DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Ascension Mambo set to parade Krewe of Ascension Mambo rolls at 2 p.m. Saturday. The parade theme is Parading through the Decades. The parade starts on Irma Boulevard, turns onto Cornerview and then proceeds down La. 44 to La. 30.
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
The 30th annual Krewe of Diversion Mardi Gras boat parade floats starting at noon Saturday. All proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Registration will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 21 at Manny’s, and the cost will be $35 a boat.
Mardi Gras Sock Hop Friday
BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT
Celebrate the season from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Mardi Gras Senior Sock Hop at Lemann Memorial Center in Donaldsonville. DJ BJ will provide music.
Faulkner to speak to group Leslie M. Faulkner, community outreach specialist with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, will be the featured speaker at the February Ascension GOP Roundtable, sponsored by Ascension Republican Women. The Roundtable is at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 20 at the Clarion Inn, 1500 W. La. 30, in Gonzales. Cost for the lunch is $30. Guests can prepay at paypal. me/ARW225. To RSVP, call (225) 921-5187 or email arwrus@aol.com.
Egg Your House fundraiser Cara’s House volunteers are hosting a fun Egg Your House fundraiser in which stuffed plastic eggs are left in someone’s yard on Easter morning. April 11 is the deadline to register for the April 20 “egging.” Packages are from $20 for 25 eggs to $85 for 150 eggs. Visit Cara’s House Facebook page for registration information.
Bulls, Bands & Barrels coming Tickets are on sale for the March 15 Bulls, Bands & Barrels at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. The event will include bull riding, barrel racing and live music featuring Sammy Kershaw with Vincent Mason. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/yu83kp3e.
Second chance job fair set The Ascension Parish Reentry Coalition and Ascension Parish Library are hosting a second chance job fair from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 25 at the library’s Gonzales branch. Second chance candidates include anyone facing hiring barriers, including a criminal record. Participating businesses include FedEx, Express Employment Professionals, River Parishes Community College, The Lifehouse University and Louisiana Workforce Commission.
W e d n e s d ay, F e b r u a ry 19, 2025
Staff writer
Strolling Railroad Avenue in Donaldsonville, you’ll see the second-oldest Jewish synagogue building in Louisiana, now housing an Ace Hardware. Across the street is Louisiana Square, there’s an open park of live oaks and Spanish moss hanging from crepe myrtles at the site of the state capitol
from New Orleans to Ascension Parish. Mayor Leroy Sullivan said the significance of the city’s history “is monumental.” “That’s history that could never be rewritten,” he said of the little city being the Louisiana capital from 1830-1831. “It’s something that no one can take away from the city.” As that milestone anniversary approaches, Donaldsonville finds itself at an inflection point. Following decades of declining economic and political power — despite its status as the parish FILE PHOTO seat — new industries are looking This is a photograph of the Donaldsonville Courthouse ca. 1915 from the to move into the region on the east bank of the Mississippi River. How Frank C. Read Collection. this wave of economic developeral historical touchstones in the ment shakes out could determine building nearly 200 years ago. Although it was a short-lived community. The Louisiana legisla- the community’s trajectory for move, the small city still prides ture passed a bill two centuries ago many years. itself on the governmental distinc- this week to pave the way for the ä See CROSSROADS, page 3G tion and holds it dear as one of sev- state government seat’s transfer
ANIMALS, HANDLERS COMPETE
Goats, poultry, sheep, swine, mini cattle on exhibition at AgCenter Livestock Show BY WENDY LOUP
Contributing writer
4-H students from around the state spent a week showcasing their animals for competition during the 90th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. The weeklong event, held Feb. 11-18, featured beef, dairy, goat, poultry, sheep and swine categories. More than 50 Ascension 4-H exhibitors participated at the state show. “This show features student exhibitors from all over Louisiana,” Sarah Moore, LSU AgCenter Assistant Extension Agent with 4-H Youth Development said. “Students come and compete here in Gonzales. Each parish with livestock exhibitors put on a parish livestock show for kids to practice
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Lorelei Begnaud, 13, of Carencro, practices walking with her market swine during Saturday’s LSU AgCenter ä See COMPETE, page 2G Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.
Floats, marching bands, royalty reign at Donaldsonville Mardi Gras parade Community news report
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. 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.
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CAPITOL CROSSROADS
200 years ago, Donaldsonville briefly became Louisiana’s political seat. Now, the town strives to retain its historic culture.
Boat parade Saturday
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PROVIDED PHOTOS BY CHUCK MONTERO
The Donaldsonville High band marches Sunday in Donaldsonville.
John Diez rides as king in the Donaldsonville Mardi Gras parade.
ä More photos. PAGE 3G
The Krewe of Donaldsonville’s Mardi Gras Parade rolled Sunday afternoon through the streets of the west bank city. State Rep. Ken Brass rode as grand marshal with John Diez serving as king and Louise Lewis as queen. LaTrent White was the duke and Jannet Chavez served as duchess. The parade committee members were Tamiko Francis Garrison, Michelle Ashby, Ashley Gaignard, Jeffery Henry, Steven Joseph, Kee Kee JulienJudson, Tyrone Madison Jr. and Juanita Pearley. More than 30 entries took part in the parade.