DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, M ay 13, 2026
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Class of 2026 graduates around parish Dutchtown High was the
first public high school to graduate its senior class this year on Thursday when the Griffins’ Class of 2026 walked across the stage under the lights of the school stadium. Prairieville High graduated on Friday, and graduation ceremonies continue across the parish this week. Ascension Catholic High held its graduation ceremony Saturday. Ascension Christian’s commencement is at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Household of Faith Church. The school’s longtime superintendent Mark Pellegrin, who started the school in 2007 and is retiring, will give the keynote address.
INSIDE ä Ascension Catholic grads. Page 2G ä East Ascension grads. Page 3G ä St. Amant grads. Page 3G
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Dutchtown High graduate Autumn McCollum holds her diploma during Friday’s commencement.
Dutchtown High graduates sing the school’s alma mater during Thursday’s commencement. Dutchtown High salutatorian Andrew Morrill gestures to his mother during his address.
Dutchtown High Principal Barry Whittington, left, shakes hands with graduate Cody Dang.
A decorated cap at Dutchtown High’s Thursday night graduation
Pop Up market raises money to support veterans’ needs
It’s jambalaya time in Gonzales everyone’s trying to prove The 59th annual Jamthat their recipe is the best balaya Festival returns in the batch. With nearly May 21-24 to Lamar-Dixon 100 teams participating Expo Center in Gonzales in last year’s cook-off, the for food, cooking competicompetition continues to tion, car show, races, rides, Darlene grow, proving this festival music and arts and crafts. Denstorff isn’t just stirring the pot; The “Jambalaya Capital it’s turning up the heat.” of the World” opens its AROUND For ticket information ASCENSION doors for visitors from and a complete schedule, around the country for one visit www.jambalayafestival.net/ of the funniest festivals around. full-event-schedule. The highlight of the festival is the jambalaya cooking contests, COA breaks ground with titles offered in both big pot and small pot cooking. Things on new Wellness Center wrap up Sunday night when the World Champion title winner is Local officials and Council announced. on Aging leaders will gather at “Jambalaya cooking teams 10 a.m. May 20 to break ground from across the region will fire on a new wellness center at 37272 up their pots and compete for Enterprise Ave., Prairieville. top honors, filling the air with Council on Aging board and the unmistakable aroma of one leaders have been planning the of Louisiana’s signature comfort new Prairieville center for more foods,” a news release said. “It’s than a year. a competition where the stakes ä See AROUND, page 4G are high, the flavors are bold, and
BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
While rainstorms prevented jambalaya cooks from competing in a recent VFW jambalaya cookoff, more than a dozen vendors on May 2 greeted attendees inside during the Pop Up at the Post Spring Market. The VFW Auxiliary 3693 hosted its sixth annual Pop Up at the Post Spring Market at the post on Churchpoint Road in Gonzales. The day was originally planned PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP for the post’s annual VFW Jam. Karli Robertson, right, owner of K’s Keychains & More, along with her The event was scheduled for 27
mother, Trydi Hano, sells decorated pens, keychains, and snow globes May 2 during the VFW Pop Up at the Post Spring Market.
ä See MARKET, page 4G