Baker, Zachary, area East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office bookings ä PAGE 5G
THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE&
THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 2015
P R O U D LY O W N E D I N L O U I S I A N A
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THEADVOCATE.COM
1st Year, No. 14
School Board members sworn in
Stacy Gill
BY STACY GILL
sgill@theadvocate.com
AROUND ZACHARY
SGILL@ THEADVOCATE.COM
Did you make your resolution?
Lots of things and events happening in the new year. Have you resolved to anything in 2015? Does anyone do that anymore? Are you still writing 2014 as the date? Perhaps that should be your 2015 resolution. My list is a short one and involves burning massive amounts of calories. Good luck with your resolutions. This week, around Zachary ...
Bypass opens Thursday
The recently constructed Zachary bypass will open to motorists Thursday, Jan. 15, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Mayor David Amrhein and city officials will cut the ribbon on the bypass road at 10 a.m. at the main entrance — the intersection of Montegudo Boulevard and Bob Odom Drive, named after longtime Zachary resident Bob Odom, Louisiana’s former commissioner of agriculture. Immediately following the ceremony, the Montegudo and Odom families have been invited to be the first to drive on the new bypass, which sits on a tract of land once owned by the Montegudo family. The bypass offers an alternative to La. 64, connecting with La. 19 at the north and McHugh Road and/or Main Street at the south ends. The new boulevard was built to reduce traffic flow on both roadways, according to city officials. “We are committed to continuing to address the effects of rapid growth in Zachary,” Amrhein said. “A key part of those efforts is to ensure that our roadways are safe and that traffic flow on our streets is improved. This infrastructure improvement will not only help to promote the economic growth of our city but improve safety for its drivers as well.”
The nine members of the Zachary Community School Board began their four-year terms after being sworn in by attorney Ricky McDavid at a Jan. 6 ceremony during the first board meeting of the year. Five new members — Gwen Fuselier, Donna Grice, Marty Hughes, Heidi Vessel and Ann Watkins — took the oath for the first time. Former board member Beth Kimmel and returning board members David Dayton, Hubie Owen and Gaynell Young welcomed their new colleagues and began the meeting. Owen was named board president, and Kimmel was nominated to serve as vice president. The board positions are oneyear appointments. During the work session held prior to the meeting, several Zachary residents attended with hopes of voicing their concerns about the 1-cent sales tax the school district is asking the community to consider in
included on board committees. “I’ve run several cancer centers, and I know about making cuts,” Soileau said. “It’s a part of what businesses do every day.” After listing several of her qualifications, Soileau said she would like to be part of the School Board’s financial committee. Superintendent Scott Devillier said he was aware of some residents weighing in on social media, but for as many people who commented online, he’s had the same number of people call him to announce their supAdvocate staff photo by STACY GILL port for the measure. Six new Zachary School Board members joined three veteran members Jan. 6 in presiding over “We’ve had seven town hall their first meeting of 2015. Seated, from left, are Hubie Owen, District 5; Superintendent Scott meetings, many of which were Devillier; Beth Kimmel, District 7; and Ann Watkins, District 8; and standing, Marty Hughes, unattended, and held many, District 3; Gwen Fuselier, District 2; Heidi Vessel, District 6; Gaynell Young, District 1; Donna many discussions. We’ve cut, and we’ve cut, and we’ve cut, Grice, District 4; and David Dayton, District 9. and now we’re here,” Devillier adopt a resolution supporting eral residents have discussed said. “I just want the public to March. the topic at length on a social know the facts. It’s my job, this The 1-cent proposition was an the sales tax proposition. board’s job to inform the comBoard members voted unani- media website. agenda item at the Dec. 3 meetZachary resident Jessica Soi- munity and to arm everyone ing, when a roll call vote on mously on all three motions. No one from the community leau, who has children in Zach- with the correct information, three actions was taken: a motion to put the sales tax on the attended that meeting to speak ary schools, attended the Jan. 6 and in turn, the community will ballot; a motion on the amount in opposition of the measure; work session and said she feels of the sales tax; and a motion to however, in recent weeks, sev- community members should be äSee MEMBERS, page 3G
HIGH SCHOOL
Musical
Students set to put on ‘Hairspray’
BY STACY GILL
sgill@theadvocate.com
äSee AROUND, page 3G
INSIDE Schools . . . . . . . . Sports. . . . . . . . . .
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Advocate staff photos by STACY GILL
Gifted and talented theater and choir students at Zachary High School are in rehearsals for the upcoming musical production of ‘Hairspray.’ Cece Kelly, left, as Edna Turnblad, and Alana Scott as Motormouth Maybelle peform a scene Jan. 6 in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the Zachary High campus.
Trish Dry is thrilled to be guest directing the upcoming Zachary High School production of “Hairspray.” Students enrolled in Dry’s gifted and talented theater class and those in play production I and II, theater I and choir are all part of the classic John Waters-directed movie of the same name that deals with segregation in the 1960s through song and dance. “I was surprised they asked me but no less thrilled and honored,” Dry said. “The kids chose this musical last year, and it was cast before the summer break. We began rehearsing in September. The cast and crew have embraced this show head on, and they are truly amazing.” “Hairspray” is set in 1962 Baltimore and tells the story of a lovable teen outcast Tracy Turnblad, who has one desire: to dance on a popular television show. The plus-size teen receives her wish and is transformed from social misfit to overnight celebrity. She uses her newfound power to dethrone the reigning teen queen, Amber Von Tussle; win the affections of her crush, Link Larkin; and help integrate the television
Senior Tony Collins practices a dance move between scenes on the set of ‘Hairspray,’ the Zachary High production of the Tony awardwinning musical and cult movie by the same name. Collins doubles as the show’s choreographer and cast member as Seaweed. show — all without denting her “do.” “This show addresses social issues of the ’60s in an authentic way,” Dry said. “And these students have done an amazing job in bringing this (issue) in a real way. They are passionate about the unfairness of segregation and have tackled the subject matter with perfect aplomb through song and dance.” äSee MUSICAL, page 2G
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