-Remember
W hen-from the Teche News files
50 Years Ago
September 4, 1975
The St. Martin School Board purchased property in Catahoula which would just about double the size of the Catahoula Elementary School campus. The board exercised an option secured almost two year’s ago to purchase approximately four acres of land adjacent to the present school campus.
Monthly collections of sales tax by the St. Martin Parish School Board set a new record in June 1975 when the total climbed to $90,026.45 According to figures released, this was the highest monthly figure recorded since the tax was authorized in June of 1965. The previous record was $87,052.
Members of Connie’s Pair-O-Dice softball team, who placed first in a softball tournament held in Arnaudville, included Charlotte Guidry, Doreen Blanchard, Ellen Thibodeaux, Donna Thibodeaux, Annette Romero, Mary Guidry, Lisa Romero, Poup Blanchard (coach), Linda Allemond, Deidre Haynes, Linda Migues, Monica LeBlanc, Tony Baudin, Cindy Racca and Genee Hebert.
Zeno Lawrence of St. Martinville won the second place trophy in the redfish category of the Grand Isle Jaycee Fishing Rodeo. Lawrence hauled in a 40 lbs. red to finish in second place behind a 43-3 lbs. monster.
40 Years Ago
September 5, 1985
The State Board of Commerce and Industry approved a 10-year industrial tax exemption to Martin Mills for a $1.5 million plant addition creating 150 new, permanent jobs and three construction jobs in St. Martin Parish that was expected to generate a $13.5 million payroll over the life of the exemption.
James Peltier, grand knight of the St. John Council 53, Knights of Peter Claver in Parks received the highest award given by the Knights of Peter Claver at the KPC annual convention in Louisville, Ky. Peltier was awarded the St. Peter Claver Gold Medal Award of Merit for meritorious service by the National Council.
Newly elected officers of the Breaux Bridge Knights of Columbus Council 2398 were Robert Richard, grand knight; Wade Dupuis, deputy grand knight; Leon Blanchard, treasurer; Chris LeBlanc, warden; Phillip Landry, financial secretary; John Landry, outside guard; Pat Arceneaux, advocate; John Cormier, inside guard; Andy Bienvenu, chancellor; Russel Peltier, recorder; and Msgr. Edward Fruge, chaplain.
Charter officers of the Bridge chapter of the NAACP were Vincent Alexander, president; Cottrell Foster, vice president; Joseph H. Melvin and Almer Alexander, secretaries: and Northly Broussard, treasurer.
25 Years Ago
September 6, 2000
The Breaux Bridge Historical Society inducted Raymond H. Pellerin and John T. Raymond into its History Hall of Fame.
Several hundred parish residents toured the St. Martin Juvenile Training Center as the Sheriff’s Office hosted an open house to give the general public a rare glimpse at the inside of the new $1.4 million facility. The old Podnuh’s Club was renovated to accomodate up to 48 juveniles and also provide classrooms and office space for administrators and the SO’s juvenile department.
Participants in the Kiwanis Club Pepper Festival Queen’s pageant were Queen Crystal Poché; Jennifer LeBlanc, 1st alternate; Lacey Delahoussaye, 2nd alternate; outgoing queen Kristy Pearson; and contestants Ellen Bienvenu and Brandy Dore.
10 Years Ago
September 2, 2015
The LA Scholars of New Iberia placed third in the United States at the 2015 National Basketball Championships held in Dallas, Texas. Nearly 800 teams and 10,000 players competed in the tournament. Team members from St. Martinville included Kolbe Chretien and Jamel Fontenette.
On the opening day of alligator season local trapper Jude Mequet did not disappoint, snagging a huge 13’1” behemoth right out of the Atchafalaya Basin near Henderson.
The New Orleans Saints football team announced the selection of Breaux Bridge native Alana Sonnier Adams as a member of the 2015-16 Saint-Sations cheerleader squad.
