By Teddy Allen 

Dear Ask the Paperboy:

Last year during early March, the U.S. Senate passed legislation that would have made daylight saving time permanent starting this Sunday, March 12. But now I understand that although we will spring forward Sunday, we will fall back come November 5, same as always, Lord willing we are still here. Right? Wrong? Let me know before Sunday. You’re on the clock starting … now!

Sleepily in Shreveport

Dear Sleepy,

Yes, to the first part; Congress considered making daylight saving time permanent, but it didn’t hap’n, Cap’n. Last year at this time, the proposed legislation went from the Senate to the House and the House was locked. By the time someone found a key, everyone in the House was in a foul mood and said NEG, that they “needed more time” to study its effects one way or the other because, apparently, the 100 years that daylight saving time has been around has not been enough time to really and truly think this thing through. Paperboy wishes daylight saving time were permanent because then it would be Headache Saving Time, since Paperboy’s head is all “confrused” twice a year. Finally, the bill was reintroduced by a senator just last week, has bipartisan support, and has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, Transportation, Headaches, and Clocks. My sources tell me the biggest thing we in the Don’t Touch That Timepiece! lobby have going for us is support in the extremely partisan cow bloc, made up of bovines who don’t want to be milked at one time during March and another time during November. Who would? Cows don’t know a clock from an udder; they just know when the sun comes up. Cows keep life simple.

 Dear Ask the Paperboy,

I see the Tarbutton Road Exit has opened in Lincoln Parish and a Buc-ee’s is a-comin’. This is the biggest news in these parts since Whataburger opened. But my query is, why is it called Tarbutton Road?

Life in Lincoln

Dear Life,

Paperboy feels it had to have been the name of someone who lived on that road before it had a name. As is often the custom in rural America, the name of the road, and sometimes a parish or town, is named for the early bird. You snooze, you lose. There are no Tarbuttons around now that I know of, but there are plenty in Texas and Mississippi and, with a name like that, they are all cool. My friend Teddy Allen feels if he’d have been named Teddy Simonetti or Teddy Takata or Teddy Tarbutton, he would have gotten some respect. Great names. They bring something to the party. Plus, it’s a fine road and a top-shelf exit. Hat tippage.

Dear ATP,

Recently my favorite baseball player was in a slump and then he hit like two taters and knocked in more runs than you have fingers on your hand in one game. The announcer said he was “off the schneid.” Is this a sports term? A foreign language? Did I misunderstand?

Possibly taking this too personally,

J.T. Schneider, Schneider Road, Schneiderville

Dear J.T.,

Words have always amused Paperboy, even ever since he was just Paperbaby. A “schneid,” as it turns out, is a word that originated with gin rummy and means you lost that hand and didn’t score any points. So, a schneid is a bad thing and came to mean, in any sport, that it is not happening for you. To get “off the schneid” means you are winning again. So, if you see a schneid, stay away from it. If you’re on a schneid, say excuse me and get off it. Now that that’s settled, let’s score some runs!

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

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Recently rehearsals began for a very ambitious production to debut in May at the BackAlley Community Theatre.  They will present Fiddler on the Roof beginning May 12^th.  Additional actors, singers and dancers are needed to fill o0ut the cast.

Weekend rehearsals got underway several Saturdays ago.  Amy Hall is the director and the lead of Tevye is played by Stephen Parr. 

Amy has been active in the community theatre working with the Dramaniacs youth players.  Fiddler will be Hall’s directing debut of an adult production; however, she is bringing several outstanding youth from the Dramaniacs to take part.

Steven Parr has a strong voice as Tevye, the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof.  Parr is the host of a daily talk radio program American Ground Radio.  It airs locally on KEEL.

Hall is seeking several actors, singers or dancers to fill parts in Fiddler.  In addition, there are roles for villagers and village children to fill out the cast. Contact Hall if you are interested at 601-870-4253 or come to rehearsal Saturday at 10:00 am at the BackAlley Community Theatre in Grand Cane.

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By Nicole Tull

On Thursday, March 2nd the School Board was presented with athletes and scholars form North DeSoto High.  The room was overflowing with eager supporters awaiting the good news.

North DeSoto had much to celebrate starting with the High School’s wrestling team. They were Division 2 State Runner Up. They also were the Northwest Region Champions. The school was represented with the largest number of students that made the 1st All Regional Team.

Additionally, Coach Dustin Burton was named Regional Coach of the Year. Dalton Compton and Lake Bates were presented with certificates by Superintendent Clay Corley.

North DeSoto also received non-athletic accolades. Stephanie Mason introduced STEM scientists Valerie Tlatenchi and MacKenzie Mathews. These girls presented why they are involved with robotics.

This scientific venture will help the girls advance in their careers later. MacKenzie wants to code, and Valerie wants to be a mechanical engineer. Their school team took 2nd place in NSU Robotics competition, and they are preparing for VEX robotics competition.

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By Royal Alexander

It had to come to this.  The U.S. Supreme Court had no choice but to hear a case regarding the arguably staggering constitutional overreach that exists in this one.

Let’s put aside for a moment the fundamental unfairness, which is enormous, of cancelling student loans in this fashion.   It is deeply unfair to those who have either not chosen a typical educational path such as college or professional school—or did choose that path but paid their own way.

The U.S. Supreme Court this past week heard oral arguments in what will likely amount to one of the most dramatic violations of our Separation of Powers, perhaps in our nation’s history.

The case, Biden v. Nebraska, involves the unilateral action by Pres. Biden—through the use of an executive order—to cancel up to $1 trillion in student loan debt that borrowers have legally and morally promised to repay.  In fact, the Penn Wharton Budget Model concludes that the burden unfairly imposed on American taxpayers by the Biden Administration’s reckless, inflationary student loan bailout proposal could exceed $1 trillion. 

There is simply no precedent for such an action and no legal basis supporting it. 

In truth, I think Pres. Biden, and certainly the very sharp lawyers around him, know that.  However, at the time Biden made this un-constitutional commitment—prior to last fall’s congressional elections—he was desperate to engage a naked political ploy to essentially buy the votes of young people.  And Forbes points out that polls of young people since the election suggest the success of this strategy.

The highly doubtful legal basis the Biden Administration used was the 2003 Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (The HEROES Act) as its authority.  The law allows the Education Secretary to waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision related to federal student aid when “necessary in connection with a war or other military operation or national emergency.”   Well, Pres. Biden mis-used the China Virus emergency to seek to cancel student debt for the large majority of borrowers.

The constitutional defect here is that the U.S. House of Representatives alone—not the president—possesses the “power of the purse” and the only way to do something like this is to have a bill originate in the House, pass both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate and be signed by the president.  Otherwise, a president, any president, simply has no constitutional authority to do this.

If the U.S. Supreme Court invalidates this executive order as I think it will, I think it will do so based upon the “major questions” doctrine which simply stands for the legal principle that if Congress intends to create a law of vast “economic and political significance” it must clearly and explicitly say so.

Well, the Higher Education Act says nothing of the kind.  The purpose of the Higher Education Act is to allow active-duty military members to halt their student loan payments while fighting for their country.

Perhaps the Wall Street Journal has characterized this case the best: “It’s hard to overstate the stakes in this case.  If a President can get away with this power-play, it’s hard to see what limit would be left on executive rule.  Find a statute that offers power in an “emergency,” declare such an emergency, and then do whatever you want or spend whatever you want.  The Founders would be appalled.” (WSJ, 2-25-23).

In fact, what could be less ‘HEROIC’ than manipulating the HEROES Act in this way?

 As the Heritage Foundation has pointed out,

 “Those who are most deeply harmed by inflation are those who didn’t go to college.  While most Americans – 87 percent of which do not have federal student loans – are living paycheck to paycheck, they must now subsidize the hasty financial decisions of those with college degrees and high earning potential.”

In addition to being unconstitutional, this mocking misuse of the HEROES Act is cruel and callous and demonstrates that Pres. Biden simply does not care about leading, to borrow from President Lincoln, “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

We should recall that the Justices have decisively ruled in other recent decisions that Pres. Biden has exceeded his constitutional authority on the vaccine mandate and rental eviction moratorium.  It looks as though another legal rebuke is coming in this case.

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Since 1953 Clara Springs has been serving District Eight Baptist Missions and beyond. They want to celebrate BIG for their 70th Anniversary and they are inviting g everyone to join us.

There will be 2 major events to celebrate. On March 24th”Old School Campers” starting at 3:00 pm.  There will be a concert by The Southern Plainsmen.  The day ends with the Fourth Friday Fish Fry.

On March 26^th “Campers of Today” will begin at 4:00 pm with activities for the whole family including dinner, s’mores, and a fireworks show.

Both the Friday concert and Sunday activities are FREE but you must reserve your tickets.

Here is where to get details and how to register: clarasprings.com/2023-events/70th-anniversary

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Position: Administrative Assistant 5

Salary: $2,883.00 – $5,675.00 Monthly

Location: Natchitoches, LA

Job Type: Classified

Department: Northwestern State University

Job Number: 171972

Closing: 3/9/2023 11:59 PM Central

Supplemental Information

Northwestern State University is currently accepting applications for an Administrative Assistant 5 in Business Affairs.

Applicants must have Civil Service test scores for 8500-Office Support Exam in order to be considered for this vacancy unless exempted by Civil Service rule or policy. If you do not have a score prior to applying to this posting, it may result in your application not being considered.

Applicants without current test scores can apply to take the test here.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

*Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.*

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Benetrus Brooks, H.R. Specialist

Northwestern State University – Human Resources

200 Sam Sibley Dr. – St. Denis Hall

brooksb@nsula.edu

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION (FULL DISCLOSURE)

It has been, and will continue to be, the policy of Northwestern State University to be an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on job related standards and must comply with the principles of equal employment opportunity.

In keeping with this policy, the University will continue to recruit, hire, train, and promote into all job levels the most qualified persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or retirement status. All personnel actions, such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, training, and education are administered without regard to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or retirement status.

The University is committed to equal opportunity for student success by providing access to educational programs, tuition assistance, and social and recreational activities for all students without regard to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or retirement status.  Additionally, the University provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.

Student complaints or inquiries related to Title IX should be directed to the Director of Student Advocacy and Title IX Coordinator, Julie Powell (318-357-5570), Room 308 of the Friedman Student Union or email obannonj@nsula.edu.  Employee Title IX issues should be directed to the Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Human Resources, Veronica M. Biscoe (318-357-6359), Room 111 Caspari Hall or email ramirezv@nsula.edu.

In accordance with Section 35.106 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all participants, applicants, organizations, and interested individuals are advised and notified that the ADA Coordinator for Northwestern State University for facilities is the Director of University Affairs, Jennifer Kelly (318-357-4300), located in New Fine Arts, 104 Central Avenue, Ste. 102 or email andersonje@nsula.edu. For studentacademic services, contact the Director of Access and Disability Support, Taylor Camidge (318-357-5460) located in Room 108-C Watson Memorial Library or email camidget@nsula.edu.  For faculty/staff accommodations and services, contact Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Human Resources, Veronica M. Biscoe (318-357-6359), Room 111 Caspari Hall or email ramirezv@nsula.edu.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Four years of experience in which clerical work was a major duty.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

Training in a business or clerical-related curriculum in a business school or technical institute will substitute for the required experience on the basis of six months of training for six months of experience for a maximum of one year of the required experience.

Completion of a business or clerical-related curriculum in a business school or technical institute will substitute for a maximum of one year of the required experience.

College training will substitute for the required experience on the basis of 15 semester hours for six months of experience.

NOTE:

Business or technical school training with less than completion will only be credited in six month increments. Similarly, college training will only be credited in 15 semester hour increments.

NOTE: Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.

Job Concepts

Function of Work:

To serve as the special assistant to a classified/unclassified executive or high-ranking classified administrator.

Employees perform duties independently and exercise a high degree of independent judgment and initiative in determining the approach/action to take in non-routine situations.

Level of Work: Advanced.

Supervision Received:

General from a classified/unclassified executive or high-ranking classified administrator.

Supervision Exercised:

May supervise 1-2 lower-level personnel.

Location of Work:

May be used by all state agencies.

Job Distinctions:

Differs from Administrative Assistant 4 by the presence of responsibility for serving as special assistant to a classified/unclassified executive or a high-ranking classified administrator.

Differs from Administrative Assistant 6 by the absence of responsibility for serving as the confidential executive assistant to the unclassified Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or equivalent high-level classified/unclassified executive of a major state department.

Examples of Work

Relieves the executive of a variety of administrative matters by assuming delegated authority in assigned areas.

Performs and supervises administrative support activities such as maintaining files and central records, printing and duplicating services, security, purchasing of supplies and equipment, warehousing, and preparation of payroll and personnel records.

Serves as executive support to department advisors and decision-makers, including administrators and boards/committees.

Reviews correspondence and receives telephone calls related to the most sensitive and confidential matters and determines appropriate action to be taken.

Interprets departmental policies and procedures for staff members and the general public.

Conducts and/or supervises special projects, such as organizing charity drives or coordinating facility maintenance.

Collects and compiles budgetary data for monitoring funds and staffing levels.

Prepares materials needed for meetings, such as agendas, handouts, binders, etc.

May attend meetings and transcribe minutes.

May serve as backup for experienced-level professional duties, such as procurement, accounting, etc.

Administrative Assistant 5 – View Online

EOE

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This Week’s report covers a one 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 27-March 6, 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.

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Julie Anne Adams Rogers

August 15, 1963 — March 4, 2023

View full obituary at:

https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/03/07/julie-anne-adams-rogers/

JoAnne Wortham Jones

July 26, 1942 to March 5, 2023

View full obituary at:

https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/03/07/joanne-wortham-jones/

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.)

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DeSoto Schools noted that March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, where we bring awareness to CP, support, and celebrate those who live with CP. On March 24th, we encourage everyone to accept Morgan’s Challenge and wear green.

This is school social worker week.  DeSoto Schools said, “Worlita Jackson, LaKimberly Edwards, and Candice Preston work hard to form partnerships for students with their school, home, and community. If you see DeSoto’s school social workers this week, be sure to thank them for their dedication to our students.”

The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will present a concert “Gershwin and Friends” on Tuesday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Tickets are $15.75 each and can be purchased online at: nnssla.org/ticket-sales. The concert will feature Northwestern State faculty member and pianist John Price on George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and vocalists Kelli Roberts and Jenny Massia on songs by George and Ira Gershwin and Stephen Sondheim. They will be featured on “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess,” “Send in the Clowns from “A Little Night Music,” “Someone to Watch Over Me” from “Oh, Kay!” and “I Got Rhythm” from “Girl Crazy.”

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JoAnne Wortham Jones died peacefully on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at the age of 80. Her pain and suffering are no more and she is reunited in Heaven with her husband, parents and sisters. 

JoAnne was born on July 26, 1942, in Bernice, Louisiana, to Sedral and Jack Wortham. She graduated from Bernice High School and Louisiana Tech University, and received a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Seminary. 

She taught school for a few years in Mansfield, where she met and married Don Jones. Don and JoAnne spent many years together in DeSoto Parish as a farming family, working as partners to keep the family’s dairy going. She was an incredibly hard worker and was a wonderful example of devotion to her family and friends. 

JoAnne lived her Christian faith daily and was a member of the Southside Baptist Church and an honorary lifetime member of Antioch Baptist Church.

JoAnne was preceded in death by her parents, John Vaughn and Sedral Reeves Wortham; her husband, Don Foster Jones; her sisters, “Pat” Patricia Gail Ramsey and Donna Jean Leigh and her daughter-in-law, Christie Watson Jones.

She is survived by her son, Thomas Huel Jones and his wife, Ann Margaret; her grandsons, Christopher Jones and Jordon Jones and his wife, Abbie, her siblings, Mary DeCelle, Brenda Hall and John Wortham along with four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk St., Mansfield, Louisiana followed by graveside service at 2:00 p.m. at the family cemetery, True Vine Nursery, in Mansfield Louisiana.

Honoring JoAnne as pallbearers will be Christopher Jones, Jordan Jones, Wendall Waxham, Thumper Miller, Jody Cunningham and Eduardo Yaki Ferrer. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Steve Jones, Leon McQueen, Mike Cline, Robert “Robbo” Davidson, Jack Barron and Luis Pacheco.

The family suggests memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251.

The family would like to express special thanks and appreciation to Life Path Hospice, her caregivers, Glenda Ford and Dorothy Simpson for the excellent care they provided for JoAnne during her final illnesses.

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A celebration of life will be held for Julie Anne Adams Rogers, 59, at First Baptist Church Mansfield officiated by Pastor Chad Hardbarger, at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 10, 2023. There will be a graveside service immediately following at Keatchie Cemetery. Her family would like to welcome guests to the visitation on Thursday, March 9, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Southside, 2500 Southside Dr, Shreveport, Louisiana.

Julie passed away on March 4, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on August 15, 1963, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Bob and Anne Adams. She graduated from St. Vincent Academy in 1981. After high school, she attended LSU, where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and graduated with a degree in journalism. She moved to Washington, D.C. after college. While on a plane headed back to Shreveport for Christmas, she happened to meet her husband, Chip. He was also from DeSoto Parish, but their paths had never crossed until then. They married and moved back to Louisiana, spending time in Shreveport and Vidalia, but eventually settled back in DeSoto Parish. They had two children, Catherine and Carson, who were truly the lights of their lives. Julie had several careers in her life, beginning in politics working for Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. She spent many years as a teacher, and finally found her calling as the Director of Tourism, here in her beloved DeSoto Parish. Julie was an incredible mother, a devoted wife, treasured friend, and a mentor to so many. She had an infectious personality that could bring a smile to anyone’s face. She had a way of making everyone feel special.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Hines Earnest Rogers III (Chip); her parents, James Robert Adams Sr. (Bob), and Gloria Adams Blaylock (Anne); her in-laws Hines Earnest Rogers Jr. (Tubby) and Hazel Rogers; her brother, James Robert Adams, Jr. (JR); beloved cousin Grover Blaylock; and dear nephew Taylor Savoy Adams.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Catherine Rogers and Carson H. Rogers; her brothers Jeff (Linda) Adams, Don (Temora) Adams, Charlie (Susan) Adams, sister- in-laws Carol Adams and Karen Lewis Ricci; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends. She will always be cherished by her special friend, Jim (Mule) Aichinger.

Honoring Julie as pallbearers will be Robert Adams, Logan Adams, Andrew Adams, Seth Wiley, Tyler Gasper, and John Brossette. Honorary pallbearers will be Austin Adams and Wilson Adams.

The family would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming amount of love, support, and prayers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Keatchie Heritage Foundation, PO Box 24, Keatchie, LA 71046, or the cancer charity of your choice.

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The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division recently wrapped up an investigation that led to the arrest of Jessica L. Rials of Grand Cane (33 year old White Female). During the course of this investigation, narcotics agents were able to locate 41 Fentanyl pills, 170 units of Fentanyl, 3.1 grams of Black Tar Heroin, 31 grams of Brown Heroine, and 1.34 pounds of Marijuana. The amount of fentanyl retrieved could have led to several hundred lethal doses resulting in death.

Thus far, DeSoto Parish has been fortunate in relation to the Fentanyl problems we have seen in other parts of our nation. As with time, we know that some will try. Sheriff Richardson has dedicated our finest to stopping these dangerous drugs from being distributed into our streets. Although some investigations can take time and can be very complex, we anticipate several other arrests in the coming days in relation to this case and others. We are grateful to those who worked hard on this case and others to ensure the safety of our DeSoto Parish families.

Jessica L. Rials was booked into the DeSoto Detention Center, and charged with the following:

• 2 charges of Possession of Schedule I with Intent to Distribute which includes Fentanyl, Black Tar Heroin, Brown Heroin, and Marijuana
• 2 charges of Possession of Schedule II with Intent to Distribute which includes Meth and Oxycodone
• Possession of Schedule II
• Distribution of Schedule II
• Possession of Schedule III (Suboxone)
• Distribution of Schedule IV (Xanax)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS)
• Illegal Use of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the Presence of a person under the age of 17

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Stanley’s Panthers defeated Calvin 53-45 last Thursday.  That set up a match with #5 Lacassine on Tuesday.  The final score in Tuesday game was Lacassine 72 and Stanley 49.

Also on Tuesday evening the Wolverines season came to an end at the hands of Port Allen. Final score was Port Allen 62 and Mansfield 52.  Last week the Mansfield Wolverines blew out Doyle 72-49 in the first round of the Division III playoffs. 

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The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a Hunter’s Education Course from March 16th – 18^th. This course date was specially chosen to assist those in 4-H shooting before their season began. Another Hunter’s Ed Course will still be hosted in the coming months, before hunting season.

This is a three day course and attendees must attend all three days to receive certification. Applicants must be at least 10 yrs. of age by March 16th to attend. Times, dates, and other information can also be found at the link below. *There is NO COST associated with this course.

REGISTER HERE: louisianaoutdoors.com/events/192195

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The DeSoto Parish GOP invites you to a steak dinner with the candidates for Louisiana Governor.  The event will be held Thursday, March 23^rd at the RB4 Event Center near Logansport.

Admission is $50per person or $500 for a table.  Pre-payment and RSVP is required.  See the flyer below for complete details.

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By Brad Dison

In February 1914, May Pierstorff’s parents prepared for their five-year-old daughter, May, to visit her grandmother.  May and her parents lived in Lewiston, Idaho.  May’s grandmother lived about 70 miles away in Grangeville, Idaho.  In the 1910s, automobiles had not yet become the predominant form of transportation in Idaho.  Most people traveled on or were pulled by horses if they were traveling within a short distance from home.  May’s parents decided that May would travel to and from her grandparents’ home by train due to the distance of the trip.  For some reason, probably the cost of train tickets, May’s parents could not accompany her on the trip.

The cost of May’s ticket was more than the family could afford.  May’s parents looked for a loophole.  Surely, they thought, they could purchase a discount ticket due to May’s age, but the railroad offered no such discount.  Maybe, they thought, they could get a discount due to May’s weight, which was 48 ½ pounds.  They got lucky.  This was the loophole they had been looking for.  May was just a pound and a half below the 50-pound weight limit.

On February 19, May’s parents pinned something on May’s coat and dropped her off at the train station in Lewiston, Idaho for the 70-mile trip.  They watched as May boarded the train and, at the proper time, the train chugged out of the station.  When the train arrived at the Grangeville station, no one was waiting to pick May up.  An employee named Leonard Mochel delivered the five-year-old to her grandmother’s home.

When money is tight, all of us look for clever ways to save money.  May’s parents were no exception.  May traveled from Lewiston to Grangeville… as a parcel in the train’s mail car to save money.  The thing May’s parents attached to May’s coat was 53 cents in parcel post stamps.  The employee who delivered May to her grandmother’s home was the mail clerk.  May’s parents mailed May to her grandmother’s home.  When their visit was over, May’s grandmother sent her back to her parents in the same manner, through the mail.

Sources:

1. Smithsonian National Postal Museum, “100 Years of Parcels, Packages, and Packet, Oh My!”postalmuseum.si.edu/research-article/100-years-of-parcels-packages-and-packets-oh-my/the-oddest-parcels.
2. The Pomona Progress, February 20, 1914, p.1.
3. The Long Beach Telegram and the Long Beach Daily News, February 20, 1914, p.1.
4. The Minneapolis Journal, March, 26, 914, p.11.

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Upcoming on Friday, March 17^th is Tween and Teen Game Day.  Kids in grades 6-12 are invited to come to the Stonewall Branch Library to laugh and play with their friends.  There will be board games, card games and more from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

At the last Stonewall Story Hour, kids made hats from “The Cat in the Hat.” They had a blast.

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Look around our area, new business everywhere. Real Estate is also getting a new look. I have been a successful realtor for 16 years. I have learned the ins and outs of the business thoroughly during this time. We have opened a new office and we’re bringing what I believe to be a much-needed change that will assist those thinking about buying or selling a home. My grandson Colby Session is working with me as a licensed LA. Realtor. Together our mission is to make the process of buying or selling more affordable. We will accomplish this by listing and selling your house for as low as 2.5%.

We hope to be an asset to everyone we come in contact with. Our thoughts will always center around “whatever it takes”. Call John at 318-332-9850 or Colby at 318-652-4878

We can help keep YOUR equity and wealth in YOUR pocket!

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By Steve Graf

Whether it’s football, baseball, basketball, or corn hole, records are made to be broken. It’s not every day that a person gets the opportunity to set or break a record of any kind. It usually means the person setting the new record has played a particular sport for a long time. He or she has put in many hours of practice and dedicated themself to being the best. No matter how big the record is, the day will come when it will be broken.

In 1932 the world record largemouth bass of 22.4 lbs. was caught in Georgia’s Lake Montgomery by George Perry which still stands today! This record has stood for over 90 years! But, in 2009 a Japanese angler by the name of Manabu Kurita caught a 22.5 lb. bass in Lake Biwa in Japan. Based on simple math, you would think this would be a new world record by 1 ounce. Hold on, there’s a rule with IGFA (International Game Fish Association) which certifies all fishing world records, states that to be a new world record of any kind, the fish must weigh at least two ounces more than the previous record. But IGFA did give him credit for tying the world record catch. 

Now let’s look at what happened on Saturday, February 11th during the Bass Champs Team Trail event on Toledo Bend. Somewhere between 7:00 and 8:00 in the morning, Bill Cook of Houston, Texas set the hook on what he knew was a big bass. After hooking the bass on what’s called an A-Rig (A umbrella-style rig that imitates a small school of baitfish). Bill knew he had a big fish, but had no clue what was about to transpire.

The story goes, Bill had spotted the fish on his forward-facing sonar in about 18 feet of water on the edge of a drop-off. He made a cast in the direction of the bass and let the A-rig sink to the bottom. While watching his bait on his depth finder like a video game, he then engaged the reel and began to slowly retrieve the bait just off the bottom when the big fish came up and bit his lure. After a tough battle, his partner (Ken Burgess) netted the fish. At first glance, they thought the fish might be a 12-pounder which was bigger than any fish Bill had ever caught before. They had no idea that Bill had just caught a new Toledo Bend Lake record of 15.67 lbs. until they hit the scales during the weigh-in that afternoon.   

The funny part of this story is that the weekend before in a MLF BFL tournament, his co-angler partner (Michael Fagan) caught an 11-pounder off this same spot on an A-rig along with a 6.14 lb. bass to finish 2nd on the co-angler side of this event. The co-angler asked Bill if he had an A-rig tied on? Bill, thinking, he had one rigged up in his rod locker, opened the locker only to discover he had left that rod with the A-rig in his garage! But he made sure he had it in the boat for the Bass Champs event the next week and as they say, the rest is history!

The previous record of 15.32 caught by Eric Weems had stood for 22 years. Bill Cook is no stranger to the waters of Toledo Bend and has fished this body of water for over 30 years. He’s had a lot of success in tournament circuits like the BFLs, Toyota Series, and team trails. Bill is one of those anglers, you hope to be paired up with if you’re fishing as a co-angler in any event. He’s not only an excellent angler but an even better person.

No one is more deserving of a record like this than Bill Cook, and I along with a lot of other anglers hope his record catch stands for a long time! Unless the fishing Gods shine down on me with such an opportunity! Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget to set the hook! You never know, it just might be a new record!

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Members of NAUW Mansfield Branch joined Forgiven Ministries at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel, LA for their One Day with God Camp.  NAUW members served as volunteers who joined incarcerated fathers and their children for a day of fun and fellowship. Activities included games, singing, a birthday party, a father daughter dance, a father son wisdom walk, etc. We were grateful to be a part of such an impactful event.

Also this week one NAUW member read to a kindergarten class at Mansfield Elementary in observance of Read Across America Day/Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Thank you Velma White for your willingness to serve the kids in our community.

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Pre-orders for yearbooks are happening now.  PK through fifth grade 5 student will have an order form sent home.  Students in grades 6-12 can pick up an order form from the front office.

Tickets for the Logansport High Prom can be purchased from the LHS front office.  The price is $50.  The prom will be held at the RB4 Center on Saturday, March 18 from 7:00 to 11:00 pm. All dates that do not attend LHS must be approved by school administration.

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Susan Stone

April 15, 1954 — February 21, 2023

View full obituary here:

https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/02/25/susan-cora-stone/

Syble Corley Ruffin

August 23, 1929 — February 25, 2023

View full obituary here:

https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/02/27/syble-corley-ruffin/

Clifford Morris “Pete” Sistrunk

January 24, 1942 — February 26, 2023

View full obituary here:

https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/02/27/clifford-morris-pete-sistrunk/

Carla Little

7/31/1967 – 2/20/2023

Service: Saturday, March 4, 2023 New Jerusalem B.C. Many.

James Howard Jr.

2/6/1947 – 2/20/2023

Service: Saturday, March 4, 2022 @ 2:00 P.M. Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel.

James “Stretch” Walter Jr.

7/16/1957 – 2/21/2023

Service: Saturday, March 4, 2023 @ 11:00 A.M. Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel.

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.)

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Get ready for the Fourth Friday Fish Fry March 24^th at Clara Springs Camp.  Great fried fish and all the trimmings for $15.

Logansport High has announced upcoming testing days. Tuesday March 7th & Wednesday March 8th, students in grades 10-12 will take the ACT test on our campus while our 9th grade students take the Pre-ACT.  Due to scheduling we will have virtual days for some of our HS populations on these days. 

Tuesday: 9th and 10th grade will test – JR/SR virtual learning day

Wed: 11th and 12th will test – 9th and 10th virtual learning day

Grades PK – 8 will be on normal schedules these days.  While on virtual learning days, students will have assignments to complete.  Students will report at normal time on their assigned testing days.

North DeSoto High wrestling alumni Josh Sarpy will be competing in the PAC 12 Championships this weekend at 133 pounds. Sarpy was a 2x State Champion at NDHS and has continued to improve his wrestling career at Little Rock.

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