Community news report
Following reports of heavy equipment traffic and noise complaints in the residential Little Farms area, Zachary officials are investigating whether a business owner has run afoul of city planning and zoning regulations.
The matter was discussed at the City Council’s July 14 meet-
Small Works is an exhibition of paintings by Associated Women in the Arts at Art House Gallery, 11931 Ferdinand St., St. Francisville. It runs through Aug. 23.
Auction to sell city surplus
The city of Zachary is inviting the public to participate in its latest online surplus property auction through Municibid
The current Zachary auction features a variety of surplus items, including 2006 Ford Mustang, 16-foot aluminum boat and trailer with a 25 HP Mercury motor, laptop computers, office chairs and office furniture, flat-screen televisions, map holders, blower office equipment and large collection of antique items.
Residents and interested buyers can visit Municibid.com to view Zachary’s auction listings, item details, photographs and bidding deadlines.
Angola Rodeo tickets on sale
Tickets for the 2026 Angola Rodeo, the 60th anniversary, are on sale. The rodeo is held every Sunday in October Rodeo gates will open at 8 a.m. each Sunday, with rodeo events beginning at 2 p.m. in the arena. General admission tickets are $25 for most seating sections. Tickets are expected to sell out and should only be purchased through the official Angola Prison Rodeo website or by phone
ä See AROUND, page 3G
BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer
Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary is looking for partner to help it expand.
The medical center is in the market for an affiliation so it can hire more physicians, offer more services and increase revenue in the long run, said Jon Hirsch, Lane’s director of marketing.
“It’s not about responding to an immediate crisis, but about positioning ourselves for longterm growth,” Hirsch said Hirsch said hospital leadership is in negotiations with multiple in-state groups but
See LANE, page 3G
ing, where Angus Avenue resident Sabrina Jones told the panel about problems she attributes to an adjacent property on Little Farms Drive owned by Alfredo Guilamo, who operates AGS Tree Services. Jones said trucks and equipment often travel to and from the property, where she sometimes hears noise as early as 6 a.m., including on a recent Saturday
“I’m not the only person that’s actually complaining about Mr Alfredo,” Jones said before handing over copies of photos to the council. “His trucks are blocking the highway, the driveway on Little Farms Drive. In the mornings, it’s hard to get in and out to work sometimes. I just want to know what the City of Zachary is going to do about it.”
Neither Guilamo nor any representatives of his company spoke at the meeting. Councilman John LeBlanc, who put the item allowing Jones to speak on the agenda, learned of the situation from a discussion at a recent Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. While Little Farms is not in his district LeBlanc said he is concerned about what he has heard.
According to LeBlanc, Guilamo has an occupational license for an office in his home — but not a conditional use permit for additional business activities.
“This is really, really simple,” LeBlanc said. “He’s doing something that he’s not supposed to be doing in a residential area.”
provides
The Back 2 School Block Party hosted by Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Zachary took place July 18. The free community event featured a backpack and school supply giveaway, along with free food, games, and family-friendly entertainment. It was organized in partnership with the Rev Perry Jones and Metro Councilman Brandon Noel.
Allegations include payments for Tesla, European vacation and swimming pool
BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
The DEMCO Board of Directors has named Mark Phillips as the cooperative’s next chief executive officer and general manager
In partnership with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, DEMCO’s board conducted a nationwide executive search. Following a comprehensive evaluation process, 10 finalists were selected for consideration.
Phillips
“The board approached this decision with a clear focus on DEMCO’s future and our responsibility to the members we serve,” said Danny Berthelot, president of the DEMCO board of directors. “We were committed to finding a leader who understands the cooperative business model, values strong relationships, and has the experience and vision needed to guide DEMCO through continued growth and an evolving energy industry.”
Phillips has more than 25 years of experience at DEMCO, with a career focused on electric utility operations, system planning, and infrastructure development. Most recently serving as DEMCO’s chief engineering and operations officer, Phillips led the department responsible for planning, maintaining, and advancing the cooperative’s electric system His experience includes oversight of major projects within DEMCO’s construction work plans, including transmission and distribution upgrades, substation improvements, technology advancements, and reliability-focused system investments.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue serving DEMCO, our members, and the employees who power this organization every day,” Phillips said. “I look forward to building on the progress we have made, strengthening our cooperative, and making decisions that support reliability, affordability, innovation, and the long-term needs of our members.”
Phillips succeeds Randy Pierce, who announced his retirement earlier this year after a 42-year career in the electric cooperative industry, including eight years as DEMCO’s Chief Executive Officer and General Manager DEMCO is a member-owned electric cooperative with 120,168 meters and 9,460 miles of power line, serving members in seven parishes: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and West Feliciana.
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In a statement, Cade Brumley, superintendent of schools for the Louisiana Department of Education, said the indictment “reinforces” the February 2025 decision by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education “to install new leadership and protect the school’s students and staff.”
“We appreciate federal investigators for pursuing this matter, and trust the judicial system to resolve this issue in accordance with the law,” Brumley said For their charges, prosecutors followed closely on some of the findings of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office in their 173page audit of Impact Charter They include the following:
n Green overbilled Impact Charter to construct a temporary building at the 4815 Lavey Lane campus and then used almost $106,000 of those payouts to help complete construction on the Scott’s home in Zachary, including installing a new swimming pool.
n Took $458,200 that Impact received from the federally-funded COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program and moved it in June 2020, two months after receipt, to the bank account of a nonprofit associated with the school, Friends of Impact Charter, a group auditors say is controlled by Chakesha Scott. Prosecutors say that diversion of funds was illegal. The Scotts have argued that the nonprofit’s finances are separate from that of the school.
n Starting in June 2021, Chakesha Scott and Courtney Scott took cars acquired by the school — a 2017 Acura MDX and a 2021 Land Rover for their own personal use. Total estimated expense for the least-to-purchase arrangement is pegged at $166,520.
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“This is upsetting their way of life,” he continued.
“I was told that there are trucks that are constantly going down the road all the time. We did, not long ago, have a road improvement project that just paved all the roads out there. Do we want those roads being all tore up? No.”
D’Monda Hill, planning di-
rector assured LeBlanc that he and his staff are aware of
PROVIDED PHOTOS
n Chakesha Scott, “without authority,” illegally diverted more than $2 million in lease payments to Friends of Impact Charter, the owner of the Lavey Lane campus. Those payments, which covered an 18-month period starting in September 2022, were $846,048 more than what Friends was paying on its mortgage. Scott also allegedly spent $171,659 from the school’s bank account to pay closing costs on that property, even though the school was not party to the real estate sale.
n The husband and wife charged $114,094 to school credit cards to pay for what prosecutors say were “personal travel expenses.”
Auditors counted 20 trips taken between October 2021 and July 2023. They included a 17-day European trip to Paris, London and Amsterdam, with a stop at Disneyland Paris. The Scotts have argued that all their trips were legally appropriate travel to professional conferences and the credit card in question was theirs and not the school’s.
n Over more than 5 years the couple illegally diverted $292,993 from student fees and uniform sales to Friends of Impact Charter
Six of the criminal counts involve “theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds” and that Impact Charter during this period was receiving at least $10,000 a year in federal funding. The only specific federal program named in the indictment is the Paycheck Protection Program.
The seventh count involves money laundering. It focuses on $42,371 Chakesha Scott pulled in May 2023 from the account of Friends of Impact Charter School to buy a 2018 Tesla Model S Prosecutors say the “funds were derived from the unlawful theft of funds from Impact Charter School.”
Email Charles Lussier at clussier@ theadvocate.com.
the situation. He said he has visited the neighborhood and is conducting research before deciding on a course of action.
“I appreciate you voicing your concerns,” Hill said. “I’m on top of it.” Counci lman James Graves, whose district includes Little Farms, said he hasn’t received complaints about the business. He pointed out that other residents of the area operate businesses from their homes.
“There’s at least five semi trucks in that subdivision, that park in that subdivi-
sion,” Graves said. “So are we going to discriminate against one business or all of them in there?”
City Attorney Jacqueline Wilson told council members they were veering too far from the agenda item: a resident’s request to speak, which is limited to three minutes and does not permit questioning of speakers.
“My recommendation is to move on, allow the planning and zoning department to investigate, finish and handle it based upon what the investigation reveals,” Wilson said.
Community news report
The Zachary High School theater program, under the guidance of teachers Lily McGill and Wil Thomas since August 2025, has expanded students’ opportunities with their thespian troupe — part of the International Thespian Society, the national theater honor society for high school students.
After many years of students competing at the Texas Thespian Festival, they resumed competing at the Louisiana Thespian Festival. After success there, they headed to the national festival this summer
For the first time, Zachary High School’s Troupe 6648 attended the International Thespian Festival held at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana This weeklong event allowed the students to continue competing with their Thespy acts (songs, monologues, scenes, etc.), see some of the best high school productions from across the country, take workshops and master classes, audition for colleges, meet other troupes, and take part in special events.
The troupe highlights include:
Katie Evans, Amelia Smith and Maci Kilpatrick are National Thespy winners in Ensemble Acting, earning a perfect score.
Rowan Rushing is a National Thespy winner in monologue, also earning a perfect score.
Nine of the other ZHS Thespy acts received a Superior Rating, and four others received an Excellent Rating.
Dane Buccere, Kasyn Gosserand and Josh Hughes were selected to participate in the 24Hour Play Festival Students are challenged in teams to write, rehearse, memorize and perform a new play in 24 hours.
Ava Carter was cast in the commissioned one-act play This is a brand-new play that was performed for the first time at ITF “Camofleurs,” by Mandy Conner, tells the story of female artisans who were recruited to create camouflage in World War I. As this play goes to print this fall, Carter’s name will be published in the first few pages as an original cast member
The following people were booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison or issued a summons by the Zachary Police Department from June 25-30 and July 9-15:
HUNTER CAMPBELL: 29; 15375 Tom Drehr Road, Pride; simple battery
JOSHUA COLE: 28; 5243 N. Shamrock Drive, Baton Rouge; failure to appear on outstanding warrant
SHAWN ELSEY: 55; 3722 Pope Road, Zachary; entry or remaining after forbidden
ALISHA GILMORE: 39; 16511 Vermillion Drive, Baton Rouge; failure to appear on outstanding bench warrants
TONYA KIRKLAND: 51; 6508 Donnie St., Zachary; charged with entry or remaining after forbidden
TRISTAN LEE: 19; 20049 High Plains Drive, Zachary; attempted second degree murder, illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities, and two counts aggravated criminal damage to property
TEENA PERRY: 45; 153 N. 17th St., Baton Rouge; failure to appear on outstanding bench warrants
AUSTIN WILLIAMS: 29; 4802 Albert East Blvd., Zachary; domestic abuse battery –serious bodily injury
DAVID WRIGHT: 28; 2923 Grand Lakes Ave., Zachary; battery of a dating partner — strangulation
HENRY CHAPMAN: 62; P.O. Box 622, Gloster, Mississippi; entry on or remaining after forbidden
RONALD DAVIS: 27; 18797 Pride Baywood Road, Greenwell Springs; domestic abuse battery-child endangerment
CLAIBORNE DOUGLAS: 51; 24180 Plank Road, Zachary; theft, suspended/revoked driver’s license
KIARA GROSS: 35; 2304 Shere Drive, Baker; theft
JAMES HOLLAND: 27; 20051 Old Scenic Highway, Zachary; four counts of organized retail theft, failure to appear on outstanding bench warrants
SERGIO HOUSTON: 20; 4072 Robert St., Zachary; resisting an officer — refusal to give name or make identity known, resisting a police officer with force or violence, attempted flight from an officer, required tail lamps, bicycle headlamp required, careless operation ROBERT JOSEPH: 45; 2473 Amarillo St., Baton Rouge; simple burglary/immoveable MARQUEZE MILLER: 26; 1130 Willow Creek Drive, Zachary; two counts of distribution or possession Schedule 1 drugs, cruelty to juveniles, illegal carrying of weapons with controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction of justice ARTHUR SCHULTZ: 83; 24094 Brian Road, Zachary; simple assault
KOREY WARD: 32; 11702 Baylor Road, Baton Rouge; second-degree rape, battery of a dating partner – strangulation
IMAN WHITE: 33; 08038 Skysail Ave., Baton Rouge; failure to appear on outstanding bench warrants
REGINALD WRIGHT: 36; 11941 Kingston Drive, Baton Rouge; failure to appear on outstanding bench warrants
Visitors will have the option to purchase handcrafted items created by incarcerated individuals at the facility. Hobbycraft items for sale include jewelry leather goods, furniture, woodwork, paintings and more. Cash and major credit cards will be accepted for hobbycraft purchases. Guests are reminded that smoking is prohibited and outside food, drinks and ice chests are not permitted. Clear or transparent bags are allowed but are subject to search. To help ensure a smooth entry, attendees are encouraged to arrive early, as large crowds and extended wait times are expected. For tickets and additional event information, visit angolarodeo.com or call the main office at (225) 6552030 or (225) 655-2607
Back to school events
Dr Martin Luther King Jr Committee of Zachary Back to School Supply Giveaway starts at 10 a.m. Aug 1 at the Zachary High School gymnasium, 4100 Bronco Lane.
It’s open to elementary, high school and college students. Attendees are highly encouraged to bring at least one canned good to donate to the Zachary Food Pantry Free school supplies, sno-balls and other refreshments will be given out as supplies last.
Scholarship winners will be honorees. A free ID card will be offered. Community partners, educational resources, support services and vendors representing a variety of businesses will be on site.
To support or for information, contact Johnnie Evans, (225) 9336431, or Tina Clark, (225) 202-1076, or mail donations to MLK Zachary Committee, 6539 Donnie Drive, Zachary, LA 70791.
The Zachary Men’s Club annual Back to School Extravaganza starts at 10 a.m. Aug. 8 at Zachary Men’s Club, 5746 Rollins Road, Zachary Free logo T-shirts and school supplies will be available for kindergarten through high school.
For students with proof of insurance, Southeast Community Health Systems of Zachary will provide vaccinations needed for the school year and will offer athletic physicals.
Blood pressure, HIV and other
screenings will be offered.
Retired teachers invited to meet
The Louisiana Retired Teachers Association invites all retired teachers and school staff to attend a free meeting as it creates a functioning retired teachers’ group in the area.
A meeting will be at 2 p.m. July 28 at West Feliciana High School Auditorium, 8604 U.S. 61, St. Francisville.
The Louisiana Retired Teachers Association is a nonprofit organization that is devoted to protecting and enhancing benefits for individuals receiving retirement benefits from the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana. For more information follow LRTA on Facebook or visit lrta.net.
Market set for Baker
Baker’s Fresh Market will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 22, Oct. 24 and Nov 21 at the city of Baker School Board Office, 14750 Plank Road.
Miss Zachary Pageant set
A Miss Zachary Pageant will be held Aug. 8 at the St. John the Baptist Church gym. Divisions range from babies to adults. For informa-
THE ZACHARY ADVOCATE & PLAINSMAN P.O. Box 588 Baton Rouge, LA 70821. (225) 388-0215
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tion, email contact@lacotillionaux. org. Miss Zachary queens will reign as hostesses at the Zachary Really Hot Air Balloon Festival to represent and promote the festival.
State representative to speak in Baker
Rep. Roy Daryl Adams will speak at the Baker Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn at 11:30 a.m. July 23 at Ruffins Showroom, 14502 Plank Road, Baker Adams will speak about the 2026 legislative session.
Baker event to offer school supplies
The Baker Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Back to School Supplies for Success from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 25 at 3325 Groom Road, Baker Hot air coming
The fourth annual Zachary Really Hot Air Balloon Festival will be from 4 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 14-15 at 20055 Old Scenic Highway in Zachary
Email Leila Pitchford at lpitchford@theadvocate.com.
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Community news report
The city of Zachary’s “Zachary Strong” cooking team traveled to Avoyelles Parish on July 1 to serve hope along with a hot meal to families recovering from the devastating flooding caused by Tropical Storm Arthur Volunteers prepared and served more than 400 hot lunches featuring grilled pork chops, beans and corn to residents and first responders working in the hard-hit community of Plaucheville.
Relief supplies collected through the Zachary Chamber of Commerce were also distributed to those in need. In addition, the Zachary Rotary Club donated $1,000 to the “Zachary Strong” cooking team to help purchase food for the relief effort.
Four days after Tropical Storm Arthur dumped more than 20 inches of rain in just 36 hours, many families in Avoyelles Parish remained displaced by floodwaters. Nearly 1,500 households across the parish were impacted by the historic rainfall. In the Plaucheville area, at least 140 homes were flooded, with more than 200 homes suffering damage or other impacts. Homes and businesses along La. 107 and La. 1179 were among the hardest hit, with floodwaters surrounding entire neighborhoods.
“The City of Zachary is proud of the volunteers and community partners who quickly answered the call to help,” a news release from the city said. “Their compassion, generosity, and willingness to serve reflect the spirit of “Zachary Strong” neighbors helping neighbors when they are needed most The city extends its sincere appreciation to everyone who donated supplies, prepared meals, and contributed financially to bring comfort and assistance to the families of Avoyelles Parish.”
