Category Archives: Ascension

None of the parish's golf teams were able to bring home state championships this past season, but that didn't stop many of the area's stars from putting up tremendous performances.

None of the parishs golf teams were able to bring home state championships this past season, but that didnt stop many of the areas stars from putting up tremendous performances.

Due to this strong play, four of the parishs golfers were recently named to the Baton Rouge areas All-Metro teams.

Three male competitors made the Division I-II squad. Two of those selections came from Dutchtown.

These All-Metro standouts were Jacob Merritt and Collin Stinson. Both golfers put up identical numbers in certain statistical categories this past season.

Merritt and Stinson both scored an 88 at the Metro tournament, and both Griffins shot four over par during the regular season.

The other parish stalwart that made the All-Metro boys team was St. Amants Ben Wilcher. Wilcher finished the regular season with a 3.5 shots over par average.

Zacharys Brady Bennett was named the Division I-II Outstanding Player. Two of his teammates joined him on the All-Metro team.

Catholic of Baton Rouge placed a team-high four golfers on the squad.

As for the girls, only one Ascension standout was about to make the All-Metro team. She also came from Dutchtown.

Hagan Bell was the Lady Griffins lone selection.

Anna Heine of St. Josephs Academy was named the areas Outstanding Player.

St. Josephs and Zachary each placed two golfers on the All-Metro team.

Division I-II All-Metro boys team:

Brady Bennett (Zachary), Tyler Armstrong (Zachary), Andrew Bennett (Zachary), Carson Caruso (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Jonathan Ellis (Catholic of Baton Rouge), D.J. Johnson (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Jacob Merritt (Dutchtown), Luke Miller (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Collin Stinson (Dutchtown), Max Trapp (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Ben Wilcher (St. Amant)

All-Metro girls team:

Anna Heine (St. Josephs Academy), Hagan Bell (Dutchtown), Claire Harrington (St. Josephs Academy), Riely Heaslip (Episcopal), Whitley Moore (St. Michael), Kylie OBrien (Zachary), Brooke Riley (Parkview Baptist), Skylar Johnson (University)

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Four Ascension golf standouts make All-Metro teams - Weekly Citizen

Press Release

Statement of Alderman Khalif J. Rainey - August 11, 2017

The announcement by Ascension that it will preserve the Wheaton Franciscan-St. Joseph Campus Hospital, the only hospital in Sherman Park and a strong and stabilizing partner in the neighborhood, is absolutely great news. I want to take this time to publicly thank them.

As one of the only safety-net hospitals in the city, St. Josephs future was unclear for some time. So many of my constituents were born at St. Josephs and so many more have been healed there. The loss of the hospital would have been devastating to the Sherman Park community. Ascension has consistently demonstrated a stakeholder and strong neighbor position to the area and securing the future of St. Josephs only adds to their commitment.

Through optimizing care at their multiple hospitals in Milwaukee, Ascension has provided a great service not only to the Sherman Park community, but to the entire City of Milwaukee.

Ascension has reaffirmed its support for the Sherman Park neighborhood and I look forward to many more years of partnership.

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Ascension committed to St. Joseph Hospital for the long haul - urbanmilwaukee (press release)

It seems a team of five has found an unbeatable strategy for the Ascension rotating game mode.

According to Reddit user TheCheeZZ, who made a post on the League of Legends subreddit on Tuesday, he and some friends were matched into an Ascension game with a team that chose all tank champions. The tank team refused to do any damage or attack and simply died over and over again. Every time they could back, they bought tank items. Eventually, the team that wasnt being attacked, TheCheeZZs team, couldnt do damage to the tanks anymore, because in Ascension, you can only buy items when you die.

TheCheeZZ said his team surrendered right around the 60 minute mark after it became clear that they could neither take objectives thanks to the tank teams collection of Sunfire Capes which interrupt the objective taking mechanic in Ascension or fight, meaning that the tank team won, despite doing almost nothing.

The thread was updated shortly after to reflect the fact that, in a moment of frustration TheCheeZZs team reported the tank team, and the team ended up receiving a 14 day ban. The protests came shortly after, with other Reddit users upset that the team was banned for a strategy that isnt explicitly outlawed. Riot responded to the players concerns.

According to a tweet from Rioter Ben Forbes, the bans were reversed and the players that were banned were contacted.

The official League of Legends Reddit account then posted a follow-up thread stating that they know that the pacifist strategy is horrifically unhealthy, and theyll be looking for a way to fix that. The players were unbanned because despite it being a completely unfun way to play, they were playing with the intent to win.

We can probably expect some changes to Ascension the next time its on the Public Beta Environment.

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Bizarre Pacifist Ascension strategy leads to player bans that were later reversed - The Rift Herald

None of the parish's golf teams were able to bring home state championships this past season, but that didn't stop many of the area's stars from putting up tremendous performances.

None of the parishs golf teams were able to bring home state championships this past season, but that didnt stop many of the areas stars from putting up tremendous performances.

Due to this strong play, four of the parishs golfers were recently named to the Baton Rouge areas All-Metro teams.

Three male competitors made the Division I-II squad. Two of those selections came from Dutchtown.

These All-Metro standouts were Jacob Merritt and Collin Stinson. Both golfers put up identical numbers in certain statistical categories this past season.

Merritt and Stinson both scored an 88 at the Metro tournament, and both Griffins shot four over par during the regular season.

The other parish stalwart that made the All-Metro boys team was St. Amants Ben Wilcher. Wilcher finished the regular season with a 3.5 shots over par average.

Zacharys Brady Bennett was named the Division I-II Outstanding Player. Two of his teammates joined him on the All-Metro team.

Catholic of Baton Rouge placed a team-high four golfers on the squad.

As for the girls, only one Ascension standout was about to make the All-Metro team. She also came from Dutchtown.

Hagan Bell was the Lady Griffins lone selection.

Anna Heine of St. Josephs Academy was named the areas Outstanding Player.

St. Josephs and Zachary each placed two golfers on the All-Metro team.

Division I-II All-Metro boys team:

Brady Bennett (Zachary), Tyler Armstrong (Zachary), Andrew Bennett (Zachary), Carson Caruso (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Jonathan Ellis (Catholic of Baton Rouge), D.J. Johnson (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Jacob Merritt (Dutchtown), Luke Miller (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Collin Stinson (Dutchtown), Max Trapp (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Ben Wilcher (St. Amant)

All-Metro girls team:

Anna Heine (St. Josephs Academy), Hagan Bell (Dutchtown), Claire Harrington (St. Josephs Academy), Riely Heaslip (Episcopal), Whitley Moore (St. Michael), Kylie OBrien (Zachary), Brooke Riley (Parkview Baptist), Skylar Johnson (University)

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Four Ascension golf standouts make All-Metro teams - Donaldsonville Chief

GONZALES A nonprofit group of business leaders pushing to change Ascension Parish's form of government announced on Thursday plans to hold the first of three community meetings on Aug. 21 in Prairieville.

A Better Ascension wants voters to change the home rule charter and do away with the elected parish president in favor of a Parish Council-appointed parish manager in a bid backers say would improve government efficiency.

Critics have already emerged who oppose the proposal, saying it would deprive voters of being able to directly elect parish government's top executive.

We believe our proposed charter amendments will make the Ascension government more effective, in addition to making our parish a better place in which to live, said Jamie Bourgeois, A Better Ascension board member, said in a statement Thursday. We look forward to meeting with our neighbors throughout Ascension to present our amendments and, more importantly, to listen to their feedback.

A Better Ascension officials had earlier proposed four meetings starting Monday but, with the latest announcement, they have pushed back the meetings' start date and reduced their number to three. The meetings will be at the following locations:

*Monday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. Sammy's Grill, Prairieville.

*Thursday, Aug. 24, at 6:30 p.m. Church of Donaldsonville, Donaldsonville.

*Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m. City Room.

During the meetings, the Better Ascension board plans to present the proposed amendments, data showing how the Parish Council-parish manager form of government would benefit Ascension, success stories from other communities and an explanation of the process of approving the charter amendments, Better Ascension officials said. The public is invited and will have a chance for questions and answers after the initial presentation, officials said in the statement.

Brandon Trosclair, A Better Ascension board member, said the group wants feedback and buy-in from the community.

A majority of voters in the parish must approve any change to the home rule charter, the parish's plan of government. For an amendment even to get on the ballot, two-thirds or eight members of the 11-member Parish Council, must agree to put the measure on the ballot.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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A Better Ascension announces meetings about parish manager plan - The Advocate

BATON ROUGE Construction on the next phase to widen I-10 into Ascension Parish from East Baton Rouge will begin in early 2018.

DOTD announced it hired James Construction Group to do the work.

Designs call for three lanes in each direction from Highland Road to La. 73.

The project will take approximately two-and-a-half years to complete and includes the widening I-10 from four lanes to six lanes west of Highland Road to the LA 73 interchange, as well as the replacement of the LA 42 overpass structures.

We are excited to start this much-needed capacity project, said DOTD Sec. Shawn Wilson. I-10 is not only an important route for freight, but its also a major artery for commuters who use it daily to travel between East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes. This is yet another project that highlights the necessity of having a well-funded transportation system and shows this administrations dedication to using innovative means, such as design-build, to fund and construct meaningful projects. However, additional reliable, long-term funding will be needed to complete the expansion of the I-10 corridor or the construction of a new bridge.

The $72 million project is being funded by a combination of federal and state funds, including the use of over $40 million in congressionally authorized repurposed earmarks, which are one-time expenditures.

In the Baton Rouge area, there are a handful of interstate improvement projects happening: West of the Basin Bridge, work is going on on I-10 toward Lafayette and in Baton Rouge, there are plans being drawn up to improve interstate access to the WashingtonTerrace Street area.

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Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltz

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I-10 widening project into Ascension starts in early 2018 - WBRZ

DONALDSONVILLE Ascension Parish government's auditors say the parish ended 2016 flush with cash despite having spent more than $12 million from its reserves on flood recovery last year.

Despite the flood expenses, the parish was able to boost its total reserves by $5.4 million last year to $192.7 million, but more than $105 million of that surplus is set aside by voters or by Parish Council spending priorities for recreation, parish jail expenses, drainage, fire protection or health and mental health services.

Auditor Tommy LeJeune, of Faulk and Winkler, told the Parish Council recently that continued strong sales tax collections have helped build the surplus. The past three years of collections have hovered around $55 million, about $15 million per year more than what the parish took in for 2012.

At the same time, the total surplus has risen from $147.5 million in 2012 to more than $192.7 million in 2016 also an increase of about $45 million.

"So, 15 times three is $45 million, so the whole point of it is you're not spending up to the high point of sales tax," LeJeune said. "So basically what you have been able to do is experience a really lucrative time from a sales tax collection perspective and you have been able to bank it."

He added that eventual reimbursement for last year's flood expenses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would only further improve those surpluses. Since the audit was finished, the parish has received about $7.3 million in reimbursements.

LeJeune made his comments Aug. 3 at the Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville as he reviewed the 2016 audit for the council. While the audit detailed the parish's strong financial status, it also uncovered a number of findings in the parish U.S. Housing and Urban Development public housing program and in travel, personnel and pay, and Lamar-Dixon Expo Center policies and procedures.

The Parish Council members have asked the parish administration to update them in a coming meeting about its progress in responding to many of these findings.

LeJeune's report of the parish's flush accounts prompted only some mixed reaction from the council. The parish is trying to fund major road improvements without a new tax and developing further spending on drainage improvements in light of last year's floods. Part of the road plan, Move Ascension, counts on a new debt issue and big part of the reserves in the parish road fund.

While the parish has continued to see population growth, the strong sales tax collections have come mostly during a period of expansion in the parish's industrial sector, the majority contributor to sales tax collections. That expansion has slowed some more recently.

After LeJeune's initial report on the surpluses, Council Chairman Bill Dawson sought to downplay their size, noting that only about $28.6 million is fully discretionary and could be spent for any purpose. He questioned LeJeune about whether that discretionary reserve was too high or low to ensure sound savings for unexpected expenses.

LeJeune said governments typically want to have a savingsequivalent to three to six months of annual spending. He said the $28 million fits within the lower end of that range.

"I don't think it's too low. I think it's a good comfortable number," LeJeune said.

But later, Councilwoman Teri Casso said that every year she hears the audit, she thinks, "My God, we have money. We are in a wonderful situation.

"We are not in the savings business. We need to be providing services, and so I look forward to next year seeing that we have spent the taxpayer's money, and if we're not going spend it, we need to give it back to them or quit collecting," she said. "It is time to spend it."

Auditors found the parish had about $27.8 million in a capital surplus fund for drainage and another $22.5 million for roads. The $40 million to $45 million Move Ascension program plans on tapping that reserve for nearly half its spending.

"Its a nice sum of money," LeJeune said of the road reserve, "but it's probably not an amount that solves all the parish's traffic woes."

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Auditors: Strong sales taxes continue to boost Ascension ... - The Advocate

National security specialist to address Ascension GOP Roundtable

Jim LeBlanc, vice president of the New Orleans Chapter of InfraGard, will be the featured speaker at the Ascension GOP Roundtable sponsored by Ascension Republican Women. The Roundtable begins with a meet-and-greet at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 17 at Galvez Seafood, 40306 La. 42, Suite 9, in Prairieville.

The program starts at noon.

Candidates in the 2017 elections are welcome to meet with guests at all Ascension Republican Women meetings.

InfraGard is a nonprofit organization serving as a public-private partnership between U. S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Cost for lunch is $16. The event is open to the public; but reservations are requested. Call (225) 644-5728 or (225) 921-5187 or email arwrus@aol.com

Artists and photographers of all ages are invited to share their creative efforts with others at the River Community Church art and photography exhibit. The churchs Creativity Group is sponsoring the free exhibit, which will run Aug. 20 to Oct. 1. This is an exhibit only; no ribbons will be awarded.

Art will be accepted through Aug. 16; call the church before dropping off to make sure someone is there. Framed or gallery-wrapped canvas art and photography with wire hangers on back should be brought to the church, 36367 Old Perkins Road. Attach a card with artists name, medium and title of work.

RCC Creativity Group meets twice a month on Wednesdays at the Prairieville church. Members work on a variety of individual creative projects including drawing, painting, knitting, art quilts, beading and scrapbooking. Group members are mentored by the other artists in the group.

For information about the show or the group, contact Jennifer Ferguson at jennifer@rivercommunity.org or call the church office at (225) 744-4367.

The Dialogue on Race series, an educational process for the elimination of racism, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Aug. 22 to Sept. 26, at the Ascension Parish Library in Dutchtown.

Understanding what racism is and how it operates through institutions is the core of this educational process. This six-session series is a structured two-hour weekly series led by trained facilitators.

Space is limited. To register to participate in this series, call (225) 673-8699.

For information about the series, call Maxine Crump at (225) 274-6902 or email info@dialogueonracelouisiana.org.

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Around Ascension for Aug. 10, 2017 - The Advocate

Three new school leaders have been hired at Ascension Public Schools.

Rhonda Gillard is replacing Latatia Johnson as the principal of G.W. Carver Primary School. Johnson departed to become an instructional supervisor of elementary education.

Gillard has spent more than 17 years in education, coming to Ascension Parish in 2006 after teaching in New Orleans and Georgia. She taught at Dutchtown Primary beginning in 2007, became an instructional coach at Prairieville Primary and was appointed Sorrento Primarys assistant principal in 2011.

She has a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters degree in social work from Southern University at New Orleans, completed Xavier Universitys teaching certification program and earned a masters degree in educational leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University.

"I embrace this opportunity to work with dedicated students and their parents. My goal is to continue the academic success that Carver has achieved thus far. I cannot wait to kick off this school year," Gillard said.

Michelle Parr is taking over as Central Primary Schools assistant principal from Cynthia Jackson, who recently became the Early College Option program principal.

Parr has been with the school district for 18 years, teaching third and fourth grades at Dutchtown Primary for 10 years before becoming a fourth-grade teacher at Spanish Lake Primary in 2009, a teacher coach at St. Amant Primary in 2011, a mentor teacher at Gonzales Primary in 2013 and most recently as a master teacher at Central Primary.

She holds a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in educational leadership from LSU.

"It has been an honor working in our parish for the last 18 years," Parr said. "I am extremely excited to continue my journey working with Mrs. (Christina) Knight, Central Primary's staff, our students and their parents."

Galvez Middle School is welcoming Tachelle White as assistant principal in place of Mary Daze, who recently became the district's executive master teacher.

White originally is from Baton Rouge and has spent the past six years working in Ascension Parish, first at Lowery Middle, then at Central Middle. For the past two years, she has taught seventh- and eighth-grade math and Algebra I and served as a teacher coach.

She holds a bachelors degree in psychology from LSU, a master's degree in public administration from Southern University, a plus 30 certificate and is working on a doctoral degree in educational leadership at Southeastern Louisiana University.

"Thank you for this great opportunity," White said. "I am looking forward to becoming a Pirate."

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Ascension Public Schools announces new leadership at several schools - The Advocate

Health Care Aug 09, 2017 Share

Dinger earlier this year led task force focused on population health

authors Staff Reports

The leaders of Ascension, the largest nonprofit health system in the country and the parent of Saint Thomas Health, has tapped Jason Dinger to be chief incubation officer at its Ascension Holdings unit.

Dinger had been CEO of MissionPoint Health Partners, the population health company launched under the Saint Thomas umbrella and now incorporated into a larger Ascension venture, since its founding in 2011. Earlier this year, he led an Ascension task force focused on population health capabilities and solutions.

In the Ascension Holdings role, Dinger will oversee the design and rollout of new solutions and innovations across Ascensions 2,500-site portfolio, emphasizing those that require incubational and entrepreneurial direction. He filled a very similar role a decade ago at Saint Thomas before moving into his MissionPoint role and holding a broader strategy position.

Jason will enhance our ability to deliver new tools and capabilities that improve the health status of our communities while fundamentally lowering costs, said James Beckmann, senior vice president of Ascension and COO of Ascension Holdings. Under his guidance, we will be able to more rapidly identify, develop and test innovations and new solutions, then introduce those with the greatest promise to enhance the care we currently provide and create new businesses to support our mission.

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MissionPoint leader given Ascension incubation role - Nashville Post (subscription)