DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE 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, J u ly 30, 2025
1GN
Hospital gives students hands-on health care education BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer
fishing is a passed-down family pastime. “We used to come with my nephew when he was 11 years old, so we wanted to take our daughters,” Hannah Spell said. Spell and her husband, Gage Spell, brought along her two daughters Rowen, 3, and Melody, 2, to fish for the first time. Spell’s father, Barry Jenkins, was one of the jambalaya cooks. Her mother, Frankie, fished alongside her granddaughters. “Today is a good introduction to fishing,” Jenkins said. “My dad fished with Bassmasters, so I grew up in a bass boat.” Gage Spell said the event is a way for the family to bond. “They get to make good memories
Symya Brown, who graduated from East Ascension High School in May, hopes to become a radiologist. Gavin Mitchell, a recent graduate from Donaldsonville High School, plans to work in the computer science field. Brilynn Watts, a student at Ascension Catholic High School in Donaldsonville, wants a career as an ultrasound tech or labor and delivery doctor. None of the three knew each other until June, when they began a new summer camp program at Prevost Memorial Hospital in Donaldsonville. Six weeks later, they experienced mentoring from doctors and academics, worked in 14 different hospital departments and built new friendships with other students across the parish. Brown plans to study health care and science at Southeastern Louisiana University this fall and said the camp allowed her to both experience day-to-day radiologist work and the larger interconnected hospital functions. “Each department works handin-hand to make the hospital run smoothly,” she said. “I didn’t realize that until I actually, like, came to a hospital.” The initiative, which included 26 students and ran three days a week, concluded Thursday. Program and hospital leaders, such as Prevost CEO Shelton Anthony, say they are hoping for future installments. “We decided that we wanted to help out and have a program here that we can be able to shape some
ä See FISH, page 3G
ä See HOSPITAL, page 2G
PHOTOS BY WENDY LOUP
Louis Browning, of Prairieville, gets a net ready with his grandson, 9-year-old Cameron Pounds, of French Settlement, during the 64th annual East Ascension Sportsman’s League’s Kids Fishing Rodeo.
FAMILIES WHO FISH
BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
Family memories were made Saturday for more than 100 children during the 64th annual East Ascension Sportsman’s League’s Kids Fishing Rodeo at Twin Lake Estates in Dutchtown. Many of the children experienced the thrill of catching their first fish while spending time with parents, grandparents and other family members. The popular free event continues to grow with 115 children participating this year. PROVIDED PHOTO BY SUSAN SMITH Families fished alongside a pond and Adeline Ingram ,9, holds up a lake at the back of Twin Lake Estates. The EASL invited children between fish she caught. She was one of the ages of 2-14 to experience fishing the children who caught their first and compete for prizes including trofish at the 64th annual event in phies and bicycles. Dutchtown. For many Ascension Parish families,
Tanger Outlets celebrates new school year with Back-To-School Bash Tanger Outlets Gonzales invites shoppers to kick off the start of the school season with its Back-to-School Bash from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2. The event will include a meetand-greet with local athletes, live DJ, inflatables for all ages and emergency and specialty vehicles. For more information, visit tanger.com/Gonzales and connect Darlene on Facebook and Instagram.
Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Ascension 4 YouthFest returns to Donaldsonville
The Ascension 4 YouthFest Back-2-School event is set for 10 a.m. Aug. 2 at the Hinckley Waguespack Center, 1201 Maginnis St., Donaldsonville. School supplies will be distributed and fun activities are planned.
Louisiana Retro Con coming to Gonzales Louisiana Retro Con Summer is coming to Lamar-Dixon Expo Center Aug. 2-3.
ä See AROUND, page 3G
AUTOs
MOTORCYCLES WATERCRAFT
RVs ATVs
ACHS senior Josh Barber ready for last ride Ascension Catholic High School senior Josh Barber remembers what happened on that rainy morning in December of 2017 as the Bulldogs were ready to head to the Superdome to play for a state championship in football. “I remember it like it was yesterday, we were rushing to school to leave for the dome, it was raining very hard,” Barber said. “Our car ran off the road, luckily we survived. Troy My older brothers Jamar LeBoeuf and Dorian were seriASCENSION ously injured in the acSPORTS cident, but they protected their little brother. They missed on the chance to play for a state championship, my plan is to give them another chance to go back and hopefully watch us do it.” Barber was an elementary school student at the time and his brothers were star players for the Bulldogs. Barber was not injured in the accident; the protection he received from his older brothers will be a lasting memory. ACHS lost that state championship
TRAVEL TRAILERS TRACTORS
PROVIDED PHOTO BY CHUCK MONTERO
Josh Barber goes after a quarterback during a 2024 game. game but watching the Barber brothers lead the team out on the field will be a memory I will never forget. Barber (6’0”, 240) will lead an
BOATS
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experienced defensive line along with seniors Vaughn Blanchard and
ä See LEBOEUF, page 3G