DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Decorate the tree at Ascension Library The Ascension Parish libraries’ trees need ornaments and they’re asking for help. Stop by any Ascension Parish Library location in December, choose a paper ornament, decorate it and find the perfect spot to hang it. When you’re done, grab a thank-you treat. While you’re at a library branch, make sure to register for a library card. It’s the perfect gift for you or anyone in your family. Sign up and get instant access to the library’s Adventure Passes to visit a museum or nature center.
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W e d n e s d ay, D e c e m b e r 3, 2025
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VFW hosts cook-off and market popup BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
Jambalaya pots overflowed while holiday shoppers perused for gifts during VFW Post 3693’s Vet Jam and Pop Up at the Post Fall Market on Nov. 15 in Gonzales. The 11th annual Vet Jam consisted of a dozen cooks competing in a jambalaya cook-off while the post’s auxiliary hosted a market featuring 36 vendors. The dual event is one of many fundraisers the post hosts throughout the year. Proceeds go to the post’s contri-
butions to helping veterans. Cooks began sizzling their pots at 7 a.m. The pots were required to include 5 pounds of pork and sausage. While the jambalaya was cooking, shoppers explored the booths both inside and outside of the post with vendors selling accessories, homemade crafts and baked goods. “We have a little bit of everything,” Pop Up at the Post organizer Leah Nolen said. “We have sweets, baked goods, cosmetics, nail accessories, soaps and much more.”
Wayne Henry, left, cleans a jambalaya pot Nov. 15 during the VFW Post 3693’s Vet Jam. Henry’s son Brandon cooked a pot of jambalaya for the cook-off. Also pictured are Heidi Henry, center, and 2-year-old Adam Henry.
ä See VFW, page 2G
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Band together
Troy LeBoeuf ASCENSION SPORTS
Bulldogs headed to semis
Snow Ball for babies, toddlers The Ascension Parish Library is planning its Snow Ball — a winter soiree for its tiniest stars — for babies and toddlers. The celebration at three branches includes music, dancing, photo ops and a keepsake. Come cozy and casual or dressed to impress in your holiday best. The events are at 10 a.m. Thursday at Gonzales, Dec. 13 at Dutchtown and Dec. 17 at Galvez.
Gonzales tree lighting
Mystery Box Giveaway The holiday spirit will be in full force from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Gonzales Municipal Park, 911 Meylan St., for Tankproof’s seventh annual Christmas Mystery Box Giveaway. The event is hosted by TheBrosFresh and Shayla Washington, 4 Skyz Da Limit. A hot meal will be served, 150 turkeys given away and gifts given.
Farmers Market The monthly Donaldsonville Farmers Market is from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Louisiana Square.
Christmas Movie Night Volunteer Ascension is hosting a Christmas Movie Night at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Jambalaya Park Amphitheater. “The Star” will be the featured film.
Cookies with Santa The St. Amant High baseball team is hosting Cookies with Santa from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the school cafeteria. Tickets are $10 and include games, crafts and photos with Santa.
Need pecans cracked? The Arc of East Ascension is offering to crack pecans for 50
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Dancers pair up by the stage to groove to the music.
DONALDSONVILLE
RPCC plans to open training center BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer
A planned River Parishes Community College training center in Donaldsonville is moving closer to construction with a roughly $450,000 purchase of land for the new facility. Located along La. 945, the new campus aims to train the future workforce for proposed industrial projects in the region, including a planned $5.8 billion Hyundai steel mill. Louisiana Community and Technical College System paid around $454,000 last week for the 20-acre site, according to documents filed with the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court. It is estimated to open in late 2027, Chancellor Quintin Taylor said Monday. “We’re taking every single community on the west bank and the east bank into consideration,” he said, adding that the center hopes to attract students from Ascension, Assumption, St. James, St. John the Baptist and Iberville parishes.
ä See LEBOUF, page 2G STAFF FILE PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK
A student works in a welding booth at the workforce training center at Donaldsonville High School. “Our hope is that they will flood this facility so that they get the training needed to go to work,” Taylor said. “Our goal in this is that we train local, we hire local and that way we’re able to change the local communities by investing in them and their education.” Taylor said the center’s total cost will be around $30 million, funded via state appropriation bills. Hyundai, which plans to build a mill near the small
ä See RPCC, page 2G
MississippI River
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Bayou Lafourche
Railroad Ave.
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Christmas shopping, music, photos with Santa and other activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Duplessis Park on La. 621. A Taste of Christmas is sponsored by Bearded Events.
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A Taste of Christmas
The Chris LeBlanc Band played a variety of swamp pop, blues and classic rock Nov. 16 during Gonzales’ Music in the Park. Around 150 people listened and danced while Louisiana Music Hall of Famer Chris LeBlanc played on the stage while food trucks from 3J’s Smoke Shack and Huh Bruh sold dinner plates at Jambalaya Park for the event hosted by Gonzales. For information about Gonzales events, visit gonzalesla.com.
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Register your classic car for the Classic Cars 4 Christmas Crusade from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Bass Pro Shops, 2200 W. Cabela’s Parkway, in Gonzales. Registration fee is $30. The event will include music, food and cars.
Community news report
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Classic Cars 4
PHOTOS BY WENDY LOUP
The Chris LeBlanc Band performs Nov. 16 onstage at Music in the Park in Gonzales. The band played swamp pop, blues and classic rock.
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The 32nd annual Gonzales Tree Lighting Celebration is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Gonzales City Hall and Jambalaya Park. Santa and the Grinch are expected, and music and lights will be featured.
The Ascension Catholic High football team went on the road to New Roads to face a really good Catholic High of Point Coupee team in the quarterfinals. The result was a 50-42 victory and a trip back to the D4 select semifinals. “Total team victory. We made some stops in the second half and leaned on our offensive line and our running game,” coach Taylor James said. The state’s leading rusher, Trevin James Simon, added to his totals with 400 yards and five touchdowns. Simon now has 3,401 yards and 53 total touchdowns with 51 coming as a rusher. He trails Xavier Ford, of Leesville (2024), by 67 yards and two rushing touchdowns for the record in Louisiana. James has high praise for his senior and how he has handled all the attention. “Trevin is humble, gives all the credit to his teammates and coaches. He is having a dream season, but he knows there is more work to do. His leadership with this senior class has been really good; these kids pull for each other,” James said. Ascension Catholic trailed 36-28 at the half but opened the third quarter with a touchdown drive to tie the game. Catholic High took the lead again with its only touchdown of the second half. The Bulldogs got two key turnovers in the second half with linebacker Raif Melancon stripping quarterback Jude Morrison at midfield. Defensive lineman Vaughn Blanchard recovered a Morrison fumble late in the fourth quarter to help seal the win. Josh Barber and quarterback Greg Fernandez added rushing touchdowns for Ascension Catholic. The Bulldog offensive line, tight end and receivers have
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River Parishes Community College training center
Vatican Dr.
Staff map
STAFF FILE PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK
Ascension Catholic running back Trevin Simon, center, and the Bulldogs are headed to the select semi finals.