Serving Baton Rouge CAPITALCAPITAL CITYCITY and City of Central Dr. Billy Cannon as Honored Sports Legend See Pages 6-7 NEWSNEWS® Thursday, August 16, 2012 • Vol. 21, No. 1 • 16 Pages • Circulation 20,000 • www.capitalcitynews.us • Phone 225-261-5055 Mike Walker and Kip Holden to Face-Off Nov. 6 Duel for Mayor-PrezCandidates Have Until 5 p.m. Friday To File Papers BATON ROUGE — Qualifying be- gan Wednesday for Congress, a vacancy on the Louisiana Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Public Service Com- mission, May- or-President, Metro Council, and city judge. Both candi- dates for May- or-President Photo by Woody Jenkins Woody by Photo — incumbent Photo by Woody Jenkins Woody by Photo Democrat Kip Mayor Kip Holden Holden and Republican challenger EARLY QUALIFIERS — Among early qualifiers Wednesday were Smokie Bourgeois, Mike Walker, and Buddy Amoroso. Mike Walker — qualified early. Most incumbent Metro Council members also qualified for reelec- Coronor: 72 Murders, Could Top 100 in 2012 See QUALIFYING on Page 5 Woody Jenkins to live in America, he said. Editor, Capital City News on par with some Crime is likely to be a leading of the nation’s issue in the race for Mayor-Presi- School Board Votes BATON ROUGE — Newly-elected most crime-ridden dent with incumbent Kip Holden Coroner Dr. Beau Clark said Tues- large cities. having said earlier this year that he On $15 Million Tax day there have been 72 murders In addition, Dr. was “happy with where crime is” in committed in East Baton Rouge Clark said he is the parish, while challenger Mike At Meeting Tonight Parish since Jan. 1, 2012. investigating an- Walker says citizens in the parish BATON ROUGE — The East Baton At this rate, the number of mur- other 18 deaths in are living in fear while locked in- Rouge School Board could ap- ders in the parish could exceed 100 the parish to de- side their homes. Holden said an prove $15 million in additional for the year — an all-time record. Dr. Beau Clark termine the cause additional 30 police officers are property taxes without a vote of This would place the parish as of death. Many of those could also needed on the streets while Walker the people at a 5 p.m. meeting to- one of the most dangerous places be ultimately classified as murders, said at least 75 more are needed. See SCHOOL on Page 14 $58 Million Project Brings Joy to Students, Teachers Newly-Renovated,New Baton Rouge High: Wow! Greatly-Expanded School on Govt. St. BATON ROUGE — Classes have begun at the newly-renovated and greatly-expanded Baton Rouge Magnet High School at 2825 Gov- ernment St. A $58 million construction proj- ect left the main building, built in 1928, intact, but added other build- ings on the east, west, and north of that original structure. Baton Rouge High alumni pushed hard to keep and renovate the historic campus, rather than Jenkins Woody by Photo tear it down. See STUDENTS on Page 8 BATON ROUGE HIGH SCHOOL opened last week after a $58 million renovation project. For more, see Pages 2, 8-10. 2 CAPITAL CITY NEWS Thursday, August 16, 2012 CAPITAL CITY NEWS® Incorporating the South Baton Rouge Journal Vol. 21 • No. 1 910 North Foster Drive Post Office Box 1 Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Greenwell Springs, LA 70739 Phone (225) 261-5055 • FAX 261-5022 Email stories and photos to [email protected] Published 1st and 3rd Thursdays by Community Press, LLC Capital City News is a continuation of the South Baton Rouge Journal, which went on hiatus in 2008 during its 20th year of publication. The Capital City News is resuming publication of the Journal as Vol. 21, No. 1. Community Press, LLC, publishes the Central City News on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. The newspapers are not affiliated with a political party but the editor is parish Republican chairman. Editor & Publisher Woody Jenkins Business Manager Candi Lee Graphic Artist Terrie Palmer Business Specialists Shara Pollard, Jolice Provost Member, National Newspaper Association Deadline for news and advertising: 5 p.m. Mondays Jenkins Woody by Photo $40 a year by subscription in advance • $50 a year outside East Baton Rouge MAGNIFICENT RESTORATION — The Baton Rouge Magnet High School audito- rium, the scene of so many memories and historic events, has been beautifully restored as Rebuilding Our Sense of Community part of the $58 million renovation and expansion of the school by the parish school board. BRHS Auditorium Recalls Rivalry of Long Ago In 1963, That Auditorium taining the character and majesty of today, but they were legends even “Sir, Bobby Dardenne should go. the old Baton Rouge High. then. He’s our president!” I said. Filled with 1,200 Bulldogs As we walked around the “Yes sir, Mr. Brown!” I said as I “Too valuable! Can’t risk him!” 336,000-square-foot facility, Mrs. stood in front of his desk. he laughed. “No, he’s out sick today. Was the One Place in the McCann, who was recently named He said, “You’re going to Baton Besides, let’s see what you’re made National Principal of the Year, kept Rouge High. You have to be there in of! You’re representing Istrouma. World I Didn’t Want to Be talking about the school auditorium. 20 minutes. They have an assembly Now go make it right! The principal She said she was eager for me to see it. in their auditorium, and you have to from Baton Rouge High will call me Woody Jenkins “Oh, I know that room well!” I said. publicly apologize with a report on you, and it better be Editor, Capital City News As we entered the auditorium, to their student body good! Now get over there!’ Mrs. McCann kept talking. I was and promise them it “Yes sir, I’m going!” BATON ROUGE — On Monday, Baton snapping photos and trying to listen, will never happen You have to understand that Baton Rouge Magnet High School principal but my mind was swept back in time again!” Rouge High and Istrouma had been Nanette McCann gave me a tour of — nearly 50 years — to a hot Friday “But I didn’t do arch-rivals forever and had, as far as we the newly-renovated and greatly-ex- morning in September 1963. it, sir!” knew, absolutely nothing in common. panded high school on Government On that morning, I was a junior sit- I knew what he The railroad tracks along Choctaw Street. ting in my first-hour class at Istrouma was talking about. Road divided us like red-hot steel. We were joined by East Baton High on Winbourne Avenue in North Woody Jenkins Apparently, some To the south was Baton Rouge High Rouge Parish School Board president Baton Rouge, thinking about the big Istrouma students where the sons and daughters of doc- Barbara Freiberg and school board game that night. had once again vandalized Baton tors, lawyers, business owners, and member Connie Bernard. The school A runner from the principal’s of- Rouge High, this time painting a big plant supervisors went to school. board, architects, and contractor have fice rushed into class and said, “Mr. red “IHS” on the sidewalk in front of To the north was Istrouma High, the done a magnificent job on this $58 Brown wants to see Woody Jenkins!” the flagpole. largest school in the state with 1,800 million project, which will serve Ba- I looked at my teacher and bolted out It was just another of the scores of students (10th-12th grades) and pe- ton Rouge for generations to come. of my desk to Mr. Brown’s office. minor pranks that the student bodies rennial state champions in football. I was taking photographs for a Our principal, Little Fuzzy Brown, of the two schools had been playing At Istrouma, the sons and daughters spread in the first edition of theCapi - was a great man, and so was his twin on each other for 30 years or more. of plant workers, construction work- tal City News (see pages 1-2, 8-10) brother, Big Fuzz, the head football “I know you didn’t do it,” he said, ers, policemen, and firemen went to and was amazed by the masterful coach. Together, they had coached “but you’ve just been elected Vice school. My dad was an operator at job they have done in creating an ad- Istrouma to nine State Champion- President of the Student Council. So Ethyl Corporation. vanced 21st century school while re- ships in football. They are legends I’m sending you!” Today, no one associates Baton Rouge High with football, because it hasn’t fielded a football team since Baton Rouge High Alma Mater Istrouma High Alma Mater 1976. But in 1963, there was no big- ger rivalry than Istrouma vs. Baton For Baton Rouge High we raise our cry; Here roamed of old the red man Rouge High, who together would pack For the school we all adore Here stood his skin te-pee. 18,000 fans into Memorial Stadium. We will raise our standards high Here cross’d the mystic red stick. I jumped into my 1953 Plymouth, Till known from shore to shore - ’Tis Istrouma, ’tis Istrouma, which I had purchased for $175 with ’Tis Istrouma cried the trees. my summer earnings. In just minutes, Then we’ll fight! Fight! Fight! I pulled up at Baton Rouge High and With all our might till victory’s in sight Hail Istrouma, Alma Mater, could hear an angry roar coming from Then we’ll raise our banners high Tender love we owe to thee.