Shelby R. Jackson
February 5, 1942 — March 22, 2024
Service: Thursday, March 28 at 3pm at Longstreet Baptist Church – Logansport

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Matt Vines

Twenty-one powerlifters from Mansfield and North DeSoto high schools will descend upon UL Lafayette’s Cajundome to compete in the LHSAA Powerlifting State Championships on Friday and Saturday.

Mansfield, who competes in Division IV, is sending eight boys and six girls to the state championships.

North DeSoto, who competes in Division II, will be represented by five girls and two boys.

The girls in both divisions will compete Friday with the boys lifting Saturday.

The Mansfield girls team is in their first season of competition, and coach Ryan Stewart said his freshman- and sophomore-laden roster has been a joy to coach.

“Not everybody plays basketball, so these are a bunch of girls who wanted to do something to give back to their school during this time, and this is that avenue,” Stewart said. “Almost everybody on our team that qualified is a baby – four freshmen and zero seniors.”

“Regionals was an eye-opener for us, and the girls got to understand what a meet like that felt like. It lit a fire under most of our team, and they worked to get stronger and wanted to compete at an elite level all the time.”

The boys powerlifting team is in its second season since being reinstated, something that head football coach Darrell Barbay wanted to implement upon arriving at Mansfield.

While powerlifting is often used as weight training for athletes in other sports, Stewart said the competition aspect adds incentive to weights.

“The competition is paramount because any time you get kids who want to compete – these kids want to compete in everything they do from the classroom to every sport they play,” said Stewart, who serves as the football defensive coordinator. “We have competition days built into our (football) offseason stuff, activities like flipping tires tug-of-war and even 3-on-3 basketball.

“Powerlifting is another way to compete.”

Mansfield’s Terrance Pegues is the reigning Division III champion at 275 pounds, and the senior is looking to add a second title.

North DeSoto’s male lifters occupy the lighter weight classes with Blake Chambers (148 pounds) and Jacob Haley (132 pounds). Haley is the only freshman in his Division II weight class to qualify for state.

“Haley worked his butt off in football, and his powerlifting success is a by-product of that work continuing,” said North DeSoto coach Christopher Wilson, who accepted the head football position at North Webster this past week. “Chambers is a really strong kid, and if you’re strong, you’re strong.

“There is a skill element involved as well. But these guys come into the weight room three times as week and haven’t deviated from their plans.”

Joining Pegues from Mansfield’s boys squad is Darrien Wells (242), Deanthony Chambers (242), William Phoenix (220), Derrick Mitchell (165), Jaden Ross (148), Lavel Claudio (123) and Omar Thomas (114).

The Mansfield girls are sending freshman Karlee Combs (97), freshman Charlene Jackson (181), freshman Kynsleigh Hooper (198), junior Nydia Clay (220), freshman Nyriah Hensley (220) and sophomore Christini Addison (SHW).

The North DeSoto girls will be represented by five lifters. Senior Briley Pendleton (105), junior Abby McInnis (114), junior Anna Giddens (123), junior Kinsey Reynolds (132) and freshman Jaliyah Brown (165).

To qualify for state, lifters had to finish in the top 10 in their respective division’s weight class.

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BY MATT VINES

LOGANSPORT – Logansport softball players and coaching staff watched as Oak Grove celebrated an 18-5 victory in the 2023 Division IV Non-Select quarterfinals, punching their ticket to the semifinals in Sulphur.

Logansport led 5-4 heading into the seventh inning before Oak Grove amassed 14 runs in the final frame.

Coach Kyle Creech said that feeling is what’s fueled this season’s team, which won 16 of its first 17 games and has a 16-4 record.

“We watched Oak Grove for about two minutes, and nobody said a word,” Creech said. “Everybody knew what the goal was heading into this season – we wanted to make a trip to Sulphur and into the semifinals.

“It lit a fire under us that carried us through the offseason and into this season. We have eight returning starters and five (juniors) who are now seniors off that team, and we’ve done well so far.”

Logansport is searching for its first trip to Sulphur since 2019’s semifinals run, and the Lady Tigers are positioning themselves for another Sulphur trip as the No. 1 team in Division IV Non-Select in the latest power rankings Thursday.

But Logansport, which has rarely tasted defeat this season, will have to wash that taste out its mouth with three straight losses.

The Lady Tigers dropped games to tough teams like Sacred Heart and Iowa in the Sulphur Tournament this past weekend before falling 7-3 to LaSalle at home Tuesday.

“We had a hard time being consistent in Sulphur, but we did come back and play well against LaSalle,” Creech said. “Emmarie Atkins hit a solo home run and we had a 3-0 lead before LaSalle scored seven runs in the last two innings in part because of some defensive mistakes.

“We know that to win a state championship game in (Division IV Non-Select), we’re likely going to see our fellow district members LaSalle or Montgomery (or both). We want to make sure we’re consistently competing.”

Logansport’s five seniors – Avery Creech, McKyznie Smith, Izabelle Stroud, Madison Magee and Jordan Porterfield – form the backbone of the Lady Tigers squad.

Creech, the coach’s daughter, is the primary pitcher with a 9-2 record and a 3.34 ERA with 117 strikeouts and 16 appearances.

She rehabbed a knee injury suffered in the third game of her junior season to prepare for what was expected to be a special senior campaign.

Magee (.417 average with 23 runs scored) is a consistent bat while Smith (four home runs, 20 RBIs) can drive runners in.

Porterfield was the starting second baseman until multiple broken bones in her left hand has forced her to sit for the past couple weeks.

Younger players also play big roles as eighth-grader Ainsley Morvan is the leading hitter for the second straight season. Morvan is hitting .540 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs.

Her and sophomore Kennedi Smith (.389 average with 33 RBIs) are key hitters and pitchers.

While the Lady Tigers know District 3-1A with LaSalle and Montgomery will prepare them well for the playoffs, Creech said he’s strengthened the non-district schedule to assist with that task.

Logansport is 7-1 against Class 4A and Class 5A teams – beating the likes of Airline, Captain Shreve, Parkway, Haughton and Evangel Christian.

The lone loss came to reigning three-time champion North DeSoto (Division II Non-Select).

“We are more tested than we have been in the past,” said Creech, who has led Logansport to four quarterfinals and one semifinals appearance since taking over in 2018. “We’ve won some tough games and dropped some tough games.

“If we compete for all seven innings, I feel like we’ll come out on top.”

Logansport had just one previous quarterfinals appearance in the 21st century.

With just a little more than two weeks left in the regular season, the Lady Tigers will attempt to hold onto that top seed and put itself in the best position to make this senior class’s first playoff trip to Sulphur.

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BY MATT VINES

North DeSoto’s Aja Douglas and Morgan Bates were selected to the girls basketball District 1-4A team, released this past week.

Makayla Butler was honorably mentioned.

The duo led the Lady Griffins to a 19-9 record and the first round of the playoffs as a No. 17 seed.

The season was North DeSoto’s best in quite some time as first-year coach Jalena Sanders accelerated the turnaround started under former coach Patrece Carter.

The Griffins went 4-3 in district play, which included a win against Booker T. Washington.

Huntington’s Kyndal Graham and coach Brian Shyne won the district’s Player and Coach of the Year, respectively.

Other first-team members include Huntington’s Carley Hamilton, Northwood’s Hannah Mouton, BTW’s Younique Jackson and Minden’s Brooklyn Jefferson.

Joining Bates and Douglas on the second team was Northwood’s A’Leiya Brewer, Huntington’s Jalia Marshall and Minden’s Kierra Harrison.

 

Mansfield represented on All-Defensive Team

Mansfield senior Darrien Kelly was selected to the District 3-2A All-Defensive team.

The Wolverines (9-18) finished fourth in a loaded district that had Lakeview and Red River play for state championships in their respective divisions.

 

DeSoto Parish represented on LHSAA All-Academic Team

Three senior basketball players from DeSoto Parish qualified for the LHSAA All-Academic Team, which requires at least a 3.5 GPA.

North DeSoto seniors Adrieunna Williams and Lexi Garza along with Mansfield’s Zaria Pullen earned the hoor.

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BY Matt Vines

The winning streak couldn’t last forever, and North DeSoto’s softball streak to begin the season ended at 18.

The Lady Griffins (20-3) have lost three of their last five games as they battled teams in other parts of the state in the past week.

North DeSoto’s streak ended in a 3-2 loss against Brusly before another one-run loss (1-0) to St. Thomas More.

The Lady Griffins blew out Barbe (20-4 score) but dropped to Sterlington 6-3.

North DeSoto restarted its winning ways in the District 1-4A tournament with an 11-0 win against Evangel Christian.

The Lady Griffins will face Minden in the tournament championship on April 3 but will continue its schedule with six non-district games in between.

North DeSoto still owns the top spot in the District II power rankings by more than three power points.

Stanley is on a roll with six straight wins and 12 of its last 13.

The Lady Panthers started District 3-B play with a 29-5 win against Florien and also added big wins against parkway and Many to the list among others. Stanley is No. 6 in the Division V Non-Select rankings.

Mansfield (5-15) has lost seven of eight with its lone win coming against Jonesboro-Hodge (27-10 score).

 

BASEBALL

North DeSoto retained its top-five power ranking in Division II by winning two games following its loss to Red River.

The Griffins (14-4) topped Cedar Creek (17-1 score) and Captain Shreve (5-2).

NDHS is No. 5 with one month left in the regular season. The action in the next week includes Grant tonight, Winnfield on Saturday, Many on Monday, Bossier on Wednesday and Evangel Christian on Thursday.

Logansport has won four of its last five games to counteract a period of six losses in seven contests.

The Tigers split with Montgomery and beat Negreet, Florien and North Caddo before falling to Northwood.

Logansport (8-9) is No. 18 in Division IV Non-Select.

Stanley continues to roll in District 3-B as the Panthers are 3-0 with two wins against Florien and one against Zwolle.

The Panthers (13-4) are ranked seventh in the Division V Non-Select and have won seven of its last nine games.

Mansfield (3-4) has dropped its last four contests, including losses to Doyline (10-0), Simsboro (18-1) and Many (16-6). Mansfield is sitting outside the playoff picture at No. 30 in the Division III Non-Select power rankings.

 

TRACK AND FIELD

The North DeSoto girls track and field team edged Parkway to win the Don Millen Bearkat Invitational hosted at Benton High on Wednesday.

The Lady Griffins tallied 119 points and fended off second-place Parkway at 103 points in the 16-team field.

Mansfield came in fourth with 58 points.

The North DeSoto boys track and field team claimed third with 92 points with Mansfield finishing eighth in a 16-team field.

On the girls side, North DeSoto won three events.

Taylor Clark claimed the 100 meters (12.10), Yazmin Ferguson won the discus (97-7) and Mikayla Mondello captured the triple jump (100-3).

Three North DeSoto girls relays finished second, including the 4×800 (Macaylah Tingle, Ellie Simmons, D’Anna Robinson, Makayla Butler), the 4×200 (Clark, Roderia Whitaker, Aja Douglas, Tayneesha Dejuanta), and the 4×100 (Nailah Delton, Douglas, Clark, Whitaker).

Other second-place finishes include Madison Veal in the 110 hurdles (18.11), Tingle in the 800 (2:36.76), Mondello in the javelin (100-3) and Molly Wiley in the pole vault (8-6).

Third-place spots include Josie Parker in the discus (89-9) and Keri Harris in the 110 hurdles.

Mansfield showcased its speed with three wins in the shorter distances.

LaJordan Boykins won the 200 (26.01), LaBrasia Ross the 400 (1:01.92) and Mansfield took home the 4×100 (Trinity Ford, Boykins, Germanee Robertson, Zakhia Austin).

Austin added a silver in the 100 (12.26) and the long jump (15-8).

Mansfield’s 4×400 relay captured bronze (Robertson, Austin, Boykins, Ross).

On the boys side, North DeSoto’s Javonte Taylor won the triple jump with a mark of 42-11 and also claimed second in the long jump (20-11) and high jump (5-10). Kaleb Brownlee added a second-place in the triple jump (40-6).

North DeSoto relays racked up points with a second place in the 4×800 (Dylan Compton, Lake Bates, Chaz Martinez, Gavin Shirley), a second place in the 4×200 (Kenny Thomas, Dale Howard, Braylen Delton, Lake Bates), third in the 4×400 (Compton, Bates, Kaleb Brownlee, Martinez) and a fourth in the 4×100 (Bates, Thomas, Delton, Howard).

Third-place finishes for North DeSoto included Thomas in the 100 (10.81), Howard in the 110 hurdles (15.29) and Compton in the 800 (1:59.30).

Mansfield’s Ian White logged the Wolverines’ best finish with a second-place in the 110-hurdles (14.48).

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The staff of Mansfield State Historic Site will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23 from 10am-1pm. Bring your own picnic and enjoy it on the lawn. There will be Easter themed crafts. Entry does not apply.

FBC Logansport’s Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled Saturday, March 23 from 1-3pm. Children through 5th grade are welcome. Bring your basket. 

Pelican Library presents their annual community Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt on Saturday March 23 starting at 7pm. There will be food, fun and games. Call 318-755-2353 for more information. 

Logansport Chamber of Commerce will host their 3rd Annual Easter Egg Drop will take place on March 30 on the Riverfront. Festivities will start at 11am so bring the kids to play games, meet the Easter Bunny, jump in the bounce house, food, and so much more. The egg drop will begin at 1pm and it will be divided into age groups.

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While I’m all for the sport of bass fishing growing, at what cost? Professional anglers are taking the new forward-facing sonar technology to levels that may not be good for the sport. Our lakes and waterways are under assault as we speak. Lakes are being invaded with sonar technology that has all species of fish on high alert. Today we’ll look at the impact this may have on the industry in general.

To understand where we are with today’s technology, we must first look at where we came from. The first fish-finder device was developed in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1948. Then in 1957 Lowrance released the Fish-Lo-K-Tor that was designed for recreational fishermen. These first fish-finding units were hard to operate and were difficult to read unless you had a good understanding on what you were actually looking at, but they were prone to misinterpretation.

But today’s electronics can be read without any misinterpretation as anglers watch on a 12-to-14-inch screen on what can only be described as a high-tech video game. This technology has played right into the hands of the young anglers on the rise looking to compete with the best anglers on the planet.

Their learning curve has been fast forwarded to warp speed like the Star Trek’s Enterprise. No longer do they have to spend years developing a feel on how and where to find bass based on weather conditions. No longer do they have to spend years understanding how to read water. They no longer need the instincts that the older generation of anglers used to compete with on the highest level.

This being said, how will this new technology affect the industry overall? It appears to me and many others that we are developing a group of young anglers without the fishing instincts so many of today’s top professionals possess. These seasoned anglers took years of time on the water to develop instincts and skills necessary to compete with the best anglers in America and across the globe.

One facet of bass fishing that will be truly affected is the bait and tackle industry. With the popularity of forward-facing sonar has come a new series of minnow-style baits. These baits are all the craze right now and are winning tournaments consistently. So, what about all the crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs that have made up a huge part of bass fishing sales over the years? What will become of all these baits that have been the bread and butter of all major bass fishing companies? Will they just sit on the shelf and collect dust, or will it all come back to life after this forward-facing sonar obsession is over or possibly banned?

For tackle store owners, there’s got to be a sense of nervousness as dealers all over the country do inventory on baits that are just hanging on pegs waiting for anglers to pull one off. It’s almost like land of the misfit toys in the Christmas movie “Rudolph.” They are just waiting for the day when they will be wanted again.

Like anything new, we wonder if this new unbelievable technology is here to stay. Is this just a fad like bellbottom jeans and silk shirts with white dress shoes? Or is this like the Pet Rock and Ty Beanie Babies that some thought were the best ideas ever? The one unknown factor at this point is IF tournament organizations will ban these new fish-finding units. If this does happen, maybe things will get back to what we used to think of as normal.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on You Tube. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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SHREVEPORT – LSU Shreveport smashed its previous enrollment record as the university has crossed the 10,000 mark for the first time in the school’s history.

LSUS announced a final spring enrollment of 10,214 on Wednesday.

“For the first time in LSUS history, our enrollment has surpassed 10,000 students, thanks to increases in both undergraduate and graduate enrollments,” said LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith. “This is the result of hard work on behalf of everyone on campus as LSUS continues to focus on the success of our students, recruiting students and working to retain them through graduation.

“This is also the result of LSUS developing programs that are meeting student interests as well as contemporary workforce needs.”

While most university enrollments shrink from fall to spring semesters, the LSUS graduate student programs and its year-round start dates were key drivers in the enrollment increase.

The enrollment increase is nearly 1,500 students higher than Spring 2023, a jump of 17 percent year-over-year.

LSUS posted its second-highest enrollment number in Fall 2023, with its 9,736 students falling just short of the previous LSUS record of 9,955 in the Fall of 2020.

But the Spring 2024 enrollment featured a 478-student increase from Fall 2023.

LSUS’s growth comes at a time when many universities in the state and across the nation are navigating enrollment and financial headwinds.

“Students are looking for the programs we have,” Smith said. “Many universities across the nation are dropping programs that students aren’t taking anymore, but we have a great mix of programs that meet student demand and workforce needs.

“It’s not just programs that students want, it’s programs that also lead to well-paying jobs.”

Graduate enrollment set a record with 7,756 students, representing the highest graduate student enrollment in the state.

The University isn’t just attracting more students through its doors, it’s being recognized for serving those students once they’ve enrolled.

LSUS received the highest marks in the state in the second annual Economic Mobility Index, which measures how effectively institutions assist low-income students to improve their socioeconomic status by graduating into well-paying jobs. LSUS ranked in the top 20 percent nationally in the study conducted by the organization Third Way, which published this past September.

The University was also one of 11 colleges chosen to participate in an inaugural cohort to transform the early college experience, which is when the highest percentage of students drop out.

A student advising hub, an active Student Success Center and a robust food pantry to help combat student hunger are a few ways that LSUS is removing barriers to student success.

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Historian and professor Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner has spent decades researching the Gage family in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Decades earlier, she met and befriended the last living member of that family, Matilda Jewell Gage (1886-1986). Dr. Wagner learned much about the Gage family from Matilda that would have been unattainable other wise. Matilda was the first of three children born to Thomas and Sophia Gage. Alice Eliza Gage, the second child, was born and died on the same date, December 12, 1891. The cause of her death is unknown. Although no headstone is known to exist for Alice, she is believed to have been buried in Riverside Memorial Park in Aberdeen along with many other members of the Gage family. Matilda’s youngest sister, Dorothy Louise Gage, was born on June 11, 1898, shortly after the Gage family moved to Bloomington, Illinois. Five months later, November 11, 1898, Dorothy died from what was then called congestion of the brain.

Members of the Gage family from near and far gathered for little Dorothy’s funeral including little Dorothy’s Aunt Maud who had taken a train to get to Bloomington.  For reasons that remain unclear, little Dorothy’s Uncle Frank did not attend the funeral.  The death and funeral were terribly sad, as you would expect.  Maud hid her grief as much as she could while she was with her family in Bloomington.  None of the other passengers on her return train trip home were aware of her grief.  When Uncle Frank picked her up at the train station, she seemed to crumble.  For days Aunt Maud was in a terrible state.  Uncle Frank wanted to ease Aunt Maud’s suffering but there was nothing he could do.  Or was there?

During one of Dr. Wagner and Matilda’s many conversations, Matilda mentioned little Dorothy’s grave.  Did little Dorothy’s headstone still exist?  Dr. Wagner visited the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery to search for little Dorothy’s grave.  What seemed like a simple task at first turned out to be a formidable undertaking.  The cemetery consisted of over 20,000 marked graves and there was an unknown number of unmarked graves.  Finally, Dr. Wagner found seven headstones with the last name Gage, but little Dorothy’s grave was not among them.  Was her grave unmarked?  Was Dr. Wagner looking in the right cemetery?  Undeterred, Dr. Wagner continued the search.  At last, Dr. Wagner found a small headstone with the following inscription:  Dorothy Louise, Dau. Of Mr. & Mrs. T.C. Gage, June 11, 1898, Nov. 11, 1898. 

Little Dorothy’s tiny headstone was lost in a sea of over 20,000 headstones.  Something more was needed.  In 1997, people gathered at the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery for a ceremony to open the Dorothy L. Gage Memorial Garden which included a new, larger headstone in memory of the almost forgotten child.  Still, it seemed that something more was needed, but what?  Twenty years later, in 2017, officials at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery decided that an old oak tree near little Dorothy’s grave had to be removed.  The tree was around 200 years old.  Cemetery officials saw this as a unique opportunity.  Could this oak tree somehow memorialize little Dorothy?  In June 2018, officials at the cemetery hired Bill Baker of Top Notch Chainsaw Carving to carve the tree stump into the figure of a little girl with a dog at her feet standing on a road.  Since then, thousands of people have visited little Dorothy’s grave. 

Shortly after little Dorothy’s death, Uncle Frank struggled to find a way to ease Aunt Maud’s sadness.  Two years later, he found a way.  Under any other circumstances, little Dorothy, the child who died at just five months old, would have been forgotten just as her grave had been lost.  Uncle Frank found a way to immortalize his niece when he named the lead character in a children’s story after her.  You see, Dr. Wagner’s research of the Gage family was because of little Dorothy’s connection to Uncle Frank, L. Frank Baum, the author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

Sources:

1.     The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois), June 26, 2018, p.A3.

2.      “Dorothy Louise Gage (1898-1898), Find a Grave,” www.findagrave.com, Accessed March 17, 2024.https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4083/dorothy_louise_gage.

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The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to return to Toledo Bend Reservoir next week, March 26-28, for the second event of the 2024 Southwestern division – the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Toledo Bend Reservoir.

The three-day competition, hosted by Toledo Bend Lake Country, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.

“Toledo Bend has been fishing really healthy – the fish are great quality right now, especially the prespawners,” said Bass Pro Tour pro Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana. “It should be be a very good tournament – I predict it’ll take 70 to 75 pounds over three days to walk away with the victory at this one.

“We’ve had a ton of rain in this part of the country, and normally that’s a great thing on Toledo Bend – the lake gets full, and the fishing is great,” LeBrun continued. “But they’re keeping the lake low for some reason, and any time the water has come up lately, they’ve been bringing it back down. So, that limits you a little bit on how you can fish shallow and is really going to benefit the forward-facing sonar guys.”

LeBrun said that the recent cooler temperatures has kept the big females from spawning, and he expects the tournament will be won by anglers fishing a little bit deeper – the 8- to 12-foot range targeting fish staging. However, he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of sight-fishing playing a role.

“There will be some on the bank spawning, and with the water levels low I think sight-fishing will be a player” LeBrun said. “But I don’t think the conditions have been stable enough to win the event sight fishing. I think if a guy can catch two or three good ones on the bank, then mix in a couple from offshore, that will be pretty strong.”

LeBrun said that he expects minnow-type baits and jerkbaits would be strong offerings from the forward-facing sonar anglers, and anglers hitting the bank would be throwing wacky-rigged Senkos, light Texas rigs, and ChatterBaits if it is a windy day.

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each day from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

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Sheriff Jayson Richardson and the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office has teamed up with the BFF of DeSoto Animal Services for a fundraiser! All funds donated will remain in DeSoto Parish, and will go toward the spay/neuter program to prevent overpopulation in our area. Click the link to donate:  https://www.shelterslumberpawty.com/story/Vpy5jf?fbclid=IwAR1mlez9FLCer0Pu9nI1owZyFdBw3Zn0vyjEtAg7tneW6jtO9gzdAXSPiJc

Clara Springs Camp will host Fourth Friday Fish Fry today (Mar 22) from 5-7pm. Hosted by FBC Natchitoches. In honor of Read Across America month FBC Natchitoches library will be on campus sharing how their church library can assist your church ministry. There will be tables of FREE gently used books for you to take home! Dinner is $15 and includes all you can eat fried fish, coleslaw, french fries, hushpuppies, pinto beans, lemon bread pudding, homemade ice cream and drinks. Kids 9 and under eat FREE. Only $10 for kids ages 10-17. 

The 8th Annual Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Bass Tournament is Saturday, March 23 at Cypress Bend Boat Launch on Toledo Bend. Tournament hours 6:45am – 3pm. Scales open at 2pm. Contact Burt Poche at 318.652.3176 or 318.652.7192. Online registration deadline is March 22 at 3pm http://www.dylankylepoche.com
In person registration is Friday, March 22 from 2-7pm at the boat launch or Saturday morning from 4-7am. Teams that do not weigh in a fish will be entered into a drawing for $1,000 cash. Must be present to win. There will also be prizes, raffles, DJ, bounce house, food and fun for all. 

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Royce Wendell McCutcheon
March 27, 1929 — March 15, 2024
Graveside Service:  Friday, March 22 at 2pm at Bethel Cemetery – Logansport

Gertie Wilson
July 17, 1931 – March 13, 2024
Service: Saturday, March 23 at 11am at St. Luke Baptist Church – Logansport

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Amanda LaFollette, principal of Mansfield Elementary School, has been named one of twenty-four semifinalists for the 2025 Principal of the Year award by the Louisiana Department of Education.

Mrs. Bridget Flanders, Director of Student Learning, states, “It is evident that Mrs. LaFollette believes in her students, staff, and the entire Wolverine community. Her service and advocacy exemplify the mission, values, and beliefs of DeSoto Parish Schools.”

Student outcomes at Mansfield Elementary School have improved significantly this past school year. Mansfield Elementary serves as the pilot school for DeSoto Parish Schools’ Student Wellness program and has been named a model of excellence for literacy by the Louisiana Department of Education.

Superintendent Clay Corley added, “Mrs. LaFollette’s recognition as a semifinalist is a testament to her exceptional leadership and the transformative impact she has on our educational community. Her passion for children and commitment to excellence have not only elevated Mansfield Elementary but also continued a proud legacy of exemplary educational leadership in our district.”

Supervisor of Administration, Mr. Brandon Burback, can speak to Principal LaFollette’s leadership and the capacity she has built around her team to ensure successful student outcomes. We are so proud of Mrs. Lafollette and her passion for students and their achievements. Mrs. LaFollette has built capacity in her TEAM to ensure students are cared for and challenged with strategic, differentiated scheduling and instruction that meets students at their point of need while crafting a progressive learning path that ensures balanced support and rigor toward mastery.

As a native of DeSoto Parish, LaFollette began her education career in the school system as a math teacher at Mansfield High School in 2002. She taught math for fourteen years at Mansfield High School, where she served as the cheerleader and the initial sponsor of the National Beta Club. After she served as a career teacher, LaFollette became a Master Teacher in 2016, supporting math teachers both at Mansfield High School and Mansfield Middle School. Her stint as Mansfield Elementary School’s Principal began in the 2020-2021 school year.

Principal LaFollette recognizes her school’s dedication by saying, “I’m very excited that our Little Wolverines’ hard work has been recognized. We are so blessed with amazing students and a staff of superheroes! It’s a joy to be the principal at MES!”

All semi finalists and finalists will be honored at the 18th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala, which will be held at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans on the evening of July 27. This exciting event is co-sponsored by Dream Teachers.

For more information on the announcement of the Principal and Teacher of the Year semifinalists, visit Louisiana Believes.

Source: desotopsb.com

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NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State has suffered its fair share of heart break in one run games this season.

In the latest edition those razor-thin affairs Tuesday night, a pair of freshmen doled out their own bit of heart break as the Demons picked up a walk-off 2-1 win against Texas Southern.

Tied at one and down to their final out before a potential fourth extra-inning game this year, freshman Aly Delafield put herself in scoring position with one swing on a pinch-hit triple over the head of the right fielder.

“Aly hits those kinds of pitchers really well,” first-year head coach Lacy Prejean said who sent Delafield to the plate in the pressure situation. “With two outs there we needed an extra base hit so was thinking maybe we’d get a double or a home run. She hits the ball hard and I rolled the dice calling her over to third.”

With the winning run 60 feet away it was another freshman, short stop Mia Liscano, that stood in the box with an even greater weight of pressure.

“As soon as she got that hit and coach kept rounding her and sending her to third I knew we were in it, I got it,” Liscano said. “Everybody in the dugout was hyped. I was hyped at the plate but I had to calm myself down real quick. It was a big hit that we needed.”

After seeing a couple of pitches from Texas Southern reliever Maren Berger, Liscano pulled the ball through the hole on the right side for her second game-winning hit and first walk-off hit as a Demon.

“I was thinking to myself if you’re too amped up you’re going to swing at trash,” Liscano said. “I got in there and wanted to take a look or two and don’t get too amped up. I knew I needed to get her home, so I wanted to try and pull the ball. She is a drop-ball pitcher, so I needed to get something on the ground.

“When it went through, I was just thinking just run Aly run. When I turned around first and saw my teammates come at me was an amazing feeling.”

The two-out rally put a cherry on top of the latest quality pitching performance from Kenzie Seely this year who picked up the win in her ninth complete game of the season.

Seely struck out eight batters in the game, her second highest single-game total this season, with three instances of back-to-back strikeouts to end innings in the game. Her only blemish came on a one-out solo home run in the top of the second.

She allowed just one hit over the final five innings and none over the final four innings.

“I want them to believe how close we are and how close we were to winning those games,” Prejean said of the results in one-run games this season. “I wanted Kenzie to dominate today. To come in and dominate and not have to throw 20 pitches an inning. Other than a couple pitches she threw a really clean game and we played great defense behind her.”

NSU had eight hits in the game, three of them coming from Tristin Court who continues her torrid play at the plate, upping her average to a team-best .374 after her 3-for-3 day at the dish. The majority of NSU’s hits came from the bottom four players in the lineup.

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Matt Vines

North DeSoto Wrestling Academy’s Chase Smart earned All-American status at the USA Wrestling 16U Folkstyle Nationals this past weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Smart advanced to the quarterfinals of his 150-pound weight class, falling in a heartbreaker 7-6 decision to Jais Rose of Wyoming.

Smart won two matches in the championship bracket of the national competition, taking down Grayson Gonzales (Frisco Wakel) with a fall at 3:143 and Liam Fox (Bear Cave Wrestling) with a 9-8 decision.

Smart placed sixth in his weight class after maneuvering through the consolation bracket.

He disposed of D. Hollenbeck (8-7 decision) and J. Clark (7-6 decision) to reach the fifth-place match, where he lost 13-2 to C. Gray.

The junior won a Division II Louisiana state championship in the LHSAA ranks in the 157-pound class.

 

NDWA dominates Louisiana USA Wrestling State Championships

The North DeSoto Wrestling Academy dominated the Louisiana USA Wrestling State Championships held this past weekend at the Baton Rouge River Center.

The NDWA produced 13 state champions and 27 other top-four finishers across the board.

Age divisions included 8U, 10U, 14U, 16U and Open on the boys side with three girls divisions.

State champions included Wyatt Goodson, Carson Otto, Kolby Moore, Braxton Morris, Nicholas Griffith, Baker Brogden, Louden Moon, Jayden Otto, Eli Brogden, Jacob Kershaw, Jeremiah Yearby, Caiden Burns and Elainah Davis.

State runner-ups include Nolan Gray, Sage Stoute, Lyncoln Morris, Bruce Vanderhoeven, Conner Gandee, Coleman Morgan, Colton Risinger-Burton, L’Lijah Williams, Michael Washington, Brynn Brogden and Annaliah Molinas.

Third-place finishers include Oaklen Williams, Levi Medaries, Aaron Newton, Kade Tinsley, AJ Rogers, Coleson Cogar, Sy Stoute, Brantley Moore, Xzavier Molinas and Liliana Mendez-Rabinowitz.

Fourth-place finishers were Paul Vanderhoeven, Collin Gandee, Easton Twigg, Jaxon Morgan and Addelyn Compton.

 

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FBC Logansport’s Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled Saturday, March 23 from 1-3pm. Children through 5th grade are welcome. Bring your basket. 

Pelican Library presents their annual community Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt on Saturday March 23 starting at 7pm. There will be food, fun and games. Call 318-755-2353 for more information. 

Logansport Chamber of Commerce will host their 3rd Annual Easter Egg Drop will take place on March 30 on the Riverfront. Festivities will start at 11am so bring the kids to play games, meet the Easter Bunny, jump in the bounce house, food, and so much more. The egg drop will begin at 1pm and it will be divided into age groups.

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Last Sunday I saw it for the first time. At first, I didn’t know where that dust was coming from that I found on the windshield when I crawled behind the wheel preparing to head to church. Then I noticed the light golden color of the tiny flecks of dust. It hit me.

Pollen. Pine pollen.

Glancing at the ends of the branches of the hundreds of loblolly pines in my yard, I saw the swollen buds, locked and loaded to dump their load of aggravating yellow dust with no concern as to where their loads would land.

Pine pollen is produced by male pine cones, just trying out their masculinity I suppose. Some people are allergic to pine pollen, the same people are also likely to have allergic reactions to grass pollen. The culprit for most who experience bouts of hay fever in spring comes from pollen produced and released by oaks, hickories, rag weed and other such plants.

My wife enjoys opening the windows during spring to take advantage of nice comforting breezes. However, once the first bit of pollen is seen, she is not happy because this means she has to wait until pollen season ends in a few weeks to be able to open windows. By then, it’s starting to warm up too much to enjoy the pleasant springtime breezes.

Keeping windows open during pollen season is to invite yellow dust to make itself at home on the couch, chairs, tabletops, carpet, floors et al.

The stuff is indiscriminate; it cares not a bit that when it comes into your home uninvited; it’s like the obnoxious cousin, Randy Quaid in National Lampoon’s Christmas vacation who comes to visit with wife and kids disrupting family plans and is in no hurry to leave.

As much as we despise the hated yellow powder, the Internet has discovered and shares a number of reasons why we should give it some love.

Believe it or not, pine pollen has health benefits with research suggesting pine pollen has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains a natural anti-depressant that stimulates dopamine levels in the brain.

Wait, here’s more. Pine pollen can help reduce cholesterol levels and improve cardiovascular health. Here’s a good one; pine pollen is especially beneficial for men because it contains high levels of testosterone. It can bolster your immunity to anti-aging as well as reducing fatigue, regulating metabolism, lowering blood pressure and protects the liver.

It can be used for the topical treatment of eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and other dry, itchy, flaky or inflamed skin conditions.

These research sources are suggesting that maybe we should give pine pollen more love because of all its benefits instead of treating it like a bad case of the flu.

As for me, it’s just too hard to create pleasant pictures in my mind of all the nice things this stuff can do while it’s coating my car, my driveway, my porch with that obnoxious yellow dust.

Even with all this good things pine pollen can do, I still don’t like it.

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that beginning on Thursday, March 21, 2024, LA 5 from Thomas Road to LA 3015 (Longstreet) in DeSoto Parish will be closed.

This closure is scheduled to be in place until Thursday, March 28th, and is necessary to allow the contractor to replace a cross drain pipe as part of the ongoing LA 5 overlay project.

Local traffic north and south of the pipe location will be allowed access, though the roadway will be fully closed to through traffic.

The location of the pipe replacement is approximately 1.1 miles south of LA 3015 (see included map).

The entire $15.3 million project stretches from Thomas Road to Keatchie, and is anticipated to be complete in Summer 2025, weather permitting.

Restrictions/Permits: Total road closure at the specified location. All through traffic will need to utilize an alternate route.

Alternate Route: Detour signage will be in place.

This work will be performed WEATHER PERMITTING.

Safety reminder:

DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

Area residents should exercise caution when driving, walking, or biking near an active construction zone.

Additional information:
Call 511, visit www.511la.org, or download the Louisiana 511 mobile app for additional information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at www.dotd.la.gov, by selecting MyDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.

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The Desoto Council on Aging will hold their annual Older American Day event on May 23, 2024 from 9am-1pm at the DeSoto High School Alumni Association, 1216 Old Jefferson Hwy in Mansfield. There will be free food, games, prizes, and health information.

The DeSoto Council on Aging shows great pride in recognizing the seniors of DeSoto Parish. Area businesses are invited to come and share the types of service your company offers for seniors. Businesses should RSVP no later than April 17 by email to marymilligandcoa@gmail.com.

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By Doug De Graffenried

There are two varieties of home improvement projects. The catalyst for the first variety of projects is the eye. When you have harvest gold or avocado green kitchen appliances, it is time for a little project. The way trends cycle, if you will hang on to those appliances another quarter century, they might be in vogue again. We might call those updates. It sounds less expensive to say, “I’m updating my home.”

The other variety of home improvement occurs when there is a major repair necessary. I am in the middle of that kind of home improvement. The house was constructed seventy-seven years ago. There are things that have “broken.” I am in the middle of a bathroom remodel. Seems the tub was not a cast iron variety. It was one of those “new-fangled” metal tubs of the 1940’s. The tub reached the end of its functional life. Corrosion, known as rust, surrounded the drain and the tub began to leak.

I was vetoed on the contractor, the other member of the committee voted to hire the friend of a friend. The work is “substantially completed.” All I can tell you is, I closed my eyes and listened to this guy talk and I swear I was listening to Larry the Cable guy. He was a nice man. He worked quickly. He did say, “Your house is not square.” Duh, it was built in 1947 and is pier and beam construction, no kidding it is not square.

He told me on Saturday that he would have to call friend number one to finish the drain because a part was missing.

The missing part was a ninety-degree turn. He described it as being PVC that was about six or seven inches long in total. He didn’t know where it was, but it was suddenly gone. He surmised that somehow friend number one had inadvertently picked it up. I shrugged my shoulders.

He finished his part of the job and left. That evening as I was getting the dogs settled, I found the missing piece of PVC. The dogs didn’t differentiate between some of their bones and this missing piece of pipe. There it was in the middle of my bed. The dogs had buried it under a throw pillow. I’m wondering if this isn’t in the same broad category of “my dog ate my homework.”

The Psalmist told us, “Fret not.” I wonder if the Psalmist had dogs that carried off PVC in the middle of a construction project. I know the Psalmist faced much more. Is your faith in Christ, such that you can face every adventure, situation, exchange, conversation, challenge, or detour with the attitude of “fret not?”

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Louisiana Tech University has announced the names of students on its Winter Quarter 2024 President’s and Dean’s honor lists.

Students whose names are followed by an asterisk earned recognition as members of the president’s honor list. That distinction signifies achievement of at least a 3.8 academic grade point average on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher), with no grade lower than a B.

To be eligible for the dean’s honor lists, a student is required to earn at least a 3.5 academic grade point average with no grade lower than a C on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher).

Courses yielding satisfactory/failure grades and courses audited do not count toward eligibility for either recognition. Only undergraduates with no incomplete grades are eligible to make either list.

• Gloster: Noah L. Dupree*
• Grand Cane: Claire Elise Headrick*, Blayne Joseph Springer
• Keatchie: Lauren Grace Niten
• Loagansport: Jenna L. Hall*
• Stonewall: Mary Katherine Abraham, Randie D. Arinder, Mallory E. Bogues*, Caden Harrison Britt, Libby Claire Burback, Jacob Ryan Cristler*, Sebastian Monroe Falls*, Lindsay Kathryn Fox*, Hunter Gauge Harris, Josephine Brianna McLain*, Lael Christine Penner, Mallorie C. Phillips*, Parker Schimberg*, Hayden Presley Seaton, Emma Grace Winston

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Because we are in the middle of high school and college baseball season and because desperate times call for desperate measures, I am having to name myself Infield Fly Rule Sheriff for north Louisiana and maybe even for east Texas.

This is effective immediately. No time to waste …

The Infield Fly Rule can make you look crazier than a road lizard, more foolish than the guy who botched the one-car funeral procession. Not knowing this rule has caused more Walk of Shames than beer.

We’ve witnessed it mangled twice last week.

Once, a defender’s mistake cost his team a run. The other time, a baserunner ran his team out of an inning.

This happens more often than you’d think. And when it does, it looks like a prison break.

“An infield fly is a fair ball — not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt — which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out.”

Once the umpire declares “Infield Fly!” and/or points to the sky, the batter is out and all force plays are removed, regardless of whether the ball is caught.

This is to protect defenseless runners: an infielder in this situation could drop the ball on purpose and then turn an easy double play.

The rule sounds tricky but it’s not once you ponder it for a moment. And the moment to ponder is not when the Infield Fly Rule has been declared. It’s now, while no bullets are flying and all is quiet on the western front. 

So, the examples from last week:

Runners first and second, one out, fly to infield’s right side. Infield Fly is declared. Fielder misses the ball, and the runner on second, safe as grandma’s banana pudding secret recipe, semi-panics and takes off for third. The throw from the second baseman, who’s recovered the ball, is in plenty of time — BUT the third baseman doesn’t tag the runner. Steps on the bag thinking there was a force. But the force is off once Infield Fly is declared. The runner, who was surprised as anyone by his good fortune, then scored on a two-out base hit.

In the other example, runners were on first and second, one out, their team trailing by a run, eighth inning. Big Moment. Infield Fly is declared on a very high pop behind first; it hits the fielder’s glove and drops maybe three feet from him and — the runner on second bolted toward third as if propelled from a cannon. Easy throw to the third baseman, who makes the tag, end of that half inning and end of threat.

Makes your heart hurt.

So it is my suggestion that each team designate an Infield Fly Rule Captain. Or it could be Infield Fly Rule Sergeant-at-Arms or Infield Fly Rule Flavor of the Day/Ringmaster/Man About Town. Whatev. The point is, when the Infield Fly Rule is in effect as noted above, that appointed Infield Fly Rule Specialist is yelling to the baserunners, “HOLD YOUR BASE, FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING DECENT AND GOOD, DO NOT MOVE!”

Whether the fielder catches the fly or not, you are safe. Batter up.

Now if you are a fielder — this will take some practice and communication and work and your coach will have to agree — you almost always “have” to let the ball drop. The batter will be out anyway, the runners probably won’t know the rule or will panic, and you can double one up. If the runners don’t move and the ball doesn’t drop and take a wild bounce, no problem. Ball back to pitcher. Batter up.

And if you forget all that, it’s OK. The important thing is that you find and read “Mitch and the Infield Fly Rule,” an essay by the master of the art, the late and great Mississippian Willie Morris.

In it, when Morris taught a class in the American Novel as writer-in-residence at Ole Miss in the 1980s, a “willowy, full-breasted blond Chi Omega” called Mitch, 21 and a straight-A student, “tall and slender and lithesome, wry and irreverent and whimsical,” stands in class one day, recites the Infield Fly Rule in its entirety and finishes by saying, to her wide-eyed classmates in the cataclysmic quietness of the large amphitheater classroom and with a throaty Bacall voice, “I always thought it a fine rule.”

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Cason, Gary Waine Jr.
B M 36
Warrant Desoto Parish
Logansport

Pace, Jacob
W M 40
Reckless Operation of a vehicle
Flight from an Officer
Driving Under Suspension
No Insurance
Possession of CDS II
Stonewall

Bailey, Xavier Luke
W M 21
Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile
Mansfield

James, Charles Ray
B M 39
White Light from Headlamp
Operating a vehicle under Suspension for certain prior offenses
Mansfield

Thomas, Alvin
B M 29
Possession of CDS II
Shreveport

Turner, Brandon
B M 34
Warrant Desoto Parish
Shreveport

Ford, Al James
B M 42
Simple Criminal Damage to Property
Unauthorized Entry of a Place of Business
Mansfield

LeJeune, Wendy
W F 52
Illegal Possession of Stolen Things
Avery, TX

Scott, Tamara Delaura
B F 39
Probation Violation
Mansfield

McMillion, Lakisha M
B F 32
Domestic Abuse Battery-Strangulation
Logansport

Bailey, Scott
W M 50
Probation Violation
Stonewall

Short, Cleonis
B M 62
Criminal Trespass
Theft
Mansfield

Miller, Joseph Edward
W M 36
Domestic Abuse Battery
False Imprisonment
Grand Cane

Vinson, Samuel Deion
B M 31
Introduction of Contraband into Penal Facility
Possession of firearm by Convicted Felon
Mansfield

Davis, Leander
B M 59
DWI Second Offense
Open Container
Careless Operation
Driver not Licensed
Renewal Registration
Mansfield

Wilson, Charles David
W M 43
Warrant Desoto Parish
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
Stonewall

Vessel, Jammie Chimere
B F 42
Fugitive Warrant
Baton Rouge

Millls, Darrie Deunte
B M 33
Criminal Conspiracy
Theft of Motor Vehicle
Mesquite, TX

Victorian, Quintice Todd
B M 36
Criminal Conspiracy
Theft of Motor Vehicle
Rockwall, TX

Meeks, Jeannie K
W F 75
Warrant Desoto Parish
Grand Cane

Allen, Isaiah Lamon
B M 26
Domestic Abuse Battery- Strangulation
Grand Cane

McDaniel, Jarvarcea
B M 42
Domestic Abuse Battery
Logansport

Burch, Corey Christopher
W M 32
Introduction of Contraband into Penal Facility
Possession of CDS II
Battery of Dating Partner
Oak Grove

Williams, Latravon Deshun
B M 21
Disturbing the Peace/Language
Resisting an Officer
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Stonewall

Davis, Lakeitha L
B F 39
Simple Criminal Damage to Property
Warrant Desoto Parish
Mansfield

Claiborne, Artavius Qylette
B F 47
Aggravated Assault
Frierson

Hemphill, Crystal C
W F 40
Contempt of Court
Mansfield

Presley, Paul
W M 35
Contempt of Court
Stonewall

Tellez, Carlos G
L M 31
Possession of CDS I
Zwolle

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DeSoto Parish School students and families can now take advantage of a great resource called Varsity Tutors through the Clever portal.  Varsity Tutors offers unlimited, real-time free tutoring in all core subjects. Students can get essay help, enroll in enrichment classes, and access self-study resources. 

Clara Springs Camp will host Fourth Friday Fish Fry today (Mar 22) from 5-7pm. Hosted by FBC Natchitoches. In honor of Read Across America month FBC Natchitoches library will be on campus sharing how their church library can assist your church ministry. There will be tables of FREE gently used books for you to take home! Dinner is $15 and includes all you can eat fried fish, coleslaw, french fries, hushpuppies, pinto beans, lemon bread pudding, homemade ice cream and drinks. Kids 9 and under eat FREE. Only $10 for kids ages 10-17. 

The 8th Annual Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Bass Tournament is Saturday, March 23 at Cypress Bend Boat Launch on Toledo Bend. Tournament hours 6:45am – 3pm. Scales open at 2pm. Contact Burt Poche at 318.652.3176 or 318.652.7192. Online registration deadline is March 22 at 3pm http://www.dylankylepoche.com
In person registration is Friday, March 22 from 2-7pm at the boat launch or Saturday morning from 4-7am. Teams that do not weigh in a fish will be entered into a drawing for $1,000 cash. Must be present to win. There will also be prizes, raffles, DJ, bounce house, food and fun for all. 

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