Looking back at 2021 through the pages of The Post-Signal

Coronavirus mitigation continued to dominate the news in 2021, but along with that, other “happenings” in and around Crowley were being reported in the pages of The Crowley Post-Signal.
This review is not intended to be a comprehensive record of the past year and we’re sure readers will remember some events that are not outlined here.
We continue our review today with the second quarter of 2020 —April through June.
APRIL
April 1: Gov. John Bel Edwards loosened Louisiana’s coronavirus restrictions, lifting capacity limits on bars, restaurants, salons, gyms and casinos, while maintaining some limits on crowd sizes at larger venues and sporting events.
April 2: Overall, Acadia Parish is in pretty good shape after surviving a year-long pandemic, a pair of hurricanes and an Arctic freeze. That was the running theme when Sheriff K.P. Gibson, Public School Superintendent Scott Richard and Police Jury President Chance Henry addressed a socially-distanced crowd for the annual State of the Parish luncheon.
April 4: The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Region 4 and Louisiana Army National Guard held a “Sleeves Up” COVID-19 vaccination event recently at Love of Christ Baptist Church in Crowley, where doses of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen single-dose vaccine were distributed.
April 6: Registration was open for the 2021 Rice City Classic Car and Antique Tractor Show to be held along historic North Parkerson Avenue.
April 7: Work crews from BNSF were at the recently completed crossing on Nighthawk Road to install the safety equipment — including lights and arms — for the crossing that provides direct access to U.S. Highway 90 from LeGros Memorial Airport in Estherwood.
April 8: The Mermentau boat launch under the U.S. 90 overpass on the Mermentau River was closed while DOTD replaced the structure.
April 9: Announcement was made that a second state capital outlay grant would pay for a new roof on the International Rice Festival Building.
April 11: If there was a central theme at the Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Breakfast, it’s that Louisiana needs a centralized sales tax collection system.
April 13: After a one-day delay because of weather, the Rice City Classic Car and Antique Tractor Show drew thousands to historic downtown Crowley.
April 14: An ordinance that would establish “an administrative hearing procedure” to deal with blight in the city was considered by the City Council.
April 15: The Rotary Club of Crowley welcomed Kyron Benoit, the new head coach and athletic director at Crowley High School, as guest speaker.
April 16: The Crowley Council’s decision to refinance bonds sold in 2011 at a lower interest rate will save nearly $200,000 in interest payments.
April 18: Gaylon H. White’s latest book, The Best Little Baseball Town in the World: The Crowley Millers and Minor League Baseball, was released locally.
April 20: Sheriff K.P. Gibson released his annual “Year in Review,” highlighting some of the accomplishments of his office during a “challenging” 2020.
April 21: Elementary, middle and high school Students of the Year were recognized during the April meeting of the Acadia Parish School Board.
April 22: Gaylon White, author of “The Best Little Baseball Town in the World: The Crowley Millers and Minor League Baseball in the 1950s,” spoke to the Crowley Lions Club.
April 23: The Acadia Parish 4-H Extension Office named the 2020-2021 Achievement Day Honoree as Holly Vidrine.
April 25: A Senate committee advanced a proposal to raise Louisiana’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. That bill later failed.
April 27: The Rayo Brothers performed for Greetings From Levy Park, moved to The Grand Opera House due to inclement weather.
April 28: The City of Crowley held the first of two planned city clean-up days in preparation for the Louisiana Garden Club Federation’s Cleanest City Contest judging.
April 29: With coronavirus vaccines now widely available, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the end to Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate.
April 30: Announcement was made that the city’s 21st year of the observance of National Day of Prayer would again be a virtual presentation.
MAY
May 2: The Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce announced that Isabella de la Houssaye, a life-long charitable and civic leader in the parish, has been named the organization’s 2021 Humanitarian of the Year.
May 4: There were two new state champions in Crowley as both Northside Christian and Notre Dame took home titles in the weekend softball finals.
May 5: The Acadia Parish School Board voted 4-3 to approve D.S. Bus South for student transportation service.
May 6: The Crowley Garden Club and the City of Crowley welcomed judges for the “Cleanest City Contest.”
May 7: Louisiana Garden Club Federation District VII Cleanest City Chairman Kathy Tell informed Mayor Tim Monceaux that the City of Crowley had been named district winner of the 2021 Cleanest City Competition.
May 9: The Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce named Claire Kelbaugh of Sterling Wellness Solutions as the Business Person of the Year for 2021.
May 11: Hundreds turned out for the Art and Wine Stroll along historic North Parkerson Avenue.
May 12: Driving was treacherous across Crowley after a system of strong storms rolled through the area dumping heavy rains.
May 13: Pastor Corwin Dale Morgan of Love of Christ Baptist Church in Crowley, was recognized for his “tireless work and efforts in the betterment of Acadia Parish and the surrounding community” by Acadia Parish Police Jury.
May 14: The corner of North Parkerson Avenue and West Sixth Street had a different look with the demolition of the former gas station there.
May 16: The water tower that stood over Supreme Rice Mill for years —as many as 50, according to some — was taken down to make way for new construction as part of the company’s multi-million-dollar expansion.
May 18: The 2021 Acadia Parish Senior Parade rolled through downtown Crowley with all but one high school in the parish represented.
May 19: High winds — or a possible tornado — damaged a home in the Lyons Point area as severe storms rolled through the area.
May 20: The Acadia Parish Police Jury was looking for ways to increase employee pay without breaking the budget.
May 21: Crowley’s Martin Luther King Jr. Center, located at 1725 W. Hutchinson Ave., got a face lift when the front exterior of the building was painted.
May 23: Members of the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce hosted the public in recognizing the accomplishments of the past year and looking forward to the future during the annual Acadia Parish Honors awards banquet.
May 25: Proud parents and families filled Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church as 86 seniors became graduates of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish.
May 26: When the State Cleanest City judges visited Crowley, they presented Mayor Tim Monceaux with a plaque recognizing Crowley’s district victory in the Louisiana Garden Club Federation event.
May 27: Nearly 70 professionals engaged in the preservation and promotion of downtown districts across the state gathered at The Grand Opera House for the Louisiana Main Street Spring Meeting.
May 28: With $17.5 million in American Rescue Plan funding earmarked for tourism, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser told Main Street officials to expect continued support from the state.
May 30: Even before officially finishing high school, six students from Acadia Parish had completed two years of college and earned associate degrees.
JUNE
June 1: Crowley High School’s Class of 2021 faced many challenges during their journey to graduation, but all of that was dimmed with the rewarding of diplomas at Crowley High School’s graduation ceremony.
June 2: Through laughter and tears, Midland High’s class of 2021 was celebrated and recognized during its graduation ceremony on the school track field.
June 3: A shoulder-to-shoulder crowd cheered on the Iota High School Class of 2021 as they graduated at Bulldog Stadium.
June 4: Crowley Main Street was soliciting Main Street Restoration Grant applications from downtown commercial building and/or business owners.
June 6: In conjunction with the Crowley Garden Club, Mayor Tim Monceaux declared June 6-12 as National Garden Week in Crowley.
June 8: The Acadia Parish School Board and the Three O’Clock Project teamed up to provide “grab-and-go” meals through mid-August.
June 9: The Crowley Main Street Program received national accreditation for 2021 after meeting meticulous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center.
June 10: A bill backed by Rep. John Stefanski that would let Louisiana college athletes cash in on the use of their names, images or other likenesses passed the Legislature and was on the way to the governor’s desk where it was signed into law.
June 11: In celebration of his 50th anniversary as a pastor, Pastor Melvin Finley, joined by his wife, Betty, and his family, was recently honored during a special acknowledgment at Abundant Life Church in Rayne.
June 13: At the request of Police Juror Walter Andrus, the installation of a surveillance camera on Northern Avenue has been put on hold.
June 15: The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has announced that construction would begin on a cable barrier system for the portion of the Interstate 10 median that runs through Acadia Parish.
June 16: Members of the Crowley Lions Club heard from Director Audrey Spencer and the staff of Empowering the Community for Excellence tutoring program.
June 17: Gov. John Bel Edwards signed legislation that reduces penalties for Louisiana residents caught with small amounts of marijuana.
June 18: The Acadia Parish Convention and Visitors Commission will increase its membership to 12, possibly 13, thanks to legislation introduced by Rep. John Stefanski and signed into law by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
June 20: Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held recently to mark the opening of Phase 1 of the Town of Church Point’s Central Park.
June 22: The Crowley Rotary Club named Jerry L. Duhon Sr. as their 2021 Vocational Award winner in the trade category.
June 23: What remained of an abandoned church located on Western Avenue deteriorated more with the roof collapsing inward.
June 24: LSU student and Crowley native Benjamin Thomas was selected as a 2021 Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
June 25: Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed the final two pieces of sports betting legislation into law, paving the way for the state’s first bets to be placed.
June 27: A new slate of Lions Club officers and board members was sworn in during a lighthearted installation banquet.
June 29: Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed legislation that would have allowed Louisiana residents 21 and older to carry concealed firearms without a permit.
June 30: Among the area executives selected to participate in this year’s Acadiana CEO Roundtable are two from Acadia Parish, Claire Benoit of Rayne Building and Loan Association and Claire Kelbaugh of Sterling Wellness Solutions.
(Watch upcoming editions of The Post-Signal for highlights of the remaining nine months of 2021 as seen through the pages of the newspaper.)