Stanley’s Panthers defeated Calvin 53-45 last Thursday. That set up a match with #5 Lacassine this week. Stanley again will be on the road this week as their quest of the state championship continues.
Last week the Mansfield Wolverines blew out Doyle 72-49 in the first round of the Division III playoffs. Mansfield is on the road this week at a very tough Port Allen at 6:30 on Tuesday night.
Clifford Sistrunk, age 81 years entered into eternal rest on February 26, 2023 at his home in Mitchell, Louisiana surrounded by his loving family.
“Pete” as he was called by all who knew him, was born on January 24, 1942 at home in Mitchell, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Morris Sistrunk and Margie (McCullor) Sistrunk Tarpley.
Pete is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty Ann (Parnell) Sistrunk and three daughters: Lois Jean Bergeron and husband Steven; Lisa Ann Procell and husband Paul; Lori Joan Barnhill and husband Gary. Four grandchildren: Andrew Bergeron, Alison Bergeron; Jacob Barnhill, and Emily Barnhill. Two step-grandchildren: Michael Procell; Courtney (Procell) Moshrefi and husband Justin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The majority of his life was spent in Mitchell, Louisiana, but he resided in Mansfield, Louisiana for 36 years where he and Betty raised their family. Professionally, Pete’s welding career began as an employee of Beaird Industries of Shreveport, Louisiana where he worked for 18 years.
Afterwards, he was a Welding Instructor at Mansfield Technical College for 24 years where he mentored numerous students. Having completed 42 years of active welding service, Pete retired to his beloved home in the woods.
Pete was a humble man who modeled his life after Christ’s teachings. Throughout his life and especially after retirement, Pete willingly volunteered to help anyone in need, whether it was a welding job to build outdoor Christmas decorations for the city of Mansfield, maintaining the Mitchell Cemetery and Community Center grounds, or cooking food for large groups. He planted a large garden and enjoyed sharing produce with family and friends.
Pete loved to hunt and fish and was very successful at both. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, especially his children and grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.
A public visitation will be held at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, Louisiana on Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
A funeral service will immediately follow the visitation with Pastor Josh Burford officiating.
Interment will follow at the Mitchell Cemetery in Converse, Louisiana.
Honoring Pete as pallbearers will be Travis “Bubba” English, Beau Young, Glen Freeman,
Greg Dyess, Donny Taylor, and Bruce Taylor. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jimmy Clements, Brose Hayes, Talton McDonald, Hulon Sistrunk, Mike McConathy, and William Palmer.
A graveside service for Syble Corley Ruffin will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, March 4th at Highland Cemetery in Mansfield, LA.
Syble was born August 23, 1929 in Smackover, Arkansas to her parents P.A. & Lilly Corley and passed away February 25, 2023 in Mansfield, LA at the age of 93.
She was preceded in death by her husband Francis B. Ruffin, her parents, her 3 sisters and her 4 brothers.
Left to cherish her memory is her only daughter Francine Lindsey Ruffin, brother-in-law Gary Ruffin (Marianne) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Syble was a faithful member of the First Methodist Church of Mansfield. She and her husband ran several business operations during her lifetime. Syble loved her Savior, family and friends. Syble was always “dressed for the occasion” wherever she went.
Pallbearers will be Jim Ruffin, Albert Ruffin, Sonny Hall, Alan Yarbrough, Robert Webb and Russell Webb.
The family wishes to thank Mansfield Nursing Center and its employees, Dr. Kamberov and hospice for all the loving care they provided Syble.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
This Week’s report covers a two week period as of 9:00 am Monday morning and includes of all arrests made in DeSoto Parish by the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO), Mansfield Police Department (MPD), and Louisiana State Police (LSP.)
This report covers February 13-27, 2023.
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.
A “Celebration of Life” service for Susan Cora Stone, 68, will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at First Southern Methodist Church, 300 Old Jefferson Rd. in Stonewall, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Rev. McKee Williams.
Susan was born on April 15, 1954 in Macomb County, Michigan to Warren and Gladys Crothers and passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2023 in Shreveport.
Susan was a resident of Shreveport. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from LSUS University and was a music and grade schoolteacher for 20 years.
She was an accomplished pianist and vocalist. She created cantatas at her church where she led children in song. Her love of music allowed her to share and teach generations of children to play the piano and hosted an abundance of piano recitals. Susan gave countless time to the music ministry including children’s ministry, church services, and special family events.
When not playing music, she enjoyed working in her flowerbeds and planting a vegetable garden.
She loved animals, especially her dogs and cats. Susan was a sweet and wonderful daughter, sister, niece, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be greatly missed by her family and all those that had the privilege of knowing her.
Susan is preceded in death by her father, Warren Crothers; mother, Gladys Crothers; brother, Timothy Crothers; and sister, Shelia Hunt. Left to cherish her memory is her children, Sheri (Aaron), Shane (Valerie) and Carrie (Billy Ray); grandchildren, Jayden, Brystal, Brennen, Dakota, Josh and Jake; sister, Ellen Horn; brother, Joseph Craig Neat; and Uncle Bob and Aunt Barbara Parnell.
Susan will never be forgotten. She will live on in our hearts forever.
The DeSoto Parish Police Jury has issued a brochure that explains the upcoming sales tax election in the parish. It will be on the parish ballots on Saturday March 25th.
The brochure said the tax, if enacted, would benefit the parish animal shelter, mosquito abatement, community organizations and parish facilities. Here is the explanation provided for the purpose of the tax:
To be dedicated and used for (i) acquiring, administering, constructing, improving, maintaining, operating, providing and/or supporting an animal shelter, (ii) providing mosquito control and abatement, (iii) providing funds for acquiring, administering, constructing, improving, maintaining, supporting and operating authorized activities, services, programs and/or facilities of/for non-profit organizations, including, but not limited to, the Council on Aging and organizations for animal control, (iv) constructing, improving, maintaining, operating and supporting the buildings and facilities of the Parish and (v) supporting the DeSoto Parish general fund, including payment of indebtedness, all to the extent that the aforesaid purposes have a benefit to residents of the District.
The brochure further explains that enacting this sales tax would make a 6-cent increase on a $25 purchase.
If there are opposing views you would like to express they may be sent to DeSotoParishJournal@gmail.com. By submitting your views, you grant permission for them and your identity to be published by the Journal. And your statement must be in a civil tone and be free of inappropriate language.
The Stanley Panthers were hot all season. Winning ways continued in their first playoff game. On Thursday night #12 Stanley defeated Calvin, the #21 ranked team, 53 to 45. Stanley advances to play the inner of #5 Lacassine vs #28 Monterey tonight at 6:30. Date and location to be determined by the outcome of that game.
Mansfield High begins basketball playoffs tonight vs. Doyle High. Tip-off is 6:30 pm and tickets for the game will be $10 and can be purchased at the door beginning at 5:00 pm. The winner will play #1 seed Port Allen. They drew a bye in the first round.
#26 seeded Logansport was defeated in the first round of the playoffs Thursday evenimg. They were blown out by #7 seed Delhi. Final score was 59-13.
By Brad Dison
In 1877, Thomas Edison’s engineers worked on a machine that would transcribe messages sent over telegraph lines. Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone just one year prior, but it would be years before it became commonplace. As Edison and his engineers pondered over the different uses for this invention, Edison speculated that an audio message could be recorded in a similar fashion. This is one of the earliest known mentions of an answering machine or, in the cell phone era, a voicemail recorder. Edison proposed a sketch of this invention to mechanic John Kruesi, who built a working model within 30 hours. Edison tested the machine by reciting “Mary had a little lamb.” The machine recorded the recitation on a hollow cylinder made of tin foil. He was astonished to hear his own words played back to him. On Christmas Eve, 1877, Edison filed the patent for the phonograph. On January 24, 1878, Edison created the Edison Speaking Phonograph Company. Due to the sound being recorded on fragile tin foil, the phonograph was viewed only as a novelty because the tin foil only allowed the recording to be played back a few times. Edison’s work on the incandescent light bulb drew his and his engineer’s time away from further developments on the phonograph.
Alexander Graham Bell and his team of engineers made improvements on Edison’s phonograph, most notably of which was the replacement of the tin foil with a wax cylinder. Bell and his team patented what they called the graphophone and approached Edison to discuss a collaborative effort to make further improvements. Edison refused and made improvements on his phonograph which included Bell’s wax cylinder. Edison called it his New Phonograph. In October 1887, Edison formed a new company to market the machine. One advertisement pictured Edison standing alongside his newest model with the quote, “I want a phonograph in every home.”
In 1906, Hodson Burton, a wealthy, elderly resident of Buchanan, Michigan, revised his last will and testament. Burton’s will specified the distribution of some but not all of his property. Among other information, his will included the statement that he had buried a large sum of gold in a secret location. He recorded the location of the gold on a phonograph cylinder which was to be kept in his attorney’s safe until he had been dead five years.
In the spring of 1906, shortly after completing his will and phonograph recording, Hodson Burton died. For five long years, Burton’s heirs puzzled over the location of the hidden gold. Despite their requests, the attorney was resolute in honoring Burton’s will. Finally, on Saturday, April 1, 1911, all of the heirs gathered in the front parlor of the home of Burton’s son, Luke Burton, to finally play the phonograph cylinder and learn the location of the hidden gold. While they anxiously awaited the arrival of the attorney, they imagined what they could purchase with the gold such as “automobiles, mansions, and aeroplanes.”
The attorney had taken every precaution to ensure the fragile wax cylinder and phonograph machine remained safe. The attorney arrived through the rear of the house and went to the kitchen. On the kitchen table, he carefully unwrapped the phonograph and the wax cylinder. After five long years, the attorney was ready to rid himself of the responsibility of keeping it safe. He placed the cylinder on the phonograph and carefully lifted it off the table. With a deep breath, he slowly carried the phonograph from the kitchen, over the threshold to the parlor where a table had been cleared for the device. The attorney glanced back and forth between the phonograph and the table as he walked. As the attorney entered the parlor, he tripped over a footstool and the wax cylinder shattered into countless tiny pieces as it struck the floor, forever concealing the location of Burton’s hidden gold.
Sources:
This month is CTE month. It is being recognized by both Mansfield and Logansport high schools.
Logansport High said, “Our CTE teachers help expose & prepare our students for the workforce. When students graduate with a regional or national credential, they are pushed to the front of the line in the application process.”
From Mansfield High, “Here at MHS we offer several CTE programs that allow students to be exposed to current careers and jobs available in the workforce while obtaining credentials that makes them readily employable. We believe that every student is a career student, and these educators help make the programs fun and enjoyable for all of our students.”
By Josh Beavers
To our more seasoned readers. Tell me if the following statement hits the nail on the head.
“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”
If that’s how you feel about young folk, you’re not alone. You’re not even original. The quote above came from Socrates, and he said it 2,400 years ago.
Older generations have always had negative views of those who come after.
I read an article in a Life magazine from the 1930s. The writer called the youth of the day “lazy” and “shiftless” and opined they would spell the doom of the Great American Experiment. Those lazy and shiftless kids went on to be dubbed as the Greatest Generation.
Another great fella once said: “I used to be with ‘it’, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m with isn’t ‘it’ anymore and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary. It’ll happen to you!”
So why does the same refrain echo throughout eternity? For one, our brains change as we age. With more years, our ability to distinguish chords of music diminishes. It’s why all new music sounds “like noise” to older people.
Lack of exposure also plays a part. I don’t know when I went from the person who fixed the tech issues at home and work, but now I’m nothing more than a “turn it on, turn it off” guy and then send an email if that doesn’t work. I let my skill diminish. I failed to continue learning. It’s now difficult and irritates me. I’ve become the one who needs the help.
The world changes. That’s as true as you shouldn’t lend money to friends, and you shouldn’t ask a man why he’s digging a hole. Don’t build a structure with a flat roof either. Just asking for trouble.
Young people don’t necessarily know more than older people. They just know more about a modern world that is run by computers where fame and fortunes are made over an Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi signal. There was similar sentiment at the invention of the railroad, the car, the washing machine, the dishwasher, the airplane, emails, text messages. The inventors of those were hard workers. They were entrepreneurs. They were young. You see young people work just as hard as older people. They just do it differently. Kids learn differently now. Their brains are wired in a way that is foreign to those of us who knew a world before the internet. It’s why I can’t teach the way I was taught. Attention spans are toast nowadays. I had to change as well.
Values change. Political beliefs change. Society changes. It happened from my grandfather’s world to my fathers. It happened from my fathers to mine. And it’ll happen from mine to my daughters.
Facebook memes tell us “these kids today” are the problem with the world, but the same story persists throughout time.
In reality, probably one of the biggest problems America has is that when you get old, a lot of us simply forget what it’s like to be young.
Maybe it’s because I’m around them all day every day, but I feel protective of and defensive for younger generations. They help keep me young. They remind me of what it’s like to be a kid. I’ve seen good ones who will go on to do great things. And I’ve seen ones who I know will amount to very little when the real world comes calling. In other words, they are just like all the rest of us. Like every generation to ever exist all the way back to Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel.
So, I’m not one of those who believes we’d never survive a war with millennials calling the shots and Gen Zers filling the ranks. Because the wars that will come to America in the future likely won’t be waged with bullets. They’ll be waged with keyboards and Wi-Fi connections.
Josh Beavers is a teacher and a writer. He has been recognized five times for excellence in opinion writing by the Louisiana Press Association.
By Steve Graf
One thing I’ve learned over my many years of fishing bass tournaments…never to trust another angler! Now, why would someone say such a thing? Because it’s a fact! Today we’ll look at a situation where you’ll understand why this is a true statement.
No group of people on planet Earth is less trustworthy than bass fishermen. They will lie in a heartbeat to keep other anglers at bay when it comes to where and how they are catching bass. They will sell their firstborn for crucial information if it will help them win a tournament. That’s why it’s so important to bond with a couple of guys who are your true friends so that you can discuss what you’re doing and how you’re catching bass without the threat of one of them revealing your secrets. Trust is a word very few anglers use because the pool of people you can trust is small and almost non-existent.
A good friend of mine, who is a legendary angler from East Texas, told me one time that he was through fishing Pro/Am events. Pro/Am events are tournaments where you have a boater/Pro who runs the boat and the trolling motor while he’s paired up with an Amateur/Co-angler for the day. The biggest problem in these types of events is that the Pro/boater spends all his hard-earned money and time finding fish for an event while the Am/Co-angler benefits from all that hard work without ever wetting a hook in practice or burning any gas. When you take a Co-angler to your best spots, you hope and pray that he won’t go tell all his buddies where these spots are and how you’re catching them.
So many times, I’ve asked co-anglers nicely to please not tell anyone where and how we caught our fish for that day. But no matter how much they promise they will keep everything a secret, they’re lying! This happened to me last year on Sam Rayburn in which I had a good crankbait bite early off one spot. We both had our limits in the first thirty minutes of the tournament. I had over 16 pounds in the live well and my co-angler had his three fish limits of almost 10 pounds. I specifically asked the young man to please not share this spot with anyone else as I had another tournament coming up the next weekend. He reassured me that he does not share other anglers’ spots or information with anyone.
So, feeling good about the rapport and connection we had made, I felt this guy was trustworthy. Well, guess what? Once again, my faith in humanity and trusting another angler was lost when I returned the following Thursday to scout for my next event on Rayburn. Just after daylight, I ran to my starting spot from the week before where I had caught 16 pounds in thirty minutes. As I approached the spot, I noticed a boat was fishing almost directly in the same location. So, I pulled up and lowered my trolling motor trolling in his direction. Once within in speaking range, I asked the angler if he had caught anything off this spot. He said “yes” with enthusiasm as he set the hook on a 4 pounder! While smoke and blood began to ooze from my ears, he commented that the area was loaded with some really good quality fish that his son had caught with a guy last weekend. I told him, “Yeah, I’m that guy!” I could see the look on his face when he said, “Uh oh!” He knew immediately that his son was not supposed to have told him about the spot. Once again, I politely asked the dad if he would lay off these fish until after my tournament on Saturday. He obliged and apologetically pulled up his trolling motor and left.
While I understand that I really don’t have the right to claim this or any spot as off-limits to anyone, it’s just the ethical part among other tournament fishermen to honor another angler’s spot or area. Now if another angler had found those same fish as I did, then it’s a matter of who gets there first. This is all a part of the unwritten rules of tournament fishing that so many anglers today refuse to observe. Ethics have been thrown out the window in today’s bass tournament world. It has now become every man for himself with little to no regard for anyone else.
If the ethical part of tournament fishing does not return, there will be some bad consequences for anglers down the road, especially the up-and-coming high school and college anglers who are not being taught these unwritten rules. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen. Melanoma is real and can be deadly if not caught early. Early detection is critical to overcoming this form of cancer.
From the DeSoto Parish Ag Extension Office: Make plans to attend our next Lunch and Learn series on March 7th. Mark Wilson, Regional Horticulturist, will be discussing Soil Health and Vegetable Gardening. Bring your lunch and come learn.
There will be an open car show on March 18th in the Village of Grand Cane. Cruz-In With the Pioneers is a fundraiser for Central School’s Junior/Senior Class Prom.
This show has no registration fee. Donations will be accepted. It will be held in Grand Cane March 18th from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.
Walter L. Asseff, M.D.
September 15, 1935 — February 21, 2023
View full obituary here:
https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/02/21/walter-l-asseff-m-d/
Alice Fert Nell Anderson Young
March 5, 1935 — February 20, 2023
A celebration of “Granny’s” life will be Friday, February 24 at 11:00 am at Rose-Neath Southside, Shreveport, Louisiana.
The DeSoto Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers. Contact your funeral provider or DeSotoParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above with no link to the obituary are FREE of charge.)
The DeSoto Regional Foundation will hold a Bingo and BBQ fundraiser on March 4th. Tickets are $40 for your first 2 cards. Everything starts at 5:30 pm at the David Means 4-H Center.
Griffin Baseball and Softball are hosting their tournaments through Saturday, February 25th. Come out and watch some ball on the diamonds. Gate today is $7.00 and $10.00 on Saturday.
Another win for Wolverine Athletics with softball winning 23-13 over Plain Dealing Thursday evening. Please come out and support Coach Whitaker and the Lady Wolverines this season. Shout out to the Wolverine Baseball team for coming out and supporting the Lady Wolverines this evening.
Mansfield High Baseball had a hugh 20-9 win this week over Huntington. Friday’s baseball game vs. Woodlawn has been postponed until further notice.
The playoffs in boys basketball begin this week with three local teams in action. Mansfield and Stanley are hosting while Logansport opens on the road.
In Division III Mansfield, ranked #16, will host #17 Doyle Thursday or Friday. Date and time had not been posted by Journal deadline Tuesday.
Logansport is in Division IV, and they will be on the road this week. Logansport is seeded #26. Thewy will travel to #7 Delhi. Again. The date and time had not been posted Tuesday evening.
In Division V the #26 seed Stanley Panthers will be at home for a game with #21 Calvin. That game is scheduled for a 6:00 pm tip-off on Thursday night.
The North DeSoto boys were #42 in the power rankings and did not participate in the playoffs.
Rotarian Secretary and Treasurer, Teri Byrd, introduced fellow DeSoto Regional Health System co-worker Natalie Ball. Mrs. Ball is the NewVision Administrator there and told the Club about her department now at DeSoto Regional called NewVision Withdrawal Management. NewVision has offices nationwide and offers inpatient medical stabilization and withdrawal management for individuals with drug, alcohol or related issues. They accept most insurance plans, and the service is consisting of a medically supervised inpatient hospital stay the typically will last for 3 days.
Natalie lives in the Haughton area with her husband and children and is passionate about getting NewVision up and running in the DeSoto Area. She stresses that the individuals that come to her must want help in withdrawing from the drugs or alcohol that is ruining their lives. Several of the members, Retired Judge Robert Burgess, Judge Nick Gasper, and Asst. D.A. Lisa Lobrano Burson were eager to question Mrs. Ball about how her department could interact with the Parish’s court systems. You may call her for a free assessment at 1-800-939-CARE or email specialcarecorp.com.
The weather cooperated and attendance was a little better, but the self-made sandwiches were as good as always and the Club welcomes Mrs. Natalie Ball back for the next meeting. That meeting will be on 03/01/23 at the Mansfield Female College Museum Library for lunch.
By Nicole Tull
It has often been said of small towns, “don’t blink or you’ll miss it.” Grand Cane’s Mardi Gras parade was no exception to that time honored colloquialism. Try as they may, their parade was just barely considered such. Mayoress Marsha Lea Richardson decorated her mule and threw beads to the small gathering of children in the park. Close behind her was Alderman Ed Campbell in his decorated golf cart handing out pencils and slap bracelets.
The Mayor prepared a big pot of jambalaya, hot dogs, and bought a king cake to celebrate Mardi Gras. Several took part in the quaint village’s festivities. The children were not disappointed with their loot and an opportunity to soak up the warm sun in the park. The first slice of King Cake revealed the baby and the recipient assured the revelry will continue. The small village had big fun on Saturday because they truly believe the life is grand in Grand Cane.
By Teddy Allen
I don’t want the ham and cheese. I just want out of the sandwich.
I just want to armadillo to leave me alone.
He could have money from my wallet if he had any use for it, the armored little strong-snouted nitwit of a troublemaker.
All I want is for him to leave my quite little family and law-abiding neighbors alone.
But he won’t. He’s playing hardball. Now, so am I.
And losing. Losing to a dirt-digging four-legged type so ugly the doctor slapped his mother when he was born.
Anyone who’s lived in northwest Louisiana for any length of time has encountered a possum or racoon or rabbit in their within-the-city-limits yard.
We are not in the “poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed” part of the world, but we’re not 100 percent urban either.
Most of us own trapping cages, mainly for the relocation of possums and racoons. These animals are around because there are woods everywhere but they stay in town mainly because … why do I have to write this? … people feed them. People think they are cute.
And they are cute — in the woods. But not in your garage or in your chimney or on the fence where the dogs can bark at them in the middle of the night.
My familiarity with the Broadmoor area of Shreveport spans more than 30 years, and I’ve lost track of my catches. Actually adopted our trespassing rabbit for a while; I remember he watched the Final Four with me, sitting in a little starter-kit recliner, I think in 2006.
But only one time in Broadmoor or even in the greater Shreveport-Bossier area have I seen an armadillo. Once. Of course, it was in my yard. And of course, he now lives under my house.
I know … I know. “It could be worse.” Yes.
But it could be better, too. He could be living in a cave or by a pond or under your house.
Maybe my experience will help you should you one day get the ’Dilla Curse. Four events have occurred.
First, I saw him in the side yard two months ago. Middle of the day. “Well isn’t that interesting?” I thought. “That’s a first for these parts.” I sort of sheep-dogged him toward the street.
Time passed before event No. 2.
There were holes in my yard. Ugly dents, like a drunk guy would make with a bent spade or a very tiny front-end loader. Different depths. Unsightly gashes and mounds.
Moles? Maybe. Could be an armadillo; they dig in the ground for bugs and worms with their offensive noses. But it can’t be that same armadillo …
Oh yes it could. Went to put a pizza box in the trash outside about 9 on a Friday night and there he was, in the driveway, and there he went, toward the crawl space and under the house.
I set a cage by the trap space. And two days later, on a wet Tuesday evening, I was typing and my little dog, napping inside and above that crawl space, started barking.
Bingo.
Event Three happened fast then as my doggie had heard the cage slam shut I bet and I walked outside in the rain and HELLO! his beady eyes locked with mine, me in the rain, him in the cage, Man vs. Beast and winner, winner, chicken dinner.
“Back in a few,” I said.
Case and cage closed.
Only it wasn’t. I returned to the scene of the crime 10 minutes later to an empty cage, a first in all my years of catching citified wildlife. Heart sinkage. In the rain. Defeated. By a varmit with a shoe-size IQ.
Morning light revealed the tough little guy had used his nose and neck and sheer willpower to make a “V” in the upper part of the cage so he could loose the latch and bust out. That, or he had a tiny hammer and pliers.
Angry? Yes. Impressed? Very. Had to beat the metal cage back into working order.
Three days passed with the re-set cage. Not a bite. Maybe he’d been scared off. I breathed easy.
Until last Friday night when he came running down the driveway, probably just to tease me, a battleship-gray varmint who reached 40 knots or so before running under a small opening on the other side of the house. Little dude can move.
The Armadillo Abatement Process has not been as easy as I’d hoped.
A cage is on that side of the house now, too. It has been a week. No movement. For all I know, this guy and some other armadillos are sitting around a small poker table under my house, smoking cigars and wearing reading glasses and playing cards like those dogs in the funny pictures.
Please tell me they haven’t invited girl armadillos over . . .
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or Twitter @MamaLuvsManning
Children’s Cooking Class update at Logansport Library. Ms. Shelley shared how important fruits are for our bodies nutrition. She helped each of the children prepare their personal fresh fruit salad. Everyone agreed that the salads were nutritious and DELICIOUS.
The library thanked Ms. Shelley and Northwest LA Food Bank for offering these cooking classes to the children our community. For information on other cooking classes for kids, call the Logansport Branch Library.
By Royal Alexander
It’s interesting to view modern events in the context of history. When we do, we are often surprised by the irony in some of the changes.
In the 1960’s in America, it was college campuses that were at the heart of the battle for free speech and academic freedom. College students regularly protested, picketed and engaged in “sit ins” on their college campuses demanding the right to be heard. One historic example is student protests regarding the Vietnam War. As a result, colleges and university administrations were often forced to compromise to meet these demands.
The exact opposite is occurring on college and university campuses today.
Whatever term is used to describe today’s suppression of and hostility to academic freedom—political correctness, the cancel culture or the woke movement—the result is the same. These institutions are now opposing academic freedom at every turn while striving to cement divisive, identity-focused politics on campus.
How so?
Creeping like bacteria into the fertile grounds of Leftist college faculty and administrators is an ideology that is described as Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DIE). However, it’s critical to note that the three words that make up DIE have been tortured to mean exactly the opposite of what we would think. DIE seeks to distort and control the meaning of words and when that happens, thought itself is controlled.
As Matthew Spalding has described it, DIE “is especially toxic. It divides us by social identity groups, ranks those groups on privilege and power, and excludes those who fail to honor the new orthodoxy. Rather than being equally endowed with innate dignity and fundamental rights as human beings—best judged by our character and not skin color—we are supposed to discriminate and confer status based on race, sex and cultural affinity.” (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 10, 2023).
Poison.
This is especially bad in the context of colleges and universities.
As Matthew Spalding further notes “wherever this agenda is allowed to take root, free expression and academic integrity are doomed.”
Under the DIE creed, diversity doesn’t refer to celebrating our National Creed, E Pluribus Unum, a Latin phrase meaning ‘Out of Many, One’ signifying that America’s strength comes from the diverse cultural, religious, ethnic, racial and intellectual differences being melded into One Nation striving to Perfect Our Union by advancing our fundamental constitutional principles of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
On the contrary, to the Left, DIE means diversity in all things except thought, with free expression rigidly controlled by the Thought Police.
But there is more.
The Heritage Foundation undertook a study entitled “Inclusion Delusion: The Antisemitism of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff at Universities.” The study first notes that the number of people devoted to DIE efforts has grown to about 45 people at the average university and then examines whether these large DIE staff are, in fact, creating a tolerant and welcoming environment on college campuses. Interestingly, the study also specifically examined the extent to which DIE staff at universities express anti-Israel attitudes that are so out of proportion and imbalanced as to constitute antisemitism.
What was the conclusion of the Heritage study?
That “university DIE staff are better understood as political activists with a narrow and often radical political agenda rather than promoters of welcoming and inclusive environments. Many DIE staff are particularly unwelcoming toward Jewish students and the political activism of DIE staff may help explain the rising frequency of antisemitic incidents on college campuses. Rather than promoting diversity and inclusion, universities may be contributing to an increase in anti-Jewish hatred by expanding DIE staff and power.” (Jay Greene, Ph.D. and James Paul, Dec. 8, 2021).
Wow.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has pushed back hard against DIE.
To ascertain funding at its state colleges and universities, Gov. DeSantis scrutinized what funds were used for DIE. He discovered that numerous DIE staff members are on the payrolls of Florida’s colleges and universities and that DIE “may be better understood as jobs programs subsidizing political activism without improving campus climate,” not fostering a welcoming environment for all students.
This kind of censorship simply cannot be allowed if our Republic—and the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution—are to endure. The greatest virtue of free thought and free speech is that all kinds of ideas are thrust into the rough and tumble of the marketplace of ideas where the best idea prevails.
DIE must be opposed and defeated, and die.
The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program will award scholarships providing assistance to worthy Louisiana students in furthering their education and training with resources made available through the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program. The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office is participating I the statewide program.
According to Program Chair, St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne, “This Scholarship Program is a meaningful expression of the Program’s respect for education. It demonstrates our confidence in Louisiana’s youth … our future leaders.”
Scholarships of a maximum of $500 each will be awarded to graduating high school students from each parish where the Sheriff is an affiliate of the Honorary Membership Program.
There are no restrictions on the purposes for which scholarships are spent. The scholarships are not loans and will be awarded as gifts to defray the rising costs of tuition and related expenses in higher education. The only limitations are that applicants be permanent residents of Louisiana; scholarships be utilized in higher education within the state of Louisiana; and students be enrolled as full-time, undergraduate students.
Completed applications must be submitted to the Sheriff of the parish of the applicant’s permanent Louisiana residence by April 1st. Further, applicants must be eligible for admission to the school indicated on the application. The award will only be paid for attendance at institutions of higher learning within the state. All scholarship winners will be announced by May 1st of each year.
Sheriff Champagne concluded, “Louisiana Sheriffs are pleased with the Honorary Membership Program’s ability to bring scholarships to Louisiana students bound for higher education. To continue to do so and fund other important projects and initiatives, continued support of the Honorary Membership Program is essential. We could not function without our Honorary Members.”
For further information regarding the Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program, contact your local Sheriff’s Office.
Walter L. Asseff, M.D.
September 15, 1935 — February 21, 2023
View full obituary here:
https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/02/21/walter-l-asseff-m-d/
The DeSoto Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers. Contact your funeral provider or DeSotoParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above with no link to the obituary are FREE of charge.)
Note there was no arrest report issued by the Sheriff’s Office this week. A report covering two weeks is scheduled to be issued next Monday.
A couple of road repairs may affect your travels this week. The DeSoto Parish Road Department will be closing Daw Road between Monday and Wednesday of next week for repair. And the Desoto Parish Road Department announced they will be replacing the culvert under Stonewall Preston, between Mary Street and Burford Road, beginning Monday February 20th. This means lanes will be closed to traffic, just west of St. Mary Street, while the culvert is replaced.
This Friday is the February Fourth Friday Fish Fry at Clara Springs Camp. Come out and enjoy the best fried fish in Northwest Louisiana, and the best bread pudding around. Admission is $15.
A funeral service honoring the life of Mr. Walter L. Asseff, MD will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Chapel in Mansfield, Louisiana with Reverend Margaret Ayers officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in Mansfield, Louisiana. Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2023, until the time of service.
Walter passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was born in Mansfield, Louisiana on September 15, 1935, to Waddie and Helen Elias Asseff.
He graduated from Mansfield High School in 1953. Walter attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he received Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Then he went to Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he graduated in 1961 with his Doctorate in Medicine. He then served in the Public Health Service. After his service he began a private medical practice in Oak Dale, Louisiana. He later moved to Shreveport, Louisiana and continued his practice until his retirement. Walter was a lifelong member of Christ Memorial Episcopal Church in Mansfield, Louisiana.
Walter was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brothers, George, Sam, and Robert Asseff; and his sister, Mary Martien. He is survived by one sister, Barbara Creamer, and her husband, Aaron, and one brother, John Asseff, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Honoring Walter as pallbearers will be Matthew Creamer, Jason Murphy, Dustin Sherrill, Michael Haynes, Glen Wofford, Jr., and Tim Wofford.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, 401 Washington Avenue, Mansfield, Louisiana 71052.