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, O c t o b e r 22, 2025
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12TH YEAR, NO. 2
Council sets workshop on pay raise issue
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
base pay for the mayor and police chief while also boosting compensation for council members. The raises proposed in the ordiCiting the absence of two of its five members and a desire to dis- nance, which the council agreed cuss the matter first in a workshop, to introduce earlier this month, the Zachary City Council at its wouldn’t take effect until January Oct. 14 meeting delayed taking ac- 2027 — after the next election. If the ordinance is approved, tion on a proposed ordinance that would substantially increase the the starting salary for the mayor
Contributing writer
would go from $85,000 to $108,200. The police chief’s starting salary, which is currently $69,000, would increase to $89,100. And council members, who are now paid $10,414 annually, would receive $12,950. The council set a workshop to discuss the ordinance for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at City Hall ahead of its
regular meeting. Members also are planning to talk about permanently filling the council clerk position during the gathering. Under state law, the council must approve any changes to officials’ compensation before the final year of an election cycle. The clock is ticking — which is part of why Mayor David McDavid said
he supported the council tabling a vote on the ordinance. “I don’t want to take a chance of somebody not being comfortable with what they have right now and not being able to see it and then all of a sudden vote it down, then we start it all back over,” he said. “The
ä See COUNCIL, page 3G
Trick-ortreating returns on Halloween night after game rescheduled BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
Contributing writer
Trick-or-treating is back on for Halloween night in Zachary. The City Council unanimously voted Oct. 14 to set trick-or-treating hours for 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31 — reversing an earlier decision to hold the festivities on Thursday, Oct. 30. In late August, the council agreed to move trick-or-treating up by a day at the request of Mayor David McDavid and Police Chief Darryl Lawrence. A highly anticipated matchup between the Zachary and Central high school football teams was slated for Oct. 31 at the Bronco Corral, and the mayor and chief were worried about having enough police officers to both keep kids safe on the streets and handle the crowd at the game. The council approved the request on a 4-1 vote but lamented the lost opportunity for trick-ortreating on a rare Friday Halloween. The plan didn’t stick for long. At the Oct. 7 school board meeting, Superintendent Ben Necaise announced that his team had coordinated with city officials and those in Central to reschedule the game. “We’ve worked with them and made sure we can align all the logistics,” Necaise said. “We are moving our Oct. 31 game to the 30th just so that the city would have the option to toggle back Halloween night to Friday.” With the council’s recent vote, that’s now official. Councilman John LeBlanc made the motion to schedule trick-or-treating for Oct. 31. “I am so excited to second that motion,” said Councilwoman Jennifer Landry. “So am I,” LeBlanc said. “So are a lot of people.”
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
PHOTO BY SONYA GOSS
Zachary High School Homecoming Queen is senior Carly Johnson.
Patriots deliver 56-31 loss for Broncos’ Homecoming game The ZHS Broncos started the 2025 season with plenty of questions but a hard working group of players and coaches that promised to provide thrills. For the first five games of 2025 the Broncos piled up nothing but victories that placed them atop of The Advocate’s local rankings, sixth in the Louisiana Sportswriters Association 5A poll and second in the 5A nonselect power rankings. That momentum and those rankings all took a major blow after a homecoming 56-31 loss to Liberty (4-3) on Oct. 17. The Broncos offensive story so far this year has been a powerful running game behind a strong offensive line and two fantastic junior running backs Tyrek Lewis (thunder) and Jeremy Patton (lightning) who both had impressive rushing totals and touchdowns against the Patriots behind a strong offensive line and H-back Connor Shipp. Though there were gains on the ground there were also fumbles, which have been uncommon for the Broncos, and
Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
ä More Homecoming photos.
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the passing game never got off the ground. Liberty started the matchup at a disadvantage with their head coach Jimmy Zachary suspended but present at the game. Zachary, in his first year at Liberty, came from Opelousas where he won a 4A state championship. The game started with strong defensive play by the Broncos with the usual cast of characters like linebackers Dylan Shelmire, Isaiah Stokes and Donovan Bethley flying around, making stops and forcing the Patriots to punt. On the Broncos first offensive play Patton scored on a 48-yard
run. Liberty responded with a touchdown and 2-point conversion to take the early lead (8-6) in the first. The Broncos immediately responded on the ensuing drive with a 22-yard pass from Michael Kirby to Kristion Brooks. This would be the Broncos only lead for the remainder of the night. The Patriots quickly responded with a 75-yard pass and two-point conversion to take a 16-14 lead to start the second and extended the lead to 24-14. A late field goal put the Broncos within a touchdown 24-17 at the half and were set to receive the ball first to start the third. Patton struck early in the third quarter with a 25-yard run to tie things up with 10:26 left in the third. Everything was going according to plan, until it wasn’t. The Patriots responded with another drive and two-point conversion to take the lead 32-24 and tacked on another touchdown before Lewis’ touchdown run from 20 yards out narrowed the lead (38-31). From then on Liberty kept
scoring. The Broncos could not stop them or put any more points on the board. A tired defense that held the opposing team to 20 points or fewer in all but one game prior to homecoming ran out of gas and the Patriots rushing attack was too much in the third and fourth quarters. There is no rest for the weary as things get tougher over the next three weeks of district play. The Broncos take to the road for a district game against Woodlawn, a 45-15 winner over Scotlandville, on Oct. 16, and on Oct. 24, come home for a Thursday night game against defending nonselect champion Central on Oct. 30. They close out the regular season at Memorial Stadium for a game the Broncos hope is for the 4-5A district championship against Catholic on Nov. 6, also a Thursday night game. Warren Brady covers sports for The Plainsman. He can be contacted at zachary@ theadvocate.com.
Mayor’s Prayer Luncheon is Friday Mayor David McDavid will host the 2025 Mayor’s Community Prayer Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Doors open at 11 a.m. The free event includes a fish fry lunch. This year’s theme is “Thrive in 2025” — a reminder to set meaningful goals, pursue them with faith, and live in alignment with God’s purpose. Sid Bream, former Major League Baseball
player known for his 1992 game-winning slide with the Atlanta Braves, is the guest speaker. Music will be provided by the Zachary High School Jazz Band and Choir and the First Baptist Church Praise Team.
Trick-or-Treat in Baker The city and police department of Baker are hosting Treat Street from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at Baker City Park, next to City Hall, 3325 Groom Road.
Prepare for the Zachary Christmas Parade
The 2025 Zachary Christmas Parade will be themed Christmas Movie Spectacular. It will roll at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 from Rouses on Church Street to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Entry fee is $100, and the deadline to apply
ä See AROUND, page 3G
for a spot in the parade is Nov. 17. Sign up at