DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
‘Romeo and Juliet’ coming to ACT
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, F e b r u a ry 18, 2026
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Tickets are on sale for the Ascension Community Theatre’s “Romeo and Juliet” on Feb. 19-22 and Feb. 28-March 1. The production tell the story of the classic William Shakespeare play. For tickets, visit ci.ovationtix. com/35620/production/1251043.
Learn to sew doughnut stuffies Practice beginner-friendly stitching techniques on Thursday as you create a doughnut stuffy at the Ascension Parish Library’s Donaldsonville branch. Using felt, glitter glue and colorful googly eyes, you can sprinkle the stuffies with personality. All materials will be provided by the library. This STEM activity begins at 4:30 p.m. and encourages fine motor skills, creativity and confidence.
Celebrating Black musical excellence Experience a morning of music that honors legacy, celebrates creativity, and looks toward the future. Local musician Justin Garner will highlight the voices, stories and creative contributions of Black artists at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the library in Dutchtown. Garner will lead a tribute that pairs timeless favorites by Earth, Wind & Fire and Al Green with contemporary hits from artists like Beyoncé and Bruno Mars — alongside his own original music — to spotlight both the trailblazers and the innovators defining today’s sound. Garner, from Plaquemine, was named an Artist on the Rise by Amazon Music: AMP. His music has been featured on TV shows like NBC’s “Grand Crew,” MTV’s “Teen Mom OG” and the Paramount+ series “The Game.”
Mad Hatter Tea Party Preschoolers are invited to step into a world of imagination, laughter and color, inspired by the classic tale of “Alice in Wonderland.” Children will decorate hats using feathers, glitter glue, googly eyes and ribbons. Once the hats are complete, everyone will gather for a tea party with light snacks and caffeine-free herbal fruit tea and listen to a short version of the Alice story at 10 a.m. Feb. 23 at the Ascension Parish Library’s Gonzales location. Registration is required. Sign up online or call the library in Gonzales at (225) 647-3955.
Car show at RPCC Cruisin’ The Day For United Way is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 21 at River Parishes Community College, 925 W. Edenborne Parkway, in Gonzales. All makes and models can register for $30. Free admission for spectators. To register, email Joey Dinino, josseph.dinino@novachem.com; Johnny Noel, johnny.noelii@novachem. com; or Clint Gautreau, clint.gautreau@novechem.com.
Gun show coming to Gonzales The Gonzales Gun Show is coming to Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. The show is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 21 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 22. Bring your gun and trade or browse the booths new and old guns, ammo, gun parts, books, knives, knife sharpening, coins, camouflage, and related items at discounted prices.
Rodeo coming soon The Southeast Louisiana Junior and High School Rodeo starts Feb. 27 at the Lamar-Dixon Center in Gonzales. Action continues at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 and 9 a.m. March 1. Rodeo athletes in fifth through 12th grades from all of Louisiana will compete. Admission is $10. A weekend pass is $15. Kids 5 and under are free.
Egg a home for Easter Cara’s House Animal Shelter is “egging” houses in the Ascension area. Prices range from $20 to $85 for 25 to 150 eggs. Stuffed eggs will be delivered to the requested yard after 9 p.m. April 4 for Easter morning. If weather is bad, eggs will be left in a bucket. Orders must be submitted by March 27. The 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 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.
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
King Byron Jarvis and Queen Arlene Cobb walk to the front of the room after being announced to a round of applause during the Mardi Gras celebration at Ascension Council on Aging on Feb. 13.
BIG FUN, SMALL FLOATS Council on Aging celebrates Mardi Gras with royalty
King Byron Jarvis and Queen Arlene Cobb were crowned Friday as Mardi Gras royalty during the Ascension Council on Aging’s party. The party includes a parade featuring small shoebox floats and dancing to the music of Route 61 Band. ä More photos from the celebration. PAGE 3G
A close-up of a parade’s miniature float that was part of the Mardi Gras celebration at Ascension Council on Aging senior center in Gonzales.
Ascension Christian’s Dylan Spansel hits 2,000 point mark Ascension Christian senior Dylan Spansel recently scored his 2,000th point for the Lions. The four-year starter has helped guide the Lions to a 15-11 record and a 12th place ranking in the Division IV select power rankings. Spansel is a quick guard who can create off the dribble as well as knock down a three pointer. First-year head coach James Brock is not surprised at Spansel’s success. “Dylan is a team Troy player, first one in the gym and LeBoeuf last one to leave. He has scored ASCENSION 2,000 points playing the game SPORTS the right way. He consistently gets all his teammates involved and is not a selfish player,” Brock said. Spansel reflected on his milestone and what it meant to him. “This means a lot to me; it reflects the many hours that I have trained,” the senior said. “It would not have been possible without the determination of my teammates and coaches. I was told that I am the first boys basketball player to score 2,000 points, pretty special.” As his four-year career winds down, Spansel was thankful and never thought this would be possible. “Scoring 2000 points was never on my bucket list, my main goal was to be a good teammate and help us win a district championship,” Spansel said. “We did not achieve that goal, but we are excited about finishing the regular season this week and the playoffs.
Investigation of social media photo prompts exit of Gonzales Middle principal, teacher BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
We still have work to do, this award symbolizes the hard work and how important my teammates, coaches and trainers are. “There is a LHSAA Top 28 banner still up for grabs, we will focus on that one game at a time,” said Spansel. Spansel took the time to thank those that have contributed to him loving the game of basketball since the sixth grade. “I want to thank my teammates, coaches, trainers and my parents. They have supported me throughout my career. We must remain
Two educators, including a longtime school principal, are no longer employed by the Ascension Parish school district thanks to an ongoing investigation of an incident in November, captured in a photo showing a Gonzales Middle student headfirst in an open cabinet at the school. That photo was later circulated on social media. Charlet A spokesperson for the Ascension Parish school district confirmed that “those involved” are no longer employed by the district: Gonzales Middle Principal Lori Charlet and an unidentified middle school teacher. Assistant Principal Bridget Lemoine is now the acting principal of the middle school. The district also released a statement saying it is still “actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident,” but would not provide further details. “Due to personnel and student privacy laws, details related to the investigation and any disciplinary actions
ä See LEBOEUF, page 2G
ä See PHOTO, page 2G
PROVIDED PHOTO
Ascension Christian senior Dylan Spansel shoots during a recent game.