THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Board honors 2 retired school workers
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W e d n e s d ay, s e p t e m b e r 11, 2024
10TH YEAR, NO. 48
$1.00n
‘I was just letting it fly’
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
The Zachary Community School Board honored two retiring employees — Sandra Walters and Elizabeth Landry — at its Sept. 3 meeting. Walters, of Zachary High School, has worked for years in the office, where her organizational skills are an asset, said Principal Lindsey Spence. “She does everything. She does all of our registrations, our drops,” Spence said. “When parents come in, a lot of times, she is the first person that they see. She is always a warm and welcoming face, and I know that they appreciate that. Even when they are upset, she handles it with grace. She handles everything with grace.”
ä See HONORS, page 3G
STAFF PHOTOS BY HILARY SCHEINUK
Zachary takes the field before kickoff against Plaquemine on Friday at Zachary High School in Zachary.
Zachary pours it on Plaquemine behind QB Caleb Gonzales BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
Hunter sight-in set The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office invites the public to its annual Hunter’s Sight-in Program from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 20. This event gives hunters the opportunity to make sure hunting and sporting rifles are safely zeroed-in prior to the opening of hunting season. The event is at the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office Firearms Training facility, 999 W. Irene Road, Zachary. n All weapons will be sighted in by the range staff only. n All weapons must be in good working condition. n Firearm must be unloaded. n Ear protection available, but attendees are highly encouraged to bring their own. n No muzzle loaders. n Shotguns for use with slugs only (No buckshot, birdshot, etc.) n Bring the ammunition you use in the rifle for hunting. n Only factory loaded ammunition will be used.
Halloween around the corner Zachary invites local businesses and organizations to decorate a trunk for the fourth annual Trunk or Treat from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27 on Lee Street. Around 1,500 children are expected. Set-\up starts at 1 p.m. and must be finished by 2:40 p.m. Register by Oct. 14 at https://forms.office.com/r/ g35VpCq0Az. For information, contact ashleigh.mchugh@ cityofzachary.org.
Pink Out Zachary The Zachary Chamber of Commerce Leadership North Group is holding a Bust Out Cancer campaign. Among the
ä See AROUND, page 3G
Zachary quarterback Caleb Gonzales, right, attempts a long pass over Zachary running back Nate James.
It wasn’t a perfect night for Zachary quarterback Caleb Gonzales, but it was an efficient beginning that was mostly unaffected by Friday night’s rainy conditions. Gonzales threw for 223 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Broncos to a season-opening 49-14 win over Plaquemine in nondistrict action at Zachary. All of Gonzales’ touchdown passes came in the first half as Zachary built a 35-7 halftime lead. The Zachary defense, which forced eight Plaquemine punts and recovered three fumbles, never let the Green Devils back into the game in the second half. “We’re asking our offense to be efficient right now,” Zachary coach David Brewerton said. “When you come out in these conditions and you don’t have any turnovers, you score five touchdowns in the first half — I was pleased.” Gonzales settled in after misfiring on two of his first three passes. Midway through the first quarter, he lofted a 65-yard touchdown pass that hit Trey Chaney in stride. The play gave Zachary a 14-0 lead. “It was definitely a big one,” Gonzales said of the play. “This is a mental game, especially when it’s raining. I was able to settle in and get a good grip on the ball. I was just letting it fly.” Gonzales finished the game 15 for 25. On the ground, Da’vekio Ruffin led Zachary with 85 yards on nine carries. He had a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and added a 44-yarder in the fourth. Plaquemine was led by running back Tyrese Mosby, who rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. The
ä See ZACHARY, page 2G
Zachary cross-country: putting in the miles Cross-country coach Julie Fink and the Zachary High cross-country team are already hitting the road and putting in the miles for the 2024 cross-country season. Fink has a large group of runners this year with 21 boys and 28 girls competing in the fall sport. Fink also emphasized the work that new coaches Justin Doherty and Meggan Franks at Northwestern Middle School and Copper Mill Elementary, respectively, are doing to train and build future ZHS competitors. “They are committed to their athletes and are investing in the future of Zachary cross-country and track and field programs,”
ZHS will have three of Fink said. the seven girls who raced On 2024, Fink noted that in the state championship “there are those teams that last year — Alaysia Wolf, wish for success, who want Nala Mitchel and Anna success, and then teams Melius — returning. that are willing to put in Warren Fink said that the three the work to make success Brady returners are juniors, happen. The 2024 team is ZACHARY bringing great leadership, made up of athletes who SPORTS commitment and a strong have the mindset and work work ethic to the team. ethic to make success hapOn the boys side four pen.” — Max Gennaro, Marcus Coates, Fink relayed that though the Jesse Ellis and Connor Conachen competition is tough, “we will be — of the seven that raced in the stepping on to the race courses 2023 State Championship return. throughout the season getting Coates is a senior and will provide stronger/faster each week and leadership with Ellis and Coreaching for better finishes and times.” nachen, who are both juniors. On
her four returners, Fink indicated that similar to the girls, “all four are great leaders and are race ready for the upcoming season.” Based on the current LHSAA All Class top 100, ranked boys include Coates, Conachen, Ellis, Carson Southall and Gennaro. Genarro, a sophomore, is currently ranked seventh overall in the state. ZHS girls currently in the LHSAA All Class top 100 are Mitchel, Wolf, Melius, Yvonne Harms and sophomore Destiny Thomas. Fink identified a girl and boy from each squad for “dark horse”
ä See BRADY, page 2G