Five years ago

•Concerned Zachary residents launched a grassroots campaign to restore the Zachary Public Cemetery. Local clubs, organizations and individuals donated the $30,000 in funding for the cemetery's renovations.

•Zachary resident Jamie Roddy celebrated her title as the 2005 National American Miss Louisiana Junior Teen Queen. The 15-year-old also won the pageant's Cover Girl title and received three crowns, three banners, 12 trophies and numerous different prizes.

•Georgia Pacific announced plans to invest $160 million into its Port Hudson facility in order to reduce energy costs and preserve jobs. Estimates showed that the installation of a new boiler and steam turbine generator would save enough electric energy to power 40,000 homes.

•Zachary High junior Hunter Beall placed first in his 198 lb. weight class at the Amateur Athletic Union's Jr. Olympics. Beall squatted 523.6 lbs, bench-pressed 308.6 lbs and dead lifted 518.1 lbs.

•Zachary First Baptist Church teamed up with nonprofit organization United in Memory Inc. to display the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt. Three thousand volunteers from 18 countries made the 16,000 square foot quilt.

Ten years ago

•Twenty-three teenagers were recognized for their participation in the Youth Volunteer Program at Lane Memorial Hospital. Volunteers were paired with an adopted grandparent from the hospital's nursing home and spent time sharing stories, painting fingernails and playing bingo.

•Several city officials and board members from the Zachary Chamber of Commerce took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony for Kleinpeter Physical Therapy.

•Zachary locals gathered at the Police Complex Training Room to hear Mayor John Womack and city attorney Ty Barnes discuss the formation of an independent school district for the Zachary area. The U.S. Department of Justice refused to review the proposed school board district until it determined whether it would affect minority voting rights.

• Tom McVea, R-St. Francisville, announced his candidacy for State Representative. Former representative John Travis resigned from the position after being appointed Commissioner of Financial Institutions for Louisiana.

• The Zachary Youth Baseball Organization hosted the 2000 Babe Ruth Cal Ripken Southwest Regional Tournament. Spirits remained high throughout the day despite the Zachary team’s early elimination. Out of 15 competing teams, the New Orleans Lakeshore team took home the championship title.

Fifteen years ago

• Louisiana’s chapter of the nonprofit organization VSA honored Zachary native Cecil Robertson at the 19th annual VSA Festival. Gov. Edwin Edwards congratulated Robertson for his service to the festival which celebrated creation and learning in all disciplines of the arts.

• Northwestern Middle School received three grants in order to boost student education using computers. The grants totaled $74,000 and were awarded to five of the school’s teachers. The largest grant was a $72,000 award given to geography teacher Dora Cooper.

• Zachary area emu farmers attended the American Emu Association Convention in Las Vegas. Glenn Cupit, owner of Beaver Creek Emu Farm in Zachary, was elected to serve as an officer for the AEA.

• Twelve Zachary High students were named Chamberettes for Zachary Chamber of Commerce. Chamberettes were selected on the basis of academic standing and community involvement to assist in Chamber activities throughout the school year.

• Zachary’s 14-15 year old All Star Team won its district tournament. The opening game against Zachary and Northwest was close. With a tied game in the bottom of the seventh, Michael Arnold hit the winning ball. Chris Dallas was named tournament MVP.