Category Archives: Ascension

Stephen S. Gaines / Staff Intern

It would appear that the summer of 2017 has been a booming time for Ascension Parish. For the second time since 2016, Ascension has ranked second in the SmartAssets most income investments in Louisiana.

SmartAsset is a company based in New York, that estimates area around the country that have the most incoming investments in business, real estate, government, and the local economies. With people starting their businesses here, Ascensions business growth has grown to 6.0%. Ascension shows the second highest percent of growth next to Calcasieu Parishs 6.1%. West Baton Rouge was ranked first in most income investments in Louisiana, yet has 3.8% in business growth.

In Gross Domestic product or GDP growth in millions, Ascension Parish has a decrease of -$23 million dollars. West Baton Rouge has a decrease of -$6 million dollars in their GDP, with Lafayette having a decrease of -$90 million dollars the lowest of any parish. This generally means that the local and state economies are beginning to slow down. Last year our GDP growth was $53 million dollars, while other parishes were between 5 and 200. Lafayette had the highest at $204 million dollars. Market value grosses maybe decreasing, but these numbers could begin to rise again.

In new building permits, Ascension parish ranked second with 19.8 (per 1,000 homes). West Baton Rouge ranks first at 26.6 (per 1,000 homes). Lafayette is the lowest on the chart at 12.3 (per 1,000 homes). These numbers represent the growth of subdivisions and housing within the parishes. Subdivisions like Bayou View Estates on Boudreaux Road and Lake Summerset on Duplessis Road are just two of many fast growing subdivisions in Ascension. Developing subdivisions, like New River Oaks and Dutchtown Meadows may raise Ascensions ranking.

When it comes to Federal Funding per capita, Ascension Parish has around $20 dollars per capita. This score however, is the 4th lowest, with De Soto parish being the lowest at $0 per capita. West Baton Rouge ranks first again at $3,924 per capita. This federal funding is in the form of contracts awarded to businesses in each parish, which is divided by the population.

Lastly, there is the Incoming Investment Index. This is an assessment of each chart place in an overall number. Ascension Parish ranks second with 47.77 in incoming investments. West Baton Rouge ranks first with an income investment of 54.10. Cameron parish ranks last with an income investment of 34.92. These ratings show that Ascension is still as strong as it has been in the previous two years. Ascension was ranked the strongest parish for incoming investments in Louisiana in 2015, and the second strongest in Louisiana in 2016.

Now in 2017, Ascension is still ranked the second strongest parish in the Louisiana and the 155th strongest county in the United States.

"SmartAsset does research like this to get people to think and talk about their personal finances, community finances and what matters to them in the future," Managing Editor AJ Smith of SmartAsset said.

Ascension Parish is one of the strongest places to be for investors, and surely Ascension will achieve new highs in the future.

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Parish income investments rank second in La. - Donaldsonville Chief

Noah Fontenot strikes out 15 as Gauthier & Amedee win twice over weekend

The Gauthier & Amedee Wombats traveled to Westwego for their first-round game against Refuel, an Archbishop Shaw-based team from Marrero. Wombats starting pitcher Noah Fontenot actually was supposed to get a chance to pitch at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium where Delgado Community College plays. Its where he is scheduled to pitch for the next two years with the Dolphins.

Bad weather played a role in Fontenots opportunity to play at his future home field and moved Saturdays American Legion southeast regional to Segnette Field. Fontenot didnt let the move shake him at all and proceeded to pitch his best game to date in his young career.

Fontenots one-hitter, 5-1 victory moved his record to a perfect 5-0 for the Wombats, which is not terribly surprising as he finished his senior year at East Ascension compiling an 8-3 record on the mound for the Spartans in 2017.

My time at East Ascension playing for the Spartans will be a memory Ill never forget, Fontenot said. The people were great and treated me well; it was a lot of fun. Both of my parents went there and my dad, Andy, played baseball for the Spartans as well, so its sort of like keeping a family tradition alive.

Fontenot not only allowed just one hit but he struck out a career-high 15 batters going the distance, pitching a complete game in Gautier & Amedees victory over Refuel. Striking out for the opposing batters was not a unique item as the Delgado signee struck out everyone on the team at least one time and struck out the side in three different innings.

Fontenot retired the first two batters, then put two runners on base with a hit batter and a walk before ending the inning with a strikeout. But that was the end of the jitters. I got more and more confident with every inning, Fontenot said. I nailed the location on my fastball and I was able to throw my off-speed stuff for strikes.

Gauthier & Amadee started things off as they took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Dutchtowns Cameron Crawford stroked a bases-loaded single and drove in Larson Fontenot and EAs Preston Thrash. Another run was added by the Wombats on Brayden Caskeys groundout.

A single to left field by Devin Lansing in the third inning was Refuels (5-3) lone hit with one out and was left stranded at second base. Fontenot then retired 10 batters in a row after that single and a walk to pitcher Rene Brupbacher while fanning the side in the sixth.

For Gauthier & Amedee, Crawford went 2-4 on the game with 2 RBIs and a stolen base. Caskey was 1-3 with an RBI, while Larson Fontenot went 1-2, scored a run and had one stolen base. Preston Thrash went 1-2, scored 2 runs, had 2 walks and a pair of stolen bases.

On Sunday nights second round game at 6:30 p.m., the Wombats faced De La Salle-based Best Chevrolet at Kirsch-Rooney. Dutchtowns Jack Merrifield took the mound as the scheduled starter for G&A. The win moved the Ascension Parish based team one game away from reaching the American Legion state tournament as it hammered Best Chevrolet with an 11-1 mercy-rule victory in five innings.

G&As starter Jack Merrifield of Dutchtown took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning and was replaced by Jacob Spell after allowing a lead-off single to Corey Cook to right field. Merrifield (2-1) walked two and struck out four before being lifted.

G&A registered 11 hits and scored in every inning but the second. The Wombats scored two runs in the first inning, then tacked on another run in the third and blew things wide open, scoring seven more in the fourth inning.

Merrifield picked up the win and fellow Griffin Crawford led the way on offense with three hits, including a double and triple and two RBIs. Ivan Prejean was 1 for 1 picking up four RBIs and Merrifield piled on a pair of hits including a double and 2 RBIs to aid his pitching effort.

By press time, G&A (20-4-1) will have faced the defending state champion Pedal Valves on Monday night. A win will have sent the Wombats into Wednesdays championship game and lock in a berth in next weeks state tournament.

The effects from Tropical Storm Cindy are long gone and the water levels finally have returned to normal. The temperatures are heating up to summertime levels and so is the fishing.

Our waterways in the Amite/Blind River Basin have gone a few years without a major hurricane, which usually decimates the fish population for two or three years. They have made quite a comeback since the last one.

The summertime patterns are coming into play as far as the bass are concerned. The shad populations are very strong and that is a good thing as they are loaded with protein and the bass love to eat them. The shad form giant schools, which tend to make the bass school up and find places to ambush those schools in feeding frenzies.

Points (where two waterways meet) are one of those good locations for bass to lay in wait for an easy meal. Top water baits are a good choice for early morning activity, but dont store the rod after the sun comes up. The fish will feed throughout the day and if you catch them busting a school of shad on the surface, that top water bait will catch them any time of the day.

A crank bait is another good choice because they emulate shad and can get a school of bass stirred up enough to get in the feeding mode as well. This is a bait that can be fished really fast and cover a lot of water you to fish plenty of places a little quicker than other baits.

The plastic worm about rounds out my top three selections for summertime fishing for bass and probably is my favorite. This bait is versatile in the ways one can use them to entice a bass into biting. Texas rigged is probably the favorite style to fish, but the drop shot and the Carolina rig work well also.

The time is right and the fishing is hot, but so is the weather. The temperatures are in the dangerous zone as far as hydration is concerned. Bring plenty of water and hydrating drinks along for the trip. Its quite easy to get caught up in the fishing and forget about drinking water. Start when itsstill not too hot because its not easy to catch up if heat-related issues take place. Be safe on the water.

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Ascension Athletics for July 13, 2017 - The Advocate

Dr. Louis Lefebvre III's jive/freestyle took the top prize at Saturday's Dancing for a Cause.

Lefebvre, who danced with partner Alyssa Babin, raised $14,990 for the Arc of East Ascension, the agency that holds the annual fundraiser.

Lefebvre, owner of Main Street Dental Care, shined in a gold jacket for his upbeat presentation at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

Gonzales' chief engineer Jackie Baumann won second place and raised $7,440 with her samba/freestyle number.

Jackie Tisdell, public information officer for Ascension Parish schools, won third place, raised $6,650 and took the Fan's Choice award for her high energy jazz/funk number.

The event exceeded its $100,000 goal, raising $118,000, said event coordinator Sharon Morris.

Also dancing were Cheryl Mercedes, Terri Kaaihue, Craig Stevens, Tasheba York-LeBlanc, Malcolm Carter and Trevor Gautreaux.

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Dancers light up stage to raise money for Arc of East Ascension - The Advocate

Ascension exec: Wisconsin faces $2.8B Medicaid-funding cut under Senate bill Milwaukee Business Journal Wisconsin's Medicaid program would be slammed with a $2.8 billion federal funding cut under the proposed U.S. Senate health care bill, according to an analysis Ascension Wisconsin cites as reasons the bill could put health coverage at risk for seniors, ...

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Ascension exec: Wisconsin faces $2.8B Medicaid-funding cut under Senate bill - Milwaukee Business Journal

Greg Fischer Editor-in-chief @AscensionEditor

Local Ascension professionals and pro dancers entertained a large crowd at the Lamar Dixon 4-H building on Saturday, July 8 with a parish version of the popular TV show Dancing with the Stars.

The fundraiser, coined Dancing for a Cause (DFC), was a huge success according to Arc of East Ascension's Public Relations and Marketing Director Sharon Morris and also Sheriff Jeff Wiley in his opening remarks. The night was full of cheers and laughter.

"What [people] can expect tonight is hard work and dedication from some business employees in the community who have dedicated their time and raised money for the Arc," Arc of East Ascension President Allison Hudson said. "They will be dancing. They have had six weeks of practice with professional dancers, and they have enjoyed raising money. We are thankful for all of the funds that they raised, obviously for the Arc, that will go towards our individuals."

Louis LeFebrve III of Main Street Dental Care stole the show. He had an enormous group cheering on he and his partner, Alyssa Babin. Besides winning the competition, he outsold the runner up more than twice. His business raised $14,990 for the Arc of EA. In second place was Jackie Baumann with $7440, and in third place was Jackie Tisdell with $6650.

Coincidentally, the judges picks coincided with the top three fundraisers. Tisdell was also the fan favorite.

"I would like to thank the community and all sponsors for their generous and support," Morris said. "Special Thanks to Alsie Dunbar for getting some of the gifts donated for the Star Dancers."

Food and drink was abundant. This year's DFC event ran from 6-10 p.m.

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Arc of East Ascension holds landmark DFC fundraiser - Donaldsonville Chief

GONZALES Jason Verdigets, senior judge of the 23rd Judicial District Court, said Tuesday the court's judges and other local officials are seeking expedited approval of new civil court fees to pay for a new parish courthouse annex in Gonzales.

Legislation signed into law June 26 establishes an additional $150 fee for new civil filings, such as lawsuits and divorces, and an another $30 fee for additional pleadings. The fees will pay off long-term debt to build a bigger, more secure courthouse annex on the parish's east bank. The parish courthouse in Donaldsonville, the parish seat, will not be affected.

GONZALES The judges of the 23rd Judicial District and other court officials are eyeing a n

Verdigets told the Parish Council recently that overcrowding and the poor safety design of the Gonzales courtroom annex finished in August 2003 is forcing the move. Criminal defendants awaiting court are housed in the same area as courthouse staff and judges.

Though the new civil court fees, proposed by state Rep. Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, is set to take effect Aug. 1, the law requires that the Louisiana Supreme Court's 17-member Judicial Council first approve the new fee structure.

"We're hoping it's not going to delay it, but we're not sure yet," Verdigets said of the Judicial Council's pending decision.

Verdigets made his comments minutes after the Parish Council took another step on the courthouse annex financing: agreeing to seek State Bond Commission approval for $26 million in revenue bonds.

The proposal is set to go before the Bond Commission next week, said Jim Ryan, the parish's financial adviser. The revenue bonds, to be repaid by the proposed new fees, are scheduled for final approval by the Parish Council on Aug. 3.

It's unclear, however, if the Bond Commission would give its OK to the bonds if the Supreme Court has not yet approved the court fees to repay the debt.

If the Judicial Council acts quickly enough on the proposed fees, Ryan said, the parish could have funds available for construction as soon as September or October.

Ryan said the project has mitigating circumstances in its favor for speedy approval, including rising interest rates and the safety of the existing courthouse annex.

An attempt to reach a spokesperson for the Supreme Court in New Orleans late Tuesday afternoon was unsuccessful.

Verdigets said the parish government is still working on hiring an architect to design the courthouse annex; rough plans so far envision a four-story, 80,000-square-foot building with as many as eight courtrooms, twice as many as the current number inside the courthouse annex along South Irma Boulevard. The proposed new courthouse annex would be built on vacant parish land next to the new parish administrative complex finished in late 2015.

The existing courthouse annex would get taken over by other local agencies, possibly the Sheriff's Office; the proposed new court fees also could be used to finance renovation of the annex.

When Verdigets appeared before the council in mid-May, the courthouse annex idea came as news to some members, who responded with some hesitancy.

But council members Teri Casso and Bill Dawson talked Tuesday about a recent visit they made with Verdigets and Parish Clerk of Court Bridget Hanna to the new Livingston Parish Courthouse.

Casso, the Finance Committee chairwoman, said the tour helped her and other council members learn about the intricacies of a modern courthouse and why one costs so much.

Dawson, the council chairman, said the tour taught him a lot about the importance of security and isolating criminal defendants from jurors and judges.

"I was one of those that had doubts about (the new courthouse annex), but I see the need for that isolation situation, and I am very supportive this," Dawson said.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Long-term financing for new Ascension courthouse annex in Gonzales inches forward; court fees may increase - The Advocate

An Ascension Parish heroin trafficker pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal drug and gun charges stemming from a large-scale heroin trafficking network based in Ascension and Houston, Acting U.S. Attorney Corey Amundson announced.

Jason Muse, 37, formerly of Prairieville, was accused earlier this year by a Baton Rouge federal grand jury of obtaining heroin from sources in Texas and distributing the drug in Ascension and elsewhere, including Baton Rouge.

Eighteen people, including 14 from Louisiana, are under federal indictment in Baton Rouge fo

Muse used his residences in Prairieville and elsewhere to store, weigh, package and distribute heroin. He also used his business, M.J. Chicken and Waffles, in Prairieville to facilitate his heroin distribution activities, the grand jury alleged.

Muse, one of 18 people named in the indictment, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a number of federal charges, including drug conspiracy, heroin distribution, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, Amundson said.

He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles did not set a sentencing date.

Follow Joe Gyan Jr. on Twitter, @JoeGyanJr.

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Ascension Parish heroin trafficker pleads guilty in federal court ... - The Advocate

Brandie Richardson

Earlier this month, the Ascension Parish 4-H Shooting Team represented the Parish for the first time at the 52nd Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match in Rogers, Ark.

Throughout the three-day event, the seven 4-Hers were tested on their shooting education such as the different types of firearms and fire safety, along with shooting in four positions: prone, kneeling, standing and sitting.

According to Coach Jodi Daigle, the team placed 34th out of over 70 teams, not bad considering it was the team's first time making it to the championship.

"We had a good competition," he said. "They posted in the middle of the pack. It's an overall fun trip, there's a lot of good things that came out of that trip and for it to not be a moral booster, I don't see how it could not be."

Team members included James Daigle, Kinslei Scroggs, Jaxon Swanson, Andrew Poche, Aidan Cole, Grant Marquis and Katie Swanson, who are all part of the Ascension 4-H shooting sports.

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Ascension represented at BB Gun Championship - Donaldsonville Chief

ASCENSION PARISH, La.

A Mississippi man is accused of impersonating an officer and trying to stop a driver.

Timothy Wright, 51, was arrested Monday and charged with false impersonation of a police officer and reckless operation, according to The Associated Press.

Ascension Parish Sheriff's Chief Deputy Bobby Webre said in a statement that deputies received a call on Saturday that a man was driving a vehicle with flashing lights and had tried to stop another vehicle.

A second driver told deputies they drove off when Wright exited the vehicle in civilian clothing. Wright followed the driver for a few minutes before driving off.

Investigators said a license plate number was recovered from Wright's vehicle, which led to his arrest.

It's unclear if Wright has a lawyer.

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Mississippi man accused of impersonating officer in Ascension Parish - WDSU New Orleans

Brandie Richardson

Earlier this month, the Ascension Parish 4-H Shooting Team represented the Parish for the first time at the 52nd Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match in Rogers, Ark.

Throughout the three-day event, the seven 4-Hers were tested on their shooting education such as the different types of firearms and fire safety, along with shooting in four positions: prone, kneeling, standing and sitting.

According to Coach Jodi Daigle, the team placed 34th out of over 70 teams, not bad considering it was the team's first time making it to the championship.

"We had a good competition," he said. "They posted in the middle of the pack. It's an overall fun trip, there's a lot of good things that came out of that trip and for it to not be a moral booster, I don't see how it could not be."

Team members included James Daigle, Kinslei Scroggs, Jaxon Swanson, Andrew Poche, Aidan Cole, Grant Marquis and Katie Swanson, who are all part of the Ascension 4-H shooting sports.

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Ascension represented at BB Gun Championship - Weekly Citizen