Category Archives: Ascension

Christmas crusade

Nov. 6 is the deadline to submit applications for the Ascension Parish Sheriff Office's Christmas Crusade for Children, which provides toys for children around the parish.

Applications should be submitted to the Sheriff's Office, 828 S. Irma Blvd., Gonzales; Donaldsonville office, 300 Houmas St.; Hickley M. Waguespack Center, 1201 Maginnis St., Donaldsonville; District 2 substation, 13200 Airline Highway, Gonzales; and District 3 substation, 38567 La. 42, Prairieville.

For information, call (225) 621-8361.

Ascension Parish will honor area veterans during a parade at 2 p.m. Nov. 8.

The parade will roll from Irma Boulevard, continue south to Worthey Road, then right on Burnside Avenue and right on Cornerview Road.

Parade organizers are asking for residents to invite an area veteran to ride in their vehicles and decorate in red, white and blue. Due to the coronavirus, no floats or marching groups will be allowed.

Online voting is underway through Oct. 31 for the Arc of East Ascension's Virtual Dancing for a Cause with a Twist fundraiser.

There is a $10 donation to vote for your favorite video of dancing groups of teachers, school groups, local businesses and others.

You can vote for your favorite video as many times as you would like once every hour.

To vote, visit thearcea.com or https://brparents.secondstreetapp.com/Dancing-For-A-Cause-Virtual-2020-With-a-Twist/gallery.

For more information, call (225) 621-2005 or email sharon.morris@thearcea.org.

Ascension Parish 4-H and the LSU Agricultural Center are taking orders for sweet potatoes and peeled pecan halves through Oct. 26. Pickup will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov 17-18 at the 4-H office at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

All proceeds will benefit Ascension Parish 4H Foundation to increase scholarships and programs.

The sweet potatoes cost $13 for a 10-pound box and $26 for a 40-pound box; a 3-pound box of peeled pecanscosts $30.

To order, call (225) 621-5799, email cbrady@agcenter.lsu.edu, contact any 4-Her in the parish or visit lsuagcenter.com/ascension4h.

The River Region Art Association is holding its inaugural Depot Makers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 17. The association is looking for people who have handmade crafts, art, jewelry, food, home decor, yard art or other handmade items they wish to sell at the market, which will be held in the adjacent parking area to the Depot Gallery, 320 East Ascension St., in Gonzales.

Vendors must provide their own tables/chairs and tents; electricity will be available. To reserve your spot, visit riverregionartassociation.org to obtain a booth form. Fill out the form with payment and mail to the River Region Art Association for your spot.

For information, call association president Sharon Flanagan at (504) 452-2616.

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Around Ascension for Oct. 14, 2020 | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate

Vocalist Burton C. Bellhas spoken toEamon O'Neill from eonmusic about his shock exit fromFear Factory, working withGeezer Butleron hisG//Z/Ralbum, and his new projectAscension Of The Watchers. An excerpt follows:

On Apropyca, the album Burton's just released withThe Watchers:"It's somethingthat I've been working on for literally ten years.Ascension Of The Watchers, to me, is the most personal, and the most representational piece of work I've ever done, in my entire career. So,Fear Factoryfans can actually get an in depth look into the sounds that were created for Fear Factory. So, there are a lot of similarities, and there are a lot of differences as well."

On working withBlack Sabbath's Geezer Butlerfor 1995's Plastic Planet (which is being rereleased on October 30th, via BMG):"Obviously I was a fan ofBlack Sabbathalready, and to be working with... It's fuckingGeezer Butler, you know what I mean? So he took me up to his studio which was an attic, and it was like aBlack Sabbathmuseum, and my heart was just like eek! I was looking at everything, trying to hold my jaw up! I saw the Sabotage platinum record on the wall, and I said; 'God damnit, that was the first record I loved byBlack Sabbath, it's my favourite record byBlack Sabbath!', and he looked at me like I was crazy, and he was like; [doesGeezer's accent] 'Really?! That record?!'"

On not being asked back to work onGeezer's Black Science album in 1997:"I was disappointed that I wasn't used again, but they wanted someone that had more of an open schedule, I guess. Demanufacture did very well right after that, and I was touring that andG//Z/R, so I was busy. But yeah, I'm not really sure why I wasn't on the second record. But regardless, I am very proud of the work that we did on Plastic Planet, and I'm just honoured to have the opportunity."

Finally,Burtonspoks of his disappointment at not being able to fulfill planned Fear Factory Obsolete anniversary shows due to legalities:"There was things that happened that just kept us from doing that, so yeah, I'm very sad that that never happened, because that would have been really cool. Yeah, I was totally stifled, and it was beyond my control in that Fear Factory camp."

To read the complete interview, visitthis location.

Industrial gothic rockers Ascension Of The Watchers - the creative, and innovative journey of former Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell - will release their new album, Apocrypha, on October 9 via Dissonance Productions.

A music video for the song "The End Is Always The Beginning" can be found below. Says Bell: "Now, more than ever, my words are a true reflection of my mind. 'The End Is Always The Beginning' is a true statement, in every aspect of life, it all depends on the individual perspective. The video was created by Victor Hugo-Borges and is another surreal snippet into Ascension Of The Watchers. The meaning is unique for every listener and viewer. There is no incorrect analysis. Take what you will from it. For me, this is the beginning of a whole new chapter, and this song validates my personal strength to truly understand what it means to move forward."

Born of life, love and spirituality, Bells unmistakable, harmonious inventory once renowned in one of metals finest pioneering acts has brought life to a new concept, a genre of its own. Ambient atmospheres, melodies and introspective lyrics that sheds light of Bells visions, as seen in their purest form. An intimate nature that Ascension Of The Watchers envisioned, to draw the minds, hearts and aspirations of a people to a higher level of thinking to a feeling with cohesive celebration and reflection in the beauty of existence.

Tracklisting:

Ghost HeartThe End Is Always The BeginningApocryphaA Wolf InterludeHonoreeStormcrowCygnus AeonKey To The CosmosBells Of PerditionWanderersSign Your Name

Ghost Heart video:

The story of Ascension Of The Watchers:

In early 2002 Burton retreated to the quiet, simplicity of rural Pennsylvania for seven months with his friend and musical confidant John Bechdel, escaping the onslaught of Los Angeles, and industry alike. A mentor in music, philosophy and demeanour, Bechdel unwittingly guided Bell along the creative path of this new conceptual movement.

With Burtons unprecedented vocal sound and style, coupled with the brilliantly orchestrated musical compositions of both Bell and Bechdel (synonymous with pioneering tags to the industrial/metal genre) the pair began experimenting with textured melodies of melancholic tones, best attributed to the 80s and 90s underground scene. Ascension Of The Watchers echoes the sounds of a prophetic hallucination, fears and dreams with remorse of things lost and forgotten; but with a hope of redemption and light in the future.

In 2004, Ascension Of The Watchers independently released Iconoclast, printed only on CD and vinyl to a limited number. In 2008, with the help John Bechdel and Paul Raven (RIP), Burton brought Ascension Of The Watchers to Ministry legend Al Jourgensens label, 13th Planet. With the guidance and special collaborations with Jourgensen during the recording and mixing in El Paso, Texas, AOTW added the guitar talents of Eduardo Mussi. It also featured Paul Ravens last contribution as a bass player on the track Mars Becoming.

In 2008, Ascension Of The Watchers debut LP Numinosum was released through 13th Planet. Upon release, AOTW performed special, intimate shows, including the album release performance at Alex Greys Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in NYC. They also had the honour of supporting Killing Joke for their reunion tour in honour of their fallen friend, Paul Raven.

In 2017, the friendship between renowned UK solo artist Jayce Lewis and Burton brought in the essential camaraderie, talents and studio that perfectly suited the recording of Apocrypha. Northstone Studios, based in the countryside of South Wales, connected to the 250 year old Court Colman Manor, the studio built by Lewis own hands using the ancient stones of the monastery that once stood there, the rustic detail proved a perfect setting for AOTWs very own Jayce Lewis to record, produce and mix the Apocrypha album. A recording process that literally stirred the souls that remain within the stone walls of Lewis Northstone Studios. During the vocal recordings of the title track, a recording was inadvertently captured from the aether; an eerie, unrecognizable and untranslatable, syllabic phrase whispered within the vocal booth. The event is now the intro to the title track, Apocrypha.

In Truth, the making of Apocrypha has been a decade long journey of writing and recording, from California, Pennsylvania, New York and Wales. In 2018 the band decided to utilize the crowdfunding platform PledgeMusic to jumpstart the project. After a very successful campaign, raising 124% of their goal, PledgeMusic went into administration, eventually declaring bankruptcy, and in turn, would never release any of the funds dedicated to Ascension Of The Watchers. Nevertheless, the band persevered to complete the album.

After ten years of writing and recording, along with reflection on the very personal nature of this project, Ascension Of The Watchers will renew its journey in 2020, with the culmination of the long awaited release, Apocrypha. With plans of conceptualized touring, AOTW continues to grow as Bells main creative endeavour, well into the future.

Lineup:

Burton C. Bell - vocals and guitarJohn Bechdel - keyboardsJayce Lewis - drums, backing vocals and programming

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BURTON C. BELL - "ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS Is The Most Personal, Most Representational Piece Of Work I've Ever Done" - bravewords.com

In the aftermath of the Denver Nuggets strained conquest of the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals, much of the focus has gone to the Clippers, who collapsed in increasingly dramatic fashion upon gaining a 3-1 edge in the seven-game set. And that is fair, very fair.As RealGMs Colin McGowan notes at eloquent length, they were a particularly schadenfreude-inspiring team that, to boot, carries with them a spiritual lack that feels endemic to their franchises origins; an unshakeable ghost of mediocrity and inauthenticity, the repeated burning of which is a sort of medicine to many dedicated NBA followers.

But on the flip-side of this epic demise is the joyful rise of one of the leagues youngest, most unique teams. Technically the 11th youngest roster as measured by median age, the Nuggets average lived experience is dragged way up by the lone veteran within their rotation, 35-year-old Paul Millsap. Its also worth noting that 29-year-old starter Will Barton has been injured for the entirety of the Nuggets Orlando bubble experience, and that the super-green Michael Porter Jr., recently 22, has taken the lions share of his minutes. These guys are young, really young, truly spermatozoic as contenders, and their early ascension has been one of the sports most infectious bildungsromans that weve seen in some time.

Porter himself presents the most distilled coming-of-age arc of the bunch. He entered the bubble technically a rookie after missing his entire first season because of a potentially life-altering back injury that kept him out of his college playing experience for all but three gamesit also caused him to drop out of the lottery range of the 2018 NBA Draft, after once being the No. 1 prospect in the country. During the news cycle of said draft, Porter made some laughably self-aggrandizing comments, likening himself toa mix ofKevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. This comment inspired long-lasting, reasonable doubts about his maturity and sense of himself, doubts which resurfaced when, following a late regular-season explosion of scoring and rebounding productivity, Porter became a defensive liability in the Nuggets first round battle against the Utah Jazz, as opposing coach Quin Snyder had his team hunt and destroy Porter in mismatches over and over again. His minutes winnowed as the series swamped on to its Game 7 slugfest, and especially once guard Gary Harris, the stunningly adept and active anchor of the Nuggets defense, returned from injury.

Porter then again raised his skeptics ears up when he implied he needed more touches and shots after a dispiriting Game 4 beatdown in the next round at the hands of the Clippers. By the time the Nuggets had reached the final sprint of their shocking comeback, though, Porter was ready to put in a box score that coaches everywhere love to see: 15 minutes, two shots, and seven rebounds in Game 7. Numbers that would make any old-school, grit-and-grind, fundamentals-worshipping father blush. His defense has improved faster than just about anyones ever has, as well, and Porter's deference for the teams gravitational centerpiece, Serbian big man Nikola Jokic, also rose over the course of these redemptive games. At one point Porter called Jokicthe best player in the world.

Its Jokic who, more than anyone, created the vortex within Porter and the rest of them rose, and the Clippers fell. Second to only LeBron James at making ten professional basketball players, with and against him, move at his speed, the beguiling center is already legend at the age of 25. Said speed of game is singular, and certainly difficult to describe. In the halfcourt, Jokic is easily the slowest MVP candidate since Shaquille ONealwho he is slower than. But as a defensive rebounder, the Nuggets often turn stops into baskets faster than anyone else in the league, because of Jokics trademarkone-handed rebound-to-pass.Harris, Jamal Murray, Porter, Jerami Grant, and the rest of a fast roster built around a slow man has gotten so used to Jokics willingness and vision as a passer that most of the leagues best cutters-to-the-rim are all on this team.

And in Murray, Jokic has a duo-mate whos had the most fearsome fits of scoring fire of anyone in these playoffs. The Canadian is profiled as a lifetime student of Zen meditation in many a broadcast, and when the powers of spiritual presence that this has earned him are manifest in the line between him and the basket, its one of the most watchable sights in basketball. Murray had 40 points in the closeout game against Los Angeles, topping off the victory with an absurdly deep, unbalanced three-pointer that devoted fans of Murray were sure would be all net. After that shot, and Grants breakaway dunk right after, the Nuggets extended their lead to 20 points, crystallizing the theretofore surreal proof of their concept as they toppled a team thats been spoken of as one that only LeBron could touch for the past year. Now its the Nuggets who go on to face the NBAs king, instead, and youd be silly to be surprised by anything they do in his palace, by now.

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The Early Ascension Of The Nuggets - RealGM.com

The long-awaited, first Fort Worth location of Ascension Coffee will finally be opening in WestBend soon. It was originally slated for an early 2020 opening, but is now set to debut on October 20 at 1751 River Run Suite No. 151.

It will be located next-door to Bartaco, backing onto the Trinity River with an expanded covered patio and a spectacular view providing another quick stop right off the Trinity Trail system.

Founder Russell Hayward is now on the board of the company, and in charge of the coffee roastery side of the business. Bill Schaffler, whose resume includes his years serving as CFO of both La Madeleine and Nothing Bundt Cakes, took over as president in July of 2019. Since Schafflers arrival a lot has changed. He sat down with PaperCity Fort Worth to explain.

Many changes at Ascension Coffee were already in the works, prior to the appearance of coronavirus, like the crystallization of the menu a shift that was implemented companywide in June.

As the concept grew from two location to nine, the menu expanded with it, Schaffler says. We found ourselves with over 40 items, and now we have slimmed down to our top selling 30 items. We just needed to streamline our menu as well as add value to our customers experience. So you might notice our pricing has changed as well.

Another welcome change is the addition of all-day-breakfast. Regulars love Ascensions Aussie Bacon + Egg Roll, served on a brioche bun and topped with Jersey butter, and the popular Bacon + Egg Protein Brekky with roasted mushrooms, blistered tomatoes and avocado. But this is a coffee shop that serves all three meals and every nosh in-between. At lunchtime, several sandwiches shine like the Wagyu Pastrami, a classic cold Reuben with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and more Jersey butter.

Ascension is also known for their bowls, including the Hippie Bowl filled with ancient grains, kale and pickled beets, among other things. The new Fort Worth Ascension Coffee will be a prime spot for the college crowd to sit, soak and study. It should also become a sought-after brunch destination with mimosa carafes for $10 and a relaxing view of the Trinity River.

Schaffler says ramping up to open the first Fort Worth Ascension has put a lot of things on the fast track like nailing down their design philosophy. He calls the Fort Worth Ascension Coffee a prototype for the company going forward. The company worked with Plan B Group on the many design updates.

Youll see polished concrete floors, as well as both subway tile behind the main counter and bold Moroccan tiles in white and gray tones on a pony wall dividing the space. Shelving toward the back will display a selection of coffee-brewing supplies as well. Seating will be cafe style inside, with a counter positioned near windows that can open in the event of ideal weather in Texas.

The Fort Worth Ascension also will have a handy service window off the Trinity Trail to hand quick cups and snacks to sweaty cyclists and joggers. The patio will wrap two sides of the building, and will be covered by permanent awnings, with brick pavers under foot. This will also be the first Ascension Coffee to serve wine, and local beer (including Fort Worths Martin House), along with the usual cold brews and nitro coffees on eight taps.

Future Ascension Coffees will have more of an emphasis on outdoor dining as well, Schaffler reveals. Addisons Ascension has already gotten the new styling treatment, and Dallas Oak Lawn and Crescent Court locations are up next.

Ascension was introduced to Black Rooster Bakery also in Fort Worth, and have found their European style pastries to be a huge hit so much so that Black Rooster pastries are now available in all Dallas Ascension locations, baked fresh daily. The new Fort Worth coffee shop and future Ascension locations will include a glass pastry case to display them.

Schaffler says they took the chance to reevaluate during the coronavirus shutdowns, and chose to close four of Ascensions Dallas locations (two in downtown, one in Willow Bend Mall and another located in a North Dallas office building). So there are five locations currently and when Fort Worth opens it will be Ascensions sixth.

The closures put us in a much stronger position, Schaffler tells PaperCity Fort Worth. We are now able to focus on real estate with a great future, and we are actively looking at adding multiple locations in Plano, North Dallas and Tarrant County.

Coronavirus also saw Ascension Coffee add a new point-of-sale system called TOAST, bringing the convenience of online ordering and pickup orders. Those new sales now make up about 20 percent of Ascensions overall sales, since just being rolled out in June. Next up? Ascensions new app, which will expand those sales and add a loyalty program. The new app will roll out companywide with the opening of the WestBend Ascension on October 20.

Ascension Coffee sources, blends and roasts its own coffee and its new motto is Farm-To-Cup as coffee drinkers are increasingly more interested in where their coffee is sourced. Sourcing and roasting remain founder Russell Haywards great passion with Ascension only sourcing the top two percent of coffee in the world.

We are proud to source the best coffee globally, Schaffler says. We wont serve beans that dont score above an 84 by the Specialty Coffee Association of America and have recently launched our Cups of Excellence program, buying small lots of some of the most premium beans from around the world.

It makes for an exceptional cup of coffee one that comes with its own compelling story, like the bags they just acquired from Yemen, and plan to introduce to customers next spring. Other Cups of Excellence include special beans from Peru and an additional roast from Guatemala.

Ascension Coffee has added pour-over brewing as well as Doki Doki which is a unique Kyoto-style cold brew method dating back to 1600s.

The company has had a transformative year, and Bill Schaffler hopes all the introspection will pay off as they look to expand the brand even more in the metroplex. The new Fort Worth Ascension Coffee will open at 6:30 am once it debuts in the October with the closing time still to be determined.

Its a new coffee world.

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New Fort Worth Ascension Coffee to be a Showcase for Significant Changes With the Popular Concept - PaperCity Magazine

By ADAM SHINDER

Staff Writer

St. Marys Healthcares return to its former status as an independent Catholic healthcare ministry became official this week as the organization completed the final steps of its process of separating from the Ascension healthcare system, which St. Marys had been a part of since 2002.

St. Marys announced the finalization of its return to independent status in a press release Tuesday, and president and CEO Scott Bruce said in a phone interview Wednesday that he was excited for where the move will take St. Marys moving forward.

Its a big deal, Bruce said. A lot of time and work has gone into this on the part of the senior leadership team here and prior, too. Of course the board of directors here are very instrumental in making this happen, and a very cooperative relationship with Ascension at the same time.

St. Marys and Ascension announced in March the agreement that the Amsterdam-based ministry would return to its independent status.

With the move now complete, St. Marys board of directors will now be able to have a more immediate hand in the governing process.

Our board of directors, theyre excited to be engaged and working directly with senior leadership here from a governance perspective, rather than working with not only us, but Ascension as well, Bruce said. It will streamline things and have more of that decision-making right here in Amsterdam.

It also means a more direct line of engagement with the local community. St. Marys spokesman Rick Hyde said, Once were past COVID and able to participate in events, youre going to see a lot more of St. Marys.

Bruce added, Weve always tried to maintain that direct, active relationship with the community. I think it will be a little bit more direct now, and I think well be out even more, but weve really tried to maintain that even during this period as a part of Ascension. But, I would expect that to increase now.

The shift will also see a change in signage, letterhead, corporate documents, marketing material and the St. Marys website that move away from co-branding with Ascension.

Bruce, who was St. Marys vice president at the time the announcement was made and took over as president and CEO in July following the retirement of longtime leader Vic Giulianelli, said the final steps of the process included fine-tuning many of the organizational aspects that were handled by Ascension at either a regional or national level, including information technology and human resources.

Ascension is a very highly-integrated organization, Bruce said. Its not just a contractual relationship between us and Ascension. From IT to human resources to finance, all of those solutions here in Amsterdam were part of larger solutions that were sponsored by Ascension.

Bruce said that, as part of the agreement, Ascension would continue to provide some services to St. Marys for at least the next ninth months or so.

When the decision to return to independent status was announced in March, Giulianelli said it would take a full year for St. Marys to take over the 16 hospital systems provided either by Ascension or companies affiliated with Ascension.

St. Marys, founded in 1903, joined Ascension in 2002 when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet added their Carondelet Health System to the national health system.

The move for independence, Bruce said, was the best step forward for St. Marys.

This is a process weve been at for a while now, just trying to determine what was the best scenario for St. Marys here at the local level, he said. We just decided, with cooperation from Ascension, that the best path forward for us was an independent path.

St. Marys employs around 1,600 people and takes care of about 430,000 outpatient visits per year as well as a 150-bed nursing home.

A lot of time and effort on the part of a lot of folks here and St. Louis [where Ascension is headquartered] went into making this happen, Bruce said. I think were excited to have this part of it completed and excited to move onto our future as an independent organization and independent ministry.

Reach Adam Shinder at ashinder@dailygazette.netor @Adam_Shinder on Twitter.

Originally posted here:

St. Marys Healthcare independent ministry again - The Recorder

Ascension Catholic has played football for a long time over 100 years. The 2020 version of the Bulldogs includes a look at the present and the future.

Coach Benny Saia enters his second season after leading his team to a 9-0 record and a playoff loss to Southern Lab. We had a great season. We did not finish like we wanted to as a team, but I am excited about this team and the future, Saia said.

Gone from last years team are several 3- and 4-year starters like Brock Acosta, Eric Simon, Nick Hilliard (Princeton football) and Sam Mire. Also gone are Dorian Barber and Demontray Harry. We lost a great senior class with several 4-year starters. The one that most people ask me about is Jai Williams he was a special talent for sure, Saia said.

Williams has moved on to Nicholls State as Ascension Catholic's all-time leading scorer (106 touchdowns) and nearly 7,600 rushing yards. He only trails his dad, Germaine Williams, who finished with 8,000 yards and 99 touchdowns.

The cupboard is certainly not bare for the Bulldogs. Several starters return on both sides of the ball. The offense will be led by quarterback Bryce Leonard, a sophomore who showed some flashes as a freshman. Bryce got valuable experience last season. He has the respect of his teammates that is a huge plus for us. We are hoping to put more on his plate this season, Saia said.

Leonard threw for nearly 1,000 yards last season and double-digit touchdown passes. Filling the role as the main back will be sophomore Khai Prean. Prean is a talented runner with great vision and finished with nearly 1000 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns. New running backs will be sophomore Casey Mays, junior Ethan Lewellen and junior Trevion Jacob.

The receivers will be fairly new. Returning is senior Joel Landry and senior Matthew Lafleur. Newcomers include sophomore Brooks Leonard, junior Troy Cole and senior Baylor Leonard. Brooks and Baylor Leonard join their brother, QB Bryce Leonard, with a certain level of comfort. Brooks will be a precise route runner. Cole is coming over from basketball at a tall and long 6'3", he can certainly be a weapon.

The offensive line loses Mire and Hilliard (all state). Back are starters Owen Smith (265), Damien Pedescleaux (230) and LaShawn Bell (295). Smith is a returning all-district and all-parish lineman with some college offers. Bell will be moving to center and should provide good protection for QB Leonard. Pedescleaux returns at tackle and he has really matured. Owen Smith and Devin Pedescleaux have shown leadership up front for us early on, said Saia. Newcomers include junior Jacque Husers (225), freshmen Travis Cedatol (230) and freshmen Tre Williams (240). Senior Grant Richard is injured but is expected to return and be valuable player that can play several positions.

When the Bulldogs use a tight end, look for JMond Tapp (6'4"), senior Gage Breaux and freshman Jackson Landry (6'2") to get some reps. Tapp emerged as a big target in the red zone.

The kicker will be the steady senior Jacob Dunn.

The Bulldog defense will have a major overhaul with only four starters returning. Smith, Tapp, Pedescleaux and Bell return up front in the Bulldogs three-man front. Tapp has received several offers including some SEC offers. Other defensive lineman expected to contribute are Husers and Tre Williams.

The Bulldogs will break in three new linebackers. Dunn is moving down from his defensive back position. Newcomers are senior Brayden Duhon, junior Lewellen, freshmen Jackson Landry and freshmen Adrian Prean. The defensive backfield must replace the starting corners including all district/all parish Eric Simon. Juniors Lex Melancon and Jacob are potential starters along with sophomore Layton Melancon and sophomore Mays. Lafleur and Breaux return in the secondary.

Matt, Gage and Jacob have been some early vocal leaders for us. They have some experience in our defense," Saia said.

Other potential newcomers that will challenge for playing time are sophomore Noah Robicheaux and senior Joel Landry. Replacing all-district/all-parish Brock Acosta will be tough, but early candidates include Khai Prean, Cole and Lafleur. The punter will be LaFleur, who was first team all-district last season. The Bulldogs lose games 1 and 2 due to the delayed start, but will still have some early tests with CCMC and Erath. Winning the district last season for the first time in 20 plus years was exciting, but the coaches know they will have a bullseye on their back.

White Castle, East Iberville, St. John and Ascension Christian will be tough opponents for the Bulldogs. As the Bulldogs prepare for what looks to be a strange season, one thing is certain.

The boys have responded well. Last season is the past this team is a new one with some unknowns, (but) we are excited to play. Our future is very bright, Saia said.

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2020 Ascension Catholic football should have touches of the past, present, future - The Advocate

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Ascension to resume walk-in clinic for fall sports on Saturday - WNEM Saginaw

ASCENSION PARISH - Ascension Parish DPW has made sand and bags available in anticipation of heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Sally.

Locations on the East Bank of the parish are:

Darrow Fire Station Butch Gore Memorial Park, 14550 Harry Savoy Rd., St. Amant Ascension Parish Fire Protection District No. 1, 13192 Airline Hwy., Gonzales Stevens Park, 4323 Cannon Road, Gonzales Jackie Robinson Memorial Park, 35638 Coco Road, Geismar Galvez Lake Fire Dept, Joe Sevario Rd. 7th District Fire Dept, Roddy Rd. St. Amant Park Highway 431 curve in Lake Kleinpeter Rd.@ Ridge Rd. Buxton Rd. Prairieville School, Parker Rd. Tullier Subdivision

West Bank locations are:

Modeste Brusly Township Road Lemanville Park Abend Park Saint Jude Subdivision DPW West, Church St, Donaldsonville

Palo Alto Fire Station

Residents need to bring their own shovels.

Requests for service should be made to the Citizens Service Center at 225-450-1200.

At the same time, sign up for the Everbridge Emergency Alert System.

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Ascension Makes Sand and Bags Available Ahead of Sally - WBRZ

GONZALES The owners of 86 acres in Prairieville are accusing Ascension Parish government of an illegal taking that deprived them of a $7 million sale after the parish denied their plans to turn the property into a new neighborhood.

A new lawsuit brought by members of the Delaune family, who have held the property and raised cattle there for nearly 100 years, claims the actions by the Planning Commission and Parish Council were arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion and an "unreasonable exercise of police powers."

Then known as the Antebellum Pointe neighborhood, the 237-home proposal sparked significant controversy in March when it went before the Planning Commission, in large measure because it would have emptied more cars onto a congested and growing stretch of La. 73 between Airline Highway and Interstate 10. Twenty-four people spoke out about the project then, all but two opposed.

GONZALES A retired Baton Rouge doctor is proposing a 60-unit condominium complex in the La. 42 corridor of Prairieville where a handful of o

The suit, which was filed Sept. 9 in the 23rd Judicial District Court, touches on a question that has roiled the Planning Commission for several years: whether and how the commission can say "no" on new development over infrastructure concerns.

The suit also constitutes a major test to a Planning Commission appeal process changed a few years ago over past development fights and to a 2018 revision that toughened the parish traffic impact policy.

Debate over the project in March and again in July before the Parish Council focused on interpretations of that policy's requirements for new developments. It raised the question of whether the parish could rely on the assumption that a $72 million state widening of Interstate 10 underway between Highland Road and La. 73 would alleviate traffic backups on the highway as traffic studies suggested.

GONZALES For the first time, the Ascension Parish Council on Thursday will try out a new appeal procedure for proposed subdivisions its Plan

The plaintiffs have asked the state court to overturn the parish's decisions and authorize the subdivision plan for Delaune Estates, or to award them damages to compensate for their losses on the land, plus attorneys' fees and all other fees and costs.

The plaintiffs William Delaune Jr., Diane Francis King, four other members of the Delaune family and a family partnership claim the combined decisions of the commission and council confine their property to agricultural use, so it isn't worth the $81,500 per acre they had been offered to develop it.

"The adverse finding by the Planning Commission and the Board of Appeals' decision are contrary to the facts and applicable law, are not supported by the evidence, and are arbitrary and capricious," the suit alleges.

These decisions, the suit alleges, have caused financial and other harm to the Delaune family.

GONZALES The second time was the charm for the developers of Oak Grove Townhomes and a $100,000 commitment for drainage improvements to

In March, the Planning Commission had voted 4-3 to deny the project. In July, meeting as the commission Board of Appeals, the 11-member Parish Council failed to get enough votes to overturn the commission's decision. The vote to overturn was 6-4, but, under council rules, a two-thirds majority was needed, or 8 votes.

Councilman Joel Robert was absent from the appeal hearing because he was out of town but has since said he would have voted to uphold the commission's denial. He later drew fire over his comments to a council secretary because his statement about that vote wasn't read out loud at the meeting. He apologized.

The project was known as Antebellum Pointe before the commission, but the Delaunes changed the name to Delaune Estates by the time of their appeal to the council in July.

Martin McConnell, parish government spokesman, said Tuesday the parish has not yet been served with the suit and declined to comment.

Michael Clegg, the plaintiffs' attorney representing the Delaunes, was out of town this week, a person answering his office phone said Tuesday.

GONZALESA homeowners association and three Ascension Parish residents known collectively as Concerned Citizens of Prairieville have asked a

The suit names the parish Planning Commission, Parish Council and the parish Board of Appeals collectively and parish government as defendants.

The suit also takes individual aim at first-term Parish President Clint Cointment, who recommended in public letters to the commission in March and to the Parish Council in July to deny the project over traffic concerns on La. 73 and the lack of parish government sewer service.

In the suit, the plaintiffs accuse Cointment of "likely improper influence" on appeal hearing testimony from parish staff and the parish's contract engineers, though the plaintiffs don't describe what that influence was.

The suit also alleges Cointment wrongfully joined the second of two closed-door sessions during that hearing on July 27 when the Parish Council received legal advice.

"His urging and/or physical presence influenced and dissuaded certain" Council members from casting a vote that would have supported the project by overturning the commission's decision, the suit alleges.

GONZALES The Ascension Parish Planning Commission rejected subdivision plans three times in 2016 on the grounds that construction of each wo

At both hearings in March and July, representatives of the Delaunes had contended they had followed all the parish's requirements for traffic, drainage, sewage and other matters.

But the parish staff and the parish consulting engineer said that without mitigation efforts from state highway officials, including the I-10 widening under construction and also changing traffic light timing on La. 73, the project would not comply with the traffic policy.

The Delaunes did offer to delay the occupancy of homes until 2022 and take other measures to delay the traffic impact on La. 73 until after I-10 was finished. Some parish officials, however, suggested then that the developer wait until I-10 was finished and conduct another study to see how traffic improved; others thought the subdivision met the policy's requirements or didn't want to risk a potentially costly lawsuit.

Ascension Parish Councilman Joel Robert offered one more apology Thursday night to the council secretary for his expletive-laden voicemail las

Rodney Mallett, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation and Development, said Tuesday the widening of I-10 is expected to be finished in November, weather permitting. He added that the developers have not requested light signalization changes on La. 73.

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When can Ascension Parish block new neighborhoods over traffic? A lawsuit puts it to the test - The Advocate

Tropical Storm Sally may be shifting eastward, but officials in Ascension Parish have been going through their standard hurricane preparations.

The pumps at the Marvin J. Braud Pumping Station went on shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday to begin lowering water levels in the east bank's bayous and canals and sand bag sites have been set up across the parish, a government spokesman said.

Parish officials pump down waterways so they are better able to handle runoff from heavy rain in major storms.U.S. Geological Survey streamgaugesin the New River Canal and in Bayou Francois and Black Bayou near Gonzales showed Monday morning that water levels had dropped about two feet since Sunday evening.

Pumping by the station in the McElroy Swamp in the southeastern corner of the east bank affects drainage in around 76 square miles of that side of the parish, including Gonzales, St. Amant and parts of southern Prairieville and greater Sorrento.

Martin McConnell, the spokesman, said 20 different sites have been set up. He added the parish hasn't been able to replenish the shipping containers that normally hold pre-filled bags. They were used for Hurricanes Marco and Laura a few weeks ago.

"All day, yesterday, we had three dump trucks running and bringing to various places around parish, so people have sand and bags," McConnell said.

The latest forecast track for Tropical Storm Sally shows the storm is still shifting east to a landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi border,

Though Sally's eastward shift has lessened the risk of heavy rain and wind from a storm that is expected to develop into a slow-moving hurricane, the lower parts of Ascension still face some risk from expected storm surge of four to six feet in Lake Maurepas, the National Hurricane Center says.

Surge modeling from the the National Hurricane Center suggests lowest parts of Ascension, Livingston and St. James parishes could see between and more than 1 feet of water on the ground, though most of those ares are north of I-10 in St. James and the far lower reaches of Livingston and Ascension that are lightly populated swamps.

The National Weather Service office in Slidell says area west of Interstate 55 in Tangipahoa and St. John the Baptist parishes will see between 3 and 7 inches of rain as Sally makes landfall and heads inland. The National Hurricane Center says Ascension and neighboring St. James and Livingston parishes can expect around 2 inches over the next five days.

Parish officials also announced on Sunday that they would be accepting livestock at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center near Gonzales. Owners have to make an appointment to use the center to shelter their animals. Call (225) 450-1009.

GONZALES The dogs and cats of Cara's House, the Ascension Parish animal shelter, will be in their home away from home a little longer than e

The 265-acre complex, which has several horse and cattle shows each year and has several livestock barns, is already home to the parish animal shelter, Cara's House.

The shelter's animals were moved from their home location in Sorrento when Marco and Laura were threatening the state and hasn't yet returned. They occupy one of Lamar-Dixon's barns.

"We are not taking this turn for granted. Water and rain have always been big issue in Ascension Parish," McConnell said.

"We're ready to be ready," he added of the parish's preparations.

Local governments in the Baton Rouge area have begun offering sandbags or materials for sandbags to prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm

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'Ready to be ready' in Ascension: Pumps have begun lowering water levels as Sally turns east - The Advocate