Central City News

We asked our readers who survived the flood of August 2016 and its aftermath to tell us what they learned from the experience. Here’s what they said: Rhonda Badeaux Conrad That I put too much value on “things” and not enough on family! Sherry Kelley-Mack Don’t trust your insurance policy, agent, or provider! Rae Lyons […]

My friend wanted a non-flooded comparison of Lawson’s touching front entrance photo. Doesn’t look too drastic until you look at the mailbox. Wow! This is about how it looked when we woke up. We were rescued by boat about three hours later. What a long wait! Cell phones not working, 911 not answering anymore, or […]

We asked our readers to tell us what they learned from the flood of August 2016 and past year of trying to recover from it. Their fascinating answers are found on Pages 4-7 and 10 of this newspaper. You probably won’t be able to put it down! But we also wanted to answer that question […]

The Central City News has recognized 21 individuals who helped shape Central as we know it today. Leading the list is J.A. Smith, Central High principal who established standards of discipline and excellence that prevail today, principal Glen Gentry, and principal Ronnie Devall, who together guided the school and the community for 64 years. Among […]

As part of the 1817-2017 Baton Rouge Bicentennial Celebration, the annual Commemoration of the Civil War Battle of Baton Rouge will be enriched with educational displays and special guests sharing Baton Rouge and Louisiana’s history, archaeology, cultural, and medical past. The free event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 5, at Magnolia Cemetery, 422 N. […]

Over the years I’ve written many stories. This one is the most difficult I’ve ever written. The past two years have changed my life forever. A life threatening illness and the devastating flood of August 2016. That flood forever changed the face of Central, Greenwell Springs and our surrounding areas. Lives were changed, never to […]

East Baton Rouge Parish is hurting right now. More than 50,000 people have lost their homes and are struggling to rebuild. Nowhere are the problems more severe than in North Baton Rouge in the area bounded on the south by Florida Boulevard, on the west by Scenic Highway, and on the north and east by […]

There are many remarkable moments in the history of Baton Rouge.  Here are a few of my favorites: The Red Stick or Istrouma •In 1699, French noblemen and explorers Iberville and Bienville sighted a large cypress tree stained with animal blood on the banks of the Mississippi.  It was called Istrouma and served as the […]

Before young Daniel Wesley risked his wife to try to save April Beck this past Sunday, four Central men had become well known in their community for remarkable acts of courage that lives. Here are their stories: HOMER WISE Homer Wise grew up off Joor Road in Central during the Depression.  His family was poor […]

When William Dearman opened Dearman’s Drug Store in 1960 in what was then the Twin Cedars Shopping Center, he specialized in the personal touch. For 40 years, customers, their children, and their grandchildren came to know Mr. Dearman and his staff for their service and friendly advice. In 1960, a lot of drugstores still had […]