Galvez Middle School student Cayden Dupre, 11, examines a scrap metal sculpture by artist Joseph Jilbert during a recent art class. The artist asked the students to notice the faces and movement on the sculpture.

Galvez Middle School students Taylor Carmouche, 11, Shelton Morris, 12, and Torrin Williams, 11, from left, listen as artist Joseph Jilbert talks about creating his recycled art.

St. Gabriel artist Joseph Jilbert shows students a native-inspired necklace he created from scrap metal on Jan. 11 at Galvez Middle School in Prairieville. Half-Cherokee and half-Norwegian himself, Jilbert brought more than two dozen of his metal sculptures to the school to inspire students to pursue their own art, and to kick off his 'Art and Seek' initiative.

Sixth-graders Chase Burgett, Kyle Crim, and Caje Fedric, all 11, from left, examine a scrap metal sculpture created by artist Joseph Jilbert on Jan. 11 at Galvez Middle School in Prairieville. Jilbert brought more than two dozen sculptures to the school to inspire students to pursue their own art, and to kick off his 'Art and Seek' initiative.

Galvez Middle School sixth-grader Therone Stevenson, 11 examines a scrap metal sculpture by local artist Joseph Jilbert on Jan. 11. Jilbert is building a sculpture for the school from scrap metal the students found around their homes and school.

Turtles try to warm themselves under overcast skies on Tuesday, Jan. 10 in Gonzales' New River Bayou.

Ascension Parish Environmental Supervisor Terance Irvin tosses a Christmas tree onto a growing pile of trees collected for recycling at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center on Saturday. Some of the trees will be placed in Lamar-Dixon's pond to provide shelter for growing fish, while the rest will be mulched for distribution throughout Ascension Parish parks. Ascension Parish residents dropped off 67 trees.

Gonzales residents Edgardo Velez and Jose Velez; and Ascension Parish Environmental Supervisor Terance Irvin, from left, add old Christmas trees to a growing pile for recycling at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center on Saturday. Some of the 67 trees will be placed in Lamar-Dixon's pond to provide shelter for growing fish, while the rest will be mulched for distribution throughout Ascension Parish parks.

Ascension Parish Sheriff Lt. Tim May does his best 'can-opener' plunging into the pond at Cabela's in Gonzales on Jan. 11. Officers representing East Baton Rouge Police, Gonzales Police, Ascension Parish Sheriff, and Louisiana State Police threw themselves into 60 degree water in a warm-up for the upcoming Jan. 28 Polar Plunge, which will raise money for the 2012 Special Olympics Louisiana.

Gray striped, female, domestic shorthair at Ascension Parish Animal Shelter in Sorrento.

Tan and white, male, lab mix puppy at Ascension Parish Animal Shelter in Sorrento.

Tan and white, male, lab mix at Ascension Parish Animal Shelter in Sorrento.