The Central Chamber Report

Central’s Quality of Life – In a Community that Cares

I almost never take moments of writing privileges when I do these articles but this week I will.  So please read on and indulge me.

Insurance, we all hate having to pay those insurance bills but when we suddenly need the insurance’s benefits we are glad that we did!   That’s kind of the way you can view many of the services we have here in Central that ad to our “Quality of Life”.  “Quality of Life” is a rather broadly used term by a variety of organizations and individuals to describe the various aspects of living well.  When looking at it from a community and economic standpoint, one of the criteria used to measure “Quality of Life” is safety.  Our various organizations that provide for our safety are much like that insurance.  For the most part we hope we never need them but if the need arises we are glad they are there.  Our EMS, Central Fire Department, Central Police Department, Louisiana State Police and EBRP Sheriff’s Department are such services.

One of my tasks, as the Chamber President, is to keep up with what goes on in our City.  One of the easiest ways for me to do so is to attend our City Council meetings held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.  Each month, at one of the meetings we receive a report of the services provided by our local largely Volunteer Police Department.  I am always impressed by the number of hours that these individuals put in driving our city but never really truly took in how important it could be.  That insurance analogy again.  A couple of weeks ago I had an opportunity to observe the importance first hand!

Without going into major details, one morning I received a phone call from my wife stating that she had been involved in an accident.  She sounded pretty flustered so I got there as quickly as I could.  A Baton Rouge Police officer had just stopped when I got there.  I quickly made one call, our local police department.  Within minutes they were there and basically took control of the situation.  Next thing I knew the Central Fire department arrived to aide my wife and a few minutes later the tow truck arrived to retrieve our vehicle.  One call, that’s all!  Everything fell into place thanks to our local police!

I want to thank the Central Police Department, Central Fire Department, Lewis Wrecker, the nameless BRPD officer and the many friends who stopped to help.  When you stop to consider the “Quality of Life” in Central you can’t forget these services that help to keep us safe and the fact that we live in a community that cares!

Ron Erickson
President – Central Chamber of Commerce