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, O c t O b e r 30, 2024
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11TH YEAR, NO. 3
Zachary Council considers code changes BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
City Council members are mulling a pair of changes to Zachary’s Unified Development Code, one of which would restrict residential construction in commercial areas and the other setting acreage requirements for residential zones with larger lots. The measures come as the council tries to slow the pace of residential development in the area and to gain more control over the types of projects that are allowed. While some on the council are eager to take action, one member urged patience, saying the panel should take its time reviewing information about potential effects of the changes. The items were discussed at the council’s Oct. 22 meeting; votes will be taken later. On the residential zoning matter, Councilwoman Brandy Westmoreland wants to set a 3-acre minimum for lots in residential estate zones and a 10acre minimum for land zoned as residential rural. She said residential estate zones mandated 3-acre lots for many years. But the rules were modified around 2020 to require only a 1-acre minimum. “To me, in the city of Zachary, we need to appeal to all families, not just starter homes,” Westmoreland said. “That way, when their children are no longer utilizing our number one school district, they actually want to stay. There are several constituents in all districts I feel that would love to have a little more property.” She hopes the measure will slow Zachary’s growth and reduce the strain being placed on its infrastructure. As for the commercial zoning updates, Councilwoman Ambre DeVirgilio wants to change rules that currently allow residential developments in all but two of Zachary’s several commercial zoning classifications. She said she’s concerned that developers could snatch up land zoned as commercial and use it to build homes rather than much-needed businesses — and as long as the project met the standards of the development code, the council wouldn’t be able to push back. “If an investor wanted to come to Zachary and purchase up all of our CG (commercial general)zoned areas, they could be right develop these parcels for residential purposes not subject to sales tax, retail, services and commerce that is beneficial to the sustainability of the city of Zachary,” DeVirgilio said. Her proposal would only allow multi- and singlefamily dwellings to be built in commercial zones with conditional approval of the council. City staffers are still researching possible impacts of the changes. Bryant Dixon, planning director, said his team could have the information ready in time for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the council to review before the December meetings. The commission makes recommendations to the
PHOTO BY SONYA GOSS
The city of Zachary’s cooking team, from left, of Jefferi Lawson, Lionell Lawson, Jeff Johnson and Darryl Wilcox, fried catfish for the Mayor’s Community Prayer Luncheon.
Prayer Luncheon attendees urged to ‘live out our faith’ BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
When Paul Pride stepped up to the microphone to address the crowd at Zachary’s annual prayer gathering Oct. 25, he promised to start and end his speech with two words. “Go Tigers,” he said. A lunchtime audience enjoying plates of fried fish in the First Baptist Church Family Life Center applauded as Pride unfurled an LSU T-shirt and hung it on the lectern. But it was a couple of other short phrases repeated throughout Pride’s speech that likely stuck with attendees of the event. Pride, the retired superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, peppered his presentation with “those were lean times” and “there was Jesus” as he described how he overcame various challenges in life. In the process, he said, he learned to become both a better Christian and a better servant to others. Pride spoke about growing up with four siblings in impoverished Appalachia around several family members dealing with alcoholism. His parents worked hard, he recalled, but struggled to make ends meet. Pride was raised in
Col. Paul Pride, retired Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent, speaks to luncheon attendees. a home with no running water. “I look back and I say, ‘There was Jesus.’ He was there teaching me and helping me understand lots of things that would serve me well later in life — understanding that lean times will help you learn, that you can get by on very little,” Pride said. “Of course, it
doesn’t always feel good during those lean times, and we often ask why we need to have those experiences. … What is often lost in that kind of thinking is we forget that those times are times of teaching and learning.”
ä See PRAYER, page 3G
ä See CODE, page 2G
A tombstone pledging undying love to Alice grows into a witchy legend BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
Alice has been an oddity of sorts through the decades. Years after her unwarranted legend has been debunked, her gravesite continues to be a curiosity for those who insist on believing that Alice was a witch. Not STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER only that, but a witch who would one day wreak havoc on a murAlice A. Taylor was 19 years old when she died in 1859. A rumor began circulating in the 1950s that she was a witch. She is buried in the Buhler derous rampage. As Halloween approaches, PhylPlains Cemetery in Zachary. lis Hall wants answers. Was she
or wasn’t she? “I went to Baker High School in the 1970s, and the story circulated among the students that Alice was a witch,” the Catahoula resident said. “So, it was a popular thing for teens to go to Zachary at night to visit her grave, especially
at Halloween.” The Buhler Plains Cemetery near the crossing of Scenic Highway and Church Street in Zachary is where you’ll find the tomb of Alice A. Taylor. Any mention of the so-called “Alice’s Grave” would make the hair rise on the backs of their necks. Why? The concrete covering of Alice’s original brick tomb — the cemetery’s only above-the-ground
ä See TOMBSTONE, page 2G
Catholic Church garage sale coming Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is holding its Community Garage Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2. People can donate gently used items (no mattresses or box springs) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 1 at the parish activity center at the corner of Lee Street and McHugh Drive. All proceeds go to parish maintenance. Unsold items will be giv-
en to St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Lane services available FLU SHOTS: Lane Rx, located in front of the hospital at 6400 Main St., Zachary, is offering free walkin flu shots Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The vaccinations are free with most insurance plans. The standard Fluzone, for
ages 6 months to 64 years, is $32 for cash pay, and the Fluzone High Dose for ages 65 and older is $92 for cash. For information, call (225) 658-4022. BREASTFEEDING CLASS: The ABCs of Breastfeeding will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 2 at Lane Regional Medical Center Board Conference Room, 6300 Main St., Zachary. Email or call
Jamie Schmolke to reserve a spot: jschmolke@lanermc.org or (225) 658-6612.
Library events announced n LSU School of Theatre, in partnership with the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, presents “Rosita y Conchita,” a children’s play
ä See AROUND, page 3G