Local

A banner for Balfa Week was shown at the Eunice Board of Aldermen’s meeting in December. From left, are Jean Johnson, Louisiana Folk Roots Board treasurer; Jeanne Solis, Folk Roots executive director; Angela Rathle, supervisory National Park Ranger; and Lorraine Shelton- Gaines, Folk Roots Board president. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

A banner for Balfa Week was shown at the Eunice Board of Aldermen’s meeting in December. From left, are Jean Johnson, Louisiana Folk Roots Board treasurer; Jeanne Solis, Folk Roots executive director; Angela Rathle, supervisory National Park Ranger; and Lorraine Shelton- Gaines, Folk Roots Board president. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

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Balfa Week begins Tuesday

Rebecca Chaisson
Friday, March 15, 2024
The Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week will be held Tuesday through March 24 at Lakeview Park & Beach. In December, Jeanne Solis, executive director of Louisiana Folk Roots, said this will be the 21st Balfa Week and the second time to be held in Eunice.
A 2.5 acre plot of the Cajun Prairie Restoration site north of the Union Pacific railroad tracks was subjected to a controlled burn on Tuesday. Biologist and retired LSUE Professor Malcolm Vidrine was present and said the burn helps rid the site of non-native plants and the ash stimulates the deep native roots. The native plants have roots that can grow as deep as 16 feet below the surface. The Cajun Prairie Habitat Preservation Society also has a 10-acre site on the south side of the tracks. The 10-acre p

A 2.5 acre plot of the Cajun Prairie Restoration site north of the Union Pacific railroad tracks was subjected to a controlled burn on Tuesday. Biologist and retired LSUE Professor Malcolm Vidrine was present and said the burn helps rid the site of non-native plants and the ash stimulates the deep native roots. The native plants have roots that can grow as deep as 16 feet below the surface. The Cajun Prairie Habitat Preservation Society also has a 10-acre site on the south side of the tracks. The 10-acre p

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Controlled burn on the Cajun Prairie Restoration site

Rebecca Chaisson
Friday, March 15, 2024
A 2.5 acre plot of the Cajun Prairie Restoration site north of the Union Pacific railroad tracks was subjected to a controlled burn on Tuesday.

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St. Landry Parish sales tax collections continue gains

Rebecca Chaisson
Friday, March 15, 2024
St. Landry Parish sales tax collections through February totaled $17,727,277, a 11.6% increase over the same two-month period in 2023, according to statistics released by the St. Landry Parish School Board tax division. In 2023, collections through February totaled $15,890,413.

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Parish drainage district proposed

Rebecca Chaisson
Friday, March 15, 2024
Parish President Jessie Bellard started a conversation about a parish-wide drainage plan during a discussion about a resolution in support of a Storm Water Management District in St. Landry Parish, A resolution is to support a House bill for Storm Water Management district in the state.
The map shows the Division B election area for the 27th Judicial District. The district has 12,083 registered voters. At the end of early voting on Thursday, 2,274 votes had been cast. The map is courtesy of St. Landry Parish Registrar of Voters Byron Stelly.

The map shows the Division B election area for the 27th Judicial District. The district has 12,083 registered voters. At the end of early voting on Thursday, 2,274 votes had been cast. The map is courtesy of St. Landry Parish Registrar of Voters Byron Stelly.

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64% of in-person votes cast in Eunice

Rebecca Chaisson
Friday, March 15, 2024
Most likely due to the three-person race for the 27th Judicial Court District seat, Eunice in-person voting at the end of Thursday totaled 745 in early voting. Total in-person votes cast for the March 23 election in St. Landry Parish as of Thursday was 1,167.
News notes items

News notes items

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News notes

Myra Miller
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Belly Buddies Color Fun Run set April 13 There will be a Belly Buddies Color Fun Run in downtown Eunice from 10 a.m. until noon on April 13. All proceeds will go to Belly Buddies, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide food to Eunice’s most vulnerable students.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot signs a pledge for a city cleanup in 2026 to mark the 250th year since the Declaration of Independence. With the mayor is Donna Baltakis, director of Keep Eunice Beautiful. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot signs a pledge for a city cleanup in 2026 to mark the 250th year since the Declaration of Independence. With the mayor is Donna Baltakis, director of Keep Eunice Beautiful. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

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Eunice gets a little more littered

Rebecca Chaisson
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Eunice was a little more littered in 2024 compared to 2023. That’s what Donna Baltakis, Keep Eunice Beautiful director, said at Tuesday’s meeting of the mayor and Board of Aldermen. “For just the second time in the last 12 years out litter index was not as good as as last year.

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CASA plans rally in Ville Platte

Rebecca Chaisson
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
The City of Ville Platte in partnership with CASA of St. Landry-Evangeline Inc. will hosting its Spring Parishwide Resource Rally from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28 at the Ville Platte Civic Center located at 704 N. Soileau Road, Ville Platte.
Eunice musiicans perform at the 2023 Courthouse arts festival. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

Eunice musiicans perform at the 2023 Courthouse arts festival. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

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Student Arts and STEAM Festival planned at Courthouse

Rebecca Chaisson
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
The Acadiana Center for the Arts announces the second year of the St. Landry Parish Student Arts and STEAM festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 23 at the Courthouse Square in Opelousas.
Jamie Speyrer

Jamie Speyrer

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Bellard hires finance director

Rebecca Chaisson
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
The St. Landry Parish Council approved Parish President Jessie Bellard’s recommendation to hire Jamie Speyrer as finance director. The parish charter requires the top executive positions to be approved by the Council. All Council members present except for Nancy Carriere approved the appointment.