New Zachary High football coach has long ties to Brewerton
The last of our three new Zachary high football coaches is Chris McNamara, who is new to Zachary but not new to many on the ZHS coaching staff. McNamara started his coaching career at Chalmette in 2003 and 2004. After Hurricane Katrina, McNamara was forced out of Chalmette and was the defensive coordinator for coach David Brewerton at Livonia. “We hit it off immediately,” McNamara said. After Livonia, McNamara moved to Jefferson Parish and then home to Chalmette. Through all those moves, Brewerton and the other coaches with him at Livonia were on McNamara’s mind. Before we get into all that, McNamara got his education and prepped at Holy Cross, where he
played football and threw the discus. From there he moved on to Northwestern State and finished at UNO. McNamara is quick to point out that he has been to every state championship game Zachary has played in but the first one in 2015. Based on some of the near-misses at Livonia, Brewerton banned McNamara from the 2015 title game where the Broncos beat John Ehret. After the jinx was broken, Mc-
Namara has been at all the other Broncos trips to the Superdome and notes that “you can see me and my son with our hands up in the end zone on the catch by Hilton against West Monroe (2018) that was in The Advocate.”
He notes that he saw Brewerton after the 2015 championship “at the Poydras exit to the Superdome.” McNamara’s son Cooper, who recently graduated from Chalmette, wanted to graduate with his friends, which was one of the reasons his move to Zachary was delayed. McNamara and his wife, Yvette, moved to Zachary in June, and he loves it. When asked why he has kept this relationship with Brewerton and made the move to Zachary, McNamara replied, It’s the way he handles things,
how players, parents and coaches respond to him, how he lets the coaches do their jobs and the management of the program just draws you in.”
Though he was previously a defensive coach, he will be working with the H-backs this year. He has three seniors that he is excited because they bring different qualities to the position.
“We have some big bodies and two smaller younger guys that are physical and will know what their job is going to be,” he said. When he is done with football, he will be working with his other passion, wrestling. He is keenly aware of the positive attributes of wrestling for crossover to football.
“I had a kid at Chalmette that
Chris McNamara
Warren Brady
ZACHARY SPORTS
Board Chair Thomas Scott speaks during a ribbon cutting of the new tower at Lane Regional Medical Center
STAFF PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Area
Blaise Provitola, center,
to
monitor as Brad Jackson, left, looks
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Lee, The Harrells, Marlon Arceneaux, Riverside Revival Band, Olabelle and Chuck White Baker market coming Saturday
A market will be held at the Baker School Board Office, 14750 Plank Road, Baker, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m , Saturday, Aug. 23.
Among the items for sale are veggies, smoothies, eggs, meat, baked goods, plants, jams and more. All is fresh. All is local.
For information, contact Rep Barbara Carpenter at 225-771-5674 or carpernterb@legis.la.gov To be a vendor, visit https://tinyurl.com/4p938zed
Donations sought for rescue
Must Luv Dogs Rescue is seeking donations for its annual Facebook Auction. Donations so not have to be dog related. Money raised goes toward the group’s medical bills. Email mustluvdogs.org@gmail to make arrangements.
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.
Zoo to host car show
The inaugural Rumble in the Jungle will roll into town from 9:30 a.m to 3 p.m. Nov 1, 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
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“We’re obviously going to have to take some steps if the council does not roll forward, so what we don’t want to do is lose time in that regard,” Hopewell told the council.
The ordinance says “the Mayor has determined that it will be necessary to amend and correct the current general fund budget for the current fiscal year which commenced July 1, 2025 due to the failure of the City Council to roll the City’s Millage forward as anticipated and approved in that budget’s adoption.” Councilwoman Ambre DeVirgilio took issue with that statement, saying the word “failure” implied the council had done something negligent
“Maybe I’m taking it the wrong way, but I feel fairly astute in my vocabulary,” she said. “Language like this erodes working relationships and undermines the public’s trust in a respectful, functioning government. It is possible to present an amendment to the budget without adversarial language aimed at the governing body.” Hopewell said he was open to making edits.
“Those words were mine,” he said “I was asked to draft the ordinance. The words weren’t given to me, and I
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was a smaller linebacker type that wrestled at 165 pounds but when he was on the football field, he never missed a tackle and made it to the finals in wrestling his senior year,” McNamara relayed. McNamara’s passion for wrestling goes
beyond football as he has a passion for the expansion of wrestling to girls.
“When we started the girls program, I had the second largest program in the state and finished third at the state tournament this year,” he said.
McNamara had 80 wrestlers that included 18 girls in his wrestling program last year “I stepped away from football for two years because wrestling really exploded and I focused on that,” McNamara ex-
plained. His boys finished seventh overall last year with two finalists. He stresses, “I am a strong family man, and I believe in building relationships with the kids by letting them know I care so we can have the fun and tough conversations with a level of trust.”
Warren Brady covers sports for The Plainsman. He can be contacted at zachary@theadvocate.com.
Zachary City Council honors Regena Beard, state’s top teacher
didn’t mean disrespect. I used those words in a neutral sense.”
DeVirgilio made a motion to modify the verbiage to “due to possible anticipation of the City Council not being in favor of the proposed millage roll forward requiring two-thirds majority vote.” Her request was supported by LeBlanc, Brandy Westmoreland and James Graves. Jennifer Landry voted no.
DeVirgilio also criticized the city’s process for developing the budget, saying the millage increase should have been presented to the council first.
Deanna Mankins, the city’s chief financial officer said that wasn’t possible.
“We don’t have the actual numbers to be able to do the ordinance to roll forward or not roll forward in May when we have to adopt the budget,” Mankins said Landry said DeVirgilio should have raised her concerns when the budget was being considered in May
“If you felt like it was a backwards way of doing it, we should have stopped and we should have not unanimously approved the budget,” Landry said. “Now is the backwards time to bring this up because we have to move the city forward financially”
Council meetings have regularly taken an adversarial tone in the past few months, with the panel often splitting on votes. Members have sparred with one an-
other over controversial issues like zoning changes and even routine matters.
The council’s relationship with the mayor and his staff seems to have frayed, too. Some council members have made frequent complaints about being given information at the last minute, and McDavid has spoken out against council proposals that he feels interfere with his authority to carry out day-to-day operations.
McDavid addressed the tension in the meeting room He said council members are welcome to come to his office on Mondays to talk over any concerns they have about agenda items.
“I can count on my hands how many’s been in my office to discuss it over two and a half years,” he said. “We shouldn’t be out here debating these things. We ought to be in there talking about it like men and women and not try to grandstand and show the camera and everything We need to be working together on this, but we don’t do that We talk about transparency and communication — it’s not there. It’s power and control is what we’re looking at.”
He said he has been transparent since taking office as mayor and decried what he called “games and playing” among council members.
“I’m here to work,” he said. “The people elected me to do a job. I’m going to do it.”
The council began to move
on to its next agenda item when DeVirgilio pointed out that the ordinance hadn’t been introduced and only the wording change had been approved. After some confusion about what had happened, the council had
to go back and redo its vote on DeVirgilio’s request sparking more sharp exchanges.
“What is the purpose of changing language on an ordinance that will not be introduced?” Landry asked. “I
just feel like it’s for a show.”
“Who said we’re not introducing it?” DeVirgilio replied. ”We haven’t voted.” New motions were then made to revise the language and introduce the ordinance, and both passed.
PHOTO BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
Regena Beard, a teacher at Copper Mill Elementary School who was recently named Louisiana Teacher of the Year is honored by the Zachary City Council at its Aug. 12 2025, meeting From left are council members Ambre DeVirgilio, John LeBlanc and Brandy Westmoreland; Beard; council members Jennifer Landry and James Graves; and Mayor David McDavid.
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
Contributing writer
Just days before they welcomed students back to the classroom, several teachers and other school employees were honored as the best in Zachary
They received the awards during the Aug. 5 School Board meeting, which was held at Zachary High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Center to accommodate a large crowd of cheering family members and friends.
“They represent everyone, I know, at
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shifting to the carts is because they can be collected by automated trucks. The company wants to phase out rear-load trucks and hand collection, which are still used for recycling pickup in Zachary
“That is an archaic way of collecting recyclables and waste,” Hains said. He added that it has become tough to find employees wiling to do such a laborious risky job. Waste Management quit using rear loaders and
their schools so well,” said Superintendent Ben Necaise. “We appreciate all the work they do. It’s the least we can do is just recognize the effort, the time, the care that they give back to our kids and our community.” The award recipients and their schools are as follows.
Zachary Early Learning Center: Kristen Payne, teacher of the year and Tiffany Walls, support employee of the year
Northwestern Elementary School: Rebecca Newman, teacher of the year, and Antoinette Lacey, support employee of the year
moved to automated garbage collection in Zachary a few years ago, Hains said. He believes the 96-gallon carts will be a hit in Zachary where about 40% of residents recycle — much higher than the national average of 15%, he said. Waste Management presented the city with an option for garbage service only, which would cost $21.60 — $3.16 more than the current garbage-only rate. In this scenario, the rate would go up because people would be throwing their recyclables into trash cans, filling up trucks faster and increasing trips to the landfill. Most council members
said they saw the value of the recycling program and were in favor of keeping it.
John LeBlanc, Ambre DeVirgilio, James Graves and Jennifer Landry all voted to renew the contract with Waste Management, which has picked up Zachary’s waste since the early 2000s. The contract was initially brought to the council last month and failed on a 2-2 tied vote.
LeBlanc, who opposed the contract then, changed his mind after talking to constituents. He came to see recycling service as similar to bulk waste pickup — which is handled through a separate contract with Waste
Rollins Place Elementary School: Naomi Doll, teacher of the year; Raven Fowler, new teacher of the year; and Tess Rickets, support employee of the year
Zachary Elementary School: Victoria Gainous, teacher of the year; Julia Elbourne Hooge, new teacher of the year; and Thelma Royal, support employee of the year.
Copper Mill Elementary School: Regena Beard, teacher of the year; Malaya Austin, new teacher of the year; and Latonyia Johnson, support employee of the year Beard also was recently named Louisiana Teacher of the Year
Depot.
“Not everybody utilizes that, but we still all pay for it,” LeBlanc said. “It’s there as a service when you do need it.”
“I have to change my vote,” he added. “I’m going to support it.”
He hopes the larger containers will prove useful to residents.
“I get a lot of stuff from Amazon and I feel bad when I have to put an Amazon box that was used just one time in my garbage can,” he said.
But not everyone shared LeBlanc’s feelings. A few residents in the audience objected to the idea of be-
Zachary
The district office also recognized support employees of the year They include Jamie Ducote, maintenance; Jacqueline Staden, child nutrition program; Sandra Taylor, student support services; and Courtney Phelps, main office
ing charged more money for a service they don’t plan to use. They said they’re not interested in having a recycling bin as big as their trash can.
One resident, Victor Durand, circled back to Waste Management’s statistic about recycling program participation.
“We’re going to cater to 40% versus 60% of people?” Durand said. “I don’t want another big one. I don’t even recycle. I just put it all in the garbage, and they pick it up.”
“With the economy and the cost of everything, for me personally, I’d rather not pay for recycling at all,” Westmoreland said. She also questioned why the city did not seek bids from other companies.
“That’s something we can look at down the line,” Mayor David McDavid responded, “but we’ve worked with Waste Management for many years.”
The residents found a sympathetic ear in Councilwoman Brandy Westmoreland, the lone vote against the contract. She said many people — herself included — do not recycle because they’re too busy for time-consuming prep work like flattening boxes and rinsing out containers.
Northwestern Middle School: Alexis Johnson, teacher of the year; Anna Dupre, new teacher of the year; and Reagan Barton, support employee of the year
High School: Derrick Barrow teacher of the year; Julia Palmer, new teacher of the year; and Kelly Sanders, support employee of the year
PROVIDED PHOTO BY MANDY BRADLEY
Several
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director, said the hospital does not own the Da Vinci 5 equipment, but is seeking sponsors to fund the $2 million technology He said the new surgical robots levels the playing field between Lane Regional and its competitors.
“It brings us to the 21st century of operating room procedures,” he said.
The exterior of the new tower at Lane Regional Medical Center
The
