A four-vehicle accident happened on Sullivan Road Tuesday.  Several people were treated for injuries, and rush hour traffic was held up for over two hours.  This accident serves as a reminder to be cautious when driving on Sullivan Road between Wax and Hooper.  Photo by Dave Freneaux.

While planners and construction crews will be taking every precaution to protect the beautiful live oak trees scattered around the future sight of the new Central schools, a windy storm earlier this week had other plans.  This oak tree, located on the Jackson property where the new schools will soon be built, could not stand against the heavy winds and seems to have given out under its own weight during the recent storm.

Dear Central Residents,
 
What an Exciting Ride!!
The last 5 years I really enjoyed working diligently for the City of Central as your Councilwoman. During these years we, the residents of Central and the elected and appointed officials have established a solid foundation for the Great City of Central.  I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished such as our balanced budget and the surplus, infrastructure, Master Plan and ordinances.  Yes, some items need tweaking, and that will come with time.

I have spent many hours studying ordinances, reviewing resolutions and discussing items with citizens as we worked on issues.
Over the years, I have made new friends and associated myself with several committees and organizations as we all worked to develop Central.

I’d like to congratulate the next administration and wish them the best in their endeavors.  If I can be of service to them, my door is always open.

As I leave the office of Council Person, I pledge to you that my service to Central is not over.  I intend to stay involved.  It’s not good-bye, it’s so long until we meet again.

Thanks again for 5 great years.

Joan Lansing

Saturday evening, three area teens were involved in a car accident.  Steven Whiddon, who suffered fatal injuries, was a 2009 graduate of Central Private School after attending the school for all l3 years of his education.  Mary (Izzy) Danehower, a 2009 Central High School graduate, received serious injuries.  The press release from the Louisiana State Police follows.

Assumption- On Saturday, June 26, 2010, at approximately 11:55 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop C investigated a single vehicle crash on LA 1016-2 in Assumption Parish that claimed the life of a teen from Baton Rouge, LA.

Taylor C. Hancock, (W/M, 19 of Baton Rouge, LA), was operating a 2008 GMC pickup northbound on LA 1016-2 in Belle River, LA. Hancock’s vehicle, for unknown reasons, ran off the northbound lane into a ditch striking the culvert at Cypress Street. The vehicle exited the ditch airborne striking a tree and came to rest off of the northbound shoulder.

Hancock received no injuries. Mary E. Danehower, (W/F, 19 of Gonzales, LA.), who was the right front passenger, received serious injuries and was transported to Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge, LA. Steven D. Whiddon, (W/M, 19 of Baton Rouge, LA.), left rear passenger, was ejected and received fatal injuries. Whiddon was pronounced dead at the scene by the Assumption Parish Coroner and was transported to the morgue.

All three occupants were not properly restrained. Louisiana law requires everyone in the vehicle to be properly restrained and not to drive impaired.

Impairment, speed, and not being properly restrained are factors in the crash. A breath test was given to Taylor C. Hancock which resulted in a blood alcohol concentration in excess of the legal limit. Charges in the crash are as follows: Improper Lane Usage, Vehicular Homicide, Vehicular Negligent Injury, No Seat Belt, Open Container in a Vehicle, and Possession of a Fraudulent Driver License. Taylor C. Hancock was booked at the Assumption Parish Jail. Troopers are still continuing their investigation.

A resident of Comite Hills West lost her Husky dog about ten days ago.  It is her family pet and she would like some help in finding it.  If anyone has seen the puppy or picked it up, please call 445-6725.

Submitted by the Central Private School community

Central Private School , Class of 2010 has gathered together to help support  two of our school families whose children were  involved in a very serious car accident.  Tickets are on sale for $ 6.00 per plate, and are located at Central Private School, Salon Fx, Ditzy Diasy, and memebers of the CPS class of 2010. The jambalaya benefit is Saturday July 17th in the parking lot of First Baptist of Central on Sullivan Road.  Hailey, Loyd, and Adam are always in our prayers. We hope that they continue to strenghten more and more everyday.

Submitted by David Barrow

A 14-year-old Baton Rouge girl who went missing Tuesday night from a church camp was found alive in a creek early Wednesday morning.

This newspaper, CentralSpeaks.com, will be direct mailed to 8,000 homes in the City of Central each week beginning next Wednesday, June 30th.  While the paper will still be available at many retail locations throughout Central each Wednesday, the U.S. Post Office will be delivering the paper to almost every home in the 70818 and 70739 zip codes.  The paper will probaly arrive in homes on Thursday.  We hope to add the Central homes with Zachary, Pride and Baker zip codes in the very near future.  This effort to bring Central's news to as many in Central as possible is funded entirely by our advertisers, so show your support by favoring them with your business.

By Mia Freneaux

The Central Sheriff’s Substation, located on Gurney Road, has spent the last 32 years guarding the safety of the citizens in its jurisdiction.  It is continually manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  The front office is always open for walk-ins.  Under the command of Captain Don Strickland, 7 deputies work a shift, one handling calls, the other six patrolling the streets in their sectors.   Last year, deputies at Central Substation handled a staggering 23,413 calls, and this year is on pace to equal or exceed that.  However, only 8,016 of those calls were in the City of Central.  The substation does not merely cover the needs of the City of Central.  Its jurisdiction extends from Florida Boulevard in the south to the Amite River in the east to Plank Road in the west to the St Helena/East Feliciana parish lines in the north.  This is the largest geographical area covered by any substation in East Baton Rouge Parish – over 110 square miles from Glen Oaks to Central to Pride to Chaneyville to Baywood.  When more manpower is required, Central and the Scotlandville Substation support each other in each of their jurisdictions.    Citizens in this jurisdiction also benefit from the resources available to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.  Our substation has access to the skills and equipment of the Detective Division, Warrant Division, Armed Robbery and Burglary Division, and the K-9 Division, to name a few.  For example, in the rash of recent burglaries in Central, our substation called in the assistance of the Armed Robbery and Burglary and Detective Divisions to help apprehend the perpetrators.  The K-9 Division helped locate the individual fleeing after the armed robbery at the Central Donut Shop.  A unique division is the SCAT  (Special Community Anti-Crime Team)– developed by Lt. Col. Ralph Williams to be a liaison between the Sheriff and the community and a method to help prevent crime. 

In addition to patrolling and answering call outs, our substation is continually involved in community support.  A deputy is assigned solely to visit every Central Community School every day school is in session, networking with principals and Superintendent Faulk and mentoring students.  The  D.A.R.E.  program  offered in elementary school to educate students in drug use prevention is supported by our substation.  Captain Strickland regularly attends Civic Association meetings, informing residents of crime prevention techniques and hearing their concerns.  He and his deputies help subdivisions set up Neighborhood Watch Programs, something Capt. Strickland calls “the most important piece of equipment we have to work with.”  They work with Mayor Watts, the City Council, and Police Chief Browning to supply the needs of the people of Central.  They work with the Constable’s Office, the ATF and other agencies in Warrant Round Ups, where they make a concentrated effort to located wanted persons, but also take the opportunity to walk and talk with residents.  The last Round Up involved up to 90 law enforcement personnel.  Last year, deputies from our substation worked with residents in Central Woods, with the result being a drop in the number of calls from this area.  Capt. Strickland was very appreciative of the efforts of the Central Area Pastor’s Association (CAPA) for their assistance in erecting a basketball goal in the park and supplying basketballs and other sports equipment.  He also attends the Mayor’s Monthly Prayer Breakfast, another networking opportunity.  As part of Sheriff Sid Gautreaux’s  goal for each substation to become a part of the community and interact with its residents, on August 21st the substation will be sponsoring Family Day in Central – where families can get together to eat, play games and have fun.  Everyone is invited.   It will be held at Zoar Baptist Church.  Capt. Strickland wanted to express thanks to Pastor Kevin Hand for his assistance in this event.  Last year the substation sponsored a similar event in Glen Oaks, which was a great success.

So what does it take to become a deputy sheriff?  First, one must be accepted into the highly acclaimed Capital Area Regional Training Academy – “CARTA.”  CARTA is recognized all over Louisiana for its top quality training – even individuals from other agencies are sent to get intense instruction in all aspects of law enforcement.  CARTA has high standards for physical fitness and mastery of subject matter, beyond even the state requirements, and requires the strictest self discipline from its cadets.  Cadets must pass written and practical exams in subjects as diverse as First Aid and CPR to Firearms Qualification (gaining a POST certificate – Peace Officer Standards Training) to Defense Tactics.  Cadets must pass regular fitness tests in running, sit ups, pushups, aerobics, circuit training and flexibility.  After 3 months at CARTA, newly graduated cadets then must become Road Qualified- 3 more months of riding with a training officer until they are evaluated.  If satisfactory, a rookie can then answer calls under the supervision of a lieutenant and a sergeant.  After satisfying all of these requirements, rookies are considered “Road Qualified” and can drive a uniform patrol car and answer calls. One can appreciate, however, that even with all of this training, deputies regularly must face dangerous situations as they respond to calls ranging from domestic disputes to armed robbery.  It is not due to the lack of danger that there have been so few officers injured in the parish, but  instead a testimony to the quality of our officers and  their training.  

The Sheriff’s Office is opening two new substations – one north of Central Substation on Jackson Road, and one north of Scotlandville substation on Hwy 964.  Both of these substations will be manned 24/7, and will provide more presence in these northernmost areas of the parish.  They will be assisting both the Central and Scotlandville substations. 

Capt. Strickland emphasized several times that crime prevention is a team effort.  Citizens who see anything suspicious and call it in to the sheriff are the greatest deterrent.  He said, “If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.”  Calling to report suspicious activity not only helps the substation, but helps your neighbor.  Calls of course can remain anonymous. 

Capt. Strickland shared that in all his years of service, the job is “never boring, never the same.”  Each situation is different in some aspect.  He acknowledges there is some degree of danger, but said that the citizens they protect expect them to do the job they volunteered for, trained for and are paid to do.  The mission statement of the EBRP Sheriff’s Office is “to provide quality professional public service to all inhabitants of East Baton Rouge Parish without prejudice and with courtesy, dignity and fairness to all.”  Capt. Strickland said he and his deputies were “going to do the best we can in every way possible to ensure that the people of Central and East Baton Rouge Parish are served to the best of our ability.”  Central is fortunate to have such dedicated individuals watching over us.