(Photo courtesy of Smoked Meat Festival)
By: RAYMOND PARTSCH III
Managing Editor
Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce President Renee Brown unveiled some exciting news at Wednesday’s monthly meeting.
Brown, who also serves as the President of the Smoked Meat Festival, informed chamber members of what is on tap for this year’s festival held on Friday, June 24th and Saturday, June 25th at the Ville Platte Northside Civic Center.
In the flyers provided to members, was this year’s two-day musical lineup, pageant information and admission cost but there was an added item that Brown made sure to point out. That item being that this year’s festival will also feature for the first time carnival rides for children. The fair will begin on the Wednesday before the start of the festival.
“We are bringing the fair this year to give our children something fun to do,” Brown said.
Brown also said that this year’s festival will coincide with a youth baseball tournament, featuring 36 teams, being held at the City Recreational Park.
“We so excited about this year’s festival,” Brown said. “It is going to be a ball of a time.”
Brown also informed the chamber that the annual banquet was “such a success,” as after expenses the chamber cleared more than $7,000.
“We appreciate everyone’s support,” Brown said.
KVPI General Manager Mark Layne served as the guest speaker on Wednesday.
Layne passed around old photographs of the station and other items while he talked about the process, and challenges, the station had of converting everything to digital, and the plan to purchasing a mini-transmitter that can rebroadcast the station’s AM signal on a special FM frequency.
Layne also informed the chamber that KVPI won small market radio station of the year honors from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters. It was the sixth year in a row that KVPI had earned the honor.
“We give back to the community that is why we are successful,” Layne said. “I want to thank all of you.”
The Chamber will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, June 15th at Main Street Pizza & Grill (formerly Nick’s On Main) at noon.