Central City News

May 2005 was an important time in the history of Central. On April 19, the Central City News began publication, and two days later the voters of Central voted to incorporate Central as Louisiana’s newest city.  May 2005 was a time of great excitement but also apprehension about the future. All eyes in the capital […]

In May 2005, if you had to pick some folks who best represented the old timers who made Central what it was prior to incorporation, you could find no better choice than Johnny Carpenter and his wife Jean. For many years, their home was the site of Pickin’ and Grinnin’ — a unique monthly event […]

Bill Lewis, 94, grew up on Blackwater Road in Central in the 1930’s and 1940’s, and he wrote a delightful book about growing up here, called Simpler Times. Bill’s daughter Cathy Gable texted me a few days ago telling me that Bill was not doing so well but that he was wondering if I might […]

 In May 1913, Pearl Elizabeth Felps walked to the podium as the valedictorian of the first graduating of the new Central High School, located at the corner of Canal (now Hooper) and Sullivan roads. A copy of her speech was discovered in 2009 and given to the Central City News. It is a timeless message […]

James Linden Hogg has announced the upcoming release of A Day the War Stopped: The Story of a Civil War Truce.  It is a riveting new historical book by James Linden Hogg that delves into a remarkable yet lesser-known event in Louisiana’s past.  In June 1863, at the height of the American Civil War, Lt. […]

After a vigorous campaign by supporters and opponents, voters responded with a resounding 63- to-37 victory for incorporation. Central founder Russell Starns and a core group of 30 volunteers showed that with hard work, courage, resourcefulness, and determination, anything is possible. Twenty years later, Central resembles a “Shining City on a Hill”  envisioned in Matthew […]

By Woody Jenkins, Editor Central City News The Central City News has consistently been named Louisiana’s Newspaper of the Year by the Louisiana Press Association, and it has won more than 200 state and national awards from Best News Coverage to Best Investigative Journalism to Best Advertising Design to Best Photography to Best Editorial Writing and […]

Did you know the past 20 years of Central’s history since the Central City News’ first edition is all online and waiting for your visit? The Central City News’ archives — all 498 print editions — plus the St. George Leader, Istrouma Journal, and other publications are online and searchable absolutely free. To visit, go […]

The Wall That Heals, a 3/4 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, is coming to Louisiana from March 20 to 23 at Revolution Square, 9500 Blackwater Road in Central.  It will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public.    The Wall honors the three million Americans who […]

By Woody Jenkins, Editor Central City News On Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, the City of Central broke ground for a new City Hall. The facility is scheduled for completion in April 2026. At last, Central will have its own City Hall instead of relying on donated or leased space. Getting its own City Hall has […]