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Older citizens were honored Thursday by the DeSoto Council on Aging.  The event lasted from :900 am until 1:00 pm and was held at the old DeSoto High School Gym.

Council Director Cheryl Lane told the Journal that this was an annual event until interrupted by COVID.  Lane said, “We’re bringing it back this year.  Everyone is having a great time. We are about to begin Bingo and a little later there will be a puppet show put on by Uncle Richards House.”

The council got support from the Sheriff’s Office.  Sheriff Richardson and his staff cooked a delicious meal for the guests at the event.

The theme for the 2023 Older American Day was Aging Unbound.  The program recognized seniors of DeSoto Parish.

Lane invited the public to take advantage of all programs offered by the Council on Aging at their office 404 Polk St.  Call 872-3700 for more information.

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Gulf Run Transmission/Energy Transfer this week presented a check for $10,000 to Fire District #8.  Fire Chief Bill DeLoach said, “The grant will be used to acquire safety equipment for our firefighters.

Pipeline Technician Shane Hubbard  and Public Relations  specialist Alexis Daniel represented Energy Transfer in presenting the ”oversized” check to the Fire District #8.  Daniel told the Journal that District 8 is closest to the route the pipeline took through DeSoto Parish.  She said, “We like to go into communities along our route and find out what the needs are.  We make donations to various outreach efforts in those communities.”

The Gulf Run pipeline runs from Westdale south to Starks, near Lake Charles.  It was completed last December.

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By Brad Dison

Ronald Hughes was a novice California attorney whose first trial was approaching quickly.  He was defending a woman named Leslie Van Houten in a multiple murder trial.  Three other defendants had their own attorneys.  Ronald needed a good suit for the trial.  In May of 1970, Hollywood movie studio MGM decided to auction off movie props, many from the golden age of Hollywood, which they figured they would not need for future films.  The props had been kept in climate-controlled storage for decades.  Ronald watched as noteworthy items brought high prices and probably questioned whether he would be able to afford anything at all.  Finally, the lone item he had been waiting for was on the auction block.  It was a man’s suit worn by Spencer Tracy in the 1960 film Inherit the Wind.  The auctioneer opened the bids on the suit and the room fell silent.  As the auctioneer peered around the room, only one person in the audience seemed interested.  Ronald bid $5.00 on the suit and won it.  Ronald was uninterested that the suit was worn in a film, he was interested because the suit was cheap and in his size.

On July 15, 1970, the trial for which Ronald bought the $5 suit began.  The trial was fraught with disruptions from members of Leslie’s family, many of whom were eventually banned from the courtroom.  Due to Ronald’s flamboyant courtroom demeanor, his long hair, long beard, the admission of his squalid living conditions (Ronald lived in a garage with holes in the roof and slept on a mattress on the floor), admission that he wore a $5 suit he purchased at an auction, and his admission to having used hallucinogenic drugs in the past, the press nicknamed him the “Hippie Lawyer.”  The trial dragged on for months.  Finally, on November 16, 1970, after 23 weeks of presenting evidence, the State of California rested its case against Leslie.  It was time for the defense attorneys to present their evidence.

On November 19, the defense attorneys filed motions for the acquittal of the defendants on the grounds that the state had not presented sufficient evidence to convict them.  The state had presented more than 250 individual pieces of evidence, 73 photographs of the victims, and eyewitness testimony.    The judge rejected the motions for acquittal.  To everyone’s surprise, each of the defendant’s attorneys, including Ronald, stood in turn, and said, “the defense rests.”  The attorneys rested their case without calling a single witness in their defense.  Leslie and other members of her family yelled that they wanted to testify.  The prosecution and defense agreed to recess over the week of Thanksgiving to give both sides a chance to prepare closing arguments.  The trial was set to resume on Monday, November 30th.

When the trial resumed on that Monday morning, Ronald failed to show up.  After waiting an hour, the trial continued without Ronald.  He had been late before because he lacked proper transportation and was once arrested for outstanding traffic tickets.  When he failed to appear for court the following day, the judge ordered deputies to use all possible means to find Ronald and bring him to court.  The trial continued without him.  Deputies learned that Ronald had hitchhiked to the Los Padres National Forest for a Thanksgiving week camping trip.  Search parties scoured the area but found no trace of Ronald.  The defendants, including Ronald’s client Leslie, were eventually convicted of murder.  On March 29, the jury returned death penalty verdicts against Leslie and the other defendants.  On the same day, two trout fishermen found Ronald’s body in a knee-deep creek.  His head was wedged between two large rocks.  Conspiracy theorists and even some of Leslie’s family members concluded that the father of the family had Ronald killed although a cause of death was never determined.  Investigators speculated that Ronald drowned during a rainstorm which caused flash flooding.  However, the possibility that members of Leslie’s family had killed Ronald was not beyond the realm of belief.  You see, the family who disrupted the courtroom proceedings was referred to as the Manson family.  The father of the family was Charles Manson.         

Sources:

1. The Los Angeles Times, May 4, 1970, p.4.
2. The Sacramento Bee, November 17, 1970, p.6.
3. Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 18, 1970, p.7.
4. The Peninsula Times Tribune, November 19, 1970, p.1.
5. Concord Transcript, November 30, 1970, p.2.
6. The Hanford Sentinel, December 2, 1970, p.1.
7. The Los Angeles Times, March 30, 1971, p.3.
8. The Sacramento Bee, April 1, 1971, p.77.
9. Hollywood-memorabilia.com/mgm-auction-1970-costumes-props/

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The DeSoto Parish Journal has experienced tremendous growth in the past year.  Therefore, an Assistant Publisher is needed to supervise the gathering and production of local news items.

This is an immediate opening for a newly created position.  Salary and benefits to be negotiated.

Skills the successful candidate should possess include:

Covering local news events and boiling down the important aspects of the event into a news article.

Photographic skills to portray the event.

Research skills to supplement coverage of an event, including preparation prior to an interview, meeting, etc.

Journalistic ethics including being able to distinguish between the facts of an event and the “spin” of the event. 

Acute observation and note taking to assure accuracy of reporting, especially quotations from individuals involved in the story.

The ability to ask relevant questions and keep the subject of an interview on track.

And the appreciation of hard work and diligence in the gathering, writing, and disseminating local news.

Interested candidates should submit a brief resume, photo, and all contact information.  All submissions should be via email should be addressed to:  DeSotoParishJournal@gmail.com.

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By Steve Graf

Over the past couple of years, there’s been some controversy with a certain professional angler having an unfair advantage. Today we’ll look at this particular angler who is at the root of this controversy. He’s a guy who is not a cheater, but an angler who takes advantage of how the rules of the game are written. He’s an angler, fishing at the highest level with both B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing, who has had a lot of success doing it his way.

The angler we’re talking about is Keith Poche. Keith was raised in Natchitoches, Louisiana, attended Natchitoches Central High School, and after graduation went on to play football at Troy State University. After a knee injury, Keith decided to walk away from football and pick up a rod and reel. Even though he grew up fishing the banks of Cane River, he decided to take his fishing to another level and pursue a career as a professional angler.

In 2014, Keith qualified to fish his first Bassmaster Classic, held on the Red River out of Shreveport, where he finished 3rd overall. To say Keith has had “a little success” is an understatement. He’s had 46 top 50 finishes, 21 top 20’s, and 7 top 10’s, with a few victories mixed in.

So, a few seasons ago, Keith made a decision to fish out of a custom-built aluminum boat that allowed him to get into areas that other anglers could not. He did not want the fully wrapped fiberglass boat that 98% of the professional anglers fish out of. But his competition was not happy with him having such an advantage with his custom boat. After several events, protests were made and there were many attempts to have him disqualified for the way he was accessing backwater areas. This special boat, built to his specifications, allowed him to gain access into backwater areas holding bass that had zero pressure and, in some cases, had never seen a bait before.

As I’ve illustrated in past articles, anglers are a fickle bunch and hate it when one guy figures something out they did not. Keith figured out quickly that this was his niche, and how he could have success without breaking any rules. Now he obviously pushes the envelope, but he never violates a written rule. Still, anglers and officials knew something had to be done to “level the playing field.” One rule implemented a couple of years ago was that whatever boat you start the season with, is the same boat you must fish out of in all the tournaments.

But here’s what is amazing…these same anglers complaining are not recognizing that Keith is at a huge disadvantage when tournaments are held on large bodies of water like the Great Lakes. His small custom boat with a 90-horsepower engine is not conducive for fishing the larger bodies of water, putting him at a distinct disadvantage. Keith is restricted on how far he can go compared to the guys running 20 to 21-foot boats with 250 horsepower engines. Now Keith has never complained about him being at a disadvantage when the tour reaches these massive lakes. He just puts his head down and tries to make the best of it. Not sure if it’s just a coincidence, but no one is complaining about Keith’s small aluminum boat unless he is at or near the top of the leaderboard. 

The most recent issue came last week at the Toledo Bend B.A.S.S. Open Series where Keith ran up the lake and gained access into an area other anglers could not go. He finished 29th in this event, but a protest was made on the area and how Keith gained access.

This is a continuing story that I will make sure to monitor as Keith and his lawyers, along with B.A.S.S. officials, are working together to try and come to a mutual agreement on what’s allowed and not allowed. One thing is for sure…look for some major rule changes at B.A.S.S for the upcoming 2024 season to take away Keith’s advantage. Till next week, good luck, good fishing and make sure to wear sunscreen and good protective clothing. No one is immune to skin cancer like Melanoma. 

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The Club heard from Suzanne Brossette who is, among many other duties, newly elected President of the Friends of the Mansfield Female College Museum.  Suzanne took the reins over at a stressful and tense time for the Clista A. Calhoun Center.  She told of her determination to take those reins firmly in hand and drive the team to achieve further goals.  With her guidance she’s gotten The Center’s I.T. systems replaced and upgraded.  Her vision is to have The Center’s main competition, Classic C. and The Cook-Hill House, working together to provide different types and sizes of venues so that our entire Parish benefits.

In the near future she plans to upgrade the lighting on the Polk St. and entrance sign for the Museum as well as upgrades on the grounds.  Because of her friendship with the late Julie Adams Rogers she has reinstated the support of the DeSoto Parish Tourist Bureau and plans on seeking new historical Federal and State grant funds.  She made the comment, “When people drive up to the Museum they look up and say what is this other building next to the Calhoun Center?”  Now, that’s vision!

In other business, Van Reech reported that the Club has reserved the Calhoun Center for the weekend of Saturday, September 09, for an “Election Meet & Greet” for all candidates running in the upcoming October elections.  Further information upcoming so mark your calendars.

The next Rotary meeting is 6/07/23 at the Genealogical Library in the Mansfield Female College for lunch.  We would love to have you join us!

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DeSoto Parish Deputies are trying to locate the owner of this horse, pictured in this post.  She was picked up around the Bates Road area Monday night.  We are planning to attempt and see if the animal is chipped, but the horse is a bit wild at the moment.  As much as we love animals, a good firm kick to the teeth just isn’t something any of us desire at this point in time.  If you have information that may assist in locating the owner, please contact our office at 318-872-3956 and ask to speak with Captain Chato Atkins.

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Shelly Babers

8/1/1946 – 5/19/2023

Celebration of Life Saturday, May 27, 2023 @ 11:00 A.M. at Springville Missionary B.C. in Coushatta, LA.

Viola Mae Ford

1/6/1971 – 5/11/2023

Service: Saturday, May 20, 2023 @11:00 A. M. Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel.

Candi Washington

8/18/1970 – 5/16/2023

Service: Saturday, May 27, 2023 @ 1:00 P. M. Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel 601 Franklin Street Mansfield, LA.

The DeSoto Parish Journal publishes “Remembrances of Loved Ones” with unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The Remembrance will be included in the emails sent to subscribers.  Contact your funeral provider or DeSotoParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication.

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DeSoto Parish Schools is calling all parents and guardians. Come learn more about special services, IEPs, 504 plans, curriculum, student health and wellness, early intervention, and more on July 15, 2023 from 10-2. There will be door prizes, uniform drives, and backpacks up for grabs.

Free Child Safety Seat Installation Event has been scheduled for Saturday in Mansfield. If you want a quick check, demonstration, or help with a safe install…come and learn.  It is  Saturday May 27^th from 8:00 am until 10:00 am at the old Wal Mart in Mansfield.

Amy Lee has been named director of Marketing and Branding at Northwestern State University, pending approval by the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System.  Lee will be responsible for the university’s brand, graphics identity and social media presence.  

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DeSoto Parish Schools noted progress made in district wide attendance this current school year.  Everyday matters in your student’s education and DeSoto schools have shown gains thanks to everyone working together.

They are celebrating the work in improving student’s attendance. Check out these 5 facts from this past school year:

• 2022-2023 school year’s daily attendance was over 3% higher than 2021-2022 school year.
• Over 20 students had perfect attendance this past year.
• Mansfield middle met their attendance goal 28 of 36 weeks.
• Staff attendance improved over 5% for the 2022-2023 School year.
• Over 40 staff members had perfect attendance for the 2022-2023 school year

By Nicole Tull

The candidates seeking the office for Attorney General came to the RB4 Event Center. The occasion last Thursday was the monthly DeSoto GOP luncheon.

John Belton was the first to speak. He is not affiliated with a registered party but is conservative in his Christian views. He is currently the DA for the 3^rd Judicial District which covers Lincoln and Union Parishes. He comes with 31 years of experience as a prosecutor. He also owns businesses which gives him administrative experience.  He is pro justice, pro second amendment, and pro-life.

Mr. Belton went on to explained that the District Attorney’s office handles 95% criminal with the remaining 5% representing school board, Police Jury, etc. In Louisiana, the District Attorney has original jurisdiction, but in other states the Attorney General’s office can have original jurisdiction. The Attorney General’s office is mostly civil and covers five areas: civil, criminal, Medicaid fraud, office of risk management, and gaming.

Marty Maley was next. He is a registered Republican. He comes with 28 years of experience as a criminal prosecutor in Baton Rouge. He is a 5-generation politician. Several family members are also attorneys. He has prosecuted some difficult cases to include a serial killer. He promises to be tough on hardened criminals, fight for victim’s rights, promote early intervention efforts, and is pro-life, pro-gun and pro Louisiana.

John Stefanski was the last candidate to speak. He is a registered Republican. He is currently the State Representative in District 42. He has a law practice in Crowley where he is exposed to multiple areas of law which has served him well in the legislature. He has headed up the redistricting efforts for the Congressional districts for the state. He promises to answer to the people and represent the people. He is anxious to work to make Louisiana a better place to live and encourage people to stay to invest in our great state. He pointed out that Louisiana has not won first in anything besides music, food, and sports in many years. While he may be younger than the average candidate, he brings zeal and direction.

All candidates were available for questions at the end of their talk. One question was repeatedly asked to each: “hypothetically, as Attorney General, if you were provided a case against a former DA, what would your position be as to prosecution of the former politician.” Every candidate promised to be in favor of justice to prosecute whoever was brought before their office. Political standing would not interfere with prosecution. Candidates indicated that some similar cases have already been brought to them in their experience.

One candidate did not make the luncheon and several local officials also attended.

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By Teddy Allen

The problem with making homemade ice cream when you were a kid is it seemed to take forever to freeze.

For-EVVV-er.

I scream, you scream, we all scream if the homemade ice cream won’t freeze.

It was like waiting for school to let out or Christmas morning to come. Though the object is the polar opposite, waiting on ice cream to freeze is the same metaphorically as waiting for the watched pot to boil.

“Is it ready yet?”

But some things are worth waiting on: A woman. Game 7. That first autumn day.

And homemade ice cream. The best things just won’t be rushed.

Seems like when we were kids that making homemade ice cream was about as common as shucking corn. On our back porch were muddy boots, a mop and broom, emergency dog food in case scraps were in short supply, a deep freeze filled with stuff in white packing paper and clear quart bags, and a gradually rotting wooden ice cream tub and briny crank handle contraption. Always in the bottom of the tub was the white rock salt residue that never quite came out.

Never did I know as a child what the rock salt was for, only that you “needed it” to “make the ice cream freeze.” That’s what the grownups said. Grownups took a lot of time not explaining stuff to us back then.

“But why?” a little person would say.

“Because I said so,” a big person would say.

It was a simpler time.

Naturally, we just assumed the salt kept the ice cream from contracting rickets.

I have since learned (off the streets) that the salt combines in some chemical way with the ice to lower the temperature a bit below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, thus assuring that the mixture inside the Magic Silver Tube, surrounded by ice, freezes.

It’s one of those science deals.

A couple of weeks ago at the beach, my high school friend J.C. Penney (the four-time Louisiana state 4-H Good Grooming Champ back in the day, which is another column for another time) ran out of salt and out of luck while attempting a homemade batch. He bought salt the next morning and added it to the ice. Less than 20 minutes of churning later, the ice cream was tight as Dick’s hat band and cold as a penguin’s nose. Sweet.

Folks don’t seem to make homemade ice cream as much today as they used to. And that’s a shame. Making homemade ice cream taught us some handy life lessons that today’s kids miss out on.

True, food folk have figured out how to make Food You Buy At The Store better. Preservatives and whatnot. Cake mixes are about as good from the box now as the ones you can make from scratch. What I’m saying here is that if you’ve eaten Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla, I can pretty much rest my case.

But in the days before electric churns, making homemade ice cream taught you patience and safety. The first thing our dads had us boys do was sit on the top of the freezer while they hand churned. This took a calendar day and you couldn’t feel your frozen butt until Tuesday.

The next growing-up step was to sit on the churn and turn it at the same time. This required dexterity and skill, because you haven’t lived until you’ve been churning and accidentally hit yourself in a delicate area. Some things you can feel, even frozen. I scream, you scream…

(From July 2012)

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

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In November of 2021, Sheriff Jayson Richardson started a program within the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office that would allow for Deputies to grow out their beards for a small donation.  Thus far, over $15,000 has been donated to different non-profits that have been highlighted to the public each month. 

The May donation is very special.  Earlier this year, North DeSoto Elementary student, Mason Lee Chandler, tragically passed away due to an unforeseen medical issue.  A project was created in his memory to raise money to implement an additional piece of playground equipment at the school, in memory of Mason. 

Sheriff Richardson along with a few bearded deputies visited North DeSoto Lower Elementary to present $1,400 to this wonderful cause.  The Sheriff said, “Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Mason’s family, friends, and faculty as we all work together to highlight Mason, in a very meaningful way.”

Accompanying Richardson were PIO Mark Pierce, NDLE Principal Russell Tabor, Detective Russ Jones, and Patrol Deputy Trey Williams.

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The U.S. Marshals Shreveport Violent Offender Task Force, working a collateral lead from the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERTF) in Atlanta, GA, arrested a man wanted in Forsyth County on child molestation charges Friday, May 19, 2023, with the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Kevin Rodriguez for Aggravated Child Molestation on March 30, 2023. The SERTF began investigating and discovered that Rodriguez drove trucks and was no longer in Georgia. The U.S. Marshals Shreveport Violent Offender Task Force also began to investigate and found Rodriguez in Desoto Parish, LA.

Rodriguez was arrested without incident off Hwy 513 by U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force and the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Rodriguez was booked into the Desoto Parish Jail and will be extradited to Georgia after local court proceedings.

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By Royal Alexander

The lengthy report from Special Counsel John Durham regarding the Russia-Collusion Hoax is one for the ages.  Its conclusions are both stunning and disturbing to all Americans who believe in equal justice under law.

In his report, Durham broadly concludes what millions of us have believed about this matter (and about many other false allegations about Pres. Trump) for many years now: There was never any basis for an investigation of Pres. Trump because there was never any actual evidence of collusion between Pres. Trump and/or his campaign and Russia.

Durham’s damning conclusion is one that should haunt the FBI and its mother agency, the Department of Justice (DOJ), for decades: by acting as it did, the DOJ and FBI “failed to uphold” its mission of “strict fidelity to the law” in the Trump-Russia probe.

Let me summarize the report.

The FBI lacked “any actual evidence of collusion” when it violated its standards and jumped over several steps to initiate a full investigation.   In short, the FBI opened the probe without doing interviews, using any “standard analytical tools,” or conducting intelligence reviews—which would have shown that not a single U.S. agency had evidence of collusion.  (Wall St. Journal, 5-15-23)

There was a strong bias against Trump.  The Durham report makes clear that partisan hostility played a role in the probe.  The report cites a “clear predisposition” to investigate based on a “prejudice against Trump” and “pronounced hostile feelings” against Trump by key investigators. (WSJ, 5-15-23).

Moreover, there were alarming double standards between the FBI’s treatment of President Trump and Hillary Clinton.  The Durham Report lays out several instances in which the line FBI agents were concerned that representatives of foreign governments were seeking influence by donating to the Clinton campaign or the Clinton Foundation.  Yet in one 2014 case, the FBI dawdled over obtaining a warrant from the secret FISA court because—according to an agent—“[T]hey were ‘tippy-toeing’ around HRC because there was a chance she would be the next President” and the FBI was concerned about interfering with a coming presidential campaign.  (WSJ, 5-15-23).

Yet, the FBI gave a Clinton representative a “defensive briefing” about the risks of foreign actors.  Mr. Trump received no such briefing even after the FBI was already investigating two members of the Trump Campaign, based on information provided to the FBI by Hillary Clinton’s Campaign and other political sources!

The FBI displayed willful ignorance and later, willing complicity.  The report lays out numerous examples of the FBI ignoring evidence that it was being used by the Clinton campaign to execute a political dirty trick.  This included intelligence the government received in July 2016 alleging that Mrs. Clinton had approved “a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisors to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security services.”

Further, former CIA director John Brennan briefed this material to President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and FBI Director James Comey, yet the FBI ignored it. 

It did the same when it learned that collusion dossier author Christopher Steele was working for the Clinton campaign and that Steele and oppo-research team Fusion GPS were spreading disinformation to the press.  And it ignored exculpatory statements made by Trump aides in secret FBI recordings.  (WSJ, 5-15-23)

The Wall Street Journal concludes:

“The Russia collusion fabrication and deceptive sale to the public is a travesty that shouldn’t be forgotten.  That Washington’s establishment refuses to acknowledge its role in this deceit is one reason so many Americans don’t trust public institutions.  It will take years for honest public servants to undo the damage, but the Durham accounting is a start.”

There’s not really much else to say.   However, the story is incomplete without recalling other recent instances of FBI corruption:

FBI targeting of Catholics to identify informants in its supposed effort to fight “white supremacy” and “domestic terrorists” in Catholic churches; The Hunter Biden Laptop scandal; the failure to prosecute Hillary Clinton for the destruction of classified information; labeling devoted parents as “domestic terrorists” who objected to the Covid masking, vaccine mandates, school shutdowns and the pornographic materials and racial politics their children are taught in public school.

The American people have lost faith in the FBI and DOJ.   The corruption identified here is the furthest thing from faithfulness to the law—it’s a mockery of it.  As a result, these two institutions have, perhaps irreversibly, wounded themselves.

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Child abuse and neglect are preventable, and all communities benefit when children and families are well supported. Extreme stress and uncertainty for families may increase the risk of child abuse and neglect raising the need to support families and prevent abuse before it occurs.

Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana (PCAL) stresses that all community members have a role in ensuring children have positive experiences and families have the resources they need when they need them, well before they are in crisis. By focusing on the importance of creating systems and programs that put children and families first, we can help prevent child abuse.

Working with PCAL, VIA LINK offers a statewide program, Louisiana Parent Line, which provides parents with free, confidential, 24/7 access to a live specialist. Translation services are available, and the Louisiana Parent Line can be reached through phone and text 24 hours a day. 

“The Parent Line provides parents and other family members with a safe space to express their frustrations, ask parenting questions and get support,” explained LaVondra Dobbs, CEO of    VIA LINK. “Parent Line specialists are well trained and experienced in offering emotional support to parents. They focus on de-escalation and crisis intervention. They listen and understand parents’ concerns. Specialists can provide information on different services and referral. Perhaps most importantly, they can help parents develop plans for coping.” 

Yet, the Parent Line is more than a one-time call. Parents can call in as often as they want or need. The goal is to provide emotional support whenever parents need it. The specialists can also offer follow-up calls and help increase the circle of support for families. Throughout Louisiana, this free service is working to prevent child abuse by getting families the support they need.

**All Specialists on LA Parentline are Mandated Reporters through LA DCFS.**

The phone number is 833-LA-CHILD (833-522-4453). Y ou can also text us at (225) 424-1533.

For more information about PCAL, VIA LINK, or the Louisiana Parent Line, please contact Sherrard Crespo, LCSW, Director of Outreach and Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana at screspo@vialink.org or visit our website http://www.vialink.org.

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Funeral services for Dudley “Twig” Hay, 91, will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Magnolia Baptist Church Cemetery, 173 Magnolia Lane, Mansfield, Louisiana. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Southside.

Twig was born February 1, 1932 in Bienville, Louisiana to William Hay and Marie Linton Hay and passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Twig graduated from Calvin High School and married the love of his life, Peggy Hunter, on November 28, 1964. He worked in military construction, was an auto mechanic, and worked in plant maintenance. He loved fishing and watching football.

Twig is preceded in death by his wife, Peggy, and brothers, Prentis Hay, Penny Hay, George Nunn and Thomas Nunn; and sisters, Jeneal Hay and Delsie Nunn. Left to cherish his memory is his son, Jason Hay, granddaughter, Taylor Hay; and brother, James Nunn.

Honoring Twig as pallbearers will be Bubba Mercer, Carlos Stafford, Derex Robeaux, Charles Allums and Trent Mercer. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Josh Nickels and John Harper.

The family would like to express special thanks to each and every sitter, The Bradford, and extra special thanks to Jenny and the staff at The Carpenter House for the love, compassion and wonderful care they gave to Dudley. 

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W.H. “Jiggs” Mayfield, 92, of Stanley, LA, passed away in Shreveport, Louisiana on Thursday, May 11, 2023.

Born May 4th, 1931, proud father, grandfather, and great grandfather has gone to heaven and is reunited with his wife Shirley Mae Mayfield.

Jiggs lived a long life of building and tinkering and would create incredible machines to help improve his life and those around him. He loved to work in his shop and create or weld. If he did not possess a specific tool, he would design and create it himself. Jiggs also loved gardening. Known to his grandchildren and great grandchildren as PawPaw, they would help him gather the peas and they would sit and eat ripened tomatoes in the summer. Jiggs lived for fishing and would often be on or near the water catching white perch. He would take his grandchildren and great grandchildren out on the boat and would teach them how to clean the fish that they caught together.

Jiggs is survived by his only child, Richard “Ric” Mayfield and wife, Mary and survived by his grandchildren, and spouses, Amy and  Charles Hall, Rebecca and Joe Thompson, Sarah and Ashton Ford, Erin and Jonathan Parish, Richard Jr. and Samantha Mayfield and his great-grandchildren, Jenna, Ian, Andrew, Cameron, Morgan, Ryan, Gage, Jersey, Nora, Caston and Reelen.

Funeral was held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana, on Monday May 22, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

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Funeral services celebrating the life of Thomas Joseph Lilley, 83, of Converse, Louisiana were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Chapel, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield, Louisiana with Dr. Jimmy Lilley, and Bro. Chucky Clark officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, Converse, Louisiana. A visitation was held on Sunday, May 21, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Thomas was born on January 27, 1940, in Mitchell, Louisiana to Myrtice and Sidney Lilley, Sr., and entered into rest on May 18, 2023, at his residence.

Preceding Thomas in death are his parents; son, Stephen Allan Lilley; daughter, Mary Dorraine Tircuit; infant son at birth, Timothy Wayne Lilley; several brothers; and one sister.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 63 years, Barbara Tatum Lilley; daughter, Susan Lilley; son-in-law, Matt Tircuit; grandchildren, Elizabeth Espinoza and husband, Hugo, Reese Tircuit and wife, Jeanna, Jennifer Thibodeaux and husband, Bralyn, Kristofer Lilley and wife, Donavyn, and Samantha Lilley; great-grandchildren, Abigail Espinoza, Joshua Espinoza, Ryder Tircuit, Ryleigh Tircuit, Mason Thibodeaux, and Talon Thibodeaux; brothers, Raymond Lilley, and Dr. Jimmy Lilley and wife, Bonnie; many sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews.

Honoring Thomas as pallbearers will be Kevin Swanson, Reese Tircuit, Wayde Lilley, Tony Henderson, Randy Lilley, Jason Lilley, Lorin Lilley, and Hugo Espinoza. Honorary pallbearers will be Eric Mullins, Kristopher Lilley, and David Gentry.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude for the love and care given to Mr. Lilley over the past nine years. Especially his sitters, Becky Arterberry, Renee Campbell, Marilyn McCormic, Julie Miller, and Deborah Taylor; and Superior Hospice nurses, JoLea Procell and Kari Raborn.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Huntington’s Disease Society of America, 505 Eighth Avenue / Suite 902 New York, NY 10018, or hdsa.org/

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Dudley “Twig” Hay

February 7, 1931 — May 18, 2023

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana. Burial at 1:30 p.m. at Magnolia Baptist Church Cemetery, 173 Magnolia Lane, Mansfield, Louisiana.

Welton Hollis “Jiggs” Mayfield

May 4, 1931 — May 11, 2023

Funeral was held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana, on Monday May 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm.

Thomas Joseph Lilley

January 27, 1940 — May 18, 2023

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Chapel, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield, Louisiana.

Johnny Ray Simpson

6/2/1964 – 5/13/2023

Graveside Service: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 @ 11:00 A. M. Bonchest Cemetery Mansfield, LA

Viola Mae Ford

1/6/1971 – 5/11/2023

Service: Saturday, May 20, 2023 @11:00 A. M. Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel

The DeSoto Parish Journal publishes “Remembrances of Loved Ones” with unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The Remembrance will be included in the emails sent to subscribers.  Contact your funeral provider or DeSotoParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication.

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North Desoto Water System users, NDWS now offers electronic billing. There are 2 ways to get your bill sent to your email address. The first method is send an email to NDWS@bellsouth.net.  The second way is to call the office between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm and Sandy will build the profile while you are on the phone. NDWS said, “We are hopeful that 40% of our customers will use the new electronic billing and the saving will be substantial.”

From the town of Stonewall, the community park playground will be closed for the next couple of weeks. The playground equipment is being removed & being prepared for the new equipment to be installed.

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Funeral services for Dudley “Twig” Hay, 91, will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Magnolia Baptist Church Cemetery, 173 Magnolia Lane, Mansfield, Louisiana. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Southside.

Twig was born February 1, 1932 in Bienville, Louisiana to William Hay and Marie Linton Hay and passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Twig graduated from Calvin High School and married the love of his life, Peggy Hunter, on November 28, 1964. He worked in military construction, was an auto mechanic, and worked in plant maintenance. He loved fishing and watching football.

Twig is preceded in death by his wife, Peggy, and brothers, Prentis Hay, Penny Hay, George Nunn and Thomas Nunn; and sisters, Jeneal Hay and Delsie Nunn. Left to cherish his memory is his son, Jason Hay, granddaughter, Taylor Hay; and brother, James Nunn.

Honoring Twig as pallbearers will be Bubba Mercer, Carlos Stafford, Derex Robeaux, Charles Allums and Trent Mercer. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Josh Nickels and John Harper.

The family would like to express special thanks to each and every sitter, The Bradford, and extra special thanks to Jenny and the staff at The Carpenter House for the love, compassion and wonderful care they gave to Dudley. 

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