Each Saturday, L’Observateur will recognize individuals and businesses in the River Parishes who have gone “above and beyond” in their efforts to make this a better place to live, work, play and raise a family.

We believe that an integral part of a community’s wellbeing is an attitude and arena where people who do good things … who work to improve life for others … who try to make a difference … are recognized and saluted.

Because this is a salute to members of the community of the entire River Parishes, we solicit your recommendations for groups or individuals to be considered for inclusion.

This week we salute:

• RESERVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL’S EAGLES, on winning their fifth staight state championship and seventh overall.

• CEDRIC JENKINS, CHRIS ROUSSELL and TIMMY BYRD — all named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class C All-State Team from Reserve Christian. JENKINS was named first team and tournament MVP while ROUSSELL was named second team and BYRD was named coach of the year.

• RIVER REGION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE representatives, who went to Washington to carry a message of opposition to the “Employee Free Choice Act,” which would eliminate a worker’s right to cast a secret ballot in union organizing elections.

• PAIGE BOURGEOIS and CHRISTOPHER SKELTON, ninth-grade students at Lutcher High School and St. James High, on being named to the American Choral Directors Association’s NATIONAL HONOR CHOIR.