Election Returns October 14, 2023 Complete but unofficial election returns from Saturday's Primary election shows the following: In the Clerk of Court's race, incumbent randy Deshotel was reelected over opponent Jebby Cormier. Deshotel received 70 percent of the vote or 5343 votes to Cormier's 2278 votes or 29 percent of the vote; For Police Juror in District One: incumbent Keith Saucier defeated challenger Freeman Celestine. Saucier received 51.5 percent of the vote or 494 votes to Celestine's 464 votes; In Police Jury District Two, incumbent Sidney Fontenot was re elected over challenger Jamie Fontenot. Sidney Fontenot received 55 percent of the vote or 432 votes to Jamie Fontenot's 353 votes or 44.9 percent; In Police Jury District Four, challenger Tim Causey defeated incumbent police juror Lelia Johnson Thrasher. Causey received 56.6 percent of the vote or 677 votes while Thrasher got 518 votes or 43.35 percent; In Police Jury District Six, there will be a runoff election. Incumbent Eric Soileau with 514 or 49 percent of the vote was the top vote getter will be going into a runoff with challenger Brent Guillory who got 502 votes or 42.9 percent of the vote. The third person in the race was Donald Vidrine who received 31 votes; In Police Jury District Seven, incumbent Bryan Vidrine defeated Kevin Cabon Fontenot. Vidrine received 71 percent of the vote or 606 votes whole Fontenot got 237 votes or 28 percent of the vote; Police Jury District Eight, the winner is Darion "Brother" Arvie with 532 votes or 50.76 percent of the vote defeated both of his opponents: Sherman "Deedee" Wilson with 379 votes and Earl "Tenny" Doucet with 137 votes; In Millage tax elections: The Town of Mamou 12.45 mill property tax proposition passed for a ten year term by a vote of 283 voting yes and 170 voting no; The Mamou Fire Protection District No. 1 8.007 tax renewal for another ten year term was approved by voters: 1424 voting yes and 296 voting no; The Duralde Gravity Drainage District #4 8.17 mill tax renewal for a nother ten years was approved by voters: 104 voting yes and 21 voting no; Constitutional Amendments: Amendment #1 prohibit use of private funds in elections was approved by parish voters 5427 voting yes and 2089 voting no; Amendment #2 dealing with th e freedom of worship was approved by parish voters: 6088 voters voting yes and 1477 voting no; Amendment #3 dealing with the state retirement system was approved by parish voters with 3977 voters voting yes and 3386 voters voting no; Amendment #4- dealing with tax exemptions was approved by parish voters: 4605 voting yes and 2811 voting no; In statewide races, here in Evangeline Parish For Governor: the top vote getter was Jeff Landry with 5624 voters followed by Shawn Wilson with 1574 votes; For Lt. Governor: incumbent Billy Nungesser was the top vote getter with 5010 votes in the parish and Willie Jones came in second with 1182 votes' For Secretary of State: Mike Francis was the top voter in the parish receiving 3082 votes followed by Nancy Landry with 1080 votes; For Attorney General:, Liz Baker Murrill was the top vote getter in the parish with 3402 votes followed by John Stefanski with 1967 votes; For State Treasurer: John Fleming was the vote getter with 4107 votes followed by Dustin Granger with 1788 votes; For BESE Board Member in District eight :Preston Castille was the top vote getter in the parish with 4392 votes and opponent Delores Cormier Zenon 2ith 1753 votes. The KVPI News team., Misty and Mark, did a live broadcast from the Clerk of Court's Office for the entire election returns with Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel.

Ville Platte Police retrieves suspect back to Evangeline Parish October 12, 2023 Ville Platte Chief of Police Al Perry Thomas reported to KVPI News today that he traveled to Port Arthur, Texas to extradite Marcus Paul Arvie age 23 of Ville Platte. Arvie was arrested by Texas authorities and placed on a hold for Ville Platte officials. Arvie was charged with Accessory After the Fact of Second Degree Murder. His bond was set at $250,000 and he is currently in the Evangeline Parish Jail. He was arrested and charged in connection with the death of Vashonskee Charles age 17 of Ville Platte on August 29. His body was discovered on Colt Avenue. Arvie is accused of assisting in the disposal of the victim's body outside of Ville Platte. Jared Freeman was extradited earlier from Los Angeles, California and is charged with second degree murder in the death of Charles and is under a two million dollar bond. Ville Platte Police are still searching for two suspects in the case: Jaylon Thomas and Dalonzo Alfred. Chief Thomas told KVPI News that his department are still running down leads in the investigation of the shooting death of a Baton Rouge man who was shot to death last Friday night. He was shot four times and his body was found near his vehicle along Court Street. His identity was not released but he is a black male in his 30's. Police are looking at possibly a passenger in the vehicle may have been the shooter. In another case, Chief Thomas reported that his department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred Wednesday night at the Dollar Store on West Main across from the funeral home. The incident occurred around 9:30pm. There were no shoppers only two employees at the time of the holdup. The robber stole some $2600 from the store.

Rotary Club Meeting – 10-10-23 The program at the Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday was presented by Rotarian Clem LaFleur. Clem introduced his daughter, Yontria LaFleur. Yontria has been a model and an actress, and she is now forming her own Image Consulting business. She helps her clients select clothing to best express their body type and preferences, which in turn helps to build confidence. Her clients include attorneys, teachers, doctors, politicians and others. She helps people with clothing for every day, events, and special occasions. Yontira also plans to start a mentorship program, which she will likely form as a non- profit. Her first event was at Ville Platte High. She invited fitness and health coaches, a yoga instructor and others. Her purpose was to teach the students how to present themselves in public and how to dress for interviews and other important events.  She plans to remain actively involved in Ville Platte, because this is home. Other Rotary News: • Bryan Ardoin presented a potential new member for the first time – Carleen Jones, Campus Director for SLCC • Rotary will start taking names for the Christmas baskets • Annette Johnson explained the Rotary statements • Nicole Wenger announced that Larry Lachney will present the program at the next meeting, October 17th. • The District Governor will be visiting the Ville Platte Rotary on October 24th. The plan is to put together a Gumbo and seasoning basket as a gift for the District Governor. • Wayne Vidrine updated everyone about planting Azaleas at Chicot Park with Sacred Heart. If there is enough rain, planting will take place on December 3rd, and there will be about 100 azaleas to plant.

We had royalty in our KVPI studios early this morning. Three queens representing the Tournoi Association visited KVPI studios to record interviews that will air Friday at 12:45. We had the new 2023 Tournoi Queen Shelbi Lynn Guidry, Ms. Tournoi Queen Gabrielle Dawn Alleman and Junior Tournoi Queen Addyson Ann Boutte. Also, listen to special messages from the Tournoi Queen inviting listeners to attend the Tournoi Sunday afternoon at 2;)0pm. If you can't attend, be sure to listen to Classic Hits 92.5 KVPI . The KVPI road crew, Misty, Mike and Mark will be there covering it from start to finish.

We had two educators visit us at KVPI studios this morning to record an interview to promote the College, Career and Job Expo planned for Wednesday morning from 9-12 at the Mamou Community Center. Our guests were Liz Chatelain, Secondary Supervisor and Coordinator for the Reimagine Academy and Carmen Faul, Curriculum Specialist. You can hear the interview Tuesday at 12;35pm on KVPI AM and FM. KVPI's Misty Parker and Britney Speyrer will be covering the career day.