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, N ov e m b e r 19, 2025
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Merry Market kicks off holiday shopping Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Gonzales Police Christmas for Kids and Elderly program underway The Gonzales Police Department is accepting donations for its annual Christmas for Kids and Elderly programs. Donations are accepted at the Gonzales Police Department, 415 E. Cornerview Road, Gonzales.
Christmas at Conway Celebrate the holiday season from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Christmas at Conway, a holiday market with face painting, balloons, pop-up shops and food trucks. Music and a visit from Santa are also on tap.
Fall craft and vendor market at Tanger
BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
The Merry Market of Louisiana welcomed thousands of shoppers to the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center with a backdrop of Christmas trees, dazzling lights and holiday activities. The three-day event, Nov. 7-9, featured 400 vendors selling clothes, jewelry and art. Mimosas in the Morning and Cookies with Santa brought holiday cheer. The Children’s Entrepreneur Market included a dozen booths featuring products created and sold by youth ages 5-17. A portion of the door proceeds were donated to the Sparrow Foundation.
Kolby Sims, 11, of French Settlement, displays his baked goods Nov. 9 during the Merry Market at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. Sims, owner of Kolby’s Cakes, participated in the Children’s Entrepreneur Market. Sims has been a baker for two years. PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
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SALUTE TO VETS
Shop the booths Saturday and Sunday at the Baton Rouge Fall Craft and Vendor Market at Tanger Outlets Gonzales. The outdoor market will include local business and community vendors.
Monster Truck coming to Gonzales The 2X Monster Trucks show is Saturday at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. Door open at noon and shows start at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Children can bring their
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Deputy killed in off-duty motorcycle crash Staff report A deputy with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office was killed Friday night in an off-duty motorcycle crash. Joshua Dunaway, 40, of Prairieville, was riding a 2024 Suzuki motorcycle on La. 44, just north of Lee Drive in Ascension Parish, about 9 p.m. when the bike struck the rear of a 2024 GMC Sierra pickup for unknown reasons, according to a release from Louisiana State Police. Dunaway was pronounced deceased on the Dunaway scene, troopers said. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The driver of the GMC was uninjured. Impairment is unknown; however, routine toxicology samples were collected for analysis, and the crash remains under investigation, the release states. A post on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook site Saturday mourned Dunaway’s death. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Deputy Joshua Dunaway, a dedicated member of the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office Motors Division. Joshua was more than a coworker to many of us, he was a friend, a teammate, and a loving father who cared deeply for his family,” the post reads. “His loss is felt across our entire agency. We ask that you keep Joshua’s family, friends, and his APSO family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.” The post stated that funeral arrangements were pending.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Army veteran Joey Cernich tossed a bag of goodies during the Gonzales Veterans Parade on Sunday along Worthey Road in Gonzales.
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Gonzales comes together to honor veterans BY WENDY LOUP
Contributing writer
Generations of both young and old honored veterans of the United States military Nov. 11 during a ceremony at the Ascension Veterans Memorial Park in Gonzales. Around 150 people attended the event including city, parish and state government representatives. Participation in this year’s ceremony included children of all ages. Students from G.W. Carver Primary and Prairieville High School sang rousing and emotional patriotic songs. The St. Amant High School Naval Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
U.S. military veterans stand for recognition during Nov. 11’s ceremony at the Ascension Veterans Memorial Park in Gonzales. The event honored veterans of all branches of the ä See GONZALES, page 4G United States military.