COOKING IN CENTRAL “AMAZING PLACE” CENTRAL SPEAKS DEDICATION MONDAY Good News for a Great City • Daily News at CentralSpeaks.com •September 22, 2011 Republicans Face Off 16 Candidates Speak at Republican Women of Central Forum Senate District 6 House District 64 Mike Mannino State Representative Bodi White Barry Elkins Valarie Hodges Central Republican Women’s Club Hosts Candidate Forum By Dave Freneaux summary of their statements. Also Monday evening all area Repub- speaking were Lt. Governor chal- lican candidates seeking election on lenger Billy Nungesser, Secretary of October 22nd were invited to speak at State Tom Schedler, Attorney General a forum held at Pit Crew Steak House Buddy Caldwell, State Representa- & BBQ here in Central. After a meal tive Clif Richardson, State Repre- and informal conversation each can- sentative Dist. 63 candidate Barbara didate was given four minutes to Thomas, BESE Board incumbent share their qualifi cations, their plat- Chas Roemer, EBRP Sheriff Sid Gau- form and their vision for the offi ce treaux, EBRP Coroner incumbent Dr. they seek. In races most closely af- Shannon Cooper and challenger Dr. Senate District 13 fecting Central, six candidates (above Beau Clark and Zachary Police Chief Challenger Derek Babcock Incumbent Senator Dale Erdey and left) all spoke. See page 4 for a Candidate candidate David McDavid. Central Now - Central’s Most Affordable & Portable Advertising At $20 a month, why not adver- tain all of the useful calendars, news, tise? Take advantage of cutting edge events and videos about Central that technology and have your business make the App THE most accessible listed in Central Now, Central’s source of Central information and new iPhone and Android App. Give news anywhere. thousands of Central residents your An App subscription is only $25 per complete business listing, available month charged to any major credit at their fi ngertips. Download the card, or prepay a year for a 20% sav- free App, “Central Now”, and follow ings at $240, which comes to $20 a the Yellow Pages icon to see busi- month. For most businesses, gaining ness listings near you or listed by even one customer will profi t you category. Effective October 1, only more than $20 a month, and this App businesses subscribing to the App is already in several thousand iPhone INDEX will be listed. and Android cell phones in Central, 16 PAGES Call 262-3730 and a representa- and gaining more downloads daily. CALENDAR 2 SPORTS 12 tive for Central Now will get your According to Ericcson Consumer CITY 3 FUN 14 information and create your listing. Labs, 35% of iPhone users open up BUSINESS 6 PUZZLES 15 Your listing can include links to your an App on their phone even before COMMUNITY 8 ANNOUNCEMENTS 16 phone number, web page, and email they get out of bed, and smart phones address as well as a description of will soon overtake computers as the *************ECRWSS**** your business, and business hours, number one way people access the and even a photo of your building, internet. Get in on the most afford- staff or products. Your App sub- able advertising in Central. Call Local scription helps Central Now to main- 262-3730 for Central Now. Postal Customer 2 EDITORIAL Thursday, September 22, 2011 • CentralSpeaks.com Print Edition THIS WEEK IN CENTRAL Central Speaks with the Mayor An Interview with Mayor Mac Watts by Dave Freneaux Next Tuesday’s City Council agenda includes consideration of an ordinance to change the way in which Council Members are elected. In your opinion, how important is this decision? This is one of the most important issues that our City Council has ever considered. The decision they come to will affect the way Central is governed and the cost of that government for genera- tions. We owe it to our grandchildren to come to a sound decision in this matter. Decisions like this are not easily reversed, so I am depending on this City Council to consider the impact it will have on Central not in 4 years , but in 40 years. Do you have any preference as to which election method is de- cided on or whether additional Council Seats are created? I am personally opposed to bigger government. All across our nation there are people regretting having let government grow un- controlled. People are working hard to fi nd ways to reduce govern- ment all the way to Washington, and it is diffi cult, if not impossible. Here in Central we started with small government, we privatized City Services, and have only two city employees. Central does not need to reduce the size and cost of government, because we already have small government. If the Council acts to increase the size and cost of Central’s government I will have a diffi cult time supporting that decision. As to how the City Council is elected, whether by Districts, Divisions or At-Large, I can support whatever the Coun- cil feels best serves the citizens of Central, as long as we protect the tax dollars the people have entrusted to us. Over the past few months it has become evident that the Council seems split over how this issue should be resolved. As our Mayor, what do you see as the best resolution to this matter? The Council is empowered by the Lawrason Act to make this decision. I am hopeful that the decision is based on good research and that it refl ects the will of the citizens. I would like for the Council to respond to any concerns raised by the people because I want them to know that they have been heard. Finally, I am person- ally committed to protecting the taxpayers’ dollars and to keeping Central’s government small, streamlined and effi cient. I can sup- port any decision the Council reaches which keeps government in check. However, if the City Council votes to increase the size and cost of government, that decision needs to be on a 4-1 or 5-0 vote. If it is, I will accept that the elected representatives of the citizens have spoken clearly and I will put aside my personal desire for small government and respect that decision. CONTACT Central SpeakS Email: [email protected] Published Weekly 51 weeks a year Phone: (225) 262-3730 Deadline 5 P.M. Tuesdays Fax: (888) 220-8396 Article submission is free of charge. P.O. Box 78137 12023 Sullivan Road City of Central, LA 70837 City of Central, LA 70818 Publisher: Beth Fussell Editor: Dave Freneaux Sales: Mia Freneaux [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CentralSpeaks.com Print Edition • Thursday, September 22, 2011 CITY 3 5 Ton Weight Limit Posted Chamber of Commerce Announces “A Night on Two Central Bridges on the Bayou” Featuring Troy Landry From the Chamber of Commerce newsletter The City of Central Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present "A Night on The Bayou" featuring Mr. Troy Landry, celebrity from the popular television series "Swamp People". The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 20th at 5:30 PM in the Central High School Gym. The evening events will include Cajun music, a meal prepared by local chef Spencer Smith from Kristenwood (beginning at 6 PM), and then Mr. Landry will address the crowd and afterwards be available to sign autographs. This spectacular event will take place on Thursday, October 20, 2011. Seating capacity will be limited so ticket sales will be advance sales only. General Admission is $35 per person and includes the meal. For tickets, event spon- sorships and special chamber discounts call the chamber offi ce, 261-5818. Magnolia Bridge Update Submitted by Rep. Richardson’s Offi ce Crews continue to set forms and install rein- forcing steel for the next deck pour. This should take place the week of 9/26. Also, crews con- tinue to set girders, forms, and cast caps to prepare for future pours. The contractor has completed driving all piles. They have cast 22 of the 28 caps. They just com- pleted the 2nd of 12 concrete pours for the bridge deck. For questions or com- ments, contact DOTD’s Customer Service Center at 1-877-4LA-DOTD (1- 877-452-3683) or e-mail [email protected]. The center is open 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., From the City of Central Monday through Friday. You can also visit the project’s Web page by going to The following bridges have recently been inspected by DOTD which www.dotd.gov and clicking on "Projects" from the Programs & Projects section noted critical defi ciencies. They are being posted with a 5-ton weight of the main menu on the left-hand side of the page and selecting the LA 64 Mag- limit. No vehicles over 5 tons are to travel over these bridges. The map nolia Bridge Replacement Project link. You can also follow the La. 64 Magnolia above shows the bridge locations. Bridge Replacement Project on Facebook. Again, we thank you for your feed- back and patience during this construction. Additionally, at your convenience, 800445: Hubbs Road over Beaver Bayou please let us know how we are doing by fi lling out our Customer Service Survey. 800444: Devall Road over Drainage Canal 4 CITY Thursday, September 22, 2011 • CentralSpeaks.com Print Edition Summary of Candidates’ Comments - Story on Page 1 Derek Babcock Dale Erdey Barry Elkins Valarie Hodges Derek Babcock has spent the last Dale Erdey is the incumbent in Sen- Barry Elkins graduated from LSU Valarie Hodges stated that she has eight years serving at the state and ate District 13. He attended LSU and and taught school for three years, then spent 28 years dedicating her life to local level.