Each Wednesday, L’Observateur recognizes 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 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:

• Darek Jones, a soldier with the Louisiana Army National Guard who is currently serving in Iraq. Jones is a father of five and continually strives to be the best father he can be both through his actions and the example he sets. At the banquet held for the John L. Ory Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club in May, Jones presented the two boys with the best grades with brand new X-Box game systems, thereby keeping a promise he had made when he spoke to the group earlier in the school year.

• The First Class Ladies Social Club, a St. James Parish-based organization. The club is currently collecting fans for its first annual Fan Drive. The drive will be held on July 3 and the fans collected will be distributed to community members who are unable to afford air conditioning.

• St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edgard, which helped stage the St. John Community Arts Festival. The festival offered three days of rides, food and entertainment for members of the small west bank community.

• Cody McMurry, who pitched a no-hitter last week when his St. Charles Catholic-based Townsend Homes team defeated Ponstein’s 6-1.