Daily Archives: July 20, 2017

Camp kids get their closeup

United Methodist Church of Gonzales will show Camp Cool Kids, a movie that included children at Camp Istrouma as extras, at 6 p.m. Saturday in the churchs Celebration Center. The public is welcome to attend.

Ascension Parish Library is wrapping up its summer reading programs as the new school year approaches.

Construction zone parties to celebrate the programs' end will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Galvez, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Donaldsonville and 6 p.m. July 27 in Dutchtown. Children of all ages are invited.

A space exploration program for children of all ages begins at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Galvez. Learn how and why planets orbit the sun, and create a solar system model.

Teen summer reading ends with a Harry Potter-themed Yule Ball at 6 p.m. Monday in Gonzales and 4 p.m. Wednesday in Dutchtown. Activities include being sorted into Hogwarts houses, wand making, snitch decorating and dancing. Chocolate frogs and nonalcoholic butterbeer will be served. Wizardly and formal attire is welcome.

A chance for teens to showcase their talents begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Dutchtown. Those entering grades six to 12 can participate in open mic night. Bring 10 minutes of material to perform. Friends and family are welcome to watch.

St. Elizabeth Hospital is offering a Growing Up Girls class from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Sister Vernola conference room.

Its a chance for girls ages 9-11 and their moms to learn about the physical and emotional changes that accompany puberty.

Cost is $15 and preregistration is required. Call (225) 621-2906.

A free interactive program called Not a #Number is teaching youths how to protect themselves from human trafficking and exploitation.

Its being held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through July 27 at the Gonzales Branch of Ascension Parish Library. Registration is required; call (225) 621-2906.

The Taking Off Pounds Sensibly weight-loss support group meets Thursdays at Carpenter's Chapel Church, 41181 La. 933, in Prairieville. Weigh-in starts at 5 p.m. and ends when the meeting begins at 6 p.m.

Call Sylvia Triche at (225) 313-3180 for details.

The Ascension Council on Aging and St. Elizabeth Hospital are sponsoring the Young at Heart Senior Health and Wellness Expo from 9 a.m. to noon July 28 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Centers 4-H Building.

The monthly senior sock hop also will be held during the expo, beginning at 11 a.m.

Volunteers Ascension is in need of people to help out with the 2017 Ascension Hot Air Balloon Festival, slated for Sept. 22-23. Sign up online at volunteerascension.volunteermatrix.com.

Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 388-0215 or (225) 603-1996; or email, ascension@theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@theadvocate.com. Deadline: noon Monday.

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Around Ascension for July 20, 2017 - The Advocate

Ascension Public Schools received the National School Public Relations Associations Gold Medallion Award at the associations national conference in San Antonio, Texas, on July 12.

The award is the associations highest honor and was given to Ascension for its successful 2016 bond election communications campaign, Growing at the Pace of Excellence. Eleven school districts across the country received awards for superior educational public relations programs, with Ascension as Louisianas sole recipient.

"This particular award appropriately affirms the hard work and effort of all those involved in effective communication so that our public would properly understand and agree with our priority for capital improvement projects that includes building new schools," Ascension Public Schools Superintendent David Alexander said.

Eighty percent of parish residents voted April 9, 2016, in favor of a 15.08 millage to generate $120 million in bonds to fund four new schools and facility improvements, a news release said. The communications plan executed by the school district along with Taylor Media Services was instrumental in the successful vote, reaching the public through community meetings, presentations, a video, mailers, strategic signage, social media and grassroots outreach.

"This campaign was successful because we were all in, from the superintendent, board members and directors to principals, teachers and support staff. Our community trusts that we are good stewards of their financial investments, and they showed that support at the polls," Assistant Superintendent A. Denise Graves said.

Taylor Media Services has worked with the district since 2003, securing successful passage in multiple elections. Growing at the Pace of Excellence was the first election marketing campaign for Ascension Public Schools Public Information Officer Jackie Tisdell, who has been with the district since 2015.

"Although tremendously humbled by this recognition, we know our work is far from over. We will focus our communication efforts on the construction progress of new schools and renovations," Tisdell said.

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Ascension Public Schools wins national award for bond election communications campaign - The Advocate

Gonzales Dixie Youth All-Stars going to World Series

The Gonzales Nationals won the Dixie Youth Machine Pitch state championship in Rayville in a tournament played July 6-9. The squad includes players from all seven Gonzales national league teams voted on by their coaches at the end of the season.

The 8-and-under National All-Stars road to victory was not an easy one as they went through three tournaments to get there. They took on the teams in the USSSA Coaches Pitch tournament as their first pit stop in getting ready for the Dixie state tournament.

The All-Stars from Gonzales then took on the squads in the USSSA All-Star division. The team played their best and went undefeated, taking it all in the state tournament played in Livingston from June 10-11. That performance gave the youngsters the USSSA state championship.

Gonzales Nationals All-Star team took on another batch of teams when they competed in the USSSA AA Red Stick Rumble NIT. Those boys went on a tear and again went undefeated, bringing home that title by defeating the Carrollton Red AA team.

Those exploits led the team to the tournament in Rayville. The All-Stars started off the competition by winning all three pool play games that consisted of 24 teams and made their way to the eight-team championship bracket.

The competition for championship bracket play began July 8 when the Gonzales Nationals took on the team from Ruston, winning 12-7. The team suffered their only defeat of the tournament, falling to East Ouachita 14-4. They rebounded in the next game by scoring a close win over Rayville 5-4.

Championship Sunday saw the Gonzales Nationals coming back to life as they would battle their way out of the losers bracket. The boys started the day by defeating the tournament favorite Benton 13-2. They put the nail in the coffin by taking on East Ouachita, beating them twice, 15-4 and 12-0, to win the title of Dixie Youth Machine Pitch state champions.

If you notice, most of their wins come with relatively low scores for the opponents. According to head coach Coye Templet, The way these 7- and 8-year-old kids respond and play defense is what has carried us through these tournaments weve played so far. Their play is top notch.

I thought we might be top five in the state tournament, but what these young boys have accomplished is remarkable, he said. If they play like they did in state, our chances will be real good at the World Series to do very well.

This win will have the All-Star team traveling to Cleveland, Mississippi, July 28 to Aug. 1 to compete in the Dixie World Series, where they will represent Louisiana against 12 other Southern states for the championship. Congratulations go out to head coach Templet and assistants Brad Elisar, Styles Clouatre, Dean Mire and Ryan Desormeaux.

Tough weather conditions have played a role in the baseball played in regional and state tournaments, but the Gauthier & Amedee Wombats ran into a tornado on Sunday in the form of Townsend Homes. Peyton Broussard held the Ascension Parish team scoreless and handed them their first loss in the state tournament.

In what might be called a very big upset, Townsend won the contest 4-0 as Broussard (2-1) allowed the Wombats 10 base runners, but things didnt go G&As way and seven of them were left stranded. Townsend also benefited from a timely double play as center fielder Lloyd Nash threw out G&As Noah Fontenot in his attempt to score from third following a fly out in the top of the third to keep the Wombats from scoring.

The loss for the Wombats came after a close victory over the River Ridge Patriots on Saturday. Gauthier & Amedee capitalized on some aggressive base running. After seven scoreless innings of baseball, Fontenot drew a one-out walk. Cameron Crawford was called on to execute a sacrifice bunt and laid down a perfect bunt to third base good enough for a single. Fontenot then advanced to third by sprinting to the uncovered base on the bunt single to third.

River Ridge pitcher Will Ripoll faked a pickoff attempt toward Fontenot with runners at the corners. He did not complete the throw, which is a balk in Legion ball. Fontenot was directed home and Crawford headed to second. Zane Zeppuhar helped his own cause by hitting an infield single and Crawford then scored from second on more aggressive base running that accounted for the winning run.

Townsend and Gauthier & Amedee played 4 scoreless innings when Townsend went to work. Right fielder Riley Loupe was hit by a pitch with one out. The first of three Wombat errors in the inning allowed runners at first and second. A blooper single loaded the bases and a ground-out scored Loupe from third base.

Cade Pregeant and Nash both scored on Gauthier & Amedees second infield error of the inning, then Dellary Oubre scored on the third error of the inning, a throwing error involving his steal of third base.

The double elimination tournament gives the Wombats an opportunity to make their way back in the losers bracket. By press time, Gauthier & Amedee (23-5-1) will have played an elimination game against the Southland Hogs (20-7) scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Tyson Buras, a wounded veteran from Reserve, was fishing in the Wounded War Heroes Tournament out of Grand Isle last weekend aboard Smokey Scanlans boat with a team from Ascension Parish.

The Grand Isle offshore fishing rodeo held out of Bridgeside Marina was a saltwater fishing rodeo for 20 Wounded War Heroes injured veterans, providing one of many outdoor activities to relax and socialize with other veteran brothers. Wounded War Heroes events are showing appreciation to men and women returning home from fighting for our country.

Their sole purpose is to show veterans that they have not been forgotten for their courageous service to our country. Wounded War Heroeshas more than 100 events each year allowing nearly 500 opportunities for wounded veterans to spend time in the outdoors with their brothers and sisters of the military.

The group was fishing some lumps south of Block 152 in 400 feet of water, targeting red snapper. Buras let out his line to the bottom baited with squid and felt the tap of a fish, setting the hook to begin the long reel up to the top, just like one of the many times he did before on this trip. But what he hauled on board was just a little more than eye-opening. A fish called a red cornet was dangling from his hook, and like most anglers and the other folks aboard, their jaws dropped a little at what they saw.

Although the waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico are suitable for the fish, it is a very rare catch here. Retired LSU fishery biologist Jerald Horst said, Ive only seen one red cornetfish caught in the Gulf in my entire career. They are very rare here.

Sam Caston, a wounded veteran who was a participant at one time and is now a board member of Wounded War Heroes, was on the boat when the fish was caught. Several of our most active folks live right here in the Ascension Parish area. We love to be a blessing to our returning heroes, he said.

Visit woundedwarheroes.org to find out about the organizations efforts to bring some outdoor fun to our wounded veterans.

Lyle Johnson, a writer and host of the Ascension Outdoors cable TV show, covers sports and the outdoors for The Ascension Advocate. He can be contacted at reelman@eatel.net or ascension@theadvocate.com.

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Ascension Athletics for July 20, 2017 - The Advocate