The District of Excellence Award has been presented to DeSoto K-2 EL teachers. It was presented by Imagine Learning (formerly Learnzillion) for the implementation of the Expeditionary Learning Tier I curriculum.
In issuing congratulations, DeSoto Schools noted, This National Award is another reason we are the DeSoto Difference.”
The track team from Mansfield High School brought home a state championship this spring. Their efforts were recognized this week by the police jury.
The DeSoto Parish Police Jury gathered to pay tribute to the Mansfield High School’s Track Team. They are the Louisiana State Champions. The police jury presented each member of the team with a medal. Mansfield High received a Trophy.
By Teddy Allen
Louisiana Tech’s baseball team, proud of its “rally trains” that often opportunistically chug across the tracks beyond J.C. Love Field’s outfield fence, found itself last weekend in need of a rally bus.
Or two.
Or more.
The 12-hour one-way trip to play Charlotte in North Carolina in the final three-game series of the regular season began mid-morning Tuesday aboard a pair of busses. This happens at a school Tech’s size many times each season. Few charter flights at mid-majors.
Most people don’t appreciate the grind of sports travel. You just think it’s hard getting to the family reunion and not losing your mind or getting in a fistfight once you’re there. That’s a ride for a quarter on a drugstore pony compared to moving an entire team from Point Home to Point Lord-Help-Us-All.
Flying commercial with a baseball team is stressful for lots of reasons — cost, long layovers or delayed flights, and mainly airport check-in folk who, God love them, are not usually prepared for the amount of equipment a team needs to transport.
You can get through a line faster at the world’s worst DMV. But say what you will about the DMV, they don’t make you take your shoes off to walk inside.
The friendly skies my ass.
But a bus, you can control. Until you can’t.
And that’s what happened.
I was tagging along with the team and, having driven to Carolina and back many times, knew my butt would be numb. Didn’t know my mind would be too.
Tech’s first leg was to Hoover, Alabama. Six hours, practice, sleep, Wednesday ride the next six hours, practice, sleep, play Thursday and Friday, play Saturday morning and ride all night the 12 hours back to Ruston.
It worked out that way and wasn’t bad, most things considered — unless you consider what should have been a Silver Streak-like, stop-at-Cracker-Barrel-for-lunch, Straight Shot to Hoover.
Unfortunately, you do have to consider it, and it was stupefying.
Our drivers stopped in Tallulah for an emergency kidney transplant. (Check that: for a soda pop.) Then we stopped an hour after lunch and only 80 minutes from Hoover because one of the busses needed to rest for 15 minutes or it might “explode.” Something about calibration or restoration but more likely a fabrication, which in this case was driver talk for “I need a heater and another soda pop.”
We were eastbound, but down. Uneasy riders.
Because there were too many hitches in too many git-a-longs, we finally worked out a compromise with the drivers. It was something like, “Can we borrow the keys?” They drove and there were no more unscheduled stops. Probably just a misunderstanding.
Probably.
The Bulldogs lost to Charlotte’s 49ers, the hottest team in the league at 11-1 against Conference USA opponents in their most recent four series, in Game 1, 11-3. Most things considered, semi-embarrassing. But as they’ve done all season, the ’Dogs rebounded to win the next two, 8-3 and 14-5, making the ride home much less painful.
The busses might have stopped, but they didn’t slow Tech down. Pretty resilient, these Bulldogs.
Funny thing about a baseball team. On the road, they stumble into a restaurant or truck stop and fan out in their street shorts and tees and the people inside don’t know if the carnival is in town, if the roadies for Motley Crue are hungry, or if the church men’s group is stopping for gas and a Peanut Pattie on the way to help clean up after a hurricane. All shapes and sizes, these baseball guys.
But on the field, if you’ve watched them play, who they’ve become is easy to recognize. Tech bussed to Hattiesburg, Miss., Tuesday — you get the feeling they’d have walked if necessary, so eager are they to play — to begin the Conference USA tournament today. They’re 38-18 overall, 20-10, and second place in the league. A tournament title is on the line, maybe a berth in next week’s regionals.
Their coach says his guys are just ready to get the show back on the road.
“This time of year, you need to be playing loose, having fun, and we seem to be doing that,” Lane Burroughs said. “I don’t know how we’ll do this week. But I can assure you of this: these guys aren’t ready for the season to end.”
They don’t want to stop anymore.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
Selection of the All District Baseball teams have been released. The North DeSoto High Griffins placed several players on the District 1-4A teams.
Here is the list of those selected:
Kam Mangum – Jr – District 1-4A MVP and 1st team All District pitcher
Peyton Mathews – Sr – 1st team All District Infield
Dalton Hill – Sr – 1st team All District Infield
Landon Leblanc – Sr – 1st team All District Outfield
Landen Williams – Sr – 1st team All District Utility
Braden Richardson – Jr – 1st team All District Pitcher
Robert Ashley – Jr – 1st team All District Catcher
Sam Odom – Jr – 1st team All District Outfield
Eli Morris – Jr – 1st team All District Utility
Kaleb Gibson – Jr – 2nd team All District Infield
North DeSoto High said, “Congrats to these players and thank you to all of the players on the team, you each had a role in helping North De Soto Baseball earn the 2022 District 1-4A title, State semifinalist, and finishing the season with an overall record of 33-6.”
By Nicole Tull
Logansport High School Athletic Banquet was held on May 9. There were many sports receiving recognition. First up was football. Coach Magee bragged on the boys making it to the State Finals. Every player received an award, even 6th grader Collin Magee, son of Coach Kevin Magee. Several boys were given multiple awards for their dedication to the team.
Boys basketball honors were given to Kelan Dagley, 1st Team All District, 2nd Team All Area, Honorable Mention All State. Brody Patton receive All District Defensive and Jayven Claybrook received 2nd Team All District.
Girls’ softball team were given All District Awards. First Team All District awards are Emmarie, Atkins, Jordan Porterfield and Avery Creech. Second Team All District awards were Colby Rolfe and Landry Atkins. Honorable Mention was Kennedi Smith.
Boys track won state championship in 4×200 and state runner up in 4×100. Baseball team made it as far as All District. Cross Country, Girls track and Girls basketball were also sports receiving honors.
Cheerleaders often do not compete as other teams do. However, they support the other sports while they are playing. They rev up the crowd and keep encouraging when the players are down. All of the graduating seniors were honored for their cheerleading efforts.
Rev. Emily L. Carroll of Shady Grove United Methodist Church sent notice that there will be a family clean-up day at St. Mark Cemetery near Holly on Memorial Day. She is helping spread the word on the clean-up.
Rev. Willie Sherin, Pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church is leading the clean-up effort. He said, “Please come to help in the best way that you can.”
The clean-up will be at St. Mark Cemetery near Holly on Monday, May 30th, Memorial Day from 7:00 until 10:00 am.
By Brad Dison
Mary and her husband, George, attended a dinner party at Anna’s home. Anna’s husband was away on business, so she convinced her brother, Hall, to be her escort at the formal affair. It was a big to-do. All of the men wore dress suits or tuxedos. The women wore “dinner dresses,” which differed from evening party gowns and reception gowns in the kind of fabrics used. Anna wore a white satin dress with matching gloves. The dinner party guests made small talk in the hall until the butler announced, “Dinner is served.”
The men escorted the ladies into the dining room and to their designated seats. The guest list was long, but Anna made sure that Mary sat at her table. Mary and Anna were strong-minded women and became fast friends when they met the previous year.
As etiquette necessitated, the meal was doled out in multiple courses. No one refused a course regardless of whether or not they intended to eat it. If a course did not suit their fancy, they used their utensils and pretended to eat it while making small talk. Each course lasted a certain number of minutes. The plates or bowls for each course were promptly removed at predetermined times whether or not the guests were finished eating. Everything was done with military precision.
During the multi-course dinner, Anna realized that Mary was becoming impatient with the formalities. Mary, somewhat of a tomboy, always preferred trousers to dresses. Mary enjoyed the freedom of movement trousers provided although she recognized that all of the other females wore dresses. She may have recognized it, but it certainly did not alter her decision to wear trousers. On this occasion, however, Mary wore a fine dinner dress with a mink coat (which she probably borrowed) because she would never have turned down Anna’s dinner invitation.
Mary had had enough. She was enjoying her conversation with George, Anna, and Hall, but the steady stream of servants and all of the rules of etiquette were just too much. The dinner seemed to last forever. Finally, Mary hatched a plan. She suggested to Anna that they sneak out of the party and take a short evening pleasure flight. To Anna, it seemed like the perfect adventure.
To the surprise of the wait staff, Anna, Hall, George, and Mary excused themselves from the dinner party with the simple explanation that they would return shortly. The other guests continued with their dinner as if nothing had happened. The foursome drove to the airport and boarded an Eastern Air Transport’s twin-engine biplane. The pilot and co-pilot taxied the plane onto the runway and took off.
Free from the stuffy dinner party, Mary and Anna were truly enjoying themselves. As the plane leveled out, Mary suggested that they, Mary and Anna, take their adventure to the next level and fly the plane. Anna, not one to back down from a challenge, eagerly agreed. This was her chance to fly. Anna had applied for pilot’s license but her husband persuaded her not to take flying lessons because he dreamed that she had crashed an airplane.
Mary and Anna told the pilot and co-pilot that they were going to fly the airplane for a few minutes. No record exists of George or Hall’s reaction to their decision to commandeer the airplane. Neither Mary nor Anna would take no for an answer, so Mary traded places with the pilot and Anna with the co-pilot. For a few brief minutes, the two ladies, still in dinner gowns and mink coats, flew in the skies between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland, before returning to the airport. Elated, the foursome returned to Anna’s dinner party just as the dessert course was being served. The other patrons of the dinner party welcomed them back and continued with their own conversations.
Mary and Anna were thrilled with their flight of fancy. No one would expect the First Lady of the United States, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, to leave a dinner party at the White House and take a flight with Mary. Five years later, Mary and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to circumnavigate the globe in an airplane. On January 5, 1939, Amelia Mary Earhart was declared dead in absentia.
Sources:
Students who aren’t sure where they’ll go to college this fall are encouraged to apply for the Journal Services NSU Scholarships, which will award three new Northwestern State University students up to $3,000 in the next school year.
Applications are being accepted beginning today through midnight June 8. A link to a simple online application form is available at the bottom of this story.
The scholarships are designed to assist Class of 2022 high school students who haven’t settled on a college choice, as well as students currently enrolled at other higher-education institutions who are considering transferring to NSU in Natchitoches.
They are being provided by Journal Services, LLC, the business that serves local and area residents by providing the framework for the DeSoto Parish Journal. Journal Services, LLC, is based in Natchitoches and supports 12 journals covering north central and northwest Louisiana.
“We know there are students who haven’t decided yet where they’ll go to college this fall. We know that in many cases, money is a key factor in making college accessible,” said Bill Vance, general manager of Journal Services, LLC. “We are providing three game-changing scholarships bringing eager students to NSU to take advantage of the excellent academic programs here, and to live in a community where there are plenty of opportunities to find part-time jobs and to have a great student experience.”
A successful applicant from DeSoto Parish will join 252 other local students who attend Northwestern. Among the university’s 81,000 alumni, 1,057 currently live in DeSoto Parish.
Applicants are asked to provide their high school GPA (and college GPA if applicable), and also, report their ACT score along with listing honors, extracurricular activities and other relevant information on the form. That information will provide a basis for selecting the three winners.
The scholarship awards are for $1,500 cash per semester in the 2022-23 academic year. To renew the scholarship for the Spring 2023 semester, winners must post at least a 2.7 Fall semester GPA at NSU.
Scholarship winners must live in Natchitoches Parish during the upcoming school year. They are also required to have in-person, face-to-face instruction for 75 percent of their classes in 2022-23.
Students who have already accepted financial aid awards from Northwestern are not eligible to apply.
APPLICATION: To Apply – Click Here
Victoria Carroll of Grand Cane is among 104 students and professionals inducted this month into the Order of the Engineer. Carroll is a senior in Engineering at Louisiana Tech University’s College of Engineering and Science (COES).
During the ceremony on May 6th, initiates received Engineer’s Rings, stainless steel rings placed on the fifth finger of the working hand as a visible symbol and reminder of their dedication to high ethical and professional standards. At the same ceremony, they voluntarily signed the Obligation of an Engineer and vowed to use their skills as engineers to serve the public with integrity and honesty.
Opening Date:
Closing Date: Continuous until filled
Salary Commensurate with experience
Job Type: Unclassified
Location: Natchitoches, Louisiana
Supplemental Information:
Northwestern State University Office of Business Affairs seeks a qualified applicant for the position of
Purchasing Director.
Review of applications will begin immediately.
To Apply: Send letter of application, resume and complete contact information for three professionals
references to:
Apply@nsula.edu or submit to:
Human Resources
Northwestern State University
St. Denis Hall
Natchitoches, La 71497
The successful candidate will be subject to a background check, as a condition of employment.
Northwestern State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion,
Sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy or parenting status, and veteran or retirement status in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies (i.e., Title IX):
Employees/Potential Employees- Veronica M. Biscoe, EEO Officer
(318-357-6359)
Students- Reatha Cox, Dean of Students (318-357-5286)
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerns, contact the Disability Support and Tutoring Director, Randi Washington at 318-357-4460.
Additionally, Northwestern complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy & Campus Crime Statistics Act. Information about NSU’s campus security and crime statistics can be found at http;//universitypolice.nsula.edu/annual-security-report/.
Full disclosure statement: http;//university.planning.nsula.edu/notice-of-non-discrimination/
*Inquiries regarding employment application status should be made to the Human Resources Department
Telephone: 318-357-5965
Qualifications:
Job Concepts:
The following arrests were made in DeSoto Parish between May 15 – May 21, 2022, over a one week period.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Jon Ryan Temple
September 11, 1981 to May 18, 2022
View full obituary here:
https://desotoparishjournal.com/2022/05/22/jon-ryan-temple/
Clara Springs Camp said, “The May Fourth Friday Fish Fry is just around the corner. Join us on Friday, May 27th for fun, fellowship, and good food. Grand Cane Baptist Church will be our hosts for the evening.”
From the Town of Stonewall, the playground equipment is back open. They ran out of the rubber surface and will be back to do that at a later date. There will be a walkway added to the inclusive play area as well.
The Historic Grand Cane Association will hold their first night market on June 4th from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. There will be food vendors and a DJ at the market, to be held in the city park.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Jon Ryan Temple, 40, of Mansfield, Louisiana will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 23, 2022, at Hunter Magnolia Baptist Church, 173 Magnolia Ave, Mansfield, Louisiana, with Rev. Amador Santos officiating. Burial will follow at Magnolia Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be on the day of service from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service at the church.
Ryan was born on September 11, 1981, in Shreveport, Louisiana to Bruce and Sherri Temple. He entered into rest on May 18, 2022. Ryan was a loving son, brother, and most of all a loving father to his three children. He loved to hunt and fish.
Ryan is preceded in death by his father Bruce Ersell Temple; brother-in-law, Jason Sant; and paternal grandparents, Newton “Buddy” Temple and Lois Temple Reed. Left to cherish his memory include his mother, Sherri Temple; sons, Dalton Elijah Temple, and Rylan Bruce Temple; daughter, Aspen Temple; sister, Tabitha Sant; nieces, Kendal Lynn Sant, and Kori Jayse Sant; uncles, Ricky Temple and wife, Kim, Justin Reed and wife, Tina; aunts, Debra Gallaspy and husband, Daniel, Tina Farris and husband, Dennis, Sr, and Debra Ann Palmer and husband, Alan; and a host of family and friends.
Honoring Ryan as pallbearers will be Justin Reed, Sam Caston, Rustin Belcher, D.J. Farris, Jamie Bass and Sam Ward. Honorary pallbearers will be Newton Farris.
DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies have finished up a multi-day training event thanks to our local DeSoto EMS. The Sheriff’s Office said, “This is the first time our deputies have had access to an open “Wound Simulator” which allows training on packing, as well as stopping bleeds on lacerations and gunshot wounds.”
All in attendance were able to refresh their skills and certifications in CPR, AED, First Aid, among various other lifesaving procedures. Deputies from various divisions including front office staff participated in the training.
This was an in-depth, hands-on approach that allowed deputies to react in real time to realistic emergency situations. We cannot overstate our thanks to DeSoto EMS for inviting our staff to take part in this training and hosting the event at their facility.
The Town of Stonewall announced the Community Park playground is currently closed. There is a company working to get the playground equipment rearranged and adding a border with rubber surfacing.
The town posted the closure notice a few days ago. Barring complications the work should be done by the end of this week.
The Grammy winning Commodores are the big name headliner for this weekend’s Natchitoches Jazz R&B Festival but, according to Board Member Lisa Prudhomme, this year’s 25th Silver Celebration Festival offers much much more in the way of entertainment for the entire family.
“Sure, we are super excited about the Commodores,” said Prudhomme. “But at the end of the day, they are just one of 25 great bands who are going to be playing on the riverbank this weekend.” Prudhomme reminded that a Friday night show has been added featuring Zydeco great Gerard Delafose and the Zydeco Gators and 80’s hairband tribute act, LA Roxx. Tickets for Friday night’s show are only $10 with active duty military and children 12 and under admitted free.
Prudhomme said that there is a lot of buzz around the return of the Nashville based Journey tribute band Resurrection which will be returning to the festival by popular demand.
“Resurrection played in Prather Coliseum when we had to move the Festival there a few years ago” said Prudhomme. “A fairly small crowd attended because of the move but every person there was totally blown away with their re-creation of a Journey concert. We knew we had to get them back as soon as possible.”
Natchitoches’ own Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs are going to be quite busy as has been tradition with the band at this Festival. They will be joined by several guest performers including county star Marty Haggard, doing a tribute to his father Merle, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Elvis Presley’s guitarist James Burton, and Natchitoches native and former Voice contestant Deshawn Washington.
“The Natchitoches Jazz Fest is always one of our favorite events to play,” said Moondogs keyboardist Henry Reggans. “We feel like we have a great set this year and are really excited to be joined by those other great artists.”
Prudhomme emphasized that the event is family friendly with bouncy houses and other activities for the kids and that there will be lots of food and refreshments, including adult beverages.
She is also excited about the move of the Jazz Stage to the brand new Venue on Front Street.
“The Jazz Stage this year will be in the cool confines of the new Venue on Front Street, (formerly Jimbo’s and The Landing) and it will be a great place to take a few minutes to cool off, have a cool drink and listen to some smooth jazz. We think it is going to be a great addition to the Festival,” Prudhomme said. A festival armband will be required for attendance.
Finally, Prudhomme did point out that while attendees are encouraged to bring their chairs, chairs will not be allowed on the amphitheater or in the area immediately in front of or adjacent to the main stage. However, chairs will be allowed at the other three stages and at the very top of the hill, on the sidewalk and the edge of Front Street. Tickets are still on sale. For more information go to http://www.natchjazzfest.com.
By Royal Alexander
If America—or the world—needed a spark of hope in these difficult times, it was provided at this year’s Kentucky Derby by the winner, Rich Strike.
To call this victory improbable is to galactically understate. To describe the win as “against all odds” is to redefine the meaning of odds.
Winning trainer, Eric Reed, almost left horseracing entirely after a tragedy 5 years ago when he lost nearly two dozen horses in a barn fire at his training center in Lexington, Kentucky. For a short time, he considered the fire might be a sign for him to leave the sport.
Instead, “people I hadn’t seen, people I haven’t talked to in years, my best friends were there in the morning to pick me up,” Reed recalled. “It let me know there’s so much good out there, and then I just decided I wasn’t going to let it take me out.”
During the Kentucky Derby race itself, everything that could have been stacked against Rich Strike, was stacked against him. He was an 80-1 longshot. The second longest odds of a horse to ever win the Derby.
He was a “claimed” horse—the only Kentucky Derby winner ever to have been purchased in a claiming race—for a paltry $30,000. This means his owner did not purchase him outright at a private sale, public auction, or syndicate; likely because he showed so little consistency or promise.
In fact, Rich Strike barely made the race at all. It required another horse to make a last-minute scratch before there was a spot for him. Rick Dawson, owner of Rich Strike, found out his horse would be running in the Derby about 30 seconds before the Friday morning entry deadline.
Then, the horse started the race from the very worst spot of all—the 20th spot. In the early moments of the race, he was in the back of the pack—3rd from last. Rich Strike was behind 17 horses heading into the far turn and behind 14 horses as they entered the stretch.
However, as the race miraculously unfolded, he slowly gained ground by weaving in and out of spots since he was sandwiched between other horses—a stride or two later and he’d have been blocked in—but kept pushing forward. Always forward, always onward.
Then, because ‘fortune favours the strong and the brave’, (Terence), Rich Strike shot through a gap and maneuvered his way to slide into a position on the rail that had momentarily opened between two other horses.
From the rail he quietly crept up unnoticed on the two lead horses whose riders were focused on their own duel and were stunned to see him surge past in the homestretch.
Rich Strike won because they forgot to tell him that he wasn’t supposed to win, or to even be in the race, or to be able to run that fast—but he didn’t know that. He thought he could. And he could. And he did.
Like a magnet to steel, Rich Strike relentlessly punched through the spring air toward the finish line, and, channeling Secretariat, raced down the home stretch, “like a tremendous machine, ” and then, into the pages of history.
It is both beneficial and deeply satisfying to periodically witness such a dramatic and unexpected example of success against such great odds.
America is also in a race—a race to save her future and achieve her God-given destiny. Fortunately, unlike Rich Strike, our Nation does not start this race at the back of the pack at 80 to 1 odds.
However, with inflation at a 40 year high, surging food and gasoline prices, a lethal crime wave, a new surge of the China Virus on the horizon for the fall, a potentially nuclear war in Eastern Europe, the hardship caused by our intentionally destroyed energy independence, and with intimidation, hate and threats of violence aimed by the Woke mob at Supreme Court Justices who may be on the verge, after 50 long, cruel years, of righting the barbaric wrong of Roe v. Wade by restoring the right to life and the protection of our laws to the weakest and most innocent among us, we Americans have much to be concerned about.
But I believe that, like this unknown and unheralded horse, when we rededicate ourselves to stay the course, ‘to fight the good fight, to keep the faith, and to finish the race’ (Timothy) there is really nothing that can stop us as Americans.
On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, just before 12:00 a.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a one-vehicle fatality crash on LA Hwy 191, just south of Pierce Road. This crash claimed the life of 40-year-old Jon Temple, who was not wearing a seat belt.
The initial investigation revealed a 2009 GMC Sierra, driven by Temple, was traveling north on LA Hwy 191. For reasons still under investigation, Temple exited the roadway and struck a tree.
Temple, who was not unrestrained, was fatally injured as a result of this crash and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the DeSoto Parish Coroner.
Impairment is suspected to be a factor in this crash. Routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
Time and time again, Troopers witness preventable motor vehicle crashes. Impairment and lack of seat belt usage are primary causes of crashes across the state of Louisiana. Louisiana State Police urge motorists to have a plan in place that includes a designated driver when consuming alcohol. Alcohol can impair visual ability, alter the sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills, and decrease reaction times. Alcohol can begin to impair a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle after just one drink. Please choose to not drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver, and always buckle up.
In 2022, Troop G has investigated 13 fatal crashes, resulting in 14 deaths.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and CHRISTUS Cancer Treatment Center is hosting its 31st annual skin cancer screening event in partnership with Dermatology & Skin Surgery on Monday, May 23.
“Skin cancer is very common, but with early detection and proper treatment, the cure rate is very good. This short screening could be a potentially lifesaving decision,” said Dr. Jason Romero, dermatologist, Dermatology & Skin Surgery.
The free event provides individuals an opportunity to be screened by a physician who can answer questions about irregular shaped moles, dark skin spots or areas that could become problematic. The screening just takes a few minutes.
“We are excited to bring this screening back to what it was pre-COVID in our community,” said Dr. Scott Boniol, Medical Director of CHRISTUS Cancer Treatment Center. “Skin cancer concerns can come with some scary sounding diagnoses like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, but we are willing and able to offer support from diagnosis to treatment and long-term follow up.”
Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly five million people are treated for it each year. It is estimated that 7,650 people will die from Melanoma, the deadliest type, in 2022. 90% of all skin cancer is caused by Ultraviolet Radiation and sun exposure. This is a wake-up call to take care of your skin.
“Summer is here and that means we are headed outdoors. It is important that we take steps to protect ourselves from skin cancer and get the tests and screenings needed,” said Dr. Cooper Heard, dermatologist, Dermatology & Skin Surgery.
You still have time to register for the 31st annual Free Skin Cancer Screening Event at the CHRISTUS Cancer Treatment Center, located on the CHRISTUS Highland campus. This event is in partnership with Dermatology & Skin Surgery team. It is slated for Monday, May 23 from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Screening takes just a few minutes and does require pre-registration. Slots will fill quickly, to register call 318.656.7698.
This week Logansport High School surprised their beloved Lillie Giles with the dedication of the garden area in her honor. Giles served education for 50 years to LHS & DeSoto Parish.
Logansport High’s welding students under Mr. Alan Bagley and Josh Dahlem built the bench that will sit in the garden area in the front of our junior and high school wings.
It was a big job keeping this project under wraps until it was completed. The school said, “It is never easy to get one over on Ms. Giles!”
By Steve Graf
Bass fishermen are weather fanatics! We are constantly looking at the forecast and what to expect for our next event. We are so enthralled with the weather that we will look at the forecast 10 days in advance so we can start planning our fishing strategy. But nothing gets an angler’s attention quicker than stormy skies. During my 32 years as a tournament angler, there have been a couple of situations that really made me nervous.
Back in 2015 on Toledo Bend was one such day, as the forecast was for clear skies with light and variable winds out of the south at 10 to 15 MPH. But you must first understand that a south wind on Toledo Bend means it’s coming right down the pipe. It’s a lake where even a small amount of wind out of the north or the south can make navigation difficult. The problem with Toledo Bend is that you must run the boat roads which puts you out in the middle of the lake most of the time. To compare, Sam Rayburn has no boat roads, and you can run closer to the bank and get out of the wind most of the time.
But on this one occasion in 2015, the tournament was out of Fin & Feather Resort on the far south end of Toledo Bend. This resort is located on the south bank of what is called Six Mile Bay. A south wind has no impact on this area and is an area you can fish without much of a problem. But as my number was called for takeoff and I headed for the main lake to make a run north and across the lake to Negreet Creek, I was met with 20 plus MPH winds and four-foot rollers (waves). One thing about driving a boat, it’s a lot easier to go against the waves rather than go with them. As I made the turn north in this rough water, it was apparent rather quickly that my run to Negreet Creek was not going to happen.
After riding four-foot waves for about three miles and beating my co- angler and myself to death, I finally came to a pocket on the west side I could pull into and possibly fish. After we gained our composure and dried off from our soaking short run, I told my co-angler to settle in for the day because we were not going to go out and fight that kind of rough water until time to go back for the weigh-in.
Another problem with running in this kind of rough water is the wear and tear on your boat and equipment. I’ve seen anglers come in with trolling motors hanging off or their electronic fish sonars no longer on the boat after a rough ride in. Boat hulls have sustained major damage and anglers have been hurt fighting waves and trying to stay in the boat on these long runs back. At some point as an angler you must ask yourself, “Is it worth tearing up all my equipment for a few pounds of fish?”
The answer for me is a resounding “NO,” as I must not only worry about myself, but I have a co-angler that I’m responsible for getting back safely. After a long day of fishing, we headed back with south winds now exceeding 25 MPH. We were over three miles from the boat ramp, and I knew it was going to take at least an hour to go that distance in that kind of water. So, we left at 2:00 for a 3:00 weigh-in time. It was a good thing we did as I was never able to put the boat on a plane and run. We literally idled the entire three miles back to Six Mile Bay and made our check in time with only two minutes to spare. I’ve only kissed the ground twice in my life, once on Sam Rayburn and this day on Toledo Bend.
Again, anglers face all kinds of weather every season, but nothing affects us or our decisions more than wind. The first question I always ask myself when a decision must be made, “Is it worth it?” Most of the time, the answer is “no” and will always be “no” when it comes to the safety of my co-angler and myself. Until next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!
The route for this year’s Juneteenth Celebration Parade has been published. It will start at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 25 at the DeSoto Multicultural Center on Old Jefferson Highway. It will end up at the DeSoto Parish Courthouse.
The Mansfield Civic Group posted the theme “Just Like Back in the Day.” They are going
back through the Neighborhood.
The Grand Marshall of the parade will be Mansfield Mayor-Elect Thomas Jones.
Lula Mae Smith- Johnson
December 21, 1941 to May 14, 2022
Service: Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. Deliverance Temple Church Coushatta, LA Interment: Liberty Hill B.C. Cemetery Coushatta, LA
Clarence “JacKMack” Tyler
September 9, 1937 to May 8, 2020
Service: Saturday, May 21,2022 @ 11:00 A.M. Shady Grove U.M.C. Mansfield.
The summer reading programs at the library begin next week. Visit Mrs. Spencer at the Mansfield Library for the 2022 Summer Reading Program Kickoff on Wednesday, May 25 at 2 p.m. She has a lot of great Programs planned.
And visit Mrs. Diane at the Logansport Library for the 2022 Summer Reading Program Kickoff on Thursday, May 26 at 1 p.m. Registration starts Friday, May 20.
Soccer Camp is next Monday through Thursday at North DeSoto Stadium. Boys and Girls grades 4th through 12th can participate. Contact Coach Wilson for more information.