Louisiana's Champions
by Karen R. Olivier
We
the citizens of Arnaudville do firmly believe that our community is truly
one of Louisiana's Champions. We can attest to this fact by virtue of all
of our assets. Location, farming interests, education, industry, business,
recreation, festivals, opportunities for employment, civic organizations,
abundance of Cajun food and community services all help to contribute to
our status as one of Louisiana's best.
Arnaudville is nestled at the junction of two sleepy bayous, Teche and Fuselier. Our little community of 1400 lies in the heart of Cajun Country. It is unique in that it sits in two civil parishes, St. Landry and St. Martin, therefore receiving services from both. There are eight roads, many with unusual, often mispronounced names, leading into town. They are Coteau Rodaire Road, Fuselier Road, Bushville Highway, Point Claire Road, Oscar Rivette Road and highways 93, 315, and 31. We are, as you can see, easily accessible. The town itself has 28 employees.
Farming is still a big industry in Arnaudville employing many workers. We have substantial acreage in soybeans, sugar cane, wheat, corn and sweet potatoes. The Feed and Seed Store caters to many farmers' needs. Joe Darby Warehouse has a certified adviser who can help farmers determine the type of seed, fertilizers or chemicals to use. Six locals are employed there. The Canal Bulk Plant accommodates our farmers with their fuel needs. Crawfish farming is a big part of our culture and commerce. You can enjoy boiled crawfish at either of our restaurants or at home, fresh from the pond. Arnaudville Seafood, which seasonally employs about 20 peelers, furnishes the community with fresh peeled crawfish.
Education is a top priority in Arnaudville in which we excel. The elementary school has consistently met and exceeded its academic growth scores required by the Louisiana Department of Education Accountability Program and employs 54 persons. In 2001-2002 the growth target was 107.7, Arnaudville Elementary students scores 114.8. In the fall of 2003, the school performance scores increased 8.2 points. As a result AES received money to be used for the improvement of the school. Our high school, Beau Chene High School, prepares students for success. In 2003-2003 the school was ranked as academically above the state average and is constantly striving to improve this status. The average ACT score of our students in 2003 was 19.6. Our preschool Huron Head Start employs 17.
Arnaudville's industrial oilfield company, Imperial Snubbing Services, a subsidiary of Superior Energy Services, employs a total of 57 people. It builds drilling and work-over rigs. It also does drilling and snubbing work all over the world. S & S Steel produces steel roofing and buildings. They employ 70 people and have customers world-wide. Stelly Construction which employs 60 people has heavy equipment which caters to the oil industry. Their subsidiary, Drilled Crossings, specializes in underground directional drilling. Southern Industrial Sales employs a secretary and furnishes chemicals and materials for gas and oil production plants.
In Arnaudville, you are fortunate to be able to build or improve your home using materials from Gulf South Lumber which employs 8 people. You can also purchase your heating and cooling from Teche Heating and Cooling which employs 4 people.
Arnaudville has 2 full time physicians, Dr. Paul Rees and Dr. Kirk Elliot. They employ a staff of 8. They cater to the residents of John Michael Morrow Memorial Nursing Home which has a 175 bed capacity and skilled nursing unit with a staff of 120. Our Senior Care facility which deals with chemical imbalance or dependency employs a staff of 30. Further medical needs are met by our two drugstores, Thrifty Way with 6 employees and Hardy's with 3 employees. Garry Bordelon's Rehab and Therapy employs 9 people and services residents of the nursing home as well as private patients. Our Acadian Ambulance substation has 2 full time medics on duty.
Our two Catholic Churches, St. John Francis Regis and St. Catherine's employ 5 and cater to the needs of the predominately Catholic community. The Baptist Church has 2 employees. The St. Vincent de Paul Society helps with utility bills. The St. Theresa Building sells used items and profits are used to help the needy citizens.
The citizens of Arnaudville and the rural areas for miles around have a choice of one large supermarket, Russell's, which employs 45 people and features a full service deli and catering service, and two smaller grocery stores, Guidry's and Harry's. Guidry's employs 12 and Harry's employs 8. Both have gas pumps and small delis. Our two restaurants Lee's employing 15 and Myran's employing 16 offer a wide variety of delicious foods, dine-in or take-out. Fresh Cuts produces chopped onions, bell peppers, celery and parsley - a staple in Cajun dishes. They employ 28 people and distribute their product state wide. C.A. Guidry Produce employs 24 and serves the entire state with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Belle's nursery and Le Jardin provide our citizens with beautiful potted and bedding plants. Carol's Florist, with 5 employees, and Tammy's with 2, provide floral arrangements and gifts for every occasion.
We have a contemporary United States Post Office offering full service and employing 13 people. Our Dupre-Carriere Insurance Agency has 2 employees and offers many types of insurance. Our Dollar General serves the community and employs 7. We have 2 banks, Washington State Bank with 7 employees and Farmer's-Merchant's Bank and Trust with 4 employees.
Other businesses that grace our championship community include 2 video stores, a snowball stand, a pecan shelling company, two car washes, two car care centers, Glen's Pest Control, and Body Arts, which features aerobics and dance. We also have Robin's Laundromat, Country Windshield, Kyle LeBlanc's Lawnmower Repair, and Pharview Stables where horses are trained and riding lessons are offered.
In an effort to preserve our past, several places have been restored to their former glory and are used as homes or camps. They all have names. They are The Old Mistrot Home, Old School House, Stephanie House Plantation, The Old Place, Frozard House and Forest Home Plantation. Although not generally open to the public, arrangements can be made to tour many of these homes.
Adding further to our championship status we have a network of Church and Civic organizations which are very helpful in all aspects of our life and community. The Church groups consist of the Ladies Alter Society, Knights of Columbus, and Auxiliary. We have an active Volunteer Fire Department, VFW and Auxiliary, Arnaudville Woman's Club, Arnaudville Chamber of Commerce and Team City. Team City's "pet project" is the annual St. Jude Bike-a-thon for St. Jude's Hospital. They all work together for the good of the community.
Our children can have fun! We have a tennis court and a park for softball and T-ball. There is an organized program for the children. The park is used for practice and games. Our teams also travel to other communities to play games. Little Flower Gym is opened once weekly for skateboarding.
Even champions need to have fun. Arnaudville has a variety of events that fit the bill. Our Étouffée Festival is held yearly the third weekend in April. It benefits St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church. It is a 3 day affair with lots of food, drinks, fun, music and a parade. In conjunction with the festival there are other events such as a bouree tournament, car show, and Pageant. The Krewe de La Jonction has a fun filled Mardi Gras Ball the Saturday night before Mardi Gras complete with king, queen and entertainment.
What qualifications does a community have to have to be one of Louisiana's Champions? Just use Arnaudville as an example for others to follow. We can boast because of the many businesses, civic and church organizations which meet and surpass the needs of its citizens. In addition to meeting every citizen's need, our businesses employ approximately 750 people. Life in Arnaudville is one championship experience that everyone needs to sample.
-- used with permission