Annie Ester-Silmon
June 2, 1951 – January 22, 2024
Service: Saturday, January 27 at 12pm at St. Elizabeth Baptist Church – Grand Cane

Michael Norton the Parish Administrator for DeSoto Parish Police Jury shared that sandbags are available to DeSoto Parish residents at the Police Jury road department located at 424 Liberty Lane, Grand Cane, LA 71032. Each household will be limited to 20 sandbags. Identification as a resident will be required as there is a limited number of sandbags available.

The Lady Pioneers traveled to Monroe to face the Lady Knights of Northeast Baptist on January 19. The Lady Pioneers used a total team effort and came away victorious with a final of 32-20. This marks their 2nd win this season and 2nd district win.

This team of girls has broken a six-year losing streak by winning two games this season. The Lady Pioneers are currently in the playoff hunt for the first time in over ten years. These girls comprise the youngest team in the league, with only one junior, three sophomores, one freshman, and 7th graders.
Coach Layne Huckabay described the game: “An overall team effort is what pushed them to victory. Lola Doyal, a 7th grader, led the team in scoring with 9 points to go along with four rebounds and two steals. Sophomore Amanda Seekford stepped up in the 3rd quarter and finished with nine pts, eight rebounds, and five steals. The biggest swing came from the rebounding of sophomore Adilee Register, who recorded a career-high and season-best 19 rebounds to go along with three steals.”

The final stats proved the commitment of these teammates. Neveah Farris had five points, eleven rebounds, and five steals. Seventh grader Elizabeth Cullotti turned in two pts and nine rebounds. Sophomore Holland Alexander connected with 7 points, six rebounds, and one steal.

In the boys’ contest against the knights, the Pioneers used a balanced attack and worked the ball to take the victory 71-32. As the second win of the season and first district win, they have positioned themselves in the playoff hunt.

Last year, Central did not have a boys basketball team. Coach Huckabay commented, “ This group of guys has put everything they have into the season, and it’s starting to pay off. We improve every game, and the last couple of games have allowed us to hit our stride.”

With 26 points, four rebounds, six steals, and five assists, Junior Leeland Durham led the way for the Pioneers. Senior Conway Whitlock, who averages 19 pts a game, finished with 22 pts, 13 rebounds, and five blocks while playing while under the weather. Senior Colton Moore finished with 15 Points and nine rebounds. Junior Olan Kennedy had eight points, three rebounds, and three steals. Cooper Ford did his part with nine rebounds.

Huckabay is extremely proud of both teams and the effort they are showing; “The future is bright for Central.”

This year, 4-H youth will be able to participate in a first-of-its-kind event through the North West Region of LSU AgCenter’s Northwest District Commercial Heifer Pen of 3 Show and Sale.

This event allows 4-H youth throughout the NW region to participate in a livestock project other than the traditional show ring cattle projects. This is a family-oriented project, and the 4-H youth select, raise, and enter a pen of 3 heifers that are uniform in their breed type and age.

Youth learn how to properly care for livestock and keep records on feed costs, veterinary expenses, etc., through completing a detailed record book. The proceeds from selling these heifers will be used for college savings and to purchase future 4-H livestock project animals.

Fifteen 4-H’ers from around the NW Region are participating in this year’s event, with forty-five heifers consigned to sell. Red River Livestock in Coushatta, LA, will host the Pen of 3 Show and Sale. These heifers will sell at the beginning of the regular sale on January 24, 2024, at 11am. This is an excellent opportunity to purchase some and help support local 4-H’ers simultaneously.

BY MATT VINES 

STONEWALL – For the second straight season, the North DeSoto boys wrestling team set a North Louisiana Region record en route to a region title.

The Griffins compiled 278 points as North DeSoto won 11 of the 14 weight classes and placed finalists in 13 different classes. Benton (156 points) and Parkway (111 points) finished second and third, respectively.

“This was an expectation we had, and we knew we were capable of doing that,” said North DeSoto coach Dustin Burton. “Going in, we expected all 14 wrestlers to make the finals, and last year, we set the points record with 11 in the finals, with seven or eight winning their weight class.

“We’ve challenged our guys by traveling to places like Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Iowa to find the best competition, and that prepared us well for our regional and state tournaments coming up.”
North DeSoto will be a serious contender in Division II at the upcoming LHSAA State Championships, taking place Feb. 2-3 at Bossier City’s Brookshire Grocery Arena.

The Griffins finished second this past year and will be seeking their first wrestling state title in the program’s 10-year history.

At regionals, Jacob Kershaw was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the meet, dominating the 113-pound weight class.

Burton said a lot of wrestlers dominated their respective weight classes, but Kershaw stood out in the bunch.

“If someone walked in not knowing anything about wrestling, and they saw the guys wrestle, Jacob would stand because he’s ‘that dude,’” Burton explained. “His style of wrestling, his technique, the way he carries himself – he’s on another level.”

The Griffins particularly dominated the lighter weight classes, winning all eight classes from 106-150 pounds.

Lathan Tabor (106), Kershaw (113), Michael Washington (120), Nathan Adams (126), Collin Bell (132), Dylan Compton (138), Dalton Compton (144), and Chase Smart (150) took home gold in their respective weight classes.

Other North DeSoto gold medalists included Lake Bates (165), Caden Robison (190), and Caiden Burns (285).

Silver medalists included Hayden Bell (157) and Andrew Arinder (175), meaning they reached the finals and lost.

North DeSoto has prided itself on its wrestling prowess, which starts at the elementary and middle school levels. That bore out in the junior varsity ranks as well, with seven wrestlers winning gold medals with another three earning bronze medals.

Gold medals included Jaxon Morgan (106), Davison Dorriety (120), Joshua Turner (126), Jace Burns (138), William Erdelac (150), Anthony Erdelac (157) and Kade Tinsley (175).

Bronze medalists at the junior varsity level included Sam Jones (132), Nicholas Bailey (138), and Jacob Brown (144).

by Doug De Graffenried

Once I was preaching and a wasp landed on my shoulder. I didn’t see the wasp, nor hear it. After it landed, it proceeded to walk between my shoulders using the stole I was wearing that Sunday. The choir saw the wasp land. The choir watched the wasp walking on my stole. The choir met, established a quorum, had a discussion, and took a vote. The vote of the choir was to sit there and watch the wasp to see what would happen.

During the discussion it was determined that swatting the wasp off my shoulder would disturb the rhythm of the sermon. It might frighten the preacher. It was further determined that any attempt to remove the wasp might cause the wasp to sting the preacher. I appreciate the compassion of the choir. They sat and watched the wasp the entire sermon. I’m sure there were follow up conversations about the dangers the wasp posed to the preacher. However, the choir stood firm with their vision statement, “let’s watch and see what happens.”

At the end of the sermon, I asked the congregation to bow in prayer. I bowed my head and heard the wasp fly off. The wasp didn’t want to hang around for the invitation hymn and ten verses of “Just As I Am.”

I know that story because I survived that story. After the service the choir gathered and told me about their deliberations. I told them about hearing the wasp fly off as I bowed my head to pray. We all laughed, and I suppose the wasp lived happily ever after.

A member of that choir has joined the Trinity choir. He called me Sunday afternoon and told me another story.

Seems that Sunday the choir noticed a spider descending from the ceiling of Trinity. If you have been in our sanctuary, you know that was some descent. The spider was to the left of the preacher and was headed toward the pulpit. Again, the choir assembled, a deliberation took place, and it was decided to “watch and see what happens.” I’m sure the television audience thought that the choir was intensely listening to the sermon. Nope, they were watching the itsy-bitsy-spider and wondering if it would tangle with the preacher in mid sermon.

I suppose the spider continued the descent to the floor and I hope the spider is happily exploring other realms of the Trinity sanctuary. The spider may be in the choir loft or perhaps by now the spider is out in the seating area of the sanctuary. I have learned from two choirs that maybe I should leave the spider alone and “watch and see what happens.” I’ll bet people at Trinity will pay extra attention to their environment on Sunday.

We default to jumping into the middle of something, solving every problem, and meeting every challenge that comes our way. Perhaps a better strategy is to take our hands off a situation, sit back, and “watch and see what the Lord will do.”
That is called faith.

By Heather Kirk-Ballard
LSU AgCenter Horticulturist

Put down the pruning shears.

With freezing temperatures across Louisiana and a dose of ice, sleet and even snow in some places, all of our gardens probably have suffered some damage. It’s tempting to rush outside to prune away unsightly damaged sections or even rip out entire plants — but you will have better results in the long run if you just wait.

Give plants time to recover. What seems to be dead now may show new signs of life later. And remember that winter isn’t over yet. We could still have more freezes — and more freeze damage.

Spring will be here soon enough. That will be the best time to prune plants that need a little help and remove those that didn’t pull through.

In the meantime, you can begin assessing the extent of damage in your landscape. Start thinking about what will need attention in the spring and coming up with ideas for possible replacements. Also take note of which plants have demonstrated resilience to the freeze. You may want to incorporate more of these hardy plants into your garden to enhance its overall robustness.

Because some of us will inevitably end up needing to plant new plants this spring, let’s take a minute to talk about making selections that are better suited to challenging weather conditions.

Much of the freeze damage you are seeing now is likely on what we call tender plants — those that die in freezing winter temperatures. In mild winters like we often have in Louisiana, these plants are often able to survive. But because the severity of our winters can vary — as we recently saw — they are at risk in other years. Herbaceous, tropical and subtropical plants fall into this category.

Plants that are hardy are those that can survive our typical winter temperatures without having to be protected. Most trees and shrubs and other woody plants are reliably hardy in freezing temperatures and do not typically suffer from low temperatures. Most perennials are root hardy, meaning they will die back but will return from their roots, crown or other underground parts such as bulbs or tubers.

In Louisiana, we are fortunate to be able to grow a wide variety of plants. When choosing new additions for the landscape, we tend to think about heat tolerance in the summer. Don’t forget to take cold hardiness into account as well.

Use the USDA hardiness zone maps to help you decide which plants will perform best for your landscape. A plant is considered hardy if it can tolerate lower temperatures than your area would typically receive.

It’s not a bad idea to choose plants that are hardy at least one zone north of where you garden. That way, should an unusually cold winter occur, your plants could endure it. So when selecting cold-hardy plants for a landscape in Zone 9, make sure they are hardy to Zone 8. If you live in Zone 8, choose plants that are hardy to Zone 7.

Cultivating plants that are not well suited to your region’s climate may be feasible at times if you leverage the concept of microclimates. A microclimate refers to a specific area on a property where the climate deviates from the overall climate of that property. For instance, a location adjacent to the south-facing wall of a house is typically warmer than other areas in the yard. With this knowledge, you could successfully grow a plant in that specific microclimate even if it might be considered somewhat delicate for the region.

Now, let’s get back to what we should — and should not — be doing in our gardens during the remainder of winter.

Ensure your plants are well hydrated. Water dry soil to provide essential moisture, which also helps insulate roots. However, avoid overwatering. Waterlogged soil can lead to root rot. Many plants are dormant or slow growing in winter months and do not require nearly as much water.

If you haven’t already, apply a layer of mulch around the base of plants to insulate the soil and retain moisture. Mulching helps prevent rapid temperature fluctuations in the soil, offering a protective buffer against further stress.

If you can’t stand the sight of damaged and dead foliage and branches, be sure to trim them away with sharp, clean pruning shears. Again, we recommend waiting till the spring to cut back to healthy, living tissue. Why? Pruning will encourage the plant to redirect resources to its viable parts and stimulate new growth. New, tender growth will be sensitive to low temperatures yet to come this winter, leaving your plant susceptible to further damage.

Hold off on fertilizing too. Wait until the growing season resumes and signs of recovery are evident. Premature fertilization can stress the plant, hindering its ability to bounce back.

You can bring life back into your garden after a hard freeze. Remember, a thoughtful and patient approach is the key to restoring your landscape.

Ruston’s Jeff Perot was deer hunting in Richland Parish on December 28. What caliber was he toting? He wasn’t carrying a rifle; he was armed with his camera as he has contracted with a landowner to spend time on his land and photograph as many deer as he can to give the owner an idea of just what he has on his 7200 acres.

Perot is an architect by profession but he is also one of this area’s most notable wildlife and nature photographers. He sums up what he does…”I DRAW pictures as an architect and TAKE pictures as a photographer,’ he quipped.

Perot has shared some of his outstanding photos on Facebook and especially some of the deer he’s photographed on his Richland Parish project. Perot’s ability to take a photo that just grabs you when you see it confirms his expertise at the craft. He shares photos of not only deer doing what deer do in the wild but also of turkeys, ducks and herons and egrets and a variety of other creatures. He shared with me one of the most unusual finds he has ever had on his outdoor photographic jaunts.

“I have walked over just about every acre of this plot in Richland Parish but on the morning of December 28, I found something that made me stop and first thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to find what I found,” Perot began.

“While walking through some tall grass in the woods on the property, I saw something that caused me to pause. There were bones of a deer, laid out in a manner like the animal had just laid down and died. There was no evidence that a coyote had killed it or rodents had gnawed it because everything was laid out in order,” he said.

He saw what he thought were bones from the deer’s rib cage sticking up out of the grass. Walking closer, Perot was looking at something that he at first couldn’t believe.

“Upon closer examination, what I was looking at sticking up out of the grass were antlers the likes I had never seen. Realizing what I was looking at, I didn’t pick it up immediately before thanking God for giving me the opportunity to stumble upon something like that,’ he said.

When he reached to pick up the antlers attached to the top half of a skull, Perot was in total shock. He held in his hand the rack of a buck that almost defied description.

“I got to counting points and ended up with 25 on a non-typical rack. The antlers were in good shape, not starting to deteriorate but faded somewhat and having lost most of their natural color after it is believed the deer had died two years ago,” he continued.

Perot took the rack to Cecil Reddick, a Buckmaster official scorer living in the area who put the tape on the rack and came up with 244 5/8 inches of mass and the jawbone revealed the buck was only 4 ½ years old.

In sharing his find with the property owner, Perot learned that this was a mystery buck; nobody had ever reported seeing it nor had photos of the deer. It’s a mystery that will likely go unsolved because there was nothing left of the carcass to indicate why it died.

What are Perot’s plans for his unusual find?

“I’m going to see if the rack can be preserved and maybe made into a mount to have it look like it did before it died. Right now, all I have is the top half of the skull to which the antlers are attached. I’m in no hurry and want to explore all possibilities as to how to preserve it,” he said.

Perot is back at work in his office drawing pictures as an architect. However, he’ll probably never forget the photograph in his excitement he forgot to take when he found the remains of a mystery buck lying in grass in Richland Parish.

BATON ROUGE, La. – The First Extraordinary Session of 2024 adjourned at 2:30 pm on Friday, January 19 after legislators passed measures redrawing Louisiana’s congressional districts as well as creating closed party primaries for federal elections as well as members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Public Service Commission. The eight-day session concluded 3 days early after lawmakers completed their business ahead of schedule.

“The Governor shared with us his commitment to ending the redistricting litigation so the legislature could quickly focus on the issues that will make Louisiana an even better place to live and work,” said Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier. “We didn’t want a federal judge to do it for us. In terms of closed primaries, it’s been a goal for many that gained traction under the leadership of Governor Landry and now was the time to act. With this session complete, all of our energy can now be directed towards the priorities that are important to our constituents.”

“Finding solutions to end the federal litigation holding the state back needed to happen,” said Senate President Cameron Henry. “There are critical decisions for the Senate to make as we start to tackle crime during the next special session as well as a myriad of other challenges during the regular session in March. That’s where we’ll be able to gain some momentum and make changes voters feel are long overdue.”

The congressional district map adopted by both chambers responds to a court mandate and redraws the 6th district seat, making it Louisiana’s 2nd majority-Black district. Supporters say SB 8 (WOMACK) remedies the legal challenge while making only minor changes to U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s district as well as that of Congresswoman Julia Letlow.

Lawmakers also approved the use of closed party primaries for the state’s federal elections, State Supreme Court justices as well as members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the Public Service Commission. HB 17 (EMERSON) calls for a start date of 2026 for the closed primaries and was amended to allow unaffiliated voters to participate.

Looking ahead, members are expecting to reconvene for a 2nd Special Session to be called by Governor Jeff Landry focusing on crime beginning on Monday, February 19th. The 2024 Regular Session is set to convene on Monday, March 11th.

During a recent Walmart Keynote Address at the CES 2024, it was announced that Sam’s Club will stop checking receipts as customers leave the store. The stores will transition to AI (artificial intelligence) during 2024. The technology is being tested now in 10 clubs before expanding to all sites.

Customers will continue to check out either with Scan & Go or through regular register payment. Once paid, as customers exit the store, a combination of computer vision and digital technology will capture images of the carts and verify payment of all items.

Sam’s Club Chief Merchant Megan Crozier said during the keynote, “At Sam’s Club, we care about every second a member spends with us, so eliminating even the few seconds it takes to scan a receipt at the exit door, it’s well worth it.”

This change “not only streamlines the member’s exit, but also allows exit greeters to refocus their time and expertise to assisting members and ensuring they have an enjoyable shopping experience.”

“We are constantly looking at ways for Sam’s Club to be the most convenient membership club and will continue to prioritize using technology to provide a truly differentiated and delightful experience for our members,” said Chris Nicholas, CEO of Sam’s Club.

According to a statement released by Walmart, members continue to say they want a faster and more convenient shopping experience and consistently rated the wait times at the exit – especially during busy periods – as a pain point in the shopping experience.

Expect to see it in Louisiana Sam’s Club by the end of 2024, if not before.

Source: Walmart

Welcome to January 2025! Did 2024 disappear faster than paper napkins at the church barbecue or what?! In case you missed it, a brief review.

January: Striking yet another blow for time-rich champions of political correctness, a woman named Susan returned a Christmas gift, sued the maker and had the name of the “Lazy Susan” legally and forever changed to “Energy Challenged And Genderless Rotating Food Server.” Her husband Lester snored through the entire episode, comfortably, in his La-Z-Boy.

February: Friends, Roman numerals, countrymen, lend me your ears. In Super Bowl XIX, the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints, XXI-XVII, with a touchdown late in the IVth quarter. The Falcons new head coach Bill Belichick, wearing one of the less moldy tops from his NFL-licensed Bereaved Sweatshirts Collection, said, “The New Orleanians are a good team. If we played them X times, we’d probably win V and they’d probably win V. We were fortunate to win this I.”

March: Larry the Cable Guy, in an unfortunate comeback, stars in “True Grits,” billed as a “culinary comedy” that will leave you “hungry for more.”

April: Apple introduces the I-Gadget, a thing that does something but no one is sure just what. Cost: $1,299 per unit. It is the size of a thumb tack. Supply cannot keep up with demand.

May: Marring a month made for affection, a power-broking Hollywood couple announces in a joint statement that they have, “after much thoughtful consideration, decided to split at this time.” The pair’s Facebook page read, “We remain committed and caring friends.” Each Tweeted and TikTok-ed that they would “have no more comments” about the “amicable separation.” Their personal skywriter wrote in the skies over the Hollywood Hills that the pair would “appreciate privacy in this difficult time.”

June: From Joy Story to … this. After falling in love on the set of “Toy Story 3,” Buzz Lightyear and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl announce the end of their two-year courtship, beginning a nasty split-up. “No one can live with her, I don’t care how big his batteries are,” Lightyear said. “‘Light’ is in his name for a reason,” said Jessie.

July: A postal worker described as “disgruntled” does something bad. Also, a fire “guts” a home, stimulus dollars “make an impact” on the local economy, and a “person of interest” is divorced by a person who didn’t find that person interesting at all. Why do so few people seem happy and gruntled anymore?

August: It was hot.

September: Following Larry the Cable Guy’s lead, Soap-on-a-Rope makes a comeback, as do Pet Rocks and The Waltons — with an expanded cast: there are now 112 Waltons, and four granddaughters are pregnant. Even Brooks & Dunn, the most awarded act in Country Music Association Awards history, scored their first No. 1 since 2005 with their smash single, “Losing Your Love in Fractions, A Fifth At A Time.”

October: Apple introduces the I-Don’t-Like-U, a device that gets you even further away from actual people but still allows you to communicate. Cost: $2,599 per unit. It is the size of a lint ball. People are still standing in line.

November: In between a demanding schedule of shooting commercials for Nestle, Auto Zone, Cream of Wheat, Chevrolet, Dr Pepper, Depends, Junior Mints, Senior Mints and Frosted Flakes, Jesse “Get Your Hands Off My Heisman!” Richards held a press conference to say he’d be returning for his junior season as quarterback at Southern Cal, squashing rumors he would go to the NFL early. “My dream has always been to play in the pros — but I’m already sort of doing that in the NCAA,” he said. “Plus, I just can’t afford to go to the NFL and take the pay cut right now.”

December: Doctors report that more sex decreases worry. But a government study shows that since people worry so much about how much sex is needed to decrease anxiety, the whole thing is counterproductive. The study costs a whopping and worrisome $255 million, plus tax. A government spokesman propped his feet up, lit a smoke and said, “We aren’t that worried about it.”

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

NATCHITOCHES – During this past week’s cold snap, almost 90 Northwestern State University students took advantage of an important resource, the campus food pantry, highlighting its ongoing impact not only during campus closures but for students year-round.

Branded as The Pantry, the facility is open to all NSU and BPCC@NSU students free of charge offering non-perishable food items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, kitchen tools, cutlery, sanitizer, personal hygiene products, and other items. The Pantry is staffed by more than 50 student, faculty, and staff volunteers who are trained on the importance of courtesy and confidentiality.

The Pantry was created in 2015 as a class project for social work students and the NSU Social Work Club, who discovered a need to combat food insecurity on campus where some students struggle financially and aren’t inclined to ask for help. As interest in The Pantry and the number of students it served grew, students worked with administrators to identify space in the Trisler Power Plant and transformed it into an area where shelving, displays, and storage are arranged in a manner similar to a convenience store.

In recent years, the importance of The Pantry was made evident during the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple damaging weather events. During those times, The Pantry was available for students unable to travel home, including a significant number of international students.

NSU was one of the first universities in the state to create a food pantry. Today, most universities support some type of food bank. NSU partners with student organizations and philanthropies outside the university to maintain inventory while volunteers ensure The Pantry is clean, organized, and welcoming.

The Pantry is located on the south side of Trisler Power Plant across from Magale Recital Hall on NSU’s Central Avenue.

Donations to the Food Pantry are always welcome. Monetary donations are also accepted through the NSU Foundation. Donors can visit http://www.northwesternstatealumni.com and support the NSU Food Pantry in the Make A Gift section and specify the NSU Food Pantry.

01/08/24 

WILSON, AMBER
W F 40
INTRODUCTION OF CONTRABAND INTO PENAL FACILITY
POSSESSION OF CDS II
PROBATION VIOLATION
Mansfield, LA

PRESTON, RYAN ARDEN
W M 35
INTRODUCTION OF CONTRABAND INTO PENAL FACILITY
Converse, LA


ROBISON, PATTI KWAN
W F 51
POSSESSION OF CDS II
SPEEDING
POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHENALIA
POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
SIMPLE CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
Stonewall, LA

1/09/24

WATSON, DENNIS L
W M 46
ATTEMPTED CRIMINAL TRESPASS   ENTRY ON OR REMAINING IN PLACES OR ON LAND AFTER BEING FORBIDDEN
Mansfield, LA

FROMAN, JAMES ALBERT
W M 45
DISTURBING THE PEACE
LOUISVILLE, KY

DOCK, X’ZORION
B M 19
WARRANT DESOTO PARISH
Logansport, LA

01/10/24

WALKER, VICKIE
W F 40
POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHENALIA
POSSESSION OF CDS II
TAIL LAMPS
SHREVEPORT, LA

DUNCAN, RICHARD
B M 35
CONTEMPT OF COURT
BOSSIER CITY, LA

HINES, ROGER LEE JR
B M 43
FUGITIVE WARRANT/ARREST
Frierson, LA

JOHNSON, JAMES ALFORD
W M 32
POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHENALIA
DISTRUBTION OR POSSESSION W/INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE CDSII
Logansport, LA

01/11/24

JOHNSON, JAMES ALFORD
W M 32
POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
Logansport, LA

GOLDEN, REAGAN
C W M 28
CREATION/OPERATION OF A CLANDESTINE LAB
MANUFACTURE/DISTRIBUTION OF CDS II
POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHENALIA
POSSESSION OF FIREARM IN PRESENCE OF CDS
ILLEGAL USE OF CDS IN PRESENCE OF MINOR
Logansport, LA

CALHOUN, KENNA
B M 38
BATTERY OF A DATING PARTNER
SIMPLE BATTERY
Mansfield, LA

SANDERS, ADRIANE ROSE
B F 21
SIMPLE BATTERY
Mansfield, LA

JORDAN, GARY DARRYL
W M 63
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS; IMPROPER LANGUAGE;HARASSMENT
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A FIREARM
BETHANY, LA

LITTLETON, TONY LEMONE
B M 57
WARRANT DESOTO PARISH
ZWOLLE, LS

01/19/24

GREEN, DEBRA SUE
B F 51
DISTURBING THE PEACE / DRUNKENNESS
SIMPLE CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
DISTURBING THE PEACE
Mansfield, LA

01/20/24

MOORE, TIMOTHY EDWARD
W M 31
“FL TO DIM, APPROX FRT”
POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHENALIA
FUGITIVE WARRANT/ARREST
SHREVEPORT, LA

01/21/24

BRYANT, BILLY RAY JR
W M 65
WARRANT DESOTO PARISH
POSSESSION OF CDS II
Mansfield, LA

Stanley High School will celebrate Homecoming on Thursday, January 25. Presentation of the Court and crowning will begin at 4:45pm. Games will begin immediately following. 

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host its next saddle microchipping event on Thursday, February 1, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. This event will be held at the LSU AgCenter’s DeSoto Parish Extension Office, located at 10117 Highway 171 in Grand Cane, Louisiana. To learn more, visit https://www.ldaf.la.gov/about/news/article/ldafs-livestock-brand-commission-to-host-saddle-microchipping-event-february

The DeSoto Ready Start Bus will be at the Dairy Queen in Logansport on Tuesday, January
30 from 9-11am.

The 22nd Annual Krewe of Aquarius rolls Saturday, January 27 at 6pm. Line up is at 5pm. The parade begins at Logansport High School, proceeds south on Hwy 5, turns right on Main Street and ends at Logansport Riverfront. The 2024 King & Queen are Kevin & Kandi Magee.

Krewe of Demeter will roll on Sunday January 28 at 3pm. Parade will begin staging at the DeSoto Parish
4-H parking lot from 10am – 1pm. Staging at DeSoto Parish 4-H Barn turning right onto Independence Avenue then turning right onto Liberty Lane ending past the ballpark at Hwy 171. Grand Marshall is the VFW Post #4586.

Mansfield Holiday Parades and the City of Mansfield proudly presents “The Start of Something BIG!”
The first Mansfield Black History Parade celebrating Mansfield FIRSTS in Black History. The parade will take place Saturday, February 24 at 1pm. Parade route begins at the Historic Johnson Elementary School. Line up begins at 10am.  For more information, email MansfieldBlackHistoryParade@gmail.com.

NONE

Per the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office:

As of 10pm Tuesday night the following roadways have been affected by heavy rainfall/flooding. 

– Church Road Stonewall has been closed. Signage will be in place to mark the exact area.

– Hwy 481 at London Lane has water running over the roadway, which could get worse. It is currently still open but being monitored.

– Barnes Road off of 481 also has water over the roadway but has not yet risen to the level of closure.

– Hwy 513 just before Sam Booker Rd has also been reported as flooded. Deputies are currently checking to verify.

The City of Mansfield water system is under a boil advisory until further notice.

This is for precautionary measures.

The system never ran out of water. The pressure was dropping near the advisory threshold. So it was decided to send out the notification. 

BY MATT VINES, The DeSoto Parish Journal 

High school sports upended by ice, action picks back up tonight 

With DeSoto Parish schools back in session beginning Thursday after the winter storm of snow and ice, high school sports action picks back up today. 

BOYS BASKETBALL 

Mansfield (6-13, 2-0 District 3-2A) has won its first district games against Many (69-40) and Jonesboro-Hodge (67-51) with district favorite Lakeview teed up tonight on the road. 

The Wolverines have won three of its last four games after a 3-12 start. 

Logansport (4-5, 0-1 District 3-1A) dropped its district opener, 44-30, at Northwood-Lena on Jan. 12. The Tigers head to St. Mary’s tonight in a matchup of two squads most likely to push Northwood-Lena in the district. 

North DeSoto (5-3) is on a three-game losing streak after a historic 5-0 start. The Griffins fell to Doyline for the second time in two weeks, a 52-37 loss.  

The Griffins start District 1-4A play on the road at power Huntington before squaring off again Monday with a Logansport squad that scored a 56-51 victory in early January. Caddo Parish schools are remaining closed today because of water pressure issues, so tonight’s matchup at Huntington may be postponed. 

Stanley High (7-18, 0-1) had two District 3-B contests postponed with the winter storm, and the Panthers continue on with district power Negreet tonight. 

GIRLS BASKETBALL 

Mansfield (12-7, 2-0 District 3-2A) continued its dominance of district opponents with a 52-9 beating of Jonesboro-Hodge on the heels of a win against Many. 

The Lady Wolverines head to Lakeview tonight in a meeting of arguably the district’s two best programs. Lakeview enters with a 16-2 record. 

North DeSoto (15-5) also gets the behemoth in their district as the Lady Griffins travel to Huntington, Caddo Parish schools are remaining closed today because of water pressure issues, so tonight’s matchup at Huntington may be postponed. The Lady Griffins have won six of their last seven games with the lone loss to Logansport.  

NDHS got back on the right track with a 49-37 win against Doyline.  

Logansport (8-7, 0-1 District 3-1A) dropped its district opener at Northwood-Lena by a score of 61-33. The Lady Tigers postponed a contest with undefeated LaSalle and return to action tonight at St. Mary’s. 

Stanley (5-17) will attempt to snap a four-game slide tonight at Negreet, winners of five of their last six. 

SOCCER 

The North DeSoto girls are still eyeing the possibility of a district title, but the winter ice storm pushed its date with district favorite Caddo Magnet back to Jan. 27. 

The Lady Griffins (12-4-4, 2-0-1)) have work to do to put themselves in a position to challenge Magnet in the District 1-II finale. 

After a non-district bout with Pineville on Saturday, NDHS has district contests against Minden on Tuesday and Northwood on Friday. 

The Lady Griffins snapped a three-match stretch without a win on Jan. 11 with a 8-0 win against Huntington. This stretch included a 2-2 tie against Parkway, which means North DeSoto will need a win against Caddo Magnet and not a tie. 

The Lady Griffins are No. 6 in the latest Division II power rankings with No. 2 Magnet and No. 7 Parkway also occupying high slots. 

The North DeSoto boys had Thursday’s match against Huntington postponed and will return to action with home matches Friday against Sterlington and Saturday against Haughton. 

NDHS (4-10-2) have gone 0-6-2 in their last eight contests, including an 0-3 start to district play. 

The Griffins sit at No. 34 in the power ratings, needing a late-season surge to make the 32-team playoff bracket. 

NDHS has a crucial Tuesday home date against No. 32 Minden. 

Thirteen seniors will play their final home match Tuesday, a contest that could send the Griffins to the playoffs in this defacto playoff game. 

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) unanimously voted today to reappoint Dr. Cade Brumley as Louisiana State Superintendent of Education. Dr. Brumley has served as State Superintendent since 2020 through a period that has included unprecedented disruptions, from the global pandemic to historically active hurricane seasons. Despite challenges, Louisiana education has progressed on both state and national measurements.

“Dr. Brumley’s leadership has been instrumental in the improved academic outcomes Louisiana has made in recent years,” said BESE President Ronnie Morris. “We look forward to our continued collaboration as we continue to raise the bar for Louisiana students.”

“Education in Louisiana is poised to accelerate and I’m humbled by the opportunity to work alongside Governor Landry, the legislature, and BESE to move our state to the next level of success,” said Dr. Brumley. “We’ve made encouraging progress and I’m proud of the commitment from students, parents, and educators to continue our state’s academic gains.”

BESE’s action affirms that Dr. Brumley remains at the helm of a state education system that has taken positive steps on state and national measurements:

• Louisiana’s overall ranking among the states moved from 46th to 42nd and the state’s 4th graders were No. 1 in the nation for reading growth on The Nation’s Report Card.
• Louisiana’s K-12 education earned its highest place ever in the U.S. News & World Report Best States ranking, moving from 46 to 41 from 2019 to 2022.
• Louisiana’s LEAP scores have improved in consecutive years, with students earning the most significant year-over-year gains since 2016.
• Louisiana’s statewide school performance score exceeded its pre-pandemic level following two consecutive years of growth.

“In a state that’s been long-challenged educationally, we must remain laser focused on academic achievement,” said Dr. Brumley. “Merit matters in Louisiana and our students are as capable as any in the nation. Now is the time to set high standards and give every student the opportunities they need to reach their full potential.”

BESE appoints the position by a two-thirds vote of its total membership. BESE’s next step will be for the Board president and officers to negotiate and finalize a contract with Dr. Brumley. As a procedural matter, the Board will then request approval of the contract by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget and request confirmation of the appointment by the Louisiana Senate. 

Brumley served six years as DeSoto Parish Schools superintendent. During his time in DeSoto, results greatly improved, and the system now ranks as one of Louisiana’s top ten districts for student academic achievement, an increase from 49.

# # #

BESE is the administrative policymaking body for elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana. The Board sets key education initiatives and works to outline an education agenda to achieve continuous improvement of public education as measured by student and school achievement.

We live in a “throwaway” culture.

We throw away just about everything.

Not that we haven’t noticed. We’ve been using this expression since LIFE magazine published an article in 1955 about a new phenomenon that emerged in the prosperity of the 1950s. “Throwaway Living” the article was called.

Instead of blowing our noses using washable handkerchiefs (as did our eco-friendly grandmothers), we use tissues and throw them away.

We diaper babies’ bottoms, and then throw them away — the diapers, not the bottoms.
We buy a pair of shoes and throw them away.

We buy water packaged in plastic bottles, drink the water — and throw the bottles away.

Almost everything we purchase comes in what many call excessive packaging which … is thrown away. If in fact, you can get into these excessively protective plastic packages. Last week it took two pairs of scissors and my wire cutters to open the “plastic package” in which the new scissors were located. Who oversees this crazy world?

We buy small and large appliances and when they break down, we buy new ones and throw away the old ones.

We buy TVs and throw them away.

In an era long past, small shops existed to repair items that consumers were then loath to throw away. Used to be that a small repair shop could provide a modest income. You could get your TVs, toasters, radios, and irons repaired for a small charge and they were good to go.

The archetype for such small businesses is Emmett’s Fix-It Shop in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, as depicted on the 1960s television series “The Andy Griffith Show.” Emmett Clark fixed clocks, lamps, radios and more. These shops, for the most part, have disappeared.

We don’t fix things; we toss them out. Our throwaway culture involves more than antiquated electronics.
We also throw away friendships, values, traditions, manners, decency, and common sense. Some might say that we too often throw away our souls in pursuit of some elusive dream we hold dear. We cast aside the spiritual component of our lives thinking, perhaps, that we will focus on spirituality later.

Then, one morning, we wake up wondering who we are and where we’ve been and where our life has taken us. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans,” according to Beatles legend John Lennon.

Whatever you want to call it, we sense deep down that something is wrong. Something is broken. Something is in desperate need of fixing.

Good thing, God is in the repair business!

2024 could possibly go down as one of the worst year for crawfish production in Louisiana. Louisiana leads the nation in crawfish production but the overly hot summer and lack of rain is having devastating results for this year’s crop.

Nearly 80% of the state remains in a severe drought that is wreaking havoc on the industry. The mudbugs do not have enough water to grow. Combine the drought with the higher temperatures experienced over the summer and the result is much less crawfish production.

LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley shared with Brooke Thorington with the Louisiana Radio Network that he believes 2024 will be one of the worst mudbug seasons on record. He expects high prices and for supply to be minimal.

“It’s going to be the worst season ever. The population is just not there. The buyers are offering $7 and $8 a pound to the fishermen just to try to get them to go out and bait traps and go find them. It could be whatever price, they’re just not there,” said Shirley.

According to Shirley, of the 361,000 acres only half will produce crawfish this year and the half that do, it is going to be late. “You probably find some towards the end of March, April, and May, but it’s going to be a very short supply from the farm.”

In an interview by Tommy Tucker with WWL, Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain shared that some farmers have quit fishing because they are finding no product to sell.

“Farmers that normally catch 30, 40, or 50 sacks (of crawfish) end up with one or two sacks,” Strain said. “By and large, many of them are not fishing right now. They did try, and they didn’t catch anything.”

Strain goes on to say that his main concern is that no one really knows if production will increase at all. There is no way to know but at this moment, predictions do not look good.

It is looking more and more like crawfish will be a rare delicacy this season. Those that are lucky enough to find some, expect them to be smaller than normal and to cost much more.

Sources: Louisiana Radio Network
               WWL First News

Have you ever seen the movie Dr. Doolittle starring Eddie Murphy? In this
movie Eddie plays the role of a doctor who discovers he can communicate with
animals.

We’ve all had a conversation with our own pets, but the difference is they
can’t talk back. But deep in our hearts we know, or at least we think, they
truly understand what we’re saying. I’ve often wondered what a bass would
say to an angler if they could talk. As an experienced angler who has
engaged in several conversations with bass, I’ll give you an idea as to what
they really think.

Bass are like people; they all have different personalities. Some are quiet
and shy, some are aggressive, and some like to be a part of a gang or school
(as we call them). The bigger fish called trophies, six pounds or larger,
like to isolate themselves and tend to be loners. That’s why you’ll catch
larger fish out of brush tops or isolated clumps of hydrilla and stumps.

I’ve always heard other anglers say that if you’ll listen, bass will tell
you what they want. What anglers are referring to is how to catch them. The
first fish you catch can be a clue on what, how and where you need to be
fishing that day. For example, if you catch a bass off the very end of a
boat dock in 10 feet of water, near a creek channel, you might want to find
other boat docks with the same characteristics. This is what we would call a
pattern.

So far over my many years of fishing and listening, not a single bass has
verbally conveyed anything to me that would help me solve the fishing puzzle
… or have they? The key is you have to listen and pay attention. Now it
may require some interpretation, but if you’re focused and observant, it
will all come together.

One professional angler who is known for his ability to talk to the fish is
the legendary pro Rick Clunn. Considered by many as the greatest angler of
all time, Rick has won 4 Bassmaster Classics (the Super Bowl of bass
fishing).

Rick is a unique kind of bird as he tends to do things a little different.
He’s a guy who likes to stay away from other anglers at an event by camping
out and getting as close to nature as he can. In his words, he wants to
become one with nature.

Not all anglers take this approach, but it has served Rick Clunn well as he
has amassed over $2.6 million in winnings. That means after 496 tournaments
fished, he has earned over $5,000 per event! Rick has even written articles
about what he calls “zenning” which is a form of meditation and mental state
of mind. It’s his way of getting what athletes call “in the zone.”

Whether you take Rick’s meditation approach or come up with one of your
own, it is important for a tournament angler to be focused. Bass fishing is
as much a mental game as it is physical. A lot of anglers are good at many
different techniques and can catch fish. But the anglers who are strong
mentally are usually the ones who are the most successful.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and always remember, that if you’re
not sure it’s a bite, set the hook anyway. Because it just might be the fish
of a lifetime!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

SHREVEPORT, LA — As winter weather made its way through the region, the area’s blood supply was drastically impacted. LifeShare Blood Center is calling all donors to help replenish the region’s blood supply.

“LifeShare supplies blood and blood products to over 100 local hospitals; regardless of the weather happening around us, patients in our communities still need blood,” says Mandi Johnson, Director of Community Engagement.

LifeShare’s goal is to maintain a three-day supply of blood to support patients in local hospitals, but levels are currently hovering at a one-day supply due to severe winter weather. LifeShare is urging everyone to donate at their nearest donor center or mobile drive when they are able to safely do so.

To find a donor center or mobile drive near you, visit: http://www.lifeshare.org/give.

Brad Dison

The church near Victor’s home was badly in need of repair, but no one seemed to care. Generations of worshipers had passed through its doors, but, with each passing year, the building got dirtier, darker, and more damp. It needed a new roof. Its rafters needed repairs. It needed a little of everything, but nothing was offered. Unless something drastic happened, Victor feared that the old church would be torn down and a more modern building, maybe not even a church, would be put in its place. Victor was horrified by the thought. He saw something in the old church building that most others failed to see. Maybe they had seen it at one time, but most people in town largely ignored the old church. To Victor, the building was much more than merely walls and a roof. To him, the church was important.
What could Victor do? He was not an architect or carpenter. He held no political office. He had no authority to do anything towards preserving the church that he loved so dearly. Victor was a writer, mostly of poetry. Oh, dear. He published a paper entitled War [declared] on the Demolishers in which he argued for the preservation of old buildings such as his beloved church. Most of the people who read his paper were the ones who wanted to demolish buildings to make room to erect more modern structures. Victor was distraught.
Victor decided to write a book about the church in his spare time. For three years, Victor struggled to find the time to work on the book as his other literary projects, ones that earned money, took precedence. Rather than a clever title which would draw interest to the story, Victor simply used the name of the church as the title of the book. The church, an inanimate object, became almost a living, breathing character in itself. Finally, Victor finished the book, sent it to his publisher, and waited. Would anyone read a book about an almost forgotten church?
To Victor’s surprise, his book about the church became a hit. Readers flocked to see the old church which was featured so prominently in the book. They flocked to the same church they had previously ignored. The church had not changed, but their perception of it had. Victor’s book brought new interest to the church. With each passing year, Victor’s book became more popular. Thirteen years after Victor published his book, the king of the country ordered the restoration of the church, a project which lasted twenty years. With the success of Victor’s book, the church became much more than a building of worship. It became a national icon.
In the years since Victor’s book was first published, millions of visitors, me included, have flocked to see the church because of the book. The church is currently undergoing another restoration following a disastrous fire. You and I know the story and the church well because of the book’s many stage, television, and film adaptations. Had Victor not written his book, the church which had stood for over 700 years would not have been saved, and you and I would never have heard of the church Notre-Dame de Paris. The original French title of Victor’s book was Notre-Dame de Paris, but English-speaking countries know Victor Hugo’s 1831 book by its adapted title, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This is just one example of the positive power of words.

Source: Daniel Christian, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” Notre Dame Cathedral Paris, July 22, 2019, https://notredamecathedralparis.com/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame/.

Clara Springs Baptist Camp will offer a Concealed Carry Handgun Class on Saturday, January 20 from 8am-4pm. Space is limited. To register: https://clarasprings.wufoo.com/forms/concealed-carry-class
For more information: http://clarasprings.com/2024-events/concealed-carry-class

Northwestern State University will host STEM Day on Friday, March 1 from 8am-12pm in the Student Union Ballroom. Students in grades 9-12 are invited to attend. Students will choose their interest from Biomedical/Microbiology, Natural Science/Ecology, Veterinary Science, Chemistry & Physics, or Mathematics/Engineering. Register here.