THE ZACHA Y
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, au g u s t 14, 2024
$1.00n
10TH YEAR, NO. 44
HOT AIR
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
28 years and still here
Marking an anniversary
This week is my 28th anniversary working at The Advocate. People who know me know my ties with The Advocate, The Watchman, The Democrat and The Plainsman are much longer. My father and I have worked in these worlds for a long time. I grew up in and out of these areas, graduating from Clinton High, and moving back for a while after college. During those years, I wrote stories and took photos — often sports — prepped papers for the mail sacks and newsstands, and worked in the offices. I’ve served these papers as a parttime employee and temp, then full-time. While working for the daily paper, the chance came in 2017 for me to move back to the weeklies that were a part of my high school and post-college years. Thanks for the support all of you have given me and these papers through the years. While I do not hope for another 27 years in this job — I do want to retire at some point — I do hope for many more serving the communities north of Baton Rouge.
PHOTO BY SONYA GOSS
The second Zachary Really Hot Air Balloon Festival on Aug. 10 incorporated more ways to control the heat and expanded activities. ä More photos. PAGE 2G
ä See AROUND, page 4G
Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
Zachary coach lays out clear expectations The night of Aug. 7 was special in many respects. For all the kids in Zachary Community Schools it was the night before the first day of school. Many parents consider this a favorite nights because the days of sleeping in and nights of staying up late are gone and the routine and regiment set in. On this night athletes and their parents had the opportunity to gather at the ZHS gym to meet coaches, hear from former ZHS athlete parents, visit with from other parents and listen to the athletic director, coach David Brewerton. Brewerton explained the standard for excellences, emphasized the importance of academics and elaborated on what it means to wear the “Z” on your shirt in competition. In announcing the meeting, Brewerton said he wanted “everyone under one roof, so nothing is miscommunicated or misunderstood” and he was met by a packed gym of students and parents. “We started this tradition a year ago and I love it because it gives us an opportunity to all be on the same page as we embark on another school year,” Brewerton relayed. The evening began with Ken
FIRST DAY (no jitters)
Zachary Elementary, Harper Bauroth
Students arrive for first day of school at Zachary Early Learning Center.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
ä More first-dayof-school photos. PAGE 3G
ä See BRADY, page 4G
Zachary Elementary, Lennix Barker and Lucy Ann Batarseh-Suazo
Northwestern Elementary School, Joseph Guidry