DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
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W e d n e s d ay, au g u s t 21, 2024
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St. Amant library construction underway Donaldsonville branch readies for reopening
was the area’s community center, and residents have lacked such a space since then. Now, construction is underway to rebuild the center, this time alongside the area’s first library. Positioned along La. 431 between Cannon and Bayou Narcisse roads, crews are currently laying the BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT building’s foundation. Once comStaff writer pleted, the location will include Eight years ago, as floods swept a 16,500-square-foot library, an through southern Louisiana and 11,000-square-foot community the Amite River at Port Vincent center and a 7,000-square-foot outswelled to nearly 17.5 feet, dam- door area, officials say. Discussing the project last age hit particularly hard in St. Amant. Among the destruction month, Ascension Parish Library
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Director John Stelly said it is a collaboration between the Ascension Parish government and the library. He said the library purchased the land in 2013, and the idea for a combined community center emerged following the 2016 flooding. “Our site here was not as affected by the flood … there was some water on the site, but not nearly like it was elsewhere in the parish,” he said. “And so, it seemed like a natural fit to have the community center be part of this project.” Ricky Compton, infrastructure division director for Ascension
Parish, told The Advocate last month the St. Amant Community Center was the most used center at the time of the flood. The new one will include a stage, reception hall and two classrooms, while the building will be able to act as an emergency shelter and point of distribution site. To that end, the parking lot is designed to facilitate heavy trucks should they need access. A breezeway will connect the library and community center, and Compton said the building will be the first co-located library and community center in the state.
Stelly said beyond study rooms and reading spaces, library patrons will also have access to an audiovisual recording studio, a virtual reality room and a maker space with a 3D printer. And the entire structure will be built on piers to avoid flooding. “We didn’t want to bring a bunch of fill in to build it up. We wanted to make it so that water can flow basically under the building,” he said. “ … It’s also going to have a retention pond … with the retention pond, being built on piers and
ä See LIBRARY, page 2G
TO MARKET, TO MARKET
Reptiles coming to Gonzales The Herps Exotic Reptile and Pet Show is coming to LamarDixon Expo Center Saturday and Sunday. The event features thousands of reptiles, amphibians, insects, feeders and supplies. The show is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults on Saturday and $15 on Sunday. For more information, visit www.herpshow.net/shows/reptile-show-in-baton-rouge-la.
Indoor pickleball tourney Indoor Pickleball at the Post is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the VFW Post 3693 Hall on Churchpoint Road. The VFW Post 3693 Auxiliary is hosting the event. Teams of four can reserve a court for $40 per hour and equipment for $10. To reserve a court, email vfw3693au@gmail.com or call (225) 892-6309.
Ducks Unlimited banquet Tickets are on sale for the Sept. 5 Ducks Unlimited — East Ascension Chapter’s banquet. The evening includes dinner, entertainment and raffles. For tickets, visit ducksunlimited. myeventscenter.com/event/ East-Ascension-Ducks-Unlimited-Banquet.
Tanger offering teacher grants Tanger Outlets Gonzales has launched its 2024 TangerKids Grants Program supporting educational resources that help area students succeed. Applications are open through Oct. 18, and Ascension Parish educators are encouraged to apply at grants.tanger. com. The platform invites teachers and leaders within the community to identify their needs and request funding to enhance programs and better serve
ä See AROUND, page 2G
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Gonzales resident Makenzie Guidry, 14, looks at the wood-crafted items offered by local vendor Southern Moose on Saturday during the Riverside Farmers Market of Louisiana. Brad Brandt, left, owns Southern Moose, along with his wife, Julie. Southern Moose’s cutting boards are made from various wood, including cypress and Spanish cedar. ä More photos, story. PAGE 3G
Donaldsonville senior Nicholas ready to take leadership role Troy LeBoeuf
ASCENSION SPORTS
The Donaldsonville Tigers come into this season with a new coach, a new outlook and some new leaders. One of those leaders is defensive tackle Terrill Nicholas Jr., and his coach believes that he is ready for the role. “Terrill is ready to take on a leadership role on and off the field,” coach Darnell Lee said. Nicholas is a returning starter for the Tigers on the defensive line. He was a first team all district selection last season as well as all metro. Donaldsonville finished 4-7 and lost to
Amite in the first round of the D3 nonselect playoffs, a memory that Nicholas wants to atone for. “I feel like last season wasn’t all that, we could have been a better team for sure. Our goal is to make it to New Orleans and play for a state championship,” Nicholas said. Standing 6-foot, 2 inches and weighing 245 pounds, Nicholas is easy to notice on the Tiger defensive line. He has dedicated himself to getting better for bigger
ä See LEBOEUF, page 2G Terrill Nicholas Jr.
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