Mayor Darnell Waites highlights community programs, awards and infrastructure in Baker’s 2025 year-in-review

Baker — The City of Baker released a 2025 year-in-review message crediting Mayor Darnell Waites’ leadership for a year of community programs, business openings, awards and infrastructure milestones.

The message summarized events across the year: a Martin Luther King Jr. Day program with Dr. Willie E. Smith, chancellor of BRCC, who received the city’s prestigious medal and was named an honorary citizen; school reading programs and a back-to-school giveaway that distributed hundreds of backpacks; more than 500 seniors attending the city’s annual Salt event; and multiple ribbon cuttings and construction starts including a Benny’s franchise on Main Street and Helix Park Ridge.

Why it matters: the roundup ties civic events to the city’s priorities — youth, seniors, economic development and transportation — and signals continuing municipal emphasis on community outreach, public celebration and incremental infrastructure investment.

Details and highlights

• Community and recognition: The year opened with the MLK Day program; Dr. Willie E. Smith, described in the message as chancellor of BRCC, was presented with the city’s medal and recognized as an honorary citizen. The city also renamed Memorial Garden Cemetery the Norman E. Pete Heiney Memorial Garden Cemetery.

• Youth and education: March and July programming emphasized schools and students. The message said hundreds of backpacks and school supplies were distributed at the back-to-school giveaway to help students begin the year prepared.

• Seniors and wellness: April’s Salt event gathered more than 500 seniors, and the city participated in a Thanksgiving luncheon with the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging and an Elvin K. Howard 5K walk/run in November to promote wellness.

• Economic development and awards: At the Louisiana Municipal Association conference in Lake Charles the city received statewide recognition. Matt Wake, speaking in the message, said, “I’m excited to receive this award at the LA Made Conference, but next year, we’re gonna win the whole thing,” framing the award as part of a continuing push for recognition and growth.

• Infrastructure and projects: The message noted the start of construction on the Lady Lane project, the Benny’s franchise on Main Street, and a groundbreaking described in the transcript as the “Move BR Groom Road project,” characterized as a transformational transportation investment to improve traffic flow, safety and economic access. A ribbon cutting at Helix Park Ridge was also included as a step forward for youth education.

• Community culture and recreation: The city staged its first fishing tournament, the Buffalo Festival and parade returned with pageants and nighttime performances, and seasonal events including Treat Street, a toy and bike giveaway and the Christmas parade rounded out the year.

The message closed by saying Baker will continue to “rise stronger, smarter, and more united” and that the city is “moving forward into the future.”