Service Restored

As of Thursday morning, Epic Touch said all repairs have been made and service fully restored.  Areas of DeSoto Parish had been without internet service for a while earlier this week.

On Wednesday, the DeSoto Sheriff’s Office put out an advisory for the public to reach their office.  “We have been informed that there may be a major fiber line that was cut outside of our Parish.  Due to this, many residents are not able to call our (318) 872-3956 main office number.  You may still contact 911 for emergencies.  This has been tested and does work. 

For all non-emergency requests for service, you may call:  318-872-9052 to speak with dispatch.”


Rx Drug Drop Off Boxes Reminder

The DeSoto Sheriff’s office said all three locations (Mansfield, Logansport, & Stonewall)  have a Drug Drop Off Box setup and available during normal office hours. You may bring your medications for disposal and place them into the box anytime Monday – Friday, from 8am until 4:30pm. Please be sure that the medication is in a container/sealed bag of some sort, so it doesn’t spill out, and do not drop off narcotics or needles into the boxes.

While convenient, it is not safe to flush old drugs down the toilet. Medication can be toxic to local water systems and keeping old medicine around the house could cause someone in your home to fall ill if taken by mistake.

* IF you have METH, drop your name and address on our social media post and we will come to you!  You may even be entered to win a free multiple night stay at one of our luxurious facilities.  (All inclusive!) 


Days We Wish We Could Do Over?

By Josh Beavers

What was your worst day on the job? Not something you want to remember? Why? I cherish the worst day I exchanged hours of my life for the GREEN.

When you get gray in the hair, you sometimes start to think back about your worst day on the job. And I’ve got quite a bit of gray and have also realized I’m on the downward swing professionally. I’ve been at it longer than what I have left. So I thought – what was my worst day?

Easy. It came in August of 2002. Yep, a lot of you weren’t even born then, and if you were, you were toddling around in Huggies. Well in a normally hot summer August, I had a kind gentleman come into the offices at 203 Dixie Street.

Side note: I was young y’all. Really young. Tasked with a huge job that somebody my age probably shouldn’t have had. I didn’t know what I was doing but working hard was (and still is) all I have ever known. Fake it till you make it, right?

So this fella comes to see me. He spins me a yarn about lawsuits and a BIG BAD BANK stealing his family land. He hits me with the figure of $250 BILLION. Yeah, billion. Not million.  I get on the phone with his lawyer. It sounds like the story of all stories. 60 Minutes type stuff.

I didn’t think rationally. I thought competitively. All I wanted was to be first. All I wanted was to sell papers. I wanted to beat the Shreveport Times. I wanted to beat CNN. Hell, I wanted to win a Pulitzer Prize at 22.

So since I tell you it was the worst day professionally of my life, you can imagine what the result was.

There was no lawsuit. It was a scam. It was a sham. And for the life of me, I still don’t know what the endgame was. Maybe they just woke up one day and said “let’s see if we can get this young fool to run our bogus story and make him look like a jabroni.” Y’all like that word? Jabroni – thank you to The Rock.

Well, mission accomplished. I ran it. It was a lie. And before the clock struck five (the paper went out at 10 that AM) I was getting calls from lawyers in Atlanta. The bank’s lawyers. The big bank. One of the biggest bank chains in all of the world.

Oh lord, it was a mess. I thought I was gone. Jailed for defamation. Cut down before I even got started. And worse – sued into oblivion. I would get sued multiple times before all was said and done in that chapter of my life. Heck, being sued became commonplace – like changing socks. I was numb to it. That didn’t happen this go around. I did have a huge retraction to print, a come-to-Jesus meeting with the head of said LARGE bank chain in his office – that was fun – and pride so wounded I still have nightmares about it to this day.

But, in the end, it passed as all things do. Funny thing is, I am glad it happened. Anyone who knows me knows I am extraordinarily competitive and passionate. That’s how Yahweh made me. My good days aren’t as important as my bad days. I don’t learn from what I do right. But, brothers and sisters, let me tell you I do learn from my mistakes. I made a mistake that day. And I’ve made a whole heck of a lot of mistakes since then. Still make them with each passing 24 hours. Don’t get sued anymore, thankfully. A least not in the last decade.

Bad days are good. They are cool. They are welcome.

Mistakes make the person. Learning from them makes the soul.

It was a bad day in 2002.

But I’d take nothing for it.

Just…I hope I don’t have any more quite like that again. NOTHING is as rough as staring down a group of Atlanta lawyers. And that isn’t even counting the time I was sued by the ACLU.

That was a bad day as well.

But that . . . is another story.

Josh Beavers is a teacher and a writer. He has been recognized five times for excellence in opinion writing by the Louisiana Press Association.


Shroud Discussion

On Sunday after morning services, as part of the celebration of the Easter Season, Grand Cane Baptist Church is hosting “Mysteries of the Shroud of Turin” with guest speaker Cheryl H. White, Ph.D.  Lunch will be served at 12:15 pm.

Cheryl H. White, Ph.D. is a professor of history at Louisiana State University at Shreveport, where she holds the endowed Hubert Humphreys Professorship. She has had a career-long interest in Shroud studies, currently serves on the board of directors of the Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association (STERA) and has published and presented original research from the Vatican Secret Archives related to the history of the Shroud for international journals and conferences.

Dr. White served as the historical consultant on the Shroud of Turin exhibit developed for the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. and she has given several presentations there, as well as provided an internationally live-streamed presentation for the esteemed Smithsonian Institution last year. She also was able to see the Shroud recently as part of a private event in Turin, at the invitation of the Center for the International Study of the Shroud.

There is no charge for the event or lunch.


North DeSoto’s Hampton Inks with Louisiana Christian

North DeSoto’s athletes are still reaping the benefits of their success as Senior Defensive Linemen Marques “Gator” Hampton signs to continue his playing and academic career at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville, LA.

A three sport star for the Griffins has been a terror in District 1-4A for the past three seasons and now he’ll make the transition to the NAIA Level and bring his same knack for pressuring the quarterback to the offenses of the Sooner Athletic Conference that the Wildcats participate in! Gator has been a model student athlete for the Griffins, and we wish him well as he goes off to college in August.


Special Performance Saturday Night

One Foot In The Groove is a musical group from Shreveport/ Bossier City, LA. bringing many decades of musical experience to the stage. They have been playing together and separately at venues in the South Louisiana and Northwest Louisiana areas, since the 1970s. They perform a varied combination of music reflective of their classic rock, soul, rhythm & blues and swamp pop influences. If you enjoy music from the 60’s and 70’s (and who doesn’t!) then this is the show for you.

Members include David Fruge, Jerry Mathews and Rufus Lemaire, who were the founding members of the highly successful musical group Earshot Graffiti, which they formed in 1989.

With their hard driving funk style, this group delivers an energizing, toe tapping musical experience guaranteed to make you smile.  Showtime is Saturday, February 18  at 7:00 pm.


Grambling Bobblehead In Honor of Black History Month

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities Bobblehead Series, which features officially licensed bobbleheads of 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum and are being released in celebration of Black History Month.

The schools included in the first series in addition to Grambling State University Tigers are: Alabama A&M University Bulldogs, Alabama State University Hornets, Delaware State University Hornets, Florida A&M University Rattlers, Fayetteville State University Broncos, Howard University Bison, Jackson State University Tigers, Morgan State University Bears, North Carolina A&T State University Aggies, North Carolina Central University Eagles, Norfolk State University Spartans, and Tuskegee University Golden Tigers.

Standing on a base bearing the school’s nickname across the front, each mascot bobblehead is proudly wearing the school colors in front of a backing featuring the school logo. Each bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,023, and they are currently only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store.


Notice of Death – February 17, 2023

Denise Dawn Arthur

October 1, 1963 — February 14, 2023

View full obituary here:

https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/02/15/denise-dawn-arthur/

Earl White

October 24, 1933 ~ February 10, 2023 (age 89)

Celebration Of Life Saturday, February 18, 2023 11:00 am at Good Hope Presbyterian Church in Frierson.

Terry Dell Cruse

9/28/1958 – 2/12/2023

Services: Saturday, February 18, 2023 – 11 A.M. -DeSoto Fellowship Church -4292 Hwy 5- Gloster, Louisiana

Mary McKinney Drain

11/17/1947 – 2/12/2023

Service: Saturday, February 18, 2023 – Moore Chapel Mansfield, LA – 11:00 A.M.

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.)


ETC… For Friday, February 17, 2023

The Grand Cane Village Hall announced that speed bumps being installed around the Village. They were voted on about a year ago, during a public meeting. It took us a while to find someone with the equipment to install them. Several different residents had requested them on their streets due to excessive speeding.

Northwestern State University’s Office of Counseling and Career Services will hold its Spring Career Fair on Tuesday, February 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom.

The event is open to both undergraduate and graduate students at NSU who would like to meet and connect with prospective employers. Professional attire is required to attend. Assistant Director of Counseling and Career Service Rachel Cunningham said networking with different employers from multiple industries can increase the chances of finding an internship or job after graduation. 


Denise Dawn Arthur

Funeral Services for Denise Dawn Arthur will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Fellowship Community Church, 135 Meadow, Gloster, Louisiana. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 17, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Fellowship Community Church. Officiating will be Pastor Josh Burford. Interment will follow at Centuries Memorial Park, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana.

Denise was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on October 1, 1963 and passed away on February 14, 2023. Denise was a true warrior. She was concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character. She was virtuous, principled, honorable, honest, respectable, decent, and law-abiding. She had a wicked sense of humor and her sharp observations or clever comebacks were her most prominent personality characteristics. Denise was a bright light with a beautiful soul and she spread joy, love, and laughter everywhere she went. She did great things and possessed an innate gift to motivate the people around her by just being herself. It is not a coincidence she passed away on the National Day of Love.

Denise was a graduate of Woodlawn High School wherein she was a proud to be a Knight. She recently retired from Drs. Brown & O’Neal where she spent 35 years caring for many patients and building life changing relationships. Denise was a member of The Republican Women of Bossier and a radio personality as one-half of the American Mama duo on American Ground Radio. She was a member of the Krewe of Centaur where she enjoyed attending the Krewe of Centaur Ball and riding on the float during the parade. Denise was the ultimate leader. If there was a need, she was always there to serve in the most unselfish way. She was the team mom and a member of every booster club her boys were involved in. It did not matter if it was school field days, high school baseball, college activities or fraternity parties, she was spearheading the event. She spent her life protecting the underdog, mentally or physically challenged, and every broken individual she could take under her wing. She was the ultimate protector of those she loved. She was heavily involved with Holy Angels and during her younger adulthood years, she was active in the Deaf Action Center.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Brenda “BeBe” Vinson; grandparents, Mildred and Randall Prather and Katherine and Rowe Vinson; and her sweet aunts, Marilyn Prather, and Mona Vinson. She is survived by her husband, Marty Arthur; sons, Nicholas Arthur and Kory Arthur; father, Roland Terry Vinson (Jamie); aunt, Kathy Vinson; sister, Courtney Boyton (Charles); an entire host of cousins and her special fur baby, Sam. She is also survived by and leaves behind life-long friends she referred to as her “sisters.”

Pallbearers will be Steele Netterville, Zach Ward, Walker Simmons, Braden Simmons, George Mainous, and Nicholas Arthur. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kory Arthur, Zavier Moore, Alex Hutchings, Drew Getsinger, Keaton Holley, Austin Linacre, Martin Milner, David Pool and Joseph Pool.

The family would like to express the deepest appreciation to Chris Snead, MD, Scott Howard, MD, Gus Hamdan, Pharmacist, Gabby Woodward, Heather Warner, the entire staff at the Cancer Treatment Center, Christus Highland ICU and Grace Home for their kindness, compassion, patience, and care. A very special thank you to Susan Wilson-Teague.

Memorials can be sent to Holy Angels.


DeSoto’s Got Talent

By Russell Smith of NDHS Band Boosters

Do you enjoy performing or have a special talent? Have you ever watched those talent show competitions and thought, I could do better than that? Could you possibly use a little extra cash? Then look no further; if you think you have what it takes to win then put your money where your talent is and sign up to audition for DESOTO’S GOT TALENT!

The North DeSoto High School (NDHS) Band is proud to present, in conjunction with, Marketplace Chevrolet Buick: The 2ND Annual DeSoto’s Got Talent Fundraiser Competition. The NDHS Band would like to thank Marketplace Chevrolet Buick for once again generously agreeing to be our Event sponsor. The money raised will go towards helping our band with instrument purchases, competition fees, and a Disney performance. Auditions will be held on Saturday February 25, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the NDHS Band Room. There is a $25 audition fee. Participants must be at least 10 years of age at the time of audition and reside in the North DeSoto School District. Audition Forms will be available in the 4 North DeSoto School Campus offices, Cardinal Music in Stonewall, or request via email to rdsmith195@gmail.com. Applications w/ audition fee can be turned in to any school office, to Mr. Garcia, or at Cardinal Music. Pre-registration is not required, but highly recommended.

The DeSoto’s Got Talent competition will be held on Saturday March 11, 2023 at 7 p.m. in the NDHS Gymnasium where they will compete for a top cash prize of $750 (age 10-HS Seniors) and top cash prize of $200 (Adults).  All acts in the Finale will compete for the Fan Favorite cash prize of $200 as well.  Fans will fill the container of their favorite act and the contestant who receives the most donations will be crowned our Fan Favorite. Tickets are $15/person; Ages 6 and under $10/person in advance or $20/person; Ages 6 and under $10/person at the door. Tickets available for purchase via check at the NDHS front office or Venmo/PayPal via email request to rdsmith195@gmail.com. Concessions will be available.

The NDHS Band is still looking for additional sponsors as well for this event and are as follows: Griffin Level-$1000; Navy Level-$500; Red Level-$250; White Level-$250. We are also in need of multiple Restaurant or Business Gift Cards/Vouchers and Door Prize Items, and 1-2 Large Raffle items. Please contact me via email at rdsmith195@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding sponsorship or you would like to help with any of these sponsor levels, gift cards, door prizes, or a raffle item.


DeSoto High School Reunion Planned

By Donald Mayweather

On behalf of the officers and members of the DeSoto High School Alumni Association it is a joy to greet you as we embark upon another “All Classes Reunion.”

We, the DHSAA, will be sponsoring our all classes reunion on June 30-July 2, 2023 at the Desoto Multicultural Community Center in Mansfield, Louisiana as a fundraiser.  Registration for the reunion must be completed and mailed in by April 20, 2023. The reunion packet is $150.00 per person and includes a souvenir book.  T-shirts are not included: they will be $15.00 up to XL and 2XL and above will be $18.00.                                                                                                                                

Inserts for the souvenir book is the following: 

Full Page –  $100.00,  Half Page  –  $50.00,   ¼  Page  –  $25.00    and   1/8  Page   –   $12.50

We are a non-profit organization in DeSoto Parish asking for your support in this occasion.

The reunion is a fundraiser for the Alumni Association to support projects, activities, repairs for the building and ground of the Multicultural Center.

If you are interested in being a participant, please call Donald Mayweather at (318) 458-9791 or email dhsalums@hotmail.com.


The coolest Burt in the 1970s wasn’t Reynolds … 

By Teddy Allen

When Burt Bacharach, 94, died of natural causes in his Los Angeles home last week, it meant one of America’s most awarded and talented musical geniuses, a man who checked every box on the Cool Meter, had taken his final bow.

Hurt me.

In the 1970s, my teen years, you couldn’t swing a cat around any sort of show business venue and not hit Burt Bacharach, the composer, conductor, pianist, well-groomed movie-star-handsome American showman who didn’t show off.

For more than six decades he was in the biz (“the biz” is what Hollywood types call show business, don’t you know), was part of a prolific two-man songwriting team with lyricist Hal David (who passed away in 2012, age 91), and gave you something you’re likely to hum every other day or so.

Another Burt — Reynolds — was the biggest box office movie guy around that time for a few years. Sadly, he passed away at 82 in 2018. Love Burt. Love the other Burt more, though. Bacharach was in the spotlight plenty but mainly he was in the background, on your radio, in the elevator, wherever the hits were played.

Easy listening.

Through the 1970s he was married to Angie Dickinson, for goodness sakes, who had her legs insured for a million dollars, which was $500,000 per leg, and a hat tip to the person who sold her that policy. Can’t be too careful when you star in Police Woman on television and you’re married to Burt Bacharach. He played the piano, she had the two legs, or about eight less than the number of Emmys, Grammys, and Academy Awards her husband won.

Point of clarification: My favorite Bert of the 1970s was Jones, the quarterback of Baltimore’s Colts. NFL MVP in 1976. Ruston and all. I mean, come on. Everybody’s favorite Bert with a “e.”

But Burt Bacharach was my favorite Burt with a “u,” and to honor his passing, we offer The Top 10 Burt Bacharach Songs, According to Me. He and Hal David teamed up for literally hundreds, so Close to You and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love and What’s New Pussycat? and The Look of Love and That’s What Friends Are For won’t even make the list. It’s a shame.

  1. This Guy’s in Love with You: Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass were a thing back then and had a monster hit with this. It was a simpler time. Lots of other artists scored hits with this too; more than 1,000 artists have recorded Bacharach songs so … 
  2. You’ll Never Get to Heaven if You Break My Heart: Dionne Warwick (more on her in a sec) had a hit with this but I prefer The Stylistics’ version. Warwick and The Stylistics were very good but, in all honesty, it’s a bit egotistical of them to think they get to make this call. “If you break up with me, you’re going to the bad place.” Neg. Good song though, especially for a tune about really, really high stakes dating. Maybe it wasn’ta simpler time …
  3. Walk on By: “If you see me walking down the street / And I start to cry each time we meet / Walk on by, walk on by …” Bacharach wrote some happy songs; this is not one of them.
  4. Say a Little Prayer for You: Warwick had hits with this and with the two songs above this one and with the two below. Warwick and Bacharach and Hal David were practically printing money for a while there in the ’70s.
  5. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again: “So for at least, until tomorrow / I’ll never all in love again…”
  6. Always Something There to Remind Me: Lot of co-dependency back then, apparently.
  7. Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do): Christopher Cross had a hit with this song that batted leadoff in a terrific movie; quote it so much I get on my own nerves.
  8. Alfie: This is on the list because Jerry Byrd sang it often in the Shreveport Journalnewsroom. Sounded nothing like Dionne Warwick. Precious memories though. Bacharach said these were his favorite lyrics created by his writing partner.
  9. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head: Where else would they fall? Somehow this fits into my favorite movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
  10. Any Day Now: The original hit was by Chuck Jackson, then Elvis, but I prefer the cut by Ronnie Milsap. One of my favorite songs ever. By one of the best composers ever.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or on Twitter @MamaLuvsManning


Trophy Presentation at Central School

By Nicole Tull

Monday evening Central School’s 5th and 6th grade girls’ basketball team were presented with a championship trophy. Last year the girls did not fair well on the court. With hard work, determination, and some mighty good coaching, the girls finished this year’s season 9-1.

The girls traveled over to Prairie View Academy on Jan 21st to compete in the 5/6 MAIS Girls Championship tournament. They came in as the #2 seed and beat Tensas academy by 1pt to advance to the finals. They won against Briarfield Academy coming out on top by 8pts.

If you had the opportunity to watch the girls play, you would have seen how much love they have for the game and for each other. They have made Coach Layne Huckabay, Coach Bubba Bowden, Central School, and Pioneer Nation very proud. We are looking forward to many more Championships from this group of girls.

Picture courtesy of Ashley Permenter


What Are They Teaching Our Kids?

Have you ever wanted to know what the public schools are teaching your children?  The state Department of Education is trying to find out how much access you have to instructional materials.  Here is a news release explaining how you can make your thoughts known.

Louisiana Department Of Education Asking Parents, Communities About Accessing Student Learning Materials

Public survey part of LDOE study on transparency in education

(BATON ROUGE, LA ) – The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is asking parents and communities across the state to share their experiences accessing student instructional materials. LDOE has launched a survey available now through February 28 at LouisianaBelieves.com. Resulting from House Resolution 145 of the 2022 Regular Session, this public survey is part of an LDOE study and report on transparency in education that will be presented to the Louisiana Legislature prior to the 2023 Regular Session. Along with findings and a conclusion, the report will include any recommendations for related legislation.

“We are committed to transparency and the understanding that parents have a right to know what their children learn in school,” said State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. “This report will help us identify school systems that excel in their partnerships with parents as well as how we can better serve systems who need added support.”

Louisiana state law gives parents of a child attending a public elementary or secondary school the right to access instructional materials. Along with instructional materials, this includes any survey before it is administered or distributed by a school to a student. Under the law, each local school board shall adopt rules and policies for each school to make instructional materials readily available for review.


Chamber Seeking Nominations

The annual banquet for the DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023.  This year the chamber is celebrating their 93rd anniversary.

This is the date for our DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet which we will be celebrating our 93rd.

The chamber said, “You will be receiving your invitation in the mail very soon. This is the only fundraiser that we have so I hope all of you will make plans to attend and support your Chamber.  We look forward to seeing you there.”

The chamber is seeking nominations for Emeritus, Outstanding Business Leader, Outstanding Business, Public Service and Volunteers for Economic Development Awards. If you would like to nominate someone please contact the chamber or check their social media for the forms.


Pres. Biden Must Defend America From Foreign Invaders

By Royal Alexander

Incredibly, recent news reports have revealed that the U.S government regularly allows trespass of our airspace by China, a hostile foreign power.  Conversely, Americans are unified on this issue of National Security: as a free and sovereign nation, we should be defending our nation with all force and means necessary.

The American homeland must be protected, and it is unnerving that a Chinese spy balloon can go undetected until a single news photographer in Montana happened to be watching the sky, saw the balloon overhead, took a picture with a long-range telephoto lens and circulated it on the internet.  Only then did Biden even react but failed to take action for roughly one full week.

Additionally, even more recently, Biden Administration officials disclosed that the U.S. military shot down a “high-altitude object” flying in territorial waters over Alaska.  The object was apparently flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet and posed a “reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight.”  The Administration has disclosed that it doesn’t know who owns the unmanned object or its purpose.

But, the Chinese reconnaissance spy balloon, equipped with multiple antennas and sensors for collecting and transmitting back to China a wide range of intelligence and communications, was allowed to traverse the U.S., passing over several high security military installations before being shot down in the Atlantic off the coast of South Carolina.  

As noted, the balloon had at that point already traversed parts of northwestern Canada and Idaho.  Of great concern is that Montana is home to U.S. land-based nuclear missile silos and the Pentagon has admitted the balloon traveled over this and several other “sensitive” areas.

Millions of Americans have wondered out loud this week “with an $850 billion defense budget, why can’t our government detect a Chinese spy balloon?”  And, if it was detected, why were the American people not immediately alerted to this foreign threat?

The Wall Street Journal notes that the larger picture is that for the second time in a week the U.S. has had its airspace invaded.  The alarming picture is that “an undetected balloon would be able to deliver a nuclear explosive that could detonate above the ground and cripple the U.S. electrical grid with an electromagnetic pulse.  That’s all too real a scenario if there is a major U.S. conflict with China, or for that matter with any major adversary.” (WSJ, 2-6-23).

And, as James J. Carafano of The Heritage Foundation has observed, “there are no two ways to parse this.  A Chinese spy balloon traversing the entirety of the United States is blatantly illegal, a clear violation of American airspace, and a deliberate encroachment on American sovereignty.  It is a perfect example of the kind of threat that post-9/11 homeland security measures were meant to prevent.” (2-10-23).

Carafano concludes with the assertion that “… the real reason for the Administration’s belated, muddled, and confused response is that Biden is trapped between his desire to want to normalize relations with China, and the American people who want him to get tough on China and protect us.”

Maybe Carafano is right, but I believe that his point is only a part of the explanation for why it took one week to shoot the balloon down.

Americans may also reasonably ask:  “Is it possible the president is so soft on China because he is compromised as a result of the multi-million dollar business deals, documented on Hunter Biden’s laptop, which the Biden Crime Family has entered into with the Chinese Communist government?” 

Additionally, let’s not forget that this dangerous invasion of our skies is completely consistent with the invasion this Administration has encouraged on our southern border, making America vulnerable to millions of illegal aliens, dozens of persons on the FBI’s terrorist watch list, and enough fentanyl to kill every American several times over.

The issue of illegals and fentanyl, combined with theft, crime, terrorists, and human trafficking, including child sex trafficking, is both a humanitarian disaster and a serious national security vulnerability.

A country that can’t or won’t control its own borders is not a sovereign. It is a staging ground to be occupied by anyone with the means to steal into our country.  It is a Nation in name only, just a place on a map.

Clearly something is wrong. 

The Biden Administration has violated the fundamental constitutional duty of government to “provide for the common defense” and made America unsafe.

This madness must end now.


Local 4-H Hosts Shooting Competition

By SarahJayne Driskill, DeSoto Parish Assistant Extension Agent 4-H

On Saturday, February 4, 2023, DeSoto Parish 4-H hosted our first Air Pistol Match. There were 13 competitors from Bossier 4-H and DeSoto 4-H. We had a great turn out and everyone had a blast! This was a great opportunity for shooters to prepare for our Northwest Regional Shoot.

The Northwest Regional Shoot begins on March 24, 2023 and will be hosted in the David Means Memorial Barn, Long Range Gun Alley, and Shreveport Gun Club.


Kids Retreat at Clara Springs

By Mandi Mills

Kids Winter Retreat 2023 was an amazing event. 178 kids (grades 1st-6th) from churches in DeSoto, Red River, Sabine, and Natchitoches parish all joined together to worship, play fun games, and eat s’mores by the fire.

Many kids accepted Christ as their Savior for the first time during this weekend. Worship was led by Enrique Magana and the message given by Shane Wilbanks an Illusionist/Pastor from Georgia!

This was the perfect teaser weekend of what is to come this summer at Clara Springs Camp. Summer Camp Registration is now open on our website clarasprings.com.


Three Speakers At Mansfield Lions Club

The three speakers at the Lions Club this week were Lions: Raymond Powell who told the Club about a famous man from DeSoto Parish.  Kyle McDonald, graduate of M.H.S. and La. Tech, is the C.E.O. of Argent Bank and rang the opening bell for the N.Y. Stock Exchange this week.  Kyle is the son of Mr. & Mrs. A.W. McDonald from Stonewall, La.

Jamie Rollins with Edward D. Jones talked about recent market developments and strategies to maximize investment profits.  He described how Municipal Bonds are advantageous in markets like we are experiencing now.

And finally, Treasurer Richard Wilkinson presented Past President, and surprised, Van Reech a “Testimonial of Appreciation” for service done for the Club.  Van started with the Lions in 2014 and has served as V.P. and consecutive terms as President.  He and Lion Robert Powell host the bi-monthly club meetings. 

Robert mentioned that Lion Cyndi Phillips, Community Dev. Dir. For ANECA Federal Credit Union, was honored by the Bossier Chamber of Commerce as 2022 Diplomat of the Year.

The Lions meet every second and fourth Tuesday for a catered lunch at the Clista A. Calhoun Center.  The next meeting will be on Tuesday February 28th,  and you are welcome to come by.


Weekly Arrest Report

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 6-13, 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.


Notice of Death – February 15, 2023

Phillip Edward Hinkie, Sr. “Paw”

December 31, 1943 — February 10, 2023

View full obituary here:

https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/02/14/phillip-edward-hinkie-sr-paw/

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.)


ETC… For Wednesday, February 15, 2023

DOTD announces that preliminary work has begun on LA 3276 in DeSoto Parish (known as the Stonewall-Frierson Road).  There will be intermittent lane closures in place.  This work will be performed, weather permitting.  DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

The next DeSoto Chamber Luncheon will be Tuesday, February 21st at 12:00 Noon.  The Speaker will be Tripp Dungan with Cleco Power.  RSVP by 11:00 am Friday.

There are two holidays next week.  President’s Day is a federal holiday on Monday and Mardi Gras is a state holiday on Tuesday.  Parish Health Units will be CLOSED for Mardi Gras on Tuesday, February 21. Also many schools, financial institutions and government offices may be closed either or both days.  Check before going.


Phillip Edward Hinkie, Sr. “Paw”

Visitation celebrating the life of Phillip Edward Hinkie, Sr. “Paw” will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Mansfield, Louisiana.

Paw was born on December 31, 1943 in Selman City, Texas to Douglas and Geraldine Hinkie and entered into eternal rest on Friday, February 10, 2023, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Doris Renfrow Hinkie; parents; and grandson, Logan Hinkie.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, Phillip Hinkie, Jr. and wife, Traci; daughters, Tracy Curtis and husband, Keven, and Kristie Foster; grandchildren, Joshua Hinkie, Caitlyn Glassford and husband, Dillon, Abby Hinkie, William Foster, and Haleigh Foster; and four great grandchildren.


Weekly Arrest Report

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 6-13, 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.