Central City News

Central High School principal David Prescott made a serious mistake last week in deciding to cancel the singing of the National Anthem at the school’s pep rally. Fortunately, the decision was quickly reversed, which was greatly welcomed by the people of Central. Central has to be one of the most patriotic cities in America, and […]

Sam Crifasi’s father Dominic immigrated to America from Italy and started a fruit stand to provide for his wife, five boys, and three girls. Sam worked in the family businesses. A practicing Catholic, Sam fell in love with a Southern girl named Mary Lou Jacocks, who was Protestant. She converted, they married and started having […]

The greatest generation still lives! Here in Baton Rouge, that generation is epitomized by the Crifasi family. Their mother and father immigrated from Italy in the early 1900’s. Of the five boys and three girls, six are still alive, including five who reside in the Baton Rouge. They range in age from 83 to 100. […]

Three Republican candidates are seeking a seat on the Public Service Commission from a district that includes parts of Baton Rouge and Lafayette — former Rep. Damon Baldone, orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Craig Greene, and former Rep. Lenar Whitney. All are running as conservative Republicans. No Democrats are in the race. The Republican Party of East […]

The Central Wildcats (1-1) will travel to Metairie Friday afternoon for a 7 p.m. game against the Jesuit Blue Jays, a quality foe who can always be counted on to provide stiff competition. Jesuit (0-2) is much better than its record would suggest, having lost to two top teams — Warren Easton and St. Paul’s […]

Robert Williams retired from the Central school system on June 30. More than 400 people gathered for a surprise party honoring Coach Williams and his remarkable, trail-blazing career in public education. As a young teacher, he was assigned to Cheneyville High School, an all-black school where he was quite comfortable. Then something unexpected happened. In […]

Central Mayor Jr. Shelton, just back from delivering aid to flood victims in Rockport, Texas, said the devastation he saw in Rockport was even greater than what Central experienced last summer. “I was with the Mayor of Rockport, and I can tell you that his community has basically disappeared. Virtually everything has to be rebuilt.” […]

Woody Jenkins has been in the TV business most of the past 50 years. He worked at WAFB-TV as a young newsman in the 1960’s and later started more than a dozen small TV stations across the South. He still has an interest in WSTY-TV, Hammond and Baton Rouge. But Jenkins, who edits the Capital […]

The Louisiana Public Service Commission regulates public utilities like Entergy and common carriers, but it has also been a stepping stone for ambitious officials hoping to establish a statewide base. Perhaps for that reason, local Republicans asked two Republican candidates for the PSC why they both supported the Democratic candidate, John Bel Edwards, for governor. […]

Dominique’s Stockyard has been a fixture at 1462 Airline Hwy. near the old Mississippi River Bridge for 72 years, since 1945. Every Monday, 500 or more head of cattle are auctioned to willing buyers with an eye for a good deal. For almost as long — since 1950 — the Stockyard Cafe has been serving […]