The Evangeline Parish School Board Wednesday heard from two speakers discuss the Tee Cotton Bowl game in front of a standing room only crowd. The Tee Cotton Bowl game which pits Ville Platte High and Sacred Heart for the city championship has been going on for the past 13 years. The game was due to be played at Ville Platte but a contract was signed to move the game this year to Sacred Heart who needed  another home game. Both school coaches were in agreement of the move. However, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association ruled the contract was null and void because it did not contain the signatures of necessary school officials.

   The Te Cotton Bowl has become one of the biggest events of the year for both schools. The game ‘s founder is Tim Fontenot who has devoted countless hours to the game and its success. The game which promotes sportsmanship,  has been covered by local and national news media included NFL films. A book has been written about the annual game and has even been blessed by the Pope.

    Kendall Ardoin, a senior tight end from Ville Platte High, felt the Tee Cotton Bowl should be played. “We feel it should go on. It’s a big game for the community. I don’t care where we play. We just want the play the game,” Ardoin told board members.

     Arthur Sampson said his name has been mentioned in various accounts on why the game was cancelled. “I just want what is right. The contract became an issue because of the legalities. All we ask for is what is right, “ he said.

    Board Vice President Scott Limoges, who was conducting the meeting said “This is an issue between the schools. The school board cannot take any legal action. We hope the schools can reach an agreement and continue the Tee Cotton Bowl.”

    Contacted after the meeting, Ville Platte High Coach Tracy Jagneaux said “I hope we can resolve this issue and agree to have this game.” He said both he and Sacred Heart still have a hole in their schedule that needs to be filled.

    In other action, the school board:

--approved awarding the official journal to the Basile Weekly next year;

--received news that sales tax collections dropped by $21,791 from the same time last year;

--heard a report from Supt. Toni Hamlin report on a number of maintenance projects that will be going on this summer in schools throughout the parish.

On June 13, 2013, Detectives with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s office along with Agents with Wildlife and Fisheries conducted surveillance of a location in the Bayou Chicot area near Highway 106. After conducting the surveillance for a period of time, Wildlife & Fisheries Agents and Detectives with Evangeline Parish went to the area, upon doing so located a Marijuana grow area located in the woods near Stagecoach Road. Upon further searching the area, 3 mature marijuana plants as well as several smaller immature plants were located planted in the woods, a total of 10 plants were located. Detectives along with the Wildlife agents, confiscated the plants valued at $15,000 on the street. Several suspects have been identified, and the case is still under further investigation according to Chief Investigator Mike Perry.