Slidell and Zanesville Remain Close

Residents in a city hundreds of miles away are celebrating Mardi Gras in honor of Zanesville Friday.

Mayor Ben Morris of Zanesville’s sister-city Slidell, Louisiana, proclaimed Friday Zanesville Mardi Gras Day and Tod and Melanie Klotzbach presented Mayor Howard Zwelling with a proclamation in Zanesville’s honor. After hurricane Katrina devastated the town in 2005, many Zanesville residents including Mayor Zwelling, went to the town to help residents clean up and rebuild.

"People of Zanesville went down and helped to get these people back on their feet. Removed trees, helped remove dirt and mud helped people relocate to areas that were liveable.  I know Mayor Zwelling has mentioned many stories of his personal efforts along with some of the people that went down there to personally try to help these people get back on their feet," says Tod Klotzbach.

Mayor Zwelling says in the time he has spent in Slidell, he has found the people are kind and have not forgotten the help they received from Zanesville citizens.

"Mayor Morris is extremely impressed and very appreciative with both the relationship he has with our mayor here in Zanesville and what the people of Zanesville did," says Klotzbach.

Mayor Zwelling says there is a big difference between sending money to an area and actually putting your boots on and reaching out your hand to help.

 Katie Jeffries

KJeffries@whizmediagroup.com

Katie Jeffries

KJeffries@whizmediagroup.com