From the Files ... February 1941

From files of The Eunice News:
February 1941

Cpt. Joseph Courville, son of Ozema Courville of Eunice, has drawn praise from the commandant of the Marines for his work at the Marine Institute in Washington, DC. He is assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade.

A 12-year-old boy died after falling from his bicycle while riding on North Cane Street. A pedal was missing from the bike and the boy’s foot slipped, throwing him to the ground where he struck his head.

Matthias Fruge has sold his interest in Teer Furniture to his former partners, Ralph D. McGee and Louis L. McGee.

A former Evangeline Sheriff was sentenced to serve 4 to 12 months for his conviction on a charge of burning public records. He also was ordered to repay money to the department accounts.

First Baptist Church celebrated payment in full of the $16,000 mortgage on its brick building at Park & 4th. The Rev. M.E. Williamson has been pastor since 1930, a year before construction began.

School Board member Burleigh McManus has been elected secretary of the Tri-Parish Fair, succeeding Eloi Guillory, who is retiring. Mayor Oliver Reed is finance chairman.

George Clements has secured a permit to build a filling station at Laurel & 5th. He has signatures of the required number of neighboring property owners.

A four-year-old was seriously burned when, as she was passing through the kitchen, a pot of boiling water spilled on her.

Four thousand men, including many from Eunice, are working on Camp Polk near Leesville. The camp will be home to the Army’s first armored division. About 18,000 workers will eventually be at the camp.

The Department of Conservation said it is contemplating closing for two months this spring the open season on bass and crappie to allow a successful spawning season.

The 1940 Census set Eunice’s population at 5,242. It is now believed to be at least 6,000.

The Mother’s Club of St. Edmund’s High School held a Mardi Gras party to pay expenses of installation of a soup kitchen.

Sodalists of St. Edmund High have asked the mayor and business firms to remove and not allow any magazines, literatures or movies of an indecent, immoral and pernicious nature.

It is estimated that 175,000 sacks of rice were brought to Eunice in the past season, bringing more than $500,000 to growers.