Category Archives: Ascension

DONALDSONVILLE Ascension Parish government has extended its waiver of residential permit fees another six months for homeowners still rebuilding from the August 2016 flood.

But parish officials warned that residents must still apply and receive parish permits for their work, though the permits will remain free through Nov. 13.

Ken Dawson, chief administrative officer for parish government, said Thursday the parish is extending the waiver because some people are still working on rebuilding their homes nearly a year after the flood.

"Because it's such a long process, and as you know, going through what you need with insurance and what you need with FEMA and that kind of thing, some people were still at a point where they were not done," Dawson said in a brief interview.

An estimated 6,800 homes and businesses flooded in the parish and its municipalities in the August disaster.

Dawson spoke minutes after the Parish Council agreed to the 180-day extension to waive fees on residential occupancy permits, plan review, residential construction permits, and electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits.

The resolution brought forward by Dawson prompted little debate from the six of 11 council members present at Thursday's meeting.

But Parish Attorney O'Neil Parenton Jr. reiterated the warning that homeowners should still pull permits.

"Because if someone has a problem with a contractor and they don't have a permit and we go out there, we have no way to trace these people down," Parenton said.

He said he was asked about a case earlier Thursday in which the contractor performed substandard work but no one ever pulled permits for the job.

In other council action, the council agreed, 6-0, to drop its appeal of a court ruling upholding the Legislative Auditor's decision not to certify the 2016 property tax rates.

The effect of the Legislative Auditor's decision was that the Parish Council could not roll forward millage rates in the 2016 reassessment year. Property owners paid their taxes based on millage rates that were adjusted lower due to rising values from reassessment.

As a result, property owners got a small tax break that largely blunted the effect of the reassessment year.

The parish sued the Legislative Auditor, but a state district court judge in East Baton Rouge Parish upheld the state auditor's finding.

"We appealed that decision, but now looking into that further, if we actually won the appeal, it would cause us to go back to the constituents, to the residents of the parish, and re-bill them for the 2016 bill," Parish Council Chairman Bill Dawson said.

These extra bills would have been relatively small amounts for many homeowners. The added tax bill for a $200,000 home with homestead exemption, for instance, would have been between $12.50 to $28.75 depending on the area.

In reassessment years, local governments must reset millage rates to a new adjusted property tax rate that accounts for changing values on the tax rolls.

When values are on the rise, adjusted rates are lowered but are set so they generate the same revenue as the year before.

Once local governments adopt the adjusted rates, often known as "rolling back," they can then vote to "roll forward" property taxes to the prior year's maximum rate, netting a windfall of additional revenue.

The Legislative Auditor's Office refused to accept the roll forward last year because of problems it found with public notice requirements.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Ascension Parish extends waiver of permit fees for flooded homeowners, gives up on tax fight - The Advocate

The nine dancers who signed up for Dancing for a Cause are fine-tuning their dance steps and making the last-minute adjustments to their costumes.

They'll bring their sambas, jives and rumbas to the stage 7 p.m. Saturday at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center 4-H Building.

The event raises money for the Arc of East Ascension, a nonprofit that provides services for disabled residents in the parish.

The Arc Executive Director Norma Dukes said the dancers have worked hard to prepare a great show.

"We want to encourage people to come out and see for themselves, said event organizer Sharon Morris. "It's all about fun and supporting the Arc of East Ascension.

Dancing for a Cause is modeled after the hit ABC show "Dancing with the Stars."

The lineup includes Jackie Baumann, chief engineer with the city of Gonzales; Trevor Gautreaux, assistant vice president and branch manager of Neighbors FCU; Jackie Tisdell, public information officer for Ascension Parish public schools; Terri Kaaihue, a community liaison with Life Source Hospice; Tasheba York Leblanc, owner and manager of Triple Threat Dance Studio; Cheryl Mercedes, WAFB anchor; Malcolm Carter, plant manager at The Scotts Company; Craig A. Stevens, owner of Genesis 360 Construction; and Louis LeFebvre III, dentist and owner of Main Street Dental Care.

Ascension Clerk of Court Bridget Hannah and Ascension schools Superintendent David Alexander will emcee the fundraiser. Sheriff Jeff Wiley is the honorary chairman.

Special performances will be provided by Center Stage Performing Arts Academy, Triple Threat Dance studio and by dancers from the Arc.

The doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m.

It's not too late to pick up tickets. Tickets are $30 in advance at the Arc's office, 1122 S.E. Ascension Complex Blvd., Gonzales. Call (225) 621-2000. Tickets will be available at the door for $35 and VIP seats are $75 in advance and $80 at the door.

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Dancers prepare to shake it for a purpose - The Advocate

GREEN BAY As underdog training-camp narratives go, Joe Callahans improbable run for a spot on the Green Bay Packers 53-man roster last summer has to rank among the more compelling since the teams renaissance began 25 years ago.

While there have been plenty of other out-of-nowhere stories cornerback Tramon Williams 2007 ascension is up there, too and other longshots who earned their keep with unexpectedly impressive preseason performances, Callahan was supposed to be little more than a camp arm last year.

Coach Mike McCarthy had decided to limit two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers preseason snaps, and hed earmarked the extra exhibition playing time for young backup Brett Hundley not some 6-foot-nothin, Division III unknown.

But when an ankle injury limited Hundley to just seven preseason passes, Callahan shined so much so that McCarthy was telling everyone by camps end how Callahan had earned a spot on the team as the No. 3 quarterback. (How the hell does he not make the team? McCarthy asked rhetorically and forcefully after Callahan made it). And more than a few longtime observers couldnt help but see some Brett Favre-ian improv in the kids game.

A year later, Callahan is preparing for his second NFL training camp the Packers first practice is in three weeks, on July 27 with an eye on being more than just a heartwarming story going forward.

I still have to prove myself, Callahan said during organized team activity practices last month. I need to show how much Ive improved.

Callahan did just that during the spring quarterback school and OTA practices, and itll be interesting to see how good the Packers feel about Callahan if Hundley puts together an impressive enough preseason to attract trade suitors. It seems unlikely theyd turn the No. 2 job over to him if they moved Hundley when Hundley started drawing interest during the April NFL Draft, the Packers reportedly were planning to bring in a veteran to replace him but after what Callahan did last year, who can bet against him?

To know where he came from, trying just to get somebody to look at him, to see him go from there to where he finished and what he did, for me, knowing Joe personally, it was awesome, Hundley said. Knowing it was my playing time, its frustrating to a point. But its also intriguing to me when you can see somebody grow from where he started to where he finished. That was awesome.

As much as the Packers liked Callahan, they actually bid him adieu last Oct. 13 when injuries forced them to shuffle the roster. The team waived him with the intention of signing him to the practice squad when he went unclaimed, and McCarthy, who didnt want Callahan cut to begin with, was livid when the New Orleans Saints claimed his pet project.

Callahan spent just over a week with the Saints before being released, but then the Cleveland Browns claimed him and kept him on their 53-man roster for more than a month before cutting him on Nov. 29.

The Packers finally got him back on the practice squad on Dec. 2, then promoted him onto the 53-man roster again on Dec. 17, keeping him there through the end of the year.

As well as Callahan played last summer he completed 54 of 88 passes (61.4 percent) for 499 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions (88.2 rating) he was playing mostly on the instinct and play-making knack he showed in college at Wesley College in Dover, Del. As a three-year starter for the Wolverines, Callahan went 33-7 and threw for 12,852 yards and 130 touchdowns, including 5,068 yards and 55 touchdowns in 2015, when he won the Gagliardi Trophy, the Division III equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Scrambling and making something out of nothing was a key part of Callahans college production, and the Packers coaches like that aspect of his game. But the next step is for him to make more plays while doing so within the framework of the offense.

Thats a big part of it. Second year, you can go through any read in the offense and hell spit the read right out to you. So hes picking it up, quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt said. He just has to continue to do what hes doing.

Hes growing. His footwork has gotten a lot better, his understanding of the offense has gotten better in his second year. Just continue to do that and then show it in the preseason when he gets to play.

Jason Wilde covers the Packers for ESPN Wisconsin. Listen to him with former Packers and Badgers offensive lineman Mark Tauscher weekdays from 9-11 on Wilde & Tausch on ESPNWisconsin.com.

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Packers: Joe Callahan continues ascension at QB - La Crosse Tribune

A media campaign launched by Ascension public schools and Capital Area Human Services is raising awareness of prescription drug abuse among teens.

Lock Your Meds is part of a national campaign including posters, a parent brochure, a public service announcement for radio and television and social media ads, a news release said. Local pharmacies and doctors offices are participating in the campaign, created by the National Family Partnership.

National data indicates 6.5 million people age 12 and older have abused prescription drugs, and 66 percent of youths older than 12 who abuse such drugs obtain them from friends and family, a news release said.

"Our latest data shows 4 percent of 10th-graders and 6 percent of 12th-graders in Ascension Parish admitted to abusing prescription drugs. It is even happening to 1 percent of sixth-graders right here in our community," Ascension public schools Superintendent David Alexander said. "The goal of this campaign is to bring awareness to parents and guardians about this problem and to encourage them to limit access to prescription drugs in their homes."

Learn more about the campaign and download materials at apsb.org/page/lock-your-meds. Those interested in partnering with Ascension Public Schools on the campaign can call Coordinator of Student Services Linda Lamendola at (225) 391-7272.

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Lock Your Meds campaign combats prescription abuse among youths - The Advocate

LAKE Louis Normand and John Paul Taylor used shovels to dig into the muck around bridge piles underneath Summerfield Road as traffic passed overhead in northeastern Ascension Parish.

The contractors with Durable Piling Restoration of Marksville were recently preparing to cut out and replace parts of the timber piles and do other foundation work to the two bridges that are the only way through a lowland forest and into the Summerfield subdivision along the Amite River.

The repair job, which is now nearing completion, involved two of the 19 bridges that Ascension Parish government has repaired or replaced since Parish President Kenny Matassa took office in January 2016, a parish government spokesman said.

The state Department of Transportation and Development has been busy with its own bridge repairs in the parish as well, and wrapped up emergency repairs to a bridge on La. 933 in the St. Amant area Thursday, a department spokesman said.

Ascension has 136 bridges on parish roads and another 132 bridges on state highways, and it seems every few weeks parish or state officials are announcing partial or complete bridge closures sometimes of the emergency variety, as was the work on the Summerfield Road and La. 933 bridges.

But parish and state officials said the 2016 flood in the Amite River Basin, which inundated large swaths of East Ascension Parish, did not directly damage bridges in the parish. Some officials, however, think the high water may have indirectly helped bring about the recent round of repairs.

Bill Roux, parish public works director, said last year's floodwater washed out parts of the earthen bases around some bridges and revealed rot among many of the parish's timber bridges that inspectors spotted later.

"It exposed a condition that we couldn't see before because it was all covered, and that is what the DOTD is seeing now in inspection. They said, 'Oh, wait, this is bad,'" Roux said.

Rodney Mallett, DOTD spokesman, said though the agency does its biennial inspections in odd-numbered years, the agency has issued six letters to the parish since the start of 2016 for bridgeson parish roads that needed repair. In addition to those six bridges, a seventh parish bridge was closed but has been repaired and reopened, according to a DOTD tally from early June.

More recently, DOTD also closed the La. 933bridge about one-tenth of a mile west of Joe Sevario Road on June 19. A routine inspection found large empty spaces under both of the bridge's approach slabs, Mallett said. Earth should have been where the voids were found under the bridge approaches.

Kyle Gautreau, parish government spokesman, said that since the start of 2016, the parish has spent more than $830,000 on bridge work, not including the Summerfield job. While some of that work was minor, like guard rail repairs, $483,000 was spent to replace or upgrade eight bridges. The parish often replaced old timber bridges with large concrete box culverts that had new roads laid on top of them.

Four more timber bridges weren't replaced with culverts but had supporting wooden piles replaced at a cost of an additional $312,000, Gautreau said. Once finished, the Summerfield bridges will bring that number to six, though total cost figures weren't immediately available.

Peter DeCuir, vice president and chief operating officer of Durable Piling, said DOTD and local governments often choose his services because his company can work on bridges without bridge closures, as his company was able to do on Summerfield Road, maintaining the only access route to homes in the area.

On Summerfield's bridges, DeCuir's workers cut out the damaged portion of piles, nine on one bridge and 11 on another, and replaced them with a composite material using epoxy and Kevlar.

"And it's never going to rot," DeCuir said.

The Summerfield job became more involved than first planned, though, as more damage was discovered. In addition to piles, workers had to fill in voids under some of those bridges' approaches.

DeCuir said the job is nearly complete despite delays from recent heavy rains. He said Thursday that he is waiting on water levels to drop again so he can finish protecting one of the bridge's foundations with concrete.

It appears Summerfield Road won't be the end of Durable Piling's time in Ascension Parish, though. At Roux's urging in early June, the East Ascension drainage board agreed to increase funding to Durable Piling from a maximum of $275,000 to up to $400,000 for some additional emergency repairs to Summerfield Road and for expected repairs to other damaged bridges.

"We do have other bridges that (are) coming on line with some problems we're discovering," Roux told the board, "and I want to increase it to $400,000 to make sure I have enough to take care of those things."

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Flood of 2016 exposed lingering damage to Ascension bridges; repairs continue - The Advocate

Belle Rose Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession Charge

On June 20, 2017, Adonis Jarvis of 334 Tigerville Lane, Belle Rose, 26, pled guilty to the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jarvis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Shawn Bush, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Alvin Turner Jr. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2014 narcotics related search warrant in Donaldsonville.

On Dec. 3, 2014, Narcotics Agents with the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office executed a search warrant at a Donaldsonville residence as part of an ongoing narcotics operation. During the search of the residence, agents located a male subject identified as Jarvis. When he spotted the agents, he fled on foot. Agents gave chase and apprehended Jarvis following a brief foot pursuit. While conducting a pat-down of Jarvis for officer safety, agents located a loaded .38 special revolver in his rear pant pocket. Jarvis was arrested and subsequently booked into the Ascension Parish Detention Center.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above mentioned charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge Turner ordered that Jarvis be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 10 years at hard labor with credit for time served. It was further ordered that the imposed sentence is to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

Vacherie Man Indicted on Attempted Manslaughter Charge

On June 26, 2017, a St. James Parish Grand Jury returned a True Bill of Indictment for the charge of Attempted Manslaughter on Ryan Harry, 45, of Vacherie. This indictment stems after a physical altercation in the parking lot of a St. James Parish convenience store.

On March 14, 2017, St. James Parish Sheriffs Deputies were dispatched to a local convenience store in reference to a male subject lying on the ground in the parking lot. During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the victim had been struck by a male subject later identified as Ryan Harry. Harry was subsequently arrested and booked into the St. James Parish Detention Center.

Assistant District Attorney Bruce Mohon is the lead prosecutor on this case. Harry remains incarcerated at the St. James Parish Detention Center.

Assumption Parish Woman Pleads Guilty Following 2016 Fatal Crash

On June 26, 2017, Katie Landry of 107 Oak Lane, Pierre Part, 27, pled guilty as charged to the charges of Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Negligent Injuring (two counts). Landry was prosecuted by District Attorney Ricky L. Babin and Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney. Presiding over this case was the Honorable Judge Alvin Turner Jr. This guilty plea stems following a 2016 car crash in Assumption Parish that resulted in the death of 58 year old Cheryl Hebert of Paincourtville.

On Jan. 30, 2016, Troopers with Louisiana State Police were dispatched to a two vehicle fatal car crash on La. 308 North of La. 402 in Napoleonville. Through the course of the crash investigation, troopers determined that Landry, the driver of a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe, was traveling northbound on La. 308 when her vehicle crossed the centerline for an unknown reason striking a 2004 Toyota 4-Runner driven by Cheryl Hebert carrying her son and minor grandson. Both vehicles came to rest in a field off the southbound shoulder of La. 308. Hebert was pronounced deceased on scene by the Assumption Parish Coroners Office. Heberts son and grandson were transported to a local hospital where they were evaluated and treated for minor injuries. Landry was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge where she was treated for her injuries. While at the hospital, a blood sample was taken from Landry and submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for blood alcohol analysis. On Feb. 12, 2016, the results from the blood alcohol analysis were received from the crime lab and indicated that Landry had a blood alcohol content of .13 grams percent. An arrest warrant was issued for Landry, and she was subsequently arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above mentioned charges, Judge Turner ordered that sentencing be deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Sentencing is set for Aug. 28, 2017.

Prairieville man found guilty for weapons, criminal damage

On June 27, 2017, Erik Mollerberg of Prairieville, 32, was found guilty by the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and Felony Simple Criminal Damage to Property. Mollerberg was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Phil Maples. This guilty verdict stems after a 2016 incident in a Prairieville neighborhood.

On May 8, 2016, deputies with the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office were dispatched to the area of Oakland Drive and La. 73 in Prairieville in reference to an assault. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the victim who advised that while traveling in his vehicle, he turned onto Oakland Drive and decided to turn around in the driveway of a residence. After turning around in the driveway, a male subject identified as Mollerberg approached the roadway pointing an AR-15 assault rifle and yelling profane language at the driver of the vehicle.

As the victim attempts to pull off, Mollerberg lunges at the vehicle striking the passenger side door with the muzzle of the rifle causing damage to the vehicle. The victim then stopped in the roadway, and Mollerberg proceeded to walk towards the vehicle while pointing the rifle at the victim. The victim then fled the area. Upon making contact with Mollerberg, deputies placed him under arrest and was transported to the Ascension Parish Detention Center where he was booked accordingly. Subsequent to Mollerbergs arrest, deputies were able to obtain video footage from surveillance cameras showing the incident.

Upon finding Mollerberg guilty of the above mentioned charges, Judge Kliebert ordered that sentencing be deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Sentencing is tentatively set for September 25, 2017. Mollerberg is facing up to 12 years in prison.

Hammond Man Sentenced to 12 years for fourth DWI

On March 13, 2017, Dylan Hart of 44090 Millie Rd. Hammond, 55, pled guilty to the charge of DWI Fourth Offense. Hart was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Phil Maples, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert. Sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.

On July 31, 2015, troopers with Louisiana State Police were dispatched to a minor two vehicle crash with no injuries near the intersection of LA 70 and LA 3120 in Ascension Parish. During the course of the crash investigation, troopers detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from Harts person, who was the driver held at fault for the crash. Hart submitted to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests which he failed. Heart was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Ascension Parish Detention Center where he voluntarily submitted to chemical breath testing which yielded a breath sample of .160g%, which is twice the legal limit of .08g%.

On June 26, 2017, Hart appeared before Judge Kliebert for sentencing. Judge Kliebert ordered that Hart be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 12 years at hard labor with credit for time served. The imposed sentence is to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. It should be noted that this sentence is to run consecutive to an 8 year sentence that Hart is already serving for a prior DWI offense in Tangipahoa Parish.

Guilty Pleas

During the week of June 19-23, the following defendants pled guilty to various charges and were sentenced in the 23rd Judicial District Court, Parishes of Ascension, Assumption, and St. James.

Ascension Parish:

Thaddeus Harvey, 37307 Anderson Rd. Geismar, LA., age 27, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Milton Maloid, 3219 Shelley Dr. Baton Rouge, LA., age 34, pled guilty to Simple Criminal Damage to Property Over $500 and was sentenced to 1 year with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Chad Babin, 14450 L Keller Rd. St. Amant, LA., age 59, pled guilty to Attempted Simple Kidnapping and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation.

Cary Boudreaux, 44163 Hwy 429 Gonzales, LA., age 40, pled guilty to Felony Theft and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 5 years supervised probation.

LaShawn Alexander, 5264 Clayton Dr. Baton Rouge, LA., age 36, pled guilty to 2nd Degree Battery and was sentenced to 8 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 5 years supervised probation.

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Joni Buquoi and Steven Tureau. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Jessie LeBlanc.

Adonis Jarvis, 334 Tigerville Ln. Belle Rose, LA., age 26, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 10 years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was ordered that the imposed sentence is to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

Angela Guist, 17203 Hwy 431 Prairieville, LA., age 45, pled guilty to Possession of a Legend Drug without Prescription or Order and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation.

Crystal LeBlanc, 18112 Beechwood Dr. Prairieville, LA., age 37, pled guilty to Unauthorized Use of an Access Card and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Carlos Carranza Reyes, 38534 Hwy 74 Geismar, LA., age 35, pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Battery and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kenneth Dupaty and Shawn Bush. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Alvin Turner Jr.

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Ascension crime briefs - News - Gonzales Weekly Citizen ... - Weekly Citizen

Nine 9- to 14-year-old members of the Ascension Parish 4-H Club competed this past weekend at the Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match in Rogers, Arkansas.

The sharpshooters were the first team from Ascension Parish to make it to the national level for the shooting contest.

Before leaving for the event, 12-year-old Aidan Cole, of Prairieville, said, "I'm hoping to shoot the best I can. The shooting is what I look forward to the most."

To qualify, each team must have competed in the Daisy Shooting Education Program and be sponsored by an organization with adult leadership, such as 4-H.

The team competition, held at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center, started Friday and ended Monday.

The team with the overall highest score won the competition.

The Ascension 4-H group was one of three Louisiana teams competing, according to coach Jodi Daigle. The other two teams are from St. James and Franklin parishes.

James Daigle, 14, of Gonzales said he was proud to represent Ascension and Ascension 4-H shooting sports.

Jodi Daigle said the competition consists of a written exam. Then they shoot from four different positions: prone (laying down), standing, sitting and kneeling.

The team has been preparing since winning the state regionals in April.

Teams must have had at least eight hours of practice in order to compete in the national competition.

Jodi Daigle said during practice the team learns firearm safety, fundamentals of shooting in different positions, as well as Daisy rules and curriculum.

Katie Swanson, 11, from Prairieville, said, she liked learning about the safety of the guns and how to handle them. The club provided her with a chance to make new friends.

Parent Michelle Swanson said the weekend also included a grand opening ceremony, T-shirt competition and a Barter Bar area.

The Ascension 4-H Club swapped Louisiana-related trinkets with other teams across the country.

"This has all been amazing," Michelle Swanson said. "We couldn't be prouder of them. It really gives them a lot of confidence."

"They learn to focus on the next shot," Swanson added. "They can't stop and dwell on the past shot. They are really just competing against themselves. Each time they are hoping to get better."

Jaxon Swanson, 13, of Prairieville said, "We hope it brings attention to our team so we have more kids sign up in 4-H. The championship helps promote 4-H."

Along with paying out-of-pocket, the team raised money for competition expenses through sponsorships and the 4-H Club.

At presstime on Monday morning, the club was placed 25th out of 71 teams.

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Ascension 4-H'ers take aim at national BB Gun Championship - The Advocate

E&P

Ascension Of Saudi King's Son Will Prove Bullish For Oil Markets E&P The ascension of Prince Mohammed will likely drive greater regional volatility as the kingdom becomes more likely to enact and remain engaged on his agenda, but not immediately. A rise in regional conflict (specifically with Iran) and a focus on OPEC ... and more »

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Ascension Of Saudi King's Son Will Prove Bullish For Oil Markets - E&P

BBC News

Ascension Islanders left stranded after RAF halts flights - BBC News BBC News Ascension Island, home to around 800 people, is even more cut off than it used to be after weekly flights linking the island to the UK were stopped - due to a ... and more »

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Ascension Islanders left stranded after RAF halts flights - BBC News - BBC News

Entering Heaven alive (called by various religions "ascension", "assumption", or "translation") is a belief held in various religions. Since death is the normal end to an individual's life on Earth and the beginning of afterlife, entering Heaven without dying first is considered exceptional and usually a sign of God's special recognition of the individual's piety.

Unlike the other entries in this article, this paragraph does not, in the view of most Christians, relate to "entering Heaven alive". Jesus is considered by the vast majority of Christians to have died before being resurrected and ascending to heaven. In regard to his mother Mary, Eastern Orthodoxy considers her to have died prior to being assumed (translated) into heaven, while Roman Catholicism gives an ambiguous answer to the issue of her death prior to her assumption, despite her death being "expressly affirmed in the Liturgy of the Church".[1]Protestantism generally believes that Mary died a natural death like any other human being and was not subsequently assumed into heaven, although the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism often affirms the assumption.

Most Christians believe Jesus did initially die, but was then resurrected from the dead by God, before being raised bodily to heaven to sit at the Right Hand of God with a promise to someday return to earth. The minority views that Jesus didn't die are known as the Swoon hypothesis and Docetism.

Since the adoption of the Nicene Creed in 325, the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, as related in the New Testament, has been officially taught by all orthodox Christian churches and is celebrated on Ascension Thursday. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Ascension of the Lord is a Holy Day of Obligation. In the Eastern Orthodox Church the Ascension is one of twelve Great Feasts.

In the Reformed churches' tradition of Calvinism, belief in the ascension of Christ is included in the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Second Helvetic Confession."[2]

The "Rapture" is a reference to "being caught up" as found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord.[3]

The Roman Catholic Church distinguishes between "The Ascension", in which Christ rose to heaven by his own power, and "The Assumption" in which Mary, mother of Jesus, was raised to heaven by God's power.[4] (Enoch and Elijah are said in scripture to have been "assumed" [experienced assumption][clarification needed] into heaven.)

On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII, acting ex cathedra, issued Munificentissimus Deus, an authoritative statement of official doctrine of Roman Catholicism. In Section 44 the pope stated:[5]

By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

The doctrine is based on Sacred Tradition that Mary, mother of Jesus, was bodily assumed into heaven. For centuries before that, the assumption was celebrated in art. The proclamation leaves open whether or not Mary died before assumption into heaven. Some theologians[citation needed] have argued that Mary didn't die, but the dogma itself doesn't say this.[6]

The Eastern Orthodox Church teaches that three other persons were taken bodily into heaven: Enoch, Elijah (Elias) and the Theotokos (Virgin Mary). Similar to the Western "Assumption" of Mary, the Orthodox celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15. Unlike Western uncertainty about Mary's physical death, the Orthodox teach that Mary died a natural death like any other human being, that she was buried by the Apostles (except for Thomas, who was late), and three days later (after Thomas had arrived) was found to be missing from her tomb. The church teaches that the Apostles received a revelation during which the Theotokos appeared to them and told them she had been resurrected by Jesus and taken body and soul into heaven. The Orthodox teach that Mary already enjoys the fullness of heavenly bliss that the other saints will experience only after the Last Judgment.

There is a teaching among the Orthodox that the "Two Witnesses" referred to in the Book of Revelation 11:3-13 are Enoch and Elijah,[citation needed] who will be sent back to earth to preach the Gospel in the time of apostasy, and will be the last Christian martyrs before the Second Coming. According to Revelation, they will be resurrected and ascend again to heaven.

Yudhishthira of the Mahabharata is believed he was the only human to cross the plane between mortals and heaven in his mortal body.[8] But before him, his brother Arjun had been to heaven and lived there for 5 years in his human body! His grand-uncle Bhishma had lived and studied in heaven. His ancestor, Puru had been to heaven. Indeed, many kings, including Nahush were admitted to heaven in their human body. [9]

Sant Tukaram was taken to Vaikunta on Garuda Vahan which was witnessed by all the village people.[10]

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu disappeared after entering the temple deity room of Lord Jagannath.[11]

Ramalinga Swamigal (Swami Ramalinga), a great Sage revered by his teaching. Ramalinga supposedly attained the Supreme Body of the Godhead when Divinity itself merged with him. He was reported to have disappeared after deciding to de-materialize his immortal body by his own free will, his body was never found.[12]

The Mother (Mirra Alafassa), the foremost disciple of the Hindu philosopher and guru Sri Aurobindo, attempted the physical transformation of her body in order to become what she felt was the first of a new type of human individual by opening to the Supramental Truth Consciousness, a new power of spirit that Sri Aurobindo had allegedly discovered. She believed that she could create for herself a new kind of light body. However, she died and was cremated.

Meera Bai the devotional poet also disappeared when she entered the inner sanctum of Dwarikadheesh Temple and supposed to be in vaikuntha.

Islamic teaching states that Muhammad ascended into heaven alive at the site of the Dome of the Rock. However, this ascent was temporary and he came back to Earth. It is ascribed to the exact descriptions presented in both the Quran and the Hadith.

Islamic texts deny the idea of crucifixion or death attributed to Jesus by the New Testament.[13] The Quran states that people (i.e., the Jews and Romans) sought to kill Jesus, but they could not crucify or kill him, although "this was made to appear to them". Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified but instead he was raised up by God unto the heavens. This "raising" is often understood to mean through bodily ascension.

Some Islamic scholars have identified the prophet Idris to be the same person as Enoch from the Bible. This is because the Qu'ran states that God "raised him to a lofty station", and that has been taken to be a term for ascending, upon which it is concluded that 'Idris' was 'Enoch'.

In the Hebrew bible the word for "heavens" is shamayim. This is plural - it means "heavens", not "heaven" - but seems nevertheless to have a singular meaning: i.e., the older parts of the bible speak of "heavens" in the plural but evidence for a belief in more than one heaven from the bible is lacking. Shamayim also meant "sky", the atmosphere, as it does in modern English. The blue dome of the sky was called the raqia, and was believed to be a solid shield between the atmosphere and the true heaven where God lived.[dubious discuss] Heaven was the realm of God, earth of mankind, and the underworld was for the dead, and travel between them was generally impossible, although God and his messengers frequently appear on earth and the dead can be summoned up from the underworld as the Witch of Endor summons the shade of Samuel.

There are two possible exceptions to this general rule that humans could not go to heaven, Enoch and Elijah, but neither is clear. The Book of Genesis mentions Enoch as one who "was no more" because "God took him", but it does not explicitly say whether he was alive or dead, and it does not say where God took him. The Book of Kings describes the prophet Elijah being taken towards "shamayim" in a whirlwind, but the word can mean both heaven as the abode of God, or the sky (as the word "heavens" does in modern English), and so again the text is ambiguous.

According to the post-biblical Jewish Midrash, eight people went to heaven (also referred to as the Garden of Eden and Paradise) alive:[14]

It is believed in Zoroastrianism that the Peshotanu was taken up into Heaven alive[citation needed] and will someday return as the Zoroastrian messiah.

Francis Bacon is believed to have undergone a physical Ascension without experiencing death (he then became the deity St. Germain) by members of various Ascended Master Teachings, a group of New Age religions based on Theosophy. They also believe numerous others have undergone Ascension; they are called the Ascended Masters and are worshipped in this group of religions. The leaders of these religions claim to be able to receive channeled messages from the Ascended Masters, which they then relay to their followers.[17][18][19][20][21]

Originally posted here:

Entering Heaven alive - Wikipedia