Zachary Plainsman-Advocate 10-01-2025

Leila Pitchford

AROUND ZACHARY

Stroll through downtown Zachary Fall Festival

Visit downtown Zachary from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday for the city’s Fall Fest.

The event includes a pumpkin patch inflatable maze movie in the park, hot air balloon rides, artisan market vendors, game, photo booth, music and food. Costumes are encouraged for this spooky but not scary event. Wild West Stick Horse Rodeo

Help raise money for the Zachary Rotary Club from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the HugYourPeople Park during the Wild West Stick Horse Rodeo.

Admission is $5 for ages 8 and older and it’s $10 to compete in the stick horse rodeo, which is for children ages 3-7. Several contests are planned. For information, call Dan Klein at (225) 978-5104 Pumpkins at the Barn

The Zachary Pumpkin Patch at the Barn is Oct. 3-5 behind the downtown Gazebo.

The pumpkin patch is open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Market turns 6

The Zachary Farmers and Artisans Market will celebrate its sixth birthday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m Oct. 18 downtown on Lee Street. Vendors, music, food and games will be available.

Meet at the library

Kids’ Orchestra returns to the library on Oct. 4 to offer experiential learning for children ages 3-11.

From 11 a.m. to noon, meet professional musicians, sing, laugh and find the beat of your own drum.

Join Books & Music for a variety of sounds and colors by exploring two crayon-themed books: “Red: A Crayon’s Story” by Michael Hall and “Creepy Crayon!” by Aaron Reynolds. Also, learn the “Monster Mash” dance.

Recycling, garbage changes

Beginning Oct. 6, Waste Management will deliver new 96-gallon recycling carts to households across Zachary The new carts will be serviced using automated trucks.

Residents who wish to keep the old 18-gallon bins may do so; however Waste Management will no longer collect recyclables from them once the new carts are in place

New garbage and recycling rates go into effect in October: Residential garbage and recycling will be $33.30 and senior garbage and recycling, inside city limits, will be $18.15. For information, contact the city at (225) 654-1902.

Check out Baker’s market

Baker’s Fresh Market will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct 25 and Nov 22 at the Baker School Board Office, 14750 Plank Road. Vendors will be selling vegetables, smoothies, eggs, meat, baked goods, plants, jams and more — all local.

Novemberfest vendors

Crafters and vendors are invited to participate in St. Patrick’s Novemberfest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov 1 at 1322 Church St. in Zachary The day will include food,

HR email triggers debate over Zachary voting rules

Mayor pro tempore defends actions to resolve administrative

BY OLIVIA McCLURE Contributing writer

Questions are swirling about whether the Zachary City Council’s mayor pro tempore stepped out of bounds when she recently sent an email instructing the city’s human resources department on how much to pay the council’s newly appointed clerk.

The mayor pro tempore, council member Jennifer Landry, and City Attorney John Hopewell both said there’s nothing wrong with the way the situation was handled But council member Ambre DeVirgilio disagreed, saying the matter required a vote and should have been addressed in a public forum, not via email.

The two sides of the issue were debated fiercely largely by Landry and DeVirgilio — at the council’s Sept. 23 meeting, where the clerk’s salary was on the agenda for ratification. It was ultimately unanimously approved.

The council did not determine a salary for Karen Burdette when it named her interim clerk at its Sept. 9 meeting. That meant she would not get paid until the council convened again to vote on the matter Landry emailed HR director Ashlee Pratt on Sept. 10 with instructions to set Burdette’s salary at $18,000 and a note that she would present the item to her colleagues to be ratified, according to a copy of the message provided to The Advocate.

Landry wrote in the email that she had reached out to her colleagues for input and had heard only from council member James Graves, who agreed with the salary,

BY OLIVIA McCLURE Contributing writer

After winning election to their offices in 2022, Zachary Mayor David McDavid and Police Chief Darryl Lawrence realized the new jobs they’d been chosen for would cause them to take a pay cut. With decades

RUNNING START

LSU student honors Copper Mill teacher

Community news report

LSU track and field’s Ambria Langley, an alumna of Zachary High, recently honored her former teacher Kathryn Osbourne, of Copper Mill Elementary School, on the SEC Network as part of the College Football Playoff Foundation’s “Extra Yard for Teachers” week. The annual weeklong back-toschool celebration aired Aug. 29.

RAISES

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That could change under an ordinance introduced by the City Council at its Sept. 23 meeting The ordinance, which notes that starting salaries haven’t been updated in several years, would significantly boost base pay for the mayor and police chief.

The starting annual salary for the mayor, $85,000, would increase to $108,200 The police chief would start at $89,100 instead of $69,000. Compensation for council members would increase as well. They start at $10,414 a year; the ordinance would raise that to $12,950.

The ordinance calls for annual $1,000 raises for the mayor and police chief and $250 yearly for council members. It would cap the mayor’s maximum salary at $120,000, the police chief at $100,000 and council members at $15,000.

One important caveat: The raises wouldn’t take effect until January 2027. If the ordinance passes, McDavid and Lawrence would have to win reelection in 2026 to reap its benefits.

The proposed salary changes didn’t generate much discussion at the council meeting But McDavid and Lawrence both have spoken in the past about their belief that the existing salary structure is behind the times.

Last year, McDavid commissioned a study looking at how much Zachary officials are paid compared with their counterparts in other Louisiana cities. McDavid found that he and Lawrence make less money

Kathryn Osbourne visits Ambria Langley at Zachary High’s graduation.

PROVIDED PHOTO

“Mrs. Osbourne was the most impactful teacher of my elementary years,” said Langley, who is in her second year at LSU and is majoring in biology “She was very engaging and taught us how to be our true selves. As a history teacher she was able to turn a tough subject into something really fun and engaging.”

than people in the same roles in West Monroe, Sulphur, Baker, Gonzales and Youngsville. Council members in some of those municipalities earn more than those in Zachary, too.

“This needs to be fixed,” McDavid said when he presented the study to the council in April 2024.

At the time of the study, McDavid reported making $88,890 a year Lawrence’s salary was listed as $80,580 — $7,200 of which came from a state supplemental pay program for law enforcement officers.

In a packet of information provided to the council to prepare for the meeting, members received a letter from the Zachary Police Department’s longtime secretary that drove home the realities of the salary situation.

Brandy Burns wrote that she was shocked when she recently completed a personnel action form for a captain and saw that his base pay without overtime is $6,000 more than the starting salary for the police chief. She discovered that another captain, the department’s senior-most lieutenant and the assistant chief a position Lawrence previously held — also earns more than the chief’s base pay

“This is, quite frankly, absurd,” Burns wrote. “In what other business or government, is the head of a department paid less than the people who work for him?”

She noted that the chief supervises more than 60 employees and doubles as the city marshal.

“We cannot expect educated, experienced individuals to put themselves in this position knowing they will be making thousands less than the people they supervise,” she wrote.

DEBATE

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and DeVirgilio, who said she was seeking more information.

Hopewell said no state statutes or local ordinances offer guidance for the city’s dilemma, adding that city officials needed to make a decision between council meetings because of deadlines associated with the payroll system.

Landry was approached for guidance because of her role as the mayor pro tempore, he said.

That position is largely ceremonial; the only responsibility it usually brings is presiding over council meetings if the mayor is absent. But, Hopewell said, the job of council members “is not a pure legislative function.”

“What I mean by that is that although you are a legislative body, there are some functions that you have to undertake that are administrative and executive in nature,” he said “Is there an ordinance that says that? There is not. But common sense would tell you that somebody has to take these steps.”

Landry sought his advice, he said, and he cautioned her against taking votes by email. But he told her it was OK for her to make a decision about the salary and allow the council to ratify it later

“The purpose essentially is to recognize that the council clerk is being paid pursuant to a recommendation that was given to your pro tem by the CFO and by the administration, and they’ve acted on it,” he said.

DeVirgilio wasn’t buying Hopewell’s assessment of the situation.

“I feel like just because there isn’t a mechanism for this does not mean that we should be deliberating within emails,” she said.

Setting the salary was not an emergency, she said, adding that the council could have waited until its next meeting to vote and make Burdette’s salary retroactive.

“I don’t like the precedent that this set,” DeVirgilio said. “I don’t think that any member of this body — me or the mayor pro tem — should ever make a decision like that without (being) in full view of the public or with a vote.”

Landry reiterated that she had not asked the council members to vote via email and was simply

trying to gather input. She said she included messages from HR and Hopewell to provide context.

“I was not putting words in anyone’s mouth,” Landry said.

“I gave you exactly in black and white what was being instructed and asked of me, and I asked what your thoughts were.”

She urged DeVirgilio to move on from the topic for the sake of the council and Burdette, who was taking minutes at a nearby desk.

“This is misleading, and so what we need to do is discuss and stay to the matter on the agenda,” Landry said.

“I’m not misleading the public,” DeVirgilio responded “I have the emails.”

Landry fired back: “Release them then, Councilwoman.”

“I will,” DeVirgilio said.

DeVirgilio provided The Advocate & Plainsman with copies of five emails sent on Sept. 10 — the day after Burdette was appointed clerk. The messages depict the following chain of events:

n 11:11 a.m.: Landry wrote to DeVirgilio asking “if you are ok with an $18,000 annual salary for Karen while she serves as interim? I need to get an answer back to Ashlee quickly so Karen doesn’t miss a payroll.”

n 11:32 a.m.: DeVirgilio sent a question to Hopewell and L.T Dupré, assistant city attorney: “Is this a matter that requires a vote of the council which would need to be held in a public meeting?”

n 11:39 a.m.: Hopewell replied, confirming that the council would need to take a vote. “In this case,” he explained, “I appreciate that an answer was required before your next meeting in order to get it set up in the payroll system. I advised that it could be done by ratification thereafter as long as everyone knew what actions the Pro Tempore was taking.”

n 11:59 a.m.: DeVirgilio responded to Landry’s email, saying she had contacted Pratt for more information.

n 12:12 p.m.: Landry emailed Pratt: “I contacted all members individually, received the below response from Ambre and received a phone call from James. I have not heard back from anyone else. James is good with the $18K as am I. To avoid waiting any longer you are welcome to enter the $18K per my instruction and I will present for ratification.”

Let’sPINK

AROUND

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games, activities, crafts/vendors and entertainment. For information, contact Novemberfest co-chairs Beth Kimmell, beth.kimmell@gmail.com, (225) 281-9249; or Violet Stillday, vstillday@gmail.com, (218) 5563458.

ZPD tree contest

The Zachary Police Department is having a Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. The department is looking for 12 businesses to join the fun. Spots will be filled on a firstcome, first-served basis, so don’t wait to sign up. Deadline is Oct. 30. To register your business and for information contact records@zacharypd.org or call (225) 654-1904.

Winner will be announced Dec. 23.

Contest rules:

n Pencil tree 6-foot to 9-foot — artificial only n Tree can be put up Nov 15 to Dec. 1 in the foyer of the Zachary Police Department, 5160 Old Slaughter Road n Voting is Dec. 2-22. One vote per person per day n Tree must be taken down by Jan. 10.

Baker Library market

The Baker Branch Library has announced its new, monthly Farmers and Artisan Market. Bring your friends and family to shop local vendors for homemade crafts, homegrown vegetables and home-cooked goodies at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 17. It’s free to participate. Vendors can register at ebrpl.co/ BLFAAM. For information call (225) 778-5960.

Autism group gala, resource fair

The Magnolia Rose Foundation for Autism Acceptance is holding its fourth annual Magnolia Masquerade Gatsby Gala from 8 p.m. to midnight Nov 1 at the Baker Municipal Center, 3325 Groom Road, Baker Purchase tickets at magnolia rosefoundation.betterworld.org/ events/4mm-gatsby-gala. Email Leila Pitchford at lpitchford@theadvocate.com.

PAINT THE TOWN

y’all! y’all!

Join West Feliciana Hospital’s annual breast cancer awareness campaign to raise money forCancer Services of Baton Rouge, which serves a 10-parish area that includes West andEast Feliciana and Pointe Coupee

Businesses and individuals are asked to decorate their homes or offices both inside andout, andenter our competition For entry forms and more information on Paint theTown Pink contactusat pttp@wfph.org or 225-635-3811 ext. 2304.

•Friday,October 3: Pink Bake Sale at Audubon Market 11:00 a.m. –till we sell out

•Thursday, October 9: Paint Party6p.m. at West Feliciana Hospital. Includes paint instructor and door prizes.PRE-REGISTER ASAP on our Facebook page,itsells out!

•Wednesday,October 15: Paint the Town Pink Contest Judging forDecorated Businesses and Individals

•Friday,October 17: Schools, sports clubs,and the entirecommunity is encouraged to wear PINK!

•Thursday, October 23: Come by TheWitches Ride of St. Francisville and grab somecold H2O

•Friday,October 24: KendraScott JewelryRaffleWinner Announced!

Zachary leaders set meeting to discuss proposed master plan

BY OLIVIA McCLURE Contributing writer

Zachary officials want input from residents, business owners and stakeholders on a recently completed draft of a new comprehensive master plan ahead of the October Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, where the document will be up for discussion

Zachary’s current master plan was crafted in 2010. It outlines existing and future land uses and provides a framework for growth and development City leaders, with help from the New Orleansbased Villavaso and Associates planning firm, have been working on the overhaul since 2023. They’ve organized several community meetings to gather public comments as part of the process.

Zachary isn’t the same place it was 15 years ago when the current plan was written In that time, the city’s population has ballooned to about 20,000, escalating a decadeslong growth trend that has turned the small, country town into a bustling suburb.

Residential and commercial development patterns have shifted, an updated development code has been implemented and the geographical footprint of Zachary has grown with property annexations — among other changes

“While the stunning growth and development in Zachary over the past few decades created many positives for Zachary such as improved infrastructure and well-funded schools, there are concerns of growth occurring too quickly and without guardrails that protect the

community,” the draft plan says. “This demographic shift necessitates a reevaluation of infrastructure, land use, housing, transportation, and public services to accommodate the growing population, and residents outside of Zachary who utilize city services and amenities.”

The document identifies a few “key takeaways from the planning process that are addressed in the plan.” They include the need for infrastructure and drainage improvements, attracting more businesses and encouraging connectivity using sidewalks and trails. Also addressed are concerns about growth in unincorporated areas surrounding Zachary and the desire for logical, orderly development.

In a news release, city leaders called the draft plan “a bold, communitydriven vision for the future of Zachary — focusing on smart growth, long-term resilience, and enhanced livability for all residents.”

“Your voice matters,” the release said. This is your opportunity to help refine and shape the final version of the plan that will guide Zachary’s development for years to come.”

The Planning and Zoning Commission, which has the authority to adopt the plan, will meet at 6 p m Oct. 6 at City Hall. The 95-page draft can be found online at cityofzachary.org/city-services/planning-zoning. Look under “planning documents” in the “resources” section of the page for a link to the draft. For information, contact the planning and zoning office at (225) 654-1935 or calesia.anderson@ cityofzachary.org

New hires announced at City Hall

BY OLIVIA McCLURE Contributing writer

There’s a bit of a changing of the guard underway at Zachary City Hall.

Jacqueline Wilson was appointed city attorney at the City Council’s Sept 23 meeting. She’ll be taking the reins from John Hopewell, who has been Zachary’s top lawyer since 2011 and is preparing to retire.

Wilson, an Opelousas native who has lived in Zachary for several years, has experience in private legal

Zachary Rotary

hears about

practice and in attorney positions with the state government. She most recently worked for the Louisiana Department of Justice Litigation Division. She is a 2007 graduate of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU. At its Sept. 9 meeting, the council named Karen Burdette interim clerk of council following the resignation of longtime clerk Dana LeJeune. Burdette was also appointed secretary for Planning and Zoning Commission meetings.

“Karen has been a dedicated employee with the City of Zachary for 16 years and continues to proudly serve with the Zachary Fire Department,” a City of Zachary Facebook post said. The city is also hiring a planning and zoning director to replace Bryant Dixon, who has held the position since 2021 and is transitioning to a new job. Qualifications and other details are available at cityofzachary org/employment/job-postings.

the role of pharmacists

Community news report

At the Aug. 14 Zachary Rotary Club luncheon, Jassoni Martin, director of pharmacy and retail services at Lane Regional Medical Center, and Patty Williams, director of physician practice management, spoke about the role pharmacists play in health.

Martin encouraged everyone to get the most out of every pharmacy visit. Pharmacists are more than prescription fillers, Martin said. They can fill prescriptions, give vaccines, provide health screenings, offer medication reviews and provide special services like compounding.

The talk also mentioned benefits of knowing your pharmacist: personalized advice, early problem detection cost savings and better health outcomes.

Attendees were encouraged to always ask questions — such as possible side effects or interactions with other medicines. Williams encouraged everyone to

And hears from the Domestic Violence Center

Community news report

At its Sept. 4 meeting, the Zachary Rotary Club heard from Patty Freeman, executive director of IRIS Domestic Violence Center in Baton Rouge.

She shared the work IRIS is doing to support survivors, provide resources and bring hope to families in crisis.

To learn more or find ways to support IRIS, visit www stopdv.org.

the Aug. 14

PROVIDED PHOTO

On Sept. 4, 2025,

When it comes to breast cancer,early detection can make all thedifferenceas66% of breast cancer cases are foundatalocalized stage -when the 5-year survivalrateisan incredible 99%. That’s whyLane Regional Medical Center urges women to take controloftheir breast health by scheduling regular OB/GYNexams,getting an annual mammogramstarting at age 40, and knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer Wishing won’tdetectbreast cancer,but amammogram can!

Cross-country girls, boys at Zachary running to victory

Coach Julie Fink is excited about the performance thus far in the improvement and potential for this year’s Zachary High boys and girls cross-country teams.

She said that in races over the past four weeks, the Broncos have “tremendous improvements on both the girls’ and boys’ side with over 33 new personal records.”

On the boy’s side, Fink said she relies on junior Max Gennaro and senior Connor Conachen for their “experience, leadership and strong race times have been key to motivating our boys this season.”

Fink said, at the Episcopal meet, Gennaro raced the third fastest 3-mile time in ZHS history (15:26) behind Caleb Ackman (15:10) and Rhen Langley (15:20).

At the St. Michaels Bayou Boogie on Sept. 20, the ZHS girls finished third.

“These ladies know how to compete and fought hard for their finishes,” Fink said.

Junior Blair Smith was a top 20 finisher (20:19.88) to lead the girls. Fink said Smith continues to get faster week by week, “is amazing and is committed to both her personal and team success.”

Fink emphasized the good blend of upper and lower class girls has made this “one of the strongest ZHS girls team I have had the privilege to coach.” Others mentioned for their efforts included junior Erica Mayes, a three-year member who was racing fast until a recent injury

“We are keeping our fingers crossed she will be back with us,” Fink said.

Nala Mitchel was singled out for battling injuries in 2024 but has “put the work in this past summer to get stronger and faster and we are starting to reap the benefits,” Fink said.

Fink said senior Yvonne Harms just recorded a personal record and top finish, and seniors Anna Elius and junior Destiny Thomas have been and continue to be solid top varsity performers

Fink was quick to point out that she is excited about all 18 girls on

the team this year She mentioned the strong freshman class of Lucy Gennaro, Mary Fontenot, Madison Franks and Malaya Fambro, who “have been great additions to our varsity team.”

At the St. Michaels meet, the boys finished seventh overall in a large field with Elijah Dunaway pulling in the top performance (16:57.23). The boys team has 29 runners, and Fink pointed to “a solid squad of juniors (Dunaway, Trent Gomila, Carson Southall and Vincent Bodine) making big strides in their running and leading our varsity team.”

Sophomore Tyson Franklin has busted his way into the varsity top three and Fink said that she is “really excited to have him racing cross-country this season.”

Other sophomores mentioned included Ben O’Brien, Cullen Smith and Jamal Williams. Like the girls, there is a strong group of freshman boys — Adrain Concienne and Easton Dobson who Fink describes as “taking their running seriously while putting in the work to make themselves and their teammates stronger and faster ”

This obviously provides high hopes for the future.

Fink said she has “a great group of athletes this year — they support one another, cheer one another on and are committed to making the team/their teammates/ themselves faster/stronger.”

She does not do it alone, with help from husband Linn Fink and assistant Jessica Concienne.

In addition to the Bronco Stampede on Oct. 18 at Port Hudson, which already has 30 teams signed up to compete, the Broncos will host the EBR Metro Championship on Oct. 29 at Highland Road Park.

“The momentum I have with the team is really solid as we are getting more kids competing for varsity spots which inevitably helps to improve our entire program,” Fink said.

“When they start believing they can race faster and keep up with their teammate it makes the whole team/program better, and it’s that internal team dynamic that propels teams forward.

“I feel that happening on both the boys and girls teams.”

Warren Brady covers sports for The Plainsman. He can be contacted at zachary@ theadvocate.com.

Zachary High teacher honored as Bronco football guest captain

Zachary High captains Kristion Brooks, from left, Donovan Beathley and Keesha Vaughn await the start of the game with the referee.

The Zachary Community School District School Board and Zachary Athletics recognized Keesha Vaughn as the guest captain of the Sept. 12 Bronco football game.

Vaughn is a teacher at Zachary High School.

The guest captain is treated to a pregame meal overlooking the stadium in the Academic Athletic Center and escorted to the sidelines to be introduced and walk out with the Zachary High football team captains and the officials for the coin toss.

This season’s captains are No. 4 Kristion Brooks, No. 62 Braeden White, No. 3 Zakarri Hogan and No. 43 Donovan Beathley

Vaughn won the coin toss for the Broncos. The guest captain can watch the game from the sidelines or in reserved seats with their guests.

Vaughn was nominated by the community and fellow employees for being a dedicated teacher

Zachary High School Principal Lindsey Spence said, “She is a devoted and hard-working teacher who truly cares for her students, consistently going the extra mile to support them. She pours her heart into her work, showing her students every day how much she believes in them.”

Those who nominated Vaughn said she supports her students in the classroom and in their sports and activities, and that she is kind and helpful to all.