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, O c t o b e r 22, 2025
1GN
Darlene Denstorff
Troy LeBoeuf
Gonzales plans Fall Festival
SpartanGator rivalry continues
ASCENSION SPORTS
AROUND ASCENSION
The Price LeBlanc PACE Center will be the site of the Gonzales Fall Festival on Oct. 26. The festival includes an indoor truck-or-treat, pumpkin painting, music, carnival games, magic show and vendor market. For more information, email livewellgonzales.com.
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ hits the stage Ascension Community Theater is staging “A Streetcar Named Desire” on Oct. 23-26 at its Gonzales theater. Described as one of the most admired plays of its time, it concerns the mental and moral disintegration and ultimate ruin of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle. The play reveals to the very depths the character whose life has been undermined by her romantic illusions, which lead her to reject — so far as possible — the realities of life with which she is faced and which she consistently ignores. The pressure brought to bear upon her by her sister, with whom she goes to live in New Orleans, intensified by the earthy and extremely “normal” young husband, Stanley Kowalski, leads to a revelation of Blanche’s tragic self-delusion and, in the end, to madness. For tickets and showtimes, visit https://ci.ovationtix. com/35620/production/1212135.
Give cancer the boot at Cattle Baron’s Ball The American Cancer Society’s Ascension Parish Cattle Baron’s Ball promises to be “a toe-tapping, knee-slapping good time as you give back to our community and the American Cancer Society.” Held at the Lamar-Dixon REV Center on Thursday, the event features food and drink, dancing, mechanical bull riding, an auction and much more. The American Cancer Society is working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone, a news release said. It’s the largest private, nonprofit funder of cancer research in the United States, investing more than $4 billion since 1946. For tickets, visit https://ascension.acscbb.org/tickets-tables/.
ä See AROUND, page 4G
Vendor David Howard sprays bubbles out of dual bubble guns during the 2025 Boucherie & Balloon Festival.
HOT AIR, FOOD, FUN
STAFF PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
An announcer coordinates all pilots to ignite their thrusters at the same time to light up the grounds during the 2025 Boucherie & Balloon Festival in Sorrento on Friday.
Sorrento Boucherie and Balloon Festival crowns top cracklin and jambalaya cooks
Community news report
The Boucherie and Balloon Festival saw a record turnout this past weekend, as thousands came out to enjoy the food, cooking competitions and hot air balloons. Even a little rain couldn’t slow things down, organizers said Monday. The Sorrento festival raises money for the Sorrento Lions Club. “Festivalgoers showed up in full force, keeping the grounds packed well into Saturday night,” a news release said. Friday evening’s balloon glow was a crowd favorite, with pilots lighting up the night’s skies with their towering structures. Guests also had the chance to ride in the Jacob Mayer, left, and Farrell Kilburn bag cracklins. tethered balloons. While weather conditions prevented the balloons light” show, lighting their burners big crowds. Friday kicked off with from inflating on Saturday, the pi- in sync with the music. ä See HOT, page 4G The weekend’s cook-offs drew lots still put on a special “candle-
St Amant and East Ascension started their rivalry in 1979. Going into their game at The Pit on Friday, the series was 2322 in favor of St. Amant. The Spartans stopped a 2-point conversion with no time remaining to beat their rival 4948 and bring the trophy back to Worthey Road in Gonzales. I had the privilege of being a part of the broadcast team for REV and spoke with an emotional coach Brock Matherne after the game. “Our team deserves this win; they work so hard in preparation. We wanted to be physical, and we were. St Amant is a good team, and we respect those guys very much. Excited for our team, coaches, staff and all of the EA faithful,” Matherne said. Quarterback Zaylen Smith sat out the game nursing an injury, but QB JJ Lebouef played outstanding in his absence. Lebouef finished with over 200 yards passing, two touchdown passes and clutch completions on several third down plays. The offense was led by wide receiver Jeremyah Merriweather with 161 yards receiving and four total touchdowns. LSU commit Brysten Martinez played tight end, wildcat quarterback and even threw a touchdown to Merriweather. Running back Jason Blackburn added two touchdowns. The Spartan offense was balanced with 200 plus yards rushing and passing. St Amant trailed most of the game but behind quarterback Cooper Babin rallied to get to within one point with no time remaining. The Gator staff decided to go for the win, which I agree with, and were stopped when Riley Rizzuto took a handoff from Jourdan Hickerson and threw to Babin in the right corner, the pass was incomplete, and mayhem ensued. Babin and Hickerson led a Gators offense that put up 540 yards of offense. The rivalry now goes into next season tied at 23 and who knows a possibility of playing in the Division 1 nonselect playoffs, we couldn’t be so lucky.
ä See LEBOEUF, page 3G
Oubre family gathers for food, fellowship, reminiscing BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
Stories from both the young and old were passed around Oct. 11 during the Oubre family reunion at Donaldsonville’s Lemann Memorial Center. Around 1,000 members of the Vacherie-originated family enjoyed a day of entertainment, food, and most importantly, family fellowship. Attendees traveled from within the state of Louisiana and across the country. The large reunion, organized by Myla Oubre, was to honor, celebrate, and remember the descendants of Louis Alphonse and Miranthe Steib Oubre. Held both inside and outside of the Lemann Center, attendees enjoyed food cooked by Drc Sweet Treats & Catering. DJ Boobie,
DJ Telly, and Roi Anthony were among the musical entertainers. Seeing the yearlong planning materialize into a day of fun and relaxation for the Oubre was exciting for Myla Oubre. “I’m exhausted, but seeing everyone smile and have fun has been worth it all,” Oubre said. “Our family members have all come to tell different Oubre stories and that’s what it’s about.” The Oubres hope to have a large-scale family reunion every ten years. The last was held in October 2015 with 2,500 people in attendance. Myla Oubre, an accountant who also owns Little Piece of Heaven, a catering business, said the large event boils down to detailed organization and communication.
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Oubre decedents step together in a line dance during the Oubre family reunion at the Lemann Memorial ä See OUBRE, page 2G Center in Donaldsonville on Oct. 11.