On this coming Friday, July 3 beginning at 5 p.m., the Donaldsonville Downtown Development District will present the Fireworks on the River Celebration in Historic Crescent Park.  This year’s event will focus on honoring our freedom, and will feature a first of its kind tribute to those men and women of Donaldsonville who have served our country.  Musical acts this year will include returning guests Water’s Edge, as well as the one and only MOJEAUX. This family friendly event will feature food and drink vendors throughout the event, and the festivities will lead up to the largest fireworks display in Ascension Parish.
Please remember that there will be no ice chests allowed within Crescent Park.
For more information about vendors or general inquiries contact John Rodgers at 225-323-4970.
 

Five Donaldsonville High School Cadets attended an Air Force Junior ROTC Cadet Leadership School (SLS) at La Tech University in Ruston from June 13-20. More than 230 cadets attended the leadership school from 33 schools from New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas Tennessee Mississippi, and Louisiana areas. Senior Air Force ROTC Cadets ran the camp from La Tech University. The camp began early each day with reveille and physical fitness at 4:30 a.m. and ended with lights out at 10 p.m.
The leadership school focused on developing leadership qualities for each of the cadets. Key areas of instruction were leadership skills physical fitness, drill, room inspections, personnel uniform inspections, and athletics.
Of the 230 cadets who started the SLS, 189 cadets graduated. Almost every school lost cadets due to injuries, poor physical conditioning or self-elimination. DHS did not lose a single cadet during this challenging leadership school.   Upon completion of the graduation parade and awards ceremony, Cadet Denean Kelson stood tall with major honors.  She was one of the top seven percent of the cadets recognized as a Distinguished Graduate. Cadets Arthur Jones and Aljamaar Sullivan Alpha Flight won the overall athletic competition and Operation Gator. These five cadets will join 15 other DHS AFJROTC cadets for a weeklong Outdoor Leadership School from July 14-19 in Conroe Texas.  
 

On Saturday afternoon the National Association of University Women Bi-Parish Bayou Branch hosted a reading jubilee at the Blum Center in Donaldsonville. 
The reading jubilee was given in order to inspire children of Donaldsonville to pick up a book and read.  Lectures, skits, and songs were rendered as a way to get children involved with reading.
"Let's let the children see how vast and wide the world is with reading," said NAUW member Angelina Comminey.
Kicking the jubilee off was retired librarian and Ascension Parish Volunteer of the year, Jessie Joseph.
Children gathered in front of the audience, and each child held a card with a subject that is taught in school. One of the cards read MVP.  Joseph made the audience aware that no one subject could stand alone.  Each one needed the MVP. Towards the end of the presentation she revealed that Reading was the MVP.
Amongst guest speakers was Reverend Richelle Castine of the Mount Bethel A.M.E church in Plaquemine. She discussed her life story and adventures with reading. Rev. Castine summoned everyone to think of the first book they encountered. She described how little words soon become big words.
"Words are building blocks of life, people, and families," said Castine. "Nations are built from words."
A skit was performed as a way to introduce the next two speakers and show kids the importance of reading.
Attorney Debra Dugas and award winning author Juanita Dandridge gave many inventive ways to keep books fun and alive.
As the afternoon progressed Donaldsonville native, Professor Everett Parker, taught a song. Music filled the air as children and parents sung along.
Storyteller, Jessie Joseph challenged the audience to remember four special people. These persons included: Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., President Barack Obama and “you” each individual. She left the attendees with the one thought:
"Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so President Obama could run. President Obama ran so that “You” could fly. So read so you can soar as high as you want to go."     
The first annual reading jubilee ended on the note that illiteracy is no longer an option.
“In the world we live in today and resources that are available no one has a brick wall to tear down,” said Dugas as the eventful afternoon came to an end.
 

In an effort to increase communication between readers and the staff, the Donaldsonville Chief has joined the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.

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Five Donaldsonville High School Cadets attended an Air Force Junior ROTC Cadet Leadership School (SLS) at La Tech University in Ruston from June 13-20. More than 230 cadets attended the leadership school from 33 schools from New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas Tennessee Mississippi, and Louisiana areas. Senior Air Force ROTC Cadets ran the camp from La Tech University. The camp began early each day with reveille and physical fitness at 4:30 a.m. and ended with lights out at 10 p.m.
The leadership school focused on developing leadership qualities for each of the cadets. Key areas of instruction were leadership skills physical fitness, drill, room inspections, personnel uniform inspections, and athletics.
Of the 230 cadets who started the SLS, 189 cadets graduated. Almost every school lost cadets due to injuries, poor physical conditioning or self-elimination. DHS did not lose a single cadet during this challenging leadership school.   Upon completion of the graduation parade and awards ceremony, Cadet Denean Kelson stood tall with major honors.  She was one of the top seven percent of the cadets recognized as a Distinguished Graduate. Cadets Arthur Jones and Aljamaar Sullivan Alpha Flight won the overall athletic competition and Operation Gator. These five cadets will join 15 other DHS AFJROTC cadets for a weeklong Outdoor Leadership School from July 14-19 in Conroe Texas.  
 

A host of children gathered for a day of water fun at what many residents know as the "old" Lowery Middle School. The second annual community outreach fun day offered kids and adults alike a chance to interact with the men and women who help to better the city of Donaldsonville on a daily basis.
Cool water was a refreshing treat for the community in June's scorching rays.
"This event brings the community together with law enforcement, city officials and fire department," said Mayor Leroy Sullivan.  "It gives the kids a chance to get out, have fun, and cool down."
The children cooled down on two giant water slides and the fire trucks provided the water for the kids to beat the heat in its sprinklers.
"The slide is my favorite thing to go on," said Glenn Smith, 8.
Major Bobby Webre, warden of the Ascension Parish Jail explained how the kids’ fun day was previously held at what many residents know as the "old" West Ascension Elementary School formally known as Donaldsonville Louisiana Marine Institution (DLMI).
"We would like this event to continue," said Webre. "It gives us a chance to meet the people in the area."
Sponsoring the second annual community outreach fun day for kids was Sheriff Jeff Wiley and the Sheriff department, Mayor Leroy Sullivan and the city of Donaldsonville, parish councilman Oliver Joseph, Amokey Tent Rental LLC, DHS ROTC and the Donaldsonville Fire department. 
"We will try to have it more often," said councilman Rev. Charles Brown.
The community outreach fun day is expected to expand to different parts of Donaldsonville and surrounding areas in the near future.