Donaldsonville council introduces recording ordinance
BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer
The Donaldsonville City Council is set to significantly revise an ordinance that restricted recording public meetings, with the city’s attorney saying it should put the city “in full compliance” with state and federal laws.
Ascension Mambo rolls Saturday
The Krewe of Ascension Mambo rolls at 2 p.m. Saturday through Gonzales. This year’s theme is “Coming to Ascension.”
The parade begins on Irma Boulevard, turn onto Cornerview travel to La. 44 ending on La. 30.
The Grove Recovery Center will host Sober Gras at 202 N. Burnside Ave., Gonzales, during the Krewe of Ascension Mambo parade starting at 2 p.m. Feb. 7. Attendees are asked to bring chairs and their family The center will provide jambalaya. Veterans Freedom all set from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Gonzales Price LeBlanc PACE Center
The Board and Staff of the Microbusiness Enterprise Corporation of Ascension, event sponsor, invite everyone to attend and support veterans programming at the ball David St. Romain and Songs of Survivors will perform.
The Freedom Ball is a public recognition program fundraiser to support veteran service entrepreneurial, workforce, and economic development programs in South Louisiana. The Freedom Ball includes all the traditions and fanfare of a traditional Carnival ball and is under new management
Proceeds from the ball will be reserved to provide services that benefit the economic prosperity of veterans and to honor those who serve, have served and have given their lives to protect us all.
For sponsorship information, call (225) 445-1383. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/66p8uez9. Learn how to make shoebox Mardi Gras float
A shoebox Mardi Gras float workshop and Tiny Krewe parade is 6 p.m. Saturday at Tinker CoLab, 602 Railroad Ave. Donaldsonville.
The cost for the workshop is $35 and includes supplies.
Rodeo coming soon
The Southeast Louisiana Junior and High School Rodeo starts on Feb. 27 and continues through March 1 at the LamarDixon Center in Gonzales. Action continues at 7 p.m Feb. 28 and 9 a.m. March 1. Rodeo athletes in fifth through 12th grades from all of Louisiana will compete Admission is $10. A weekend pass is $15. Kids 5 and under are free. Jambalaya Festival is in May
The 2026 Jambalaya Festival is set for May 21-24.
Egg a home for Easter
Cara’s House Animal Shelter is “egging” houses in the Ascension area Prices range from $20 to $85 for 25 to 150 eggs. Stuffed eggs will be delivered to the requested yard after
ä See AROUND, page 2G
The City Council unanimously approved the original ordinance last year, which placed restrictions on the recording of public meetings and threatened jail time for violators. Among a list of stipulations, it required people recording meetings to provide notice to the council and banned the publication of record-
ings edited in a “form which misrepresents the manner in which the meeting was conducted or the events that occurred during the meeting.”
Shentelle Daigle, a member of the board of adjustments who has also live-streamed meetings for years sued the city in December Her lawsuit asked the court to
find the ordinance in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and alleged the ordinance was passed as retaliation for Daigle filming part of an alleged fight involving a councilman in May
At the council’s Jan. 27 meeting, the city introduced a new ordinance to modify the previous one
COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
Lions Club’s pancakes raise money for projects to help children
BY WENDY LOUP
Contributing writer
Temperatures outside were in the 20s
Sunday morning, but inside the East Ascension High School cafeteria, hot pancakes and sizzling sausage were served during the Gonzales Lions Club annual Pancake Breakfast and Jambalaya Lunch. More than 800 attendees ate breakfast while watching performances by the Center Stage Performing Arts Academy singers and dancers. The popular all-you-can-eat pancake
breakfast is the Lions Club’s biggest fundraiser of the year Raffles featuring products and gift baskets and cards are provided by local businesses.
Admission for breakfast was $15 per person and included two concessions and raffle tickets. Jambalaya was also served for $5 a plate. Children who were 5 years and younger attended for free.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds are given back to the community,” Lions
ä See PANCAKES, page 4G
Changes include removing criminal penalties for recording, dropping requirements of prior notice to the council and content regulations over published recordings. The ordinance is set to be voted on by the council Feb. 24.
Attorney Larry Bankston, who
ä See COUNCIL, page 2G
BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer
City and parish officials have yet to reach an agreement about who can use local baseball fields in Gonzales after three council members voted to reject a proposed policy for the second time in January The agreement between the Ascension Parish government and the City of Gonzales would have allowed the parish to use the city’s eight baseball and softball fields at Tee Joe Park, Municipal Park and Bergeron-Gaudin Park for parish programming. This programming includes the parish’s agreement with AP Baseball, a league with more than 1,300 registered players. AP Baseball manages both the parish and city’s recreational baseball programs. Council members Cynthia Gray James, Tyler Turner and Terri Lambert voted against the agreement.
Much of the dispute centered on whether travel baseball teams could use the fields, because the agreement permits field rentals for a fee when scheduling allows, but Ascension Parish, with the large AP Baseball program, would have power over booking fields. Travel team fees bring money into the city of Gonzales and help cover the cost of keeping the fields in good shape, according to council members. However, the agreement makes getting those games booked more difficult, said Randell Williams who spoke on behalf of travel teams at the meeting. Also part of the discussions was the fact that, last year, Gonzales signed an agreement directly with AP Baseball, which included an expense of $40,000 to help cover the cost of baseball officials. The new partnership with the parish would have eliminated the fee after the parish council approved an $80,000 payment last fall to cover the costs.
St. Amant student recounts deportation to Guatemala
BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer
An Ascension Parish high school student seeking asylum in the U.S. was detained by federal agents and deported to Guatemala two weeks ago, according to the student and people who spoke with her Maria Bolvito, a senior at St. Amant High School in St. Amant, was taken into custody on Jan. 20 when she joined her father for a routine check-in with immigration officials, those close to the teen said. Bolvito, who recently turned 18, said she did not speak with a lawyer or go before a judge. Three days later she and her father were deported.
“I felt sad,” Bolvito, who had been in the U.S. since she was about 10 years old, said in a text message to The Advocate last week from Guatemala. “I didn’t want to leave yet.”
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson could not confirm that Bolvito was deported. A spokesperson for Ascension Parish schools referred questions to
ä See STUDENT, page 2G
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Prairieville Boy Scout Troop 67 cook pancakes on Sunday during the Gonzales Lions Club annual Pancake Breakfast at East Ascension High School. From left, are Nathan Desormeaux, Kofi Adegbe and Brent Wells.
PROVIDED PHOTO FROM BRITANY MOLINA Maria Bolvito, a student at St. Amant High School in Ascension Parish, was taken into custody by immigration agents while attending a routine check-in with her father for the family’s asylum case in New Orleans last week. Both were deported to Guatemala days later
represents the city in the lawsuit, told the council that the adoption of the new ordinance will “result in nearly every aspect of the lawsuit to be mooted and therefore would be potentially subject to what would be referred to as a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss.”
Bankston filed such a motion in court Jan. 28. The document argues that all of Daigle’s claims should be dismissed because she won’t have a case once the new ordinance passes.
Daigle’s attorney Bruce Hamilton, said in a Jan. 28 statement that he and his client were encouraged by the action but said that “it’s plainly incorrect to suggest that introducing a proposed ordinance would moot our client’s claims or result in a dismissal of the case.”
“The ordinance introduced last night is only a proposal at this point, and the City still has to follow its process to make it become effective,” he wrote. “That includes giving residents a chance to comment on it and for officials to discuss it in public before the Council formally votes on it. Regardless, our client has claims (including retaliation) that
STUDENT
Continued from page 1G
law enforcement Bolvito appears to be one of only a few Louisiana students known to have been deported as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
Trump administration officials say they are enforcing the country’s immigration laws and targeting adults with criminal records living in the country illegally But some children and young people have been caught up in the sweeps.
Three Louisiana children who are U.S. citizens were allegedly deported last year along with their parents A 16-year-old boy also was deported from Louisiana last year, despite having special legal protection for immigrant youth, according to advocates. Attorneys are challenging the deportations.
Bridget Pranzatelli, a staff attorney at the National Immigration Project, which advocates for immigrants’ rights, said her group has noticed a growing number of people being detained during routine immigration appointments and quickly de-
AROUND
Continued from page 1G
9 p.m. April 4 for Easter morning If weather is bad, eggs will be left in a bucket. Orders must be submitted by
ported. She suspects that many more young people have been ensnared by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown than has been publicly reported.
“I encounter people and then they’re missing the next day,” she said. “I am sure what’s being reported is the tip of the iceberg.”
A life left behind Bolvito, who arrived in the U.S. from Guatemala as a fifth grader, said she didn’t typically accompany her father when he regularly checked in with immigration officials on his request for asylum. But she said that officials asked her father to bring her to his most recent appointment, which came just a week after her 18th birthday
A family member drove them to the meeting with immigration officials in New Orleans on Jan. 20. While waiting outside, the relative received a call from Bolvito’s father saying that the two were being taken into custody
Family friends eventually found Bolvito and her father in an online database of ICE detainees, which showed that they were being held at separate sites, the friends said. Bolvito was detained at an ICE process-
March 27. The shelter is in need of volunteers, fosters and adopters for the pets at its shelter And if you’re missing your pet, don’t forget to call the shelter to see if it has been turned over For information, visit carashouse.com.
ing center in Evangeline Parish, according to the database.
Britany Molina, Bolvito’s close friend and classmate at St. Amant High School, said she didn’t hear from her friend for a couple of days. Then Bolvito sent her a message: She and her father had been sent back to Guatemala. Bolvito, who spoke with a reporter in Spanish through the messaging service WhatsApp, confirmed that she was deported on Jan. 23. She said she was not brought before a judge or shown a deportation order She added that she and her father did not have legal representation.
Valeria Gallardo, another friend and classmate, said Bolvito’s sudden disappearance has rattled their friend group. They were scheduled to graduate together this spring, but now they must adjust to life without her “When I found out she got caught, my heart just sank and the tears started flowing,” Gallardo said. “One day I was with her, and then the next day she’s not here anymore.”
One of Bolvito’s teachers, who asked not to be named out of fear of retaliation described her as a sweet and quiet girl who had recently started to come out of her shell.
Food distributions set Ascension Parish’s commodity distribution is set for the second Tuesday of each month in Donaldsonville and the second Wednesday of the month in Gonzales. Distributions are from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Frank Sotile Jr
are completely unaffected by this proposed change.” Potential Open Meetings Law violations
The lawsuit also claimed the city had violated Louisiana Open Meetings Law because it hadn’t posted meeting minutes for board, committee and some council meetings.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, the city had failed to post council minutes since June 30, according to the lawsuit and the city website. Officials in violation of the Louisiana Open Meetings Laws face fines of up to $500 per violation, and the lawsuit asks the court to enforce such penalties. At the Jan. 27 meeting, the council introduced a second resolution requiring agendas and meeting minutes to be prepared and maintained for all meetings. No city council members spoke about the ordinance during the meeting, and Council Chair Charles Brown Sr did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday
Family nights planned to provide information on Early College Option program
Community news report
The Ascension Public Schools
Early College Option program is hosting a series of Family Nights tailored for current eighth grade students interested in exploring the ECO program for high school. These events will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 24, March 17 and April 14 at River Parishes Community College.
Early College Option is a partnership between Ascension Public Schools and RPCC, where students can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate degree for free. Any Ascension Parish student can apply, and the application deadline is April 24.
“Every single class I took here transferred directly to my program, which is awesome. I have 65 college credits from high school. It’s one of the best things I could have done,” said 2025 Early College Option graduate Javin Rodrigue.
Parents and students are en-
Pavilion in Donaldsonville and the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
All recipients must be prequalified by visiting the Ascension Parish Health Unit, 1024 E. Ascension Complex Blvd. in Gonzales, or the Donaldsonville courthouse at 300 Houmas St. Contact Layne
couraged to attend one of these informative sessions where they can learn about the program. The Family Nights aim to provide a platform for direct communication, allowing attendees to ask questions and learn more about the unique opportunities available through ECO.
The programs will be at the BASF Room, River Parishes Community College, 925 W Edenborne Parkway Gonzales.
The Family Nights will feature current students who will share their experiences and insights. For those unable to attend the Family Nights, informational pamphlets can be requested via email. Additionally, parents can reach out to the counselor at their school for further information. View a video of the program at https://youtu.be/ LXXYyoqJkEI.
For more information on Early College Option and to apply for the program, visit EarlyCollegeOption.ascensionschools.org or contact Early.College@apsb.org.
Melancon at (225) 450-1006 or layne.melancon@fmolhs.org. Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 388-0215 or (225) 603-1998; or email, ascension@ theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@ theadvocate.com. Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday.
THE ASCENSION ADVOCATE
40444 Cannon Road Gonzales, LA 70737 (225) 388-0215
Darlene T. Denstorff ddenstorff@theadvocate.com
OFFICE: (225) 388-0215 CELL: (225) 603-1998
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY Online at theadvocate.com/ baton_rouge/news/communities/ ascension/ COMMUNITY SECTION EDITOR
RIVER PARISHES WRITER Christopher Cartwright christopher.cartwright@theadvocate.com (225) 388-0125
STAFF FILE PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK
From left, Donaldsonville City Council members Michael Sullivan, Cleveland Washington, and Charles Brown listen as Mayor Leroy Sullivan speaks during a Town Hall meeting May 28 at the Lemann Memorial Center in Donaldsonville.
Info available for Alternative Certification program
Community news report
Information sessions are planned in February and March for anyone interested in applying for Ascension Public Schools’ Teach Ascension Academy
The academy is an on-thejob professional development program for aspiring new teachers in Ascension’s primary middle and high schools.
“Teach Ascension Academy offers a comprehensive pathway for aspiring
educators, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience needed to become confident and effective certified teachers,” said LaCandace Thornton, a teacher and recently awarded Teacher of the Year at Donaldsonville High School. “The support I received from TAA has been unparalleled. I’m so grateful I chose this program.”
In-person sessions for current employees: n Tuesday, Feb. 10, 3:454:30 p.m.: At Lowery Middle
School Library Session will be offered to current Ascension Parish School Board employees.
n Tuesday Feb. 24 3:454:30 p.m.: At the ITTC at Central Middle School. Session will be offered to current APSB employees. Virtual information sessions for the public:
n Tuesday, Feb 10, 6-7 p.m.: Visit meet.google. com/ktv-pdfh-twi. Open to the public.
In 2015, Ascension launched the TAA program
ASCENSION PARISH BOOKINGS
The following people were booked into the Ascension Parish Jail on Jan. 15-22:
JAN. 15
JACKSON, HOWARD MON-
TRELL: 41038 Villa Court S Gonzales; 40; state probation violation, domestic abuse battery-child endangerment, failure to appear-bench warrant
THONY: 7127 Moran Road, Gonzales; 38; three counts failure to appear-bench warrant, probation violation
WASHINGTON, ARMEASE
DENZEL: 37313 La. 74, No. 168, Geismar; 35; two counts failure to appear-bench warrant
VERDA, CHARLES JOSEPH:
5 Bubba Phillips Drive, Wiggins, Mississippi; 51; two counts failure to appearbench warrant
SCHUSTER, DERRICK: 1826
W. Worthey Road, Gonzales; 40; simple criminal damage to property less than $1,000, simple battery two counts failure to appear-bench warrant, owner to secure registration, fugitive-other Louisiana jurisdiction, resisting an officer
JAN. 16
GAMMONS HOUSTON RAY: 14303 Roddy Road, Gonzales; 32; state probation violation, fugitive-other Louisiana jurisdiction, failure to appearbench warrant, possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine), bicycles-front lamps/rear lamps/side and rear reflectors
POWELL, DYLAN MICHAEL: 41366 Glen Williams Road, Gonzales; 21; aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a firearm, telephone communications/improper language/harassment
ALLGOOD, BRANDON
MICHAEL: 13311 Chase St., Gonzales; 23; operating while intoxicated-first
ARVIE, KERRY:, 2016 Yorktowne Drive; 40; failure to appear-bench warrant, prohibited acts-drug paraphernalia, fugitive-other Louisiana jurisdiction, distribution/ possession with the Intent to distribute marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids
LEE, RONALD JOSEPH: 805 Orange St., B, Donaldsonville; 33; parole violation, theft less than $1,000
COLE, KATELYN SERRIA: 137 Dville Village Circle, Donaldsonville; 24; two counts failure to appear-bench warrant
ELPHAGE, JACOB: 1321 St. Vincent St., Donaldsonville; 22; theft less than $1,000, possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine), prohibited acts-drug paraphernalia
JAN. 17
URSIN, SHELDON D.: 317 W Manfred St. Gonzales; 34; failure to appear-bench warrant
BAKER, KELSIE L.: 11007 La. 73, Geismar; 27; stopping/ standing/or parking prohibited in specified places, operating vehicle while license is suspended, operating a vehicle while intoxicatedchild endangerment law
THOMAS, TEFARI TRELON: 3225 Victoria Drive, Baton Rouge; 31; contraband defined-certain activities regarding contraband in penal institutions prohibited, manufacture/distribution/ possession with the intent to distribute Schedule I controlled dangerous substance, probation violation
JAN. 19
BARG, ALLYSSA R.: 148 Portrush Drive, Laplace; 24; security required, possession of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles, driving on roadway laned for traffic, operating while intoxicatedfirst
DUPUY, KELSEY RENEE: 43279 Elmo Cannon Road, Gonzales; 28; contraband definedcertain activities regarding contraband in penal institutions prohibited, prohibited acts-drug paraphernalia, possession of heroin, two counts principals, illegal possession of stolen things
$5,000 to $25,000, simple criminal damage to property less than $1,000, resisting an officer
STEELE, CURRAN: 6366 Government St., Baton Rouge; 37; possession of a Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance (clonazepam), prohibited acts-drug paraphernalia, distribution/ possession with intent to distribute Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) VILLAR, PAUL J.: 17079 La. 431, Prairieville; 43; security required, proper equipment required on vehicles-display of plate, prohibited actsdrug paraphernalia, possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substance AIKENS, BRANDON CLARENCE: 40157 La. 74, Gonzales; 25; four counts failure to appear-bench warrant fugitive-other Louisiana jurisdiction, operating vehicle while license is suspended maximum speed limit GREENUP, JALEEL DESHAWN: 2361 Franklin Lane, Vacherie; 32; three counts failure to appear-bench warrant WOODS, JASON ALLEN: 312 Ray Weilland Drive, Baker; 52; parole violation, fugitiveother Louisiana jurisdiction EICKLEBERRY, BRANDON: 40152 Trace Ave., Prairieville; 32; bond revocation, simple assault, disturbing the peace/language/disorderly conduct
JAN. 20
SPRINGS, MELVIN LAMAR: address unknown; 36; domestic abuse battery-child endangerment LEE, JEANETTE MICHELLE: 405 Claiborne St., Donaldsonville; 33; two counts failure to appear-bench warrant RATCLIFF, ASHLEIGH AMANDA: 39214 La. 929, No. 2, Prairieville; 35; tampering with surveillance, accounting, inventory, or monitoring systems, simple criminal damage to property less than $1,000, theft less than $1,000 DENNIS, T’KIYA RESHAWN: 3006 Madison Ave., Baton
to recruit, train and hire teachers from alternative professions or academic programs. The two-year program includes four weeks of professional development over the summer, placement as a teacher during the school year with weekly professional development, and master, mentor, and supervising teacher support. According to the most recent Performance Profile provided by the Louisiana Department of Education, Teach Ascension is rated as
Catch
Rouge; 21; two counts theft less than $1,000, organized retail theft $1,000 to $5,000
ELHADWH-PINEDA, ISSA
GEORGE: 47021 La. 22, St. Amant; 23; failure to appearbench warrant, fugitive-other Louisiana jurisdiction
TAYLOR, TERENCE LEDALE: 17232 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge; 25; failure to appear-bench warrant
JOHNSON, ADDRICK: 39079 Venus Ave., Darrow; 20; failure to appear-bench warrant, expired motor vehicle inspection, view outward or inward through windshield or windows-obscuring prohibited, fugitive-other Louisiana jurisdiction
ADAMS, MELISSA ANN: 27001
Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans; 47; fugitive-other Louisiana jurisdiction
BELANGER, CHAD LEE: 13398
Bayou Oak St., Gonzales; 44; battery of a dating partner
ALBERT, TRAVIS R.: 1018 S Pecan Grove Ave., Gonzales; 45; failure to appear-bench warrant, false imprisonment, domestic abuse batterystrangulation
OGLESBY, BILLY AARON: 18610 S. Lake Shadow, Baton Rouge; 47; fugitive-other Louisiana jurisdiction, telephone communications/improper language/harassment, violations of protective orders
HARRIS, KATIE LEIGH: 12288 David Lessard Road, St. Amant; 39; failure to appearbench warrant
SALAMEH: 36460 S. Winding Ridge Drive, Prairieville; 54; registration-commercial vehicles/expired plate, driving on highway with two-way dedicated left turn lanes, operating while intoxicatedfirst
DUPLESSIS JR., DANA A.:, 12156 Adam Lane, Gonzales; 36; parole violation, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, illegal possession of stolen things $1,000 to $5,000, criminal trespass/ trespassing of real property
CARTER, OBRIAN JEDDRICK: 706 Seventh St., Donaldsonville; 18; illegal possession of stolen firearms, resisting an officer, criminal trespass/ trespassing of real property resisting an officer, illegal carrying of weapons, illegal possession of stolen firearms, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling
RAMOS-DESARDEN, RAUL W.: 322 E. Hamilton St., Gonzales; 57; battery of a dating partner
BATEMAN, DANIEL TROY: 13396 La. 44, Gonzales; 48; fugitive-other Louisiana jurisdiction, three counts failure to appear-bench warrant
MCCOY, LOUIS CLAYTON: 11 Bennett Road, Picayune, Mississippi; 52; theft $1,000 but less than $5,000
GAUTHIER, STACIE HEBERT: 311 Fir St., Laplace; 52; failure to appear-bench warrant
JAN. 22
LAVIGNE, LEVI JOSEPH: 43468 Sir Eddie Lane, Prairieville; 34; violations of registration provisions, failure to appearbench warrant, owner to secure registration, security required, operating vehicle while license is suspended, driving on roadway laned for traffic
a Highly Effective Program. Minimum enrollment requirements for the TAA program include: n Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution n Minimum GPA of 2.2 or higher as evidenced by an official transcript n Passing score on PRAXIS II
TAA candidates who successfully complete the interview process will go through four weeks of professional development and receive field experience during the
summer. Once completed, candidates will be evaluated to determine readiness for classroom placement in one of Ascension’s schools. Tuition for the program is $4,000, but it will be covered if the candidate completes at least two years of teaching in an Ascension Parish public school, a news release said. For more information, visit ascensionschools.org/ teachascension. Applications are accepted at ascensionschools.org/applynow
with Ascension Parish basketball
Division IV select
With about two weeks left in the regular season for the girls and three weeks for the boys, the race for district basketball titles and power rankings in the parish are heating up. Here are the rankings, district races and outlook for the playoffs.
GIRLS
In the nonselect category top 28 teams qualify and select takes the top 24 teams. Record, power ranking, district rank and key games remaining:
ST. AMANT: 12-14, No. 28, 0-1, Dutchtown (H) and Walker (A)
DUTCHTOWN: 11-14, No. 29, 0-2, St. Amant (A) and Denham Springs (A)
EAST ASCENSION: 4-13, No. 39, 0-3, St. Amant (A)
Division III nonselect
DONALDSONVILLE: 7-14, No. 25, 1-0, Berwick (H) and Patterson (A)
ASCENSION CATHOLIC: 14-7, No. 9, 2-1, East Iberville (A)
ASCENSION CHRISTIAN: 3-13, No. 25, 1-2, White Castle (H) and St. John (H)
BOYS
Division I nonselect
n ST. AMANT: 23-3, No. 7, 0-0, East Ascension (A) and Denham Springs (H) n EAST ASCENSION: 14-8, No. 17, 0-1, St. Amant (H) and Dutchtown (H) n DUTCHTOWN: 12-10, No. 28, 1-0, St Amant (H) and East Ascension (A) n PRAIRIEVILLE: 0-22, No. 41
Division III nonselect
DONALDSONVILLE: 12-5, No. 5, 1-0, Patterson (A)
Division IV nonselect
ASCENSION CHRISTIAN: 13-9, No. 8, 2-1, White Castle (H) and French Settlement (H)
ASCENSION CATHOLIC: 10-6, No. 20, 1-2, Central Private (H) and East Iberville (A)
Trevin Simon honored Ascension Catholic senior Trevin Simon attended the Warrick Dunn Awards ceremony as a finalist.
Simon has hauled in several awards in his recordbreaking season. Louisiana records include 58 rushing touchdowns and 3,994 rushing yards.
nalist.
He was the district offensive MVP and a Class A all-state offensive MVP in both the coaches and sports writers polls. He was also named Gridiron Football player of the year
Troy LeBoeuf covers sports for the Ascension Advocate. He can be reached at troyleboeuf@ hotmail.com or ascension@theadvocate. com or on Twitter @ Troyleboeuf.
PROVIDED PHOTO Senior Trevin Simon, left, attends the Warrick Dunn Awards ceremony as a fi
Also attending is his head football coach Taylor James.
PANCAKES
Continued from page 1G
Club President Toni Hardy said. “We offer support to many groups, such as the Louisiana Eye Foundation, as well as the Lions Club Camp in Leesville and others that help those with diabetes and cancer.”
The Lions Club has sponsored the pancake breakfast for more than 20 years.
One of the draws for the large attendance are the performances by Center Stage.
“We have a lot of parents and grandparents of Center Stage performers attend,” Hardy said. “Many cannot travel to performances to see their grandchildren, so this gives them the chance. This also gives the performers practice for their upcoming competition season.” Local businesses and sponsors contribute to the event each year, Lions Club Vice President Chrystal Matthews said.
“So many help us each year like the Gonzales Police Department Veron Smoked Sausage, Lamendola’s Supermarkets and CocaCola,” Matthews added.
Another community service project for the Lions Club is its Lions Den Food Collection Canned goods and other nonperishable foods were collected at the pancake breakfast for the club’s “Souper Bowl LX” project for area food banks The Lions Club also contributes to KidSight, a vision screening for preschool kids, as well as financial assistance for individuals who need eye care, eyeglasses, eye exams and eye surgeries. For more information about the Gonzales Lions Club, visit www gonzaleslions.org.
Tanger awards 2025 grants to local schools
Tanger Outlets Gonzales has announced the recipients of its 2025 TangerKids Grants. Local winners include: n Lake Elementary: Implementing Trenches to Tensions Mapping Your Way to Understanding n Lakeside Primary: Benefiting the Literacy Launch Pad Giving Every Reader a Strong Start program n Jefferson Terrace: new band instruments n Dutchtown High School: purchasing Statistics DE calculators. Through its TangerKids 2025 Grants program, Tanger is donating more than $200,000 to fund 176 grants on behalf of 37 Tanger shopping centers. These funds will be used to support schools and educational programs in local communities across the U.S. and Canada. “Tanger Gonzales remains committed to helping students succeed across our com-
BASEBALL
Continued from page 1G
Jason Adams, the CEO of AP Baseball, said after the meeting that he didn’t know how this would impact the season and why the city and parish couldn’t reach an agreement. “I’m about running a recreational baseball program and about the kids,” he said. “However, they
work it out politically, I just hope it works out for the kids.”
Proposal to split fields discussed
During the meeting, Turner and Lambert both suggested that the city contract directly with AP Baseball for the use of four fields at Tee Joe Park Lambert read her proposal before the vote, in which the city would pay up to $30,000 to AP
munity,” said Tanger Gonzales Marketing Director Jimmy Frederick. “By listening closely to local schools and educators, we’re able to support projects that respond to real, on-the-ground needs. TangerKids Grants help create inclusive, engaging learning environments and give students the resources they need to thrive — both in the classroom and beyond.” Throughout the program’s nearly 30-year history, Tanger has contributed more than $3.9 million to school-focused initiatives in the communities it serves. The annual program is eligible for public and private schools from pre-K to grade 12. Applications were open from Aug. 11-Oct. 18 and grant recipients were chosen from numerous applicants within the capital area. Tanger Gonzales will celebrated TangerKids Day on Jan. 30 with individual check presentations to the educators leading each of the selected school’s grant programs To learn more about TangerKids Grants, visit grants.tanger.com.
Baseball and that company would be able to use all eight fields between Feb. 23 and March 18. It’s unclear if such a proposal will come before the council at a future meeting. Zach Boudreaux, the president of the AP Baseball-affiliated Gonzales Diamond League, told Turner the groups could make it work if needed. “We could do that, but we will have to extend our practices and games into the weekend, which is
not ideal, but we’ll do it,” he said.
“There’s already six travel ball tournaments scheduled on Tee Joe field before this agreement is finished, so if they’re willing to cancel those then we’d have to just make sure we go down that route as well.”
Dancers with
Local businesses donate items, services and gift cards to the Gonzales Lions Club annual Pancake Breakfast raffles. Proceeds from the breakfast and raffles go to many Ascension Parish community organizations.
Dancers with the Center Stage Performing Arts Academy perform Sunday during the annual Gonzales Lions Club annual Pancake Breakfast. The event gives the academy a chance to practice for the upcoming competition season.
PHOTOS BY WENDY LOUP
Families watch Center Stage Performing Arts Academy dancers during the Gonzales Lions Club annual Pancake Breakfast & Jambalaya Lunch at East Ascension High School. More than
