Zachary once again is stepping up as a leading municipality and has announced the community's first-ever city worker fitness campaign.
With an approval from Mayor Henry Martinez, field employees from the Dept. of Public Works and Utilities and Planning & Zoning have joined together to form Working Man's Walk.
"About a year ago, talks began with the Mayor, Gwen Norwood from Spectrum, myself and the Zachary Fire and Police Departments to begin a city-wide fitness initiative," said DPW & U Director Chris Davezac. "It's taken a year to get this going but ultimately it ended up being the workers from our department and P & Z who got together and began walking April 1."

Every Tuesday and Thursday for one half hour, from 2:45 - 3:15 p.m., they meet at Zachary Youth Park and walk the track. Norwood donates her time as the group's Fitness Coordinator.
"Revenues have been down," Davezac said, "and as a department, we looked at ways we could save money. By staying physically fit, there are less sick days taken by the employees."
It is mandatory that all Working Man Walkers wear their pagers or carry their cell phones and Nextels. If a call pertaining to work comes in, they instantly are aware of it, Davezac says, and they respond immediately.
"It's a morale booster. The guys talk to each other, meditate and work off any stress," said James Haney, 47, who was also instrumental in getting the group walk started.
Haney helps record the mileage of each walker, and at the end of the month, the five guys with the most mileage receive a paid half-day off from work.

"I'm going turkey hunting soon and wanted to get in shape," said Wayne Allison of the DPW & U.
"I'm definitely sweating more and getting in shape," said Hugh Engels, of P & Z.
"I'm doing this for health reasons," said Tim Criss, 36.
"It's a good thing- we're doing it to better ourselves. It relaxes your mind at the end of the work day," added Jamy Napier, 22.
Twenty-one employees have signed up to be a part of Working Man's Walk and on a regular basis an average of 15 people meet to walk every week.
"Other departments in the city have expressed interest and they are definitely welcome," Davezac said. "The more the merrier."

Working Man's Walk includes: Jamy Napier, Tim Criss, Caleb Kennedy, Josh Kennedy, Theotis Richardson, Wayne Allison, James Haney, Earnest Banks, Detric Brown, Shannon Sutton, Demetric McNabb, Hugh Engels, Chris Davezac, Lilton Anthony, Jr., Chris Gibbs, Clarence Williams, Allen Dale Robinson, Michael Brown and Spectrum's Gwendolyn Norwood.

Zachary City employees currently participating in Working Man's Walk, along with Spectrum's Gwendolyn Norwood, are: Jamy Napier, Tim Criss, Caleb Kennedy, Josh Kennedy, Theotis Richardson, Wayne Allison, James Haney, Earnest Banks, Detric Brown, Shannon Sutton, Demetric McNabb, Hugh Engels, Chris Davezac, Lilton Anthony, Jr., Chris Gibbs, Clarence Williams, Allen Dale Robinson and Michael Brown.
 

Last Tuesday, May 4, city workers and Fitness Coordinator Gwendolyn Norwood of Spectrum Fitness in Zachary, walked along the track out at Zachary Youth Park as part of their fitness initiative, Working Man's Walk, which began April 1.