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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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 will be held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana, on Monday May 22, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. A visitation will be held at 12:00 p.m. until time of service.

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Funeral services celebrating the life of Thomas Joseph Lilley, 83, of Converse, Louisiana will be 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 will be 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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Sheriff Jayson Richardson would like to inform the public that over the past month, Narcotics Agents have made several arrests involving the distribution of dangerous narcotics in and around DeSoto Parish.  These arrests involve Meth, Cocaine, and Crack, among other drug and firearm related charges. 

The Sheriff’s office said, “Each month we try to let the public know what is being done about those who aim to distribute dangerous drugs within our Parish, and potentially to our younger and more vulnerable community.”

The following individuals have been taken into custody and transported to the DeSoto Parish Detention Center:

JAMES MOORE • 49 YO W/ M OF BOSSIER PARISH, LA DISTRIBUTION OF SCHEDULE I (METH).

CALEB MORGAN – 20 YO W/M OF MINDEN, LA POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE I POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE I/ POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

COURTLAND POTTS – 51 YO B/M OF HOUSTON, TX OBTAINING A CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE BY FRAUD.

FRANKNASHEO WILLIAMS – 38 Y0 B/M OF MANSFIELD, LA POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE I CRACK) POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE I (COCAINE POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE.

ISSAC SPRINGER – 44 YO W/M OF CONVERSE, LA POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II (METH)

POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN THE PRESENCE OF COS, POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA OPERATING A VEHICLE WHILE UNDER SUSPENSION.

With the current epidemic of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs sweeping our nation and causing devastating harm to communities, Sheriff Richardson wants DeSoto Residents to know that they are doing their very best to keep these drugs off our streets, make distribution within DeSoto Parish extremely difficult, and holding drug dealers accountable.  The Sheriff’s Office said, “We expect many more arrests to come in connection with these investigations.”

An arrest is an indication that probable cause existed during an alleged offense. All subjects posted above should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

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The DeSoto Parish Police Jury has charged the Parish Administrator with looking into the Occupancy Tax the state allows them to levy on motels, hotels, RV parks, camps and other accommodations.  Administrator Michael Norton told the DeSoto Chamber Board meeting this week that there are still some collections being made despite the tax being repealed a couple of decades ago.

Norton gave the history of the occupancy tax in the parish going back to 1975 when the state authorized it.  Norton said, “The Police Jury enacted the tax in the late 1970s, then repealed it in September 1995.  There are still some businesses that collect it but are not supposed to be.”

The city of Mansfield collects a 2% occupancy tax on lodging businesses within the city limits.  Norton explained that he is dealing with the rest of the parish.

Norton said he was working to get an exact picture of which businesses might still be collecting the tax almost 25 years after it was repealed.  What happens to the money collected, Norton said it is still being turned in to the tax commission.

Last year the Police Jury deferred on reinstating the occupancy tax.  They asked Norton to look into the situation.  Norton said, “I fully intend to notify those taxpayers who are collecting the tax that is unauthorized.  I will notify them by letter.  I anticipate that there will be requests for refunds.”

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By Nicole Tull

The DeSoto Parish Police Jury met Monday evening at 5:00 pm. Two jurors were absent. A full gallery was present. The first item on the agenda was presentations. A 20-year service award went to Chester Simpson. Then the North DeSoto softball team was recognized for winning state championship. Next, was the 4-H members that received placement at state competition were honored. Finally, Philip Clark was honored for his 15 classes over 10 years to become a “Louisiana Roads Scholar”.

The administrator, Michael Norton, gave his report. The work at the landfill will begin May 30. There was a security breach in April that was addressed. Rep. Bagley asked for a list of parish needs for the $250,000 coming from the state. George Hunt Road will be repaired with asphalt this summer by the oil/gas companies that caused the damage. He addressed occupancy tax for tourism and a few other line items.

Under Old Business, there was a recommendation to change the language on the CEAs with the parish municipalities concerning the costs of road repairs. Mayor Ken Kaffka of Stonewall and Mayor Thomas Jones of Mansfield both spoke to the burden this would place on their respective cities. After much discussion, the president suggested a compromise and the administrator suggested a resolution. The parish and municipalities will share the costs.

Next under Old Business was to authorize the president to sign the amendment agreement and jail fund budget. There was discussion concerning the options from an engineer company for the Detention Center. The detention center building is at the end of its suggested lifespan. It would need significant overhauling to extend its lifespan. The other option is a new facility. The budget was amended and approved.

Under New Business was the approval of E-911 naming Rawhide Private Lane. Next was resolutions for Cypress Energy Corporation request for sealed bids concerning mineral rights in a particular parcel of land owned by DPPJ. The next resolution was for a $24.5M bond.

There were several ordinances recommended: two permits to haul heavy and oversized loads on parish-maintained roads and bridges and another for excessive damages to roads by motor vehicles.

Under administrative items were recommendations to authorize the president to sign CEAs with Logansport for River City Festival; Mansfield Civicgroup for Juneteenth Festival; DeSoto Habilitaion Services for repairs to their roof; DeSoto High Alumni Association for services; and Mansfield to facilitate KCS subdivision to tie-in to the Community sewage system. Also, a couple of recommendations: to adopt 2023-2024 operating Budget for Sales and Use Tax Commission and to authorize the administrator to sign an agreement with Purple Guys for Maintenance Renewal.

Budget and Finance Items recommends authorizing the Treasurer to move CD into a higher interest-bearing account at Community Bank. Community Services and Development and Public Housing Items recommends awarding low bids for Weatherization Materials.

Road Items recommends: awarding low bid for Annual Materials; awarding low bid for Asphalt Roller; authorizing president to sign CEA with Mansfield and South Mansfield for drainage on Division Street and paving Schley Street; and installing two speed bumps on Carmel Loop due to speeding.

Last agenda item is Solid Waste Items recommends authorizing the president to sign an Agreement with BioMethane Partners.

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By Brad Dison

It was 1957 in Long Beach, New York.  Billy’s father had finally decided to trade in their old 1948 Chevrolet for a new car.  Although it was the only car Billy could remember the family owning, he was glad to see it go.  Billy described their old car as a “big, black, boxy,” “ugly automobile” with a sun visor over the front windshield which made the car look like it was wearing a fedora.  It reminded him of a getaway car from gangster films of the 1930s. Brimming with pride, Billy’s dad called home to tell everyone to be out in the driveway precisely at noon to welcome the new car.   Everyone in the household—Billy, his two brothers, and his mother—could hardly stand the anticipation.  They argued playfully about which make, model, and even the color of car dad was bringing home.  Mom hoped for a Chrysler Imperial. Joel wanted a Ford Fairlane. Rip wanted a Chevrolet Bonneville.  Billy hoped for a Cadillac regardless of color or model.  His siblings and mother each held firm to their preferred choice.  Suddenly, they heard a HONK! HONK!  Billy’s dad turned the new family car into the driveway.  Billy, his mother, and brothers stood there in silence.  Their jaws had dropped.  Billy’s dad pulled into the driveway in a brand new…two tone gray Plymouth Belvedere. Although it had big fins, red leather interior, and push-button transmission, it was far from the car of their dreams.  Billy’s dad loved the car and named it “Nellie.”

To celebrate their new car, Billy’s dad took the family to their favorite Chinese restaurant in Long Beach.  Billy’s dad strategically sat the family in the front booth of the restaurant so he could stare out and admire the new Plymouth through the large picture window.  Nothing, they thought, could spoil Billy’s dad’s mood, and they were happy for him.  Suddenly, they heard a horrendous crash.  They looked out of the window, and, for the second time that day, their jaws dropped.  A brand new 1957 Lincoln Continental had just crashed into the back of Nellie.  The force of the impact slammed Nellie into the car in front of it.  Billy’s dad’s pride was almost as crushed as his new car.  They instantly recognized the man who staggered out of the driver’s seat of the Lincoln Continental as Big John Ormento, one of the most dangerous gangsters who lived in Long Beach.  Against the advice of his whole family, Billy’s dad left the restaurant booth and went to look at his precious Nellie.  Big John, so inebriated that he could hardly stand, looked at Billy’s dad, then at the damages to all three cars.  Without saying a word, Big John ran back to his damaged car and fled the scene.

By this time a crowd, which included Billy’s family, had gathered around Nellie and the other damaged car.  A policeman arrived and asked Billy’s dad what happened.  Billy’s mother was confused for only a moment when Billy’s dad replied that they had heard the crash but by the time they got to the car the culprit was gone.  Billy’s dad, never one to tell a lie, was protecting his family.   The cop concluded that some kids driving too fast had caused the accident.  That should have been the end of the story.

The next morning, Billy’s family sat quietly in the living room saddened by the crumpled car parked in their driveway when the doorbell rang.  Billy opened the door and was shocked to see Big John standing there.  “Can I see your father, please?”  Terrified by the thought that Big John was there to kill his father and maybe the whole family, Billy somehow replied that he would see if he could find his dad.  Billy nervously closed the door.  Big John was unaccustomed to this type of behavior but took it in stride.  Billy ran to his father and told him Big John wanted to see him.  Billy tried to tell his father to escape through the back door or maybe a window, but Billy’s dad just said to let Big John in the house.  The small living room made Big John seem even larger than he was.  After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Big John said, “How fast do you think your car was going when it backed into my car?”  Everyone froze.  Big J began a deep hysterical laugh.  Big John was only joking.  He apologized for the damages to Nellie and thanked Billy’s father for not “ratting him out” to the policeman.

To show his appreciation, Big John offered to buy Billy’s dad a brand-new car of any make and model he wanted.  Billy’s thoughts returned to Cadillac.  Mom thought of the Chrysler Imperial.  Joel imagined a Ford Fairlane.  Rip daydreamed about a Chevrolet Bonneville.  Billy’s dad, however, thought only of Nellie, his precious Plymouth Belvedere, and politely declined the offer.  Billy’s dad explained with a certain sense of pride that Nellie was the car he had worked and paid for. Billy’s mother put her arms around his father.   Big John was not in the habit of being told no, but Billy’s dad was firm.  Billy’s dad finally relented and allowed Big John to have the car repaired.  Two weeks later, Big John returned Nellie to Billy’s family.  The family cautiously checked to ensure that there was no body in the trunk.  Billy’s dad proudly drove Nellie, the two-tone gray Plymouth Belvedere, for the next decade.  This story was kept secret in Billy’s family for over 50 years.  It took a while, but Billy eventually saw the humor in the situation, which we should expect.  You and I know Billy because of his skills at acting, comedy, and filmmaking.  His name is Billy Crystal.

Source:

Crystal, Billy. 2005. 700 Sundays. New York, NY: Time Warner Book Group.

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North DeSoto High School had football signing day last week.  Thirty athletes signed as official North DeSoto High School Griffins.

The school said, “Congrats to our 8th grade football players.”

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DeSoto Parish Schools announced the following instructional leadership team appointment for Mansfield Middle School. Ms. Jasmine Taylor will serve as the math and science master teacher next school year.

Ms. Taylor has played an integral role in educating the scholars at Mansfield Middle School. She is excited for the opportunity to impact the lives of professionals and students

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By Steve Graf

Tournament bass fishing is an emotional roller coaster to say the least! It’s very similar to golf in that it will humble you in a heartbeat. No matter how good you think you are, the fishing gods, as I refer to them, will bring you back down to earth in a matter of minutes. There are days that you will think you’re the greatest bass fisherman of all time, those days when you totally figure them out and no bass is safe while you’re in the zone! Every decision you make is the right one! Every decision you make results in catching not just a lot of fish, but quality as well! You are the king, the master of all bass in the lake! You might be the greatest angler of all time! Not even Kevin Van Dam, who is the GOAT, would stand a chance against you!

Then the day comes that you question why you even fish. Why am I out here on this body of water wasting my time and money? Your mind, which is the greatest tool an angler can have, starts to question what you’re doing. You begin to doubt yourself and your ability to catch those little green fish we call bass. I mean how can catching fish become such a difficult task? After all, I am the best to ever hold a rod!

Then we look for excuses…like maybe a cold front came through and shut down the fish. Maybe the full moon has them messed up. Maybe the rising water has made them hard to catch. Maybe the lake is falling and has put the fish in a funk or maybe there’re just too many anglers on the water and the fishing pressure has caused them to either move or just not bite. That’s it! Too many anglers on the water! I knew there was a reason… because it couldn’t be me!

Then you get to the weigh-in and realize other anglers figured them out and had a great day as they weigh-in their 20-pound sacks, while you are standing in the weigh-in line with your small 10-pound bag wondering what the heck was I doing wrong. You hope no one sees what you’re weighing in that day. The embarrassment and shame of it all…I mean those guys are not as good as me! How did they catch those big fish today and I did not?

This is the humbling part of the sport of tournament bass fishing. Just when you think you know everything about those little green fish, they let you know that you know nothing! Then two weeks later, you go out and snatch everything in the lake that bites. You are the king once again! It’s just like golf…the gods allow you to hit a great shot occasionally, just so you’ll come back and play again. You think you’re Tiger Woods, and no one is better. Bass fishing is no different, it will humble you and bring you back to reality. Till next time good luck, good fishing and make sure to say an occasional prayer to the fishing gods…maybe they’ll reward you or maybe they won’t.

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The National Weather Service office in Shreveport has issued a statement on possible storms on Friday.  Scattered strong to severe storms will be possible late Friday afternoon through the evening over portions of Northeast TX, Southeast OK, Southwest AR, and possibly extreme Northeast LA. Damaging winds and large hail are the primary threats, before the storms weaken late Friday.

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