Reviewing 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 through 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 begin our review today with the first quarter of 2020 —January through March.
January
Jan. 3: At the stroke of midnight on Thursday, Dec. 31, a 24-year career as District Judge in the 15th Judicial District came to a close with the retirement of Judge John Trahan.
Jan. 5: With the arrival of the new year came the beginning of new terms of office for various elected officials in and around Crowley. District Judge Scott Privat, City Judge M’elise Trahan and City Marshal Glenn Deville were sworn in in the days leading up to New Year’s Day.
Jan. 6: Although 2021 Mardi Gras celebrations would look different due to COVID-19 restrictions, 2020 Krewe of Town Revelers Mardi Gras royalty, King Cimmer LXV Jimmy Broussard and Queen Cimmer LXV Casey Vercher, prepared for Twelfth Night and the opening of this year’s Mardi Gras season by getting ready to hang their official royal Mardi Gras flags.
Jan. 7: James J. “Jimbo” Petitjean was sworn in for his third term in office as the Assessor of Acadia Parish during ceremonies on the courthouse balcony.
Jan. 8: Vice President Mike Pence announced just after 3:40 a.m. Jan. 7 that President-elect Joe Biden had won the presidency after Congress completed the counting of the Electoral College votes.
Jan. 10: The Saddle Tramp Riders Club of Church Point announced that, “after much thought and consideration,” it had decided to cancel this year’s Church Point Courir de Mardi Gras.
Jan. 12: Lafayette’s Mardi Gras celebrations joined the growing list of COVID-related cancellations.
Jan. 13: Delo Hebert ascended to the Acadia Parish School Board president’s seat after serving the past year as vice president. Bishop James Proctor was elected to replace Hebert as the board’s vice president.
Jan. 14: The Acadia Parish Police Jury re-elected its officers at the January meeting. Steve Comeaux, representative from District 8, will continue as vice president while Chance Henry, District 3 juror, will serve his second consecutive year as president.
Jan. 15: With the adoption of official job duties and qualifications, the Acadia Parish Tourist Commission began the search for a new executive director.
Jan. 17: To commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and in conjunction with Louisiana’s celebration of Arbor Day, the City of Crowley planted a tree at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center.
Jan. 19: Members of the Acadia Parish Police Jury refused to approve an increase in building permit fees presented by the parish permit office.
Jan. 20: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took the oaths of office as the President and Vice President of the United States.
Jan. 21: Groundbreaking ceremonies were held this week for a new building to house St. Michael School’s new Pre-K 3 program.
Jan. 22: Pointing out that he is only the eighth sheriff in the 130-plus year history of Acadia Parish, K.P. Gibson explained changes in the department to members of the Crowley Lions Club.
Jan. 24: The beautiful Victorian home of Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan, located on North Avenue L in Crowley, was decorated for “Yardi Gras” to celebrate the Mardi Gras season.
Jan. 26: It had a much different look from auctions in the past, but the Acadia Parish Junior Livestock Sale marked the successful conclusion of a four-day show for parish 4-H and FFA exhibitors.
Jan. 27: Hurricane damage to Acadia Parish School Board properties was discussed during committee meetings.
Jan. 28: Nominations were being accepted by the Rayne Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture for the annual awards to be presented in February.
Jan. 29: Rayne Mayor Charles “Chuck” Robichaux was named chairman of the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA) Board of Directors for 2021.
Jan. 31: Members of the Acadia Parish School Board considered the purchase of property in Iota adjacent to Iota High School at Louisiana Highway 91.
February
Feb. 2: Every year, members of the National Association of University Women - Crowley Branch faithfully honor February as Black History Month by setting up educational exhibits at the Acadia Parish Library in Crowley.
Feb. 3: Former Acadia Parish School Board member John Suire and wife Patty were recognized for contributing to the financial literacy of parish students.
Feb. 4: The popular Iota restaurant “The Snack Shack” was damaged by fire. According to the owners, the security company called around 10:30 p.m. stating that the alarms were going off and dispatch had been called. The fire was put out quickly; however, the restaurant had a significant amount of damage to the interior.
Feb. 5: Replacement of the electrical system and the much outdated scoreboards at eight fields in the Recreation Department Complex was approved during a special meeting of the Crowley City Council.
Feb. 7: The Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce announced it would continue its tradition of honoring the area’s farming community, though this year it will be a little different with a drive-thru luncheon.
Feb. 9: Culverts, and whether or not citizens should be required to pay for the installation of them, was again a topic of discussion during Crowley City Council committee meetings.
Feb. 10: Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office K9 Django was the recipient of a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
Feb. 11: Pending approval of the state Bond Commission, the Acadia Parish Police Jury planned to refinance the final $4.06 million due from the $9 million bond sale eight years ago.
Feb. 12: Love of Christ Baptist Church on West Hutchinson Avenue once again served as a distribution center for food boxes.
Feb. 14: The Acadia Parish Tourist Commission embarked on a new year with the swearing in of a slate of officers including Bart Wild as president, Suzette Leonards as vice president and Amy Thibodeaux as secretary-treasurer.
Feb. 16: A blanket of ice from overnight sleet and frozen rain covered the city of Crowley, making for some wondrous sights, but also some dangerous driving conditions.
Feb. 17: At the February City Council meeting, Mayor Tim Monceaux, delivered a proclamation designating February as Black History Month.
Feb. 18: As temperatures continued to drop to or near the freezing mark during the nighttime hours, the Acadia Parish Police Jury asked residents of the parish to conserve water.
Feb. 19: Sheriff K.P. Gibson announced that the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program was underway.
Feb. 21: An assembly line prepared the lunches inside the Wells Fargo Building and they were delivered outside as the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Farmer’s Appreciation Lunch drive-thru-style.
Feb. 23: Traffic was backed up along Odd Fellows Road as work continued replacing wooden utility poles with the heavier, metal poles.
Feb. 24: The United States Senate Youth Program announced that Grant Wilson Suire of Crowley would join Sens. Bill Cassidy and John N. Kennedy in representing Louisiana during the 59th annual USSYP Washington Week.
Feb. 25: The Notre Dame Pioneers hosted the St. Louis Saints in the inaugural contest played on Miller Stadium’s new turf.
Feb. 26: Mayor Tim Monceaux proclaimed Sunday, Feb. 28, to be Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 117th Anniversary Celebration.
Feb. 28: After being canceled last year by the coronavirus pandemic, announcement was made that the annual Rice City Classic Car and Antique Tractor Show would return to North Parkerson Avenue.
march
March 2: City crews cut into the roadway on North Avenue J between Fourth and Fifth streets as extensive sewer and drainage repair work was underway throughout the area.
March 3: After more than three months of heightened restrictions, Gov. John Bel Edwards said he would loosen coronavirus rules to move the state into Phase 3 of the reopening plan, allowing bars to open statewide and letting most businesses operate at 75 percent capacity.
March 4: Announcement was made that telephone customers in Acadiana and the New Orleans area would have to start dialing 10 digits for local calls this year.
March 5: Crowley Main Street was accepting applications for the position of Program Director.
March 7: Officials with the Rayne Frog Festival have announced that the 2021 festival would be canceled.
March 9: The Acadia Parish Republican Executive Committee hosted more elected officials Friday night than the town of Iota had ever seen during the annual Leadership Social, hosted by Chairman Luke A. Dupré and Le Museé.
March 10: One-Crowley announced it would sponsor an encore presentation of “The Funeral is Cancelled,” a moving street performance depicting scenes of gun violence.
March 11: The Acadia Parish Police Jury voted 5-2 to scrap the 4-day, 10-hour plan that had been in effect since 2008 and return all parish employees to a 5-day, 8-hour-a-day week.
March 12: Acadia-St. Landry Hospital finally hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony for its Wound Clinic, an event that was delayed by just about a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
March 14: The historic Egan Hotel building in downtown Crowley was selected as a recipient of a Redevelopment Incentive Grant through the Louisiana Main Street Program.
March 16: Despite five findings, Mayor Tim Monceaux said he was generally happy with the audit report for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2020.
March 17: Nancy Loewer, long-active as a volunteer, member and officer of the Crowley Main Street Board, was appointed to the position of executive director of the Acadia Parish Tourist Commission.
March 18: The 2020-2021 Leadership EXCEL Class participated as jurors in a mock trial presented by the Acadia Parish Bar Association in the courtroom of Crowley City Court.
March 19: The latest COVID-19 stimulus package approved by Congress would send $12 million in federal funds to local governments in Acadia Parish this spring as part of $1.9 trillion in federal spending.
March 21: Members of the Crowley Kiwanis Club were treated to a walking tour of the newly resurfaced Miller Stadium with Crowley Recreation Director Peter Kirsch pointing out the many amenities of the upgrade.
March 23: A food distribution was held for all of Acadia Parish at the Frog Festival Pavilion in Rayne. The event was sponsored by Faith Missionary Baptist Church and Second Harvest.
March 24: With the Acadia Parish Honors Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony scheduled, chamber officials were seeking nominees for Humanitarian of the Year and Business Person/ Business of the Year.
March 25: Work on a sink hole on West Mill Street morphed into an extensive drainage repair project when the contractor discovered a wooden box system he estimated to have been constructed sometime in the early 1900s. The wood, not surprisingly, had rotted away.
March 26: The Child Care Association of Louisiana honored Rep. John Stefanski for his efforts to improve education for children.
March 28: The City of Crowley began repairs to the Rice Theatre in Historic Downtown Crowley. The theater marque was damaged during hurricanes.
March 30: From all indications, the long-awaited return of Greetings from Levy Park was a success.
March 31: Tourism officials from three parishes converged in Crowley to discuss plans for the promotion of the Zydeco Cajun Prairie Byway.
(Watch upcoming editions of The Post-Signal for highlights of the remaining nine months of 2021 as seen through the pages of the newspaper.)