Ville Platte Radio Station to Receive Recognition Three individuals who have spent their careers dedicated to improving agriculture in Louisiana will be the newest inductees into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction and one South Louisiana radio station will be recognized for dedicated service to Louisiana agriculture. The induction will take place at the L'Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge Thursday March 2. KVPI AM/FM, Ville Platte, will receive special recognition at the 2023 Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction induction ceremonies. KVPI has been serving the agriculture community of Evangeline and surrounding parishes since it first signed on the air back in 1953. General Manager Mark Layne and the entire staff of KVPI AM/FM is being recognized as one of the outstanding affiliates of the Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network as it provides Louisiana farmers and ranchers access to the latest information they need to continue making agriculture the number one industry in Louisiana. The inductees are rice and crawfish farmer Gerard Frey, of Iota; Steve Linscombe, longtime LSU AgCenter rice breeder and current director of the USA Rice Federation Leadership Development Program, who currently resides in Mountain Home, Texas; and Jackie Theriot, a sugarcane farmer and advocate for the sugarcane industry from St. Martinville. A joint effort of the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Radio Network, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction honors individuals who have made significant contributions to agriculture or agriculture-related industries. Previous inductees have represented farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, education and agribusiness. For more information regarding the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction event, contact Robyn Dow with the Louisiana Radio Network at 225-291-2727 or office@louisianaradionetwork.com.

Book Authors Speak at Rotary Club Meeting Feb. 14, 2023 The two authors of the popular new book, "Healing Traditions", Mary Perrin and Beverly Fuselier, were the guest speakers at today's (Tuesday) meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. The book discusses folk healing and healing plants. Both authors are "traiteurs" treating people with various ailments. One section on the book is on "traiteurs" and folk healing. Some folk healers only treat specific problems such as warts, fevers and burns while others treat for everything. It was mentioned that well known Cajun musician , the late D.L. Menard and his father were both "traiteurs." The cover of their new publication shows a faith healer healing an afflicted person inside a circle of salt. The artwork came from well known artist, George Rodrigue. The authors mention that the faith healing practice is given from one generation to a younger one. However, they never push the art to another person. The person must ask for it. The other section of the book goes into detail on some 68 healing plants including herbs, roots, and bark that can be used and prepared in various ways as a tea or a poultice or bandage. The two guest speakers were guests of Rotarian Ronnie Landreneau who was in charge of the program. It was announced that the March 7 meeting of the club will be held at the state arboretum at Chicot State Park.

Drug Arrests Feb. 13, 2023 Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory reported to KVPI News that his department have arrested suspects on drug related charges in three separate matters. On February 7, the sheriff's office narcotics unit conducted a search warrant at a residence on North Thompson Street in Ville Platte. Agents entered the residence and detained several people. A search of the home was conducted and illegal narcotics were located. Arrested were: Christopher Allen Wall age 36 of 9th Street, Pine Prairie charged with possession of schedule three drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer; Cody Wardlaw age 26 of North Thompson, Ville Platte charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute synthetic marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and Brandy Nichole Fontenot age 28 of Tiger Lane, Ville Platte charged with possession of methamphetamine, On February 9, the narcotics unit conducted a traffic stop on Washington Street in Ville Platte. Agents made contact with the driver and conducted an interview. A search of the driver and the vehicle was then conducted and illegal narcotics were located. The suspect was identified as Casey Faul age 32 of 319 East Pine, Ville Platte and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia. On February 11, the sheriff's department traffic unit conducted a stop on a vehicle. Upon making contact with the driver, there was an over whelming smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The deputy conducted a probably cause search and located narcotics and a firearm. Arrested was Andre Fitzgerald Franklin age 34 of Baton Rouge charged with possession with intent to distribute over 2 pounds of marijuana, possession of a firearm in the presence of controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. In another matter, Sheriff Guillory reports that a Lake Cove man, Galen Hazelton age 26 was arrested by Evangeline Parish authorities on charges of theft. On January 10, the victim reported that someone gained access to his bank account information. During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect, Hazelton obtained the bank account information and used to make transactions on the internet. When questioning the suspect, he admitted to the allegation and was issued a misdemeanor summons for theft.