THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
|
W e d n e s d ay, A p r i l 29, 2026
12TH YEAR, NO. 29
$1.00N
Zachary athletes, top students honored
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer
It won’t be long before school is out for the summer, and the Zachary Community School Board took time at its April 21 meeting to recognize students and coaches for their achievements this past year. Headlining the night of honors was the 2026 students of the year, who were selected through nominations and interviews at their respective schools. They are Briley Basile,
Zachary Early Learning Center; Koa Delarosa, Northwestern Elementary; Bailee Clark, Rollins Place Elementary; Taylor Gayle, Zachary Elementary; Lorynn Jackson, Copper Mill Elementary; Easton Olivier, Northwestern Middle; and Amara Nwabueze, Zachary High. Superintendent Ben Necaise presented each winner a trophy and cookie cake. The students’ principals told an audience of proud family members about how they earned the title.
Several others were recognized at the meeting, including Peyton Lewis, a finalist in DEMCO’s Youth Tour essay contest, and Erica Mayes, the high point individual at the statewide FFA veterinary career development event. Both are Zachary High students. The board also honored high school students who were named to the LHSAA all-academic composite team. They include Amara Nwabueze, girls soccer; Thiago Filogonia-Costa, boys soccer; Chloe
Wedblad, girls swimming; Richard Wells, boys swimming; and Wyatt Roberts, baseball. Students must have a 4.0 unweighted GPA for six semesters to make the team. The following Zachary High athletes were recognized as well: n Kai Richard, Louisiana Girls Indoor Athlete of the Year n Trinity Spence, district offensive MVP for soccer n Thiago Filogonia-Costa, first team all-district for soccer n Ava Lewis, second team all-
BIRDING IN THE AGE OF TECH
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
Library millage election set
Modern enthusiasts use sight, sound, apps
Election Day for the Library Millage Continuation is June 27. Early voting starts June 13. The proposed action is the same dedicated millage for the library that expired in 2025, but at a reduced 9.5 mills tax rate. The millage would remain a dedicated tax, and the library’s funding is almost entirely from this tax. Library staff is also holding meetings to “Write the Next Chapter.” n The meeting at the Zachary Branch Library is at 2 p.m., June 3. n The Baker Branch Library meeting is 6 p.m., June 9. n The Central Branch will host two meetings, both at 6 p.m. One is May 18 and the other is June 1. n Pride-Chaneyville Branch Library will host one at 6 p.m., June 2. n The final talk will be held at Main Library at Goodwood at 2 p.m., June 25. For information and to see more meeting choices, visit www.ebrpl. com/millage.
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
ä See AROUND, page 4G
Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
Zachary defeats unofficial rival in baseball regional It appears that the Zachary Broncos and Ruston Bearcats have become unofficial all-sports rivals during the 2025-26 sports season. The Bearcats ended the Broncos’ football season in the semifinals last fall. The Broncos basketball team defeated the Bearcats during the winter season to secure their second straight state championship. The Broncos and Bearcats continued the rivalry in the regional round of the Nonselect Division I playoffs at Herty Field in a besttwo-out-of-three matchup. In the opener on April 23, senior Noah Sullivan was steady on the mound, holding the No. 13 seed Bearcats to three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in a 6-3
ä See BRADY, page 2G
state, all-district and all-metro n Ava Raymond, all-state outstanding player for basketball n Asia Bell, all-state second team for basketball n Ian Edmond, all-state first team for basketball n Ethan Kimmie, all-state honorable mention for basketball Two Zachary High coaches were recognized: Angie Mitchell as alldistrict soccer coach of the year and Jonathan McClinton as District 4-5A boys basketball coach of the year.
PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Louisiana State Parks Manager Daniel Goyer uses both sound and sight identification during the Spring Bird Walk on April 11 at the Port Hudson Historic Site.
Zachary checks off The Bucket List in concert series
One can be surrounded by diverse flocks of birds, understand their patterns, and hear a chorus or distinct voices but never see them. Louisiana State Parks Manager Daniel Goyer helps park visitors appreciate how bird-watching has evolved to incorporate much more than sight and, yes, there’s an app for that. Goyer led the Spring Bird Walk April 11 at the Port Hudson Historic Site, a significant Civil War landmark also known for its rich history and natural Louisiana State Parks beauty. It is a popular Manager Daniel Goyer uses setting for the eBird app to identify modern a Kentucky Warbler by its birding that song. involves all the senses thanks to centuries of observation and technological advances that catalog breeds, images, migration habits, and real sounds. Participants are taken to a clearing sounded by trees to appreciate what you can experience. “Suddenly, you notice how many different birds there are out in any one spot,” Goyer said. “If you’re not listening for the variations and the differences, you might just sound — just hear birds. You may just hear bird noise, but they’re all making distinct sounds.” The historic battlefield site is alive with diverse avians. Visitors can spot a variety of species, including the Kentucky warbler, eastern bluebird, red-bellied woodpecker, great blue heron, and bald eagles. Port Hudson is also the travelers rest stop for migratory birds making their way to seasonal homes. Bird science and technology form a union that greatly aids modern birding. Apps are being used to catalog, record and track birds. The top birding apps include Merlin Bird ID for AI-powered identification, eBird for tracking sightings, and Audubon Bird Guide for detailed species information. Goyer uses eBird on his smartphone during the bird walk to capture recordings that can identify birds by their unique sound. If sighted, the app also contains pictures of species, sample sounds, and areas where they are often found. There is so much hidden by the trees,
ä See BIRDING, page 4G
PHOTO BY SONYA GOSS
The community came out to see The Bucket List performance at the Downtown Live at the Gazebo 2026 Spring Concert on April 25. ä More photos from the gazebo. PAGE 3G