DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
DVOCA VOCATE AD
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Hotline to Santa open
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, d e c e m b e r 18, 2024
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Rev is hosting its free Holiday Hotline to Santa. Children can call Santa at (866) 601-HOHO to leave their Christmas wish list.
Community Christmas dinner Volunteers and donations are needed for the Ascension Community Christmas Dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Christmas Day at Country Kitchen, 615 E. Ascension St., Gonzales. A free meal will be served to those in need. The organizer of the luncheon, in its 10th year, is requesting residents to drop off prepared dishes to be served during the Christmas meal. Volunteers are needed to serve, clean and deliver meals to those who cannot make it to the restaurant. To volunteer, register at https://tinyurl.com/5xhcutua.
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
A look down the closed Robert Wilson Road along La. 30 in Gonzales on Dec. 3.
Businesses report traffic woes
Early deadlines for holidays The Ascension Advocate will have early deadlines for its Christmas Day and New Year’s Day issues. All copy should be submitted by Thursday for the Dec. 25 issue and by 9 a.m. Dec. 26 for the Jan. 1 issue. We couldn’t do our jobs without the support of our loyal readers, and we appreciate your continued support. We’re looking forward to our 20th year of production in 2025. It’s been a great ride.
At the library … Decorate the kids tree The library’s trees are up, but there’s one problem — they need help decorating. Stop by any Ascension Parish Library in December to choose a paper ornament, decorate it, and find the perfect spot for it to hang. While you’re at the library, make sure you have the best gift of all — your library card. It’s the perfect gift for you or anyone in your family. Sign up and get instant access to our Adventure Passes to visit a museum or nature center. You’ll also be able to pick up a board game or fun activity from our Library of Things. Or pick out a movie and have a movie night.
City Hall closures Gonzales City Hall will be closed Dec. 23-25 for Christmas and Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.
Christmas parade The Donaldsonville Christmas parade will roll through the city at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21. The parade begins at the Donaldsonville Fairgrounds and ends at Mississippi Street and Railroad Avenue.
PHOTOS BY WENDY LOUP
The eighth grade St. Theresa girls basketball team plays Prairieville Middle School during the 30th annual Brett and Brett Basketball Tournament at St. Theresa Middle School.
LEGACY OF COMMUNITY
Gonzales roundabout project moves forward BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer
On Black Friday at Tanger Outlets in Gonzales, lines of cars streamed through the intersections along La. 30 near Interstate 10. In the words of Marathon gas station Manager Timika Gray, “it was terrible.” “It’s Highway 30 with these turnarounds going around. That’s a lot more people than usual,” she said. “ … (Drivers) were blocking the intersection where you couldn’t even turn in.” Construction in the area centers on a longawaited project involving the construction of three roundabouts, which the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says will significantly improve safety and traffic flow. But in the meantime, local businesses are feeling the impact. “I don’t know if that turnabout that they’re going to do is going to help or not,” Gray added. “I guess after it’s done, it may be good.”
La. 30 roundabout project Banners at the tournament in their memory display photos of Brett Frederic, left, and Brett Leggette.
After 30 years, basketball tourney keeps memory alive of two students who died in car crash
BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
St. Theresa Middle School held its 30th annual Brett and Brett Basketball Tournament earlier this month to continue honoring two former students
who tragically died in 1994. The tournament is a longstanding tribute to remember 13-year-olds Brett Frederic and Brett Leggette, who were both students and basketball players at St. Theresa when they died in a car accident on
Aug. 20, 1994. The popular middle school tournament consists of more than a dozen teams from both private and public schools. A few long-distance teams make
ä See LEGACY, page 2G
The La. 30 project will result in roundabouts at the two I-10 ramps and one at the intersection of St. Landry Avenue. The area sees significant traffic due to the Cabela’s and Tanger shopping centers and because the highway is a main thoroughfare to the parish’s industrial area in Geismar. Average daily traffic in the area is around 24,000, DOTD Communications Director Rodney Mallett told The Advocate. And he added that is expected to increase to around 30,000 by 2042, increasing by around 2% to 2.5% annually. But because of the road’s already high use, the construction significantly affects the area. Gray said the worst times were around 5 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.
ä See TRAFFIC, page 3G
Trip to Greece planned The Donaldsonville Area Chamber of Commerce is planning a trip to Greece, June 1-9. The nine-day trip includes stops in Athens, Santorini, Pelponnese, Poros, Hydra and Aegina. The cost is $3,799. For information, call (225) 473-4814.
Reduced pet adoption fees Cara’s House is offering a reduced adoption fee on all dogs that have been spayed or neutered. Visit the shelter from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and pay $30 to adopt a dog. Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 388-0215 or (225) 603-1998; or email, ascension@theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@theadvocate. com. Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday.
Gator baseball players celebrate holidays with Santa, breakfast BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
Children and their families played games, ate breakfast and took pictures Saturday with ä More photos. the St. Amant High School baseball team, Santa Claus, and even the one PAGE 2G and only Grinch. The second annual event sold more than 350 tickets. Baseball head coach Brandon Bravata said the “Breakfast With Santa and the STA Gators” event is a fun way for the team to give back to the community.
Two-year-old St. Amant resident Henley Mire poses with Santa Claus during Saturday’s Breakfast With Santa and the St. Amant High Gators in the St. Amant High School’s cafeteria. The Christmas event included pictures with Santa Claus, the Grinch, and school mascot, Ally the Gator. PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP