Central City News

New Central Police Chief James Salsbury believes he can do something that has never been done anywhere — create a working police department, using volunteer officers, much like a volunteer fire department operates. Since the City of Central was incorporated in 2005, the Central Police Department has operated with an elected Chief of Police, as [...]

On July 1, new city officials were sworn in for the City of Central in ceremonies at the Central High auditorium. Taking office were: Mayor Jr. Shelton Chief of Police James Salsbury City Council Members Jason Ellis, Shane Evans, Dr. Kim Fralick, Wayne Messina, and John Vance. All are newcomers to public office except Messina, [...]

The improvements to Sullivan Road now underway should be a benefit to businesses along the key artery in Central.  But until construction is complete, many businesses are finding their sales are down. Lance Butler of Sullivan Hardware said, “It’s not our best time of the year to begin with but the construction is definitely hurting [...]

The Louisiana Legislature did a good job of protecting the interests of the family during the recently-completed legislative session, according to Rick Edmonds, vice president of Louisiana Family Forum. Edmonds told the Chamber of Commerce of East Baton Rouge that where the legislature failed to do its job, Gov. Bobby Jindal used his veto power [...]

Rev. Susie H. Thomas of Baton Rouge is the newly-appointed pastor at Magnolia United Methodist Church, Central, and Deerford United Methodist Church, Zachary. Rev. Thomas, 52, served most recently as associate pastor at First United Methodist in Baton Rouge. During her five years at First UMC, Rev. Thomas directed the church’s outreach ministries, as well as [...]

Carl (Corky) and Jean Nayden of Central, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by spending a week at Pensacola Beach with their entire family. The couple’s children and their spouses are Misty and Paul Nosal of Hartselle, Alabama; Tawny and Ryan Williams of Orlando, Florida; Brittany and Jeremy DeVille of Covington; and Honey and Daniel Loup [...]

The Central City News has commissioned a series of aerial photographs by local photographer Charles Breard. The photos tell a story that cannot possibly be told from the ground. It is the story of a community that is still very much rural. Fly over most other parts of East Baton Rouge Parish and you will [...]

Across the United States and Europe, taxi drivers have gone to great lengths to prevent free market alternatives such as Uber, LYFT, Sidecar, and Rideshare from coming to their communities.  In some places, it has been a virtual war, with taxi unions blocking streets and shutting down commerce. Last week, the revolution that is free [...]

The leaders of the movement to create the new City of St. George have an important decision to make: Whether to place the referendum on the ballot this November or December or perhaps wait until next April. We urge them to wait until the spring. The November ballot will be one of the most crowded [...]

Supporters of David Vitter must surely tire as they read and watch the constant barrage of negative attacks in the media against the popular two-term senator. Most of the attacks come from frustrated liberal reporters who can’t seem to accept the fact that the senator was not only re-elected by a wide margin but is [...]