DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
|
W e d n e s d ay, A p r i l 23, 2025
1GN
Darlene Denstorff
Troy LeBoeuf
Festival de la Prairie
ACHS’s Boeckmann relies on faith, family and some baseball
ASCENSION SPORTS
AROUND ASCENSION
Celebrate springtime this weekend at the Festival de la Prairie behind St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Priairieville. The festival, which kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday and runs through Sunday, includes food, music, rides, 5K run and other activities.
‘Cabaret’ at Ascension Community Theatre Ascension Community Theatre is staging “Cabaret” at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 24-26, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27. The musical tells the story of a Berlin nightclub in the 1920s. For dates and ticket information, visit ci.ovationtix. com/35620/production/1212131. The theater is located at 823 N. Felicity Ave. in Gonzales.
Senior Sock Hop Friday “Cruising” is the theme for Friday’s Garney Gautreau Senior Sock Hop in the Ascension Gym at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S. St. Landry Ave., in Gonzales. Things kick off at 11 a.m. with food and music by Mike Broussard and Night Train.
Baton Rouge Home Show The Baton Rouge Home Show is this weekend in the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center’s REV Center. The event, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, features a wide selection of home improvement professionals displaying the latest products and services.
Ascension Catholic High senior outfielder Rhett Boeckmann has endured some trials and tribulations to get to this point, and he likely would not trade any of it. He says his faith, family and his baseball family are his rock. “This is my first year as a varsity player helping my team as we get ready for the playoffs,” Boeckmann said. “I got cut my freshmen year, transferred to ACHS, sat out and got injured my junior year. My injury made me question some things; I thought God was telling me baseball wasn’t for me. The mental aspect of it is hard, but through my faith, my family and my coaches and teammates, things are falling into place.” ACHS (22-10) won its fifth consecutive district title with Boeckmann leading the way with a triple and two runs batted in against their rival St. John, a 4-0 victory. The Bulldogs are a six seed heading into the division four select playoffs, they will host Riverside on Tuesday, April 29. Getting back to Sulphur and the state tournament after an early playoff exit last season is on the mind of Boeckmann and his teammates. “Our mindset is focus on our game, listen to our coaches and play with mental sharpness. We respect our opponent; our mission is to play hard and put pressure on our opponent. I feel like if we continue to come together as a team, we are unstoppable, we cannot beat ourselves. The strongest weapon is the mind, don’t turn it on yourself, stay positive and be ready to play ball,” Boeckmann said.
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Lilly Harvey, executive director, and founder of Millie Mattered Overdose & Addiction Advocacy, left, and Gonzales Mayor Tim Riley lead participants of the Millie Mattered Walk at the Jambalaya Park.
Walk raises awareness of drug abuse deaths
BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
Ascension Parish families who have lost loved ones to drug addiction walked in remembrance during the fourth annual Millie Mattered Gonzales Walk at the Gonzales Jambalaya Park April 13. The drug awareness organization, Millie Mattered Overdose & Addiction Advocacy, teamed up with Drug Epidemic Awareness Walk Across America for the event. Around 100 people participated in the walk, including Gonzales Mayor Tim Riley. The walk included guest speakers and food. Free Narcan and fentanyl test strips were passed out as well. Lilly Harvey, executive director and founder of Millie Mattered, began the organi-
“When I first lost her, I was devastated and in shock, but I knew I was not the only person that had experienced this,” Harvey said. “I looked around to find an advocacy group to get involved with because I knew the drug epidemic was starting to ignite, but there was none in the state of Louisiana.” LILLY HARVEY, executive director and founder of Millie Mattered
zation and Louisiana walks in 2017 after her 28-year-old daughter, Lillie Camille “Millie” Harvey, died from an accidental fentanyl overdose. “When I first lost her, I was
devastated and in shock, but I knew I was not the only person that had experienced this,” Harvey said. “I looked around to find an advocacy group to get involved with because I knew the drug epidemic was starting to ignite, but there was none in the state of Louisiana.” Harvey partnered with the Drug Epidemic Awareness Walk Across America and organized an overdose awareness event at the Alexandria city park where Millie died. “That one event has grown into 28 events yearly,” Harvey said. “We hold 14 drug epidemic walks in the spring around the state, as well as 14 Millie Mattered Moonlight Memorial in the summer where we light up the darkness of addiction.”
ä See WALK, page 2G
ä See LEBOEUF, page 3G
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Dancing for a Cause names theme, dancers for event BY DARLENE DENSTORFF Community news editor
PROVIDED PHOTO
From left, back row, are Darryl Hambrick, Chris Dupre, Elizabeth Bellina, Oriauna Moses, Nicholas Schexnayder, Shaina Burnett, Garrett Rachel; front row, Emily Wong, Keli Boudreaux, Dr. Micha Ballow, Sydney Goldberg, Dr. Kristina Sanchez and Hunter Haydel are competing in July in the Dancing for a Cause fundraiser.
“Viva Las Vegas” is the theme for the ARC of East Ascension’s Dancing for a Cause fundraiser. The July 12 fundraiser raises money for the nonprofit, which provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The 13 community dancers and their dancing mentors were introduced during a party at Clarion in Gonzales. Raven S. LaBiche, the ARC’s executive director, thanked the dancers, mentors and businesses
who come together each year for the event, held at the Lamar-Dixon Center in Gonzales. Dancers include Darryl Hambrick, Chris Dupre, Elizabeth Bellina, Oriauna Moses, Nicholas Schexnayder, Shaina Burnett, Garrett Rachel, Emily Wong, Keli Boudreaux, Dr. Micha Ballow, Sydney Goldberg, Dr. Kristina Sanchez and Hunter Haydel. Dance mentors include Leonard Augustus, Dr. Aimee MoungerRusso, Donovan Jackson, Jerisse Grantham, Van Vo, Walker Fleming, Brandi Malone, Jodi Simmons and Avery Tate. For tickets, call (225) 621-2000.
SCAN HERE TO APPLY NOW!
SAVE THOUSANDS! LOWER YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENTS
APPLY TO WIN $1,000
**
AscensionCU.org YOUR COMMUNITY...YOUR CREDIT UNION
3
Gonzales / Prairieville / Donaldsonville
*This program is for loans ( auto, boat, RV, motorcycle, ATV, tractors and lawnmowers) refinanced from other financial institutions. Will refinance loans 3% less than your existing interest rate. Normal credit and collateral value standards apply. Restrictions, limitations, and interest rate floors may apply. Real estate, unsecured loans, and credit cards are excluded. May require direct deposit/payroll deduction for the special rate. Limited time offer. APR=Annual Percentage Rate. **Completed application for Switch and Ditch, 2% special, HELOC required for entry. Drawing winner to be selected on April 30, 2025. Winner’s funds to be deposited into ACU checking account. Equal Housing Lender. Member NCUA.
%
APR*