Central City News

By Woody Jenkins Louisiana has lost a great attorney and an even better man.  Alex St. Amant passed away in his sleep with his wife Floris at his side in the early morning hours of Saturday May 20, 2023. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Alex since 1963 when he and I debated the governor’s […]

NBC News reports “Researchers found that children born outside marriage face elevated risks of falling into poverty, failing in school or suffering emotional and behavioral problems.”   The National Fatherhood Initiative reports “Children who live without a father are two to three times more likely to be poor, use drugs, experience education, health, emotional and […]

By Woody Jenkins  I grew up right off Winbourne Avenue near Istrouma High School and have lived my entire adult life in North Baton Rouge.   For 28 years, I had the privilege of representing the people of North Baton Rouge, including all of 70805, in the Louisiana House of Representatives.  Over the years, I’ve […]

A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Anna Mae Dipuma Welborn, passed away at age 90 on May 5, 2023, surrounded by loved ones at her home in Central.  She joined her husband, Capt. John C. Welborn, Sr., who passed away June 17, 2022, and her sons Billy Welborn who passed away March 13, 2021, and […]

By Woody Jenkins  Dr. Clyde Lindsey, 99, passed away Tuesday, May 23, after a long illness.  The most outstanding high school athlete in the State of Texas in the early 1940’s and one of the foremost LSU athletes in the school’s history, he bypassed a career in professional sports in January 1947 to go directly […]

Pastor Donald “Donnie” Otto Shaffer Jr., age 66, of Central went home to be with Jesus Christ on April 25, 2023, en route to minister in Tokyo, Japan.  Donnie was born on Dec. 18, 1956, to Donald Otto Shaffer Sr. and Marion “Faye” Annison Shaffer in Baton Rouge. He spent his childhood moving from one […]

In the spring of 1970, Robert Williams was teaching American history at all-black Chaneyville High School when his supervisor, Dr. Helen Brown, told him, Congratulations, you’re going to Central High School! He was to be the first “crossover”  black coach assigned to all-white Central High School. Williams was so upset that he and his wife […]

Central High School senior, Luke Miller came home with the Division I 1st Place Gold Medal in the 275 lb. weight class at the 2023 LHSAA State Powerlifting Meet. Miller broke the record for  total weight lifted at 1,785 lbs. He also broke the bench press record at 500 lbs. Luke pulled 635 lbs. on […]

In a recent Facebook post, Harlan Jerro, a 2019 graduate of Central High School, shared his thoughts as his approaching graduation from the United States Air Force Academy. He said, “Gratitude. This is the first word that comes to mind, when thinking of my Academy experience. There were countless times where I was tested physically, […]

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 […]