Zachary Council agrees to zoning changes
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
Contributing writer
After months of debate that in recent weeks turned contentious, the Zachary City Council on Feb. 25 agreed to scrap a proposal to temporarily ban most new home construction in the city
The council also adopted changes to the city’s zoning regulations to mandate larger minimum lot sizes in some residential areas.
Both the development moratorium and the zoning changes were proposed by council member Brandy Westmoreland, and the two items have been considered in tandem.
Most discussions have centered on the zoning rules, which will now be updated to require lots in Zachary’s residential estate zone to be at least 3 acres; the minimum is currently 1 acre. The residential rural zone, which includes just a handful of properties in the city will cease to exist and will be folded into the estate category
The council has gone back and forth on several variations of updates to the zones. The plan that was ultimately adopted had not been discussed at previous meetings; Westmoreland offered it at the Feb. 25 gathering just minutes before the council needed to take a vote.
Westmoreland said her goal is to encourage smart growth in Zachary
“We don’t want to stop rooftops from coming because we all know the sensitivity to commercial developers,” she said. “We all know they count those rooftops in order to provide us retailers like grocery stores and things that we need in our city.” But Westmoreland said she also wants to honor concerns raised by her constituents. She said they frequently voice worries and frustrations about Zachary’s rapid growth, and many ask about what can be done to reduce the density of new subdivisions.
The zoning item passed a split vote, highlighting fractures that have surfaced between council members recently Westmoreland and her colleagues John LeBlanc and Ambre DeVirgilio voted for the changes while James Graves voted no and Jennifer Landry withheld her vote.
Graves and Landry took issue with the fact that the council had not previously discussed the proposal that Westmoreland presented at the meeting. They had concerns about how many residential estate lots would no longer conform to the zone’s standards as well as what they said was a lack of communication about the plan.
“There’s no way I can educatedly come up with any kind of vote or anything with just now hearing about it at the council meeting on this agenda like five minutes ago,” Graves said. “I don’t think it’s in the city’s best interest for me even to discuss it without a staff report and doing some research and seeing how this is going to affect the different districts.”
At the beginning of the meeting, Westmoreland requested to remove the moratorium item from the agenda. That motion passed unanimously
CELEBRATION in arts and commerce
Zachary High students celebrated Black History Month Celebration Feb. 27. Before the program, small businesses showcased and sold their products in the theater’s lobby The Black History Program in the theater of the school’s Visual and Performing Arts Building included recitations, performances and songs. Candice Wheeler, owner of Nichelle Jewelry, who specializes in custom earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings, is one of the business vendors at Zachary High’s Black History Celebration.
Engine 813 is the newest addition to the Zachary Fire Department’s fleet.
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
Contributing writer
The Zachary Fire Department has a shiny new truck with a variety of lifesaving equipment on board. Fire Chief Danny Kimble told the City Council about the department’s newest addition at a
See TRUCK, page 3G
Lane Regional Medical Center is hosting a diaper drive through March 16. Donations of new or open packs of disposable diapers can be dropped off at the
through partner agencies such as Lane Pediatrics. Breast imaging in town Woman’s Hospital brings lifesaving breast imaging to East Baton Rouge Parish with its mobile mammography coach. Physician’s orders are required and appointments are strongly encouraged. Zachary United Methodist Church, 4205 Church St., Zachary,
also. Black history event Baker-Zachary Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority presents “Pearls of the Past, Pillars of the Future: A Journey
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY ä See AROUND, page 2G
PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS
Kyrin Hardnett, senior; Javon Charles, junior; Charis Gaston, sophomore; and Christian Johnson, freshman; perform during the Zachary High’s Black History Celebration program. ä More photos. PAGE 3G
game
Play golf to help Zachary
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Through Black History.”
The event will be at 4 p.m., March 15, at the Baker Municipal Center 3325 Groom Road, Baker It will feature music, theater, dance and poetry The BZA choir and other guests, as well as school and community groups will perform.
Contact Allison Singleton or Miriam Young-Dunn for information at bzaartsandletters@gmail.com
Baker’s top citizen applications
The Baker Inter-Club Council now is accepting 2024 Citizen of the Year Award nominations Guidelines are:
n The individual must reside within the city limits of Baker or an unincorporated area of East Baton Rouge Parish.
n The individual must have provided unselfish time/talents that improved the quality of life for the citizens of Baker for which he/she was not paid and does not fall within the scope of his/her job duties.
Consideration is for Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024.
Nominations should be mailed to 3809 Epperson Street, Baker, LA 70714; the selection will be made from those received as of 4 p.m., March 24.
Club members will vote in the Baker Library Garden at 5 p.m Club dues of$10 must be paid before the beginning of the meeting. Clubs and organizations interested in joining the Inter-Club Council should contact President Doris Alexander at (225) 778-0141.
Zachary Charity League is holding its golf tournament April 4 at Fennwood Hills Country Club, Zachary The four-player scramble is $500 a team and has a 1 p.m. tee time.
Contact Claire Simmons at (225) 202-8297 or send us an email at zacharycharityleague@gmail.com with team information. Payments can be made by check or through Venmo @Zacharycharity-league. E-mail zacharycharityleague@gmail.com with any questions.
Code Red Chili & Salsa Cook-Off set
Lane Foundation’s 10th annual Code Red Chili & Salsa Cook-Off is set for Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Downtown Zachary, 4650 Main St. The competition is open to amateurs and professionals of all ages.
There are five cooking competition categories: Judges Red Chili, Judges Nontraditional, Judges Salsa, People’s Choice Chili and People’s Choice Salsa. The Team Spirit award is about how well the team embodies the spirit of the cook-off through their presentation, team costumes, decorations and overall attitude.
Admission and parking to the familyfriendly event are free. There will be an arts and crafts market, kids zone, games, food trucks and live music at the gazebo all day
Team entry fees range from $40-$60. Compete in one category or all. To register a team, sponsor the event, participate in the arts and crafts market, or volunteer contact the Lane Foundation office at (225) 658-6699 or email tpayment@lanermc.org. Proceeds from the Code Red Chili & Salsa
Cook-Off will benefit the Lane Foundation. Register for baseball
Spring baseball registration runs to March 13. The fee is $75. Register at www zacharyyouthpark.org.
Practices are March 31 to April 24, and games are April 28 to June 5. Divisions include T-ball ages 4-6 and coaches’ pitch 6-8, 10 under, 12 under and 14 under April 30 is cutoff date for age determination. Also, coaches and assistant coaches are needed.
Ag Spring Fest is coming
The Zachary High Ag Spring Fest is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 15. The Easter Bunny will be available for photos from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a shop will be in the school greenhouse. Attendees can expect games, a petting zoo, face painting, ag crafts, Easter egg hunts and more. Concessions will be sold.
Cost is $5 a person. Under age 2 is free.
Bunny Hop coming
The Zachary Rotary Club is hosting the Rotary Bunny Hop 2025 on March 22 near Lee and Virginia streets.
The 1-mile run/walk is at 8 a.m. and the 5K run/walk starts at 8:30 a.m. Register at runsignup.com/Race/LA/ Zachary/ZacharyRotaryBunnyHop.
There will also be the Zachary Farmers Market and the Lane Regional Medical Center Foundation annual Chili Cook-Off Charity golf tournament
The Baker Community Charity Golf Tournament is April 11 with an 8 a.m. start time at BREC Beaver Creek Golf Course,
110 Plains-Port Hudson Road, in Zachary Visit tinyurl.com/vft8aw4k or contact latoya@bakercoco.com or (225) 412-4311 for details or to sign up. Make a check payable to Baker Chamber of Commerce, 3439 Groom Road, Baker, LA 70714. Library events set for March
Community History Festival
The free 15th annual Community History Festival is at the Pride-Chaneyville Branch Library from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 29. The event will have country fun, food, games, crafts, music and entertainment. This year’s theme is “Country Crafts,” and various artists and craftsmen will display and sell homemade items. The Louisiana Lagniappe Dulcimers and The Upbeats will provide live music, and the cake walk will be held every hour Other activities will include a pie contest, vintage dancing with the Lagniappe Historic Dance and Pastime Society, basket weaving, candle making, wood carving with the Pelican Wood Carver Guild, herb gardening with Master Gardener Claire Fontenot, jewelry making, a kiddie fishing pond, and more. A Celtic Concert Experience Madam Dulcimer (Amanda Roberts) and Lady Chops (Elizabeth Vidos) are bringing music to EBRPL in March. This Celtic concert celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with music originating from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It will be at the Zachary Branch at 10 a.m., March 15, Central at 4 p.m., March 11 and Pride-Chaneyville Branch at 6:30 p.m., March 12. Check www.ebrpl.com for other places and times. Send news and events for the Zachary area to zachary@theadvocate.com by noon Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
PROVIDED PHOTO
The Bronco Beat choir gathers recently after a performance in New Orleans. The group includes, first row from left, Selina Huang, Tycen Smith, Georgia Knight, Lucille Cox, Grace Noel, Arienna Vargas, Alana Mose, Gracie Dalferes and Alexa McKey; and second row, Daniel Behr, Remington Steinberger, Amelia Dupré, Mae Edel, Evelyn Vargas, Donalia Grimes, Aubri Scott and Katherine McCrary.
Zachary student named to Tufts honor list
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Entrepreneur, Willia Puckett, 17, ZHS senior and owner of Stitch & Style, at Zachary High’s Black History Month program. The company sells protective hair accessories including custom design pillowcases, bonnets and scrunchies.
Nyllah Allen, Zachary High senior, dances to the sound of ‘Troubles of the World.’
Zachary High sophomore Charis Gaston recites a spiritual called ‘We Wear the Mask.
PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS
Zachary High jazz band performs instrumental sectional during its Black History Month celebration.
ZHS girls advance to state semifinals
The Zachary High girls basketball team had a productive week that resulted in a semifinal appearance in Hammond with state championship dreams fully alive.
Warren
ZACHARY
In the regional game on Feb 24, the ZHS girls dusted off any rust early as the third-seeded Broncos cruised to a 66-45 victory over the 14th seed Hahnville Tigers at ZHS. Like most of the season, the Broncos were led by senior Tiarra McPipe and junior Ava Raymond. Raymond started the scoring off with a drive through the lane. A few steals and layups by McPipe and the Broncos were up 8-0 a short 5:49 into the first. After a timeout and another minute, the Tigers picked up their first score of the night KP Blake responded for the Broncos and a layup and free throw by Madison Alcerro extended the lead to 11
The Broncos pressure defense was relentless, forcing two backcourt violation turnovers by Hahnville in the first. Hahnville stormed back to cut the lead to 6 before Asia Bell hit a jumper in the lane and the Broncos led 19-10 after one. Raymond started the second like she did the first with 2 layups to extend the lead. Reese Quibodeaux’s 3-pointer put the Broncos up 30-14 with 3:23 left in the second. From there the Broncos defense again clamped down and a layup by Kennedi Whitfield closed out the second scoring and the Broncos led 36-18 at the half. The Broncos scored first in the third with Cimiya Rideaux establishing herself underneath with a tip in. McPipe on a steal would extend the lead. Hahnville made their biggest run in the third and cut the lead to 13 before Coach Tami McCure called a timeout with 3:35 remaining in the period Raymond responded and ended the scoring drought by going coast to coast twice for layup and put the Broncos up 18 after three (51-33).
Ayja Walker got into the scoring in the fourth with a hard drive down the lane. A three-pointer by Blake put the Tigers on their heels, and they could not regain their footing as the Broncos advanced with a 66-45 win. Nine Broncos scored in the game with McPipe (24) and Raymond (14) reaching double figures. With the win, the Broncos advanced to the quarterfinals for a home game against Natchitoches Central (the No. 6 seed) on February 27. The Chiefs advanced to the quarterfinals with a 44-41 victory
over East Ascension. The Broncos were without Blake for the game at the point guard position but Whitfield, Walker and Quibodeaux filled in nicely in the clutch. The Chiefs scored first but two free throws by McPipe tied things up early Raymond then inserted herself scoring a layup and taking a steal coast to coast to give the Broncos an early 6-3 lead The score was back and forth throughout the first before McPipe hit a 3-pointer and a baseline jumper by Bell gave the Broncos a 19-14 lead after 1. Raymond started the second with two free throws, but the Chiefs stormed back to pull within 1. A reverse layup by Bell was the response the Broncos needed, and the lead was extended to 8 on a layup by Rideaux. The Chiefs would not go away and a key basket underneath by Donalia Grimes gave Zachary a 33-29 lead at the half.
Raymond started the scoring in the third The Chiefs continued to fight back, cut the lead to 1 with 1:00 left and took the lead on a 3-pointer (37-39) at the end of three. The fourth quarter belonged to senior Tiarra McPipe as she started the fourth with a 3-pointer hit a second 3-pointer two other buckets and dished a beautiful pass to Alcerro as the Broncos retook the lead and pulled away A 3-pointer by Al-
cerro with 1:21 sealed the victory as the Broncos took a 14-point lead and cruised to the semifinals (59-45). Seven Broncos scored in the game and were led by Ray-
mond (15 points) and McPipe (17 points with 10 in the fourth). They will face the No. 2 seed Walker on March 6 at the University Center in Hammond at 8:00 PM.
Warren Brady covers sports for The Plainsman. He can be contacted at zachary@ theadvocate.com.
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
The Zachary community is mourning the death of its School Board president who dedicated over 20 years to working for the school district.
Zachary Community School District released a statement Monday that Gaynell Young, its school board president, unexpectedly died. Young was a founding member of the school district who “dedicated her life to the service of our schools, students and community,” said superintendent Ben Necaise in a statement Necaise said Young was a guiding force in creating the vision for the school district and advocated for every student’s success.
“Beyond her leadership, Dr Young was a friend and mentor to many, always offering a listening ear, words of encouragement and a deep belief in the power of education,” he said.
Young received her bachelor’s degree and doctorate degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge.
Young has been featured in Zachary magazine Porch
and Parish’s Black History Makers for her work on the school board.
“This is devastating news,” the magazine posted about Young’s death. “You have been a champion for Zachary for so long. This is a terrible loss for our community.”
Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.
Zachary High’s Tiarra McPipe at the line.
PHOTOS BY WARREN BRADY
Zachary High’s Ava Raymond drives the ball.
Brady
SPORTS
