Category Archives: Ascension

GONZALESTrust is a two-way street and, in the end, the Ascension Parish Council agreed to trust that the Gonzales Soccer Club will live up to the word of its leaders and fulfill its end of what could be a 10-year deal to use the parish's new multi-million soccer fields at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

With minor revisions that open the club's books to parish audits and protect the parish against financial fraud by the club, the council unanimously approved the contract, to the applause of hundreds of young soccer players in uniform and their parents who packed the council chambers in Gonzales for a second time in two nights.

The $4.2 million soccer complex was finished last month.

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The council also gave an early, important nod for a needed zoning modification that would allow Baton Rouge General to add a 10-bed neighborhood hospital with a 14-bed emergency room to a three-story office complex the hospital quietly got approved last year along congested La. 73 in the Prairieville/Dutchtown area.

Though the council still needs to adopt an ordinance to make the change final, the 9-1 vote Thursday accepts the parish Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation earlier this week and sends the plan on a path to likely approval.

The parish's deal with Gonzales Soccer Club didn't get approved Thursday without an extended discussion by some council members about the contract's failure to state affirmatively that the parish could get out of the deal.

The contract is broken into a five-year term and a second five-year term that renews automatically unless the club chooses to get out. The deal doesn't give the parish the same option. The deal also grants the club a lot of control over access to the fields, especially during the 10-month playing season.

Councilman Travis Turner, the recreation committee chairman who backed the deal Wednesday and ended up backing it again on Thursday, did express some misgivings at the council meeting.

Turner said he is not aware of any other contract with the parish that it could not terminate.

"GSC is asking us to trust them, but it seems as if GSC doesn't trust the parish to do the right thing," Turner said.

He added that if the parish thinks it is a bad deal in five years, it can't get out of the contract.

Matt Pryor, club vice president, said the club needs that long time period to justify the investment it has and will continue to put into the new fields, including a new lightning detector, and it's worrisome to the club that in five years, another group could try to make a better deal for the fields.

Pryor said the club wants to retain control of access and field maintenance to ensure the fields remain at a premier level but he committed to making the field available to other groups.

Pryor said Cajun Industries invested more than $600,000 of in-kind dirt work with the idea the fields would be used by the club, which is leaving several Gonzales city fields for Lamar-Dixon. The parish also gets 80 percent of the field advertising, a $5-per-player fee and all concessions. The advertising alone is expected to generate $250,000 per year for the parish recreation budget.

"But to come in five years," Pryor said, "after investing close to $1 million dollars and say, 'Sorry, guys, you don't have a place to play.' That's a tough risk you're asking us to take."

He said he did not think the parish wanted to end the deal but told Turner that as lawyers both men are attorneys they know that things that aren't supposed to happen do happen.

Turner responded to Pryor's argument that ending the deal in five years would take the field from the kids by saying it was "disingenuous" to try to use children as a hammer to get the deal through.

Despite that tough exchange and concerns raised by a few other members, the council became more amenable to the deal after Parish Attorney O'Neal Parenton Jr. told them they could get out of the contract, by law, if there were a breach, such as not keeping up the fields as promised.

Other council members and Parish President Kenny Matassa, a former Gonzales City councilman who worked with the club for years, expressed their confidence in the intentions of the club and Pryor to live up to their commitments to the council and children in the club.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Ascension Parish Council backs soccer deal for new fields after extended discussion - The Advocate

Kanji Klub meets

The Ascension Parish Library's Kanji Klub meets at 6 p.m. Monday in Gonzales.

At this months Kanji Klub, learn the art of Japanese stab binding and craft your own "Death Note" journal while watching episodes of the "Death Note" Japanese television drama.

The program is for adults ages 18 and up.

Cosplay is welcome. Kanji Klub is dedicated to expanding creativity and cultural appreciation through anim and pop culture related crafting. For more information, call the library in Gonzales at (225) 647-3955.

The organizers of the Ascension Hot Air Balloon Festival are looking for volunteers for the two-day event.

The festival is being held Sept. 22-23 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

To volunteer, visit volunteerascension.volunteermatrix.com.

Cara's House, the Ascension Parish animal shelter, is hosting a Clear the Shelter program from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, 9894 Airline Highway, Sorrento.

The shelter's numbers have increased since the 2016 flood.

Pet adoption fees have been lowered for the event to $20 for dogs and $10 for cats.

There will be raffles, baked goods, jambalaya plates and T-shirts for sale, all benefiting Cara's House.

Microchipping will also be offered for $15 at the event, so bring your pets. If you'd like to volunteer or contribute to the event, email Ryan Johnson at rjohnson@brproud.com.

Dr. Robert M. Moukarzel, an orthopaedic surgeon, will hold a seminar on the treatment and management of arthritis at 2 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Ascension Parish Library in Gonzales. Moukarzel is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with more than 25 years of general orthopaedic skills and experience in orthopaedic trauma, joint replacements and joint revisions.

Moukarzel will discuss information on how to relieve symptoms of arthritis and improve joint function.

For more information or to register, call St. Elizabeth Community Education at (224) 621-2906.

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Around Ascension for Aug. 17, 2017 - The Advocate

Ascension Catholic Bulldogs ready to bark

Ascension Catholic heads into 2017 with visions of a deep playoff run. Coming off a seven-win season and a quarterfinal loss to eventual state champion Southern Lab, the dogs are hoping to bark louder.

Third-year head coach Drey Trosclair returns several starters including leading rushers Jamar Barber (1,300 yards, 21 touchdowns) and Jai Williams (670 yards, 7 TDs). Bubba Gautreau and Jon Mire look to replace Javon Yarbrough, who graduated and is playing with Birmingham-Southern College, in the Dogs' spread offense.

Gautreau looks to be the first in line to lead the offense, but he will have a capable backup in Mire. The Bulldogs lose leading receivers Jacoby Stewart (Grambling), Dillion Vice (Central Baptist) and Kebori Hunter. Looking to fill those spots are Rodney Blanchard, Eric Simon, Tre Medine and Mason Zeringue.

Zeringue and Blanchard return as two-way starters. Zeringue will be counted on more to provide offensive firepower. Providing depth will be Nick Milano, Demontray Harry and Nick Lejeune.

The Bulldog offense line, which returns four starters, is led by Nick Hilliard, Jacob Matirne, Charlie Gianelloni, Robert Lemann and Dillion Davis. All five lineman have gotten stronger and should be a strength for Ascension Catholic.

Providing depth will be Alex Gros, Ethan Arceneaux, Sam Mire, Alex Cedatol and Landon Falcon.

The Bulldog defense returns sixstarters led by Mike Gautreau (100 tackles) and Davis. Davis, a defensive end, has three scholarship offers to date entering his junior year and continues to improve. J.B. Broussard returns as a starter on the defensive line and was a pleasant surprise last year.

Hilliard, Gianelloni, Cedatol, Matirne, Gros and Lemann will play along the defensive line. The linebacking crew will also include Andrew Landry, Parker Hales and Williams (returning starter). The secondary looks to be a strength with returning starters: Blanchard (corner), Barber (SS) and Zeringue (SS). Newcomers include Mire, Alex Hebert, Dorian Barber, Simon, Milano, Brock Acosta and Jamir Truxillo.

The punting and kicking will be handled by Blanchard and watch out for newcomer Jacob Dunn to develop. The schedule remains strong with Southern Lab, Kentwood, White Castle, St. John and East Iberville in district. Tough nondistrict contests include 3A schools Mentorship Academy, Kipp Renaissance, Sophie B. Wright and Thomas Jefferson along with 1A Covenant Christian.

Ascension Catholic was set to scrimmage Northlake Christian at 6 p.m. Aug. 16 and participate in the Catholic High School Pointe Coupee jamboree vs.. False River.

The Bulldogs can be heard on the Bulldog Network via acbulldogs.org.

Here's the jamboree and scrimmage schedule for the rest of the Ascension Parish schools.

Ascension Christian Lions

Scrimmage vs.. St. Martin at Lion Stadium at 6 p.m. Friday

Jamboree at Lion Stadium vs. Houma Christian at 6 p.m. Aug. 25

Donaldsonville Tigers

Scrimmage vs. Tara at Floyd Boutte Stadium, 6 p.m. Thursday

Jamboree at St James vs. West St John, 6 p.m. Aug. 24

Dutchtown Griffins

Scrimmage vs. Woodlawn at Denham Springs High School (junior varsity and varsity), 6 p.m. Thursday

Jamboree at Denham Springs (freshman, junior varsity and varsity), 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24

East Ascension Spartans

Scrimmage at Central, 6 p.m. Thursday

Jamboree vs. Woodlawn at Spartan Stadium (freshman, junior varsity and varsity), 5:30 p.m. Aug. 25

St. Amant Gators

Scrimmage vs. Loranger at The Pit, 6 p.m. Thursday

Jamboree at Central (freshman, junior varsity and varsity), 6 p.m. Aug. 25

Editor's Note: This story was changed on Aug. 16 to announce the change of location of the Dutchtown High School scrimmage.

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Ascension Athletics for Aug. 17, 2017 - The Advocate

For the second time in NFL history, a woman will be on a teams coaching staff through the regular season.

Katie Sowers, who was coaching wide receivers during an internship with the San Francisco 49ers, was extended to a full-time role for this season by the team. She is the second full-time female assistant in NFL history. Kathryn Smith was a special teams quality control coach with the Buffalo Bills last season (she wasnt retained for this season after the Bills had an offseason coaching change).

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan explained that Sowers did such a good job during her internship, the team wanted to keep her after her internship was over. Simple as that.

She came in and worked with the receivers and did as good of a job as anyone Ive had in the internship, Shanahan said, according to CSN Bay Area. We loved having her around. She was eager to learn it, she has played professional football in a womens league in the United States for a while and shes passionate about it.

With Jen Welter, who was an assistant coaching intern with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, Smith last year and Bowers this season, a common refrain was that players respect any coach who can help them get better.

Katie is a baller. One-hundredpercent, 49ers receiver Marquise Goodwin said on KNBR 680s Murph & Mac Show, according to CSN Bay Area. She understands the game. She is very familiar with the game. She played in a womens league.

It may be a little different, but she definitely has the attitude that it takes to be in that room. She brings a great vibe and she understands. Im happy that shes on staff.

Sowers shared the news on her Facebook page, with a positive message for anyone. She said believing in yourself is only part of chasing a dream, but also dreams are achieved by first finding someone who sees your worth and value, regardless of your gender, and takes the necessary steps to clear a path, even on the path less traveled. For Sowers, that someone was Scott Pioli, a longtime NFL executive who is now the assistant general manager of the Atlanta Falcons. Sowers had an internship with the Falcons last season. Atlantas offensive coordinator was Shanahan.

I wanted to share with my friends and family that I have accepted a season long coaching position with the San Francisco

Posted by Katie Sowers onSaturday, August 12, 2017

Sowers being hired is a positivestep for women in the NFL. Perhaps were not too far from a female coordinator, and then perhaps at some point a female head coach. That sounds like a big step, but a few years ago many probably wondered if wed see someone like Sowers or Smith reach the heights they have in the NFL coaching profession.

Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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Katie Sowers' ascension to full-time coaching job with 49ers is more progress - Yahoo Sports

The Ascension Parish Finance Department was presented with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by industry officials for the sixth straight year, said Parish President Kenny Matassa.

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada announced the Finance Department was presented the award for the 2016 fiscal year.

Once again, Chief Financial Officer Gwen LeBlanc and her staff are recognized by their industry peers for providing a budget that is professional and accurate, Matassa said. We are proud of their efforts.

According to the finance association, the award is a significant achievement that reflects the commitment of Ascension Parish government and the Finance Department staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

In order to receive the budget award, the Finance Department had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation, a news release said. These guidelines are designed to assess how well the Finance Departments budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and as a communications device.

The finance association is a professional association servicing the needs of approximately 18,700 appointed and elected local, state and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners, the release said.

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Ascension Parish finance department earns national recognition - The Advocate

By Perry PitreSports Correspondent

A young Terrebonne Lady Tiger team took on the runner up in last years Division V state tournament, who returned all their players, dropping a 3-0 match to the Ascension Episcopal Lady Gators at Tuesdays Hall of Fame match in Houma.

The games proceeds will go the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Numerous such games will played around the state,including Mondays matches at the Thibodaux Regional Medical Center featuring Assumption, E.D. White Catholic, H.L. Bourgeois and Vandebilt Catholic, leading up the 2017 season opener on Aug. 28.

The scores in each game were almost identical, though the games took on different complexions.

Game 1 the Lady Gators dominate from start to finish, taking a 25-16 win.

The second game was tight at the outset with the score tied at 7 early. But two 5-0 runs by Ascension Episcopal made it 16-10. Terrebonne closed to within five at 17-12, but another 5-0 run put the game away for the Lady Gators, 25-14.

Game 3 started tight and stayed that way, with Ascension Episcopal holding a 10-9 lead. But yet another 5-0 run gave Ascension Episcopal a cushion, the Lady Tigers could not overcome. Terrebonne closed to 17-14, but the Lady Gators finished strong, scoring eight of the last nine for a 25-15 sweep.

(Tuesday) we saw a lot of nerves from our girls. Terrebonne coach Craig Hamner said. We have a lot of new starters. (Ascension Episcopal) has the experience, and they dont get rattled. We stayed close early, but they just pulled away. We had a lot of mistakes, a lot of serving errors, a lot of hitting errors. They have to learn to get over the nerves, and thats why we played this game.

Ascension Episcopal had a distinct height advantage over Terrebonne, which Hamner said is going to occur all season.

A lot of teams will, Hamner said. We dont have a very big team, so everyone is going to be bigger than us. So were going to have to be scrappy and were going to have to play smart, and were just going to have to do the little things right.

RIVERSIDE ACADEMY 3, SOUTH LAFOURCE 1

At Houma, Riverside used strong net play and a bevy of well place shots to outduel the Lady Tarpons.

The Lady Rebels took the first game 25-18, thanks in large part to a 7-0 run that turned a 10-9 game into a 17-9 game.

Game 2 was tighter as the Lady Tarpons seemed to find their game. But another 7-0 Riverside run was too much to overcome as the Lady Rebels won by three, 25-22

South Lafourche finally got their own run in Game 3, scoring the games last seven points for a 25-18 win.

But the Lady Rebels came back in Game 4, scoring eight of the games last ten points for a 25-17 win.

Defense is going to be our focus, South Lafourche coach Jamie Lerille said. Our offense was good. We just need to be sure we pick up the ball when the other team is hitting.

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Terrebonne drops Hall of Fame match to Ascension Episcopal - Daily Comet

Milwaukee Business Journal

Ascension closing Columbia St. Mary's clinic, combining it with Wheaton site Milwaukee Business Journal Ascension Wisconsin will close a suburban Milwaukee Columbia St. Mary's clinic and combine its operations with a Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare clinic across the street as Ascension continues streamlining its two legacy metro Milwaukee health care ...

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Ascension closing Columbia St. Mary's clinic, combining it with Wheaton site - Milwaukee Business Journal

Nine local high school seniors recently received scholarships totaling $16,000 from BASF through the companys local and corporate scholarship programs.

BASF's scholarship programs provide direct financial support to local high school students in recognition of their high academic performance, said Tom Yura, BASF senior vice president and Geismar site manager. By investing in students, we are supporting the leaders of the future.

Eight recipients are from Ascension Parish. Each received a $1,000 scholarship to use toward college tuition and plan to pursue STEM-related degrees.

DONALDSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL: Kaleb Cayette, LSU, mechanical engineering; and Tamiko Stroud, Southern University, finance

DUTCHTOWN HIGH SCHOOL: Mason Miranda, LSU, chemical engineering; and Caroline Beeman, LSU, industrial engineering

EAST ASCENSION HIGH SCHOOL: Jacob Decoteau, LSU, mechanical engineering; and Nicole LeJeune, Mississippi State University, chemical engineering

ST. AMANT HIGH SCHOOL: Landon Boudreaux, LSU, construction management; and Jaime Keller, LSU, chemical engineering

The ninth scholarship, from the corporate scholarship program for academically talented children of BASF employees, was awarded to Alexis Langlois, of St. Josephs Academy in Baton Rouge. Her father, Jeffery, works at BASFs Geismar site. She received one of 20 national scholarships worth $8,000. Langlois plans to study communications disorders at LSU.

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BASF awards $16000 in scholarships to area high schoolers - The Advocate

GONZALES A. Wayne Lawson, a key witness in the attempted election bribery case against Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa and a Gonzales business man, failed to turn over his tax returns Monday morning as required by a subpoena from Matassa's defense team.

The Louisiana Attorney General's Office plans to send investigators to find Lawson and have him turn over the records by 9 a.m. Wednesday, an assistant attorney general said Monday in Gonzales.

The missing tax records came to light Monday at the Parish Courthouse Annex in Gonzales as prosecution and defense attorneys gathered before Judge Jason Verdigets of the 23rd Judicial District Court in Gonzales.

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Verdigets issued a bench warrant for Lawson but it won't be executed for 48 hours to give Lawson time to turn over the records.

Matassa and Olin Berthelot, a finance company owner and longtime ally of Matassa, have been accused of offering Lawson $1,200 to fix his food truck trailer and a parish job in exchange for his dropping out of a Gonzales City Council race last year. Lawson has said he never took the attempted bribe and never left the election, though he lost last fall.

Matassa and Berthelot, who were in court Monday, have denied the allegations, instead saying the $1,200 was a loan to a friend and the talk about dropping out was unrelated political advice.

After court Monday, Matassa defense attorney Lewis Unglesby declined to say why he wanted the tax returns.

In court, Unglesby also pressed the Attorney General's office to specify what the bribe was that his client allegedly offered to Lawson. Steven Moore, defense attorney for Berthelot, made the same request.

But Assistant Attorney General Jeff Traylor told Verdigets the state doesn't have to say because it has turned over the records in the case, known as "open file discovery."

Verdigets did not rule on Unglesby's request but gave the defense a week to file briefs.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Defense for Ascension President Matassa wants tax returns from chief accuser, Lawson - The Advocate

East Ascension lost seven starters from 2016 that went on to sign college scholarshipsincluding two Big 12 signees in Adrian Ealy (Oklahoma) and Justin Harris (Baylor).

East Ascension lost seven starters from 2016 that went on to sign college scholarshipsincluding two Big 12 signees in Adrian Ealy (Oklahoma) and Justin Harris (Baylor).

Parting ways with such a heralded field may seem daunting for other teams, but second-year head coach Darnell Lee remains optimistic about his 2017 squad because of the great talent the Spartans return.

Last season, East Ascension was in a situation very similar. They entered the year with many first-time starters, including at quarterback.

They lost a two-year starter from under center in Kyran Irvin (Nicholls signee). His loss really hampered the Spartan offense in 2016.

East Ascension was forced to use three quarterbacks throughout the course of the season. This included receiver Keenen Dunn, Jason Wakefield and a converted baseball player in Cameron Schexnaildrewho was brand new to the position.

The three produced mixed results, but their play did improve toward the end of the season.

After an 0-6 start, East Ascension won their final three regular season games, and then upset No. 6 Ruston on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

From that team, the Spartans had seven players sign with colleges on National Signing Day: Ealy, Harris, offensive lineman Trevor Fleming (Grambling), defensive lineman Demontrey Jacobs (Grambling), District 5-5A Co-Defensive MVP Justin Daniels (Hutchison Community College), receiver Dylan Williams (Peal River Community College) and defensive lineman Gage Bourgeois (Pearl River Community College).

But unlike last year, the Spartans will have some much-needed experience at quarterback in 2017.

During the spring, Coach Lee said, Jason Wakefield ended last season as the starter. Hes a junior this year, and hes been doing a good job for us. Cameron Schexnaildre has been getting better. His first time playing was last year as a junior. Theyre both showing some improvement.

And though the Spartans will be without two all-district and All-Parish offensive linemen in Ealy and Fleming, they return one of the best prospects in the state in senior Cameron Wire.

Wire broke into the starting lineup last season and wasted no time making an impression on scouts. During the summer, he committed to LSU.

Hes improved lightyears, Lee said. The people that looked at him last year and werent interested, well, theyre offering him scholarships now. Its just a testament to how hard hes working. Hes grown a little bit. Hes put on about 15 pounds since the basketball season, hes getting stronger in the weight room and we just want to keep him healthy and let him enjoy his senior year.

Fortunately for East Ascension, theyll also return some key offensive weapons in first-team all-district running back Ralph Williams and all-district receiver Shaivonn Robinson.

Other players that should make some noise are receivers Tyrek Johnson and Marquell Stewart, running back Nick Massey and athlete Jimel London.

London, a Spartan basketball stalwart, joined the football team for the first time last year and become an all-district cornerback. At the end of the season, he also became a dangerous offensive weapon at running back and slot receiver.

East Ascension lost some heavy-hitters on defense, but overall, they will return seven starters.

Their returners include all-district linebacker Adrian Johnson. Coach Lee said that he also expects Chris Middleton to emerge as one of the Spartans top backers.

In special teams, East Ascension will be happy to return one of the best kickers in the parish in Ryan Gremillion.

We have talent at all positions, but it has to all come together in order to have success with the schedule we have, Lee said.

Like last year, the Spartans schedule is a mine field.

In addition to the challenging district tilt, theyll have tough non-league matchups against Lutcher, Parkview Baptist, Thibodaux and St. Charles.

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Spartans looking for better start in 2017 - Weekly Citizen