THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Council votes to pull permit on go-kart track
|
W e d n e s d ay, A p r i l 22, 2026
12TH YEAR, NO. 28
$1.00N
BATTLE STATIONS
Track owner vows to keep racing
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
Following reports that a controversial go-kart track let racers run their vehicles outside approved hours, the Zachary City Council revoked the conditional use permit that allowed the facility to operate in a residential area during a highly anticipated public hearing April 14. The 3-2 vote came before a packed council chamber with extra police officers standing guard. Supporters and opponents — who have been at odds for months and have clashed during previous council discussions about the track — crowded the room past its posted capacity of 63 people, prompting police to send some attendees outside the building. Despite the council’s decision, the 593 Motorsports Kart Club on W.J. Wicker Road plans to stay open, according to a post made “We were only to assume, on the club’s Facebook page hours after the since y’all were so meeting. specific about all the “While we are disapother conditions, that pointed with this out10 a.m. until 10 p.m. come, we respect the concerned racing. process and will move forward in a manner A racetrack doesn’t that remains fully stay ready. This isn’t compliant with all apsomething that, 10 a.m., plicable laws and orditrack’s ready, 10 p.m., nances. As many of you track’s instantly closed know, the permit was required for us to opand everybody gets to leave. We have to pick up, erate as a business and collect a gate fee,” the we have to cut grass, we post said. It added that have to work the track, the club, which is orgaturn the dirt over, do all nized as a 501©(3) nonof these things that can profit, will stop chargonly be done before and ing people to come to track and will inafter. These racers have the stead rely on “private to work on their go-karts. funding and voluntary They need to test them.” support.” The hearing was preJOSHUA O’NEAL, cipitated by complaints track owner neighbors made to the city that the track held go-kart races before 10 a.m. and after 10 p.m. — the operating hours it agreed to abide by when the council issued the permit in November — on Feb. 28 and March 7. Mayor David McDavid directed the city’s code enforcement officer, Ty Stephens, to investigate. Track owner Joshua O’Neal and people who made the complaints were allowed to testify during the hearing. Officials made clear that they were only to speak about matters related to the track’s operating hours. Residents of the area — some of whom sued the city and the track after the permit was granted — have claimed at past meetings that the permit restrictions have been disregarded in other ways. Stephens’ investigation and the council hearing focused on the Feb. 28 allegations. Stephens obtained videos from residents that captured the sound of engines after 10 p.m. on Feb. 28. At the hearing, some residents said the noise continued until past 11 p.m. “This is what we listened to all night long,” said W.J. Wicker Road resident Dianne Fletcher, playing a video on her phone that she said was recorded Feb. 28. O’Neal — who along with a few people in the audience wore a 593 Motorsports jersey — disputed accusations that the track was still racing past its approved hours. Races always finish by 10 p.m., he said, although he admitted that go-karts often linger on the track past that time. Still, he believes he has followed the rules set in the permit, which detail operating hours, limit how often races can be held and ban certain classes of go-karts from being driven on the track. He sees a distinction between racing and practicing. “We were only to assume, since y’all were so specific
ä See TRACK, page 2G
PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS
Members of the group The New Chapter includes senior Mckenzie Petterson, senior Nyja Cleveland, and junior Kylea Mills. They performed ‘Can’t Back Down’ by Demi Lovato during the Lip Sync Battle competition.
Zachary students entertain with annual Lip Sync Battle
OMA, One Man Army, solo performer sophomore Christian Johnson performs ‘Dynamite’ by BTS during the Lip Sync Battle competition.
Zachary High School choir department held its annual Lip Sync Battle on April 16 at the Zachary High School Visual and Performing Arts Center. Judges were Andrew Gaines, Abby Gaines, Tami McClure, Erica Henry, Natasha Walker and Derrick Barrow.
The group Deadly Desire performs ‘Bow Down’ by Beyonce during the Lip Sync Battle competition. ä More photos. PAGE 3G
City of Zachary welcomes planning director BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
Zachary has a new planning and zoning director. D’Monda Hill was introduced at the City Council’s April 14 meeting. He replaces Bryant Dixon, who had held the role since 2021. Mayor David McDavid said Hill has extensive expe-
rience in community public administraand economic develtion at LSU. Hill’s previous caopment, urban planreer stops include ning, grants manageworking as a fellow ment and disaster in former Mayorrecovery. Hill holds a President Sharon bachelor’s degree in Weston Broome’s adEnglish with an em- Hill ministration, grants phasis in pre-law and French from Tougaloo Col- specialist at the Hunt, Guillot lege in Mississippi. He later and Associates engineering earned a master’s degree in firm, youth program man-
ager at the Louisiana Workforce Commission, community partnerships program manager at LSU and senior program analyst for the City of Monroe’s planning and urban development department. A member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, he has served
ä See PLANNING, page 2G
Lane Foundation to host event April 25 Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
The Lane Foundation is holding its first Bourbon, BBQ & Wine event from noon to 4 p.m. April 25, at the Lane Walking Track, on the campus of Lane Regional Medical Center, 6300 Main St., Zachary. Guests will have bourbon tastings, barbecue from local vendors, curated wine selections, and live entertainment throughout the event. This year’s entertainment lineup includes performances by The Dizzy! Duo, The Dad Band and the Southland Band.
General admission wristbands are $50 each and provide access to all tastings and entertainment. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older to purchase tickets and attend the event. Proceeds from the event directly benefit the Lane Foundation, supporting initiatives that advance patient care, expand services, and improve the overall health of the region. Tickets are available for purchase online at https://www.lanermc.org/bourbon-bbq-andwine.
Tour Baby Lane Tour Baby Lane at 6 p.m., May 11. The event is a chance for a guided tour of labor, delivery and postpartum care. It open to those who are pregnant or those who are searching for a local OB/GYN. Register at https://tinyurl.com/25enmr43.
ä See AROUND, page 2G