ARTIST’S PAINTINGS CHRONICLING LIFE OF ‘RIVER PREACHER’ ON DISPLAY AT LIBRARY ä Page 3G
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE
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DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT • SORRENTO
THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2015 H
THEADVOCATE.COM
Hearing set for rezoning Evans property
Darlene Denstorff
BY ELLYN COUVILLION
zone approximately 106 acres of the 344-acre site on La. 44 south of Interstate 10 for a traditional GONZALES — The Gonzales neighborhood development that Planning and Zoning Commis- would put shops, homes and sion on Monday agreed to hold parks within easy walking disa public hearing next month on tance of each other. The development company zoning requests for the M.P. Evans property, set to be devel- also seeks to zone 204 acres of oped by a Lafayette-based com- the property for residential lots pany into a mixed-used commu- of 6,000 square feet. Bailey said the development nity called Conway Plantation. Prescott Bailey, with Southern company is seeking to remove Lifestyle Development of La- previous zoning of C-2 on the fayette, presented the request to property — long called the M.P.
ecouvillion@theadvocate.com
AROUND ASCENSION
DDENSTORFF@ THEADVOCATE.COM
Recycling Road Show Saturday The next Ascension Parish Recycling Road Show will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Wal-Mart, 17585 Airline Highway, Prairieville. A recycling vehicle will be stationed in the parking lot, Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez said in a news release. Don Hysell, parish environmental manager, said Recycling Road Shows will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wal-Mart in Prairieville. Future dates are May 2, July 11, Sept. 5 and Nov. 7, the release said. For information, call Hysell at (225) 450-1308, or visit www.ascensionparish. net.
Senior Prom planned
Ascension Council on Aging will host its seventh annual Senior Prom from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 22 at the Gonzales Civic Center, 219 South Irma Blvd. The entry fee will be $5 for COA participants and $10 for others 60 years and older. For information or to purchase tickets, call the Gonzales Senior Center at (225) 621-5750 or Donaldsonville at (225) 473-3789.
Beginner crochet
Looking to try a new hobby? Learn the art of crochet at the Ascension Parish Library, 500 Mississippi St., Donaldsonville. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. March 12 and will last for three Thursdays, library officials said. The beginner workshop will teach participants to crochet a decorative potholder using chain and single crochet. Materials will be provided. Registration is required. Call (225) 473-8052 and make a reservation.
Scout open house
Open house for summer resident camp will be from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at Camp Marydale, 10317 Cr232, St. Francisville. Parents can ask questions about resident camp, tour the camp’s living units, meet some of the camp staff and learn about the different camp sessions during the open house, a news release from the Girl Scouts said. Angela Arneal, program resident camp and equestrian manager at Girl Scouts Louisiana East, said Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts äSee AROUND, page 2G
Evans property after the late Merritt P. Evans, who raised cattle there for many years — which had allowed for both retail and warehouse-types of business. Bailey also said Southern Lifestyle Development is conducting a traffic study for the development and was meeting with the state Department of Transportation and Development on plans for the entryway into Conway Plantation from La. 44.
A traffic roundabout appears to be one option being considered, Bailey said. The development company also will be meeting with the Ascension Parish School Board to discuss ways to make connections from Conway Plantation to adjacent property the School Board purchased in 2011 for a new high school in the future. The public hearing for the zoning requests for Conway Plantation will be held at 6 p.m.
April 6. A public hearing also will be held that day for a request to rezone approximately 23 acres on South Burnside from a mix of retail and residential to C-2, the commercial zoning that allows for both retail and warehouse-type businesses. The property, owned by PriceCo, a company of the Price LeBlanc family, was once the hoped-for location of äSee REZONING, page 2G
Plunging into a cause
140 jump into icy cold waters to benefit Special Olympics BY VON DE LEIGH HATCHER Special to The Advocate
More than 140 people walked the plank on Saturday at Cabela’s lake in Gonzales to jump in icy waters for the eighth annual Polar Plunge for Louisiana Special Olympics. The fundraiser garnered an estimated $75,000, said Maj. Ward Webb, one of the organizers and jumpers with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. The first group of plungers hit the water about 10 a.m., after the 34 teams made up of 140 people received instructions for the day.
Advocate staff photo by HILARY SCHEINUK
äSee PLUNGE, page 4G
Members of the Galvez-Lake Volunteer Fire Department take the plunge Saturday during the annual Louisiana Special Olympics Polar Plunge.
Business leaders honor those who make a difference BY CHRISTINE MORGAN
tions to the community. “Becky Katz is certainly a paramount example of dedication, DONALDSONVILLE — Business strength, commitment and deleaders gathered at Palazzo Ber- votion,” said chamber President nardo on Feb. 25 to honor resi- Allison Hudson after presenting dents who made contributions to Katz with the award. “Having served in the capacthe community. Longtime Donaldsonville ity of executive director for 34 Chamber of Commerce Execu- years is commitment and shows tive Director Becky Katz re- her dedication to the chamber ceived the Citizen of the Year and this community,” Hudson Award, and Jordan Zeringue re- said. “Her appreciation for her ceived the Teenager of the Year work and love for the parish and Award, both given annually to this city and its citizens have Donaldsonville residents who propelled both her career and have made significant contribu- her drive to excel as a personcmarceneaux@theadvocate.com
Donaldsonville Area Chamber of Commerce 2015 President Allison Hudson, left, presents longtime Chamber Executive Director Becky Katz with the Citizen of the Year award Feb. 25 during the annual Awards Banquet at Palazzo Bernardo in Donaldsonville.
able leader.” As Katz, who retired last month from her post, learned of the honor, she cried and said she was surprised and excited to receive the award, one that has been presented annually for almost 40 years. “I feel blessed,” Katz said. “Everything I did, I did for the town, not for the awards but it feels good.” Katz said she was deeply honored she was chosen to receive the honor, especially among the äSee LEADERS, page 3G
Advocate staff photo by CHRISTINE MORGAN
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