2025 opened with major developments, heartfelt community recognition, and even a rare brush with winter in St. Martin Parish.
At its first meeting of 2025, the St. Martinville City Council awarded a $330,000 contract to Cousin Services for Phase 1 of the city’s Festival Ground Improvement Project. The project marks the first stage in transforming the downtown festival area into a more accessible and event-ready space, emphasizing local culture and recreation.
Meanwhile, the St. Martin Parish Council honored the accomplishments of the Cecilia High School football team, which captured the 2024 LHSAA Division II Non-Select State Championship. The Bulldogs made history as the first No. 18 seed ever to win a state title and the first team in state history to secure five straight playoff victories on the road.
Adding to the month’s celebration of local culture, artists Sarah Melancon and Jess Newton unveiled two new murals commissioned by the St. Martin Parish Tourism Board. Funded through the Louisiana Tourism Revival Program, the vibrant works pay tribute to the parish’s rich heritage and creative spirit.
January also brought unusual weather as an extremely rare snowstorm blanketed the parish with up to 10 inches of snow, forcing the closure of local government offices and many businesses. The winter wonderland, while disruptive, became a moment of shared wonder for residents who rarely see their bayous and cane fields under a coat of white.
February brought spirited discussion in St. Martinville as local officials and residents weighed a proposal to transition the city’s government structure. After a close vote, Mayor Jason Willis cast the tiebreaking ballot to call for an election that would determine whether the city should abandon its special legislative charter in favor of adopting the Lawrason Act, a more common municipal model across Louisiana.
To educate residents ahead of the May election, the council agreed to hire municipal consultant Karen White, who will help explain the differences and implications of the two forms of governance.
Beyond politics, February also marked the start of Mardi Gras celebrations — highlighted by the St. Martinville Rotary Club’s 77th Mardi Gras Ball, where Charles “Chip” Maraist Sr. and Elizabeth Clair Dubois were crowned King and Queen Rotary LXXVII at a gala hosted in Cade.
March was a month of notable transitions and community milestones. The State Police Gaming Enforcement Division and Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control seized more than 1,000 illegal gaming devices and products during a joint operation in Henderson, signaling a crackdown on unlawful activity.
At the same time, the sports community bid farewell to Cecilia High coach Dennis Skains, who led the Bulldogs to their 2024 state championship before announcing his move to East Ascension High School.
In the Village of Parks, leaders approved negotiations to donate land beside City Hall for the construction of a new parish library, a project applauded by local residents.
Lt. Governor Bil ly Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board added a touch of humor and heritage to the month with the Pardoning of Huval the Crawfish at Pat’s Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant — a Louisiana tradition marking the start of crawfish season.
At the same time, the American Sugar Cane League honored Mike Comb, general manager of the Louisiana Sugar Cane Cooperative, with its President’s Award, the organization’s highest distinction.
The City of St. Mar tinville also hosted two Town Hall meetings to inform citizens about the upcoming government structure vote, while the City Council approved a new partnership with Optimum Cable to expand broadband and fiber-optic internet access to more residents — an important infrastructure step for the city’s future.
Review
April began with challenges as portions of St. Martinville lost power for several hours when a transmission line failed early one morning. Despite the outage, community development pushed forward. The city officially broke ground on a walking trail and playground along Bayou Teche, part of ongoing festival grounds enhancements.
Meanwhile, Cade residents voiced concerns about proposed changes to the Greenpoint Landfill permit, while the St. Martin Parish Council took the first steps toward realizing the new Village of Parks library, introducing an ordinance to accept the donated property and amend the budget.
The Parish School Board approved a $30 million capital improvement plan, marking a strong commitment to future educational growth. City officials also signed an agreement with E&P Consulting Services to address adjudicated and nuisance properties, signaling a proactive approach to beautification and code enforcement.
The month’s festive spirit shined bright at the Crawfish Festival Pageant, where Madison Guidry was crowned 2025 Crawfish Festival Queen and Adam Johnson as Le Roi de L’Ecrevisse.
April concluded with a powerful expression of faith and tradition as parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cecilia walked 6.5 miles to St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church in Arnaudville for the annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession.
May opened with a historic civic moment: St. Martinville voters overwhelmingly approved a measure adopting the Lawrason Act form of government, ending decades under a special charter. The decision passed by a twoto- one margin, marking a new chapter in how the city will govern itself.
At the parish level, officials held a public hearing on the Village of Parks library ordinance, finalizing plans for the donation and construction of the facility.
Education also took the spotlight this month as nearly 430 students graduated from the parish’s three public high schools — Breaux Bridge (177 graduates), Cecilia (150), and St. Martinville Senior High (101) — during commencement ceremonies held on May 16.
The City Council also considered a proposal to move the Police Department offices to new facilities at the St. Teresa Center for Works of Mercy, while environmental advocates raised concerns about the East Grand Lake Ecological Enhancement Project, warning of potential flooding risks to surrounding parishes.
As summer began, federal forecasters at NOAA’s National Weather Service predicted an above-normal hurricane season, warning that between 13 and 19 tropical storms, including up to 10 hurricanes, could form in the Atlantic.
At the local level, the St. Martin Parish Council pressed forward with plans for a new government annex building, moving past earlier disputes over the project’s size and scope.
The council also filed an Amicus Brief supporting a lawsuit that challenges the U.S. Army Corps permit for the East Grand Lake Project, signaling unity with Iberville Parish, which filed a similar brief earlier this year.
Finally, the state Department of Environmental Quality approved major expansion requests for the Greenpoint Landfill, despite strong objections from local residents and some parish officials — ensuring the environmental debate will remain at the forefront of St. Martin Parish issues in the coming months.
To be continued.
