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 a n u a ry 7, 2026
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Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Christmas tree recycling Ascension Parish residents can drop off their used Christmas trees through Jan. 12 at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. Enter the expo center’s main gate on St. Landry Road. The drop-off location be be the unpaved parking area on the left. Signage will direct resident as they enter the property. Trees must be free of decorations and stands, as they will be shredded and mulched
Ducks Unlimited party Jan. 16 The Ascension Varsity Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is hosting its banquet from 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Price LeBlanc PACE Center, Gonzales. For more information, visit www.ascensionvarsitydu.com.
Home and Remodeling Show, Food Fest set Jan. 25-26 The Home and Remodeling Show and Ralph’s Market Food Fest is set from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 25-26 at Lamar Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S. St. Landry Ave. Gonzales. Over 30 food brands and Ralph’s Market will be giving away free samples, tastings, coupons and recipes and new products from all your favorite supermarket brands. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/ anjwrmum.
Food distributions set Ascension Parish’s commodity distribution is set for the second Tuesday of each month in Donaldsonville and the second Wednesday of the month in Gonzales. Distributions are from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Frank Sotile Jr. Pavilion in Donaldsonville and the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. All recipients must be prequalified by visiting the Ascension Parish Health Unit, 1024 E. Ascension Complex Blvd., in Gonzales, or the Donaldsonville courthouse, 300 Houmas St. Contact Layne Melancon at (225) 450-1006 or layne.melancon@fmolhs.org.
PROVIDED PHOTOS BY ADRIAN LAICHE
Dooney Laiche, center, is surrounded by his family on New Year’s Eve in front of an El Camino created for the family’s annual nontraditional bonfire. The car was Laiche’s favorite.
Gonzales families honor father with a 20-foot El Camino bonfire
BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer
For nearly a quarter century, two Gonzales families have crafted elaborate bonfires to ring in the new year on Dec. 31. Built since 2001 by the Laiche and Duplessis families, which are related by marriage, the structures have included a chain saw with spinning blades, a Winnebago motorhome and a 15-foot-tall, wooden-layered “wedding cake” built last year to congratulate Sherry and Dooney Laiche, as well as Greg and Sue Duplessis, for 50 years of marriage. This year’s creation — the 25th nontraditional bonfire — honored Dooney Laiche, who is battling cancer. Adrian Laiche, his daughter, said the finished sculpture is a 20-foot-long likeness of a 1984 El Camino. “He drove a classic old El Camino for the majority of our lives, and it was easily recognizable,” she said. “We had great memories of him with that vehicle, like I said, since I was little bitty.” Courtney Laiche, Adrian’s brother, added that his father was always the group’s chef, creating
Flames shoot out from a wooden El Camino created by the Laiche/Duplessis families for their annual New Year’s Even nontraditional bonfire. his go-to dishes of sauce piquante and gumbo. “He would cook,” he said. “He was always our cook.”
Anywhere from 75 to 100 people gather at the property on La. 74 to visit, eat Cajun food and watch the bonfire.
This year’s celebration was no different, except Dooney didn’t
ä See BONFIRE, page 3G
CARA’s House needs fosters CARA’s House Animal Shelter is in need of volunteers, fosters and adopters for the pets at its shelter. And if you’re missing your pet, don’t forget to call the shelter to see if it has been turned over. For information, visit www. carashouse.com. Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 388-0215 or (225) 603-1998; or email, ascension@theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@theadvocate. com. Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday.
A look back at 2025 through photos
Wrestling during a tag-team match featured the Killjoys and The Da Russell Twins. The match was one of several during the Pro Wrestling 225’s VHS Wrestling at VFW Post 3693.
year. We can’t publish The Ascension Last week, we took a look back at Community News Section each 2025 through photos taken by The week without our readers. Please Advocate photographers, report- share with us your story ideas, club news and photos. From school ers and readers. This week, we share our favorite ä See PHOTOS, page 2G photos from the second half of the Community news report
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Ascension football players earn spots on all-state lists
Troy LeBoeuf
Ascension Parish was well represented in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association football all-state list.
District 5A
ASCENSION SPORTS
Honorable mention: Cooper Babin, St. Amant; Gabe Ford, Prairieville; Micah Levy, East Ascension; and Brysten Martinez, East Ascension
District 3A First team: Caleb Green, Donaldsonville
District 1A First team: Trevin Simon,
Ascension Catholic, outstanding offensive player; Vaughn Blanchard, Ascension Catholic Honorable mention: Joshua Barber, John Rob Daigle, Jacob Julien Named to the Louisiana Football Coaches Association All State team were:
Ascension represents at Rose Bowl Parade
District 3A Honorable mention: Decaleb Green, Donaldsonville High; Donald Brown, Donaldsonville
District 1A
First team: Trevin Simon, Ascension Catholic, offensive MVP; Josh Barber, Ascension Catholic; John Rob Daigle District 5A Honorable mention: Vaughn Second team: Cooper Babin, St. Blanchard, Ascension Catholic; Jacob Julien, Ascension Catholic Amant Honorable mention: Micah Levy, East Ascension; Javaughn Troy LeBoeuf covers sports for Matthews, East Ascension, Carthe Ascension Advocate. He can be reached at troyleboeuf@ son Lacombe, East Ascension; Jason Blackburn Jr., East Ascen- hotmail.com or ascension@ theadvocate.com or on Twitter @ sion; Brysten Martinez, East Troyleboeuf. Ascension
PROVIDED PHOTO
Ascension Parish Tourism President and CEO Tracey Browning, left, and Gonzales Jambalaya Queen Presley Womack work on the Louisiana Rose Bowl float. ä See story. PAGE 4G