Jesus rose from the dead. Its the foundation of what Christians believe. But is it really so amazing? Thats an unorthodox question, I know: but why? Why, as Christians, should we believe that Jesus Christ is God because he rose from the dead?

The fact that Christ rose from the dead isnt all that miraculous. Yes, Ive never met a resurrected guy before, but there are plenty of stories in the Bible (and outside the Bible) of people rising from the dead.

If rising from the dead is the foundation of faith, then why arent we worshiping Lazarus, after all?

If it isnt the resurrection that a Christian should base their faith on, then what? Its what came after. The part of the story that almost feels like a mere footnote; the part that some of the gospel writers didnt mention at all; and the part that doesnt even have a holiday attached to it. What is it? The Ascension.

Jesus didnt just raise from the deadhe Ascended into heaven.

But what does the Ascension mean, and why does it feel like just a footnote?

Before getting into why the Ascension is so important, its worth taking a detour to speak to the elephant in the room: Jesus ascended into heaven, so why werent people talking about it? Whats more impressive after all? A guy coming back from the dead or a guy straight up walking into the gates of heaven?

The Ascension may not be the most talked about event of the gospels, but it certainly was spoken of. Luke mentions it. So does John. And depending on where you think the Gospel of Mark ended, he did too. And lets not forget the dozens of places it is mentioned outside of the gospel.

The reason it doesnt take a more upfront role is twofold. One: it probably wasnt all that impressive. It wasnt like Jesus strapped on a pair of hover shoes and road up into the sky shooting lasers out of his eyeballs for all within a 300-mile radius to see.

The Ascension was a deeply personal event that was more for his core team of disciples to witness, and then tell the world about.

In reality, theres nothing to say he Ascended at all; the word Ascension is a reference to going to heavennot the action in which he got there. The Ascension could have been a portal opening to heaven for all we know.

And two: the resurrection was more important to the Gospel audience. In terms of the story, most new believers were most impressed by the resurrection account, and so thats what they were told.

The resurrection is important, but its nothing without the theology behind the Ascension.

So if the resurrection is what attracted new believers, but its nothing without the theology of the Ascension, then why is the Ascension so important?

We all know that Christ died for our sins; anyone whos spent an hour in Sunday school can tell you that much; but Christ went beyond that: he defeated death. He fulfills the promise to return to the Father, and he is no longer bound by Earth. Heaven is boundless. Christ can now travel anywhere and to anybodyfully accessible all the time.

But more significant than all of that is the fact that he ascended into heaven with the promise that something else would descent down on us: the Holy Spirit. With the Ascension, God is something that can manifest inside of us through the Spirit.

We dont know what the Ascension looked like, but we do know what Christ did before he left. And its moving.

He could have given his greatest sermon right before he leftand, depending on how you look at it, he did. He knew he was leaving. It was time to leave his disciples with parting words. But he didnt use words: he used an action. His final act on Earth wasnt a speech: it was a blessing. Luke 24:50 says he, lifted up his hands and blessed them.

There were words spoken. But its the action that is important to the Gospel writer. But its even more moving than that. His hands are risen in this moment. Who cares, right? Not exactly. This is a pretty small bunch. Jesus could have just as easily put his hands over themthat is what would have been expected. But instead the blessing is separated from themand even more: over them. Its as if hes not just blessing the disciples: hes giving a blessing that radiants over them to the entire world.

After the Ascension theres something else thats important. The disciples seem instantly changed. You see a change happening after the resurrection, but there still seems to be reservations and confusions.

When Jesus Ascends, the disciples get it. Luke 24:52 says that they worshipped him. Jesus isnt the teacher anymore; hes not the prophet; he is God. They are worshiping the way you worship God alone.

Jesus could have risen from the dead then Ascended into heaven instantly, giving the Holy salute to anyone there to witness it. But he stayed for 40 days. He gave his final teachings in those 40 days, and those teachings transformed the scarred and confused disciples into men of action who were prepared to go into the world.

Easter is a, no doubt, an important holiday, but when you want to dig in deep and really understand the closeness we can have with God, then look to the Ascension.

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Whats So Great About the Ascension - RELEVANT Magazine

Ascension St. John, operator of Ascension St. John Medical Center, has been involved in a pair of recent leasing transactions.

Ascension St. John has entered into a 10-year lease at the former headquarters of U.S. Beef Corp., 4923 E. 49th St., and adjacent warehouse. Ascension also has leased the 14th floor of Davis Tower, 1924 South Utica, to Professional Engineering Consultants.

At the East 49th Street location, Ascension will occupy all 33,930 square feet, primarily for its subsidiary R1, which handles various office functions. U.S. Beef became Arbys largest franchisee in the country before announcing the sale of all 368 of its restaurants to a subsidiary of Flynn Restaurant group in December 2018.

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Adwon Properties assisted both parties in that transaction.

St. John Health System merged with Ascension in 2013.

Over at Davis Tower, Professional Engineering Consultants will occupy 8,200 square feet. Nearing the completion of an extensive renovation, it is also home to Prosperity Bank, Ascension-St. John Administration, Lohrey & Associates, Don P. Quint & Associates, Sen. James Inhofe, Gates, Winden & Associates, P.C, Prescott Capital Management, Atherton Restaurant Systems Inc., Stolper Asset Management, Bluestem Escrow & Title and other local businesses.

PEC was represented by Tracy Ellis with KW Commercial. Amanda Adwon with Adwon Properties, Inc. represented Ascension-St. John.

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Two announced leases in Tulsa involve Ascension St. John - Tulsa World

GONZALESIt was easy for people to write off the East Ascension girls basketball team early in the year. Graduation took its toll after back-to-back trips to the LHSAA tournament.

A 1-5 start did not help the Spartans, either. Instead of reloading, it looked like EAHS was locked in a rebuilding season. Fast-forward six weeks and the Spartans are on the fast track.

UL-Monroe signee Sadie Williams scored eight of her 15 points in the second quarter to help power East Ascension past McKinley 47-39 in a District 5-5A game played Tuesday night at EAHS. It was the ninth win in 11 games for the Spartans.

We could have finished a lot better, EAHS coach Dennis Chandler said. We could have shot free throws better and done a better job of boxing out under the boards there at the end.

But this really is one of our better games. We had LaGrange (4A power) on the ropes right here in this gym and let them off. And we lost to Lee (defending Division II champion) at their place at the end. I liked the effort we got tonight.

"Weve got a decent little program going. A program goes from year-to-year by playing defense, rebounding and making easy shots. I thought we did those things.

Aja Causey added 13 for the Spartans (11-7, 3-0). Texas A&M signee Kenyal Perry had 15 for McKinley (12-9, 0-2), while Rutgers signee Erica Lafayette added 13.

The keys to success in this game were simple. The Spartans claimed the lead in the first half and limited chances for Perry and Lafayette. The combination of the two made it difficult for the Panthers to cut the lead below eight points.

We struggled executing the things we needed to execute, first-year McKinley coach Temeka Johnson said. Against a veteran coach and an experienced team like that you have to make sure you do everything you need to do. Tonight we did not do that. The good thing is there is always another day, another game and a chance to learn from this.

East Ascension built a 27-19 halftime lead. McKinley scored first in the third quarter to cut the Spartan lead to six. EAHS remained confident, often breaking down the McKinley defense to get an easy basket.

Williams was assigned to guard Lafayette, who has been one of her summer AAU teammates. Williams complimented her teammates on their helpside defense.

Were just trying to when games, Williams said. In the playoff rankings (power ratings) we're low and were trying to work our way up. The emphasis stays a lot on practice, which is harder than the games. Were trying to come together as a team so we can make a playoff run.

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East Ascension girls grab early lead, remain consistent in win over McKinley - The Advocate

The Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office is accepting applications from graduating high school seniors for college money from theDawn Shivers Memorial Scholarship Fund, which honors the memory of a Sheriff's Office retiree who died in May 2013 of bone cancer.

Applications are being provided to the high school counselors, and can also be obtained from the Sheriffs Office at 300 Houmas St., Donaldsonville, and 828 S. Irma Blvd., Gonzales.

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Graduating Ascension Parish seniors are also eligible for college money offered throughthe Louisiana Sheriffs Scholarship Program, with resources made available through the Louisiana Sheriffs Honorary Membership Program. Scholarships of a maximum of $500 each will be awarded to graduating high school students from each parish where the sheriff is an affiliate of the Honorary Membership Program.

Completed applications must be submitted to the sheriff of the parish of the applicants permanent Louisiana residence by April 3. Further, applicants must be eligible for admission to the school indicated on the application. The award will only be paid for attendance at institutions of higher learning within the state. Winners will be announced in May.

Applications are being provided to the high school counselors, and can also be obtained from the Sheriffs Office in Donaldsonville and Gonzales.

For information about either scholarship program, call (225) 621-8653 or email spokeswoman Allison Hudson at ahudson@ascensionsheriff.com.

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Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office is accepting scholarship applications - The Advocate

The gas leak that forced an evacuation of students at East Ascension High students in Gonzales on Thursday morning stemmed from a broken gas line -- now repaired -- that ran from the teacher's lounge to an upstairs restroom, school district officials said.

School district employees have repaired the broken pipe and are working with emergency officials to air out the building, Jackie Tisdell, public information officer said.

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After the gas leak was discovered to be isolated to a specific area, before its repair, students were moved inside the school's Freshman Academy building and cafeteria/auditorium.

Once residual odors are gone, "we anticipate resuming normal operations at the school," Tisdell said.

Tisdell thanked the Gonzales Fire Department, Gonzales Police Department and other law enforcement officials who assisted for their quick response.

Link:

Suspected gas leak at East Ascension High School forces evacuation - The Advocate

Health screenings, conversations with physicians, face painting and bouncy tents were among the activities offered Saturday at Our Lady of the Lake Ascensions annual Family Fest at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

Jon Hirsch, Our Lady of the Lake Ascensions community marketing manager, said the event is unique because we offer multiple health screenings such as EKGs, blood pressure checks, cholesterol and blood sugar tests.

This years event featured 60 booths and 35 vendors. Hirsch said an average of 1,200 people attend Family Fest annually.

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Many physicians, including ENTs and pediatricians, offered one-on-one time with attendees.

Hirsch said the Family Fests free health screenings give Ascension residents the opportunity to address health and wellness concerns without having to pay for it.

Jason Russell, from Madisonville, brought his three children to the event with his parents.

Its a great way to teach them about health at a young age, Russell said.

Tracy Wallace, a pediatrician for Our Lady of the Lake, has met with participants at Family Fest for each of the last six years.

This event is a fun thing to do on the weekend, she said. Its a fun way for local doctors to visit with people while providing activities for the children.

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Annual Ascension festival offers health information, tests with healthy dose of fun - The Advocate

GONZALESCorey Orgeron, one of six new Ascension Parish Council members, recently suggested the parish take two more months for negotiating and allowing more public input on a proposed 30-year sewer concession.

After considerable debate and public pressure last fall over the proposed deal with Ascension Sewer LLC, the consortium proposing to remake the parish's private and public sewer systems, outgoing Parish Council members deferred a vote and passed the matter to the incoming council.

GONZALES With more than 35 people speaking against a major sewer services contract, and over 100 people packing the Ascension Parish Council

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The old council also scheduled the new council to vote on Ascension Sewer's plan Thursday night.

Instead, the new council took up Orgeron on at least the first part of his proposal, deciding Thursday to wait a little longer before a vote and send the proposal back to his committee,the parish's utilities panel, for further negotiation and public input.

New Parish President Clint Cointment also delivered a presentation about the parish's Hillaryville sewer plant. He noted its existing excess capacity that could be further expanded, an existing discharge pipe to the Mississippi River and the available land that could be used to build a much larger regional treatment plant.

"From day one, the administration has been reviewing all options as relates to sewer and what options are available to control costs and keep rates low for the citizens of our parish," Cointment told the council.

He added he plans to provide more details on the opportunities for the system in a future meeting.

DARROW A new $2.1 million sewer pipeline in southeastern Ascension Parish thats sending treated wastewater over the levee and into the Miss

Under the proposed concession, Ascension Sewer would consolidate more than 19,000 parish government and private customers in Prairieville, Dutchtown and the Gonzales area that now use an array of neighborhood sewage treatment systems and tie them to a new regional sewer system in the Geismar area that would discharge into the Mississippi.

State regulators have long pushed the parish to establish a regional system that discharges into the Mississippi to lessen the environmental impact on smaller, slower flowing bayous that now receive treated wastewater.

But, under the deal, the customers would also see an immediate rate increase. Rates would start at $57.90 per month for residential customers and more for commercial customers, and the rates would increase by 4% per year for the first 10 years.

Ascension Sewer's partners include Bernhard Capital Partners and Ascension Wastewater Treatment, the largest private sewer provider in the parish.

Cointment, who had tried to negotiate what he said would be a better deal with Ascension Sewer while still president-elect and fought approval of the deal as originally proposed, repeatedly stated he plans to resume negotiations with Ascension Sewer once in office.

When asked later about Cointment's presentation on the parish-owned Hillaryville system, John Diez, who is Cointment's new chief administrative officer, said the presentation wasn't a sign the administration was pursuing a wholly parish-run system for regional sewer service.

Diez said the administration was simply taking stock of the parish's resources, in part, so it is better informed for any negotiations it undertakes. He said the parish is looking for the best possible sewer deal for parish residents.

Not long after the old Parish Council punted on the sewer deal, Bernhard Capital announced it had made a"very significant investment" in its concession partner, Ascension Wastewater Treatment. The terms of the investment were not disclosed, but it bound the two partners even closer together for the future.

GONZALES Baton Rouge private equity firm Bernhard Capital Partners has closed on a "very significant investment" in Louisiana's largest priv

In an interview earlier on Thursday, Jeff Jenkins,co-founder and partner in Bernhard Capital, said the consortium remains interested in negotiating a deal with parish government and has received interest from some Parish Council members in recent weeks but had not yet heard from the new administration.

He added the state Department of Environmental Quality has also shown some interest in the idea of Bernhard Capital and Ascension Wastewater Treatment of building their own regional system privately. He added that he is also taking Cointment at his word that the parish will resume negotiations.

One of Orgeron's concerns about making sure to continue negotiations with Ascension Sewer is that the prior council had reached an exclusive agreement to negotiate a deal with the consortium.

In a publicized electronic letter about his plan to hold off on a vote, Orgeron wrote the parish could risk litigation if it didn't continue to negotiate in good faith with the Ascension Sewer consortium.

"I appreciate that there are those in our parish government that desire we look at other options; however, any effort by the council or the administration to do so could seriously compromise the Parish," Orgeron wrote.

He reiterated that concern to Cointment, who said the administration is working on a legal opinion about the exclusive negotiation agreement.

Orgeron, in his letter, also proposes having the Utilities Committee schedule a public input meeting next month to hear the concerns of residents and then restart negotiations with Ascension Sewer ahead of final vote no later than March 19.

The council didn't get into that level of specifics Thursday, but, under an amendment from Councilman Aaron Lawler, directed in the unanimous vote that the administration take the lead in setting input meetings with the public and council.

Residents of southeastern East Baton Rouge and in the Zachary area at risk of higher sewer bills under a proposed consolidation of Ascension P

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Ascension Council takes another pause to vet, negotiate major sewer deal - The Advocate

SuperyachtNews spoke to Clare Brook, CEO of the Blue Marine Foundation, an organisation that focuses on conserving the worlds oceans, about the support it has received over the years from Peter Lrssen.

Lrssen has been a key donor for the foundation for several years and recently has, in collaboration with Blue Marine Foundation, invested in a project to protect a huge area of British territories water.

Operating from a single room in Somerset House, Blue Marine Foundation has grown from a team of six people, to 16 in its London office and 14 worldwide.

Peters support has been completely invaluable, says Brook. In the past few years he has helped fund our core costs. Often in NGOs, people give money for specific projects but no one actually pays for you to keep the lights on.

He has also supported our marketing and communications, without which we would have been unable to produce our end of year review, she continues.

Most recently, Lrssen has agreed to donate 2 million towards an endowment fund to protect Ascension Island. Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, the British overseas territory measures only 10km across and boasts a population of just 700 people. What is most interesting however is the 441,000 square kilometres of surrounding ocean that belongs to Ascension, which is a part of Britains ocean estate. To put that size into context, it is an area bigger than Germany, adds Brook.

The area is home to an unusual amount of biodiversity thanks to the undersea volcano, the bed is extremely nutrient rich and therefore attracts huge sharks, swordfish and sailfish. It is also the second largest nesting sight for green turtles in the Atlantic.

Image courtesy of Simon Vacher.

However, the level of biodiversity also makes the area vulnerable. The large amount of tuna attracts a lot of fishing vessels using huge lines with thousands of baited hooks to catch as many as possible, but also lots of other creatures and rare species in the meantime. The by-catch list read like an episode of Blue Planet!

The Blue Marine Foundation persuaded the British government to close half of Ascensions waters to long line fishing vessels but the other half was still left open. Local islanders wanted to see 100% of their waters protected but they couldnt afford to give up the income from the sale of their fishing licences to Taiwanese and Japanese vessels that pay to fish in those waters.

While a licence would typically cost around 20,000 for an entire fishing season, this is only a singular stream of income for the Ascension Islands government, but takes away millions of pounds worth of fish. This is why it was decided an endowment fund was a better option to protect the surrounding waters without penalising the islanders.

Peters support has been completely invaluable"

We calculated an endowment fund of 2million with a 5% yield, giving the islanders around 100,000 a year. Additionally we managed to ensure that the British government pays for the monitoring and enforcement of this area there is currently a satellite and a patrol vessel to ensure no ships enter the area.

The protection of 100% of Ascension Islands waters takes the total amount of British waters protected to 32%. Protection of 30% of of the ocean is the new gold standard, this happening in the Ascension Islands and is very much down to Peter Lrssen.

Brook agrees that sustainable efforts such as this need to come from the top down. You need governments and you need business, she says. We decided to inform the British government about Peters offer of 2million. At a time when many nations are becoming more insular, the story of a German businessman willing to personally protect a British overseas territory sets such a brilliant precedent and gives the locals of Ascension such a wonderful sense of significance. Sustainability has to work for people as well as nature.

Lrssen and the Blue Marine Foundation are currently in the process of setting up a separate charitable trust in the UK for the endowment fund, which should be ready by the end of the year.

When faced with a barrage of media rhetoric on tense political discourse, a story that outlines a gesture of extreme generosity from one individual towards a nation that isnt his own is refreshing to hear. Peter Lrssens gesture is a shining example of how one influential individual can make a significant difference and should hopefully provide inspiration to other members of the superyacht industry to follow suit.

You can read an exclusive interview with Peter Lrssen on this topic, and the industrys environmental imperative, in our anniversary 200th edition, The Superyacht Sustainability Report.

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PRAIRIEVILLE - The railroad crossing at La. 73 near Airline Highway will likely be closed until Thursday afternoon and drivers should expect evening and morning delays in Ascension Parish.

The railroad company is doing work on its tracks and requires the highway be closed. DOTD has been alerting drivers of the ongoing progress.

Originally scheduled to be open by 5 p.m. Wednesday, a mechanical issue at the worksite delayed the crossing being open until Thursday at 2 p.m.

DOTD posted this warning:

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 starting at 7:00 a.m., LA 73 (Old Jefferson Highway) near its intersection with US 61 (Airline Highway.) in Ascension Parish will be closed. This road closure is scheduled to take place until 5:00 p.m.onThursday, January 23, 2020and is necessary to allow KCS Railroad to perform maintenance on its tracks.

Plan for delays. Click HERE for a live traffic map from WBRZ.

The railroad closure caused chaotic traffic congestion in parts of Ascension Wednesday morning.

Other Wednesday closures included Highway 74, New River Street and Ascension Street.

Additionally, the city of Baton Rouge announced two different spots on College Drive and Pecue Lane will be closed for roadwork from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

A full list of closures to expect from Jan. 20 to Jan. 25 are listed below:

-January 21- Post Office Road and Duplessis Road

-January 22- Highway 73, Highway 74, New River Street, and Ascension Street

-January 23- Coolidge Ave., Felix Ave., and Purpera Road

-January 24- Highway 30, Railroad Street (Sorrento)

-January 25- Highway 621, College Drive @ Perkins, Pecue Lane @ Perkins

Most of these closures are expected to last from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., each day and are necessary to allow KCS Railroad to perform maintenance on its tracks.

Closures of crossings in East Baton Rouge are expected in the future but those have not been scheduled, a railway spokesperson told WBRZ.

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More railroad and highway closures in Ascension Parish Friday - WBRZ

Ascension Catholic held the lead the rest of the way, eventually claiming a 77-60 win over the Eagles.

After battling to a 30-30 tie at halftime, Ascension Catholic came out of the locker room determined in the second half Tuesday night at St. John.

Ascension Catholic's J'Mond Tapp snagged a steal, then coasted for a wide-open dunk to open the scoring in the third quarter. He then followed with a three-point play, giving the Bulldogs the spark they needed.

Ascension Catholic held the lead the rest of the way, eventually claiming a 77-60 win over the Eagles.

Bulldogs head coach Kylon Green said his team came out flat, but was able to gel after the half.

"We had two emotional games back to back," he said. "They were kind of on a high horse after the Donaldsonville game. Coming back, we're in another heated rivalry in a hostile environment. We showed our youth at times, but we were able to turn it on in the second half."

Eagles head coach Franky Hebert said his team gave the visiting Bulldogs a window of opportunity to separate themselves.

"I thought we started out really well," he said. "I thought we were executing the game plan well. We kind of became a little too relaxed defensively toward the end of the first quarter and into the second. As soon as we picked it up, we went into halftime tied. Defensively, we kind of lost it for a two-minute period in the third. Against a good program, a good team like that, you can't lose it for two minutes."

St. John led through the first quarter. Connor Barbee, who led the Eagles with 22 points, hit two 3-pointers in the first. His second shot fell at the buzzer from beyond half court.

In the second quarter, Ascension Catholic's Demarco Harry, who finished with a game-high 28 points, began to heat up. He opened the second with a 3-pointer, then gave the Bulldogs their first lead by completing a three-point play.

The Eagles took back the lead later in the second, and went to the break tied after a pair of free throws by Galvin Martin.

The Bulldogs built their lead through the third quarter. Dorian Barber, who finished with 13 points, hit three of his four 3-pointers in the third. Jack Abadie also contributed a 3-pointer during the quarter. At the buzzer, Demarco Harry tacked on a three, giving the Bulldogs a 56-43 lead going into the fourth.

The final quarter started with more of the same as Barber sank a three, prompting a timeout.

Demontray Harry, who finished with 12 points, followed by adding three free throws after getting fouled while attempting a three.

The Eagles hit four 3-pointers of their own in the fourth quarter, as they tried to battle back into the game.

Ascension Catholic's Khai Prean scored ten points for the Bulldogs, while Tapp finished with nine. Abadie recorded five.

"We had a lot of depth tonight," Green said. We practice hard. I was happy to see some aggressiveness on defense from guys who came off the bench. They came in and took some shots we like them to take. We always have faith in those guys making those shots."

Martin finished with 15 for St. John. Chris Holmes scored ten, while Cobie Lockett had six. Jacob Schlatre added four, Isaiah Jones two, and Joseph Schlatre one.

"We're playing hard right now," Hebert said. "I think we're finally putting the pieces together. Last year I think we peaked kind of early. This year, I think we're peaking at the right time. I know this game doesn't show it, but we're playing better as a team. We're coming together, and I think this is the right time to do it."

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Second half surge lifts Ascension Catholic over St. John - Weekly Citizen

ST AMANT, La. (WVLA/WGMB) An elementary school about 40 minutes from Baton Rouge is closed on Tuesday after a fire damaged one classroom.

That classroom in Lake Elementary School is considered a total loss.

Parents from the school received this message from the principal:

Dear Lake Lions,

This evening, there was a fire at Lake Elementary School that was contained to one classroom. The cause is not yet determined, but we are very fortunate that early assessments indicate only Classroom 119 in the fifth grade hall was impacted.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are going to cancel school at Lake Elementary School on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. Students and staff attending the BETA Convention tomorrow can still depart from the Lake Elementary parking lot. There will be no access to the building.

We are expecting to resume normal operations on Wednesday, but a final decision will be made after a thorough assessment is completed.

Special thank you to the St. Amant Volunteer Fire Department for their quick response and actions to protect our campus.

Sincerely,

Jeremy MusePrincipal

Ascension Schools provided an update on whether classes will resume on Wednesday at Lake Elementary.

We are expecting to resume normal operations on Wed., but a final decision will be made after a thorough assessment is completed.

Special thank you to the St. Amant Volunteer Fire Department for their quick response & actions to protect our campus.

Jeremy MusePrincipal (3/3)

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School in Ascension Parish closed on Tuesday out of an abundance of caution - BRProud.com

Deanna Watson, Wichita Falls Times Record News Published 6:26 a.m. CT Jan. 25, 2020

According to tradition, Jesus went "up" to heaven which may not be up, exactly, as much as it's beyond and what he went there to do was to finish what he had begun with us here on earth.

The Very Rev. John D. Payne: By ascending bodily into heaven, Christ showed us that our human nature is good, not bad.(Photo: Contributed)

It was not enough that through Jesus God was born into the body of this world; that was just his Christmas gift to us. His ascension gift was that through him the body of the world was borne back to God.

By presenting his own crucified, risen body to be seated at the right hand of God, Jesus imported human nature into those holy precincts for the first time. He paved the way for us, so that when we arrive there later everyone will not be quite so shocked by us.

The ascended Christ restored the goodness of creation, and ours in particular. By ascending bodily into heaven, he showed us that our human nature is good, not bad; that it's good enough for Jesus, good enough for heaven, good enough for God. By putting on human nature and keeping it on through the resurrection, Jesus has not only brought God to us; he has also brought us to God!

There is another way to look at Acts 1:1-11. The ascension of Christ is the day the present Lord became absent, which may be one reason why Ascension Day is the most neglected feast. Who wants to celebrate being left behind? Who wants to mark the day that Jesus went out of this world, never to be seen again?

This may be, however, the one compelling reason why we do go to church. Because we have sensed God's absence in that hollow, empty place in our hearts and because this thing has not discouraged us from coming. We come to seek the presence we have been missing.

Absence is an entirely underrated thing. Absence is not nothing, after all. something: a heightened awareness, a sharpened appetite, a finer perception. When someone important to me is absent from me, I become clearer than ever what that person means to me. Details that get lost in our togetherness are recalled in our apartness, and their sudden clarity has the power to pry my heart open.

There's something else that happens during an absence. If the relationship is strong and true, the absent one has a way of becoming present. There can be no sense of absence where there has been no sense of presence. You can't miss what you have never known, which makes our sense of God's absence the very best proof that we knew God once, and that we may know him again. It is our sense of God's absence, after all, that brings us to church in search of God's presence.

The angels in the ascension story remind Jesus' friends that if they want to see him again, it's no use looking up. Better that they should look around, at each other, at the world, at ordinary people in their ordinary lives, because this is where they are most likely to find him.

We also hear the angels' admonishment to stop looking up and to start looking around. Don't feast your eyes on some romanticized version of the church in the past, or on some idealized vision of a perfect church in the future.

What we must do is look around us at the church as it is, a company of saints and sinners who hold out empty cups to be filled with bread, with wine, with the abiding presence of the absent Lord.

The Very Rev. John D. Payne is the Rector Emeritus of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Wichita Falls.

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Going to church fills an empty place in our hearts - Times Record News

The US Air Force Installation Contracting Agency has awarded a contract to Fluor to repair the Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield runway.

The task order contract is worth about $170m and was awarded to the companys Fluor AMEC II entity under the Air Force Contract Augmentation Program IV (AFCAP IV).

Fluor said that the cost-plus, fixed-fee task order will run for up to 28 months.

Fluor Government Group president Tom DAgostino said: We are honoured to be selected to support the airforce and to be a part of its global mission.

Ascension Auxiliary Airfield is in a strategic location and the runway is the lifeline to the island. Fluor excels at projects like this where it delivers timely and cost-effective solutions in some of the most remote and difficult locations in the world.

Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island and is located south of the equator in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The island is part of the British Overseas Territory of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha under the sovereignty of the British Crown.

The US Air Force established AFCAP to fulfil the Department of Defenses global mission during contingency events.

It provides additional capabilities to the airforce and other government agencies to offer support to the logistic requirements of its deployed forces through the use of civilian contractors.

In July 2015, Fluor and its joint venture partner AMEC Foster Wheeler were awarded a position by the Air Force Installation Contracting Agency on the AFCAP IV for six years.

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Fluor wins contract to repair Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield runway - Airforce Technology

Trends come and trends go and the medical field is no exception. As we start a new year, many health providers expect technology will play a larger role in healthcare throughout 2020 and the next decade.

A big reason for this is the amount of technology-driven tools that put patient care in their own hands. Devices like Fitbit, Apple Watch and Garmin watches can help with numerous health tasks from tracking your blood pressure and monitoring your heart rate to measuring your sleep quality and counting the number of calories in your meals.

Jason Whateley, D.O., physician, Ascension Medical Group has noticed how more patients are wearing technology gadgets as they engage in healthy activities. This allows them to see their progress and track results, making it easier for them to stay focused on achieving their goals, he said.

Wearable technology was number one under the American College of Sports Medicine Worldwide survey of fitness trends for 2020, he said in an email. The convenience and ease of these devices is what attracts patients.

However, while these devices have made great strides in patients health, Whateley explained that they still have their limitations.

Patients need to realize results they are obtaining from these devices are much more limited compared to what a complete diagnostic test can provide. Working with a health care provider fills in the gaps that these home gadgets and applications are lacking, he said.

Beyond exercise-specific technology, people need to be aware of the role technology plays in their everyday lives, said Dr. Kurtis Kieleszewski, family medicine physicians, McLaren Macomb.

Technology in general has a detrimental impact on many of American's health because by being plugged in and staring at a screen, we're likely less active and engaging with one another less and less, he said.

Technology can also change the way patients interact with medical providers. Ascension Online Care is designed for patients in need of after-hours care. This service is much like a virtual urgent care clinic where patients receive one-on-one care using their smartphone, tablet or laptop to video chat with a physician who reviews their symptoms and provides the care they need in real time. A summary of their visit is also sent to their Ascension primary care doctor.

So as they track their progress, what activities are people choosing to participate in? There is definitely a trend toward High intensity interval training (HIIT), which is now listed second under the American College of Sports Medicine Worldwide survey of fitness trends for 2020, said Whateley.

These programs focus on short bursts of high-intensity exercise followed by a short rest period. The big appeal of these exercises is that they can be done at home with little or no equipment, he said.

Kieleszewski said he encourages his patients to move most days of the week.

However they can fit that in their busy schedules and whichever method(s) fit their budget, he said in an email. A blend of cardiovascular and resistance training is usually ideal for everyone to optimize their physical and mental health.

Despite the popularity of home gyms, dont expect joining a gym to fall out of favor. Whateley said those looking for access to more equipment, group sessions and strength training will continue their gym memberships.

For years, those struggling with mental health issues have faced an unwelcome stigma and an uphill road. New trends show that attitudes toward mental health continue to evolve, making it easier for people to seek out care if they need it.

Hopefully all matters relating to mental health will be valued and emphasized as they rightfully should be, said Kieleszewski.

He said the delay in patients seeking assistance and the sometimes limited resources for mental health patients to be evaluated and treated by specialists are challenges for many.

Mental health affects every facet of our daily lives and we as a society need to be more compassionate to those it affects, said Whateley. I believe this trend will continue to be a major focus in 2020 along with aiding those with addiction.

Failing to get a good nights rest may be depriving you of more than you think.

Not getting enough sleep has been attributed not only to our mood and focus but also to many chronic conditions such as diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease, said Whateley. As physicians we place a lot of focus on preventive medicine. Improving your sleep quality can aid in avoiding these diseases.

He shared these strategies from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that can help you improve the quality of your sleep starting tonight:

Be consistent. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, including on weekends

Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing and at a comfortable temperature

Remove electronic devices, such as TVs, computers and smartphones, from the bedroom

Avoid large meals, caffeine and alcohol before bedtime

Get some exercise. Being physically active during the day can help you fall asleep more easily at night

Consult your health care provider to rule out other underlying diseases that may be affecting your sleep

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Professionals share a roundup of what they expect to be 2020's top health trends - The Oakland Press

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Ascension Episcopal's Matt Remondet named Male Athlete of the Week.

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Lafayette Daily Advertiser Published 7:00 a.m. CT Jan. 23, 2020

Matt Remondet(Photo: Submitted Photo)

Ascension Episcopal split their two district games last week, with a loss to Delcambre and a win against Houma Christian.

In both of those games, one player who turned in consistent performances was Matt Remondet. Remondet a junior, scored 25 points and pulled in seven rebounds against Delcambreand finished with 15 points and nine rebounds against Houma Christian.

For his efforts Remondet has been named the Male Athlete of the Week.

After a successful sophomore season that saw him lead the Blue Gators in scoring and rebounding at 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game en route to garnering All-District honorable mention honors,Remondet has picked up right where he left off last season.

This year, Remondet is on par with what he did a year ago, averaging 14.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for a Blue Gators team that is 12-10 overall.

Remondet, who was an All-District football player at tight end, has a 3.7 GPA.

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Ascension Episcopal's Matt Remondet named Male Athlete of the Week - Daily Advertiser

AUSTIN (KXAN) An Austin man knew something was wrong when he fainted in the middle of a soccer game last year.

Hed been dealing with awful headaches and feeling off, but his tumble during soccer prompted him to check it out.

An MRI revealed the surprise culprit a tapeworm in his brain.

The man whose name hasnt been released was shocked.

Dr. Jordan Amadio, neurosurgeon at Ascension Seton, said the mans case was rare and truly extraordinary.

After a complex surgery, the man no longer has headaches and is back at work and feeling normal.

While he doesnt know where the tapeworm may have been contracted, he says he thinks it may have been the result of eating pork in Mexico.

Interestingly, a tapeworm had also been found in his sisters brain years earlier.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,the official term for a tapeworm infection is Taeniasis. The CDC says,Humans can become infected with these tapeworms by eating raw or undercooked beef or pork. People with taeniasis may not know they have a tapeworm infection because symptoms are usually mild or nonexistent.

If you believe you may have a tapeworm infection,the Mayo Clinic recommendsvisiting your doctor for various testing.

The Mayo Clinic says some infected people never even need treatment, and the tapeworm leaves the body on its own. Common treatments for ordinary cases include oral medication. Treatment for more invasive infections includes corticosteroid treatment and surgery.

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Tapeworm removed from Texas mans brain after months of headaches - Q13 News Seattle

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Detroit police said the incident happened due to a psychiatric patient at the hospital attempting to leave.

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Patients and staff at ahospital on Detroit's east sidebriefly thought they were in danger Friday afternoon after someone made shooting and bomb threats.

A psychiatric patient attempting to leave Ascension St. John called the Detroit police and made the threat against the hospital, according to authorities.

Police said the hospital was on lockdown, but was unsure for how long, or the exact time of when the call was made.

An investigation is ongoing.

More: Warren De La Salle lockdown lifted after bomb threat 'not deemed credible'

More: Richmond school district shuts down in ransomware cyberattack

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Lockdown lifted at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit after threats - Detroit Free Press

Workshop open to Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce members only

Friday, January 03, 2020 7:46 a.m. EST by Jim Measel

COLDWATER - (WTVB) - The Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce and Ascension Michigan at Work will be hosting a workshop for Chamber members only next Thursday, January ninth that shows the importance of wellness in the workplace.

The workshop at the Chamber office on South Division starts at 12:00 noon and space is limited to 16 registrants.

The workshop is designed to show how creating a positive company culture focused on well being can create cohesiveness in a company.

There are still a few spots left. Chamber members can register on line at http://www.coldwaterchamber.com.

Jim Measel

Jim Measel is a Detroit native and a proud 1975 Redford Thurston High School graduate. He first came to WTVB in 1991 and has nearly 40 years of broadcasting experience in news and sports. Besides covering local high school sports, Jim has also covered Western Michigan University basketball and hockey as well as Hillsdale College football games. Some professional stops include working at radio stations in Indiana, Charlotte and Lansing as well as the Michigan Radio Network. He has also earned Associated Press awards for news coverage and sports play-by-play. Jim's favorite career highlights include interviewing such figures as Gordie Howe, Sparky Anderson, Tom Izzo, Bo Schembechler, Isiah Thomas, Vice-President Mike Pence, Lee Greenwood and Regis Philbin. When he is not working, Jim enjoys watching the Chicago Cubs and can rest in peace as they won the World Series. He also hopes the Lions will be able to get a chance to win a superbowl.

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BUSINESS BEAT: Chamber and Ascension Michigan hosting wellness workshop - WTVB News

Baton Rouge-based private equity firm Bernhard Capital Partners announced today it is making a major investment in Ascension Wastewater Treatment, the largest private provider of sewer services in that parish, with more than 16,000 households.

The firm declines to say how much it is investing in the company, but BCP principal Jeff Jenkins describes the deal as a significant investment a partnership.

The announcement comes as BCPs plans to partner with Ascension Parish on the development of a new parishwide sewer system are up in the air.

On Dec. 20, the Ascension Parish Council voted to defer until at least late January a vote on a 30-year contract with a BCP-created company, Ascension Sewer, that planned to invest some $225 million developing a new parishwide system. The dealwhich would be done in partnership with Ascension Wastewater Treatmentwould effectively consolidate the splintered wastewater treatment delivery systems that have proved problematic for the rapidly growing Ascension.

BCP worked with the outgoing parish administration on the deal for a year and pushed it as a way to not only upgrade the aging system but address looming environmental issues that could ultimately force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to get involved.

But members of the incoming parish administration and council began questioning the terms of the deal, which they say lacked key specifics and stood to benefit Ascension Sewer at the expense of parish ratepayers. If approved, residential ratepayers would see their monthly sewer bill increase nearly $60, while commercial customers would see an even bigger rate increase.

Jenkins says the deal with the parish is not dead and BCP is optimistic it will ultimately go forward. But he acknowledges that if the new administration chooses to renegotiate the terms of the deal, it may no longer make sense for the BCP investors who are behind Ascension Sewer.

In the meantime, the firms investment in Ascension Wastewater Treatment, which Jenkins says would have happened under the deal with the parish anyway, makes sense for BCP.

We are focused on building more investments in municipal-type regulated utilities, he says. We like the regulated utility business.

While that may be, BCP has had trouble getting established in the utilities sector. In late 2018, Lafayette rejected a deal that would have given a BCP-owned company management of the Lafayette Utility System.

Though the Ascension and Lafayette deals hit snags for very different reasons, both underscore the challenges the private equity firm continues to face as it attempts to move into the space.

Jenkins acknowledges the deals are complex and take a lot of work and effort to put together. But he believes the country is at a tipping point, where more private-sector partners will be needed to invest in aging utility infrastructure.

Communities need capital but people dont want to raise taxes and the feds are not going to have an infrastructure bill, he says. So we think there is going to be a lot of opportunity to do these types of projects.

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Bernhard Capital investing in Ascension sewer company - Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

Dont take too seriously any speculations about what the next decade will hold. Be ready for another wave of astounding, unforeseen events. Who in 2000 could have foreseen 9/11 or the economic crisis of 2008? Or the election of our first African-American president? Who in 2010 could have predicted the rise of political populism and the ascension of Donald Trump, Brexit or the aggressive foreign policies of China and Russia? Or the general breakdown in recent years of the post-WWII order that led to the avoidance of another global conflict and created conditions for the stunning rise in global living standards? (Over 1 billion people have emerged from dire poverty in the new millennium; thats 137,000 people a day.) Or that billions of people would possess handheld devices that are virtually supercomputers? Or that Hong Kong would be rocked by pro-democracy demonstrations for months on end, which could, in the goodness of time, have profound repercussions in China itself?

Nonetheless, despite the futures impenetrable fog, the itch to predict is irresistible. So here goes, in a few categories.

Healthcare will experience enormous Uber/Lyft-like upheavals, providing entrepreneurs with an astounding array of opportunities. The fundamental problem in this immense sector is the lack of free markets. The system has been dominated by third partiesinsurers, government and employers. In what other industry, for instance, would government feel compelled, as the Trump administration has begun to do, to require providers to post prices?!?

The prime propellant for radical change is the rapid rise of high-deductible company insurance plans. The amounts of money people are paying out-of-pocket for medical expenses is fast approaching the size of the U.S. travel industry. Services providing price comparisons for various tests and procedures are coming, big-time. So are metrics that will enable patients to compare outcomes at various clinics and hospitals. Free markets will do what governments have never been able to do with their top-down, regulatory initiatives: provide more and better healthcare at less cost.

Previously, there was no competitive advantage in adopting innovations such as telemedicine, electronic records and warranties for procedures. This burgeoning consumerism will also lead to faster adoption of breakthroughs. Such market-oriented pressures will see most general hospitals evolve into specialized treatment centers or disappear altogether. The political fallout from this will be immense.

In addition, expect big breakthroughs in cures (especially for Alzheimers), in cheap, personal and convenient delivery systems and in sweeping changes in how pharmaceuticals are manufactured.

Current thinking about tax and monetary policies will be obliterated. No sane person would posit that constantly changing weights and measures, such as the number of inches in a foot, the number of minutes in an hour, the number of ounces in a pound or the size of a gallon would stimulate the marketplace. Yet thats exactly what central banks do with money, which is supposed to measure value. Unstable currencies hinder progress, because they inhibit investment, the key to higher standards of living; instability makes people concerned about preserving what they have, so they put their money into hard assets like gold, silver, land or houseswhich is exactly what happened during the run up to 2008, after the U.S. deliberately weakened the dollar.

Heres a prediction no one else will make: By 2030 countries will be adopting the gold standard, the method for monetary soundness that has worked for 4,000 years.

Another economic idiocy that will go by the boards is the idea that taxes dont much effect economic performance. Taxes are a price and burden. A light burden lets commerce flourish.

As unlikely as it may seem with every candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination advocating higher levies on more and more things and activities, a growing number of governments in coming years will move in the opposite direction, reducing tax rates to generate growth and, yes, more revenue.

The Magic Formula, a recent book by Forbes.com contributor Nathan Lewis, demonstrates conclusively that throughout recorded history economies that have low tax regimes and sound currencies end up doing better than those that dontalways. This book will become the bible for a new generation of policymakers.

The way governments engage in regulation will dramatically change. Since the 1960s, the U.S. has experienced an unrelenting tsunami of rules spurred by the spurious notion that precise rules can be written to cover every conceivable contingency in life, thereby removing imperfect human judgment. The result has been a diminution, especially in government, of responsibility for actually getting things done.

Watch for this regime of suffocating rules to be replaced by one of simple principles or goals. It will be up to those affected to find the best ways to achieve a given task. If the results are found to be lacking, those in charge will suffer the consequences. No crying, But we followed the rules! Australia, for example, replaced hundreds of pages of nursing home regulations with a few pages of principles, and the outcome was excellent.

Expect dramatic changes in higher education, galvanized by the scandalous explosion in student debt. Unending increases in college sticker prices will cease, as people focus on the bloating of higher-ed bureaucracies and as institutions are forced to share some of the liability for loans to their students. This will help deal with another scandal: the pitiful graduation rate of students, even within six years. Purdue, under its president, Mitch Daniels, is a pioneer here: The total cost for a student at Purdue today is lower than it was in 2013, when Daniels took office.

Young people will feel less pressure to go to college after high school and instead will pursue good-paying jobs where shortages exist. The presence of online courses will enable them to pursue additional education when they want to.

Of course, there will be crises and challenges.

There will be plenty of issues to roil American politics. These will include things before us today, such as climate policies, identity politics, campus free speech, and coming to grips with how to better mainstream the growing numbers of released prisoners. The 2020 elections, despite a rather uninspiring beginning, will see the start of a profound debate about what kind of country we are to become. This isnt unprecedented. Weve had such soul of America events in the 1850s, the 1890s, the 1930s and, to a lesser extent, the 1970s.

Current concerns over privacy will pale in comparison to the worries coming as we realize the implications of the rise of the surveillance state. In China soon a persons every move in every place every day will be recorded and preserved forever. In freer countries people will still experience the increased recording of their everyday moves. A ripe market will arise for devices that can disrupt ubiquitous nano-cameras.

The world will watch to see if India, a diverse and multicultural state if there ever was one, can hold together in the face of rising Hindu nationalism. If this goes wrong, the ramifications will have international repercussions.

Drug lords will control a growing portion of Mexico unless we find grassroots ways to lessen drug use here in the U.S.

Despite growing use of windmills and solar energy, global consumption of fossil fuels will expand enormously as China, India and other developing countries see car and truck unit sales mushroom by the tens of millions. Electricity will still be generated predominantly by fossil fuelsunless massive high-tech breakthroughs arise. Which, in this ever-unpredictable world, cannot be ruled out.

Bottom line: Such crystal-balling will be quickly outdated by actual events.

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Whatll Happen In The Next Decade? Here Are 9 Predictions For The 2020s - Forbes