THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
Nominate Zachary’s top citizen The Zachary Rotary Club is accepting nominations for the 2025 Citizen of the Year award. Provide your contact information as well as contact information for the nominee by Sept. 29 by email to rotaryclubofzachary.com. The committee members include Charlene Smith, Mark Blair, Tamara Dayton, Sharon Phillips and Chloe McCleary. Questions to answer: n How has the nominee contributed to the community? (Give specifics.) n What organizations, cause or projects has the nominee been active in? n How has the nominee’s involvement made lasting or meaningful differences in the community? n How does the nominee demonstrate leadership and inspire others? n What personal qualities make this person stand out? n What ongoing impact has the nominees created in the community? n Share a story or example that illustrates why this person deserves the award.
|
W e d n e s d ay, S e p t e m b e r 10, 2025
$1.00N
Teacher pay increase up for vote BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
If voters approve a property tax measure this fall, Zachary school leaders want to use the proceeds to boost teacher salaries by $10,000 and give support personnel an additional $5,000. That’s according to a plan ad-
opted by the Zachary Community School Board at its Sept. 2 meeting. The document outlines how money will be spent in three key areas — salaries, technology and facilities — if voters give the school district permission to tap into money generated by an existing property tax. The item will appear on the Nov. 15 ballot. If approved, residents will
continue to pay the same property tax they already do. But district leaders will unlock access to a pot of money from a tax that was created years ago to fund — and that is still limited to — long-completed school construction projects. Superintendent Ben Necaise is making the rounds to pitch the initiative — which he and his team
are calling Zachary Forward — to residents, with appearances lined up at the City Council, Zachary Men’s Club, Rotary Club and other organizations. He told the board that the priorities laid out in the plan were developed with input from community members.
ä See VOTE, page 2G
IN THE POOL
Zachary’s Aaron Gaines swims the backstroke leg of the 200 yard medley relay. BY WARREN BRADY
Contributing writer
Help remember veterans in Sept. 11 cleanup Volunteers will help clean headstones and beautify sacred grounds as a part of the Carry The Load National Day of Service & Remembrance for military and first responders who died due to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The Patriot Day event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 11, at Louisiana National Cemetery, Zachary. Visit Carry The Load’s website for volunteer information, locations and to register: www. carrytheload.org/patriot-daynational-day-of-service/.
11TH YEAR, NO. 48
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Zachary’s Ricky Wells flies off the blocks in the 50-yard freestyle during a quad meet on Aug. 30 at the AC Lewis YMCA in Baton Rouge.
The ZHS swim team competed in its first meet of the year Aug. 30 against St. Michael’s, Baton Rouge High and Denham Springs. Individual event winners included Ava Ordonio, 200 freestyle; Warren Griffin, 50 freestyle and Gabi Morgan, 100 backstroke. Gabi Morgan qualified for the Division I State Championship with her time of 1:09 in the 100 backstroke. Coach Julie Peveto’s Broncos will swim through September and October with the City Meet on Oct. 30, a month prior to the LHSAA Division I State Championship.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Zachary Council dislike code violations Law court to handle infractions under consideration
Zachary’s Ava Ordonio completes a lap in the 200-yard freestyle. Zachary’s Camille Harms battles St. Michael’s Kaislie Devillier in the 100 backstroke.
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
For the past couple of years, Zachary City Council members have complained on and off about how much they dislike getting dragged into code violation situations. Zachary doesn’t have a blight court or similar entity dedicated to land-use violations. So the city has at times resorted to subpoenaing alleged violators and bringing them before the council to explain the derelict vehicle sitting in their yard, why they posted an illegal sign
ä See CODE, page 2G
ZHS volleyball spikes into 2025 season championships. This is goCoach Cheri Perry starts her sixth season as the ing to be a fun year and a head coach and 10th year fun team,” Perry said. overall with the Zachary In preparation for this High School volleyball year’s season, the Broncos team. attended a summer camp Warren at South Alabama, a camp The 2025 version is a young team with high exwith Southern in June and Brady a camp with Southeastern pectations. Sterling Asia ZACHARY Louisiana University in is the only senior, but a SPORTS July. large group of juniors and On the decision to make underclassmen fills out a the trip to Mobile to participate in talented roster. the South Alabama camp, Perry This includes a freshman class of 11 girls. Though they only have noted that “I have wanted to take them out of state for a while to one senior returning, most of the 2024 rotation is still on the roster, have a different experience and PHOTO BY SONYA GOSS get out of their comfort zone.” which gives Perry hope. Zachary Broncos junior Karsyn Marshall serves the ball during the varsity “We have girls who want to be ä See BRADY, page 3G volleyball game Sept. 3. here and compete and play for