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, A p r i l 15, 2026
1GN
Groups claim LED didn’t follow rules in Hyundai tax breaks BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Music at the Post Listen to the music of Kendall Shaffer from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 17 at the VFW Post 3693 Hall, 42430 Churchpoint Road, Gonzales. Tickets are $15 and available at the door.
Crawfish boil, health fest planned Francoise Bend Senior Living, 326 E. Industry Road, Gonzales is hosting a crawfish boil and health fair from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 17. Tickets are $15.
Staff writer
In new lawsuits, advocacy groups say Louisiana Economic Development and others didn’t respect the state constitution when authorizing bonds and spending taxpayer money for industrial development in Ascension Joseph Parish. Donaldsonville resident Harry Joseph Sr., Rural Roots Louisiana
and Louisiana Bucket Brigade allege LED and the Louisiana Division of Administration didn’t follow constitutional requirements when obtaining a multi-million cooperative endeavor agreement with Hyundai, which plans to build a $5.8 billion steel mill near Donaldsonville. In a separate lawsuit in St. John the Baptist Parish, the same plaintiffs claim the Port of South Louisiana failed to provide proper notice for $400 million in bonds connected to the development of a major dock at the RiverPlex MegaPark in Ascension Parish. The suit was
filed in the parish where the port organization is based. Pam Spees, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, who represents the plaintiffs, said in a statement that it is “astonishing to see how casually state officials think they can dispense with hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and decide to end a Louisiana community that has been there for generations.” “Worse, so much of this has happened behind a veil of secrecy and nondisclosure agreements for the benefit of companies that will bring more pollution to the Par-
ish,” she said. “The plaintiffs are having to bring these cases to get answers to serious questions about how all of this transpired.” In a statement, LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois said the “state followed all laws and established processes in securing this project, and we are confident in the cooperative endeavor agreement.” “These types of claims from organizations and individuals trying to halt progress in this state does not change the fact that this project went through appropriate
ä See LED, page 2G
A DAY AT THE MARKET
Classic car and Jeep show set The Donaldsonville Classic Car and Jeep Show starts at 9 a.m. April 18 at 308 Railroad Ave., Donaldsonville. Registration is from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the registration fee is $30, which will be donated to a local food pantry. Awards to be presented at 1 p.m.
Family Earth Day celebration Visit Donaldsonville at 10 a.m. April 18 for the Family Earth Day at the Rosenwald School, 511 Williams St. The day will include an education day in the River Regional African American’s Freedom Garden where children and parents can learn, create and connect with nature.
Ascension Public Schools job fair set for April 23 Ascension Public Schools will hold a teacher job fair April 23 to fill positions for the 2026-27 school year. The event is ideal for experienced educators seeking top positions, as well as upcoming graduates from teacher preparation programs in May, a news release said. The job fair, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., will be held Bullion Primary School, 17005 Sills Drive, Prairieville. Candidates interested in attending should register and schedule interviews on the appointment booking website. Reach out with questions or concerns at (225) 391-7066. The starting salary for teachers in Ascension Parish is $52,033, with an opportunity to earn up to $1,100 in performance pay.
ä See AROUND, page 3G
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Erin Chauser, owner of Bread Spread Bakery, was one of 20 vendors who participated in the Highway 621 Outdoor Market in Gonzales on April 11. Chauser sold wheat bread loafs, assorted bagels, and focaccia. ä See story on the market. PAGE 3G
St. Amant Library and Community Center opens April 25 new St. Amant Library and Community Center. Tours of the new space, at 12341 A library and community center in St. Amant is celebrating its La. 431, St. Amant, will be held after the ribbon-cutting. Overgrand opening April 25. Ascension Parish Library and flow parking will be offered at St. Ascension Parish Government Amant High School with shuttle will cut ribbon at 10 a.m. on the service beginning at 9 a.m.
Community news report
There will be demonstrations in the library’s new teaching kitchen and makerspaces. Visitors can see the multipurpose rooms in the community center, hear music from Backstreet, a local swamp pop band, and view the basketball courts, which also can be used for
pickleball. The St. Amant Library & Community Center is a 37,000-squarefoot collaborative project between Ascension Parish Library and parish government. Construction on
ä See ST. AMANT, page 2G
Ascension Parish baseball and softball playoff picture No. 10 Prairieville is 24-9 and went 4-1 in the last five games. They are projected to face No. 23 Live Oak. No. 22 St. Amant is 18-16 and went 3-2 in the last five Troy games. They are projected LeBoeuf to play at No. 11 Central. ASCENSION Divison IV select SPORTS No. 18 Ascension Catholic is 16-15 and went 2-3 in the last five games. They Baseball are projected to play at No. 15 St. Frederick. Division I nonselect No. 19 Ascension Christian is 17-16 and went 4-1 in the last five No. 8 Dutchtown is 22-11 and STAFF FILE PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK went 3-2 in its last five games. games. They are projected to play Dutchtown head coach Chris Schexnaydre and his team are projected to have a first round bye in the state They are projected to have a firstä See LEBOEUF, page 4G round bye. playoffs. Baseball and softball playoffs to start week of April 20 for Ascension Parish schools. The state softball championships will be May 1-2 in Frasch Park in Sulphur. The state baseball championships with be May 12-16 in McMurry Park in Sulphur.