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The youth from Ascension Lutheran Church invite the public to their annual Chilifest dinner on March 11 to help raise funds for youth mission trips.

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For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin 6:02 p.m. CT Feb. 27, 2017

Youth from Ascension Lutheran Church are pictured in Belize during a past mission trip.(Photo: Courtesy of Mark Rasner)

FOND DU LAC- The youth from Ascension Lutheran Church, 901 County V, in Fond du Lac, invite the public to their annual Chilifest dinner on March 11 to help raise funds for youth mission trips.

In the past, they have gone to Belize to do hands-on work with the local Jaguar Scouts, participating in various mission activities that changed many of their lives. Last year, the Chilifest dinner raised enough funds to do a reverse mission trip in which they brought the Jaguar Scouts from Belize to Fond du Lac to serve thecommunity. This year, they are looking for the communitys help to raise money for additional youth mission trips planned for this summer.

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The event will feature a silent auction with manyitems displayed prior to and during the event.A dinner of chili, hot dogs, chips and homemade desserts will be served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m..Games will be available for the kids and the nursery will be staffed.The evening will end with a live auction starting at 7.

For additional information or to make a donation, contact Mark Rasner at 920-907-2990 or mark.d.rasner@ampf.com.

Youth from Ascension Lutheran Church are pictured with Jaguar Scouts from Belize, who came to the Fond du Lac area as part of a reverse mission trip in 2016.(Photo: Courtesy of Mark Rasner)

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Ascension Lutheran Church youth to hold Chilifest - Fond du Lac Reporter

A food services manager and four employees at Galvez Middle School in Ascension Parish resigned in the 2015-16 school year after falsifying records to cover up the theft of approximately $200 to $300 of food, a recent independent auditor reported.

In an audit report released Monday for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2016, the Baton Rouge accounting firm of Postlethwaite and Netterville said that no charges were filed, because the employees resigned, and no restitution was made because officials felt the amount stolen to be too small to try to recover.

The letter D, which signifies fraud had been found, was assigned to the School Board's audit as a result of the theft.

Brad Cryer, director of local government with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's office, said assigning the letter D to an audit is not the same as a school grade of D.

"It doesn't mean a letter grade," Cryer said.

The audit reports that the school district's internal controls allowed detection of the theft, and that the food service program will continue to monitor reports and personnel activity.

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Ascension Parish school district employees resign after food theft - The Advocate

Turns out Utopia is in space. Paradox Interactive just announced the release date for the expansion for their epic sci-fi grand strategy game, Stellaris.

Stellaris: Utopia is the first big expansion pack for the Stellaris series. It grants players new mechanics to expand your galactic empire.

Your path to a perfect world will focus on pushing your species to gain new traditions and how they push towards their version of enlightenment that follows the Body, Mind, and Machine paths.

Heres exactly what you should expect in Stellaris: Utopia.

Stellaris:Utopias Path to Ascension comes April 9 on PC and will retail for $19.99. The Stellaris base game is available now for $39.99.

The stars have called you for millennia and now you walk among them. A universe of possibilities is open to your species as it takes its first fitful steps into the great unknown. Here you can turn your back on the divisive politics of the home planet. Here you can build something new. Here you can unify your people and build that perfect society.

Only in space can you build Utopia.

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Stellaris Brings Ascension Perks in Utopia Expansion - Wccftech

Ascension Public Schools is currently accepting applications for its Teach Ascension Academy, the district's alternative certification program. Applications are due by March 31 for the 2017-18 academic year.

In 2015, the Teach Ascension program was launched to recruit, train, and hire teachers from alternative professions or academic programs. This one-year program includes four weeks of intensive professional development over the summer, placement as a teacher during the school year with weekly professional development and master, mentor and supervising teacher support.

Tuition for the program is $4,000, but there are no out-of-pocket expenses for candidates as long as they teach in an Ascension Parish school for two years.

Requirements include, but are not limited to a Bachelors Degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher, as evidenced by an official transcript; Passing scores on PRAXIS I (or equivalent ACT/SAT score) and PRAXIS II (content knowledge) for the designated area in which the teacher will be teaching; and a "rigorous" selection process.

For more information about the Teach Ascension program, visit http://www.apsb.org/TeachAscension. To submit an application, visit http://www.apsb.org/ApplyNow.

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Time to apply for Teach Ascension Program - Donaldsonville Chief - Donaldsonville Chief

A 6-year-old girl was killed Saturday night after a drunk driver hit her family's vehicle on Interstate 10 in Gonzales, according to Louisiana State Police.

Samantha Keating, of Paulina, died from the serious injuries she sustained after a drunk driver hit her family's vehicle from behind at a high speed, causing both vehicles to enter the median and strike multiple trees. Natalie Keating and Anthony Keating, who were in the vehicle with Samantha, sustained moderate injuries in the 10 p.m. crash. All were properly restrained, according to state police spokesman Trooper First Class Bryan Lee.

State Police arrested 29-year-old Kenneth Lewis, of Geismar, who they believe was impaired when he caused the fatal crash.

Lewis was driving eastbound on I-10 behind the Keating's vehicle when he failed to slow down, striking the family's 2013 Toyota Highlander with his 2011 Ford Mustang, Lee said.

Lewis was not injured, Lee said.

Lewis was booked into Ascension Parish Jail on counts of first-offense DWI, vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injuring, reckless operation, obstruction of justice and open container.

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6-year-old girl killed by drunk driver in Gonzales I-10 crash, police say - The Advocate

The Church of the Ascension will be observing Ash Wednesday on March 1 with several happenings.

For the fifth year, the church will offer Ashes to Go in Veterans Square from 10:30-11:30 a.m. to provide an opportunity to receive ashes and a brief prayer to people who are not able to make a regular service that day.

The church will also offer more traditional services with communion at noon and 7 p.m. at the church located at 26 Chautauqua Place. Finally, the church will offer a modified form of Ashes to Go at the Bradford Regional Medical Center Chapel at 2 p.m. for patients and staff who wish to participate.

Receiving a sign of the cross made of ashes on the forehead is a traditional reminder to Christians of their mortal nature and is one way they can mark the beginning of Lent a season of reflection, penitence and self-denial observed by many Christians as a proper preparation for Holy Week and the Easter celebration that follows.

Ashes to Go is a worldwide movement to bring the rituals and blessings of the church out into the community to meet people where they are and make them accessible to a wider range of people.

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Church of the Ascension to offer Ashes to Go | Lifestyles ... - Bradford Era

Right off the heels of a successful summer event in Mykonos, the Ascension party has found a new home in Asbury Park this summer. The press release that just was released yesterday states Ascension Party, the summers wildest weekend festival of music, dance and friendship takes place August 4-6 in the beautiful beach town of Asbury Park. Thousands of men from around the globe will flock to the sun drenched Jersey shores for the three-day, eleven-party, fourteen-DJ festival. The merriment begins Friday night with the VIP cocktail party at 7pm hosted by the one and only DJ Lina, followed by the Ascension Underwear Party with world renowned DJ Eddie Martinez. It continues Saturday with the weekends main event, the Ascension Beach Party from 1pm to 8pm with International DJ Dani Toro and DJ Hansel, proceeded by the Saturday Night Celebration starring superstar DJ Paulo. Then, on Sunday, its time to break out the Speedos for the Ascension Pool Party with beats by Dan Slater, before heading to grand finale Closing Party, taking place Sunday at 10:30pm. Tickets for Ascension Party 2017 are available now online at http://www.ascensionparty.com.

We are thrilled to bring Ascension back to the states this year, says Eric von Kuersteiner. Ascension Party launched in 2006 on Fire Island Pines, where it continued annually until 2014. For the last two summers Ascension has taken place in Mykonos. We brought on a new partner for the weekend who brought a lot of fresh ideas including the idea to take the party to the beautiful beaches on the Jersey Shore.

The transformation of Asbury Park has been incredible. Major investments in the boardwalk area and the city over the past few years has completely transformed the downtown. The host hotel for Ascension, The Asbury, opened last summer after a 50 million dollar renovation. It was voted Best New Hotel in the U.S. in 2016.

Ascension is going to bring thousands of visitors from all over the tri-state area as well as the world to Asbury, continues von Kuersteiner. It will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase the local businesses to thousands of new visitors.

Ascension Party is a charity event, donating 100% of net proceeds to the LGBTQ community. Over one million dollars has been donated to over 40 different organizations to date. The LGBTQ community of Asbury Park will be the major benefactor for Ascension 2017.

2017 is a new chapter for Ascension and we are pulling out all the stops, promises von Kuersteiner. Once again, we aim to give guests a fun-in-the-sun experience they will always remember.

Ascension Party takes place Friday, August 4 through Sunday, August 6 at Asbury Park. Discount rate tickets will go on sale on March 1. The host hotel is The Asbury Hotel (210 5th Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ). Visit ascensionparty.com for ticket information.

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Ascension Party-Bringing The Heat To Asbury Park This Summer; August 4-6 - Huffington Post

LIVINGSTON A state district judge in Livingston Parish has set bail at $780,000 for a Baton Rouge contractor facing more than three dozen counts of defrauding homeowners and contracting without a license in that parish.

Matthew J. Morris, 39, remained Friday in Livingston Parish Detention Center in Livingston and has been booked with 40 counts filed by sheriff's deputies and police in Walker and Denham Springs, online jail records show.

The counts apply to 10 alleged victims in the town, city and parish, authorities have said. Judge Elizabeth "Beth" Wolfe of the 21st Judicial District Court set the bail Friday.

Morris, owner of Complete Construction Contractors, has been accused of using a complicated contract and billing system to run up construction bills primarily on victims of the August flood in multiple jurisdictions for work that these residents contend was not done or for which they were grossly overcharged. He has already been arrested on 100 counts related to 24 victims in five jurisdictions, with more counts and victims possible, authorities said.

Even if Morris can make bail in Livingston, which will require a cash bond, Ascension Parish sheriff's deputies have a hold on him. They want to book him on five more counts in that parish, deputies said.

Baton Rouge contractor Matthew Morris hasagain been arrested on fraud, this time in Walker

He was first arrested in Ascension Feb. 8 on dozens of counts in 13 cases but was able to leave jail Feb. 10 on $635,000 bail. He was rearrested Tuesday to be booked in Baton Rouge and then brought to Livingston to be booked on counts there.

Ascension Sheriff's Det. Lt. Chris Fontenot said deputies want Morris on two counts of residential contractor fraud, two counts of insurance fraud and one count of theft of assets from the aged.

Those charges apply to two more victims. Fontenot added that in addition to those two new cases, deputies are investigating possible charges on two more for a total of 17 cases.

Lori Steele, spokeswoman for the Livingston Parish sheriff, said deputies in that parish also are investigating more cases involving Morris, in addition to the eight for which counts have been filed.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Contractor given $780,000 bail in Livingston; more counts await in ... - The Advocate

GONZALESParish consulting engineer Michael Songy concluded Thursday that a new parish analysis of the August flood suggests the parishs elevation standards for new construction are sufficient for much of the parish.

But pressed by some council members about parish flood mitigation rules, Songy also acknowledged that to avoid flooding in the parishs lowest areas, it might be worth looking at requiring builders to elevate homes on piers or try other home-raising methods that dont require dirt.

Songy warned, however, that such rules would have to apply equally across a region or a subdivision so that all homes follow them and some are not later allowed to build on slab homes raised with dirt.

I certainly think it can be done, but it has to be done globally with an entire area or an entire development. Based upon what Im seeing here, yes, I think theres merit to that discussion, Songy said.

Songy offered the assessment at a council workshop as he presented a new analysis of the August flood in Ascension and how high the water got.

Louisiana State Climatologist Barry Keim also spoke to the council about the weather system that dropped all the rain that resulted in the flooding. Keim said rain in some areas north of Ascension Parish grossly exceeded what would be expected to fall in a 1,000-year rainfall event, or a rain that has a 0.1 percent chance of happening in a given year.

Councilmen Todd Lambert and Benny Johnson used the analysiss findings to raise questions about how the parish requires developers to account for the flooding impact on mounds of dirt used in new construction.

The fill and other drainage development rules prove controversial because residents often blame the fill required for elevation of new homes for neighboring drainage problems.

The August flood has been no exception, but Songy, as many parish officials and developers have in the past, defended the rules because no dirt can be imported into a new project and detention ponds must be built to account for the lost drainage storage capacity created by development.

Stirring the question about the elevation policies was Songys new flood analysis, which compiled a variety of data to come up with flood elevation measurements across the parish.

The analysis found that, with the exception of a limited area which roughly corresponds with the St. Amant and Lake areas near the Amite River, water levels matched within a foot to what would have been expected in a 100-year flood.

But, in the St. Amant and Lake areas of far eastern Ascension, flood water rose up as much as 2 feet higher than the predicted height of the 100-year flood.

I think the fact that if water got pretty well right to the 100-year (flood elevation) and youre asking them to build their structures 1 foot above, I think, you know, thats certainly appropriate, Songy said of the elevation standards.

When Songy offered his take on the parish elevation standards, he noted an exception for the St. Amant and Lake areas.

Parish standards require new homes be built 1 foot higher than the elevation expected in a 100-year flood, which is a flood that has a 1 percent chance of happening in a given year.

Questioned later, Songy said his firm did not yet know why those areas of St. Amant and Lake saw much higher water but are a topic for further study.

The 100-year-flood is deemed the benchmark risk level on federal flood insurance rate map. Those within the 100-year flood plain must have flood insurance on their homes if they have bank loans.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Engineer says Ascension Parish elevation standards for construction are appropriate for most of the parish, with ... - The Advocate

Ascension Parish community members helped take the fight against cancer forward by hosting the second annual Gonzales Gala, Saturday, Jan. 28 at Houmas House Plantation and Gardens.

The $150,000 raised will benefit local patients at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales, as well as advance local flood relief efforts.

The Gonzales Gala is a signature event of the newly founded Gonzales Area Foundation, which was established by DeEtte DeArmond, Ronnie Daigle, Wendy Daigle and Melanie Boudreaux. The gala planning committee consisted of dedicated community volunteers, representing various industries and geographic locations, along with DeArmond and Ronnie Daigle serving as co-chairs.

Our committees mantra has always been: the more we give, the better life gets in Ascension Parish, and especially for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center patients, DeArmond said. People we all know and love are being treated at the Center in Gonzales. And many of them have expressed to us how comfortable, convenient, and reassuring it is for them to be treated locally and receive the highest quality care. We want to ensure these services are always there for anyone in the area who needs them.

A sold-out crowd enjoyed a festive evening, including dinner, a live auction and musical entertainment. Speakers provided an update on the Centers progress and how funds raised will directly impact the more than 750 patients treated each year.

Mary Bird Perkins and St. Elizabeth Hospital have partnered for years to provide high-quality cancer services in Ascension Parish. Today, the Center offers the most advanced cancer-fighting technology and vital on-site services including nutritional and social services, early detection and outreach and patient financial counseling.

We practice without compromise, and we provide care for everyone who needs us. Fundraisers like the gala allow us to continue doing that, said Maurice King, MD, radiation oncologist at the Center. This generous effort makes a strong statement about the community, especially with the devastating flooding in Ascension Parishits a clear demonstration that the kindness, compassion and dedication toward neighbors transcends all.

A highlight of the event was the triumphant ringing of the Sound of Hope bell by a breast cancer survivor in front of all gala attendees. Ringing the bell after a patients last treatment has become a celebratory tradition at the Center, signifying completion of this phase of their journey and offering encouragement to others whose day has yet to come.

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center thanks the many sponsors who made the successful evening possible, including: R.J. Daigle and Sons Contractors, Price LeBlanc Toyota/Nissan/Lexus and Houmas House Plantation and Gardens.

For sponsorship or ticket information for the 2018 gala, contact DeArmond at (225) 715-1561 or Boudreaux at (225) 803-6322.

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 40 years. With five centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma and Gonzales, its service area encompasses 18 parishes across southeast Louisiana. For more information, please visit http://www.marybird.org.

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Ascension cancer patients to benefit from community gala - Donaldsonville Chief