques Dupre, a 17 year veteran paramedic with Acadian Ambulance Service was the guest speaker at Tuesday's meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. Dupre is a resident of Baton Rouge and a native of Ville Platte. He is training to receive his funeral license through Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service. Dupre said he is happy to be back in his home town. He announced Acadian Ambulance Service is celebrating its 51st anniversary in business this year. The company has grown to operate some 600 ambulances throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The company receives an average of 1500 calls per day in its service area. He reported that an applicant to become an E.M.T. must be at least 18 years old, have a chauffer's license and successfully complete the Emergency Medical Technician course. Dupre was the special guest of Rotarian Richard LeJeune.