Central City News

Over the past several months, Central Mayor Jr. Shelton and the Central City Council have embarked on a program to improve drainage in the City of Central. The program includes multiple projects, several different contracts, and eventually a Master Drainage Plan. City services contractor IBTS has walked 24 miles of canals and ditches, maintained roadside […]

In an interview with the Central City News, Central Mayor Jr. Shelton outlined the city’s efforts to improve drainage and prevent flooding.  Shelton emphasized that because Central is a low lying area, it is vulnerable to heavy rain storms and flooding of the Amite and Comite rivers.  Because of the complexity of the problem, there […]

Last week, when it unexpectedly became controversial to sing the National Anthem at a Central High School pep rally, CHS students demonstrated where they stand — squarely in the corner of the red, white and blue! At the national level, some NFL players were taking a knee when the National Anthem was played. But there […]

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.” […]