Cops for a Cure and Relay for Life round up Jail and Bail’s most wanted

By: TONY MARKS
Associate Editor

The newly minted managing editor of The Gazette for the second consecutive year was listed as the Most Wanted Outlaw in connection with the Cops for a Cure Jail and Bail Event benefitting the Evangeline Parish Relay for Life.
Organizers of the event, which benefits cancer research, said in a statement, “The Jail and Bail event is a fund raiser in the simplest form. Bail was set at $100.00, and we asked for people’s friends and families to assist them in raising their bail. Our goal each year has been met and exceeded thanks in part to the effort put forth by our gracious participants.”
“Each year we honor the person who brings in the highest bail as our Most Wanted participant who attend Bailout Day,” continued the statement. “This year we are adding to the Most Wanted award. We will give our participants a greater chance of achieving this coveted award by separating participants into one of two fundraising levels.”
The participants were separated into felonious and misdemeanor levels. The felonious levels ranged from above $250.00, and the misdemeanor level ranged below the $250.00 plateau. The Gazette’s Managing Editor Elizabeth West on behalf of the paper was the Most Wanted Felon raising $680.00 for Relay for Life. She earned her first title last year as she raised $527.00.
“It was an honor to represent such a great cause,” said Elizabeth. “My family was first affected by cancer when my uncle Shane (West) passed away a year and a half ago, so participating in Jail and Bail means a little more to me now then I think it would have before.
“I have to thank Connie (Lamke) and Ricky (LeBlanc) for choosing me to take part in this fundraiser and Mr. David (Ortego) for allowing me to represent The Gazette.
“I couldn’t have done it without all the people who donated money to my bail,” she continued. “So to them I also want to say thank you.”
West’s sister Lynee, who as Miss Boggy Bayou represented the festival, was the Most Wanted outlaw at the misdemeanor level raising $244.00. “It was very unexpected, but I’m so excited to help out the cause. And I want to thank everyone who donated to this great cause.”
Both West sisters can take the well wishes with them as they now head to prison after being captured as the Most Wanted outlaws. They can also take their care packages they received from the event organizers Connie Lamke with the Ville Platte Police Department and Ricky LeBlanc with the Mamou Police Department.
Each care package contains necessary items for doing time without parole such as a comb, a hair brush, toothpaste, a tooth brush, deodorant, shampoo, hair conditioner playing cards, and chewing gum. The main item of each care package is candy cigarettes that serve multiple purposes such as bartering with other prisoners in exchange for other goods.
This year marks the third year that the Evangeline Parish Relay for Life has sponsored such an event. The title three years ago went to Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel who raked in $250.00.
Other participants in the event were: Kristin Franks, on behalf of American Cancer Society; Rebecca Bordelon with LaVille Funeral Home, Lisa Crane with Uptown Cakes, Tammy Fontenot with Paul’s Meat Market, Richard McMurray with the Turkey Creek Police Department; Phyllis Soileau with the Mamou Police Department, Stanley Washington with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office, 2016 Miss Smoked Meat Alison Blood, Ezra Madrigal with Ward 5 Fire District, T- Boys, Council Woman Debbie Oge with the Village of Pine Prairie, Stephanie Ware with KVPI, Citizen’s Bank, Mayor Quint West with the Village of Pine Prairie, Roxane West with the Evangeline Parish School Board, and Liz Hill with Evangeline Parish 911 and the Office of Emergency Preparedness.