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, F e b r u a ry 4, 2026
$1.00N
12TH YEAR, NO. 17
Effort to remove Planning and Zoning commissioner fails ZACHARY CITY COUNCIL
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
A member of Zachary’s Planning and Zoning Commission who has missed almost a year’s worth of meetings held on to his job Jan. 28 despite an item on the City Council’s agenda to consider removing
him from office — a move that, while unsuccessful, was decried as “appalling” by the chair of the commission. Councilman James Graves asked his colleagues to replace Commis-
“I appointed this young man,” said Graves, who nominated Floyd to serve on the commission sioner Jason Floyd with Randy Al- in 2023. “I had great hopes for barez. He believes Floyd’s absen- him, and I still do. But obviously teeism, which comes as the com- he can’t give the City of Zachary mission discusses implementing a what the City of Zachary deserves. new master plan for the city, is a That seat needs to be filled by somebody that’s willing and able problem.
to participate and get this master plan underway.” Council member Jennifer Landry supported Graves’ position. But the council’s other three members — Brandy Westmoreland, John LeBlanc and Ambre
ä See COUNCIL, page 2G
Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
Broncos girls basketball team on fire
PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS
Anna Stanley, assistant instructor, plays along with Austin Hernandez, during a Northwestern Middle’s seventh grade practice on Jan. 29.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
Northwestern Middle School Orchestra works for festival
The Northwestern Middle School Orchestra practiced after school Jan. 29. The students are preparing for the LSU Music Festival in February. ä More photos of orchestra practice. PAGE 3G
Elaina Moses, Northwestern seventh grader, practices her section for an upcoming the festival.
Zachary High’s girls head basketball coach Tami McClure texted me the night before the Broncos home game against Midland on Jan. 28. Though it was a nondistrict game against an out-of-state opponent, I had already made plans. What neither I nor Ava Raymond knew (until McClure texted me) was that on the previous Friday against Oak Hill, Raymond scored her 2,000th point as a Bronco. She received that recognition before the Midland game. Raymond is also a candidate for the Louisiana Gatorade player of the year in girls basketball. Coming into the Midland game, the Lady Broncos have put together an impressive 21-3 record and is currently ranked second in the Non-Select Division I power rankings. Midland (21-7) is no slouch putting and a formidable opponent that is ranked first in the Non-Select Division IV power rankings. The junior varsity won the opener 41-19 with SaRhya Smith leading all scorers with 14 points. In the varsity game, the Rebels started strong scoring first on a basket and free throw to take an early lead. Asia Bell scored the Broncos’ first bucket. After Midland raced out to a 2-6 lead, McClure called a timeout to settle the team down. They responded with a Bell layup after the Broncos broke the press and a subsequent Bell layup tied the game with 5:01 remaining in the first. The Broncos took their first lead on a basket by Kennedi Whitfield but after one it was all tied up at 12. Raymond started the scoring in the second period and a 3-point shot by Marcia Robinson gave the Broncos a 4-point lead. After Midland fought back, Robinson hit another 3-pointer and a put back by Raymond extended the to 7 (25-18). Midland stormed back throughout the period with timely 3-point shots as the game was still tight (32-29) at the half. The second half started with Raymond nailing a jumper in the lane. Bell followed with a 3-point play and a layup by Whitfield. The Broncos went up 10 with six minutes left in the period. The Broncos could not manage much more separation for the remainder of
ä See BRADY, page 2G
Easter run set for March 21 in Zachary Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
February to any Baker City Court defendants who has an outstanding bench warrant issued prior to Feb. 1. The bench warrant will be recalled without first paying the normal bench warrant recall fee. The defendant will be given a new court date and additional time to pay any outstandAmnesty offered in Baker ing fees. This amnesty program does not reduce The City Court of Baker, Baker City Court outstanding fees. Amnesty will allow the defendants an opporJudge Kirk A. Williams and Baker City Marshal Carl K. Dunn will provide an amnesty period for tunity to clear any outstanding bench warrant. The Zachary Rotary Bunny Hop is March 21 in downtown Zachary. A 1 mile walk and run starts at 8 a.m. The 5k run and walk starts at 8:30 a.m. Register at runsignup.com/Race/LA/Zachary/ ZacharyRotaryBunnyHop
The clerk’s office will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. to assist defendants in recalling their bench warrants. Call Baker City Court at (225) 778-1866 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Baker Police Department at (225) 775-6000 from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. to find out if you have an outstanding warrant in Baker City Court. Defendants excluded from amnesty are
ä See AROUND, page 2G