2019 Guide for Visitors, Newcomers and Residents
Ascension Parish
PHOTO BY GREG FISCHER
welcome to
A PUBLICATION OF THE GONZALES WEEKLY CITIZEN AND THE DONALDSONVILLE CHIEF Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
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Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 3
From The Editor
Welcome! It is with great pleasure and joy that I welcome you to Ascension Parish. In this guide we would like to preview highlights of what our booming parish has to offer. First, there are three municipalities in Ascension Parish: The City of Donaldsonville, the City of Gonzales and the Town of Sorrento. All three are rich with a unique Louisiana culture and heritage. Moreover, Prairieville, St. Amant, Dutchtown, Geismar, Galvez, Lake, Darrow, and a few more places in the parish have much to offer from growing residential areas to some of the finest schools in the state. For an idea of where we sit, Ascension Parish is about a 45-minute drive northwest of the Greater New Orleans area and just 25 minutes southeast of the Greater Baton Rouge area. We are far enough away from the hustle of the big cities, but certainly close enough to visit. If it’s fun and festivals that draw you to our parish, make no mistake that we know how to do that! And we know how to cook! Not everyone is aware that Chef John Folse is from Donaldsonville. By the way, heralded LSU Women’s Gymnastics Coach D-D Breaux is, too! Annual festivals such as the Hot Air Balloon
4 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
Festival, Sorrento’s Boucherie Festival, Gonzales’ Jambalaya Festival and Donaldsonville’s Sunshine Festival add to the quality of life here. The Lamar-Dixon Expo Center is spreading its wings and becoming one the premier Louisiana venues for sporting events, conventions, and high-profile concerts.
forward. Our schools continue to move incredible students to the next level of education and leadership in the world.
Moreover, the Capital Region Planning Commission suggested in 2017 that Ascension Parish is expected to grow from 110,000 to 185,000 people over the next 25 years. While this is largely a guessing game, it serves as evidence of one thing happening now: growth.
Furthermore, our communities are faith-based, and volunteerism is a way of life. If there is one silver lining of suffering through the rain that fell upon Ascension Parish in 2016, it is that our people have learned to trust one another again.
Growth means a healthy economy, where ideas are exchanged. When ideas are exchanged, big things are capable of happening.
Lastly, make no mistake, this is a hard-working parish with pride! But we have a strong sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that will carry us into future generations. Our men and women are steeped in tradition and capable of extraordinary things because through hardships they have acquired extraordinary character. Come visit, and you’ll choose to be a part of Ascension Parish.
However, the past year was not perfect. For instance, some neighborhoods are still rebuilding from the 2016 floods. The parish council has been working on how to mitigate new land development all year long, and that picture is getting clearer. Plenty more is in the works for 2019. The right pieces are in place. It appears that our elected officials are dedicated to moving the economy
Blessings, Greg Fischer, editor, Weekly Citizen, The Donaldsonville Chief
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Welcome to Ascension Parish! On behalf of the Council and my administration, I welcome you to Ascension Parish! You will find everything you are looking for right here! Do you like history? Then you will enjoy historic Donaldsonville, the Parish Seat. And there are several historic sites, buildings, and antebellum homes throughout the Parish. If you enjoy shopping, you won’tt want to miss Tanger Outlet Center, Cabela’s, and numerous other shops and shopping centers, from traditional mom-and-pops to national chains. If you are looking for entertainment, Ascension offers a movie theater, bowling alley, night clubs, fine dining, and just about every national fast-food and casual-dining chain. Fairs and Festivals happen here all year long, and there is something for everyone at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center – concerts, rodeos, and hot air balloons. Job opportunities are here, too. We are in the heart of the petrochemical manufacturing industry, with all of the support industries that service them. Ascension boasts one of the top-rated school systems in the state, as well as River Parishes Community College, which works in coordination with business and industry to train workers for the many jobs available. You will find that Ascension is large enough to give you whatever you are looking for, yet small enough to retain that home town feeling. Suburban neighborhoods, rural pasture lands, gated and golf course communities; they are all here, waiting for you! My staff and I are happy to welcome you. Give us a call and let us show you some Ascension Parish hospitality! Kenny Matassa Ascension Parish President
Ascension Parish 6 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
Ascension Parish Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 7
Fire and Police Directory
PHOTO BY GREG FISCHER
FIRE & RESCUE
LAW ENFORCEMENT
1. Donaldsonville Fire Department Association 700 Lafourche Street, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-473-0664
Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO)
2. Sorrento Volunteer Fire Station 8096 Main Street, Sorrento Phone: 225-675-8668 3. 5th Ward Volunteer Fire Station 39110 LA-22, Darrow Phone: 225-473-1960 4. Galvez-Lake Fire Department 16288 Joe Sevario Road, Prairieville Phone: 225-622-2490 5. St. Amant Fire Department 44465 Stringer Bridge Road, St. Amant Phone: 225-644-2225 6. 7th District Volunteer Fire Department 13337 LA-44, Gonzales Phone: 225-647-6928 7. Geismar Volunteer Fire Department 12171 LA-73, Geismar Phone: 673-3396 8. Prairieville Fire Department 14517 LA-73, Prairieville Phone: 225-673-6663 9. Gonzales Fire Department 724 W Orice Roth Road, Gonzales Phone: 225-644-5307
8 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
1. East Courthouse 828 S. Irma Boulevard, Gonzales Phone: 225-621-8340 Services Offered: Property Taxes, Pay Fines, Copy of Police and Accident Reports, Background Checks, Sheriff’s Sales, Forfeitures, Juvenile Division, Family Services including Domestic Violence, and Criminal Investigations Division. 2. Public Safety Center 13192 Airline Highway, Gonzales Services Offered: Collection of Evidence, Civil Papers, and Criminal Warrants 3. Patrol and Traffic Substation 15482 Airline Highway, Gonzales Phone: 225-621-8300 Services Offered: Patrol Captain (M-F 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and a place to file police reports. Note: This location is not manned 24-hours-a-day. 4. West Courthouse 300 Houmas Street, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-473-8671 Services Offered: Property Taxes, Pay Fines, Copy of Police and Accident Reports, and Background Checks
5. Donaldsonville City Hall 609 Railroad Avenue, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-621-8300 Services Offered: Patrol Captain (M-F 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and a place to file police reports. Note: This location is not manned 24-hours-a-day. 6. Jail 2384 Lemanville Cutoff Road, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-473-8674 Services Offered: Visitation (Certain Hours), Bartender, and Dancers Licenses. 7. Training Center 9094 S. St. Landry Road, Gonzales Phone: 225-621-8365 8. Range Complex 9134 S. St. Landry Road Phone: 225-621-8365 Services Offered: Public Shooting. (The use of the weapons ranges are made available to the citizens of the parish on regular basis. The rifle range is open to the public year-round on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., or safe shooting light. Gonzales Police Department (GPD) 415 E Cornerview Street, Gonzales Phone: 225-647-7511 Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) 828 S. Irma Boulevard, Building 3, Gonzales Phone: 225-621-8360
PHOTO BY GREG FISCHER
Parish and CPEX looks to local students for direction BY GREG FISCHER @AscensionEditor Ascension Parish Government and Ascension Parish Public Schools partnered recently to provide a unique educational experience to high school students around the parish. CPEX, the government partner in creating a new master land use plan, made presentations on land use and zoning laws in front of high school juniors and seniors. “It’s important to kind of think out of the box,” CPEX Director of Planning Janet Tharp said. “Downtown Donaldsonville has what we call all the bones of a place, all the great buildings and structure to be a more walkable community.” Tharp took the reins to present ideas for growth and development to the students. This was followed by the same process parish citizens followed recently
at town hall meetings. Students looked at the best models available and were able to write sticky notes to add their thoughts on future land development. “It was a public workshop showing them much like what we’re showing the kids in the classroom,” Jerome Fournier, Ascension Parish Planning and Zoning director, said. “I thought we had some really good feedback, and I thought we had some really good interactions with the population there.” This was done to allow students to become better educated on the process work of parish government as well as stimulate discussion on where they would like to see future growth and development in the parish. A session was held at Donaldsonville High School and Dutchtown High School. “I think it’s a good exercise for us to participate in because we’re going
to be the ones who settle down with families and jobs more than the older people in the parish, so we should be the ones to determine what we want,” Hailey Junca, a Dutchtown student said. A surprising note was that Dutchtown students wanted more development on the West Bank. They also showed interest in more industry and more rentals so they can live in Ascension Parish and commute to college. Donaldsonville students were concerned with transportation. They want development like shopping and walkable roads. CPEX and the planning department are taking the students’ participation just as seriously as the adults, since as Junca pointed out, those people will be the ones living in the parish with families and jobs by the time the 20-year plan is fully in place. St. Amant and East Ascension students also participated that week. Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 9
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REMY ROBERT
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292 square miles Major Roads: Interstate-10, US Hwy. 61 (Airline Hwy.) LA Highway 30, 44
www.ascensionedc.com
Rail: Kansas City Southern, Canadian National, Illinois Central, Union Pacific
INFORMATIONAL DIRECTORY
M'S COVE
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Darrow 37142 Hwy. 22 800-275-8777 Donaldsonville 301 Iberville St. 225-473-7498 Duplessis 39265 Hwy. 621 225-644-2694 French Settlement 16169 Hwy. 16 800-275-8777 Geismar 6223 Hwy. 73 225-673-5594
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10 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
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Air: Louisiana Regional Airport (local), Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Louis Armstrong Int. Airport (All within 45 minutes drive)
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Date: 10/6/2015
ROOD
Information
Information Gonzales 1706 S. Burnside Ave. 225-647-9715
EATEL, Phone: 800-621-4211 Electric:
Maurepas 23839 Hwy. 22 225-695-3104
DEMCO, Phone: 225-622-2549
Prairieville 15655 Airline Hwy. 225-673-8100
Garbage:
St. Amant 44473 Hwy. 429 225-644-3133
Entergy, Phone: 800-368-3749
Acadian Waste Disposal Service, Phone: 225-744-6400 Allied Waste, Phone: 225-675-8021
Sorrento 8213 John LeBlanc Blvd. 225-675-2722
Dale’s Garbage Service, Phone: 225-647-6061
LIBRARIES
Innovative Waste Systems, Phone: 775-2350
Donaldsonville: (Main) 500 Mississippi St., Donaldsonville, Phone: 225-473-8052
Waste Management, Phone: 800-654-0489
Dutchtown: 13278 Highway 73, Geismar, Phone: 225-673-8699 Gonzales: 708 S. Irma Blvd., Gonzales, Phone: 225-647-3955 Galvez: 40300 Highway 42, Prairieville, Phone: 225-622-3339 ASCENSION PARISH HEALTH UNITS 1024 S. E. Ascension Complex Boulevard, Gonzales, Phone: 225-644-4582
Gas:
Cox Communications, Phone: 866-342-5269 or 225-615-1000
Louisiana Regional Airport 6255 Airport Industrial Blvd, Gonzales, Phone: 225-717-2077 Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) 9430 Jackie Cochran Dr., Baton Rouge, Phone: 225-355-0333 Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) 900 Airline Drive, Kenner, Phone: 504-464-0831
828 S. Irma Blvd #205, Gonzales, Phone: 225-621-5780
Gonzales Utilities, Phone: 225-647-2841
300 Houmas Street, Donaldsonville, Phone: 225-473-7906
Louisiana Gas Service, Phone: 225-673-4602
TOURISM, FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Telephone:
Bell South, Phone: 800-557-6500, 800-557-6000
Cable:
AIRPORTS
Entergy, Phone: 800-368-3749
HOSPITALS
UTILITIES
Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries 2000 Quail Drive Baton Rouge, Phone: 225-765-2800
VOTER REGISTRATION
EATEL, Phone: 800-621-4211
St. Elizabeth Hospital 1125 E Hwy 30 Gonzales, Phone: 225-765-8872
Department of Motor Vehicles 413 Williams Street, Donaldsonville, Phone: 225-925-6146 302 E. Ascension Street, Gonzales, Phone: 225-647-9725
Donaldsonville, Phone: 473-4247
901 Catalpa Street, Donaldsonville, Phone: 225-474-2004
Prevost Memorial Hospital: 301 Memorial Drive Donaldsonville, Phone: 225-473-7931
LICENSES
Ascension Parish Tourism Commission 6967 LA-22, Sorrento, Phone: 225-675-6550, tourascension.com Lamar Dixon Expo Center 9039 S St. Landry Avenue, Gonzales, Phone: 225-450-1009, www.lamardixonexpocenter.com
Water: Ascension Water Co., Phone: 225-675-5644 Diversion Water Co., Phone: 225-673-8560 Gonzales Utilities, Phone: 225-647-2841 Parish Utilities of Ascension, Phone: 225-473-7603
Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 11
Infrastructure Director William Daniel addresses Gonzales Rotary BY GREG FISCHER @AscensionEditor William Daniel became the Infrastructure Director of Ascension Parish in 2017. He spoke to the Gonzales Rotary Club about the current state of drainage in East Ascension. Daniel was introduced at the luncheon for having over 35 years of experience in government and in the private sector as an engineer. From 2010-17 he served as Public Works Director, Environmental Service Director and also Chief Administrative Officer in East Baton Rouge. “I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak here today for an involved group of people who want to work for the betterment of Ascension Parish as much as I do,” Daniel said. Daniel began the presentation lightheartedly saying that he is no a public speaker but rather “just an engineer.” This is obviously a joke because Daniel served three terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives. His current responsibilities include the Department of Public Works, transportation, and utilities. “I’m here to talk about drainage, and after 2016 what could be more important,” Daniel said. “I was in East Baton Rouge Parish. It’s probably the most single defining event of my entire life to have to go through that. I’ve never seen anything as heartwrenching. And gut-wrenching, when you’re absolutely unable to do anything to help, and you know the water is coming. It’s a horrible feeling.” Drainage in Ascension Parish is no easy feat. That is why the East Ascension Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 1 exists. It is a board that consists of East Ascension Parish Councilmen and
12 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
women. Daniel presented a powerpoint slideshow to rotarians with Assistant Drainage Director and Operations Manager Ron Savoy’s assistance, consisting of 26 slides. Watersheds, pumping stations, and river basins were all shown comprehensively in a series of maps. Functionality of the Bluff Swamp Basin, the Henderson Bayou Pumping Station, the Marvin Braud Pumping Station, and the Sorrento Pumping station were all touched upon. PHOTO BY GREG FISCHER
Daniel explained that currently the Bluff Swamp Basin is being upgraded with something known as the Fish Bayou Control Structure. It was stated that the proposed upgrade includes two 12’x12’ box culverts with sluice gates. Moreover, these gates will remain normally open until water on Bayou Manchac reaches 4 feet and rising. This mechanism should reduces flood duration by six to seven days during a 100-year flood event. Construction is anticipated for mid to late 2019 contingent on permitting. The next project discussed was the Laurel Ridge Levee Extension. This is an approximately 4.5 mile levee to protect residents of Ascension Parish from riverine flooding of Amite River. It contains seven outfall structures which allow internal storage and gravity drainage of system. The Laurel Ridge project was held up because of concerns from Livingston Parish. A permit was issued on January 31. The project is currently in final design and ROW Acquisition. Construction is also anticipated for mid to late 2019. Daniel reported that it looks like Ascension has come to terms with Livingston on this issue and that it will
materialize. Lastly, the New River Channel Improvements Project was presented. It is a major maintenance project designed to improve the conditions within the New River Channel to provide additional storm water storage during storm events. The project area consists of the 2.7 mile section of New River from the confluence of Smith Bayou to the existing New River control structure. Drainage funding was also touched upon. Capital projects are funded with a half-cent sales tax. Maintenance Projects, on the other hand, are funded by Property Tax Millage. “We have to start thinking of flood protection as regional,” he said. “Because if we don’t look at it from a regional standpoint, there’s not enough money that East Baton Rouge has, Livingston Parish, or Ascension Parish has to protect themselves by themselves.” Daniel also spoke on how simpler Public Works needs are addressed. His department is pressed for manpower for all the calls they get. He has begun to prioritize projects based on safety needs first, and then in terms of how many people will be helped.
Ascension Public Schools hosts EMS Day BY GREG FISCHER @AscensionEditor Dutchtown High School hosted an event on Wednesday, October 10 for students enrolled in the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) program. Representatives from Acadian Ambulance, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, the State Fire Marshal, Baton Rouge EMS, the Prairieville Fire Department, and the Louisiana National Guard were giving students demonstrations and hands-on training opportunities. Over 200 students from St. Amant, Dutchtown, East Ascension and Donaldsonville high schools are enrolled in the EMR program and were present at the event. “Ascension Parish has 209 students in
the EMR program,” Ronald Harper, the program organizer said. “We have two EMS days, one in the fall and one in the spring. This one is large agency, touch, feel, and move. In the spring it will be more case report, skill practice-more like lets wrap this up and polish our skills.” The EMR program is a credentialing program for upperclassmen and women that gives students the opportunity to walk away with a license as an emergency medical responder. “People like firemen, policemen, lifeguards, athletic trainers, industrial workers all usually get this credential to work in concert with their regular job,” Harper said.
Students in the EMR program may prepare themselves to go to work in an ambulance, as a tech in an emergency room or towards greater levels of the medical field. “This is about year 10 for this day,” Harper said. “Me personally, this is year seventeen in Dutchtown. We started off with just me and Prairieville EMS. We said hey, let’s do something cool.” They began to invite all the representatives that currently participate in the EMS Day. “It’s not really a career day, but it shows them what each [group] does as first responders,” a member of Baton Rouge EMS said. “They’re learning some of the very basic stuff that paramedics learn.”
But Harper is giving students the opportunity to work one step further.
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Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 13
Welcome to Donaldsonville!
In 2013, Donaldsonville rebranded itself to become home to industry. Donaldsonville re-emerged as a quality home to the movie and television industry. Donaldsonville didn’t just welcome the movie business though. Also, the petrochemical industry saw the completion of CF Industries $2.1 billion-dollar project.
PHOTO BY TIM BABIN
As a city of tradition, history, and industry Donaldsonville welcomes all. The City of Donaldsonville serves as the Ascension Parish seat, home to the Ascension Parish Courthouse.
The city is also home to the annual Sunshine Festival, the Avenue Stroll, Juneteenth and the River Road AfricanAmerican Museum. “Respecting Our Past and Building Our Future” is our theme. We are a historic community with a past we will not forget but we also have a vision for our future. I invite you, your family, friends, and future residents and business owners to explore all we have to offer. --Mayor Leroy Sullivan
City of Donaldsonville 14 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
PHOTO BY GREG FISCHER
City of Donaldsonville Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 15
PHOTO BY GREG FISCHER
Private Babin, veterans honored at Louisiana Square BY GREG FISCHER @AscensionEditor Donaldsonville American Legion, VFW, and citizens showed their support on Sunday, November 11 for veterans of the United States military at Louisiana Square. But in honor of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, one private in particular, Mr. Bennett Babin, was commemorated. Before the program began Jay Lemann and Regina Mistretta saw that all who attended had a poppy pinned on their clothes to symbolize Armistice Day, or the end of WWI. Desiree Nailer performed a beautiful, powerful rendition of the National Anthem. This was followed by an opening prayer. Next, Jay Lemann read the history of the poppy and the poem that the tradition stems from “In Flanders Fields,” written by John McCrae during WWI and published in 1918. The story goes that the Canadians held off the Germans for 17 days of intense fighting, and during the battle 16 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
on May 2, 1915 McCrae’s close friend Alexis Helmer was killed. McCrae wrote the poem the next day on the back of an ambulance. Poppies grew on top of men’s graves. “Serving in the military and serving in combat, it’s certainly a day that we cherish, and it’s certainly wonderful to see the communities that still come out and support veterans on Veteran’s Day,” Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Bobby Webre said. “And today I understand that the Donaldsonville VFW is going to honor Mr. Bennett who died in WWI.” “This is probably the first ceremony of this kind that’s ever been held here in Donaldsonville,” American Legion Commander Lawrence Landry said. After Lemann read “In Flanders Fields,” John Beck made a presentation of letters written by Private Babin to the (then) editor of The Donaldsonville Chief, presumably founding editor Linden E. Bentley. “Arrived safely in this beautiful, sunny country,” the first letter reads. “Had a grand trip over and enjoyed it very much. Count on us to do our part.” That was dated March 26, 1918.
On June 18, 1918 he wrote The Chief again: “Dear Mr. Bentley, Well I am in the trenches at last. You would think at times there was no war, and then all at once it sounds like hell has broken loose. The cannons roar and you can hear the shells overhead whistling by, and would think that everyone would fall and burst right next to you . . . We get our daily mail in the trenches and and it surely makes a fellow feel good to get news from home.” Beck also read some original poetry, which he gave to the attending Babin family. The family was also presented with the death certificate of Private Bennett Babin. Michael Babin, a great-nephew of Private Babin, is currently an actor based in California and was meeting some relatives in Donaldsonville for the first time. He recently visited his great uncle’s grave in France. He shared a photo that was taken. “I took that picture,” he said. “I was able to visit the grave about a month and a half ago. The letters were very touching and made me smile. It’s the first time I’ve seen his face.”
Historic Donaldsonville Tour Sites Whether taking a walking or driving tour of historic Donaldsonville, there is much to observe and appreciate in the city. The following is a guide to various buildings and attractions in the downtown historic district. • CHURCH of ASCENSION of OUR LORD CEMETERY c. 1775 (pre-Civil War)
• LEMANN BUILDING c. 1877
• STATE CAPITAL c. 1830-1831
• CRESCENT PARK c. 1806
• ST. PETER’S CHURCH c. 1866
• BELL HOUSE c. 1860
• MISTRETTA GROCERY STORE c. 1850
• ASCENSION of OUR LORD CATHOLIC CHURCH (present church) c. 1875-1896
• HISTORIC FORT BUTLER c. 1863
• BITTERSWEET PLANTATION c. 1850
• ST. VINCENT’S INSTITUTE c. 1845
• THE MAURIN HOUSE c. 1879
• ROSSIE’S c. 1938
• THE LANDRY HOUSE c. 1870
• MATASSA STORE c. 1892
• EPISCOPAL CHURCH of the ASCENSION c. 1870
• THE SIMS HOUSE c. 1877
• SLAVE HOUSE c. 1870
• PARISH COURTHOUSE c. 1889
• CABAHANOSSE BUILDING c. 1890
• POST OFFICE c. 1808
• GIAMBRONE “ROW” HOUSES c. 1880, 1900
• CYPRESS CAFE c. 1870 • RAILROAD CAFE c. 1850 • THE GRAPEVINE CAFE c. 1925 • ACE HARDWARE c. 1850 • LOUISIANA SQUARE PLACE DE LA LOUISIANA c. 1806 • FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH c. 1844
• RODRIGUE RESIDENCE c. 1882
• TRUE FRIENDS BENEVOLENT SOCIETY HALL c. 1883 • BIKUR CHOLIM JEWISH CEMETERY c. 1856
• GUINCHARD RESIDENCE c. 1775 • POIRIER RESIDENCE c. 1866 • WARRICK HOME c. 1870 • BANK of ASCENSION c. 1896 • ELKS LODGE c. 1912 (Benevolent and Protective Order 0f Elks 1154) • ASCENSION BANK BUILDING c. 1892
• PROTESTANT CEMETERY c. 1856 • ST. CATHERINE of SIENNA CATHOLIC CHURCH and RECTORY c. 1926
• MASONIC TEMPLE c. 1890
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Bluesman Chris Thomas King gives blues history lesson in Donaldsonville BY GREG FISCHER @AscensionEditor The River Road African American Museum in co-sponsorship with the City of Donaldsonville hosted blues artist and historian Chris Thomas King on October 7. The event was held from 5:30 p.m. to sunset at the Rosenwald School building, located at 511 Williams Street. However, the event ran a little later than expected because the audience was interested in what King has to say about the history of Blues music. Namely, King says that it was born in Louisiana, contrary to the perhaps more popular notion that blues music comes primarily out of Mississippi. “The word ‘jazz’ has no meaning,” King said. “The word ‘blues’ is very powerful.” King pointed to American bandleader
King Oliver, born in Aben, La. in 1881. “When King Oliver’s Orchestra called their song ‘Dippermouth Blues,’ he was saying something. He wasn’t talking about Jazz,” King said. King also pointed out that the origin of the Blues genre comes from the French expletive “Sacrebleu,” which translates into “damn it.” Blues music, which today in mainstream culture is often associated with sadness or gritty electric guitar, was never that to begin with. Taken from the official press release: “Chris released his first album, ‘The Beginning’ in 1986 and it was certainly the beginning for the man who recently stirred up controversy with an appearance on TEDXLSU titled, The Blues Was Born in Louisiana, not Mississippi. The top-hat-wearing musician is also an actor who was featured in the 2000 crime comedy, Oh Brother How Art Thou. He has
Leroy Sullivan, Sr. MAYOR
Welcome To Our City Donaldsonville is a treasure trove of history. Lauthaught Delaney, Sr., Commissioner - Dist. 1 Raymond Aucoin, Commissioner - Dist. 2 Reginald Francis, Sr., Commissioner - Dist. 3 Rev. Charles Brown, Sr., Commissioner - Dist. 4 Brent Landry, Commissioner - Dist. 5
phone: (225)
473-4247 • fax (225) 473-0630 www.donaldsonville-la.gov
18 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
several other films to his credit, but Blues is where his heart and soul exuberates from live stages around the globe. “Chris enjoys quiet time at home with his family in Prairieville when he is not on the road. Hear about his soon to be released book, Sacre’ Bleu: The Authentic Narrative of My Music and Its Culture There.” The event had to end because the lights were dim. The Rosenwald School venue has the potential to host great special events like this one, which was free of charge, in the future. But it is in need of a facelift. Museum Founder Kathé Hambrick and Director Darryl Hambrick were both on hand asking for donations and for volunteers to help finish the school building. Contact the River Road African American Museum at 225-474-5553 for more info.
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Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 19
Welcome to the City of Gonzales! Welcome to Gonzales, Louisiana, conveniently located between the capital city of Baton Rouge and the fun and originality of New Orleans. Gonzales is known as the “Jambalaya Capital of the World.” It is famous for its annual Jambalaya Festival, which was first held in 1968. Stephen “Steve” F. Juneau came up with the idea for the Jambalaya Festival and served as the first president of the Jambalaya Festival Association. Our area is home to some of the South’s most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions, many steeped in our rich history. There are no fewer than a dozen antebellum homes within a short drive, numerous restaurants all featuring original cuisine and boutique shops along with an outlet mall. So, if you’re looking for “a great escape,” or wanting to relocate, we’re sure you’ll agree when we say, “Gonzales, Nous avons tout!” --Mayor Barney Arceneaux
City of Gonzales 20 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
PHOTO BY GREG FISCHER
City of Gonzales Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 21
PHOTO BY DARIAN GRAIVSHARK
Cancer patients or caregivers walk every Thursday for health BY DARIAN GRAIVSHARK @dariangshark Studies have shown that walking outdoors helps improve blood pressure, boosts mental health, and also reduces the risk of cancer. Since November of 2017, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has hosted a walking group every Thursday for patients that are battling cancer, as well as their caregivers. The walking group is a part of a survivorship program, which began in October 2017. “The main purpose for doing the walking group is to help form connections and promote exercise,” Rachel Mumphrey, Survivorship Coordinator, said. “We’ve had people meet in these groups that end up helping one another. Petronilla Neal and Keri Champion stood by one another in support while receiving chemo and even put together a basket of things one might need while going through that treatment. Many of them have been like family.”
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One of the walkers, Rochelle Marchand, was celebrating her 70th birthday while on the walk on October 4. Marchand had uterine cancer, then cervix cancer. In December, she will have been battling it for five years. She has a great grandson, Gabriel, that is three.
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“I have to be able to keep up with him when I help take care of him. I believe that he was my blessing after I was diagnosed with cancer, because he gave me more to fight for. I want to be able to be there for him, and I hope he grows to be a godly man.”
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Marchand can’t make every walk, because she also has an auto-immune disease, but has lost 47 pounds from walking on her weight loss journey. Not all patients that attend the walk are Mary Bird patients, and Mumphrey said, “All cancer patients are welcome, wherever they may receive treatment from. As long as they are a cancer patient or a caregiver.” The walks begins at 9 a.m. at the Jambalaya Park in Gonzales and ends around 10 a.m. every Thursday. 22 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
COME SEE US! SAVE THE WAIT IN LINE
PHOTO BY GREG FISCHER
Locals provide balloon pilots landing help BY GREG FISCHER @Ascension Editor The funny thing about the hot air balloon rides is that they do not steer themselves. Some of the ride is inevitably spent on figuring out when and where to land. Things like trees, power lines, active streets, and domestic and farm animals are all things that need to be avoided when figuring out where to land. One of the coolest things about the Ascension Hot Air Balloon Festival is the annual ride that balloon pilots take early Saturday morning before the big day of the festival. But what makes it cool, other than a bunch of balloons floating in the sky over the parish is the local support. From high in the sky, balloon riders can look down over the landscape and
see friendly people waving up towards them, watching the sky, and even taking pictures. When pilot Fred Poole landed Saturday morning he was greeted with a group of five women and five boys who had followed his balloon for quite a while. They were traveling in a large van. Poole’s balloon is aptly named “Shadow” because it is black with a ring of multicolored flags on the side of it. “We thought it was the Darth Vader balloon because it was black,” one of the women said after the balloon landed. It is not uncommon for people to track the balloons and approach the pilots after they land to help them pack the balloon and take photographs. In this case, the boys took turns jumping onto the 600-pound balloon
envelope to help pack it away, after helping fold it. Poole offered the women, and the owner of the property that Shadow landed on Champagne as a custom. He told the balloonist’s prayer, “The winds have welcomed you with softness. The sun has blessed you with his warm hands. You have flown so high and so well, that God has joined you in your laughter. And he has set you gently back again into the loving arms of Mother Earth.” After this, he initiated his riders, who happened to be the editorial team from the Weekly Citizen and The Chief, by dousing them with water. To all who participated in the Ascension Parish Hot Air Balloon Festival last year, the Weekly wishes to extend a hand of gratitude for making it one of the best weeks of the year. Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 23
Welcome to the Town of Sorrento! Welcome to the Town of Sorrento, Louisiana, incorporated in 1956 as a village. In 1963, with a population over 1000, Sorrento became a Town. Today, Sorrento is a quiet town with a population of 1500. Located in Southeastern Ascension Parish, there is easy access to I-10 and US 61 (Airline Hwy.) and the Sunshine Bridge. Sorrento is a growing community with a new community center and a proposed recreation facility. We are currently in the early stages of expanding our sewer system. Sorrento is served by a progressive Volunteer Fire Department with a class 4 rating. The Sorrento Lions Club is the sponsor of the Boucherie Festival held every October. The future of Sorrento looks bright with new businesses and houses. There is easy accessibility to the Petro Chemical industry, the Mississippi River and Baton Rouge and New Orleans. --Mayor Michael Lambert
Town of Sorrento 24 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
PHOTO BY GREG FISCHER
Town of Sorrento Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 25
PHOTO BY DARIAN GRAIVSHARK
Sorrento Primary kicks off Kids Heart Challenge BY DARIAN GRAIVSHARK @dariangshark Three, two, one, challenge accepted! Children at Sorrento Primary accepted the Kids Heart Challenge to help improve their health while also raising money to help support the American Heart Association on October 8. 2018 was the 40th celebration of the challenge with AHA, and Melissa Mitchell, the Youth Market Director, said, “I challenge the students to all register so they can receive a Heart Hero wristband.” Some students received a wristband the previous year, which was lime green. This year, it is a teal color. The wristbands are a sort of memorabilia for the students. They are also given a sticker with the Ruby character on it that they can color, and then bring to life on the mobile app. 26 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
All of the kids automatically receive the Heart Hero wristband when they register. After that, they can win other prizes. For example, when they receive their first online donation, the child will earn the Finn character. Finn is a reminder to be a warrior for strong and giving hearts. Oscar reminds them to watch for hidden sodium, which is earned after raising $20 dollars. Sprinkles reminds them to be active for at least sixty minutes every day, and is rewarded to them after raising $35 dollars. There is also a character called Ruby, who encourages colorful plates, Splash, who says to avoid sugary drinks, and Fiery, who says to avoid tobacco. By accepting the Kids Heart Challenge, the children are now helping to volunteer with the AHA and are encouraged to teach others about heart health during their
journey. A fourth grader named Mack Hudson was awarded with a certificate for raising $380 dollars last year, making him the top student. According to Melissa Mitchell Sorrento Primary has raised $190 dollars since the challenge has started. Money that is raised goes towards supporting AHA. Some fun facts about the heart: Laughing reduces stress; Your heart beats 115,000 times per day on average; The heart is about the size of two baseballs, or both your hands balled into a fist. All of Sorrento Primary is participating, as well as a few other schools in the Ascension area. If your school isn’t participating, or you’d like to participate separately, you can visit http://american.heart.org/ kidsheartchallenge/.
Boucherie Festival has something for everyone BY GREG FISCHER @AscensionEditor The 37th Annual Boucherie Festival was held at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center October 12, 13 and 14. Friday night may have drawn the biggest crowd with musical performances by Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition and later on, Don Rich. The festival has grown much since its beginning in 1981. It features several big attractions for children, a pageant, a custom car show, continuous live music, and even a maritime ropethrowing competition. But the true reason for the festival, the Cracklin Cooking Contest, will always be the main draw. The Sorrento Lion’s Club puts on the festival each year. President Ray Prado said that over a ton of cracklin was produced by this year’s cooks, and all of it was packaged and sold to festival attendees. Last year’s Cracklin Champion was the team of Kobe Thacker and helper Joey Cornett. Twenty teams competed, according to participant Carter Williams. Williams was a helper for Zip Mayer’s team, a former champ who also made it to the finals with six
other teams.
bands played behind them.
“We made it to the finals with Cracklin,” Williams said. “We cooked 60 pounds-a-day, and we cooked for three days. If you won before, you can cook in the Champ of Champs. All the past champions, the best-of-the-best cook on Friday. Most people only only get to cook Saturday and if they make it to Sunday.”
“That was awesome,” Prado said. “They brought a good little crowd for them, and only a few of them were local. They had people from West Virginia, Florida--they came from all over the U.S. to come compete in that. This is our second year partnering with Kenny Brown. He loves it because he can tell participants they’re going to get some good cajun cooking when they come compete.”
The cracklin cooking competition is an all day affair. Judging is unanimous and goes off of things like size, look, and color. The Boucherie Festival includes a jambalaya cook-off as well. This year’s champion was the team of Tyler Bourque and helper Jake Avrill. The cooks stationed their big pots underneath a hangar at Lamar Dixon. A big screen TV playing the LSU football game sat at one far end on Saturday. “Twenty-five hundred bags of cracklin were packaged,” Prado said. “We had a good turnout of cooks, and people were excited.” This year’s new maritime throwing competition drew participants from all over. They competed by throwing heavy rope from the “boat” to the “dock” while people danced and
But although the Boucherie was successful, Prado said in the future he would like to see the festival move back inside the city limits of Sorrento. He spoke about opening a discussion with the Ascension Parish School Board to try to get the civic center back in operation. The building has not been in use except for storage since the flood. If not the actual building, maybe they will get the Boucherie Festival moved to the grounds outside. Lastly, the festival theme this year was to honor those in service. The official poster featured a cartoon pig in camouflage saluting the armed forces.
Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 27
Ascension Parish Public and Private Schools PUBLIC Ascension Public Schools 1100 Webster Street, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-391-7000, 225-257-2000 APPLe Digital Academy 38606 LA-22, Darrow Phone: 225-391-6850 Ascension Head Start 603 Lee Avenue, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-474-2750 Central Middle 14101 Roddy Road, Gonzales Phone: 225-621-2500 Central Primary 41469 LA-621, Gonzales Phone: 225-391-7700 Donaldsonville Primary 38210 LA-3089, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-257-2600 Donaldsonville High School 100 Tiger Drive, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-391-7900 Duplessis Primary 38101 LA-621, Gonzales Phone: 225-621-8100 Dutchtown High School 13165 LA-73, Geismar Phone: 225-391-6200
Galvez Primary 16093 Henderson Bayou Road, Prairieville Phone: 225-621-2444 G.W. Carver Primary 11310 Legacy Oaks Lane, Gonzales Phone: 225-391-6800 Gonzales Middle 1502 W. Orice Roth Road, Gonzales Phone: 225-621-2505 Gonzales Primary 521 N. Burnside Avenue, Gonzales Phone: 225-391-6700 Lake Elementary 14185 LA-431, St. Amant Phone: 225-621-2470 Lakeside Primary 16500 LA-431, Prairieville Phone: 225-391-7750 LeBlanc Special Services Center 611 N. Burnside Avenue, Gonzales Phone: 225-391-7211 Lowery Elementary B, 2389 LA-1, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-257-2500 Lowery Middle A, 2389 LA-1, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-257-7550
Spanish Lake Primary 13323 Bluff Road, Geismar Phone: 225-391-7650 St. Amant High School 12035 LA-431, St. Amant Phone: 225-391-6000 St. Amant Middle 44317 LA-429, St. Amant Phone: 225-391-6500 St. Amant Primary 44365 LA-429, St. Amant Phone: 225-391-7950 PRIVATE Ascension Catholic Elementary 618 Iberville Street, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-473-7486, 225-473-8540 Ascension Catholic High School 311 St. Vincent Street, Donaldsonville Phone: 225-473-9227 Ascension Christian High School 14408 East Academy Road, Gonzales Phone: 225-622-2800 Ascension Christian Elementary & Middle School 10473 Airline Highway, Gonzales Phone: 225-644-3110 St. Theresa Catholic School 212 E. New River Street, Gonzales Phone: 225-647-2803
Dutchtown Middle 13078 LA-73, Geismar Phone: 225-391-7800
Oak Grove Primary 17550 Old Jefferson Highway, Prairieville Phone: 225-621-2360
Dutchtown Primary 13046 LA-73, Geismar Phone: 225-621-2380
Pecan Grove Primary 1712 Pecan Grove Avenue, Gonzales Phone: 225-391-7450
East Ascension High School 612 E. Worthey Road, Gonzales Phone: 225-391-6100
Prairieville Primary School 40228 Parker Road, Prairieville Phone: 225-391-7400
Louisiana Technical College, Ascension Campus 9697 Airline Highway, Sorrento Phone: 225-675-5397
Galvez Middle 42018 LA-933, Prairieville Phone: 225-621-2424
Prairieville Middle School 16200 LA-930, Prairieville Phone: 225-621-2340
River Parishes Community College 925 W. Edenborne Parkway, Gonzales Phone: 225-743-8500
Sorrento Primary 42211 N. Park Drive, Sorrento Phone: 225-391-6900
28 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019
St. John Primary 15208 LA-73, Prairieville Phone: 225-677-8238 BUSINESS / VOCATIONAL
COURTESY PHOTO
Attendees shovel dirt to kickoff construction of the primary school.
Ascension Parish holds groundbreaking for future Bullion Primary School BY DARIAN GRAIVSHARK @dariangshark Bullion Primary School will be welcoming its new students during the Fall of 2019 into the Bear Cubs family. The groundbreaking that was originally set to take place on July 31 took place on August 14, due to the weather forecast. Despite the change of date, though, the groundbreaking was a successful one. In 2016, upgrading schools within the parish was approved, and Bullion Primary School is a part of that process. Along with Bullion, many other developments will be underway as part of this improvement. David Alexander, the Superintendent
of the Ascension Parish School Board, was the main speaker at the event and gave great insight on the significance of the up and coming school.
Elizabeth Stafford, the Director of Primary Schools, was also at the groundbreaking. She was excited to be there and to be a part of the growth taking place within Ascension.
“Bullion will be the first two-story primary school on 12 acres of property at more than 82,000 square feet,” Alexander said.
“We best serve students with a closeknit environment, which is what we plan to provide at this new primary school,” said Stafford. “The children who will be entering in the Fall of 2019 will set the standard for Bullion for years to come, and I’m excited to see where it takes us.”
This leaves plenty of room for future students to join the primary school, especially with the growth of Ascension Parish. “We know we aren’t perfect, but today’s excellence is tomorrow’s mediocrity, so we will always strive to be our best and do the best in our parish,” Alexander said.
The future Bear Cubs of Bullion Primary School will have a lot to look forward to entering this new school in Fall of 2019, and many can’t wait to see what the children have to offer.
Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019 29
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Helping to Feed A Hungry World CF Industries, one of North America’s leading manufacturer and distributor of agricultural fertilizer products, is proud to be a member of the Donaldsonville community. For over fifty years we have been warmly welcomed by our neighbors in Ascension Parish. That closeness is deeply appreciated and is one of the factors that makes conducting business here a pleasure. We are committed to honoring the friendships and partnerships we have formed through these years by developing the natural resources found here (water and natural gas) in a responsible manner. Equally important, we value the “people resources” of the area. The strong work ethic of our employees at Donaldsonville is an invaluable trait. Without it the company could not have experienced the success we enjoy today.
Maintaining goals for an exciting future in Donaldsonville We are committed to operating at the highest Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) standards, investing in the protection of employees, the community, and the environment while maintaining our position as a leading producer and supplier of high‐quality, low cost fertilizer. We personally say “Thank You” to all of our employees who contribute their skills, knowledge and time to work safely to make a quality product.
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32 Welcome to Ascension Parish 2019