Local

Fontenot catches 11-lb. bass at Chicot Park

What started out like a normal day on the water at Chicot Park turned into a day where a local fisherman hauled in the biggest fish he had ever caught. “I just had got there and started going into a little cove where I normally fish,” said Ricky Fontenot, of Bayou Chicot.

Persistence created ‘miracle’ waterway

Someone once called the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway a “thousand-mile miracle,” but there was nothing miraculous about getting it built. The miracle was that the idea for the canal came from west Texas, not south Louisiana.

New report details UL Lafayette’s impact on state economy

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette had a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion for fiscal year 2021-2022. That total supports more than 34,600 jobs – one out of every 78 jobs in the state. UL Lafayette’s $1.

Parish sales tax collections up 3.2% over last year

St. Landry Parish sale tax collections through May were up 3.2% or $1,218,187 over revenues in the same period in 2022. Total collections through May were $38,880,690 compared to $37,662,503 in 2022. May collections in the parish were $7,565,192, up $164,208 or 2.2% over May 2022 collection.

City budget includes police pay raise

The starting pay for Eunice Police increases from $12.75 an hour to $16 an hour in the 2023-2024 city budget up for approval at Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting. Mayor Scott Fontenot announced the proposed salary increase at a meeting Thursday to set the agenda for the meeting.

Acadian Cultural Center to reopen in 2024

The Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice, closed since 2019, is projected to reopen in May 2024, according to Angela Rathle, supervisory National Park Service ranger. Rathle spoke Wednesday at the Eunice Rotary Club meeting.

St. Landry Parish School Board loses Head Start grant

The St. Landry Parish School Board effective July 1 will no longer administer the Head Start program in the parish. A news release from the Office of Head Start and the School Board was released Thursday afternoon.

News notes

Mt. Olive Cemetery in need of lawn care Help is needed from the family, friends and concerned citizens those laid to rest at Mt. Olive Cemetery. The family members, are compelled to organize together to consistently take care of the lawn care/landscaping needs of this property moving forward.

SLEMCO’s 86th annual meeting is Saturday

SLEMCO will hold its 86th annual membership meeting at the Lafayette Cajundome this Saturday with doors opening at 6 a.m.

St. Landry Parish Government to hold 2nd annual BBQ Festival

St. Landry Parish Government is gearing up for the 2023 St. Landry BBQ Fest Friday through Sunday at at the Yambilee Grounds and Ag Arena. There will also be a variety of arts and crafts vendors, a carnival with rides and activities, and food and drink vendors serving up barbecue and other dishes.