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, M ay 7, 2025
11TH YEAR, NO. 30
$1.00N
Voters reject changes to Zachary home rule charter BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
dated document, which outlines ELECTION 2025 the functions of city government. The results said 2,476 people votZachary voters rejected a re- ed, putting turnout at about 18%. The charter was last updated 15 vised home rule charter for the City officials said updating the years ago. A commission appoint- charter would make government city in Saturday’s election. According to results from the ed in 2023 spent about a year and operations more efficient and ensecretary of state’s office, 60% of half combing through the text and hance clarity. voters opposed adopting the up- developing proposed changes. Some of the proposed revisions
Contributing writer
included clearer residency requirements for council members; more details on how the mayor, police chief and council members’ compensation is determined and how it can be adjusted; shifting the responsibility of presiding over council meetings from the mayor to the mayor pro tempore; and
clarifying that department heads don’t have to live in city limits. Other proposed changes defined a plan for who should be in charge of the city if the mayor becomes unable to serve, listed job duties of certain administrative positions and described the process for adopting a budget.
PHOTO BY SONYA GOSS
Evelyn Michon, 3, and Athens Moses, 10, pet Butterscotch during Sunday pet adoption day in Zachary.
Adoptable dogs meet Zachary families ä More photos.
Companion Animal Alliance of Baton Rouge held a pet adoption day Sunday in Zachary. The animal rescue group brought a variety of dogs to meet potential adopters. Jennifer Waguespack, with the Level Homes, helped to coordinate the event at the Pointe at Americana.
PAGE 2G
Zachary High track and field ready for state meet The Zachary High boys and girls track and field team are one step closer to individual and team glory at the state championships May 10 at LSU. On May 1 at the regional meet, the Broncos entered the meet trying to get as many competitors in the top three as possible to advance to state, and they did. The girls finished second overall, and the boys finished fourth.
Boys state meet qualifiers on the track included senior Caleb Hilton, first in the 100m at 10.65 and first in the 200m 2at 1.34; the 4x100m relay team, second at 42.08; and the 4x400m relay, third at 3:23.59. Junior Keidrick Bailey advanced to state in the shot put with a third-place finish (54-3.75). The girls were equally blazing on the track. Talar Johnson won
Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
the 100m (12.14), was third in the 200m (25.13), and was part
of a winning 4x100m relay team (48.05).Other 4x100 teammates were Karli Hester, Abiah Simpson and Lauren Vessel. Freshman Serenity Early won the 100m hurdles (14.77) and was later on the second place 4x400m relay team (3:55.89) with Vessel, Kerrington London and Abiah Simpson. London and 4x800m relay teammates Yvonne Harms, Blair Smith and
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
changes. For information, contact Lisa Rioux, legislative assistant to Noel, at lrioux@brla.gov or (225) 389-5170.
BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer
High school art to be displayed The Zachary High Student Art Exhibition is from 5-6 p.m. Friday, May 9, at the school Visual and Performing Arts Center. Pieces will be from Talented Art, painting and drawing, and ceramics classes.
ä See AROUND, page 3G
ä See BRADY, page 3G
Students add beekeeping, honey collection to high school experience
Meeting to discuss Samuels Road rezoning Metropolitan Councilman Brandon Noel will host a community meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 8, to discuss proposed plans for rezoning property along Samuels Road and the surrounding area. The meeting will take place at Zachary City Hall, 4700 Main St., Zachary. The meeting will include representatives from CSRS, the Planning Commission and Noel. Residents, business owners and stakeholders are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion regarding the proposed
Kie’ayla Hamilton placed third (10:17.66). Kai Richard was strong in the field pulling down second place in the shot put (37-2) and third in the discus (131-02). Sophomore Tyler Addison closed out the field qualifiers for the state meet finishing second in the triple jump (36-3.5).
PROVIDED PHOTO
Zachary High students, from left, Savannah Franklin and Melissa Nolan, check the frames in a beehive.
When Zachary High’s agriculture students learned they’d be studying bees firsthand, they weren’t so sure about it. They worked with chickens and goats, raised vegetables and flowers and tended fruit trees, but bees? “The students were a little scared,” said Melissa Brumbaugh, who with her husband, Bubba Brumbaugh, teaches
ä See BEEKEEPING, page 4G