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, F e b r u a ry 19, 2025
11TH YEAR, NO. 19
$1.00N
Mayor outlines plans for road improvements, upgrades
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
Lane readies for 10th Code Red Chili & Salsa Cook-Off Lane Foundation’s 10th annual Code Red Chili & Salsa Cook-Off is set for Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in Downtown Zachary, 4650 Main Street. The competition is open to amateurs and professionals of all ages. There are five cooking competition categories: Judges Red Chili, Judges Nontraditional, Judges Salsa, People’s Choice Chili and People’s Choice Salsa. The Team Spirit award is about how well the team embodies the spirit of the cook-off through their presentation, team costumes, decorations and overall attitude. Admission and parking to the family-friendly event are free. There will be an arts & crafts market, kids zone, games, food trucks and live music at the gazebo all day. Team entry fees range from $40-$60. Compete in one category or all. To register a team, sponsor the event, participate in the arts & crafts market, or volunteer, contact the Lane Foundation office at (225) 658-6699 or email tpayment@ lanermc.org. Proceeds from the Code Red Chili & Salsa Cook-Off will benefit the Lane Foundation.
PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS
Cambren Price at the free throw line after being fouled during a recent game against Woodlawn High.
Bronco seniors celebrate with win
The Bronco’s boys basketball team celebrated senior night Feb. 13 with a 68-55 win over Woodlawn High. Seniors celebrated included Rashaed Smith, Marquis Hampton, Jaiden Cockerham, Xavier Ferguson, Terin Landor and Jayden Edmond.
Heart health screening offered CIS is hosting a free cardiovascular screening at CIS Zachary, 6550 Main St., No. 1000, Zachary, on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Guests will receive free electrocardiogram and blood pressure screenings. Results will be reviewed on site. Registration is required. Reserve a spot by calling (985) 873-5058.
Blood drive set A blood drive is set for Feb. 28 at the Bank of Zachary, 4743 Main St. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mardi Gras T-shirts will be given out while supplies last. Visit donor.lifeshare.org/ donor/schedules/drive_schedule/280626 to sign up for an appointment.
Pardi Gras parade Must Luv Dogs’ Pawdi Gras parade is looking for kids to take part as a Kiddie Krewe in the parade at 2 p.m., March 4. The theme is “Space Paws.” Children will ride in their wagon floats. Entry fee is $10. All proceeds go to Must Luv Dogs Rescue. Secure a spot with the discount code KINDERFLOAT. For information, call 225-252-3029, or visit www.mustluvdogs.org for information or to register. Bark in the Park is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Race for the dogs: Before the parade, the Krewe of McKey
ä See AROUND, page 3G
Xavier Ferguson makes the first 2 points of the game against Woodlawn.
ä More game photos. PAGE 2G
A lesson in government
Zachary Elementary student serves as a council member for the day BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
Attilio Romero, a fourth grader at Zachary Elementary School, recently got a taste of what it’s like to serve on the City Council. As part of a Zachary’s Elementary PTO, or ZEPTO, fundraiser, Attilio was named councilman for a day. He spent much of Feb. 4 with council member Ambre DeVirgilio learning about different functions of city government, touring facilities and meeting
PHOTO BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
Attilio Romero, a fourth grader at Zachary Elementary School who recently served as councilman for a day, signs a copy of a resolution he and Councilwoman Ambre DeVirgilio, left, wrote ä See LESSON, page 2G together. Mayor David McDavid looks on at right.
With 2025 well underway, Mayor David McDavid is making preparations for a variety of projects, including a renovation of City Hall and road improvements. McDavid highlighted the plans in his annual “state of the city” statement, in which he also looked back on accomplishments from 2024. Among those achievements were completing the new Zachary Police Department headquarters, raising police officers’ starting pay by 6%, adding new inclusive playground equipment and fencing to the Hug Your People Community Park, opening new restrooms at the Zachary Youth Park, making upgrades to the city dump and installing smart water and gas meters. “As we reflect on the past year and look forward to the future, one theme remains constant — our commitment to ensuring that Zachary continues to thrive,” McDavid wrote in the statement. “This year, we are embracing the motto ‘Thrive in ’25’ as our guiding principle for growth, innovation and community strength.” In an interview, McDavid outlined further details on projects he hopes to under- McDavid take soon, including: n Renovating City Hall and bringing all city employees under one roof. “We’re waiting for the audit to be finished up to see where we’re at financially,” McDavid said. The city may seek bonds to finance the project, which could involve purchasing an adjoining piece of property to expand City Hall’s footprint. “We’ve got a nice drawing so far of what it could look like, and we’re hoping to proceed with that down the road,” he said. n Widening Church Street between Old Slaughter Road and La. 19 and extending turn lanes on Church Street at Old Scenic Highway and at Plank Road to alleviate congestion.
ä See ROAD, page 4G
Council members split on residential development moratorium proposal BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
Try as they might, members of the Zachary City Council just can’t seem to get along lately. The sticking point? Three of the panel’s five members want to take their time studying a pair of agenda items — which propose a temporary ban on residential development in Zachary and changes to minimum lot sizes for two zonings — before voting on them. But the council’s other two members think their colleagues are stalling for no good reason. Brandy Westmoreland, who introduced the proposals in the fall, and her fellow council members John LeBlanc and Ambre DeVirgilio have succeeded in tabling the items — and keeping them tabled — until later this month. They argue that council members James Graves and Jennifer Landry, who believe the issues already have been adequately discussed and researched, are trying to rush important decisions. The complex situation has driven a wedge between the two factions of the council and led to intense discussions in recent months. At its Feb. 11 meeting, the sharply divided panel had its most heated debate yet when Graves placed an item on the agenda “seeking the immediate discussion” of the zoning and moratorium proposals — which have been considered in tandem — and to take votes. At its previous meeting on Jan. 28, the council agreed on a 3-2 vote to table the items until its second meeting in February. Before that, the items were tabled in December. Graves’ effort to bring the matter to a resolution touched off 20 minutes of fiery exchanges before it failed on two separate votes. Mayor David McDavid had to intervene a few times, pounding his gavel and ordering the council members to speak one at a time. Accusations flew even as a fourth grader sat at the center of the dais. Zachary Elementary School student Attilio Romero, who had
ä See COUNCIL, page 4G