DAY OF SERVICE
Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
Zachary High swim team making waves in 2025
Zachary High swimming coach Julie Peveto got back with me this week to provide some thoughts on this year’s team and the season thus far
Though the results from the scrimmage were reported previously, an observation from a parent of an opposing team that moved Peveto is worth reporting.
The opposing team parent indicated that she watched the ZHS team during warm-ups and admired “how much they (the ZHS team) cared for and was helpful to each other and how encouraging that was to see.”
“That spoke volumes to the culture we have worked to create over the years and it made my heart smile,” Peveto said In the CCSL league opener on Sept. 6, with 19 teams in competition in the boys and girls divisions, the boys finished fifth and the girls were seventh. Peveto noted that “it’s a very encouraging start, the team showed an incredible amount of team spirit and it spilled over into the pool.”
In that initial meet, the Broncos posted 18 individual lifetime best times. Top eight finishes included the girls 200 medley relay, seventh; boys 200 medley relay, eighth; Gabi Morgan finished sixth in the 50 free; Warren Griffin finished seventh in the 50 free; Ricky Wells finished seventh in the 100 fly; the boys 200 free relay, fourth; Aaron Gaines in the 100 back, eighth and the girls 400 free relay, fourth.
ä See BRADY, page 2G
Volunteers clean up Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary as part of Patriot Day event
Community news report
Volunteer Crystal Honore carried a bucket of pulled weeds with her from tree to tree during the Carry The Load Patriot Day event at Louisiana National Cemetery on Thursday, Sept 11.
Honore was joined by volunteers taking part in the Carry The Load event.
In honor of Patriot Day, volunteers gathered at the Zachary cemetery to help clean headstones and beautify the grounds.
The effort is part of Carry the Load’s annual nationwide Patriot Day event. Thousands of volunteers participated at nearly 70 national cemeteries across the U.S.
The nonprofit hosts volunteer events each Memorial Day, Patriot Day and Veterans Day as a way to provide active ways to honor and remember the nation’s heroes by connecting Americans to the sacrifices made by military and first responder communities, a news release said.
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
OLIVIA MCCLURE
Volunteers Crystal Honore, left, Randy Whitney, center, and employee Jeff Reaney take a water break together under the shade of the trees they’re working to maintain.
PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Volunteer Randy Whitney, right, and Louisiana National Cemetery groundskeeper Jeff Reaney work together to pulling weeds from the base of a tree during the Carry The Load Patriot Day event at Louisiana National Cemetery on Sept. 11.
state qualifiers last year
Boys’ captains are seniors Ricky Wells and Aaron Gaine,s who are “making a huge impact with their enthusiasm and commitment to training,” Peveto relayed.
formed well so far and looks to make the most of her season here with us.”
Ethan Veal (LB) is a sophomore for the Cajuns.
Importantly Gabi Morgan posted a state qualifying time in the 50 free and Chloe Wedblad had a state qualifying time in the 100 back. For the 2025 season, Peveto indicated that she is looking forward to a lot of individual growth and improvement and that “the swimmers have big goals for themselves and are working toward them with focus and intentionality.”
Peveto is counting on the “experience and leadership from her seniors to lead the way” with returning captains Chloe Wedblad and Ava Ordonio, who were both
The ZHS team will also be counting on young swimmers to push the upperclassmen.
“Freshmen Gabi Morgan and Caleb Connor will be adding depth to our relays while earning points for the team in their individual races as well,” Peveto explained.
Morgan has already qualified for state in two events in the first two meets.
Additional depth has been added from across the pond with Sofia Caricato, a foreign exchange student from Lecce, Italy
On Caricato, Peveto said “she has per-
Peveto said she is also glad to have a new assistant coach this year, Catherine Borel, a recent LSU graduate. Borel will be working as an adaptive physical education coach at Zachary Elementary and Copper Mill Elementary this year Peveto closed with “as always, leading this team is extremely gratifying, and I’m honored to be a part of their journey.”
Weekly Broncos in college update
This week for our college football update, we mosey on over to Lafayette where Charles Robertson, a wide receiver, is a redshirt junior; Ashley Williams (OLB) is a redshirt sophomore after transferring from Arizona State in 2024 and
In a 34-10 victory over McNeese on Sept. 6, Robertson had one catch for 3 yards and Williams had a quarterback hurry On the other side of the ball at that same game former Broncos playing for the McNeese Cowboys were junior wide receiver Kameran Senegal, junior linebacker Emauri Sibley, sophomore defensive end AJ Thomas and wide receiver Jalen Wright. Senegal caught three passes, Sibley recorded five tackles (three solo and two assists) and Thomas recorded two tackles, including one for a 9-yard loss. Warren Brady covers sports for The Plainsman. He can be contacted at zachary@theadvocate.com.
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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 WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS CALL: 225-388-0738 EMAIL: nuptials@ theadvocate.com
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Zachary’s Ricky Wells flies off the blocks in the 50-yard freestyle.
STAFF PHOTOS BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Zachary’s Ava Ordonio completes a lap in the 200-yard freestyle during a quad meet Aug. 30 at the AC Lewis YMCA in Baton Rouge.
AROUND
Additionally, new garbage and recycling rates will go into effect in October: residential garbage and recycling will be $33.30 and senior garbage and recycling, inside city limits, will be $18.15. For information, residents may contact the city of Zachary, (225) 654-1902.
Check out Baker’s market
Baker’s Fresh Market will be from
11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sept. 27, Oct 25 and Nov 22 at the Baker School Board Office, 14750 Plank Road. Vegetables, smoothies, eggs, meat, baked goods, plants, jams and more all local will be sold
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. Vendors sought for Novemberfest
Crafters and vendors are invited to participate in St. Patrick’s Novemberfest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov 1. The day will include food, games, activities, crafts/vendors, entertainment and more. The church is at 1322 Church St., Zachary For information, contact Novemberfest co-chairs Beth Kimmell, beth.kimmell@gmail.com, (225) 281-9249; or Violet Stillday, vstillday@ gmail.com, (218) 556-3458.
Celebrate the market’s six years
The Zachary Farmers and Artisans Market will celebrate its sixth birthday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18 on Lee Street in downtown Zachary. Vendors, music, food and games will be available. Baker Buffalo Festival is here
The Baker Buffalo Festival is Thursday,
Sept. 18 through Saturday, Sept. 20 at Baker City Park, 3325 Groom Road. Parking is free. Youth and Family Night is Thursday, Sept. 18. Car Show: Saturday, Sept. 20 lineup at 3325 Groom Road is at 1 p.m. Judging is at 4 p.m. Entry is $10. and gives a free parade entry Door prizes and first- and secondplace trophies will be given. Show up and Shine up at the O’Riley’s parking lot for $5 off entry.
Parade: Saturday, Sept. 20. Line up at 9 a.m.
Parade starts at 10 a.m. at the Advantage Charter Academy and ends at Baker City Park. Police Chief Carl Dunn is the grand marshal. A parade float contest will be held.
Entertainment
Thursday, Sept. 18
n 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Youth Talent Showcase n 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.: DJ
Friday, Sept. 19
n 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., One More Time
Band
Saturday, Sept. 20
n Corner Pocket, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
n The Bucket List, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.,
n Sweet Southern Heat 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.,
Saturday n N’Tune will perform from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m
Other Baker events coming
Autism group to host gala and resource fair: The Magnolia Rose Foundation for Autism Acceptance is holding its fourth annual Magnolia Masquerade Gatsby Gala from 8 p.m. to midnight Nov 1 at the Baker Municipal Center 3325 Groom Road, Baker Purchase tickets at https://magnoliarosefoundation. betterworld.org/events/4mm-gatsby-gala.
The foundation is also holding a Special Needs Resource Fair from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m Sept. 25 at Cedarcrest-Southmoor Elementary School in Baton Rouge. This event is free and open to families across the parish seeking resources, support and guidance for exceptional children and young adults of all ages and all exceptionalities.
The Resource Fair will feature local organizations, businesses and service providers who are committed to supporting families of children and young adults with exceptionalities. Spanish interpreters will be available on-site. Vendors will be providing door prizes valued at $25 or more, which will be given away throughout the evening Take a Walk in Baker: Desiree Odell-Collins and others in District 3 in Baker are hosting Let’s Take A Walk. The next community walk is at 6 p.m., Sept. 25. Meet at Redemption Life Fellowship, 2400 Debra Drive. Text (225) 954-3360 for location updated. Email Leila Pitchford at lpitchford@ theadvocate.com.
EMS
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— including Denicola, a Zachary resident who retired in May after more than three decades with EMS.
“Placing EMS, which is a parish department, as a division under the Baton Rouge Fire Department, which is a city department, is bad for the citizens of Zachary and for the parish as a whole,” Denicola told the council. “Doing this will dismantle the EMS system in this parish and the city, placing citizens at risk of paying higher costs for services to private providers and companies.”
Mayor David McDavid said Zachary residents pay $819,000 into EMS yearly through the parishwide, 2.94-mill property tax that funds the agency He is worried about whether residents will continue to get what they are paying for if EMS is put under the umbrella of a Baton Rouge department.
“If a new mayor comes in, a new fire chief
RAISES
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can work. Pay around us in other school systems has risen.”
Necaise wants to award a $10,000 raise to teachers and $5,000 to support personnel.
Zachary teachers were once some of the best paid in the area. In 2010, annual compensation for a newly hired teacher was $46,000 — a good salary at the time, Necaise said But 15 years have gone by, and the starting salary has only increased to $50,000.
Necaise noted that $46,000 in 2010 is worth $68,000 in 2025 dollars.
“Our teachers lost 32% of their spending power over the course of the last 15 years,” he said. “It’s almost as if 32% of their paycheck evaporated.”
Part of the reason why Zachary hasn’t been able to keep pace with other districts’ salaries is because it depends more heavily than most on state Minimum Foundation Program, or MFP, funding. MFP dollars account for nearly 60% of Zachary’s budget; that figure is only 20% to 30% for school systems in surrounding parishes, Necaise said.
“Basically they have larger industrial tax bases that cover the majority of budgets,” he said.
State funding hasn’t kept up with rising costs or inflation. In 2004, MFP provided $3,500 per student. Today Zachary gets $4,015 per student.
“So in 21 years, we’ve only gone up about $500 in funding,” Necaise said, adding that
comes in, will the service turn around and do something else?” McDavid said. “That’s what my worry is as mayor.” Other mayors in the area are talking about the possibility of privatizing ambulance services, he said.
“I have not explored that,” he said. “I’m waiting to see what happens with this deal here to see where it affects Zachary, and we’ll make a move from there.”
Denicola warned that cities like Zachary would face steep costs if they end up needing to provide their own ambulances and medical workers.
“If the city of Zachary had to provide these services, it would cost, for equipment and medications alone, almost $1 million or more,” he said.
Vicknair countered by touting several potential benefits of the merger, including enhanced recruiting efforts, better deals on bulk purchases of supplies and co-located EMS and fire stations. He emphasized that no final decisions have been made yet about whether the plan will be implemented. The council didn’t take any action of the resolution Denicola requested.
MFP funding levels have been frozen since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have lost a lot of spending power.”
Three-quarters of the school system’s budget is spent on salaries and benefits Sales tax makes up 21% of the budget, and another 20% comes from property tax
While collections have gone up with the arrival of new businesses and homes, money is still tight, Necaise said.
Residents are assessed 67.2 mills in property tax that goes to the school district. That equates to about $98 monthly for a $250,000 home. There is an operational millage, which was renewed last year, plus four bonds that were issued years ago to build schools as the newly independent district got off the ground.
“If you think back 20 years ago when our school system was founded, the most important, critical need we had was facilities,” Necaise said. “We were a fast-growing district from about 2,000 students to 5,500 very quickly We had four schools that were all older, and we needed new facilities and renovated facilities.”
All those bonds will be paid off by 2033, he said, and there are no pressing construction needs. He hopes to get voters’ blessing to shift tax dollars to other areas, with pay raises being the No. 1 priority, as the district continues to pay down construction debt.
Residents won’t be charged more than they are already paying.
“Imagine two buckets,” Necaise said. “We have water in a bucket. We’re asking taxpayers to authorize us to pour water from this bucket into another bucket. But we’re not asking for more water.”
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Members of the Zachary Fire Department’s B shift were credited with saving lives during two recent calls for service and were honored
left, are Councilwoman Jennifer Landry, Mayor David McDavid, Capt. Chase Lord and his daughters, Chief Danny
Westmoreland, Councilwoman Ambre DeVirgilio, firefighter/operator Brandon Roy and firefighter/operator Noah Rittell.
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Zachary Fire Department’s B shift. Not long after they got on duty that morning, Capt. Chase Lord and firefighters Brandon Roy, Montana Fairburn and Noah
Rittell successfully resuscitated two people on back-toback calls for service.
Fire Chief Danny Kimble spoke about the firefighters’ heroic deeds at the City Council’s Sept. 9 meeting. At the first scene, the crew found a 21-year-old man who was unresponsive, had no pulse and wasn’t breathing.
The next call led the firefighters to a 58-year-old man in a similar condition.
“Thanks to the crew’s rapid response time, training and professional execution of lifesaving procedures, both individuals were successfully resuscitated and, 24 hours later, remained alive in the hospital,” Kim-
firefighter/operator Montana
ble said, reading from a report that a deputy chief had sent him about the firefighters’ actions. “Their ability to act quickly, remain calm under pressure and perform with precision in the most critical of moments is a testimony to their skill, dedication and commitment to protecting the lives of those in our community.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that without their actions and the best medical equipment provided, the outcomes could have been very tragically different,” he added. “These men represent the best of the Zachary Fire Department and public service.”
Lord, Roy, Fairburn and Rittell were presented certificates signed by Mayor David McDavid and all of the council members. McDavid applauded the firefighters’ actions. “This is why we have a No. 1 fire rating and a great fire department,” McDavid said.
Crystal
Volunteers Crystal Honore, left and Randy Whitney, right, and employee Jeff Reaney work together to beautify the grounds.
Volunteers Crystal Honore and Randy Whitney pull weeds together
STAFF PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Volunteer
Honore carries her bucket of pulled weeds with her from tree to tree.
PHOTO BY O;IVIA MCCLURE
at the City Council’s Sept. 9 meeting Pictured, from
Kimble,
Fairburn, Councilwoman Brandy
PATRIOT DAY CARRY THE LOAD
