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W e d n e s d ay, S e p t e m b e r 30, 2026

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12TH YEAR, NO. 51

Zachary leaders consider speeding issue on Roosevelt BY OLIVIA MCCLURE

Ofﬁcials agreed to see whether the Police Department can step up speed enforcement efforts in People living on Zachary’s Roos- the area. But they were hesitant evelt Street are worried someone about suggestions to install speed is going to get hurt if action isn’t bumps, a measure the city has taken to deter drivers from speed- been reluctant to take in the past. The issue was discussed at the ing through their neighborhood — a problem they say has become City Council’s Sept. 22 meeting, worse since nearby road closures where members of the panel heard turned their street into a popular from Eugene Johnson, who lives near the intersection of Roosevelt cut-through. Contributing writer

Street and New Weis Road and has led a petition drive calling on leaders to ﬁnd solutions. Johnson said the closure of Old Baker Road — a result of construction of the Comite River Diversion Canal — has shifted traffic onto other streets in the residential area. “When they get to the corner where I live, they’ll turn on Roosevelt Street, and the speed sign don’t mean nothing to them,” he

said. “They don’t respect that at all, and they’ll be speeding to get to (Highway) 19 before the light changes so they can beat the trafﬁc.” He worries for the safety of the many children and older people who reside in the area, which has no sidewalks. “When they get off the school bus … they have to walk home in the street,” he said. “The elderly

have to check their mail in the street.” Johnson would like to see a couple of speed bumps installed to slow people down. He fears someone will get hurt by a speeding vehicle. “I think about that every day I wake up,” he said. “I don’t want a tragedy to happen.”

ä See SPEEDING, page 4G

HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS

Water reconnection fees going up in Zachary BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer

Zachary is increasing fees for turning water service back on for customers who have been disconnected because they didn’t pay their bills — a move ofﬁcials hope will curb a recent uptick in nonpayments that has created a heavier-than-usual burden for the workers tasked with issuing notices and turning meters on and off. The decision to raise the current reconnection charge of $25 to $50 — and from $50 to $75 after hours and on weekends — came on a 4-1 vote at the City Council’s Sept. 22 meeting. The administration had requested the fees to be raised to $75 and $100, respectively, but some on the council felt those amounts would be too steep. An existing fee assessed on payments that are simply late — 10% of the bill amount — will remain unchanged. Zachary’s reconnection fees, last raised in 2021, now align more closely with those in neighboring municipalities. According to a survey the city conducted, Jackson, New Roads, Clinton, Baton Rouge and Gonzales all charge $50 to reconnect water service after payment is received. In West Baton Rouge Parish, the fee is $25, and in St. Francisville, $75. Mayor David McDavid said that, at the time of the meeting, Zachary had 185 delinquent accounts. A three-week period in late August and early September saw 253 delinquent accounts one week, 180 the second and 275 the third, according to City Attorney Jacqueline Wilson. “That is putting an extreme strain on city employees, having to not only disconnect those delinquent accounts, but provide them notices and then when those accountholders ultimately pay, they have to go through the process of reconnecting,” Wilson said. Monica Jackson, utility billing and cashier director, and Chip Troth, purchasing director, described the time-consuming work. “Chip’s team has to go to each door to put tags on the doors in order to get them to come and pay their bills,” Jackson said. She and her staff also call customers to let them know they need to pay. Only 550 of the city’s 9,200 water meters have technology allowing them to be disconnected and reconnected remotely, Troth said. The rest have to be turned on and off manually.

ä See WATER, page 4G

PHOTO BY SONYA GOSS

Senior Erynn Williams is crowned as Zachary High’s 2026 Homecoming Queen on Friday. Zachary High School celebrated its 2026 homecoming game Friday against the Warren Easton Eagles at the Bronco Corral.

INSIDE ä More photos of homecoming ceremony. Page 5G ä Parade celebrates ’90s style. Page 5G

Broncos give homecoming crowd a victory Homecoming week is a Zachary tradition that brings home alums from across the state and country, provides all kinds of activities (e.g., dance and parade) and themes for students in the Zachary Community School system, a week of high jinks that stresses the toilet paper industry and a football game. Last year, the Broncos and greater Zachary community may have celebrated a little too much as the Liberty Patriots came to town and defeated the Broncos (31-52) in a District 4-5A game. The 2026 homecoming opponent Warren Easton Eagles came into the game with a misleading 0-3 record after playing 5A powerhouses East Ascension, Holy Cross and Brother Martin. Coach David Brewerton said during his Tuesday coaching show that “the record is misleading as I fully anticipate them to go undefeated in their remaining district games.” Things started slow with nei-

Warren Brady ZACHARY SPORTS

ther team gaining a first down on their first possession. The Eagles completed a 46yard touchdown pass on their second possession that stunned the Broncos home crowd. In response, the Broncos ground out a 9 play 80-yard drive that was closed out on a 12-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Patton to tie the score 7-7 with 4:31 remaining in the first. The Broncos defense forced a three and out and the offense put together another grinding 60-yard drive capped off by a Jacori Platt 1 yard keep. The Eagles did not go down without a fight and responded to tie the game in the middle of the

PHOTO BY SONYA GOSS

Zachary Broncos Jeremey Patton, senior, scores a touchdown during the Homecoming game against Warren Easton on Friday. second quarter. After two turnovers stalled two second-quarter drives, Brewerton called for a fake on fourth down from his own 40 with Kylin Jones picking up the ﬁrst down.

Four plays later, Patton scored from 10 yards out. Senior Willie Green came in for an injured Platt and threw a touchdown to

ä See BRADY, page 4G

Forum aims to help parents recognize signs of risk, substance misuse in children Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY

Victoria’s Voice Foundation, a national nonproﬁt dedicated to providing drug education and prevention support for families, has joined forces with the Ofﬁce of Baton Rouge MayorPresident Sid Edwards to hold a Save Our Kids | VITAL SIGNS forum for parents Monday, Oct. 5 at Zachary High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Center, 4100 School St., Zachary. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the program starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. A Q&A session will follow the facilitated community discussion on the early signs of risk and substance misuse in youth. Victoria’s Voice was established by Jackie Siegel and her late husband, David Siegel, after they lost their daughter, Victoria, 18, to an

accidental drug overdose in 2015. The VITAL SIGNS program equips parents with the tools and knowledge to identify and address the early signs of substance use in their children. The introduction to this video-supported series is an in-person forum convening leaders in the substance use disorder space. The forum is free and open to the public. Dinner and refreshments will be provided. Seating is limited, and registration is required at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/vitalsignseastbatonrouge/event/vscc1c/.

River panel meetings are available online The Amite River Basin Commission meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of every month.

Check out its YouTube channel, https://www. youtube.com/@AmiteRiverBasinComm, to view live and recorded meetings.

Breast imaging set for October Woman’s Hospital’s mobile mammography coach brings breast imaging across the state. A physician’s order is required, and appointments are strongly encouraged. The coach will be available: Oct. 6 at Northpoint Family Health, 18901 Greenwell Springs Road, Greenwell Springs. Call (225) 924-8268 to schedule. Oct. 14 at United Methodist Church, 4205

ä See AROUND, page 4G

2G ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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RUNNING FOR OFFICE

Zachary Council District 5 seat

Zachary School Board District No. 4

Community news report

Lael Montgomery is running for Zachary City Council District 5. He is No. 184 on the Nov. 3 ballot. Montgomery said his service footprint started at 17 when he joined the United States Navy. He has served people from all walks of life for the last 35 years, Montgomery said in a campaign statement. He has a degree in psychology from Southern University with a concentration in substance abuse and has been a substance abuse counselor for 22 years. “I serve my community in numerous ways, I have a back-to-school giveaway, called Kickz 4 Kidz, in which we’ve been giving away gift cards towards the purchase of shoes to those in need for the last 20 years,” he said. “I also host an Easter event every year for the past 20 years. We give out over 200 Easter baskets, toys, bikes and prizes to the wonderful kids in our community. During the Christmas holidays, we give out toys to the kids in our communities.” He said that he has organized vaccination drives, hurricane relief efforts for the Lake Charles and Hammond areas, and during Covid, supply giveaways for teachers and face masks giveaways. He said he has also organized homebuyers seminars, job fairs, cleanups and more. He lists his accomplishments while serving on the council, including: n Helped develop and implement the first livestream videos of Zachary council meetings n Helped develop Zachary’s first Blight Program and Condemnation Board n Helped develop Zachary’s first social needs program to assist seniors with bills

Kenneth R. Mackie, 66 and a Democrat, is running for re-election to the Zachary Community school system School Board District 4 seat. He is No. 115 on the Nov. 3 ballot. He was first elected to the school board in 2010. After serving one term, he later was elected for two terms, so he brings 12 years of experience to the ofﬁce. Mackie is a 1978 graduate of Zachary High School and received a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering and executive masters of public administration from Southern University A&M College. He is a longtime educator, having taught in East Baton Rouge Parish school system, and currently aids in the instruction and advisement of high school

Lael Montgomery n Implemented Zachary’s first online bill-pay program n Fought to get city offices to close and honor the Juneteenth holiday n Fought for more transparency and oversight into Zachary’s contracting practices n Held workshops and fought for pay raises for police, firefighters, and city employees n Stopped neighborhoods from developing in flood plains and endangering the surrounding communities n Welcomed numerous businesses and restaurants to Zachary during his tenure as councilman, including TJ Maxx, Five Below, Harbor Freight, etc. n Worked with the Council on Aging to help seniors move into a bigger building with state-of-the-art technology and more space n Helped update the unified development code and addressed flooding, drainage, and smart growth within the city limits n Organized workshops to address low wages among police, firefighters, city workers, and all civil service employees working in Zachary. Montgomery said, “I want Zachary to have all the amenities that Baton Rouge has but still keep its small-town feel. I want more restaurants, shopping and entertainment options for our citizens.”

students as the director of the TRIO Upward Bound Math-Science Program (ENDEAVOUR) and Classic Upward Bound Program (INSPIRE). Mackie is married to Deadra James Mackie, the interim dean of the Delores Spikes Honors College at Southern University. He is a member of the New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Zachary. He has served as president, president-elect and treasurer of the Louisiana Association of Student Assistance Program. Additional affiliations include membership in Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Southwestern Association of Student Assistance Programs and the National Council for Opportunity in Education. Mackie said he functions as an educational leader in the preparation and education of Louisiana high

school students, to ensure the production of competitive scholars who will gain entrance into state colleges and universities here in Louisiana and throughout the country. Throughout his career, Mackie has remained committed to increasing educational opportunities for students. He said he believes in a safe and drug free learning environment. His campaign mantra is “Experience, Knowledge and Compassion.” Mackie’s campaign committee has assembled a team of community organizers and residents to assist in a grassroots campaign to garner support for the election. He is a student advocate who feels his experience is unparalleled and will function as a catalyst to assist him in leading the Zachary school system. Mackie’s motto remains:

Kenneth R. Mackie “We want competent children to remain in and become active members of the Zachary community. An educated Zachary is a better Zachary; enhancing our children, enhances our community. I will be taking my campaign to the citizens and letting them decide.” Contact Mackie at krmackie48@yahoo.com.

Zachary School Board District 8 Community news report Andrea Graves, 46, Republican, is a candidate for Zachary Community School Board, District 8 seat. “Service and advocacy have been central to my life both personally and professionally,” Graves said. “My faith is at the foundation of who I am and guides me in how I live, serve others, and approach the responsibilities entrusted to me.” She said she is an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and serves as a lector and ﬁnancial secretary for the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She and her husband have been together about 20 years and are raising two children who attend Zachary schools. Graves is a registered

nurse with 17 years of nursing experience. “Throughout my career, I have had a special place in my heart for the geriatric population, one of our most vulnerable populations. Caring for and advocating for those who depend on others has shaped how I view service and responsibility,” she said. “That connection is personal to me because children are also a vulnerable population. They depend on the adults entrusted with their care and education to protect their well-being and provide opportunities for them to succeed. I will advocate for fairness, equal opportunity, and decisions that keep our students’ best interests at the forefront,” Graves said. She described effective, ethical leadership as listening with an open

mind, gathering relevant information and making decisions based on facts, fairness and what is right. Policies should be applied fairly and consistently, with decisions centered on what best serves our students and school system. “Zachary has a proud history of academic excellence, including many years as the No. 1 school district in Louisiana. I want to build upon the strong foundation already in place and work alongside our educators, families, administration and community toward the goal of making Zachary No. 1 again,” Graves said. “That means supporting educators, identifying opportunities for improvement, maintaining high expectations, and preparing students for success in the classroom and beyond.”

Andrea Graves “I will serve District 8 with faith, common sense, integrity, transparency, compassion and accountability. I will bring the same heart for service and advocacy that has guided my career and have the courage to make decisions that are fair, ethical, and in the best interest of our students,” Graves said.

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RUNNING FOR OFFICE

Zachary Council District 4

Zachary School Board District 1

Zachary Council seat 5

Community news report

James Graves, 41, Republican, is seeking reelection to the Zachary City Council District 4 seat. He and wife, Andrea, have been together for over 20 years, and have two children, Jayse, 11, and Julia, 16, who both attend Zachary schools. “Our commitment to service extends beyond City Hall through our involvement with ministries at St. John the Baptist, Catholic Church, the Chamber of Commerce, and multiple community outreach programs,” Graves said. “I grew up here in Zachary, learning the value of hard work, service and commitment through my family’s business, which James Graves has operated more than three decades. I own and operate James’s Barber Shop since 2010, earning Best in Personal Services in Zachary in 2023 and 2024.” Graves is involved in Clean Living Men’s Recovery Home, a small construction business, life coaching and counseling services. He served on the city’s condemnation board for the past three years. “Four years ago, I took an oath to serve our community to the best of my ability. Through the ups and downs of our council, I have remained committed to my Christian principles and to the citizens I represent,” Graves said. “I believe in fair and honest representation for everyone, putting principles before personalities and people before politics. I listened, had lengthy conversations, and do the best of my ability to implement your concerns.” “I’m so grateful for the strong working relationships I have built with our mayor, city department heads, police chief and ﬁre chief. They have allowed me to communicate directly and address concerns in a timely manner to get things done,” he said. Graves said District 4 has seen significant progress, including a new hospital addition, 7 Brew Coffee, Southern Outfitters, TJ Maxx, Bealls, Harbor Freight, Aspen Dental and new commercial suites. Graves added that a new water well was added to support the infrastructure in the district. He said, “I supported pay raises for our police, ﬁre, city workers, and spearheaded responsible budgets for the city and received exceptionally well audit results. No new subdivisions in four years. We’ve strengthened construction standards and supported bringing more commercial development. Continue to work with School Board and keep local spending here.” The election is Nov. 3.

Tracey Johnson Taylor-Jarrell, a 55-year-old Democrat, is seeking reelection to the Zachary Community School Board, District 1 seat. She is No. 93 on the Nov. 3 ballot. She is a lifelong resident of Port Hudson and a product of the Zachary school system — from Port Hudson Elementary and Northwestern Middle to her graduation from Zachary High School in 1988. Taylor-Jarrell said she has walked the same halls as tostudents and Tracey Johnson Taylor-Jarrell day’s understands both the strengths of the district and where improvements are needed. With deep roots in her community and an unwavering commitment to public service, she said she is a dedicated advocate for students, families and educators. She holds a degree in accounting from Southern University, an executive MBA from Texas Southern University and a Ph.D. in public policy from the Southern University Nelson Mandela School of Government and Social Sciences. She is serving as executive director for the Southern University Board of Supervisors and an adjunct professor. Taylor-Jarrell said she remains committed to restoring academic excellence, strengthening support for families and teachers, ensuring safe and inclusive learning environments, and always putting students ﬁrst. In her current term, she was ﬁrst appointed, then won unopposed. She became involved in substantive policy discussions, took positions on issues affecting students and families, participated in the district’s long-range planning and helped advance conversations surrounding teacher compensation. Taylor-Jarrell serves as vice president of the board. Her platform is “Leading with Integrity and Serving with Vision.” She said her personal experience, professional expertise and community ties uniquely position her to lead with compassion, commitment and purpose. Her campaign is rooted in three beliefs: n Advocating for student’s needs: Ensuring all students have equitable access to resources and opportunities. n Building stronger community engagement: Strengthening collaboration among families, educators and the broader community. n Improving educational outcomes: Promoting excellence in education through sound policy, fair funding and teacher support. Taylor-Jarrell said she is determined to serve with the same heart, strength and integrity that Gaynell Young, former School Board president who died in 2025, embodied.

Jennifer Boyd is seeking reelection to the District 5 council seat, where she has served for the past four years. “As a resident of 25 years, I still choose today to live, work and worship in this great city,” she said. She said that her faith guides her. “It reminds me that leadership is not about recognition or position, but about humility, responsibility and love for our neighbors as ourselves. … Decisions are not always easy, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to let my faith guide me and my integrity ground me.” Boyd said her family has always been her greatest support system and a reminder of why community matters. “I understand the decisions we make in local government affect all families, n e i g h b o rhoods, businesses and future generations.” “As for integrity, everyone deserves Jennifer Boyd honesty, consistency, fairness and a servant who is willing to ask difficult questions and stand up for what is in the best interest of the community,” she said. “I take the time to do the research, examine the facts and make sure the information presented to you is accurate and honest. Public trust is earned through actions.” Boyd has been a Zachary Rotarian for the past 15 years, and “I have always tried to live by our 4-Way Test and apply it to your council seat during this term: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?” She adds that communication is key. “People deserve to have a voice in the decisions that affect them. I have worked to remain accessible, listen to concerns and create opportunities for residents to be heard outside of the council chambers. “That is why since becoming elected in 2022 I have held quarterly community meetings at our local library, and I have my personal cell on our city website,” she said. Boyd said, “I ask for the privilege to continue serving you with the same commitment I made from the beginning: putting people first, communicating openly, serving with integrity, and allowing my faith and family values to guide me. This council seat does not belong to any individual, it belongs to the people.”

Kendrick Slan Sr.

Zachary Council District 1 Community news report Kendrick Slan Sr., 38, a registered Independent, has announced his candidacy for Zachary City Council District 1. Slan has been a Zachary community member for the past 15 years, building his career, caring for his wife and three sons, and fostering community cohesion through extracurricular programs for youth, he said in a campaign statement. He promises a term rooted in transparent servant-leadership, keeping families first, relatability and accessibility, solution-oriented, and always prioritizing people over politics. As councilman, Slan aims to invest in public safety, foster economic growth and increased local employment opportunities, improve local infrastructure, and increase the quality and accessibility of local youth and education after-school programs. Slan said he brings years of first-hand experience with youth through nonprofit work and athletic programs, former activity in governmental relations, and a vision of a more economically developed, entertaining and familyfriendly Zachary.

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4G ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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SPEEDING

Continued from page 1G Council members were sympathetic to Johnson’s concerns but suggested remedies besides speed bumps. Mayor David McDavid agreed to talk to Police Chief Darryl Lawrence about what can be done. Council members Ambre DeVirgilio and John LeBlanc both said speeding problems in their districts have been resolved by police officers running radar and writing tickets. LeBlanc is uniquely familiar with the topic: He first began attending council meetings in 2018 as a resident upset about cars zooming through his own neighborhood. He too urged officials to install speed bumps or other traffic-calming devices — which never happened. As LeBlanc later found out, and as he recalled at the meeting, speed bumps — as well as the similar, but distinct, speed humps — present liability concerns for the city. And they are pricey, costing $1,500 to $5,000 apiece. “You have the maintenance to them,” he added. “They have to constantly be tightened down all the time. If they do a road resurface through the neighborhood, they’ve got to be taken back up and put back down.” Council member James Graves, whose district includes Roosevelt Street and who put the item on the agenda for discussion, wasn’t sure police alone could fix the problem. He said he doesn’t want to see a scenario where “they come for a couple of days, they leave and we’re still stuck with the same problem.” “I’d like to see some action,” Graves said. “If we got out there with a police officer for one day, he’d fill up a ticket book, and we could pay for the speed hump.”

BRADY

Jones to give the Broncos a 28-14 lead at the half. Tylek Lewis exploded on the ﬁrst snap of the third quarter going 82 yards to extend the lead to 21. Easton responded late in the third quarter but the extra point was blocked. The Broncos Ladarius Dunn returned the ensuing kickoff to the Eagles 30. Six plays later Tylek Lewis’ 1 yard run moved the score to 42-20. Patton scored again from the 5 after an Eagles turnover on downs to start the Broncos fourth. From there the Broncos emptied the sidelines in a 49-28 homecoming victory. The Broncos will be on the road next week for a 5A matchup with St. Amant at The Pit.

Other Zachary sports notes The ZHS volleyball team (7-7) closed out the predistrict schedule Sept. 24 with a straight set victory (25-10, 25-10, 25-14) over Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee. The Broncos opened district play at home against Central on Sept. 28 and will be back home for a nondistrict game against Covington on Oct. 1. The Broncos are No. 33 in the power rank-

Continued from page 1G City employees are busier than ever as they wade through the ever-growing list of disconnection and reconnection orders. Back in 2021, “a high week for us would crack 100,” Troth

Continued from page 1G Church St., Zachary. Call (225) 924-8268 to schedule.

Celebrate fall n Chubby Carrier is the live music at Downtown Live at the Gazebo’s Fall Fest. Vendors, food trucks, a photo booth and kids attractions will be open from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 2 in downtown Zachary. n The Virginia Street Pumpkin Patch at the Barn is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 2; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 3; and noon to 5 p.m., Oct. 4. n The Wild West Stick Horse Rodeo is riding into town from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 3. Bring the kids to compete in exciting rodeo events, including: Bronco Busting, Barrel Racing, Clown Act, Duck Chase (ages 3-4 and ages 5-7), Dummy Roping, Buddy Pickup, Goat Tail Pull and Flag Race. All gate proceeds beneﬁt the Zachary Rotary Club, helping sup-

Zachary High varsity football captains are Treven Barber (25), senior; Joshua Morgan (55), junior, Caysin Pearson (44), senior; and Tayvion Richard (75), senior.

Continued from page 1G

WATER

AROUND

PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS

Zachary High’s 2026 Homecoming football game on Friday against Warren Easton.

said. “We would have 100 to 110, something like that. Most of the time, the weeks were under 50. But it has gone up exponentially since then. And what we see is customers immediately, once we actually physically turn them off, they pay. And quite frankly, 75% or 80% of them, when we tag the door, will pay. It’s literally that minute.”

port projects and programs. n Zachary Farmers Market Frontier Day is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 3. n The Little School Fall Fest is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at 4205 Church St. Food trucks, vendors, games, trunk or treat, cake walks and more are planned. n St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church is holding its Fall Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 31. Food, an antique car show, games, entertainment, country store, inﬂatable obstacle course and more are planned.

Who should be Zachary’s Citizen of the Year? The Rotary Club of Zachary is seeking nominations for the 2026 Zachary Citizen of the Year. The ideal nominee is a Zachary citizen who exempliﬁes Rotary’s philosophy of “Service Above Self” and has made a meaningful difference in the community. Nominees should demonstrate qualities such as: n Volunteering and active in-

ings and will need to turn things up in district to make the Class I playoffs. The ZHS and Northwestern Middle School cross-country teams will host the Zachary Broncos Cross Country Stampede and Northwestern Braves Battleﬁeld Run at the Port Hudson State Historic Site on Oct. 17. Zachary girls basketball junior Asia Bell has

Council members agreed that the reconnection fees should be increased in hopes of persuading more people to pay their bills. But they weren’t comfortable with the administration’s proposal to charge $75 for reconnection, noting that some nonpaying customers may be struggling ﬁnancially. “If there’s a financial burden and they cannot pay the $150 or

volvement in the community and civic organizations n Consistent contributions to the Zachary community n Making a positive impact on the lives of fellow residents n Representing Zachary or Zachary’s interests at the state or national level n Going above and beyond the responsibilities of their job or position n Leadership, compassion, strong moral character and a genuine desire to make Zachary a better place to live. Submit a narrative describing why you believe your nominee is deserving of this special honor to Sharon.phillips@cityofzachary. org by Oct. 5. The 2026 Zachary Citizen of the Year will be introduced at the Zachary Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Oct. 22.

Businesses can buy Christmas banners The Zachary Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Christmas

banners on Main Street and downtown Zachary with business logos. The banners will hang Dec. 5-Jan. 5. The deadline to sign up is Oct. 9, but as of last week, only 20 spots were left. Contact the chamber for details.

CALL: (225) 388-0289 EMAIL: obits@theadvocate. com

CALL: (225) 388-0738 EMAIL: nuptials@ theadvocate.com

The Zachary Advocate & Plainsman is published weekly in Baton Rouge and at additional mailing offices. Periodicals-postage 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

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THE ZACHARY ADVOCATE & PLAINSMAN, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. (225) 388-0215

DEATH NOTICES

heads,” he said. But he wondered when the city would see a change in customer behavior and how soon the council might have to look at the fee structure again. Troth said it will take time before customers pick up on the changes. “It may be a few months down the road before we start seeing a trend down,” he said.

organizations, leaders and friends Miscellaneous End yourMayor’s tax worries today. Let us to the annual Prayer make your tax problem our priority. Luncheon “In The in 2026” Scared, stuckMix with high attax amounts? Our A+ tax professionals 11:30 a.m. Firstfor Baptist can Oct. help.9 atCall a FREE Register vote at two-day event consultation. CallCenter, Priority Tax now 1Church Family Life 4200 877-249-9376. Main St., Zachary. Doors open at The Alpha Kappa Alpha SororBuy Houses for Cash AS-IS! No ity Alpha Delta Pi Omega Chapter 11 a.m.We repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy process: Call, cash offer and get The meal will beget a free fish fry. and the Zachary Men’s Club and paid. Call today for your fair cash Guest speaker will be Danielle the East Baton Rouge Branch of offer: 1-225-545-1983. Scott, aStruggling former Olympic USA inthe National Association of Uniwith debt? If you have over $15,000player. in debt we help you be versity Women are holding the door volleyball debt free in as little as 24-48 Vote Ready registration drive at She is a two-time Olympic silver months. Pay nothing to enroll. Call Now: 1-877-773-1742. the Zachary Men’s Club, 5746 Rol- medalist who competed in five Donate your car, truck, the boat,reRV and Games, holding lins Road. The event will be from Olympic more to support our veterans! 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 30 and cord for the most appearSchedule a Olympic FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax Oct. 1. People 17 and older are ances by a U.S. indoor deduction! Call volleyball Veteran Car 1-844-742-5188 encouraged to register to vote. player.Donations She hasatbeen inductedtoday! into Refreshments will be served. the International Volleyball Hall of Health and Wellness Advertising Audien Hearing. The world’s first Fame, USA Volleyball Hall of Fame Looking to promote your services or hearing aid with touchscreen Join local AARP members find a new hire? Deliver and your Louisiana controls. No tiny Hall buttons, apps or Sports of Fame. classified message statewide for as prescriptions. 45-day risk free trial. Musical willsupport. The Zachary of week AARP littleChapter as $265 per through the Free entertainment shipping. Lifetime Louisiana Press Association’s More than 1.5High million happy include the Zachary School holds monthly meetings at 10 a.m. Classified Network. Pre-payment customers. Call Audien 1-866-678required. To learn more, email 8713.the First Baptist praise choir and on the second Wednesday of each advertising@lapress.com or call month at the225-344-9309. Zachary Men’s Club, team. DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. 5746 RollinsMiscellaneous Road, Zachary. The Coverage for 400 plus procedures. End your tax worries today. Let us Real dental insurance NOT just a next meetings are Oct. 14, Nov. 11 Email Leila Pitchford at make your tax problem our priority. discount plan. Do not wait! Call and Dec. 9. Scared, stuck with high lpitchford@theadvocate.com. tax now! Get your FREE Dental

ADVOCATE&

Darlene T. Denstorff zachary@theadvocate.com (225) 388-0215 REPORTER Leila Pitchford zachary@theadvocate.com (225) 388-0731

Warren Brady covers sports for the Advocate/Plainsman. To contact Brady, email zachary@theadvocate.com.

the $110 or whatever it is, is $75 the right amount?” said Councilwoman Brandy Westmoreland. Councilman James Graves was the lone “no” vote on Westmoreland’s motion to raise the fee to $50 and $75 for after-hours service. “I see that we are trying to do the same thing our neighbors are doing, and I trust our department

THE ZACHA Y

EDITOR

been selected to participate in the prestigious Wootten 150. Bell will join some of the nation’s top high school girl’s basketball players for an exclusive evaluation camp in Las Vegas, Nevada.

SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS R. GRANT LALONDE (225) -388-0625

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Announcements Looking to promote your services or

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 5G

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ZACHARY HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING

PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS

Zachary High varsity cheerleaders include sophomores Amiah Gory, T’Miah George and Alyse Pero.

The Zachary High School 2026 Homecoming Court includes Aniya Anderson, ninth grade; Breanna Duncan, ninth grade; Cadence Jefferson, ninth grade; Kadience Edwards, 10th grade; Layla Leonard, 10th grade; Lila Sinclair, 10th grade; Bailey Felder, 10th grade; Alyssa Anderson 11th grade; Annie Troth, 11th grade; Parker Williams, 11th grade; Tyler Addison, 12th grade; Karsyn Marshall, 12th grade; Camryn Wells, 12th grade; and Erynn Williams, 12th grade.

Zachary Broncos student section awaits some football action during the Homecoming Game on Friday.

Sophomore Maid Layla Leonard is escorted by her father, Reginald Leonard, during Zachary High’s 2026 Homecoming.

Zachary Broncos mascot works the crowd at the game.

Zachary High celebrates ’90s with Homecoming Parade The Zachary High School homecoming parade rolled the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 25, featuring the theme “Like, Totally Homecoming! (the ’90s).”

PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS

Zachary High wrestling team poses before rolling out for the Zachary Broncos 2026 Homecoming Parade.

Kadience Edwards, Layla Leonard and Lila Sinclair, Zachary Homecoming sophomore maids before the parade.

Before the parade, Zachary Bronco Belles pose with the two Belles who are on the Homecoming Court.

The Zachary High School Homecoming Parade rolls.

Zachary Community Schools District Superintendent Ben Necaise, left, and Zachary High School Principal Tim Jordan roll at the end of the 2026 Homecoming Parade.

Zachary High’s Band of Blue marches. Zachary Police Sgt. Cothern Williams is on duty.

Caidyn Williams, a Zachary Elementary third grade student, enjoys herself at the ZHS Homecoming Parade.

The Copper Mill Elementary Pep Squad readies for the parade.

6G ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Preston

Tour bus operator

“The future’s happening here in Richland Parish.” Kaycie

Coﬀee shop owner

Lindsay

Food truck owner

$1.6 billion for Louisiana businesses. Catering for 40 people used to be a good week. Now they hit 400. And that’s just the tacos. From coﬀee shops to bus tours, Meta’s Richland Parish investment is already paying oﬀ for businesses across Louisiana.

The future is for everyone. meta.com/BuildingLouisiana