Zachary Plainsman-Advocate 08-06-2025 by The Advocate

Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY

Mammograms

offered in Zachary Aug. 13

Woman’s Hospital mobile

mammography coach is bringing 3D breast imaging to Zachary Aug. 13 at United Methodist Church, 4205 Church St. A physician’s order is required, and appointments are encouraged. Call (225) 924-8268 to schedule.

School is coming soon

The ﬁrst days of school are happening soon. Zachary and West Feliciana schools start Aug. 7 East Feliciana schools start Aug. 11. Parents and guardians should make sure they have taken care of all enrollments and fees, checking on transportation and getting supplies.

Drivers are asked to use caution in school zones and at bus stops. Don’t forget, it’s illegal to use a cellphone while driving.

Business Expo set

The Zachary Business Expo is set from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Sept. 9 at Americana YMCA. To register a booth, call the Zachary Chamber of Commerce at (225) 654-6777.

Chamber ribbon cuttings

The Zachary Chamber of Commerce is hosting ribboncuttings at area businesses.

n Zachary Spine and Sports Rehab is holding an anniversary ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Aug. 26 at 1215 Independence Blvd., Building 5, Suite A, Zachary

n Southern Clinical Research is celebrating 15 years of service with a ceremony at 10 a.m Aug. 19 at 4867 W. Park Drive, Zachary n Sweet Stirrings, 4342 High St., Zachary, is having a ribboncutting at its new building at 3 p.m., Aug. 19.

Zoo to host car show

The inaugural Rumble in the Jungle will roll into town Nov 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., bringing together car lovers, families and animal enthusiasts.

This event will showcase an array of vehicles — from classic cruisers to custom builds — set against the backdrop of the zoo grounds. Attendees can enjoy a full day of animal encounters, family-friendly activities and cars, included with the price of admission. Vehicle registration is open through Oct. 10. Visit brzoo.org/ rumble for registration details and event updates. Email Leila Pitchford at lpitchford@theadvocate.com.

BACKPACKS for back-to-school

BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer

The MLK Committee is led by chair Johnnie Evans, and she cochairs the back-to-school event with Tina Clark. The group initially organized an annual vigil honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., but the effort grew and now funds scholarships for local high school graduates and organizes the massive return to school event that is reaching 700 to 800 students. Incoming third grader Katherine Prevost and her best friend Noah

ä See BACKPACKS, page 2G

Pediatric nurse practitioner Kara Sullivan normally sees many children on a busy workday, but recently she saw hundreds of Zachary-area school children and their families as she and a team from Lane Regional Medical Center did their part to ensure a safe and productive school year The Zachary MLK Committee Back-to-School Bash, held Saturday, is far from the typical school supply giveaway In addition to Lane, representatives from the school system, elected ofﬁcials, community organizations, local businesses and faithbased ministries engaged with entire families offering a connection to products, services and the expected fun gifts and supplies.

Balloons return for Zachary festival

Community news report

Look up Friday and Saturday evenings into the skies over BREC’s Zachary Community Park to watch as nine hot air balloons ﬂoat during the Really Hot Air Balloon Festival. The two-day festival’s lineup includes tethered balloon rides, starting at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, nightly balloon glows, 10 food trucks, arts and crafts and retail vendors. The music stage include performances on Friday by Chubby Carrier and Lauren Lee Band and Adam Leger Band and Thomas Cain on Saturday The park’s splash pad also will be open. A car show is set for 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Admission is free.

District 4-5A football preview – things are going to get tougher and change is coming

Warren Brady

ZACHARY SPORTS

In 2024, District 4-5A football teams were very competitive, with Central riding a fourth seed in the nonselect playoffs to a 42-0 upset of Ruston for a state championship Our Zachary Broncos (7-4) advanced to the regional round before falling to that same Ruston team the Wildcats defeated. The regional loss represented the earliest that the Broncos have been knocked out of the playoffs during coach David Brewerton’s 11 seasons in Zachary Woodlawn was knocked out in the ﬁrst round of the select playoffs and Catholic’s season ended in the semiﬁnals of the Select playoffs. Only Liberty and Scotlandville failed to make the playoffs last year and both teams have new coaches and are anticipated to be much improved. The Broncos will open 4-5A play against Scotlandville at home Oct. 10. Veteran coach

well aware of the expectations for a program that has struggles as of late. The next week, Oct. 17, the Broncos will be home again to take on Liberty Magnet and new head coach Jimmy Zachary Zachary was on the sidelines last year coaching against the Broncos when he was the head coach at Opelousas. He won a state championship in 2023 at Opelousas and brings a winning philosophy and approach to the Patriots. Coach Brewerton noted that

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Pediatric nurse practitioner Kara Sullivan greets young students at a table sponsored by Lane Regional Medical Center at the Zachary MLK Committee Backto-School Bash.

PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

Grandparents Brian and Sharon Williams move through the Zachary MLK Committee Back-to-School Bash on Saturday with their grandsons Yasin and Aiden and their sister Brooklyn.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

Hot air balloons line the edge of a pond during the first hot air balloon festival at BREC’s Community Park in 2024. The festival returns Friday and Saturday

PHOTO BY BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

line up Saturday at Zachary High for supplies during a school supply giveaway.

PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

Denita Harris moves through the Zachary MLK Committee Back-to-

Bash with her children ranging from

fth grade. The Harris youngsters are, from left, twins Marlon and McKenzie Harris, Renard Harris, and brother Chander Harris.

PHOTO BY BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

PHOTO BY SONYA GOSS

The Zachary community came out to support the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Committee of Zachary Back-to-School Giveaway.

Liberty was impressive in 7-on-7 competitions over the summer; and “his impact was immediate and he is doing a great job with some really good players.” Expect this year’s matchup to be a lot closer than last year’s Bronco 42-8 steamroll win.

Woodlawn, the Broncos opponent on Oct. 24, also has a new head football coach Truman Douglas who played football at Glen Oaks, collegiately at Grambling, and previously served as the Panthers’ wide receiver coach.

Woodlawn’s previous head coach from 2024, Scott Pellegrin, is now on staff at Zachary and will see some familiar faces when the Broncos travel to Baton Rouge for this matchup.

The Broncos will travel to Central Nov 1 in an attempt to rectify last year’s 14-3 regular season loss to the Wildcats. The Wildcats are likely the team to beat in District 4-5A this year as

they won the big one last year and head coach David Simoneaux will be in his third season. They have supplemented returners from last year’s roster with several high-proﬁle transfers.

The regular season ends with the big one against the Catholic Bears on a Thursday night at Memorial stadium Nov 6. “Catholic is Catholic,” Coach Brewerton relayed.

THE ZACHARY ADVOCATE & PLAINSMAN P.O. Box 588 Baton Rouge, LA 70821. (225) 388-0215

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EDITOR

Darlene T. Denstorff zachary@theadvocate.com (225) 388-0215

REPORTER

Leila Pitchford zachary@theadvocate.com (225) 388-0731

DEATH NOTICES

CALL: (225) 388-0289

EMAIL: obits@theadvocate com

“You may not know many of those guys on the roster, but they have been in the

program and when it is time to step up, they step up,” Brewerton said.

As you can see, there have been many coaching changes at the top in District 4-5A. In Zachary, there is stability at the head coaching positions with coach Brewerton. Brewerton has added what he calls “three really big hire” assistants for the 2025 season. Chris McNamara comes over from Chalmette and will coach h-backs and assist with wrestling. Pellegrin will coach safeties and Brewerton noted that “he has been tremendous already.” The youngest new coach is Chandler Whitﬁeld who has back-to-back state championships with the Broncos and was the Bayou Classic MVP for Southern. Whitﬁeld will work with the wide receivers. “Chandler has been a breath of fresh air around here for us,” Brewerton said. Warren Brady covers sports for The Plainsman. He can be contacted at zachary@theadvocate. com.

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