Looking back: Thursday, June 13, 1957

By: TONY MARKS
Associate Editor

• A great deal of confusion appears to exist, said District Attorney L. O. Fusilier in an interview this week, concerning the state of the law governing the hours during which places of businesses may sell intoxicating liquors or beer.
• Election commissioners who will serve at the polls Tuesday, June 18, have been named. A two-mill tax has been called by the police jury, at the request of various individuals and civic organizations, to expand the facilities and services of the parish Public Health Center.
• As plans for the fifth annual Miss Ville Platte and Tournoi Queen beauty pageant progress, American Legion Auxiliary officials have announced that a parade of contestants will be conducted through the Ville Platte business area the afternoon of the contest.
• Difficulty in obtaining rights-of-way in Rapides Parish is the present stumbling block holding up the construction of the $100,000.00 dam to raise the water level of Lake Cocodrie, according to Senator Jack C. Fruge.
• A highly interesting meeting is scheduled tonight at the Archange Hebert Recreational Park on Bayou des Cannes, located on the Chataignier-Mamou road, where the question of liquor sales law enforcement will be under discussion.
• At a Nuptial Mass celebrated by Reverand Msgr. J. M. Bourgeois, Louella, daughter of Mrs. Erius Guillory and the late Mr. Guillory, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nestor Vidrine were united in marriage at a double ring ceremony.
• Pvt. James LaFleur, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clement LaFleur, has completed basic training at Fort Carson, Colo.
• The United States consulate general Wednesday said American turncoat Andrew Fortuna of Ionia, Mich., is leaving Red China Saturday. Fortuna was one of 21 U. S. soldiers captured in the Korean War who refused repatriation after the fighting stopped in 1953. Seven of the 21 previously returned to the U. S., and one died in Red China.
• The Mardi Gras Association has scheduled a meeting at 7:30 Monday night at the Veteran’s Home to discuss final plans for a trip to Oklahoma City, according to R. J. Vidrine of the Ville Platte committee. Oklahoma is celebrating its bicentennial this year. The leaders of this event have invited the riders to participate in the festivities of the occasion.
• Mmes. Marcellus Thompson and Robert Thompson were joint hostesses at a “Tea Shower” complimenting Julia Ann Dischler, bride-elect of Sherrill Thompson on Thursday afternoon, with the Robert Thompson home as the setting for the affair.
• Annette Soileau, Queen of the Ville Platte High School FFA chapter, was honored by being selected to serve as maid in the court of the State FFA Queen Toni Whittington of Natchitoches, La., during the state convention held in Shreveport June 5-8. 110 girls participated in this contest. Eight girls were selected as maids to Queen Toni’s court.
• R. B. Aucoin of Pine Prairie was re-elected District Scout Chairman for the Evangeline District at the 33rd annual meeting of the Evangeline Area Council held in Lafayette last week.
• Presentation of a 50-year membership pin and discussions of a new Woodmen of the World Hall highlighted the regular meeting of the Mamou WOW camp held Wednesday night at the local Woodmen hall. Honored with the presentation of a 50-year membership pin was Y. E. Stagg, retired Mamou businessman whose membership in the Woodmen of the World organization dates back to 1920.
• A family reunion Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Berzas of Mamou brought together 160 relatives, all descendants of Joseph (Loulut) Berzas, whose 90th birthday Sunday, marked the occasion of the celebration and the reunion.
• At the Pine Prairie Catholic Church, with Rev. Father Denners officiating at the Nuptial Mass and double ring ceremony, Roberta Deshotels, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Efton Deshotels was married to Ralph Anthony Soileau, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Percy Soileau of Ville Platte.
• Sacred Heart Church Saturday was the setting for one of the loveliest weddings of the season when Genevieve Bordelon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bordelon became the bride of Jacob C. Ardoin, son of Leslie Ardoin, at a high Nuptial Mass sung by the Sacred Heart Choir. Rev. Father LeBlanc of Mamou was in sanctuary. Acolytes were Henri and Robert Dupre, Peter and Bernard LeBas.
• The pupils of Mrs. Mabel Ledoux’s School of Music presented a recital in the Basile High School auditorium last Friday evening.
• Mmes. Levi and George Landreneau were hosts at a lovely shower at the home of the latter honoring their neice, Sandra Landreneau, who is to be married to Gene Alexander late in June.
• Frank Fontenot, president of the Vidrine Chapter of Future Farmers of America, was one of 47 FFA members from throughout the state to receive the State Farmer Degree. The degrees were awarded on the basis of leadership and the supervised farming program which is carried on by agricultural students. The degrees were awarded at the annual FFA convention held last week in Shreveport.
• Funeral services were held at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday for Marius P. Fontenot, 72, who died at his home in Pine Prairie Thursday evening.
• Rev. Fr. Charles Soileau, newly ordained priest and graduate of Sacred Heart High School, celebrated his second mass here at Sacred Heart Church on Sunday afternoon.