Central City News

A new martial arts school has started at the Blackwater Community Center. Instructors Mark and Wendy Jones have a combined 80 years of training in various martial arts such as traditional Shaolin Kung Fu, Southern Hung Gar Kung Fu, Wing Chun and Qi Gong. They also studied Karate, Judo, traditional Japanese Jujitsu and self-defense. Mark […]

During Inauguration ceremonies for Coach Sid Edwards as the new Mayor-President, former Rep. Woody Jenkins was asked to introduce Coach Sid.  He did so in an unusual way.  He called upon men who Sid had coached or trained to be coaches and let them tell his story. WOODY JENKINS: A few months ago, Coach Sid […]

By 3:30 p.m. Saturday, every living soul in Central will be at the Superdome in New Orleans for the State Championship game between the Central Wildcats and the Ruston Bearcats. “Will the last person who leaves town please turn out the lights?” Central’s Annual Christmas Parade has been moved up to 9 a.m. in order […]

Saturday’s State Championship game will be the culmination of an emotional ride for the Central High Wildcats. The season began with disaster when three of the team’s star senior players were involved in a near fatal accident.  Kylen Thomas and Jackson Firmin returned to school and the playing field relatively soon but the future of […]

The Central High Wildcats are off to a strong start for the 2024 football season. As of Oct. 2, the team is 4-0 for the season and has a power ranking of 42.7, which makes it No. 1 in the Baton Rouge metro and No. 3 statewide among Class I Non-Select Schools. Coach David Simoneaux, […]

Fall is in the air, and everyone is back to school in Central.  Enrollment in the Central Community School System has hit 4,560 so far, and Central High School has 1,546 students for the fall semester. Football began with the jamboree last Friday night with Central High at East Ascension. Things actually seem quite normal, […]

 Central High School quarterback Jackson Firmin is back for his senior year to lead the Wildcats. After a stellar season last year, expectations are high for Firmin this year. The 6’3” 210-pounder completed 134 of 215 passes in 2023 for 2,008 yards and 30 touchdowns.  He also rushed for 450 yards and six touchdowns. It […]

Central High head football coach David Simoneaux makes his goal for 2024 very clear — a run in the state playoffs and a championship game in the Dome. Simoneaux has been there before, both as a player and a coach. Now he has a host of experienced starters who have the skills to make it […]

Central Private head football coach Cole Holden is beginning his second season with the Redhawks, and he believes CP is ready to carry things to the next level. Holden previously served as head coach at Ben’s Ford and Tunica Academy.  He also coached at Oak Forest Academy. Central Private ended the 2023 season strong with […]

Why are grown men drawn to coaching football?  Afterall, it’s just a kids’ game. With 44 years in coaching, Istrouma High head football coach Sid Edwards answered that question for the Central City News. “Football is  a way to change the world — one child at a time!” Coach Sid said. “It keeps you young.  […]