Downtown Live will present the third annual Zachary Really Hot Air Balloon Festival from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 8 and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 at BREC Zachary Community Park, 20055 Old Scenic Highway
The concert schedule is available online. In the meantime, the festival is looking for board members. “We’re looking for energetic, reliable team players who aren’t afraid to work hard, get a little dirty, and be part of something unforgettable,” a Facebook post said Visit www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093362362338 to message the group about your interest. Help with school window coverings sought
The Zachary Community School District school resource officers have postponed their window covering project as the group seeks more supplies. Needs include thread, magnets, 28-48 inch tension rods and fabric. All patterns and colors are welcome, so clean out that fabric stash. Donations can be brought to the front office of Copper Mill Elementary School from 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday See the Zachary Police Department Facebook page for future dates.
A Day With District 4 in Baker
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 14, an event will be held open to those who live in District 4 It will be held at Church of the Nazarene, 4366 Groom Road, Baker Free food, games and prizes will be available Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs. Flag football in Baker
The City of Baker Recreation is holding Flag Football June 14-July 17 for boys and girls.
Divisions include 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U. Two games are played each week, and a single elimination tournament will be held.
Register at 225-205-4652 by June 21. Cost is $40, and a minimum of seven players are needed.
New utility payment option available
The city of Zachary announced a new utility payment option for residents: e-check payments via mobile and online devices. Features include: n Mobile e-check payments: Pay securely from any smart device through our user-friendly online portal.
n Online Account Access: Register at https://1.municipal. cc/ZacharyLA/Webportal/ to check balances, view payment history, and manage your account 24/7
n Technical support: Assistance is available through the website’s support number and live chat feature.
n A $1.50 surcharge applies to all e-check payments
Other payment options:
n Hand-deliver payments to 4650 Main St.
n Use the self-service kiosk at the City Annex, 4650 Main St.
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Zachary resident wins women’s ski jump in annual event
Community news report
Hanna Straltsova won the Louisiana Night Jam, a nighttime professional water sports competition and festival, on June 7 at TriLakes the home of Bennett’s Water Ski and Wakeboard School in Zachary Straltsova, formerly from Belarus, won the women’s event with a jump of 177 feet in the finals. She has called Zachary home for nearly a decade. She was defending her 2024 title. Joel Poland, of Great Britain, won the men’s event, with a distance of 230 feet in the finals.
Freddy Krueger, of Winter Garden, Florida, earned the top seed for the finals with a distance of 235 feet but finished second with a distance of 227 feet. His earned his MBA while studying at LSU and won his first professional victory in Louisiana in 1995. The event in a chance at cash prizes and points on the seasonlong Water Ski Pro Tour
Zachary Church of Christ enhances community landmark
Community news report
The Zachary Church of Christ held a recent community service initiative. Members of the church volunteered to revitalize the city’s gazebo at the corner of Rollins Road and Main Street. The group pressure-washed, repaired and painted the gazebo, enhancing its appearance and extending its life for public enjoyment. Volunteers also applied a wood preservative to the carved eagle sculpture in the area, protecting it from sun damage and restoring its original beauty
“On behalf of the residents of Zachary, we salute these members who came together to beautify our city,” said Mayor David McDavid.
Skier Hanna Straltsova pumps her fist as the crowd cheers after winning the Louisiana Night Jam.
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STAFF PHOTOS BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
A young water skier carries an American Flag for the start of Louisiana Night Jam at Bennett’s Water Ski and Wakeboard School on Saturday in Zachary.
PROVIDED PHOTO
From left, Adele Dighton, Carter Dighton, Patrick Howard and Rosella Goyer help paint the Zachary gazebo as part of a Zachary Church of Christ service project.
LOUISIANA
Trick skier Damir Filaretov skies no-handed during a demonstration.
Trick ski jumpers perform double flips off the ramp
Stephen Neveu sprays water while attempting to cut around a buoy on the course during the slalom finals.
STAFF PHOTOS BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Skier Joel Poland cuts around a buoy on the course during the slalom finals at Louisiana Night Jam at Bennett’s Water Ski and Wakeboard School on Saturday in Zachary.
Skier Freddy Krueger soars through the air during
Skier Stephen Neveu leans while rounding a buoy on the course during the slalom finals.
Skier Brittany Wharton launches from the ramp during an attempt in the finals.
A barefoot water skier shows off a trick.
Skier Hanna Straltsova launches from the ramp
Skier William Roberts launches from the ramp during an attempt in the finals.
Ridge Krueger, 11, soars through the air while demonstrating a jump.
Six parishes top national ACT scores in 2024
BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer
In 2024, some 42,608 students in Louisiana took the ACT test, a pre-college standardized exam graded on a scale of 1 to 36.
The national average ACT score in 2024 was 19.4. In Louisiana, the average score was 17.7*, according to data from the Louisiana Department of Education. The ACT test consists of four multiple-choice sections (math, science, reading and English) and one optional writing section. While many students
take the ACT, it is not required for all college applications.
St. Tammany Parish had the highest average ACT score in 2024 with 20.5. It was followed in the state rankings by West Feliciana Parish (with 20.2), Ascension Parish (with 20.1), Vernon Parish (with 19.7) and Lincoln and Livingston parishes (with 19.5).
*The city of Monroe (17.6), city of Bogalusa (15), Zachary Community (19.2), city of Baker (15) and Central Community (19.7) school districts all had their own ACT score averages. These school districts are not included in the map, or the overall state average ACT score. Including these districts changes the Louisiana average ACT scores in 2024 to 18.4
The parishes with the lowest average ACT scores in 2024 include, in ascending order: n Tensas Parish with 13.9, n St. Helena Parish with 14.3, n Richland Parish with 15.5, n Red River and Union parishes with 15.7, n Claiborne and Morehouse parishes with 15.8, n Pointe Coupee and St. John the Baptist parishes with 16.1, n Madison Parish with 16.3.
Harold Henderson helps restore the Zachary gazebo in a project by Zachary Church of Christ.
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commitment to service is a shining example of community pride and faith in action.” Daniel Goyer and Caleb Dighton, with the church, headed up the project. Sherwin-Williams of Zachary donated the paint.
“Our faith in Christ our Savior leads us to a spirit of love, just as He loved us,” said members of the Zachary Church of Christ. “We believe that love is an action. This small project is, we hope, the first of many efforts to show our love for this community and the people in it.”
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n Set up recurring bank draft payments by visiting www.cityofzachary.org.
Residents are encouraged to go paperless by signing up for electronic billing. This option delivers the same detailed billing information as paper bills, but with added speed and convenience.
Having a summer event?
If you are hosting a summer camp, vacation Bible school or other event open to the public, send us the information to run in this space.
Emails are zachary@ theadvocate.com for the Zachary area and extra@ theadvocate.com for the Felicianas.
Summer reading is underway
Through Aug. 15, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library will have free programs, workshops, story times, concerts and
performances for all ages through the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Color Our World. Learn more at www.ebrpl.com/SummerReading.
Track your reading and earn rewards. Sign up at your library branch or online at ebrpl.beanstack.org. Log books there as you read them to earn virtual badges and completion rewards, as well as entries for weekly prize drawings. Program includes kids, teens and adults.
Chamber to host Business Expo
The Zachary Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Zachary Business Expo on Sept. 9 at the Americana YMCA.
Businesses that want to have a booth must be active chamber members. Contact Chloe McCreary at (225) 654-6777 or chloe@zacharychamber.com.
Send news and events for the Zachary area to zachary@theadvocate. com by noon Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
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The Zachary Advocate & Plainsman is published weekly in Baton Rouge and at additional mailing offices. Periodicalspostage paid at Baton Rouge, LA ISSN: 1061-3978 Capital City Press, proprietor The Advocate, 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809-4520 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Circulation Accounting P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588
The Zachary Church of Christ recently cleaned and repainted the city’s gazebo.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Terry Wall and Kade Wall paint the Zachary gazebo as a service project for Zachary Church of Christ
From front to back, Adele Dighton, Steve Knight, Daniel Goyer and Patrick Howard paint the Zachary gazebo as a Zachary Church of Christ project.
From front to back, Adele Dighton, Alicia Dighton and Patricia Mauldin a carved eagle statue near the Zachary gazebo as part of a project by Zachary Church of Christ.
First food truck Friday
PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS
Zachary Music Shop provided
Jacob Willman, 6, playing with the big Connect Four game during Downtown Live.
