THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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T h u r s d ay, N ov e m b e r 28, 2024
Council stops residential development in commercial zones BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
Residential developments will no longer be allowed in Zachary’s primary commercial zoning classification after the City Council on Nov. 12 approved an amendment to the development code. The move came on a 3-1 vote,
with council member James Graves dissenting because the city’s planning staff hasn’t yet provided a report on the possible effects of the change. Ambre DeVirgilio, Brandy Westmoreland and John LeBlanc voted for the change; Jennifer Landry was absent. The council also tabled another
revision to the development code that would set larger minimum lot sizes for rural tracts. Discussion of the pair of amendments — which aim to curb Zachary’s pace of residential growth while making the city more conducive to commercial develop-
ä See ZONES, page 3G
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11TH YEAR, NO. 7
Should Zachary officials loosen city’s strict construction design standards? BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
Zachary officials are pondering whether the city’s strict construction design standards should be loosened. Some believe the current rules — particularly those pertaining to roads — may be deterring developers who balk at the higher cost of building in Zachary. Others feel
the standards are fine the way they are, ensuring high-quality, long-lasting construction. “I don’t want to see it changed,” Mayor David McDavid said during a conversation about the issue at the Nov. 12 City Council meeting. “I know there’s been discussion — some people want to see it changed, but I don’t agree with it.
ä See DESIGN, page 3G
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
Have a Happy Thanksgiving The Plainsman hopes everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Please send photos and stories from the weekend to zachary@theadvocate.com. Also, send us your Christmas preparations. What are you doing to brighten your house or business for the winter holidays?
Library closed for holiday All locations of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Christmas is coming Christmas in the Village is Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Zachary. It will include lights in the park, a snow globe photo opportunity, Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as the Grinch’s sleigh, “snow,” train rides, a tree lighting and a gingerbread wonderland. Christmas parade: The Zachary Chamber of Commerce announced it will have its first Christmas Parade grand marshal, a role that will be filled by Zachary Mayor David McDavid. The Christmas Parade, which will march Dec. 14 down Main Street, is themed “Luau Under the Mistletoe.” The parade begins at 10 a.m., with the lineup starting in the Rouses Market parking lot, 2300 Church St., and continues east along Church Street to Main Street in downtown Zachary. Chase Santa: The Zachary Charity League Chasing Santa 5K & Kids Half-Mile Fun Run is Dec. 14 at 4100 School St. Chase Santa through the streets of Zachary and win a special prize if you catch him. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served after the race. All runners who register by Dec. 1 will receive a T-shirt. Kids half-mile finishers will receive a toy from Santa’s bag. Register at runsignup.com/ Race/LA/Zachary/ZacharyCharityLeagueChasingSanta5K. Email zacharycharityleague@gmail.com with questions. The 5K is a chip-timed event. Finishers will receive a Christmas ornament medal. Runners in the 5K may also participate in the half-mile run for no extra fee. Strollers are welcome. The race starts and ends at Zachary High School. Stay for the Zachary Christmas Parade at 10 a.m.
ä See AROUND, page 4G
PROVIDED PHOTO
The Zachary High School robotics team sets up to practice its skills looking toward its first competition as a resurrected team.
Zachary High School robotics team awarded $10,000 Entergy Charitable Foundation grant Community news report Zachary High has resurrected its robotics team thanks to a grant from Entergy. In July, a representative from Entergy reached out to the Zachary High School Robotics Team when she heard that they were interested in resurrecting their FIRST Robotics Team. FIRST was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST — For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — is a global nonprofit organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18. Its programs are suitable for schools or structured afterschool activities and receive support from a network of vol-
FIRST participants are guided by a set of core values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build and showcase their achievements. Their sports-like challenges are to build self-confidence and collaborative problem-solving skills. Participants and alumni gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers and a place in the FIRST community.
core values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build and showcase their achievements. Their sports-like challenges are to build self-confidence and collaborative problem-solving skills. Participants and alumni gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers and a place in the FIRST community. The ZHS team has not competed in FIRST Robotics since the 2019 competition season and has several members of the Robotics Team who were interested in competing at this national level. They applied for the Entergy Charitable unteers, educators and sponsors/donors, Foundation Grant and submitted their apincluding more than 200 Fortune 500 com- plication. Grants can be awarded ranging panies. ä See ROBOTICS, page 2G FIRST participants are guided by a set of
Bank employee honored for lunchtime action that saved a life BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
commotion happened across the restaurant. At the bar, an older woman was Mike Gennaro and Josh Prejean in distress. Gennaro and Prejean, were enjoying a meal Oct. 31 at co-workers at the Bank of Zachary, South Plains Food Company. Other heard a bartender repeatedly ask than it being Halloween, it was a the diner whether she was choktypical workday lunch — until a ing. The woman was unable to re-
Contributing writer
spond, and it was clear something was wrong. That’s when Gennaro, the bank’s assistant vice president for commercial lending, sprang from his seat and began performing the Heimlich maneuver on the woman. Prejean, chief credit officer at
the bank, recounted the incident at the Nov. 12 Zachary City Council meeting, where Gennaro was honored for his actions. It took Gennaro — who was dressed up for Halloween — a few
ä See SAVED, page 4G
Giving thanks for Zachary sports, athletes Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
As we begin the holidays with Thanksgiving, celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year, there is much to be thankful in Zachary sports from top to bottom. The Northwestern Middle School swim team competed in the City Championships earlier this month with the boys finishing eight overall and the girls finish-
ing 12th. Caleb Connor led the boys with wins in the 50 freestyle and 100 IM. Gabby Morgan led the girls with third place finished in both the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly. Coach Julie Peveto pulls doubleduty coaching both the NMS and ZHS swim teams. The NMS cross-country team competed in the East Baton
Rouge Middle School championship on Nov. 2 at Highland Road Park. The Braves boys finished fifth overall and the girls finished second. Lucy Gennaro (13:20.17) was the top girls finisher and Rhett Broussard (12:37.85) was the top boys finisher on the 2-mile course. Isabel Johannsen (13:54.94) and Sarah Fannin (14:15.75) also
placed in the top 20. In the Middle School Junior Division, the Copper Mill boys finished third overall and the Copper Mill girls finished second in the team standings. Top finishers for the girls were Maci Septs (fifth at 14:37.15), Lail-Khoi Hutchinson (sixth at 14:39.46) and
ä See BRADY, page 2G