Capital City News

Although there may not be much fan fare, the City of Baton Rouge will mark its 200th birthday this month. Gov. Jacques Villere signed the Act of Incorporation on Jan. 17, 1817. The city, which serves as Louisiana’s capital, has a population of 229,426 (2013), while an estimated 830,480 people live in the greater Baton Rouge area. […]

Before young Daniel Wesley risked his wife to try to save April Beck this past Sunday, four Central men had become well known in their community for remarkable acts of courage that lives. Here are their stories: HOMER WISE Homer Wise grew up off Joor Road in Central during the Depression.  His family was poor […]

Following up on his commitment to reopen Istrouma High School and make it a centerpiece for the North Baton Rouge community, Supt. Warren Drake has authorized a design team to complete plans for a $20 million renovation of the school. The design is supposed to be complete later this month and let out for bids.  […]

When William Dearman opened Dearman’s Drug Store in 1960 in what was then the Twin Cedars Shopping Center, he specialized in the personal touch. For 40 years, customers, their children, and their grandchildren came to know Mr. Dearman and his staff for their service and friendly advice. In 1960, a lot of drugstores still had […]

Ed Steimel, one of the most influential Louisianians of the 20th Century, passed away April 6 at the age of 94.  Steimel was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas, on January 20, 1922.  He studied journalism at Arkansas State and moved to Baton Rouge in 1951 to work for Public Affairs Research Council, where was executive director […]

Catholic High head football Coach Dale Weiner, winner of more than 300 games, on Coach Boots Garland: “I’m here representing hundreds of athletes who were touched by Coach Garland. I never called him Boots because he was my coach. Some of the most important coaching occurs off the field, especially with young people.” “Coach Garland […]

Whole Foods at Towne Center is the closest thing Baton Rouge has to Main Street.  If you go to the coffee shop and sit long enough, you will see just about everyone you know or want to know.  One day last month, I was having coffee when I saw former Baton Rouge High, LSU, and […]

BATON ROUGE — In July 1966, I was a 19-year-old student at the LSU School of Journalism. For the past two years, I had the privilege of having worked as a newsman and disc jockey at WLCS, the No. 1 radio station in Baton Rouge and then as a television announcer and newsman at the […]

Was the 1955 Istrouma High football team the greatest in Louisiana history?  As long as football is played in this state, that will be debated. Louisiana has only had one Heisman Trophy winner — Billy Cannon — and he starred on the 1955 team, which went undefeated and won the State Championship. 2015 is the […]

This interview was conducted at the home of Mrs. Helen Fairchild across from Greenwell Springs Baptist Church.  She is in good health but has to use a walker to get around. Question: What was life like growing up in the early part of the 20th century? Miss Helen: My father was born in 1861 while […]