Daily Archives: April 7, 2017

An Ascension Parish sheriff's deputy and 911 dispatcher who continued to handle emergency calls in August knowing her own home was flooding has been honored by the Louisiana chapters of two national organizations, Sheriff Jeff Wiley said Thursday.

Deputy Erica Michel received the Telecommunicator of the Year Award this week from the state chapters of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the National Emergency Number Association, Wiley said in a news release.

Michel, who had also lost a home to Hurricane Katrina, Wiley said, was working in the Sheriff's Office 911 communications center in Gonzales when the catastrophic flood hit in August.

"Even as she realized her own home was quickly being overtaken by flood waters, she was able to maintain her professionalism and composure, while continuing to answer the non-stop radio traffic and the relentless flow of 911 calls from scared citizens," Wiley said.

Among the calls Michel took, Wiley said, was one from a man who heard a gunshot at his neighbor's house. With Michel still on the phone with him, the caller learned that his neighbor had shot himself, after apparently committing a double murder, Wiley said.

The condition of the roads because of the flooding made it difficult for deputies and other first responders to reach the house, Wiley said.

"Deputy Michel was unwavering and maintained contact with the caller, keeping him focused until help arrived at the scene," the sheriff said.

The caller's neighbor was Shawn Millet, 37, of Prairieville, who on Aug. 14, fatally shot Lacey Leblanc, 31, and her 8-year-old daughter at his home, before turning the gun on himself, according to the Sheriff's Office. Millet later died at an area hospital.

Michel has been a member of the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office 911 communications team for almost three years. Michel, who is certified in CPR, is also a certified emergency medical dispatcher and, last year, became certified as a communications training officer with the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.

Michel, whose husband, Thomas Michel, is also an Ascension Parish sheriff's deputy, received the award Monday at the annual conference, held in Bossier City, of the Louisiana chapters of the two national organizations for emergency dispatchers.

Michel said Friday that her family's home, built not far from Bayou Manchac in Ascension Parish, received more than 2 feet of water in the August flood, despite already being elevated 9 feet.

She said she and her husband, Thomas, following the predictions of the bayou's rise, knew early on that they would have to boat in to their home, if nothing else, so they brought their two sons, ages 15 and 8, to her parents' home in New Orleans before their Bayou Manchac home flooded.

The crisis was something the couple had seen before. They were living in New Orleans when their previous home flooded during Hurricane Katrina. Their oldest son was just 4 when that happened, Erica Michel said.

It appears the family's present home will have to be elevated further, and the Michel family is living in a recreational vehicle on their property, she said.

Of her work as a 911 dispatcher and, particularly, on the call that came in that August weekend from the caller whose neighbor had killed two others and then himself, Michel said, "I guess, because I'm dealing with someone else's worst day, I try to take myself out of the equation."

"This is their worst moment. I can't make it my worse call," she said.

"To be singled out for that honor is extremely humbling," Michel said of the award she received this week.

"I work in a center with wonderful dispatchers, who any one of them deserve that award," she said, adding that applies to her colleagues everywhere.

"I think she's the personification of so many of our first responders who are selfless and came and served, even though they had such dire circumstances at home" during and after the flood, Sheriff Wiley said Friday

"We're very proud of her and many others like her," Wiley said.

Follow Ellyn Couvillion on Twitter, @EllynCouvillion.

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Ascension Parish dispatcher honored; maintains composure during floods, triple shooting - The Advocate

Three weeks after the Ascension Parish Council called on Parish President Kenny Matassa to resign over his indictment on attempted bribery allegations, it was mostly business as usual at the councils bi-weekly meeting in Donaldsonville.

Matassa and council members seeking his ouster showed no reluctance to engage with each other on a variety of issues, including the Community Development Block grant and fair housing programs. They even posed together for a group photo as the parish leader held up a copy of a proclamation.

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GONZALES After hearing from residents who for nearly 40 minutes Thursday night expressed d

And Matassa scored a significant legislative win when the council agreed, 9-1, with one member absent, to fund a new connector road to Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, although promised state and federal support has fallen through over the past three years. The road would provide a second access to the huge complex near Gonzales, improving safety and helping to attract major events.

But Matassa, who has refused to speak to the press since his indictment and the councils no-confidence vote March 16, didnt address the council on that issue Thursday. And he continued to avoid reporters, as he's done since his indictment.

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GONZALES Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa and Gonzales businessman Olin Berthelot

He ducked an Advocate reporter after the council meeting ended, slipping from his seat to the gated area of the council chambers where the council sits as his representatives blocked a reporter attempting to approach him.

Once behind the gate , Matassa conferred with council members, then left out a back door.

Afterward, his chief of staff, Kyle Gautreau, wouldnt say when Matassa would speak to news reporters again. But he offered a statement on his bosss behalf about the councils vote on the Lamar-Dixon connector.

There was a lot of consensus, an overwhelming consensus, that it was still important to get this road funded and completed, Gautreau, said after his boss had left the parish courthouse without speaking to reporters.

The East Baton Rouge Metro Council created a district to encourage development in North Baton Rouge last year, but now officials disagree over how the program is supposed to work.

Former metro councilman and mayoral candidate John Delgado pitched the North Baton Rouge Economic Opportunity Zone as a way to waive taxes on improvements and new construction in the city above Florida Boulevard. Then-mayor-president Kip Holden vetoed the plan, but council members over-rode him.

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The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council on Wednesday overrode Mayor-President Kip Holdens

In December, voters approved a hotel tax to fund a separate Baton Rouge North Economic Development District. Acting executive director Rinaldi Jacobs told the recently-seated board on Thursday that the council's plan will only apply to projects that refurbish existing buildings, not incentivize the construction of new ones.

"The tax abatement relates to existing structures only and not new construction," attorney Richard Liebowitz wrote in a letter Jacobs presented to the board.

The Board of Commissioners for the Baton Rouge North Economic Development District has decid

In an interview later, Delgado, also a lawyer, disagreed. The ordinance had to be worded the way it was, he said, to account for different types of projects and various government programs. It's easier to pass a renovation project through, Delgado said, but the zone also paves the way for new buildings to get a break on their taxes.

Assistant Parish Attorney Ashley Beck cut a middle path, saying the economic opportunity zone has "probably no" direct effect on new construction but could possibly help those projects. The main focus of the ordinance is to encourage the restoration of existing buildings, she said.

Those trying to push forward an agenda for the Baton Rouge North Economic Development Distri

Adding to the confusion, the debate is still purely theoretical, as no developers have yet applied to participate so officials have not yet seen a test case.

Advocate staff writers David J. Mitchell and Steve Hardy contributed to this article.

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Ascension Parish president schmoozes with council, dodges press after indictment - The Advocate

Vegetable garden contest

The Ascension Parish LSU Agricultural Center, Ascension Farm Bureau and Ascension Master Gardeners Home Vegetable Garden Contest for adults and 4-H youth will be held in May. Judging will be conducted in mid-May.

Categories are youth gardens, adult small home vegetable gardens (less than 1,000 square feet), adult medium gardens (1,000 to 3,500 square feet) and adult large gardens (more than 3,500 square feet). Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each category.

All gardens must have at least four different types of vegetables. Only Ascension Parish gardens are eligible.

Call Craig Roussel at (225) 621-5799 no later than April 28 to enter and for details.

The Ascension Council on Agings annual Spring Fling Easter Party for Ascension seniors ages 60 and older begins at 9:30 a.m. April 13 at the Gonzales Senior Center. Lunch will be served at noon.

Contests will be held for the prettiest and most creative hats in the Easter parade, with prizes going to the best hats. There also will be an Easter egg hunt and entertainment.

Reservations are due by Friday; call Missa at (225) 621-5750.

Children ages 7 and younger and their families can put on their favorite pajamas for a dinosaur story time at Ascension Parish Librarys Donaldsonville and Dutchtown branches on Tuesday and Gonzales on April 13. All story times begin at 6:30 p.m.

Story times also include songs and the making of a giant dinosaur woven mat children can take home.

Dr. Sean DeBarros, of St. Elizabeth Physicians, is the speaker at a free community health series at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Rouses Market, 14635 U.S. 61, Gonzales.

DeBarros will talk about insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and effective behavioral and lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes and risk of complications.

Registration is required. Call the Rouses concierge desk at (225) 673-4255 or St. Elizabeth Hospital at (225) 621-2906.

Our Loss Lambs, a support group for those who have lost children, will meet the third Monday of each month at First United Methodist Church of Gonzales, 224 W. Constitution St. Its first meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. April 17.

Meetings will be held in the administrative conference room in the building next to the church sanctuary building. Call the church office at (225) 647-4678 for details.

Also, St. Elizabeth Hospitals loss and grief support group meets at 6 p.m. every Thursday at the hospitals Sister Linda conference room. The group is intended for those who have experienced a loss of any kind.

Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 336-6952 or (225) 603-1996; fax, (225) 644-5851; or email, ascension@theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@theadvocate.com. Deadline: noon Monday.

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Around Ascension for April 6, 2017 - The Advocate

INDIANAPOLIS & AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascension, the nations largest Catholic and non-profit healthcare system, has been selected as the first organization in North America authorized to train companies on a leading robotic process automation solution Blue Prisms Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software.

Ascensions Intelligent Process Automation team was one of the continents first adopters of Blue Prisms solution, and now it is the companys first authorized training partner on the continent. This accreditation will help Ascension drive adoption and promote best practices in RPA, especially in the healthcare industry.

Ascension has a long track record of delivering RPA solutions that meet the toughest security and compliance requirements, said Neil Wright, Global Head of Professional Services at Blue Prism. Were partnering with Ascension to enable digital transformation for our healthcare clients in North America.

Blue Prisms RPA software is changing the way work gets done by automating manual, repetitive tasks. This reduction of administrative burden is improving process efficiency and effectiveness, while reducing costs and improving customer experience. The solution leverages the cognitive ability of people as opposed to building processes around technology.

Its been an exciting journey with Blue Prism, as we have gone from client to value-added resale partner and now an authorized training partner, said Lee Coulter, senior vice president of Ascension and chief executive officer of Ascensions shared service subsidiary, based in Indianapolis. We have worked closely with the Blue Prism team over the last several years to develop training for our own associates are now helping others train teams and implement automation solutions.

Within months of launching its first automation, Ascension demonstrated substantial return on investment and improved customer experience. Blue Prism practitioners in Ascensions shared service subsidiary now provide automation tools training, consulting, and digital labor management to other organizations seeking business transformation. A trusted early adopter of robotic process automation, Ascension has advanced from pioneer to thought leader. A contributing member in the development of standards for RPA in conjunction with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Ascension brings transformational as well as practical experience to its engagements.

About Blue Prism Blue Prism Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software delivers the worlds most successful digital workforce, which has executed over 1 billion transactions in our customers datacenters. Blue Prism (AIM:PRSM) is trusted by a diverse range of highly successful organizations to operate in some of the most demanding administrative environments. Blue Prisms RPA software delivers a digital workforce for the enterprise to eliminate high-risk, manual, rules-based, repetitive tasks and execute business processes at scale to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness whilst radically reducing operating costs. Blue Prism provides a scalable and robust execution platform for best of breed AI and cognitive technologies and has emerged as the trusted and proven RPA platform for the digital enterprise. Customers include BNY Mellon, Commerzbank, Nordea, ING, Westpac, Zurich, Aegon, Maersk, Siemens, IBM, Procter & Gamble, and Nokia. With offices in Manchester, London, Miami, Chicago, New York and San Francisco, Blue Prism is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market. For more information visitwww.blueprism.com and follow the company onLinkedInand Twitter.

About Ascension Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the worlds largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2016, Ascension provided more than $1.8 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 150,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers. Ascensions Healthcare Division operates 2,500 sites of care including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities in 24 states and the District of Columbia, while its Solutions Division provides a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascensions own group purchasing organization. For more information, visit http://www.ascension.org/IPA.

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Ascension Becomes First North American Authorized Training Partner for Blue Prism - Business Wire (press release)

The Ascension Veterans Associations is accepting applications to its third annual scholarship program.

Applications must be postmarked no later than May 15, a news release said.

Scholarships are given in honor of area Americans and troop supporters and focus on exemplary civic service and patriotic ideology, the release said.

The organization will award a minimum of four scholarships of $1,000 each for the 2017-18 academic year. Previous applicants are welcome to apply again.

Eligible applicants include dependent children, grandchildren or spouses of an honorably discharged veteran, current service member or service member killed while serving in the military. This year, the dependent child category also has been opened to those who have an immediate family member who served or is serving honorably discharged veterans, a news release said. Current grandchildren or step-grandchildren of an honorably discharged veteran or current service member are eligible to apply, as well.

Applicants must be residents of Ascension Parish. Those who attend school outside the parish, who have graduated from a public or private Ascension school and current Ascension seniors, public or private, are eligible to apply. Applicants must have or have had at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Current Ascension high school seniors can pick up packets from their high school counselor. Other interested applicants can email Scholarship Chairwoman Tanya Whitney at msgwhitney@gmail.com or call (225) 612-0805 or (256) 656-2124.

Scholarship recipients will be honored at the Ascension Veterans Associations annual Musical Tribute for Our Troops on June 16.

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Ascension Veterans Association accepting scholarship applications - The Advocate

PEOPLE PERSONThe Rev. Tim Delkeskamp has been named senior pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks. He was installed March 19 at the church on E. Hillcrest Drive. The minister had served as associate pastor at the church since 2003. At left he is shown in September, teaching children about showing gratitude to first responders. Courtesy of Ascension Lutheran Church Newbury Park resident Timm Sinclair sat in a Woodland Hills hospital room with his 78-yearold mother, Diana, as she suffered from pneumonia and complications from Parkinsons disease. During that painful visit, as the woman clung to life, Sinclair was surprised to see a friendly face enter the room: It was Tim Delkeskamp, associate pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church, where Diana faithfully attended services.

The pastor had dropped by on his own to visit and offer the dying woman communion. Before Sinclair and Delkeskamp left the room together, the pastor gave Diana Sinclair some parting words of comfort.

Youre in my thoughts and prayers, he said. I want you to know that you are loved.

Timm Sinclair said hell always be grateful to Delkeskamp for the care he showed to his mother that day.

It was a beautiful moment, said Sinclair, an employee of the Acorn Newspapers. I had no idea that would be the last time I was able to talk with her.

His mother died two days later. In the weeks that followed, the minister met with Sinclair to help him through the grief.

Stories like this are often repeated about Delkeskamp, who is now the new senior pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks.

The 47-year-old was chosen in February after a nationwide search by the 1,686-member congregation.

The father of three was installed by Bishop Guy Erwin in a March 19 ceremony at the chapel on E. Hillcrest Drive.

One thing drives his ministry, Delkeskamp said.

Its people. I love working with people.

Road to Ascension

When Delkeskamp decided to double major in religion and business at California Lutheran University in 1988, his choice was met with skepticism.

Some people thought I aspired to be a televangelist, he said.

The Brea, Calif., native had completed half of his degree requirements when he became bored with business and came to a realization.

This doesnt give me life, he said.

He started taking more religion classes, which pointed him in the direction of thinking about his own faith.

So after graduation, the 22-year-old took a temporary job at a church to earn money to backpack around the world. As he traveled the Middle East, Europe and Africa, he spent time in daily prayer and contemplation seeking Gods call in his life.

His prayers were answered. When he returned home after one year, he enrolled in Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., where he earned his master of divinity degree.

After a fiveyear stint at a church in Mission Viejo, Delkeskamp took the job as associate pastor at Ascension in 2003.

Well-rounded

Church is a family affair for Delkeskamp. His wife, Chamie, teaches religious curriculum at Ascensions private school, which includes transitional kindergarten through eighth grade.

Husband and wife both work at Ascension, but denominationally, the Delkeskamps are a house divided. While the Rev. Delkeskamp is a dyed-in-the-wool Lutheran, his wife is Methodist.

We have some great theological discussions, the pastor said The more I try to persuade her to be Lutheran, the more Methodist she becomes.

Church secretary Myra Chandler said the vote to confirm Delkeskamp was easy after 13 years of seeing him perform as associate pastor.

The whole congregation is very, very happy hes our senior pastor, she said.

Delkeskamp said he looks for- ward to expanding the churchs outreach locally and globally.

We feel God has put us in this community for a reason, he said. To help us serve our community, to help us introduce Jesus to others and to create opportunities for all people to become devoted followers of Christ.

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New leader takes the helm at Ascension - Simi Valley Acorn