Daily Archives: August 10, 2017

National security specialist to address Ascension GOP Roundtable

Jim LeBlanc, vice president of the New Orleans Chapter of InfraGard, will be the featured speaker at the Ascension GOP Roundtable sponsored by Ascension Republican Women. The Roundtable begins with a meet-and-greet at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 17 at Galvez Seafood, 40306 La. 42, Suite 9, in Prairieville.

The program starts at noon.

Candidates in the 2017 elections are welcome to meet with guests at all Ascension Republican Women meetings.

InfraGard is a nonprofit organization serving as a public-private partnership between U. S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Cost for lunch is $16. The event is open to the public; but reservations are requested. Call (225) 644-5728 or (225) 921-5187 or email arwrus@aol.com

Artists and photographers of all ages are invited to share their creative efforts with others at the River Community Church art and photography exhibit. The churchs Creativity Group is sponsoring the free exhibit, which will run Aug. 20 to Oct. 1. This is an exhibit only; no ribbons will be awarded.

Art will be accepted through Aug. 16; call the church before dropping off to make sure someone is there. Framed or gallery-wrapped canvas art and photography with wire hangers on back should be brought to the church, 36367 Old Perkins Road. Attach a card with artists name, medium and title of work.

RCC Creativity Group meets twice a month on Wednesdays at the Prairieville church. Members work on a variety of individual creative projects including drawing, painting, knitting, art quilts, beading and scrapbooking. Group members are mentored by the other artists in the group.

For information about the show or the group, contact Jennifer Ferguson at jennifer@rivercommunity.org or call the church office at (225) 744-4367.

The Dialogue on Race series, an educational process for the elimination of racism, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Aug. 22 to Sept. 26, at the Ascension Parish Library in Dutchtown.

Understanding what racism is and how it operates through institutions is the core of this educational process. This six-session series is a structured two-hour weekly series led by trained facilitators.

Space is limited. To register to participate in this series, call (225) 673-8699.

For information about the series, call Maxine Crump at (225) 274-6902 or email info@dialogueonracelouisiana.org.

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Around Ascension for Aug. 10, 2017 - The Advocate

DONALDSONVILLE Ascension Parish government's auditors say the parish ended 2016 flush with cash despite having spent more than $12 million from its reserves on flood recovery last year.

Despite the flood expenses, the parish was able to boost its total reserves by $5.4 million last year to $192.7 million, but more than $105 million of that surplus is set aside by voters or by Parish Council spending priorities for recreation, parish jail expenses, drainage, fire protection or health and mental health services.

Auditor Tommy LeJeune, of Faulk and Winkler, told the Parish Council recently that continued strong sales tax collections have helped build the surplus. The past three years of collections have hovered around $55 million, about $15 million per year more than what the parish took in for 2012.

At the same time, the total surplus has risen from $147.5 million in 2012 to more than $192.7 million in 2016 also an increase of about $45 million.

"So, 15 times three is $45 million, so the whole point of it is you're not spending up to the high point of sales tax," LeJeune said. "So basically what you have been able to do is experience a really lucrative time from a sales tax collection perspective and you have been able to bank it."

He added that eventual reimbursement for last year's flood expenses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would only further improve those surpluses. Since the audit was finished, the parish has received about $7.3 million in reimbursements.

LeJeune made his comments Aug. 3 at the Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville as he reviewed the 2016 audit for the council. While the audit detailed the parish's strong financial status, it also uncovered a number of findings in the parish U.S. Housing and Urban Development public housing program and in travel, personnel and pay, and Lamar-Dixon Expo Center policies and procedures.

The Parish Council members have asked the parish administration to update them in a coming meeting about its progress in responding to many of these findings.

LeJeune's report of the parish's flush accounts prompted only some mixed reaction from the council. The parish is trying to fund major road improvements without a new tax and developing further spending on drainage improvements in light of last year's floods. Part of the road plan, Move Ascension, counts on a new debt issue and big part of the reserves in the parish road fund.

While the parish has continued to see population growth, the strong sales tax collections have come mostly during a period of expansion in the parish's industrial sector, the majority contributor to sales tax collections. That expansion has slowed some more recently.

After LeJeune's initial report on the surpluses, Council Chairman Bill Dawson sought to downplay their size, noting that only about $28.6 million is fully discretionary and could be spent for any purpose. He questioned LeJeune about whether that discretionary reserve was too high or low to ensure sound savings for unexpected expenses.

LeJeune said governments typically want to have a savingsequivalent to three to six months of annual spending. He said the $28 million fits within the lower end of that range.

"I don't think it's too low. I think it's a good comfortable number," LeJeune said.

But later, Councilwoman Teri Casso said that every year she hears the audit, she thinks, "My God, we have money. We are in a wonderful situation.

"We are not in the savings business. We need to be providing services, and so I look forward to next year seeing that we have spent the taxpayer's money, and if we're not going spend it, we need to give it back to them or quit collecting," she said. "It is time to spend it."

Auditors found the parish had about $27.8 million in a capital surplus fund for drainage and another $22.5 million for roads. The $40 million to $45 million Move Ascension program plans on tapping that reserve for nearly half its spending.

"Its a nice sum of money," LeJeune said of the road reserve, "but it's probably not an amount that solves all the parish's traffic woes."

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Auditors: Strong sales taxes continue to boost Ascension ... - The Advocate

The bells are ringing and school is back in session in a few local parishes.

Ascension, East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parish schools resumed this morning. The WBRZ2Une In crew went to all three to take a look at how these parishes have come along since last year's flood.

In Ascension, students and teachers at the recently renovated St. AmantPrimary School were taking in the new classrooms as well as welcoming back some familiar faces.

Back to school for St. Amant Primary School

Over in EBR, the IstroumaHigh School Indians celebrated their 100th anniversaryby banging their drums ushering in the students the only way they know how.

Live Oak Junior High students will attend classes at the old Live Oak High School campus after the high school moved to a new area two years ago.

Back to school for Live Oak Junior High School

An area heavily affected by the flood, Livingston Parish is working on getting all of its schools back up and running. But no child will go hungry this year, the Livingston Parish School Board has approved free breakfast and lunches for all of it's students.

Tomorrow, schools in Central will reopen. Join the 2Une In crew for live coverage starting at 5 a.m.

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Class is in session: schools in Ascension, EBR and Livingston ... - WBRZ

Health Care Aug 09, 2017 Share

Dinger earlier this year led task force focused on population health

authors Staff Reports

The leaders of Ascension, the largest nonprofit health system in the country and the parent of Saint Thomas Health, has tapped Jason Dinger to be chief incubation officer at its Ascension Holdings unit.

Dinger had been CEO of MissionPoint Health Partners, the population health company launched under the Saint Thomas umbrella and now incorporated into a larger Ascension venture, since its founding in 2011. Earlier this year, he led an Ascension task force focused on population health capabilities and solutions.

In the Ascension Holdings role, Dinger will oversee the design and rollout of new solutions and innovations across Ascensions 2,500-site portfolio, emphasizing those that require incubational and entrepreneurial direction. He filled a very similar role a decade ago at Saint Thomas before moving into his MissionPoint role and holding a broader strategy position.

Jason will enhance our ability to deliver new tools and capabilities that improve the health status of our communities while fundamentally lowering costs, said James Beckmann, senior vice president of Ascension and COO of Ascension Holdings. Under his guidance, we will be able to more rapidly identify, develop and test innovations and new solutions, then introduce those with the greatest promise to enhance the care we currently provide and create new businesses to support our mission.

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MissionPoint leader given Ascension incubation role - Nashville Post (subscription)

Three new school leaders have been hired at Ascension Public Schools.

Rhonda Gillard is replacing Latatia Johnson as the principal of G.W. Carver Primary School. Johnson departed to become an instructional supervisor of elementary education.

Gillard has spent more than 17 years in education, coming to Ascension Parish in 2006 after teaching in New Orleans and Georgia. She taught at Dutchtown Primary beginning in 2007, became an instructional coach at Prairieville Primary and was appointed Sorrento Primarys assistant principal in 2011.

She has a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters degree in social work from Southern University at New Orleans, completed Xavier Universitys teaching certification program and earned a masters degree in educational leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University.

"I embrace this opportunity to work with dedicated students and their parents. My goal is to continue the academic success that Carver has achieved thus far. I cannot wait to kick off this school year," Gillard said.

Michelle Parr is taking over as Central Primary Schools assistant principal from Cynthia Jackson, who recently became the Early College Option program principal.

Parr has been with the school district for 18 years, teaching third and fourth grades at Dutchtown Primary for 10 years before becoming a fourth-grade teacher at Spanish Lake Primary in 2009, a teacher coach at St. Amant Primary in 2011, a mentor teacher at Gonzales Primary in 2013 and most recently as a master teacher at Central Primary.

She holds a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in educational leadership from LSU.

"It has been an honor working in our parish for the last 18 years," Parr said. "I am extremely excited to continue my journey working with Mrs. (Christina) Knight, Central Primary's staff, our students and their parents."

Galvez Middle School is welcoming Tachelle White as assistant principal in place of Mary Daze, who recently became the district's executive master teacher.

White originally is from Baton Rouge and has spent the past six years working in Ascension Parish, first at Lowery Middle, then at Central Middle. For the past two years, she has taught seventh- and eighth-grade math and Algebra I and served as a teacher coach.

She holds a bachelors degree in psychology from LSU, a master's degree in public administration from Southern University, a plus 30 certificate and is working on a doctoral degree in educational leadership at Southeastern Louisiana University.

"Thank you for this great opportunity," White said. "I am looking forward to becoming a Pirate."

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Ascension Public Schools announces new leadership at several schools - The Advocate

A long time ago....

Theres a pretty popular thing on Facebook called Throw Back Thursday that Ive participated in a time or two. The premise is to post a picture from the past that most folks might not be able to identify. Its pretty neat, and I like it a lot. What follows is my throwback Thursday, only its about the outdoors and a great friendship.

I grew up fresh water fishing. My dad, Jerry Lyle, was a world-class bass angler and brought all eight of us kids fishing with him at one time or another. Both of my grandfathers fished, and fly fishing was their passion, especially paw paw Marchand. He loved to catch bream on a fly rod, and he was good at it. So my fishing education was well rounded, to say the least.

I met my wife-to-be, Deborah Guice, in my early 20s and as we dated, I developed a friendship with her brother, James Goosie Guice. He had what we could call a university-style education from his father, Sonny, so we hit it off quite nicely. Goosie was an experienced fresh water angler but had salt water experience, something Id never done before.

Ill never forget my first trip down, I mean way down, the road south to Venice. It might as well have been Venice, Italy, as far as it seemed but it was below Belle Chase, as far as the road goes.

Our plan for the day was to get some bait shrimp and fish with a shad rig hoping to catch some croaker. But Goosie assured me that we would catch something for sure as Venice was a fish haven. I was pretty excited but a little tentative because Id never been that far before.

We launched the boat in a small marina that is no longer open and idled out of the canal in Goosies Louisiana Traveler bateau, and I entered the land of the giants. To our left was the Mississippi River, full of crew boats, shrimp boats, tugboats and ships. To our right was Grand Pass that included all of the above less the ships.

It took a while to get settled in for me but soon I was pretty comfortable among all those big boats and concentrated on our fishing. Our day was not too productive for quite a while, and I dont think we actually caught any croakers, despite our best efforts.

The day was drawing to a close but our enthusiasm hadnt dropped a bit. We anchored the boat at the mouth of a canal that had some camps on it and began to cast those double-hooked shad rigs for the umpteenth time. We had a few bites, and Goosie finally caught a bass that weighed about 2 pounds, which surprised us all but got our adrenaline pumping. Then one of us made a cast out toward the middle of Grand Pass but that pair of shrimp never made it to the bottom before a 3- or 4-pound blue cat swallowed up the bait and it was on.

For the next 30 or 40 minutes, one big catfish after another hit the boat and into the ice chest they went. We caught them until we ran out of daylight as one of us would say, Its getting dark, but the other two answered, One more cast. We finally left but not before we filled our ice chests with catfish.

That was the beginning of something that lasted the test of time. Goosie, his dad, Sonny, and Thompson Brown obtained a duck hunting lease across the river from Venice on Batiste Collette that I was blessed to take part in for a long time.

Back then, Venice was pretty quiet except on opening weekends of duck season. We could spend the weekend back in the marsh and not see another boat. A pretty normal weekend would consist of six people staying at the camp to hunt and fish. We would return with 80 to 100 ducks (never exceeding the legal limit), a couple of ice chests of fish that would consist of speckled trout, redfish, flounder and those catfish.

But the icing on the cake would be the fresh oysters we picked by hand on wild reefs near the camp until they disappeared. We shucked them, ate some and usually brought back a gallon or two to enjoy at home. Our favorite way of eating those fresh oysters was grilled on a homemade pit topped with butter, Worcestershire sauce and pepper jack cheese.

A fire would always be going at night, and we sat around it for hours with Goosie, me or Dale Jackson Babin playing box guitars, singing country music. Thompson Brown was our percussionist usually playing drums on a variety of pots with spoons for drum sticks with the occasional harmonica thrown in for good measure.

Other regular visitors were Dave Leggett and Kenny Kuhlman. There are about a book full of stories that could be told about the adventures with this group of misfits and many great memories. Thompson Brown and Dave Leggett arent with us anymore but their memories will never fade.

Well, so how did the meeting of the girl that would eventually be my wife and my introduction to salt water fishing pay off in the long run? Pretty good for me, Id say. Forty years later, three kids and six grandchildren, Deborah and I will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary on Aug. 18. Goosie and I are brothers-in-law and have remained very close friends. We co-host a local TV show together.

In the time its taken me to put this Throwback Thursday together, looking through a photo scrapbook, Ive relived a lot of great memories. Life is short, so grab all the gusto you can because one day theyll be gone. And no matter how old you might be, its never too late to start making new memories with friends and family.

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Ascension Athletics for Aug. 10, 2017 - The Advocate