Category Archives: Ascension

Katrina Augusta had been passing out fliers about her son, who had been missing for five days, when she got a call that the Ascension Parish sheriff was at her house in Donaldsonville.

Brandon, 15, had left his grandmother's house in Donaldsonville on a Saturday morning. He had not been seen since.

Augusta hoped then-Sheriff Jeff Wiley had positive news.

"Nobody was saying anything, and I couldnt understand that," Katrina Augusta said.

Only rumors had been flying around, sending sheriff's detectives on dead ends, Augusta said. Her son was in Baton Rouge; no, he was here; no, he went with those guys there.

The talk wasn't true. Her son, a freshman at Donaldsonville High, had been brutally beaten and killed that Saturday, the sheriff told her.

Brandon's badly decomposed body had been found days later. It had been covered with driftwoodbehind the Mississippi River levee she had driven past the crime scene on the way home to see the sheriff.

That was more than seven years ago, in mid-August 2014. For Katrina and her mom, Audrey, the years since that August day with the sheriff have been a long wait for justice.

Four male suspects were arrested 10 months after the killing, including two juvenile teens. But there have been years of delays, hearings, and back-and-forth appeals.

Now Brandon's case appears to be moving again.

This fall, two defendants took pleas deals in his death, one for a misdemeanor and one for manslaughter. After a delay in late November, another of Augusta's accused killers, Marcus Ester, was set last week for a late April trial.

But Brandon's mother and grandmother said they are still waiting for a better understanding about why he was killed. And they still don't know what brought him to that levee with the youths, some of whom Katrina says he didn't know or didn't care for.

Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Tony Bacala has confirmed that a body that was found last Thursday afternoon, August 14, along the levee in Donaldsonville is that of 15-year-old Brandon Augusta.

Life, work and the raising of Brandon's younger brother go on, while they wait for answers.

"But now, but now Im just wondering after so long, why did it take so long? Why is it taking so long for this situation? As a parent, a grieving mother, you know, Im still going through a lot and knowing that I dont have closure. I dont have the justice that I need for my son, and its been that way," Katrina Augusta said.

Ester's defense attorney, David Belfield III, maintains that his client had nothing to do with the slaying and didn't even know Brandon Augusta.

Like defense attorneys for others accused in the case, he claims prosecutors have had little to no evidence linking his client to the slaying no fingerprints and no DNA. Belfield claimed the prosecutors are relying on the shaky testimony of one witness also accused in the case who came forward after a cash reward was offered to the public for information.

In September, one of the then-juvenile defendants, Kaglin Green, who was initially charged with second-degree murder, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief with a three-month prison sentence.

His defense attorney, Travis Turner, has also maintained that his client had nothing to do with the slaying. Court papers show he had pressed for years for his client's release and a trial, asserting that prosecutors had no evidence.

With a misdemeanor, no plea document was filed in the court record in September. But Turner said Monday his client has not agreed to testify because he doesn't know anything.

Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today.

Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Dupaty declined to comment about the case. A spokesman for 23rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky Babin has not returned requests for comment since late last year.

At the time of the arrests in June 2015, Sheriff Wiley and detectives said the five friends had been smoking synthetic marijuana behind the levee, some got in an argument and four went on a "Mojo"-fueled rampage that led to Augusta's death.

Wiley said at the time that driftwood and chunks of concrete were the potential weapons of opportunity in a savage bludgeoning that continued after the fatal blow to Brandon's head.

In court papers last summer, though, prosecutors put forth a somewhat different story. They alleged that Ester, then 20, and another defendant, Kahlil Howard, then 16, had lured Brandon behind the levee to buy or smoke marijuana, then beat and choked him to death.

In prosecuting Howard on Brandon's death, prosecutors claimed he had lured another victim, three years later, behind the Donaldsonville levee "under the guise of smoking or selling marijuana."

Once behind the levee, prosecutors allege, Howard forced the man out of his vehicle at gunpoint and placed him on his knees. The man ran. Howard shot him several times but the man survived, prosecutors allege in court papers.

Howard has pleaded not guilty to the attempted first-degree murder and armed robbery charges in connection with the 2017 allegations.At the time of the 2017 attempted murder, Howard was out on bail for his then-second-degree murder charge in Brandon's slaying.

Howard's defense attorneys had argued prosecutors' bid to mention the 2017 shooting had turned the state's prior bad acts exception on its head. The bad act prosecutors were seeking to use against Howard came three yearsafterBrandon was killed and had a somewhat different method for the slaying.

In August, Judge Cody Martin of the 23rd Judicial District Court allowed the 2017 allegations to be mentioned at any trial for Brandon's 2014 slaying. On Nov. 9, three weeks before Howard's trial, he pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter.

Howard, who is now 24, is awaiting a sentence. Under his plea, it can be no more than 20 years in prison. Prosecutors also agreed to not use the conviction as evidence of a prior bad act in the 2017 attempted murder and robbery case.

In a one-sentence admission, Howard said he participated in a fight that led to Brandon's death, shedding no new light on what happened or why.

Unlike the two other defendants, Belfield, the defense attorney, said his client, Ester has no intention of taking a plea. Now 28 years old, Ester has sat in prison for years awaiting the trial now scheduled to start in three months.

Were Brandon alive today, he would be 23. His birthday was Jan. 9.

His loss has been a hard one to heal, his mother and grandmother say.

His football jersey, his jacket, some pictures and other mementos of Brandon still can stir those bad feelings.

People often tell Katrina Augusta that time heals wounds, she said, but it hasn't yet.

When his Donaldsonville High classmates graduated in May 2018, a pre-graduation awards ceremony included a brief video about Brandon. Though she never got the chance to read it, Katrina still has saved the hand-written statement she had prepared to read at the ceremony, a memory of who her son was.

"And so Im more or less just waiting, wanting this to be over, and wanting him to get justice, wanting him to get justice," Katrina Augusta said. "Thats all I can say right now. I, I, I and closure. Because prolonging the situation of who did what to my son and why, I may not ever find out why and who did what."

Editors note: A previous version of this story incorrectly said Kahlil Howard had been tried in Brandon Augusta's case; he took a plea deal.

View post:

Who murdered her 15-year-old son, and why? 7 years later, she still feels in the dark - The Advocate

Northside High School wanted to complete its January home basketball schedule on a high note while beating a quality team Tuesday night.

The Vikings checked both of those boxes with a thrilling 65-62 overtime victory.

That was a big win for us," Northside coach Jason Herbstler said. "Theyre coming 10-4, 11-4 and won have six or seven straight. Thats a quality ball club.

"It was good for us because it is our last home game of the month, so we are on the road the rest of the month.

Northside's Tyler Harris, who played most of the game, made one of two free throws with four seconds left in overtime to seal the victory.

I was tired from the whole game because I never really got out, said Harris, a senior guard. I just told myself to breathe. I missed the first one, but I told myself I was going to knock this one down and Im going to get my team the win.

Harris, a four-year starter, saidHerbstler prepared him well.

In practice, coach Jason tells me in games like this its going to come down to me making the right decisions, Harris said. Tonight me and my team delivered on it.

Northside trailed by 19 in the first half and was down 12 points at halftime, but the Vikings tied the game in the first three minutes of the third quarter.

I told our guys if we can cut their lead to six by the end of the third quarter, we've got a shot, Herbstler said.

East Ascension responded with a 3-pointer and converted four technical foul free throws to regain the lead at 46-39.

Our guys fought hard all game, Herbstler said.

Northsides comeback was led by Harris and junior guard Zion McCoy. Harris finished with 12 points and countless defensive plays while McCoy scored a team-high 20.

Tyler is 6-foot-4, can handle the ball, make the right pass, can shoot, we can put him in the post. Hes just so versatile. Herbstler said. Zion gets 20 points a night and was first-team all-district last year, but without Tyler I dont know if he could get 20 points a night.

Theyre like Batman and Robin, but each one can be Batman or Robin each night.

Originally posted here:

Northside captures impressive comeback win over East Ascension - The Advocate

Country

United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, RevolutionaryPeople's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

Read the original post:

Inside Tomekia Whitman's ascension at Idaho State, plus a preview of the Bengals' road tests - Idaho State Journal

The UAB Health System has a new, but familiar, face at the helm!On Wednesday, it was announced that Dr. Selwyn Vickers, senior vice president for Medicine, has been named the CEO of both the UAB Health System and the UAB/Ascension St. Vincents Alliance. He is replacing Dr. Will Ferniany, who is retiring after leading the Health System for about 13 years.Vickers, a Demopolis native, will assume these positions while maintaining his current role as dean of the Heersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The selection of Dr. Vickers as CEO of both the Health System and the Alliance will ensure a seamless transition of executive leadership and an uninterrupted commitment to excellence, said UAB President Ray Watts, M.D. We are proud to have this extraordinarily talented team of leaders, who will elevate our ability to provide the best patient care for our community, state, region and nation.Vickers is a world-renowned surgeon, a pancreatic cancer researcher and a pioneer in health disparities research. He is also a member of the prestigious Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.He became dean of the Heersink School of Medicine in 2013 and was a member of the UAB surgical faculty from 1994 to 2006.From a young age, I knew I wanted to practice medicine; but more than that, I wanted to make a difference in the lives of other people, Vickers said. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about clinical care, research and education. I have been the medical student, the trainee, the researcher, the physician, the teacher and the administrative leader. As we move forward into 2022 and the years beyond, UAB will continue to pursue high-quality patient care and the best possible patient outcomes, and continue to grow our nationally recognized programs to transform this part of the country into a healthier place to live and work. According to a press release from UAB, Vickers said the alignment of the Health System with the leadership of the School of Medicine is a proven successful strategy used at many academic medical centers.The structural change of our clinical enterprises leadership from two roles to one comes from the significant growth we have experienced in the past few years, he said. As many of our peer institutions have done, it made sense for UAB to consolidate the roles of CEO of the UAB Health System and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine to one person. A singular leader can fuse the interests of all groups at our enterprise and take a thoughtful approach to finances, operations and outcomes of both worlds.Vickers said he prioritizes continuing to build on and expand UABs programs of clinical excellence for the residents of Alabama, the Deep South and America while breaking the socioeconomic barriers to health care and education. A hallmark of his leadership will be focusing on UABs efforts to bring affordable health care to all people and regions of Alabama. UAB'S BIO ON DR. VICKERS"Vickers earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Johns Hopkins University and completed a surgical residency there. He joined the faculty of UAB as an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, where he was later appointed to professor, division director and the John H. Blue Chair of General Surgery. He was a founder of the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center and was principal investigator of UABs first pancreatic cancer SPORE. "In 2006, Vickers left UAB to become the Jay Phillips Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School, one of the oldest and most storied surgery departments in the country. "In 2013, Vickers became senior vice president of Medicine and dean of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, one of the largest public academic medical centers in the United States. In his role as dean, Vickers leads the medical schools main campus in Birmingham, as well as its regional campuses in Montgomery, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa. "He was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor for the class of 2021, which recognizes living Alabamians for their efforts and accomplishments in serving the state and country."

The UAB Health System has a new, but familiar, face at the helm!

On Wednesday, it was announced that Dr. Selwyn Vickers, senior vice president for Medicine, has been named the CEO of both the UAB Health System and the UAB/Ascension St. Vincents Alliance. He is replacing Dr. Will Ferniany, who is retiring after leading the Health System for about 13 years.

Vickers, a Demopolis native, will assume these positions while maintaining his current role as dean of the Heersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The selection of Dr. Vickers as CEO of both the Health System and the Alliance will ensure a seamless transition of executive leadership and an uninterrupted commitment to excellence, said UAB President Ray Watts, M.D. We are proud to have this extraordinarily talented team of leaders, who will elevate our ability to provide the best patient care for our community, state, region and nation.

Vickers is a world-renowned surgeon, a pancreatic cancer researcher and a pioneer in health disparities research. He is also a member of the prestigious Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

He became dean of the Heersink School of Medicine in 2013 and was a member of the UAB surgical faculty from 1994 to 2006.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to practice medicine; but more than that, I wanted to make a difference in the lives of other people, Vickers said. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about clinical care, research and education. I have been the medical student, the trainee, the researcher, the physician, the teacher and the administrative leader. As we move forward into 2022 and the years beyond, UAB will continue to pursue high-quality patient care and the best possible patient outcomes, and continue to grow our nationally recognized programs to transform this part of the country into a healthier place to live and work.

According to a press release from UAB, Vickers said the alignment of the Health System with the leadership of the School of Medicine is a proven successful strategy used at many academic medical centers.

The structural change of our clinical enterprises leadership from two roles to one comes from the significant growth we have experienced in the past few years, he said. As many of our peer institutions have done, it made sense for UAB to consolidate the roles of CEO of the UAB Health System and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine to one person. A singular leader can fuse the interests of all groups at our enterprise and take a thoughtful approach to finances, operations and outcomes of both worlds.

Vickers said he prioritizes continuing to build on and expand UABs programs of clinical excellence for the residents of Alabama, the Deep South and America while breaking the socioeconomic barriers to health care and education. A hallmark of his leadership will be focusing on UABs efforts to bring affordable health care to all people and regions of Alabama.

"Vickers earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Johns Hopkins University and completed a surgical residency there. He joined the faculty of UAB as an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, where he was later appointed to professor, division director and the John H. Blue Chair of General Surgery. He was a founder of the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center and was principal investigator of UABs first pancreatic cancer SPORE.

"In 2006, Vickers left UAB to become the Jay Phillips Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School, one of the oldest and most storied surgery departments in the country.

"In 2013, Vickers became senior vice president of Medicine and dean of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, one of the largest public academic medical centers in the United States. In his role as dean, Vickers leads the medical schools main campus in Birmingham, as well as its regional campuses in Montgomery, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.

"He was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor for the class of 2021, which recognizes living Alabamians for their efforts and accomplishments in serving the state and country."

See the original post:

Dr. Selwyn Vickers to take over UAB Health System and UAB/Ascension St. Vincents Alliance - WVTM13 Birmingham

McNeese State University announced its fall 2021 honor rolls.

To be on the presidents honor list, an undergraduate student must earn at least a 3.5 GPA or better while carrying at least 15 semester hours. A senior eligible for graduation but carrying less than 15 hours is also eligible, provided the student was on the list the previous semester.

The honor roll lists undergraduate students earning at least a 3.0 or B average while carrying 12 or more semester hours.

Presidents honor list

AMITE: Hezekiah Emanuel Neason

DENHAM SPRINGS: Payton Leigh Dodds, Kamryn L. Duncan, Alaina G. Fontenot

KENTWOOD: Caylon J. Brabham

MAUREPAS: Kameron J. Aime

PONCHATOULA: Aeryn Elizabeth Tyrney

Honor roll

AMITE: Adrianna P. Terrebonne

DENHAM SPRINGS: Christina R. Canale, Erica Carpenter, Lakin A. Fletcher, Tiara Robertson, Maia A. Robinson, Kelly Cazes Smith

HAMMOND: Desha Renee Hubbard

KENTWOOD: Natalie Dorene Johnson

LIVINGSTON: Ashley Alyssa Schenk

WALKER: Katie G. Van Der Mark

Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today.

ZACHARY: Claire B. Chandler

Presidents honor list

BAKER: Terikka Nevels Walter

ZACHARY: Claire E. Thompson

Honor roll

BAKER: Taylor M. Horn

Presidents honor list

ETHEL: Brittany Shay Hall Saxton

Presidents honor list

GONZALES: Ciara E. Young

Honor roll

GONZALES: Andre W. Husers, Raven Re'shaune Jones, Chandler R. Perer, Casie L. Savoy

PRAIRIEVILLE: Christian Ray Donnelly, Ashlyn B. Dufren, Kalleigh Patrolia Flucke, Jasmina Foster, Madason Guitreau, Elizabeth Nicole Sam

ST. AMANT: Zane L. Zeppuhar

Original post:

McNeese State University fall 2021 honor rolls announced | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate

INDIANAPOLIS On Wednesday, Indiana reported its highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations ever. Thats after it broke the record on Tuesday.

At Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis, the hospital has run out of room to store the dead. It is using a refrigerated truck that it acquired weeks ago in anticipation of this surge.

A spokesperson for the hospital said its morgue is small and has reached its capacity.

We are over capacity meaning if capacity is 100 percent we are over 100 percent, Dr. Graham Carlos said.

Dr. Carlos is the hospitals executive medical director. He said they have run out of room and have had to get creative to make more beds available.

We have expanded our room capacity to include rooms such as pre-anesthesia rooms, endoscopy rooms, perioperative areas to now be inpatient areas, Dr. Carlos said.

Eskenazi is not alone in this problem. IU Health said it has refrigerated trucks on standby but hasnt had to use them yet.

Several health systems tell FOX59 they have very little room left. Some have none at all.

Our inpatient unit has been full for just days now, so every opportunity we have to discharge a patient home the bed is full immediately, said Linda Wessic, chief operating officer at Major Health Partners.

Franciscan Health Indianapolis told us it currently has 96 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 conditions.

We are approaching our highest level of admissions since late January 2021, when we treated 120 patients, a spokesperson for Franciscan Health said in a statement. The vast majority of these patients are unvaccinated.

Franciscan said it is routinely holding numerous inpatients in the emergency department while they await beds. The systems is also operating beyond its staffed capacity at this time.

Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis hospitals said they are in the same situation.

There are 101 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 across the Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis hospitals. That is an increase of 44 patients in the last two weeks.

Ascension said that of the people who have died from COVID-19 at its hospitals, 90 percent of them were not vaccinated.

These are sick patients that are in a hospital because you have a life-threatening problem and so its stressful to be continuously taking care of so many patients, Dr. Carlos said.

The rest is here:

Eskenazi using refrigerated truck to store the dead as COVID-19 hospitalizations reach record levels - Fox 59

It's livestock show time and local 4-H and FFA exhibitors are ready to highlight the skills they've learned.

In Ascension Parish, livestock show time also means the Ascension Parish 4-H Stick Horse Rodeo is right around the corner. It's set for Jan. 21 at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center's Barn 8.

Registration is at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 6:30 p.m.

The show is open to all youth 11 years old and younger. The classes are Buckin Horse, Buckin Bull, Flag Race and Barrel Racing.

The stick horse rodeo participant fee is $5. Cowboy and cowgirls do not have to be a 4-H member to participate. Spectators are free.

Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today.

Following the stick horse rodeo, there will be fellowship and adult showmanship contests for 4-H and FFA alumni. All are invited to attend.

The Ascension Parish 4-H and FFA hosts its annual Livestock Show at Lamar-Dixon barns 7 and 8 on Jan. 22. There will be cattle, sheep, goats, swine, rabbits and poultry exhibited at the show, along with showmanship contests, and premier exhibitor tests.

The show is open to the public for spectating. The judging begins at 8 a.m. with the cattle followed by sheep, goats and swine. The rabbit and poultry shows will both begin at 9 a.m.

4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults. For more information, call the Ascension 4-H office at (225) 621-5799.

Read more from the original source:

Ascension 4-H Stick Horse Rodeo, 4-H Alumni Night Jan. 21, and Livestock Show Jan. 22 - The Advocate

VFW plans chili cook-off

Veterans of Foreign Wars 3693 is looking for cooking team and sponsors for its Feb. 5 chili cook-off.

The cooking begins at 8 a.m. with cooks vying for trophies in three categories: Judges Division, People's Choice and Best Decorated. The chili will be served starting at 11 a.m., with a $10 fee.

For information on entering a team or becoming a sponsor, email the chili committee at 3693vfw@gmail.com.

The Ascension Parish Health Unit and Albertson's have partnered to give ages five and older free vaccines in Ascension Parish. The pop-up vaccination clinic will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Gonzales Health Unit. Organizers ask those planning to attend to bring their insurance or Medicaid card if available. Insurance is not mandatory. Parents of children should have their I.D. and driver's license.

On Saturday, Feb. 12, 21 days after the first dose, a second dose will be scheduled.

On-site consent forms will be provided and online at ascensionparish.net. Residents may call the health center at (225) 450-1006 for any questions or concerns.

The heath unit is at 1024 SE Ascension Complex Blvd. in Gonzales.

As a service to the residents of Louisiana, the LSU AgCenters Sweet Potato Research Station produces foundation sweet potato seed annually. These seed potatoes are to be bedded in the row to produce slips or cuttings, which are then transplanted to the field to produce the crop. All varieties are certified to be free of viruses.

Variety information can be found on the Sweet Potato Research Station website, http://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/our_offices/research_stations/sweetpotato/.

The cost of a 40-pound box of seed potatoes is $18.50 for Beauregard (B-63 and B-14) and Evangeline; all other varieties are $25. For information or to order, email LSU AgCenter Agent Mariah Simoneaux at mjsimoneaux@agcenter.lsu.edu or call (225) 621-5799. Orders can be placed through Jan. 19. Potatoes will be ready for pick up in mid-February.

Looking for things to do in this new year? Check out the Ascension Parish Library calendar for a long list of programs for all ages. Here are a few upcoming programs at library locations throughout the parish. Remember, the Donaldsonville library branch is in a new location due to renovations at the permanent branch. Visit myapl.org for details and to register for events.

Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today.

If you are a teen between the ages of 12-18 who likes to free draw, are a coloring fanatic, or just in need of a break, then this is for you. Relax, snack and color at Ascension Parish Librarys Art Break at 4 p.m.Tuesday, Jan. 25, in Dutchtown and in Galvez. The library will provide art supplies, coloring sheets and refreshments all you have to do is show up. For more information, call the library or visit myapl.org.

Are cooler temperatures and darker days making you miss summer fun? Then bring your little ones to Ascension Parish Library for a fun-filled day at the beach at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, in Galvez and at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, in Dutchtown. Your toddler will love exploring the beach indoors with sensory activities like playing with sand and water beads and treasure hunting for shells and sea creatures. Kids will also develop gross motor skills by pretending to swim in the ocean and learn lots of fun facts about ocean life.

Experience story time in two languages. Kids ages 8 and younger and their families are invited to visit Ascension Parish Library on Thursday, Jan. 20, at 6 p.m. in Gonzales and Thursday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m. in Galvez for interactive bilingual story time presented in both English and Spanish. Enjoy 30 minutes of stories, songs and active play, followed by a fun and easy craft. For more information, call (225) 647-3955 or visit myAPL.org.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets starting with weigh-in at 9:15 a.m. and meeting at 10 a.m. every Thursday at the fellowship hall at Carpenter's Chapel Church, 41181 La. 933, in Prairieville. Dues are $5 a month. For information, call Miriam Sanchez at (225) 202-8521.

Tap into your creativity with writing exercises designed to help you explore ways of expressing yourself in a creative and imaginative workshop series. Explore your creative process by turning the stories in your head into stories on paper. Whether its a short sentence or a long narrative, learn to employ certain techniques to maximize your message and turn the mundane into the marvelous. Larry Schexnaydre, owner and studio director of Center Stage Performing Arts Academy, will guide you through the writing process in a fun and thoughtful way during this series of two workshops at Ascension Parish Library in Dutchtown on Saturday, Jan. 15, and Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. Your goal will be to complete a short story or monologue, then perform it for the group. Dont miss this opportunity to explore your creativity in a supportive environment with other creative writers.

Designed for adults ages 18+. Writers of all levels are welcome. Participation in both sessions is recommended, but not required. Registration required. To register, call (225) 673-8699. This event was initiated through the Friends of the Ascension Public Library.

If you are between the ages of 12 and 18, come chill out at Ascension Parish Library and create your own winter wonderland inside an upcycled mason jar on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 4 p.m. in Dutchtown and Saturday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. in Galvez.

Go here to read the rest:

Around Ascension for Jan. 12, 2022 | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate

Ascension Parish public works crews hauled in around 30% more bags of litter from roadsides, ditches and other corners of the parish in 2021 than they did in each of the previous three years.

Parish government also saw a roughly 70% increase in the number of cars and trucks visiting the parish's two recycling centers on the east and west banks of Ascension, new parish data shows.

With no parish government trash service, a collection of private operators with a mix of offerings, consistent new construction, and a community crisscrossed by major state and federal highways, litter has remained a continuing problem in Ascension.

Jade Robin, Department of Public Works assistant director and a project manager, provided Parish Council members with a data-laden update recently on the parish government's efforts to keep trash at bay through its Keep Ascension Beautiful program and other work.

Robin told the council that crews had picked up around 8,556 bags of trash in 2021, more than 2,000 bags greater than in each of the previous three years.

"So, we're definitely trending forward. Looking forward to moving even further with some of the things we have coming," Robin said in a virtual meeting Jan. 6.

The recycling centers also saw a combined 18,813 cars and trucks visit and dump trash in 2021, up markedly from the previous year, the data show.

The new data also detailed many of the odds and ends crews ran across and collected from the parish over the previous year, including 41 mattresses, five box springs, six sofa sets, four dressers, six toilets, a doghouse and a round hay bale.

Crews and the recycling centers also collected 1,720 tires in 2021.

Though cleanup crews and hazardous materials recycling cost parish dollars an April cleanup day cost $68,677 the cleanup efforts have also generated a little new revenue.

A scrap metal recycling program, which began in 2020, generated more than $15,100 through November 2021.

Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today.

Robin detailed efforts to drop roll-off trash boxes in selected locations in western Ascension and setting up "do not litter" signs at selected problem dump sites.

Parish Council members were generally congratulatory for the clean-up work but also had suggestions.

Council members Alvin "Coach" Thomas Jr. and Aaron Lawler asked Robin to consider installing remote cameras at problem dump sites to catch violators.

Thomas also told Robin to continue putting roll-off trash containers at selected locations in western Ascension. Residents in west bank areas like Smoke Bend, Aben, Modeste and Lemanville appreciated the roll-off trash containers, he said.

"I think it helps out tremendously, and it helps out the people putting the trash out. There's nowhere for them to go and put it. They don't have trash pickup in the parish in itself," Thomas said.

Moments beforehand, Robin had told the council that he considered the installation of roll-off containers in western Ascension as not "well-thought-out" because the containers became over-filled. Trash was stacked up next to the large bins.

Robin had suggested deploying the roll-off containers to one central location.

Council member Joel Robert said trash trucks headed to the commercial landfills in his Sorrento-area council district routinely have trash fly out along La. 22.

He urged the parish administration to try to address the problem with trash haulers.

"Just like everything else, though, if they're not being addressed by it and if they're not being spoken to about it, they're not going to do anything, you know," Robert said.

Link:

In 2021, trash haul for Ascension was a bumper year - The Advocate

James Lee, executive director of Louisiana Swamp Watch, will be the keynote speaker for the January Ascension GOP Roundtable sponsored by Ascension Republican Women.

The roundtable starts at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, at the Clarion Inn on La. 30 in Gonzales.

As the former State Director for Americans for Prosperity Louisiana, he led fights against higher taxes and some regulations, and for smarter sending limits and educational freedom, according to a news release.

Lee will address the proposed changes in Louisianas six Congressional Districts.

The event is open to the public and guests are welcome. Cost for the lunch is $22, payable in advance.

Payment can be made at paypal.Hme/ARW225. Reservations are requested, RSVP at (225) 921-5187 or email ARWrUS@aol.com

Members and guests are asked to bring nonperishable items for the St. Theresa Food Bank.

More here:

James Lee to address Louisiana redistricting at the January Ascension GOP Roundtable - The Advocate