Baton Rouge’s Community Newspaper Preserving CAPITALCAPITAL CITYCITY History at Istrouma High School Before It’s Too Late Page 10-11 ® NEWSNEWSJuly 2016 • Vol. 25, No. 7 • 16 Pages • Circulation 14,000 • 30,000 online • www.capifalcitynews.us • 225-261-5055 Plot to Kill Police Officers Foiled Street Justice Thousands Take to Streets to Demand Arrest of BR Police Woody Jenkins Editor BATON ROUGE — A 37-year- old Baton Rouge man, Al- ton Sterling, was shot to death early on the morning of Tuesday, July 5, by Ba- ton Rouge police officers responding to a “man with a gun” call from 911 on North Foster Drive at Fairfields. Two videos of the shoot- ing surfaced online almost CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE — Churches played an important role in immediately. They raised reminding protesters to maintain a loving spirit as they protested. doubts about whether the police officers were justified in the shooting. Defenders Investigation in Hands of of the police say other video exists that will exonerate the officers. FBI, Obama Justice Dept. The case drew public at- BATON ROUGE — Protesters authority over the case un- tention almost immediately, have called for the immedi- til the feds complete their and protests began at Triple ate dismissal of the two Ba- investigation, which could FACEOFF— There was tension when police appeared at protests, but S convenience store where in the rest of the community there was a new spirit of kindness. ton Rouge police officers take a month or more. the shooting occurred. Dem- involved in the shooting and In addition, Louisiana onstrations began in major their immediate arrest on Municipal Police Civil Ser- cities across the nation. murder or other appropriate vice rules forbid the dis- Life in Mid-City: No Signs At the request of Gov. charges. missal of police officers un- Edwards, the U.S. Depart- However, immediately af- til an investigation has been ment of Justice took over ter the shooting, Gov. John conducted. Of ‘Divided’ Baton Rouge the investigation. DA Hil- Bel Edwards, Mayor-Pres- As a result, calls to have BATON ROUGE — As dem- Baton Rouge near the scene lar Moore recused himself, ident Kip Holden, Police the officers fired and arrest- onstrations began last week of the shooting, life went leaving the state Attorney Chief Carl Dabadie, and DA ed should be directed at the to protest the shooting of Al- on as normal, and citizens General in charge of pros- Hillar Moore all agreed to Obama Justice Department, ton Sterling by Baton Rouge reported that racial tension ecuting any state charges. have the U.S. Department rather than state or local of- police officers, the national was minimal or nonexistent. Protests have been largely of Justice conduct the in- ficials, since the investiga- media was portraying Baton Facebook was filled with peaceful. On Monday, a plot vestigation of the case. As tion is in their hands at this Rouge as a “divided city.” comments recounting acts of was uncovered to kill local a result, local and state of- stage of the process and lo- However, in the inner city of kindness betwen the races. police, but it was foiled. ficials in Louisiana have no cal officials are powerless. Finding Historic Treasures at Istrouma RON ARMONEY (left), Istrouma Class of 1965, examines a photo of Istrouma’s first graduating class in 1923. That photo and many other photos, scrapbooks, trophies, and other mementoes have been rescued from the campus of Istrouma High School by the Istrouma Advisory Committee. At right, Ray and JoAnn Spiller with the 1962 State Championship football. 2 CITY NEWS Thursday, July 14, 2016 COMMUNITY PRESS, LLC CAPITAL CITY NEWS CENTRAL CITY NEWS & & South Baton Rouge Journal Vol. 25 • No. 7 The Leader Vol. 19 • No. 7 • CCN No. 390 910 North Foster Drive Post Office Box 1 Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Greenwell Springs, LA 70739 Phone (225) 261-5055 • Entire contents © 2016 Email stories and photos to [email protected] Published on the first Thursday of each month (except January and July, when it is the second Thursday) by Community Press, LLC The Leader was founded April 30, 1998, and the Central City News was founded April 21, 2005. They merged May 4, 2006. The South Baton Rouge Journal began publication in 1989. It went on hiatus in 2008 during its 20th year of publication. The Journal resumed publication as the Capital City News on Aug. 16, 2012, with Vol. 21, No. 1. Editor & Publisher Woody Jenkins Business Manager Jolice Provost Account Executive Kim Powers Member, Louisiana Press Association, National Newspaper Association, Chamber of Commerce of East Baton Rouge, and National Federation of Independent Business Deadline for news and advertising: 5 p.m. Friday before publication $18 a year by subscription in advance • $25 a year outside East Baton Rouge DAYTON GUERCIO — 2016 Brian Wiese Most Outstanding Player Award Winner and 1st Team All District Outfielder Central High School senior Dayton Guercio signed as a pitcher with the BRCC Bears. Shown are BRCC coaches Roy Corcoran and LJ Dupuy; Dayton Guercio, and Central High coaches Mike Forbes and Brandon Efferson. The Week Baton Rouge Became a Community who was unruly or disrespectful. the inner city of Baton Rouge has a fluence of our churches in Baton People Recalled But things changed. With cross- remarkably different tone about it. Rouge is great, but their influence town busing and the breakdown of Once the shooting of Alton Sterling has been great within their own neighborhood schools, the school occurred and the protests began, congregations. But now it’s as The Things Their was no longer the center of life in something snapped! though all they’ve worked for all the neighborhood. People didn’t Out in the public, everywhere these years is spilling over into the Mama Told Them really know one another anymore. you go, people are now genuinely community in a very big way. Crime rose, and people became friendly, especially people of other Suddenly, the people of Baton Woody Jenkins more cautious and distrustful of races! They say hello. They ask Rouge are aware of one another. Editor one another. if you are okay. They open doors. We’re looking at each other and Growing up and living as I have For the past generation, life in the They shake hands. They smile! seeing a real person — not an ob- my entire life in the inner city of Mid-City area of Baton Rouge has And they express genuine concern ject but a person with feelings. And Baton Rouge, I remember a time been pleasant. The area is racially for one another. People are hug- we are saying to each other in sub- when Baton Rouge was a real com- diverse, and there have been few ging strangers and praying for one tle ways “I’m glad you are here and munity, not just a random collec- real problems between the races. another. glad we are in this together!” tion of people seemingly without Yet, there has been little warmth. Likewise, policemen who are I believe 50 years from now, much in common. It was a place A state of apathy set in. It hasn’t supposedly so hated are being people in Baton Rouge will still be where neighbors knew one another been a hostile environment but just thanked and hugged and prayed talking about these days. and were involved in each other’s cool. No one talks a lot. When you over by strangers of another race. They will remember the time lives. are out and about, if you see friends It’s as though everything our when Baton Rouge could have My parents never locked our and acquaintances, you chat them mamas taught us and everything exploded but didn’t because there doors when we were away, because up. But with strangers, no. Just we learned in Sunday School sud- were too many good people here to our neighbors might need to get “Hello” or “May I help you?” or denly kicked in! allow that to happen. in to borrow something! Parents “Thank you.” Not much else. “Love your neighbor as your- Most of all, I think they will re- were involved in the neighborhood Nothing that says, “I care!” self!” member this as the time when Ba- schools, and store owners knew the It was as if people didn’t really “Don’t judge people by their ap- ton Rouge became more than just names of their customers. Kids see you, especially if you were of a pearance!” a random collection of people but rode the bus downtown by them- different race! “Be good to other people. It will a real community where people re- selves, and any grown up on the But that all changed — rather all come back to you!” ally care about one another and our street would take charge of a child dramatically — last week! 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Sherwood Forest Blvd. Central, LA 70818 & Baton Rouge, LA 70816 261-4493 367-6189 CITY NEWS Thursday, July 14, 2016 3 Death of Alton Sterling on North Foster Dr.