VP Rotary welcomes recent guests

February 25, Meeting
Rotarian Mitch Elmond Fontenot welcomed Joey David with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to the February 25, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. David gave an update on conditions and regulations for Chicot Lake, as well as other Evangeline Parish waters. He stated that the yo-yo regulations have changed from November 1, through March 1, to now having no set time frame. There is a limit of 50 per individual boat. He also noted that all of the lakes had different regulations, but LDWF has now made the regulations unified throughout the state. He said that Evangeline Parish is now going with the state regulations on limits. He stated 77 percent of those who fish Chicot Lake practice catch and release and that the lake is restocked each year. He added that Miller’s Lake was stocked last year and Crooked Creek was stocked two years ago. He noted that each lake receives a certain number, depending on habitat and other factors. He also noted that instead of 80,000 fingerlings, they now stock Chicot Lake with 17,000 fish of three to four inches, which have better mortality rates.
March 11, Meeting
Rotarians welcomed Barbara Thibodeaux with Ardoin’s Funeral Home to the March 11, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. She discussed the importance of pre-planning funeral arrangements, as it takes the burden off of the family having to make all of the important decisions that come up after a loved one passes away. She noted that she specializes in helping families pre-plan arrangements, as they come in more prepared and level-headed to make big decisions. She also gave out packets as examples of what is entailed when a loved one passes and what needs to be done.