Central City News

CENTRAL — Building the Baton Rouge Loop across Central is about as popular in this community as turning Central Middle School into a land-based casino. Only one person in Central has been willing to say he’s for the Loop — Wade Giles, the chairman of the private Central Economic Development Foundation. On the other hand, […]

CENTRAL — Christianity is under attack in our society.  So it’s only natural that the biggest Christian holiday — Christmas — would also be under attack. I think I’m correct in saying that nowhere in the Bible are Christians directed to celebrate Jesus’ birth, nor is it even suggested. So why do we do it?  […]

Loop Gets Icey Reception from Central’s Voters CENTRAL — As the Baton Rouge Loop prepares its application for Federal Highway Administration approval, residents of Central are expressing their disapproval of the project in large numbers. More than 1,000 Central residents have already submitted comments, overwhelmingly against the Loop.  Loop promoters are hoping FHWA approval will open the […]

Central City News to Go Twice Monthly in January, Weekly in August; Will Have Lots of Special Editions by Woody Jenkins CENTRAL — In January 2011, the Central City News launched a one-year experiment on changing our publication schedule.  After being published weekly for many years, we decided to try something different.  From January to […]

With the Loop, The Central We Know and Love Will Become Just a Memory by Woody Jenkins CENTRAL — The next three weeks could be your last opportunity to express your views on the Baton Rouge Loop in any meaningful way that could make a difference.  Most people in Central think the Loop is dead.  How wrong they are!  […]

Deadly Combo: Narrow Roads, No Shoulders, Steep Dropoffs, Deep Ditches by Woody Jenkins CENTRAL — The people of Central have been saddened by the death in the past few days of two beautiful young people who had their entire lives ahead of them.  The senseless loss of Tyler Kyzar on Denham Road and Emily Simmers on Wax Road leave […]

How Long Will We Ignore Our Deadly Roads In Central City? by Lewis and Joyceline Claverie CENTRAL — Central’s roads with their curves and open, tree-lined ditches offer death, injury, and destruction to our community. Just recently our daughter and grandson were driving south on Greenwell Springs Road.  When they were approximately 1,000 feet from Wax Road, a […]

My Friend Stopped Practicing Law at Age 65; “The Real Lawyers Practice ’til They Die,” He Said. by Woody Jenkins CENTRAL — Ben Louis Day has been a prominent attorney in Baton Rouge for 40 years, but he recently turned 65 and promptly retired. I saw Ben Louis eating a hamburger at Dearman’s Tuesday, and he said he is […]

How Conservatives, Scotlandville Blacks Fought a Powerful Mayor-President to Give Central Right To Become a City by Woody Jenkins CENTRAL — This week’s game between Central and Scotlandville got me to reminiscing about the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1973 and the unexpected role it played in the future of Central.  You may be surprised to learn that some key black […]

CENTRAL — Building a new bridge across the Amite River at Hooper Road is clearly one of the most important single things that could happen to this community for two reasons: • This new bridge could carry 26,000 cars a day and significantly reduce the traffic which has become a serious problem for Central. • […]