Donaldsonville — Ascension Catholic High School’s Class of 2012 graduated on May 18 in a ceremony held in Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church. Valedictorians: Macy Raelyn Esneault and Nicholas Gerard Wild. Salutatorians: Haley Nicole Capello and Lauren Theresa … Continue reading →
The rice and chicken dish that made Gonzales the Jambalaya Capital of the World will be front and center this weekend as the Jambalaya Festival continues through Sunday along Irma Boulevard. The Jambalaya Festival Association, chartered in 1967, holds the fair each Memorial Day weekend, association President Wally Taillon said. Taillon, who said he’s had inquiries … Continue reading →
Two years ago, Rock Church Pastor Blake Melancon decided to turn vacant land behind his church into soccer fields. This year, 150 children and more than 50 volunteers gathered for the past several weeks to play in the Upward Soccer program. Patterned after a European style of the game, … Continue reading →
GONZALES — Jeremy Jackson 6, stood at the fence, watching, as airplanes took off and landed Saturday at the Louisiana Regional Airports’s 20th birthday celebration. Jeremy, of Prairieville, started pointing and waving at the sky as the airplane carrying his brother, Jalen Jackson, 12, landed. Jalen took to the air thanks to … Continue reading →
Girl Scouts from across Girl Scouts Louisiana East’s 23-parish area sold nearly 1.25 million boxes of cookies during this year’s cookie program, with 200 girls inducted into the Girl Scout Cookie Hall of Fame for selling 500 boxes of cookies or more. “This year’s sale was a tremendous success, and we congratulate all … Continue reading →
Louisiana National Guard Brig. Gen. Stephen C. Dabadie is set to talk at the Ascension Veterans’ Park Committee’s annual Memorial Day program Monday in the park. The program, which starts at 11 a.m., will feature music by a combined choir of students from Dutchtown, East Ascension … Continue reading →
Jambalaya World Champion “Tee” Wayne Abshire hasn’t spent much time preparing to defend his title at this weekend’s annual Jambalaya Festival. But the two-time jambalaya king said he is serious when it comes to competing in the contest. “I just go out there and cook a jambalaya … the best jambalaya I can, and … Continue reading →
--Sliced ham and American cheese sandwich on whole-wheat bread, lettuce and tomato, pickled beets, mayonnaise and apple juice. --Fast Exercise: Gonzales Senior Center, 10:45 a.m. --Pilates : Gonzales, 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. --Cajun Needlers: Gonzales, 12:30 p.m. --Ham, turkey, egg and cheese chef salad or chicken … Continue reading →
High schools in Ascension Parish recently recognized the years of work put in by their students as the Class of 2012 received their diplomas during graduation exercises.
The Donaldsonville High School class of 2012 held its graduation ceremony Friday at Floyd Boutte Memorial Field in Donaldsonville. Stefanie Renée Rodrigue earned the honor of class valedictorian. Rodrigue, the daughter of Stanford and Patricia Rodrigue of Donaldsonville, plans to pursue a degree in chemical engineering and biochemistry at the University of Louisiana Lafayette. Serving as … Continue reading →
The Ascension Catholic High School class of 2012 held its commencement ceremony on Friday at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in Donaldsonville. The class was led by valedictorians Macy Esneault and Nicholas Wild, school officials said. Graduates Haley Capello and Lauren Oubre earned salutatorian honors.
The Gonzales Swimming Pool in Jambalaya Park is set to open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. For information, call (225) 647-9564. The city’s Sprayground Park opens from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
THURSDAY --Jambalaya King's Lunch: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Carlico Cafe, Gonzales. All past jambalaya world champions and festival pageant queens are invited to the lunch, which will cost $10. The annual Jambalaya Festival Champ of Champs contest starts at 2 p.m. near Irma Boulevard, Gonzales. --eReader Individual Instruction Sessions: By appointment. Ascension Parish Library's Dutchtown branch. The library is offering 30-minute … Continue reading →
DONALDSONVILLE — Commencement ceremonies were held Friday, May 18, for Donaldsonville High School’s Class of 2012 at Floyd Boutte Memorial Statdium. Valedictorian: Stefanie Renee Rodrigue. Salutatorian: Devonta Micole Guidry. Other … Continue reading →
DONALDSONVILLE — The City Council voted unanimously to adopt a $6.5 million budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year. Budget documentation made available during Tuesday night’s council meeting shows total predicted revenues at $6.52 million, with expenditures at $6.47 million. Projected city general fund revenue stands at about $2.88 million for next year, according to … Continue reading →
GONZALES —Ascension Parish officials are weighing whether a proposed half-cent rural sales tax for roads should have a limited duration. The sales tax, if approved by parish voters, would generate $8 million a year, enough to fund $80 million in bonds for a specified list of projects presented to voters, … Continue reading →
PRAIRIEVILLE —Deputies arrested a Prairieville mother on a count of child desertion tied to the drowning of her 2-year-old daughter earlier this month, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday. Deputies said juvenile and family services investigators found that Fallon Gautreau, 22, Trailer Land, 18387 Donna St., on May 9 … Continue reading →
OAK GROVE — A proposal for Ascension Parish to gradually take over less heavily traveled state highways in the parish would serve as a key funding source for a new parishwide road plan, state and parish officials said Tuesday. The road plan, the rough outlines of which were presented to about 75 people during an … Continue reading →
GONZALES —Former Ascension Parish Assessor Gerald M. McCrory Jr. died Friday after a battle with lung cancer, his daughter said Monday. McCrory, 78, was assessor in Ascension Parish for 22 years from 1981 until his retirement in 2003. Before that, he was deputy assessor for 15 years. Twenty-third … Continue reading →
Outdoor goods retailer Cabela's opened for business in Gonzales in late 2007 just ahead of competitor Bass Pro Shops in Denham Springs after both won protracted court battles over the incentives local governments used to lure them. Continue reading →
Gonzales — East Ascension High School’s 2012 graduating class held commencement exercises on May 18 at Spartan Stadium in Gonzales. Valedictorian: Jori Medernach Salutatorian: Chauncey Stephens Continue reading →
GONZALES — On the day he would have turned 48 years old, family and friends of Mitchell Guist gathered to begin saying their goodbyes amid a somber, quiet state of unity. As visitation began Friday afternoon for the Brittany native who starred in the History Channel program “Swamp People,” a steady stream of mourners paid … Continue reading →
Gonzales — St. Amant High School’s Class of 2012 held its graduation ceremony on May 17 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. Valedictorian: Allen Joseph Hernandez. Salutatorian: Morgan Brin Westbrook. Distinguished honors graduates: Aaron Reece Abadie, Brittany Marie … Continue reading →
THIBODAUX — Nicholls State University held commencement exercises May 12, awarding 599 degrees to students who completed coursework during the spring semester. “This was not only the largest spring commencement in university history — surpassing the record-breaking number of degrees awarded in spring 2011 by 17 — but it also resulted in the most graduates … Continue reading →
GONZALES —Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez said he hopes the Parish Council acts in June to put on the Nov. 6 election ballot a wide-ranging roads-improvement plan to be funded by a proposed half-cent sales tax increase. The parish, now collecting public comments on Ascension’s future road needs, has scheduled … Continue reading →
Louisiana Regional Airport is celebrating its 20th anniversary Saturday. Residents are invited to bring lawn chairs and watch as airplanes from around the area fly into the airport, Janet Gonzales, airport manager, said. The visiting aircraft are expected to arrive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The airport, 6255 Airport Industrial Blvd., Gonzales, is … Continue reading →
GONZALES —A road in Bayou Grand South subdivision will be closed for about eight hours to through traffic starting 8 a.m. Friday, Ascension Parish government reported Thursday. During the closure, crews from Ascension Wastewater Treatment Inc. will repair a sewer line that runs under Burnt Pecan Road in the subdivision, … Continue reading →
St. Amant — Jaci Perkins, 17, was trembling and emotional as she talked about her experiences during a recent “mock crash” exercise at St. Amant High School. Jaci, who spent most of the hour-long presentation motionless, sprawled out on the hood of a mangled car, said the ride in the back of a hearse will … Continue reading →
Gonzales — Lake Elementary eighth-grader Jenna Cornett’s performance of “Don’t Stop Believing” helped her win the 2012 Ascension Idol singing competition hosted by the Ascension Fund. Judge Randy Gautreau said he was impressed with her stage presence and the “growth you’ve made since last year.” Jenna was one of 20 contestants belting out a … Continue reading →
The Ascension Parish School Board honored Special Olympics first-place winners representing Donaldsonville schools at the May 1 meeting. Donaldsonville Primary student David Levy won first place in the softball throw, the standing long jump and the 50-meter run. Jalen Williams won the 25-meter walk. Lowery Elementary student Donald Dunbar won the 50-meter run for his … Continue reading →
GEISMAR — Dutchtown High School’s Class of 2012 held its graduation ceremony on May 16 at Griffin Field. Valedictorian: Emily Harvey Salutatorian: Sierra Sossamon Distinguished Honor Graduates: Humberto Jose Alexander, Mark Anthony Alsay, Colby … Continue reading →
Ascension Parish residents can learn more about the parish’s proposed road improvement program during a 4:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday at Oak Grove Primary School, 17550 Old Jefferson Highway, Prairieville. The road program would be funded by a half-cent sales tax that will go before … Continue reading →
Eatel Corp employees gathered last week to celebrate Steve Babin’s 35th anniversary with the company. “We’re certainly proud to have Steve here,” Smokey Scanlan, chief executive officer and treasurer of Eatel, said. “He saw the company when it was just a few cables and everyone was on a ‘party line’ and we look forward to having him … Continue reading →
The Dutchtown Lacrosse Club honored its players and parents with an end-of-season banquet May 6 in St. Amant. Coach Ryan Empson and Tim Neff presented awards, including the Defensive Most Valuable Player awards to Stephen Podorsky, varsity, and Sammy Latino, junior varsity. The Offensive MVP awards went to Dalton Bailey, varsity, … Continue reading →
Gonzales— Teaching special education classes in an elementary school was not Pam Hughes’ first career choice. The 2013 state Department of Education Regional Teacher of the Year honoree started out her teaching career as a high school business teacher and basketball coach. However, she decided to take a special education job several … Continue reading →
Two newcomers to the St. Amant Volunteer Fire Department were honored recently for saving the life of a St. Amant resident, Fire Chief James LeBlanc said. Shane Stuntz, a sergeant in the department for less than a year, and firefighter Jake Blanchard, a member of the department for less than six months, responded to call at … Continue reading →
--Sliced ham and American cheese sandwich on whole-wheat bread, lettuce and tomato, picked beets, mayonnaise, apple juice --Outdoor Picnic: Donaldsonville Senior Center, 9:30 a.m. FRIDAY --Ham, turkey, egg and cheese chef salad or chicken breast chef salad over greens with dressing, Mandarin oranges, low-salt crackers, almond cookie --Zumba Gold: … Continue reading →
Emily Morgan Harvey led her Dutchtown High School class as valedictorian during a graduation ceremony held Wednesday at Griffin Field. Sierra Sossamon was named the class salutatorian. Harvey, who graduated with a 4.605 grade-point average, is the daughter of Darrell and Kim Harvey of Prairieville. She was a member of the Dutchtown High School Beta Club … Continue reading →
GEISMAR — Dutchtown High School’s Class of 2012 held its graduation ceremony on May 16 at Griffin Field. Valedictorian: Emily Harvey Salutatorian: Sierra Sossamon Distinguished Honor Graduates: Humberto Jose Alexander, Mark Anthony Alsay, Colby … Continue reading →
The St. Amant High School class of 2012 will hold graduation ceremonies Thursday at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. With a grade point average of 4.7937, Allen Joseph Hernandez will graduate as the valedictorian. Hernandez, the son of John and Windy Hernandez, plans to major in public and international affairs at Princeton University. Class … Continue reading →
Graduation ceremonies for the 2012 class of East Ascension High School will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in Spartan Stadium in Gonzales. Jori Medernach, with a grade point average of 4.7705, was named valedictorian. Medernach, the daughter of Donald Lee Medernach and Sandra Beth Medernach, plans to attend Our Lady of the Lake College and … Continue reading →
Ascension Parish officials announced Monday that new user-friendly web maps are available for public use. Brandon O’Deay, manager of Ascension Parish’s Office of Technology and Geographic Information Systems, said the new web maps, available at http://maps.apgov.us, are part of a new Environmental Systems Research Institute geographic information system being implemented by his department. Continue reading →