Friday night the #1 ranked Logansport Tigers will host Arcadia.  Since Logansport finished first in 1A they had a bye last week and a home game this week.  Kickoff tonight is at 7:00 pm.

The school said tickets for Friday’s playoff game vs Arcadia are on sale in the front office until 3pm Friday.  Tickets will also be sold at the gate.  Admission is $10 and ONLY LHSAA issued passes will be accepted.

Also tonight, the North Desoto Griffins will be playing at home.  They will host the #4 ranked Northwood Falcons.

School will be out next week. DeSoto schools will be closed November 22^nd through November 26^th for Thanksgiving.

Northwestern State University announced it will be closed Nov. 22-26 for Thanksgiving break. Classes will resume and administrative offices will reopen Monday, Nov. 29.  Watson Library will close Friday, Nov. 19 at noon and will reopen on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. 

The Randall J. Webb Wellness, Recreation and Activity Center will have regular hours through Tuesday, Nov. 23 and will be closed on Nov. 24-26. The WRAC will resume regular hours on Saturday, Nov. 27.

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Businesses and residents may safely resume normal operations at this time.  That update from the DeSoto Sheriff’s Office came at 7:10pm Tuesday night.

Tuesday afternoon the public was alerted to a potentially dangerous situation.  SAFETY ALERT:  MANSFIELD, DIVISION ST. AREA

ALERT IN MANSFIELD:  Deputies and MPD are currently in the area of Division and Church Street searching for a potentially armed and dangerous suspect.  Expect a large police presence.  DESOTO SHERIFF IS ASKING anyone in the area near division and church streets to please go inside and secure your home at this time. Further details may be provided at a later time.

At 5:38 pm this update was issued:

UPDATED (5:38pm) – DESOTO SHERIFF and MPD will continue to be a large presence patrolling this area throughout the night. Deputies are looking for an armed, white male subject, who was last seen in the Division/Church Street area.  No further details regarding this case will be available tonight but may be available at a later date.  In the event an arrest is made, we will update the public immediately via our Sheriff App and Facebook pages. If anyone sees suspicious behavior that matches the above details, please contact 911 immediately. 

Then at 7:10 pm the Sheriff’s Office reported they had their suspect.  They issued an all clear telling the public they could resume normal operations.

Investigators with DeSoto Sheriff’s Office currently have a person of interest in custody. As this investigation continues, patrol deputies will remain in the area throughout the night.  We may have further information to provide on Wednesday.

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A toy drive is being held in the Logansport area now through December 15^th.  Toys collected will go to less fortunate boys and girls in the parish.

Adams Ford is collecting the toys in the back of a new Ranger pick-up.  The theme is Fill A Ford.  They are asking for an unwrapped gift for a girl or boy.  Place it in the bed of the Ranger.

Several area businesses have donated prizes that will be awarded to people who donate toys.  Those businesses are Big Zach’s Place, 5-Points Outdoors, Rosemary’s, Crawfish Shack, Stateline Precision and Adams Ford.

Toys collected will be given to the Office of Community Services.  They will be distributed to children in DeSoto Parish.

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From Louisiana State Police: On November 14^th, just before 7:00 a.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a one-vehicle fatality crash on LA Hwy 522 at True Vine Road.  This crash claimed the life of 29-year-old Rakeem Brazile.

The initial investigation revealed Brazile was driving a 2019 Volvo tractor-trailer, eastbound on LA Hwy 522. For reasons still under investigation, he ran off the road and crashed into an embankment.

Brazile, who was restrained, suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene. 

Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis.  The crash remains under investigation.

In 2021, Troop G has investigated 32 fatal crashes, resulting in 34 deaths.

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Greg Burke announced Monday he will step aside after 25 years as Northwestern State’s athletic director to accept another position at the university.

Burke requested to be reassigned to a role in fund raising for the NSU Foundation. He began his NSU career generating revenues as director of the NSU Athletic Association and served for five years as director of athletic development at the University of Akron.

The longest-serving athletic director in Louisiana and the Southland Conference, Burke has guided the NSU athletic department since 1996. Discussions with university officials about his future role at NSU have been ongoing for several months.

Northwestern President Dr. Marcus Jones said, “Greg has been highly respected by colleagues in college athletics in Louisiana, the Southland Conference, and the nation throughout his long tenure at NSU. His fervent commitment to enhancing and expanding the overall experiences of our student-athletes has never wavered.”

Jones said the university will engage a sports consulting search firm to assist in the search for a new athletic director and that an advisory committee of university stakeholders will also be appointed to provide input in the process. He said a new AD should be selected within six to eight weeks.

Vice President of External Affairs Jerry Pierce said, “Northwestern is indebted to Greg for his years of dedicated service and extensive contributions to the university. He has made a positive impact on intercollegiate sports in the state and nationally. I am confident that he will continue to serve the university passionately and effectively in his new role at the school.”

Appointed as Northwestern’s 20th president earlier this month after serving as interim president since July, Jones plans to initiate a major development campaign at the university in 2022. He said Burke’s “experience and expertise in fund-raising will be valuable as we embark on that important campaign.”

Burke’s shift away from athletics comes during one of the most turbulent times nationwide in intercollegiate sports because of such issues as conference realignments; name, image, and likeness rules; transfer portal implications, and COVID-related disruptions.

Pierce said, “With the turmoil surrounding college athletics nationally and the importance of continuity and stability in our intercollegiate sports programs and experiences for student-athletes, we are fortunate that Greg will continue to serve as AD during the national search for his successor.”

Burke, who announced his decision to the Athletic Department staff Monday morning, said, “The timing is right for me to make this transition to the NSU Foundation. Doing so will enable me to focus solely on raising funds for a university which means the world to my family and me. I have always had a great working relationship with (NSU Foundation Executive Director) Drake Owens and look forward to working with him and his staff.”

A native of Alliance, Ohio, Burke is a graduate of the University of Mount Union in Ohio and received his master’s degree from Kent State University.

He was a sportswriter for the Alliance Review newspaper in Ohio and director of news and sports information at Hiram College in Ohio before joining the NSU Athletic Department as an intern in 1985.

Burke held athletic fund-raising positions at Northwestern and the University of Akron before becoming athletic director at NSU in 1996.

Under Burke’s leadership, the NSU Athletic Department produced the lone Southland Conference Triple Crown championship, winning the league’s football, men’s basketball and baseball regular-season titles in the 2004-05 academic year. That trio of championships highlighted a run that included 25 NCAA postseason appearances, 24 Southland Conference regular-season championships, 19 SLC Tournament titles, three Olympians and two individual national champions during Burke’s tenure.

The Northwestern State men’s basketball team produced two NCAA Tournament victories during Burke’s time at the helm of NSU athletics, including one of the most memorable upsets in tournament history – the Demons’ 64-63 upset of third-seeded Iowa on March 17, 2006.

NSU student-athletes flourished away from the competitive surface during Burke’s career, collecting 11 Academic All-American honors, numerous Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year acclaim and Southland Conference Steve McCarty Citizenship Award winners. In the most recent NCAA Graduation Success Rate data, NSU student-athletes posted a program-record 87 percent graduation rate.

Burke recently began his second of a five-year term on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee after previously serving on the NCAA Committee on Academics and Championships/Sports Management Cabinet, the NCAA Division I Football Issues Committee and the NCAA FCS Committee.

Said Burke: “There will no doubt be a void, having worked in college athletics for the past 43 years, but Susu and I will continue to be financially and personally supportive of NSU’s teams and coaches as a fan and advocate. I am forever grateful to Dr. Randy Webb, Jerry Pierce and the Athletic Council led by Dr. Vicki Parrish for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to lead the NSU athletic program. Over the past 25 years, it has been a blessing to have developed relationships with so many student-athletes, parents, faculty, alumni and NCAA staff members, as well as with coaches and administrators at NSU and nationwide. Much has been accomplished over the course of time but there is always more that can be done to position NSU Athletics for success on all levels. With that in mind, I encourage those who love NSU Athletics to either keep supporting or to begin supporting our student-athletes and coaches because every single gift makes a difference.”

Photo:  Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

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By Teddy Allen

This week in 1969, the children’s television program Sesame Street first aired on PBS.

What started with Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch launched an assortment of misfit, humorous, glorious creatures known as Muppets, and the world has never looked at a frog or at a pig the same way since.

Take your tacky comedians and your crude comics and give me Muppets any day.

Sesame Street was the idea of public television documentary producer Joan Ganz Cooney, who wanted to create an educational series for pre-kindergarten children, something that would help teach them their ABCs and how to count. It was set in a fictional New York City neighborhood with nice adults and the creations of puppeteer Jim Henson.

Immediate smash hit. Big Bird dominated the 1970s every bit as much as bellbottoms, tie-dye, and the Cincinnati Reds.

I was never a big Sesame Street guy. I was older by then and my pre-Sesame Street allegiance was to Captain Kangaroo (more on that another time). But Henson kept creating more and more characters, and each was bound for stardom and the silver screen — funny and clever and sometimes smart and sometimes silly — so by the 1980s, I was all about any Muppet movie that showed up.

The best in one small-brained man’s opinion is “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” released a mind-boggling 29 years ago in 1992. (I’d have guessed 10 years, tops.) During this holiday season — and Thanksgiving Eve is a week from tomorrow, Nov. 24 — you might want to give it a look-see. The songs aren’t great, but I think it’s overall genius, like most everything else this bunch creates and performs.

This adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol” stars Michael Caine as the miserly, Christmas-hating Ebenezer Scrooge, and he plays it straight as if he’s working with “the Royal Shakespeare Company,” he said. True to his word, he does nothing “Muppety.”

But the Muppets do.

The narrators are Gonzo the Great and, to add humor and wisecracks, the brilliant Rizzo the Rat. Love, love, love the Rizzo.

Kermit the Frog, the greatest Muppet of them all, maybe the Robert De Nero of Muppetdom, is, of course, Bob Cratchit. Miss Piggy is Mrs. Cratchit, and a tiny Kermit is Tiny Tim.

There is an understated scene early in which Bean Bunny shows up at Scrooge’s place of business on Christmas Eve, singing carols in the snow, and Scrooge sneers down and throws a wreath at him. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a rewind part for me, one of many tiny touches that make this must-see Muppets.

Remember Statler and Waldorf, the two cranky hecklers in the balcony in Muppet skits? They are the brothers Marley who come back to warn Scrooge and tell him he’ll be visited by three spirits. The loveable Fozzie Bear plays Scrooge’s old employer — Mr. Fezziwig in the original but Fozziwig here — who runs a rubber chicken factory.

And of course, a lot of rats like Rizzo are Cratchit’s co-workers, huddled about trying to keep warm underneath their shawls and stovepipe hats. A rat in a stovepipe hat? Now that’s comedy. (It’s the little things.)

Don’t get caught up in the gimmicks and forget the acting though. You’d think that after 50 years, Kermit the Frog would be typecast. Not hardly. Guy’s such a quality actor that I don’t see a frog when I see Kermit as Cratchit; I see Cratchit as Dickens might have imagined him — had Dickens imagined him as a frog.

Take 85 minutes, gather the loved ones, and enjoy yourself some “Muppet Christmas Carol” in the next few weeks. You’ll probably send me chocolates if you do.

God bless us, everyone.

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It is Christmas in DeSoto with many celebrations and other activities across the parish.  There are two events this Saturday, November 20^th.

At Logansport, they are getting ready for the BIG event this Saturday. It is the Logansport Cajun Christmas Festival.  Booths open at 10:00 am featuring 65 vendors.  For entertainment, Don Hayes will be singing. 

The Christmas Parade rolls at 6:00 pm.  The 2021 Miss Noel will be crowned after the parade.  To cap off the day there will be Fireworks to end the Festival.

The second event is Walk With a Soldier. This will take place Saturday morning from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm at the Mansfield State Historic Site.

For more information on these events, or to find out about other upcoming happenings check the DeSoto Parish Chamber’s social media pages.

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Friday night the North Desoto Griffins went on the road and brought back the W.  They won their away playoff game against Rayne (LA) by a score of 34-16.

Next week it will be the Northwood Falcons coming into Stonewall.  Northwood is ranked #4 in the state in 4A.

The Mansfield Wolverines did not fare so well last week.  They traveled to Farmerville for a game with Union Christian Academy.  They were blown out 60 to 16 by #7 UCA.

Logansport had the week off. They drew a bye for finishing the #1 seed in 1A.  They will be at home facing #16 Arcadia.  Last week Arcadia squeaked by East Iberville 26-24.

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By Brad Dison

Lloyd Jeffries of Memphis, Tennessee, suffered from Cerebral Palsy (CP), a group of disorders which affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.  CP is the most common motor disability in childhood.  In severe cases, a sufferer of CP might require specialized lifelong care.    Lloyd’s case was severe.  In 1968, when Lloyd was just sixteen years old, he suddenly lost the ability to speak.  He could only produce a sort of crowing sound.  Doctors gave Lloyd’s mother the grim prognosis that Lloyd had a paralyzed larynx and would never speak again.  Lloyd eventually lost his ability to stand on his own and required a wheelchair to get around.  When it became too difficult for his family to properly care for him, Lloyd became a resident of the Shelby County Home for Incurables.

One morning in 1980, Betty Dozier, Lloyd’s nurse, came into his room and greeted him with a “good morning” as she did every morning.  She waited patiently to hear his normal crowing sound.  Lloyd started to crow, but then something unexpected happened.  His crowing sound merged into an intelligible reply.  Lloyd said “good morning.”  Lloyd had been unable to speak for 18 years. 

At first, the nurse thought Lloyd was using some sort of electronic device to speak, but that wasn’t the case.  Lloyd and his nurse both looked at each other in stunned silence.  Lloyd tried another word, and then another.  After a short conversation, Lloyd said he wanted to call his mother. 

Lloyd’s mother was at home making a glass of tea when her telephone rang.  She answered it and heard Lloyd greet her with just three words.   At first, Mrs. Jeffries thought someone was playing a cruel joke.  “It’s me,” Lloyd said.  “I can talk again.”  Mrs. Jeffries was in shock.  Tears welled up in her eyes as that three-word greeting replayed over and over in her mind.  Tears turned into laughter as their conversation continued.

Lloyd was thrilled.  After his lengthy conversation with his mother, Lloyd wheeled himself around the nursing home and conversed with the other residents.  Everyone wanted to hear him speak and they certainly got their chance.

Several doctors examined Lloyd but were never able to explain how he regained his ability to speak.  To Lloyd and his mother, it was nothing short of a miracle.  Mrs. Jeffries said, “I was always a believer in God – but now I’m really a true believer.”  What were those three words, the first three words Mrs. Jeffries heard Lloyd speak in nearly two decades?  Mrs. Jeffries answered the phone and heard Lloyd say, “Happy Thanksgiving, Mother.”

Sources:

1. The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee), November 29, 1980, p.3.
2. The Daily News-Journal (Murfreesboro, Tennessee), November 30, 1980, p.6.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Cerebral Palsy.” Accessed November 13, 2021. cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/facts.html

Shown below:  Lloyd Jeffries (in wheelchair) with nurse Betty Dozier (left) and nurse Grace Mallett (right).

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By Nicole Tull

DeSoto Parish took a great deal of pride in this year’s 2021 ALTAC Livestock Sale at the State Fair of Louisiana. Our very own Johnny May was honored this year. He has been a driving force in DeSoto Parish’s 4-H livestock for many decades. Being a contributor and encourager has blown wind into the sails of many children through the years enabling them to exhibit their livestock with pride.
DeSoto Parish boasts of many other contributors that made it possible for children of many parishes to show their animals. The 2021 total contributions from our humble parish were an astonishing $114,750.00. The contributors are as follows:
Kenneth Martin; Lovic Wren; D&J Ranch – The Ashley Family; Dees Gardner, CPAs, LLC; Dean Register; Ronald Register; Register Brothers LLC; DeSoto Parish Chamber; of Commerce (Frank and Espy Moran; Johnny and Vi May; Bierden Construction; Charles and Susan Adams; Community Bank of Louisiana; John & Kathy Terrell; Maloney’s Barber Shop; Judge Amy Burford McCartney; Charlie’s Feed and Fertilizer;  Janice Burford; Travis Whitfield in memory of Marjorie & Foster Shuler; Desoto Warehouse; Adams Superior Services; Rep. Larry Bagley; Phillis Howe; Dudley and Melanie Glenn; French Financial Group; Ideal Commercial Printing; Jimmy Martin from IHOP; McKee Williams; Edward Gorman; Jones Electric; McFerren Estate; Adams Ford Company). 

The total contributions received by all 2021 exhibitors was $418,865.00, while DeSoto Parish exhibitors was $22,000. The DeSoto Parish exhibitors that made us proud were Hayden Hardy – sheep; Jenna Bamburg – sheep; Adilee Register – swine; Stanley FFA – Grand Champion Metal Project in Ag Mechanics – for their box stand. There was quite a cheering section for Adilee Register as many of her classmates came along to the fairgrounds to show their support.

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On Veterans Day last week, Big Zack’s restaurant honored Logansport area veterans.  The Logansport Chamber of Commerce issued a big thank you to the restaurant for offering a free meal to all veterans on November 11^th. 

The Chamber also thanked all veterans.  “Please join in thanking our Veterans and families for their service,” they said.

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By Doug Ireland, Journal Sports

Thanks to a power play by people in Lake Charles, there’s been a big drop in blood pressure for plenty of folks in Natchitoches, Hammond, Thibodaux and a few on the Lakeshore in New Orleans.

A Tuesday afternoon announcement confirmed a swift turnaround toward status quo. McNeese revealed it was staying put in the Southland Conference, renewing longstanding cordial relations with Northwestern, Southeastern, Nicholls and UNO, much to the dismay of former friends in Texas.

It resuscitated the Southland from extinction, while creating at least a big wobble for the Western Athletic Conference, where former Southland members Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, Lamar and Abilene Christian bolted earlier this year.

They tried to entice McNeese to join them. The Cowboys were receptive over the last several months, with McLeaders traveling to Denver a few weeks ago to make a membership presentation to current WAC gurus. The footsies and flirting seemed heading toward a likely engagement.

The Texas Traitors and the Cowboys have the same ultimate destination in mind: moving up from the Southland and Football Championship Subdivision membership (on-field playoffs for the top 24 teams nationally) to the Football Bowl Subdivision (and a chance to play in a low-level bowl game). The incentive$ were the lure of bowl revenue (not a lot for the bottom tier in the FBS), the chance to add another digit to low to mid-six figure paychecks from the biggest schools for football guarantee games (a trip to LSU or Texas might net an extra half-million), and the belief that playing more overly ambitious opponents at home might hike ticket revenues.

Let’s not get logic involved here and overcome ego. Anyone who has tracked attendance figures around the state has to admit the real path to hike home game ticket revenues would be to hire Marty McFly as commissioner, get Doc Brown’s flux capacitor going, and Go Back to The Gulf States Conference. Not exactly the future, but rebuilding a league with in-state schools would boost crowds in all sports, not just football, while cutting travel costs.

That’s not happening. Never mind the millions that would be produced in gate revenue and the millions in state money that would be reduced for travel.  Ambition overrules everything.

Well, actually, in big league college sports, TV money does. It’s the lack of a local TV market of any consequence that left Louisiana Tech behind recently when much of Conference USA bolted for better deals and new territory. CUSA quickly went contraflow and a few days ago invited desolate-in-the-desert New Mexico State (stealing the Aggies from the WAC), deep pocketed and lonely Liberty, and two FCS stalwarts, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston (twice divorced, split from the Southland last year and now, the WAC; although there’s some chatter that the $2 million CUSA entry fee might sour Sam’s shift).

Where there are entry fees, there logically are exit fees. When the Texas schools bolted the Southland this spring, they each paid a relatively paltry $300,000 – as much as Sam Houston pays its baseball coach. Not exactly a tall hurdle to clear, so the remaining Southland membership agreed to hike their exit penalty rate.

Except in case McNeese makes a future move to FBS. The pile of concessions granted by the Southland Conference (with approval of its university presidents) was recited in a joint announcement Tuesday by the league and McNeese, with one exception. They didn’t mention McNeese staying is an engagement, not a remarriage. The door is left wide open for the Cowboys to climb up, at no cost. Nada. No toll booth to pass.

That’s a victory in Cowboy country, but a hollow plank elsewhere. McNeese going FBS is unlikely to occur any time soon. The only nearby FBS conferences, the Sun Belt and CUSA, aren’t interested or it would have already happened. For better (Sun Belt) and worse (CUSA), their membership shuffling is over for at least the next little bit, until the next seismic activity rolls downhill from the Power 5 leagues. When that happens, and it’s coming, it may very well knock the NCAA into oblivion.

In real time, McNeese recognized that losing New Mexico State and Sam Houston not only dashed the WACky dreams of upsizing to FBS status, but also suddenly greatly expanded an already frightful travel budget. The idea of a southern division was shot for a conference that stretches out to LA, up to Seattle, and into Arizona and Utah.

But keeping that option on the table presented a do-or-die decision to the Southland. Losing McNeese  would have collapsed the league because it would have fallen below minimum membership requirements to maintain automatic NCAA postseason qualification for its championship teams in all sports, not just football. NSU, Nicholls, SLU and UNO were already hurriedly considering unappealing fallback affiliations with the Ohio Valley Conference or the Atlantic Sun, both requiring leapfrogging states to get to conference contests.

So, the Cowboys got everything they asked for to stay put. From 2023-26, McNeese will host the conference basketball, baseball and softball tournaments, a decision that raised the ire of many coaches and fans around the Southland. The annual conference preseason football media event will be in Lake Charles. Don’t rule out the conference opening a satellite office there, hinting at moving its headquarters to SWLA.

My lunch bunch pals are wondering if we have to go to the Lake City for all future eatin’ meetin’s, or at least for four years.

Will the Southland sponsor a championship in duck calling and stage it in Cameron Parish?

Hmmmm, could be. The marsh people, who up until a couple of weeks felt like McLeast, too long taken for granted in the Texas-heavy Southland pecking order, are suddenly McAlmighty.

“A school that was desperate to get out of the league now becomes its biggest player,” wrote Lake Charles American Press columnist Jim Gazzolo.

The Southland sunshine dimmed a bit Friday when it lost the Alamo City’s Incarnate Word in a move that illustrates the desperation of the WAC. Stephen F. Austin 1) reluctantly accepted UIW into the Southland several years ago; 2) left the Southland citing substandard facilities and a lack of commitment to athletics by some league members, a clear diss aimed at UIW and Houston Baptist; and 3) now has kissed the pig and rolled out the WACky welcome mat.

But while amusing from that angle, UIW’s move does heighten the Southland’s urgency to recruit a couple more Division II football-playing members. Schools like Arkansas Tech, West Texas A&M, Central Oklahoma, even Delta State and West Florida could be receptive to an upgrade.

Some better be. You have to wonder, will Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (a non-football Southland member) look at a suddenly Louisiana-heavy league, and have a WAC-waiver? Will UL System czar Jim Henderson do what he didn’t earlier this fall regarding the McMove Mistake, and ensure that the inquiries by SLU and Nicholls toward possible ASUN affiliation are 86’d?

Time to update that #SouthlandStrong hashtag. It hasn’t fit all year. Truly, it was #SouthlandShaky, and for the time being, it’s #SouthlandSaved. For now.

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Here are a couple of notes of accomplishments by students in FFA at Stanley High School.

Stanley High School carpentry students recently placed 7th out of 34 teams in the Louisiana State Carpentry career development event. The contest focused on a timed construction contest but also included blueprint reading, materials calculations, and billing calculations.

Another item was Congratulations to students at Stanley High School in welding.  Several  students placed Reserve Grand Champion at the Louisiana State Fair Ag Mechanics.

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Report from the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office for the week of November 7-13, 2021.

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Helen Faye Posey Radford

April 10, 1032 to November 15, 2021

View full obituary here:

https://desotoparishjournal.com/2021/11/16/helen-faye-posey-radford/

Malissa Blow

Services Saturday November 20,2021 at 12:00 pm at New Elizabeth Baptist Church in  Mansfield.

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The DeSoto Parish Library is reminding patrons that all branches will be closed November 25-27 for Thanksgiving.  They will reopen the following Monday.

Thursday afternoon is Happy Hour at the Logansport branch library.  They will be creating candles.  Bring a jar and create a snowy votive.

Here is an informative holiday gift that will be appreciated all year.  Give everyone on your list an email subscription to the DeSoto Parish Journal.  All we need is their name and email address.  There is no cost to them or you.  As Archie Bunker said, “If it don’t cost you nuttin’ then you can afford to be generous.”

To keep friends and family up to the minute with news of DeSoto Parish, just CLICK HERE.

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A funeral service honoring the life of Mrs. Helen Faye Posey Radford, 89, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at First Baptist Church of Mansfield, in Mansfield, Louisiana. A visitation will be held on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow the service at Mansfield Cemetery in Mansfield, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Dr. Thumper Miller and Brother William Valentine.

Helen was born to Robert Earl Posey and Mamie Evans Posey on April 10th, 1932, in El Dorado, Arkansas, and entered into rest on November 15, 2021, in Mansfield, Louisiana.

Helen was a resident of Mansfield and worked for the Desoto Parish School Board for 25 years. On September 2, 1944, Helen professed her faith in Jesus. At the time of her passing, she was the longest living member of First Baptist Church of Mansfield, having been a member for 77 years. Helen could be described as an active Prayer Warrior, who wouldn’t hesitate to lift those in need.  She was a member of the Eastern Star, Red Hat Society, and held many positions in the Pilot Club with the most distinguished being President. She enjoyed singing in the FBC choir, attending Sunday school, cooking for her family, traveling, and sewing. A loving woman, Helen actively kept track of her loved one’s birthdays and would sing to them and send cards whenever the opportunity presented itself.  She was a special soul who will dearly be missed.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, William O. Radford, Sr; parents; brothers, Robert E. Posey, Jr. and James Leon Posey; sisters, Lyntine Posey Ricks, Doris Lee Posey McCuller, Louise Posey Odom, Myra Posey Myers, and her grandson, William Scott Radford.  She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Posey Gentry; sons, William Odell Radford, Jr and wife, Jeanie, and James E. Radford and partner, Cherrie; daughters, Gwendolyn Faye Radford Penny and husband, Michael, and Helen Patricia Radford Eddington and husband, Mark; 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honoring Helen as pallbearers will be David Posey, William Valentine, Craig Valentine, Richard Valentine, Eddie Myers, and Tim Myers. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be grandsons, Brad Radford, Andrew Penny, Matthew Radford, and Robert Eddington.

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The funeral of Bradley Thomas Craig will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Midway Baptist Church in Converse, Louisiana. Interment will follow at Noble Cemetery in Noble, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Brother Weyland Gauntt and Brother Jimmy Price.

Brad was born to Tillman Ray Craig and Connie Craig Frazier on May 7, 1979 in Shreveport, Louisiana and entered into eternal rest on November 9, 2021 in Converse, Louisiana.

Brad was a resident of Converse and worked as an A/C Technician for many years. A thoughtful young man, he proudly served his country in the United States Navy.  He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church and was an active and faithful follower of Christ. Brad could often be found camping and playing guitar, and he held a special place in his heart for his family, and his beloved dog, Mandy. He was a special soul and will be missed dearly.

Brad was preceded in death by his father, Tillman Ray Craig, and his stepfather, Charlie Frazier Jr. Left to cherish his memory are his mother; brothers, Clint Craig and wife, Jennifer, and Charlie Frazier III and wife, Kathy; sisters, D.J. Frazier and husband, Kent, and Angelia Frazier Goff and husband, Jason; his dog, Mandy, and several nieces and nephews.

Honoring Brad as pallbearers will be Braiden Craig, Lane Craig, Brandon Craig, Jeff Jagneaux, Kirk Jagneaux, and Kenneth Craig. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Kerwin Craig, Charlie Frazier III, and Michael Craig.

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By Nicole Tull

The DeSoto Parish Police Jury Committee for the Animal Control met Wednesday evening at 5:00 pm. Connie Philipp, director of Animal Control, presented a proposed budget with many line items having notations. She is requesting $400,000 from the jury to help with the nearly $520,000 proposed budget for 2022. The remaining monies will be raised through the Friends of the Animal Shelter group, donations, fundraisers, writing grants, etc. 

Philipp also explained that the fee schedule would be adjusted in an effort to accommodate the growing budget. In years past Animal Control has tried to work with the community when picking up animals. There is currently a $25 owner surrender fee but none for strays since no one can be found responsible for wandering animals. Animal Control has not been antagonistic thus far about enforcing fines for fences, dogs on chains, etc. as they want to have a good relationship with the community while still providing a service.

A full gallery of visitors listened as Philipp went on to explain the line-item notations on the proposed budget. The salary line indicates an increase reflecting personnel and needs. There were unexpected expenses incurred this past year due to the ice storm causing damage to the building. The facility is now 12 years old and is starting to show an increase in wear in which an increase is shown on the budget proposal maintenance line. The committee asked Philipp about available spaces for dogs and cats. She responded that there are 37 spaces for cats and 27 spaces for dogs inside. There is a space outside that can be utilized if needed that will allow for 6 more dogs. However, she insisted that it is not ideal to be at capacity as the animals are subject to disease and illness from the stress of being in confined space with other animals. Furthermore, the outside area is subject to the temperatures of the weather.

The committee then asked Philipp about the veterinarian from Marshall, TX that is working with Animal Control. They asked about employing a local vet.  She responded that she has been able to secure a steep discount from the out of state vet that the local vets have not been able to match. She assured the committee that she is considerate of expenses going in and out, trying to alleviate stress on the budget.

The committee thanked Philipp for her report and voted unanimously to accepted her budget. The committee will present the proposed budget for a vote by the full jury Monday night at the regularly scheduled Police Jury Meeting.

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The DeSoto Parish Journal is going to pay someone’s utility bill today.  Many folks in DeSoto parish entered our contest and the winner is Pamela Lindsey.  Congratulations to you.

We are going to pay your utility bill in the amount of$225.00.                    

Thanks to all who entered our “Pay My Utility Bill” contest.  

If you have friends or family members, someone at work, or someone at church who does not have an email subscription to the DeSoto Parish Journal, give them one.  It is free and we don’t sell your information or spam you.  Join our subscribers.  CLICK HERE

Thanks to everyone who has joined the growing family of Journal readers.  The DeSoto Parish Journal is your source of local news and information.

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Voluntary COVID and Flu vaccines will be available for students at public schools next Monday and Tuesday.  The schedule is on the graphic below.  Consent forms must be completed and turned in to their school prior to receiving the vaccine.

Consent forms and Vaccine Info Sheets can be found here: desotopsb.com/o/north-desoto-hs/page/voluntary-covid-flu-vaccines

Vaccinations will be administered at Mansfield schools on Monday, at Stonewall schools on Tuesday and also at Logansport and Stanley schools on Tuesday.

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Thursday November 11^th was Veterans Day and it was observed throughout DeSoto Parish.  All DeSoto public schools were given a vacation day.  They held various programs on Wednesday to thank and celebrate veterans.

Flags adorned streets, parks, businesses and other locations.  Federal and state offices were closed as were many banks and other offices.

The DeSoto Sheriff’s Office posted, “Every day we are grateful for the choices made to serve others, and the families that make sacrifices along with them. Freedom truly isn’t free. And today we salute those who counted the cost and stood for that freedom regardless. Thank you, Veterans!”

From DeSoto Schools, “To all our Veterans, thank you for serving our country and ensuring our freedoms.  We appreciate your dedication and sacrifices.”

Grand Cane School held a special program Thursday morning.  And they provided a meal for veterans.

The American Legion in Logansport teamed up with a local restaurant to feed veterans on Thursday.  Then last night the Legion post held a Flag Retirement at their post.

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that beginning on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, LA 513 (Oxford Road) at the Kansas City Southern Railroad crossing in the City of Mansfield, DeSoto Parish will be closed.

This closure is scheduled to take place from 8:00 a.m. on November 16th until 5:00 p.m. on November 17th and is necessary to allow KCS crews to perform repairs to their crossing.

Work will be performed Weather Permitting.

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The family owned vineyard on Highway 5 at Kickapoo hosted a wine tasting and festival at their location last Saturday.  The Journal spoke with proprietors Ed and Tracy Jordan.  They were very pleased with the turnout at their first such event.

Tracy said, “We are featuring our mulled blueberry wine and small dessert bites.  Charcuterie Plates were also available for purchase.”

Arts and craft vendors sold their wares around the winery.  And the aroma from the Hot Dog vendor was fantastic.  The Journal caught up with Ed when he stopped for a dog with everything on it.  Delicious!

The Jordans termed the event a Sip and Shop.  They had a great variety of Reds, Whites, Muscadine, Blueberry and Fruit wines to select from.  Ed Jordan explained that many of the grapes are grown on site.  He said the blueberry wines are produced from grapes grown in their vineyard and blueberries from Hillcrest Farms in DeSoto parish.

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By Steve Graf

For the past 4 years, our gas prices dropped dramatically and stayed around the $2.00 mark. But with the Democrats taking charge of the White House and Covid-19 making its presence felt, gas is once again soaring. At the time of writing this article, gas was at $2.99 and rising. This has a huge impact on tournament anglers, especially the weekend warriors and those who compete in local and area wide tournaments for the love of the sport. Today, we’ll talk about what 2022 might be like in terms of bass tournaments and how anglers will be affected.

Let’s first start with boats and the demand for parts. It has been, and could continue to be, a problem for boat owners to get parts needed to keep their boat engines running. If you own a bass boat, it’s just a matter of time before you’ll need engine repairs. Getting the parts, like powerheads, filters, or water pumps, has been a real issue ever since Covid hit a year ago last February. Since many parts come from overseas, the back log of the supply chain has also had a ripple effect into boat manufacturing facilities. Without parts, some boat factories have had to cut production in half or even completely shut down. When parts do arrive on American shores, getting the parts off-loaded is a whole other issue. Then to top it off,  there are not enough truckers to get the parts to the marine dealers.

The next issue is the increase in pricing for both new and used boats. It’s all about supply and demand. When the demand is higher than the supply chain, boat dealers can and will increase their prices as well. The other side of the coin is that, if anglers continue to buy these high-priced boats, dealers will continue to raise the prices.  As for the boat manufacturers, they have had to increase prices because the cost of materials continues to skyrocket. Furthermore, after a boat has been built, there is a major challenge to get a new outboard motor to put on the boat. Dealers will tell you that you’re probably looking at 6 months before they will see a new motor. The brand of engine does not matter at this stage of the game. Some guys who have always run a certain brand like Mercury or Yamaha, are now taking whatever, they can get.

Last, but not least, tackle! Companies like Strike King, V&M and Berkley are having a hard time keeping up with the demand for products like spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or jigs. This is mainly due to the lack of hardware needed to produce these types of baits. Hooks, swivels, wire, and plastic are just a few of the thing’s manufacturers are having trouble getting their hands on. For months, retailers have been out of stock and are doing their best to keep up with the demand. But as fast as manufacturers can get it to the dealer, customers are grabbing them up, and in some cases, one customer will buy every bait on the peg just because he does not know if or when they’ll be restocked. It’s created a type of panic mode similar to the ammunition demand.

So, if you’re an angler, try and exercise a little patience as manufacturers push to get caught up. But don’t expect to see any relief anytime soon as this could go all the way into 2023. Nothing will change until the supply chain gets back to a normal mode. Tune into the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on AM 1130 The Tiger KWKH, every Wednesday at 11:00 and Saturday mornings at 6:00 for the latest outdoor news.  Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook.

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