Looking Back

Submitted by Heather Bogard on Tue, 07/28/2015 - 20:40

By: HEATHER
BOGARD
Lifestyles Editor

This week, we take a look back at February 22, 1968
•Sacred Heart High School was destroyed by fire on Friday, February 16, 1968, with an approximate financial loss of $750,000, and the community quickly sprung into action to get it up and running again for the following school year. Plans for a new building were immediately put into motion and students finished the school year in the available empty classrooms in the elementary school building. American Security Bank pledged $10,000 from the bank, directors and employees to the cause.
•Veillon Motor Company celebrated its 40th anniversary. It opened in 1928 with a $12,000 investment and six employees. The company had grown to 47 employees by its 40th year.
•Earl J. Fontenot Jr. a sweet potato farmer from Grand Prairie was named president of the U.S. Sweet Potato Council.
•The Vidrine High School FFA club won the Area III sweepstakes for a second straight year. Johnny LaHaye served as club president.
•The Catholic Daughters in Mamou hosted the first annual Valentine’s Day Ball. The royalty selected were Queen Mary I Melinda Young and King Duffy I Jason LaFleur.
•Sale items at Brown’s included a four-piece bedroom suite including a bookcase bed, dresser, mirror and chest on sale for $99 (down from $149.95); nine-piece dinette set for $89.22 (down from $139.95.); and a GE console stereo on sale for $98.22 (down from $189.95).
•Sale items at G. Ardoin’s included Luzianne (dark roast) for .59 per pound; large box of Tide or Cheer detergent for .69; grapes for .21 per pound; tangerines at 12 for .25; and three pounds of stew meat for $1.
•Showing at the Platte Theatre was “The Ambushers,” starring Dean Martin. Showing at the Jan Theatre was “Doctor, You’ve Got to be Kidding,” starring Sandra Dee and George Hamilton.
•Popular songs of February 1968 were “Green Tambourine” by The Lemon Pipers, “Love is Blue” by Paul Mauriat, “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding, “Hello, Goodbye” by the Beatles and “Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro.

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