THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
Night Jam skiing event returns
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W e d n e s d ay, J u n e 3, 2026
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12TH YEAR, NO. 34
In Memoriam
LA Night Jam will have waterski jumping, music, food and entertainment Saturday, June 6. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Entry is $20 per carload and tickets can be purchased at www.lanightjam.com.
Bible school set at Zachary Methodist Zachary United Methodist Church, 4205 Church St., will hold its vacation Bible school from 5p.m.-7:30 p.m. June 15-18. Dinner is provided, and there is no cost to attend. Pre-registration preferred at tinyurl.com/3xwx9zrv.
Breast scans available Woman’s Hospital mobile mammography coach offers 3D mammogram technology June 10 at United Methodist Church, 4205 Church St., Zachary. Call 225-924-8268 to schedule. A physician’s order is required.
Play mahjong to support dogs Pungs for Paws, a fundraiser for Must Luv Dogs Rescue, is at 2 p.m. June 20 at First United Methodist Church, 930 North Blvd., Baton Rouge. The mahjong fundraiser is presented by Magnolia Mahj. Individual entry is $30 and the event will set up. A table for four is $100, which includes a table contest the entrants set up. On-site vendors, a raffle for a tile set and door prizes will be available. Register at form. jotform.com/mustluvdogs/ pungpaws.
School uniforms sought ZEPTO is collecting new and gently used Zachary Community School uniforms through June 5. Donation bins are available during business hours at all five elementary schools, as well as Northwestern Middle School, Zachary High and the Zachary Community School Board office. The distribution will be 8 a.m.-10 a.m., June 20, at Copper Mill Elementary School Donate uniforms in good condition with no holes, tears or stains.
Grave stones at the Louisiana National Cemetary on May 25 at the 2026 Memorial Day Ceremony in Zachary.
Bagpiper Mandy Hamilton plays ‘Amazing Grace.’
Tiny flags were placed at the gravesites in Louisiana National Cemetery for the May 26 Memorial Day program. Visitors to the cemetery took part in a Memorial Day program.
School staff, teachers dine on city leaders’ appreciation meal
Fishing in Baker The Get Hooked on Family Fishing Tournament is from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., June 13, at 2640 N. Magnolia Drive, Baker. Bring your fishing poles, bait, lawn chairs, tents, coolers, etc. Register at tinyurl. com/4dj36zak.
Summer sports camps announced n The Coach Brew Mega Camp is June 19 for students entering grades 1-9. Visit https://zacharyathletics.org/ news/2026/5/12/football-coachbrews-z-mega-camp-set-forjune-13-at-zachary-high-school. aspx for details and a registration link.
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PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BACIGALUPI
Mid-May was the Zachary Community School District Staff and Teacher Appreciation Fish Fry Week. The city of Zachary cooking team traveled from school to school, frying fish onsite as a token of appreciation PROVIDED PHOTO for the hard work and Jeanee Norwood and Melanie Anderson accept lunches from Mayor David dedication our teachers McDavid. ä More photos. PAGE 4G
and staff show each and every day. Zachary business Thornton, Musso and Bellemin Water Treatment Consultants sponsored the fish and cooking supplies. The Zachary Fire Department and Zachary Police Department helped box and sort the meals.
An incredible 2025-2026 Year for Zachary athletics. What’s next? Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS
The 2025-26 school year has come and gone, and what a wonderful year for the teams at Zachary High School. Back in the fall, the football team advanced to the semifinals of the Division I nonselect playoffs. The winter saw state champions in basketball where both the ZHS girls and boys teams pulled off the rare repeat. How amazing was it last year to have the state champion girls and boys team from the
same school? Coaches Tami McClure and Jon McClinton and their teams did it again this year. I hope people in Zachary do not get complacent with the excellent instruction the athletes at ZHS get in all sports and the championships and accolades they achieve do not become “expected.” The girls basketball team was a finalist, and the boys team won the Advocate’s Star of Stars Boys Team of the Year.
Moving to Spring sports, coach Jacob Fisher and the ZHS baseball team made an incredible, and rain-drenched, run to the semifinals. The ZHS boys and girls track teams also excelled with the girls finishing as the state runners up. Both the ZHS boys and girls soccer teams made the playoffs with the girls picking up a home playoff win. There were some incredible individual performances during the
school year as well. Senior Gabby Anthony won two state championships (powerlifting and wrestling). Ava Raymond was simply incredible leading the Lady Broncos to their second state championship as the only senior. On the football field senior Dylan Shelmire was an unstoppable defensive force. Kai Richard was first in the shot put and third in the discus at the state
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