Editorial/Op
Two Wide Rivers
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To me, the Amite and Comite Rivers feel like the two widest rivers in the world. The two rivers form about 80% of the borders of the City of Central, with Hwy 64 completing the border in the north. I kid with my friends and claim to get short of breath whenever I leave Central, and that I have to pack a sack lunch and make hotel reservations when I head “into town”, meaning Baton Rouge. Since leaving Central almost always means crossing one of the rivers, they do indeed seem very wide to me.
I am fortunate to live and work in Central. In fact, I do VERY little that requires me to leave Central. There are three reasons behind my ability and interest in spending most of my time here between the rivers, and I believe most of our friends and neighbors share one or more of these motivations.
Recently you may have noticed the revival of the Chamber of Commerce “Shop Central First” initiative now being promoted by the Mayor’s office. Our city is funded almost exclusively by sales taxes and our school system relies heavily on those same sales taxes. So it is simple for me. If I CAN buy it in Central, I DO. Staying here and shopping between our two rivers is one way to help our city and our schools.
Most all of my friends and family live in Central. The friends are a natural occurrence because I met most of them here, but my family living here is a choice. My Dad settled on the family farm in rural north Central. My in-laws, at 85 and 89 came to Central from Virginia to be near Mia. My two daughters and my son-in-law have lived here all of their lives, graduated from Central High, and have settled here as well. Beth is the editor and owner of this newspaper and Michelle teaches at Central Middle School. I hope and believe that if we, as a city, make wise choices, many more of our children will be able to choose to live right here in Central.
Finally, I am blessed to work in Central. Five years ago we opened our small administrative office on Sullivan Road for our transportation company, rather than commute to our warehouse facility at the Baton Rouge Airport. Many careers necessitate working on the other side of the Comite, but I am thankful for all of the business owners and entrepreneurs who have created jobs in Central. These jobs support our schools and city through sales tax revenue and they allow others in Central to enjoy that four minute commute to work.
I will cross a river several times this year to follow the Wildcats to away games. I will cross a river to shop at a business owned by my neighbors here in Central. But, given a choice, I’ll stay on Central’s side of those wide rivers.
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