The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office shared that Sheriff Jayson Richardson received a call from Santa Claus at the North Pole, and he was checking in to see how kids are behaving while out on summer break.

After all the thunderstorms we have had, Santa is also worried about the World’s Largest Christmas Tree structure and if all the twinkling lights are ok? So, Sheriff Richardson will be meeting with Santa this Friday to give an update on how kids are doing, and checking the Christmas Tree lights to make sure they are all working by Christmas time!

Everyone is encouraged to drive by and take a look as the tree is lit up for this one special evening. 

Santa and the Sheriff will begin comparing notes on who has been naughty or nice around dark, and the Christmas Tree will stay lit until midnight.

Matt Vines

MANSFIELD – Sometimes there’s a clearly definable watershed moment in the trajectory of a program.
Mansfield football believes that moment was its 34-28 first-round playoff win against Marksville in which TJ Pegues plowed into the end zone with just 22 seconds left to secure the program’s first playoff victory since 2018.

That win culminated a run in which the Wolverines won six of eight contests before eventually bowing out against state power Sterlington (although Mansfield scored first in that 35-15 loss).

“The kids are very confident, and it’s hard to get that,” said coach Darrell Barbay, who finished his second year as Mansfield’s head coach. “You can go somewhere and tell them they are good, but until you win, it’s hard to have confidence.

“The road playoff win, getting through the schedule we had – the kids had a lot of confidence in this staff, and we had success.”

The Wolverines will be hard-pressed to replace the running back combination of TJ Pegues and Rykeelin Vanzant, but younger runners, an ever-improving quarterback in Shamal Booker, and a veteran offensive line should add up to another potent offense.

“Terrell Pegues was our third running back, and he can step up and be that guy along with three other running backs that give us depth,” Barbay said. “Booker has gotten a whole lot better this offseason after his first year as a varsity starter, and he’s got a lot of confidence in throwing the ball.

“He was a good game manager for us last year and didn’t turn the ball over much. He’s really taken steps forward in 7-on-7s this summer.”

Mansfield started 2023 with four losses, but near upsets of Huntington and Logansport proved the Wolverines could be a factor.

Mansfield went 4-1 in District 3-2A with its lone loss to state power Many.

The Wolverines played in a tri-spring game with Logansport and Red River, the latter in which Mansfield dismantled 43-20 in 2023.

“I really thought (the spring game) went pretty well,” Barbay said. “We moved the ball well, threw it pretty well, and I was impressed with our offensive line.

“The defense ran around the ball, and even though our secondary gave up a long scoring pass, a lot of those guys had been participating in track and field all spring. They’ve been playing better in 7-on-7s, which isn’t real football but it’s good for judging balls and getting your depth perception right.”

Mansfield’s non-district slate this coming season features tough Class 4A opponents like Northwood and Minden, but the Wolverines will also play against other 2A schools like Green Oaks and North Caddo, which will be a divergence from recent non-district schedules.

The DeSoto Parish Police Jury will hold their regular meeting Monday, July 1, 2024 starting at 5:00 pm.. The meeting will be held in the Police Jury Meeting room. 

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
1. Reappoint Bruce Carrol, David Caston and Dennis Reed to the Ambulance/EMS District Board for a 6 year term
2. Authorize the President to sign a Resolution for BETA Land Services, L.L.C requesting that the DeSoto Parish Police Jury place for sealed bids with Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, all of the Mineral Rights owned by the DeSoto Parish Police Jury namely streets, alleys and right of ways that the Police Jury owns in Section 15, Township 12 North, Range 13 West, being more specifically described as Irma Street, Park Avenue, Brown Street, Matlock Street, Gabe Street, Circle Drive, Robert Street, Pine Street, Elmwood Drive, Matilda Street, The Undeveloped Street in Hollywood Addition, All Portions of Gibbs Street, Shallow Horne Street, South Norris Street, East Mary Street, Maplewood Drive and Petite Street located outside the Corporate Limits of the City of Mansfield, and the Alleys located in Brown Park Subdivision, Brown
Subdivision and Jefferson Hwy No. 2 Subdivision.
3. Adopt the 2024 Millage Rates
4. Accept the resignation of Dwain Spillman and appoint new member to the Planning Commission serving his remaining term (expires 2027)
5. Authorize the President to sign the Opioid Litigation Memorandum of Understanding allowing DeSoto Parish Police Jury to participate in the Louisiana State Local Government Opioid Litigation Settlement process and use the funds to support expanding the Drug Court Program
6. Discuss Compactor Sites Operating hours.
7. Reinstate allowing employees to hunt on DPPJ property as long as correct indemnifications are signed and approved by the Parish Administrator.

BUDGET AND FINANCE ITEMS
1. Re-appropriate $680,000 from the Solid Waste Capital Outlay Cell X Construction ($8 Million Budget) to Solid Waste Capital Outlay Equipment to purchase one (1) 740 Articulated Truck
2. Amend the Registrars of Voters salary budget in the amount of $3437.80 to cover the salary expense for the remainder of 2024 for the extra employee granted by House Bill 89/Act 596
3. Amend the General Budget and approve the President to sign a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the City of Mansfield to contribute funding in the amount of $67,558 to purchase fire equipment
4. Amend the General Budget in the amount of $1,000 and approve the President to sign a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with SUSLA AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparents Program in DeSoto to help with administering the program

SOLID WASTE ITEMS
1. Update the Solid Waste Disposal Fees and Environmental Fees at the Mundy Landfill

AIRPORT AND ANIMAL CONTROL ITEMS
1. Authorize the President to sign the Master Service Agreement (MSA) with KSA as the consulting Engineer for the Airport

ROAD ITEMS
1. Authorize the renaming of Wilson Road aka Nelen Pvt Drive as Nelen Road.
2. Authorize the Parish Administrator to sign a letter of support for I-69 Connector FY 25-26 MPDG Application

NEW BUSINESS
1. Authorize the President to sign a Proclamation declaring Friday, July 5, 2024 a legal holiday.
2. Award the best advantageous proposal for the debris removal disposal services and the debris removal monitoring services for the debris removal in connection with the severe storms from May 30, 2024 (RFPs will be received July 1, 2024 at 2:00 pm.)

Governor Jeff Landry recently signed Act 272 into law.

𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟳𝟮 recognizes the ethical responsibilities of hunters to recover game they’ve taken and provides for a legal method to do so. Licensed hunters or trackers can now:
▪ Pursue a mortally wounded deer (legally shot) using lights and a blood-trailing or tracking dog.
▪ Dispatch the deer with a handgun if found alive (excluding LDWF Wildlife Management Areas).

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: To prevent misuse, certain rules apply:
▪ Only one dog per tracking party in pursuit of the wounded deer.
▪ A second dog allowed for deer retrieval training.
▪ Tracking dogs must be on a handheld leash or use a GPS tracking collar.
▪ A mortally wounded deer discovered alive after legal hunting hours may be dispatched by using a centerfire handgun with a barrel no longer than six inches and a caliber between .25 and .45.
▪ Licensed hunters or trackers can follow a mortally wounded deer onto private property if they have landowner permission.

This law takes effect on August 1.

Pelican Broadband, the newly rebranded internet service provider, is excited to announce its official launch, following a recent purchase and rebranding effort. The company, NortheastTel, recently acquired the Louisiana operations of EpicTouch, marking a significant milestone in its growth and commitment to providing superior internet services to Natchitoches and other local communities.

The purchase, finalized in February, brings together the legacy of two telecommunications companies that date back to the 1930’s and 40’s, when the original companies began as Campti-Pleasant Hill Telephone Company and Northeast Louisiana Telephone Company. The new entity, Pelican Broadband, is working to implement and improve internet services in the communities of Campti, Creston, Natchitoches, and Pleasant Hill. Along with the planned improvements, Pelican Broadband is dedicated to continuing to provide outstanding service to DeSoto, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Red River, and Sabine Parishes.

A Commitment to Better Connectivity

Pelican Broadband is currently replacing legacy copper infrastructure with state-of-the-art fiber optic technology to ensure faster, more reliable internet and telephone services. This ambitious project aims to cover approximately 300 miles of fiber optic cable over the next five years. The upgrade will bring minimum speeds of 100 Mbps to underserved areas, with plans for up to 1 Gbps of speed.

Community Focus and Affordability

As a local, family-owned business, Pelican Broadband understands the unique needs of its customers. The company has made significant strides in making its services more accessible, including reducing the prices of most residential packages and simplifying the sign-up process with a flat deposit and no credit check requirements. 

“We want to ensure everyone has access to reliable internet, especially in today’s world where connectivity is crucial,” said Mike George, President and CEO of Pelican Broadband.

Expanding Services and Community Involvement

Pelican Broadband is not just about internet and traditional telephone services. The company also offers Hosted PBX phone systems, and will be rolling out Managed IT Services, a new offering to the Natchitoches area. 

Additionally, Pelican Broadband is committed to supporting their communities, sponsoring events such as the NPSB Expo in July, a 4-mile run/walk in Morehouse Parish in October, various K-12 organizations & athletics, Natchitoches Christmas Festival, and the annual Tappedtober and NRMC Foundation Gala events.

Trusted Local Service

“Our team remains the same dedicated group of professionals our customers have come to know and trust,” said  Chief Operating Officer, Rick Darsey, who joined the company in 2010.

“We pride ourselves on providing personal, reliable service and being an integral part of the communities we serve.”

Pelican Broadband invites current and prospective customers to learn more about their services by visiting their website or contacting either of their offices. As the company looks to the future, it remains focused on expanding into new areas and continuously improving its network to meet the needs of all customers, ensuring that even the most rural areas have access to high-quality internet services.

For more information, please visit pelicanbroadband.com or contact Pelican Broadband at 318-352-0006.

About Pelican Broadband

Pelican Broadband is a local, family-owned internet service provider dedicated to delivering high-quality, affordable internet and telephone services to communities in Louisiana. With a rich history dating back to 1933, the company is committed to enhancing connectivity through state-of-the-art fiber optic technology and a focus on customer satisfaction.

“I need to lose a few pounds,” is an expression that many of us mutter with a grumble. None of us want to go on a diet, but what if that diet was a steak diet in which we ate more steak and less vegetables? Now, that’s a diet I could sink my teeth into. That is exactly the diet Dr. James proposed. 

James Henry was born in Scott, New York in 1823.  In his twenties, he studied his way through the collegiate hierarchy and by the time he was 30, became a doctor and a well-respected chemist.  We might never have heard of Dr. James had it not been for America’s bloodiest and most divisive conflict, the Civil War.  During the Civil War, Dr. James served as a physician for the Union army.  There was little he could do to help soldiers wounded in battle other than try to repair their damaged and broken bodies.  Dr. James recognized that he was treating more soldiers for diseases than from battle wounds.  According to the National Park Service, more than twice as many Union soldiers died from diseases than from battle.  Most of the soldiers Dr. James treated were suffering from severe diarrhea, which led to dehydration, and often proved fatal.  Now that was a problem that Dr. James thought he could solve by using his background in chemistry.

Dr. James began studying the soldiers’ diet.  At the start of the war, soldiers on both sides were allotted a small ration of pork, bacon, or salt beef, hardtack (hard bread), beans, peas, potatoes, rice, corn, and other available vegetables.  Dr. James concluded that vegetables and starchy foods produced poisons in the digestive system.  He blamed vegetables for a host of illnesses such as heart disease, tuberculosis, mental illness, tumors, and, of course, diarrhea.  Had my younger self known of Dr. James’s conclusions, I certainly would have used them in an attempt to avoid eating my broccoli.  Dr. James believed that the troops suffering from diarrhea could be treated with a diet of coffee and lean chopped beefsteak.  Dr. James claimed that healthy soldiers could avoid getting diarrhea if they utilized the same diet.  Dr. James had a hard time getting military leaders to adopt his diet because of limitations in supplies of meat. 

Following the Civil War, Dr. James continued to encourage people to adopt his diet of coffee and steak.  Contrary to what we might expect in a capitalistic society, Dr. James was not seeking profit.  He shared his recipes openly with anyone who would listen.  His recipes often appeared in newspapers.  His most popular recipe was for his steak, which he suggested should be eaten three times a day.  In 1888, newspapers throughout the country declared that Dr. James’s steak “appears to be giving remarkably good results as a diet for people troubled with weak or disordered digestion, but who require the supporting power of animal food.”  The article shared the manner for preparing the steak as described by a Dr. Hepburn in the Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter.  “The surface of a round steak is chopped with a dull knife, the object being not to cut but to pound the meat.  As the meat pulp comes to the top, it is scraped off, while the tough and fibrous portion gradually reaches the bottom of the trough.  The pulp is then made into cakes and lightly and quickly broiled so as to leave it almost raw inside.”

Today, Dr. James’s dietary work has been largely forgotten with the exception of his steak.  Many of us still eat his steak as his recipe suggested — flavored with onion and other seasonings, then broiled, and covered with thick gravy or brown sauce – though not three times a day as he would have liked.  Perhaps we cancel out the healthy properties of his steak as we consume it with hearty helpings of vegetables.  We still know the steak by his last name, which upon hearing may subconsciously cause your mouth to water.  Now you know how and why Dr. James Henry Salisbury invented the Salisbury Steak. 

Sources:

1.     Manitoba Weekly Free Press, February 19, 1885, p.10.

2.     New York Tribune, August 24, 1905, p.7.

3.     “Civil War Facts: 1861-1865,” National Park Service, NPS.gov, nps.gov/civilwar/facts.htm.

WASHINGTON — In celebration of the 52nd anniversary of Title IX being signed into law, Speaker Johnson hosted a panel discussion on the importance of protecting Title IX, the rights of women and girls, and the Biden Administration’s radical rewrite of the law, which is being challenged in court. The panel included former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Rep. Virginia Foxx, former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, and Independent Women’s Forum chairwoman Heather Higgins.

“We’re here celebrating the 52^nd Anniversary of Title IX, which remains critically important today because the rights of women are under attack. On his first day in office, Joe Biden essentially said he was going to gut Title IX protections, and later, the Department of Education announced it was rewriting Title IX in a way that would have devastating effects for women in our schools and universities, including for women’s sports…We have agencies in the federal government that have truly been weaponized against the very people that these agencies are designed to serve and protect,” Speaker Johnson said.

“There’s a reason why there’s only 37 words in the original law, because it’s a very clear, common sense approach to how we deal with giving women equal opportunity,” Secretary DeVos said. “And there’s a reason why the regulation that we went through during our administration has withstood legal tests, because we follow the law. The regulations…that the Obama and Biden Administrations have put forward simply aren’t following the law… It is time to return to the original intent of Title IX and have common sense prevail again.”

“What we want to do is again protect the rights that women won in Title IX…We have passed out of committee representative Miller’s Congressional Review Act, which we will bring to the floor, I hope soon…The Congressional Review Act would roll back these new rules put out by the Biden administration, that negate most of the work that was done under Secretary DeVos, which was extraordinarily thoughtful and well done,” Chairwoman Foxx said.

“The Biden administration is waging the most anti-woman, anti-reality pursuit in history. They are taking the original 37 words of the landmark sex-equality law and creating an entirely new proposal that’s almost half a million words,” Riley Gaines said. “They are stripping all sex-based protections for women and girls — robbing women of equal opportunity, privacy, and fairness. Equating ‘sex’ with ‘gender identity’ effectively abolishes the original intent of Title IX. This doesn’t enforce Title IX, it violates it.”

“While the administration disingenuously claims that the new rule doesn’t apply to sports, they’ve established the default position that school activities limited to biological women or biological men are presumptively discriminatory,” Heather Higgins said. “The administration has repeatedly insisted, in court filings and in public pronouncements, that Title IX requires schools to allow trans-identified males to play women’s sports. They can’t have it both ways. Either they use Title IX to force schools to allow men on women’s sports teams, or if they are not, then schools should stop the madness right now.”

Baton Rouge, La. — The Louisiana Department of Health is launching a suite of new resources today to help Louisianans stay safe during the hot summer months. These resources include an expanded public-facing heat-related illness dashboard and a collection of new heat-related health guidance documents.

Heat-related illness, also known as HRI or hyperthermia, happens when the body is unable to maintain a normal body temperature, resulting in heat exhaustion or life-threatening heat stroke.

The summer of 2023 marked the hottest on record for Louisiana, with the statewide maximum temperature exceeding 95°F on 56 days. This resulted in an unprecedented number of heat-related emergency department (ED) visits and fatalities. LDH tracked 88 heat-related deaths and 6,142 emergency department (ED) visits for heat-related illness in 2023.

The dashboard offers Louisianans a comprehensive view of ED visits for HRI across the state. Updated weekly, the dashboard provides detailed breakdowns by day, parish, LDH region, age, sex and race. It also allows users to explore potential connections between daily HRI counts and statewide maximum temperatures. This data is captured through a syndromic surveillance system that automatically identifies heat-related ED visits based on diagnoses and mentions of heat exposure in patient records.

Enhancements for the 2024 version of the dashboard include:

• Adding temperature (daily max) to the display of ED visits by date
• A visualization for ED visits by time of day 
• Interactive data visualizations for ED visits by demographic stratifications
• Additional technical information (e.g., case definitions)

New guidance documents include:

• What Employers Can Do to Protect Workers from Heat: Focuses on training, work schedules, monitoring and acclimatization
• What Workers Need to Know: Focuses on prevention, risk factors, implementing a buddy system and knowing how to call for help
• Water, Rest and Shade: Focuses on proper hydration, rest breaks and examples of different shading strategies
• Working in the Heat: Educates workers about symptoms and treatments for heat-related illness
• Employer’s Daily Checklist: Focuses on reinforcing trainings and safe work practices

LDH first began tracking ED visits for HRI in 2023, and the Department recently released a report summarizing those findings. Key findings from the report include:

• More than 6,100 ED visits were recorded for heat-related issues during the seven-month monitoring period.
• Males made up 76% of the visits. For ages 20 to 59, 8 out of 10 visits were male patients. 
• Black Louisianans exhibited a higher rate of heat-related ED visits compared to their white counterparts.
• Nearly a quarter of all ED visits involved workers, with men disproportionately affected. This aligns with the prevalence of male-dominated outdoor occupations, which put workers at higher risk for heat exposure.
• Pre-existing health conditions played a role in many heat illness cases. Patients with conditions like substance use, hypertensive and other cardiovascular disease, mental and behavioral disorders, diabetes and respiratory problems were more susceptible.
• While urban areas recorded the highest number of visits, rural areas exhibited higher rates of heat-related ED visits.

LDH leveraged last year’s findings to improve the dashboard and to shape its public health preventive measures and practices. This includes new initiatives aimed at educating Louisiana workers, employers and community members on how to prevent heat-related illness.

I believe 2016 was the last time Toledo Bend was on fire. Well, 2024 has been very similar to that year so far. The Bend is once again an awesome fishery that is putting out not only quality bass, but bass over 10 pounds. This past May during the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash was the proof that anglers are embracing.

Understand, all lakes go through some periods of decline and most rebound with good management. It’s like a deer lease; the only way to have quality deer is to manage the herd. It’s been through the coordination and dedication of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Management (TPWM) that Toledo Bend has been able to rebound and become one of the best fisheries in the South.

Here are some numbers from mid-May’s Sealy Big Bass Splash that will illustrate just how good the Bend is fishing at this time.

• Over the course of three days anglers brought in 94 bass over 6 pounds with 35 of those over 7 pounds.
• For the first time in years, the top four bass of the event were over 10 pounds — 10.06, 10.52, 10.58, along with the winning bass of 10.64 lbs. 

All Sealy events also have an hourly payback for the top 15 bass each hour. Here’s what it took just to make the Top 15 each hour.

• Friday – it took a 4.16 lb. bass to make the Top 15.

• Saturday – it a 4.13 lb. bass to make the Top 15.

• Sunday – it took at least a 3.72 lb. bass to make the Top 15.

To the average person these numbers may not mean much, but to an avid bass fisherman they are eye-popping. The numbers show just how good of a fishery Toledo Bend is currently. Additionally, it proves that the lake is putting out quality bass and that will encourage tournament organizations to schedule more events on the Bend.

There are other factors that have helped the Bend to become, once again, one of the best bass lakes in the country. Over the last year, there has been a resurgence of grass, what biologists call hydrilla. Both ends of Toledo Bend have good grass beds from Blue Lake (north of San Miguel) down to Housen Bay and Six Mile areas.  Lower water levels of 2023 and early 2024 have also been a factor due to the fact it has allowed more vegetative growth in the shallow water areas.

One thing is clear. Toledo Bend is once again in the category of “Best Lakes in America.” While Mother Nature is the determining factor on just how good this lake will be in the future, it’s up to all anglers to do our part with fish management. It’s our job to take care of our catch on tournament day and make sure the fish we release back into the lake are in great condition to be caught again.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing, and let’s all try to practice catch and release on all our waterways. Keep what you can eat and throw the rest back to be caught another day.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

The Louisiana Center for Health Equity (LCHE), in partnership with Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana, is more than thrilled to announce that our statewide LA40by2030 Tours to varying regions will launch in Louisiana Department of Health Region 7* in Natchitoches. This tour brings together community members, state and local officials, community-based organizations, health professionals, and more to foster meaningful dialogue and gather valuable insights with a focus on rural areas. This initiative is part of the LA40by2030 campaign to improve Louisiana’s health rankings from 50^th to 40^th by 2030. 

The LA40by2030 Tours will include visits to multiple regions across Louisiana with a focus on the rural areas that face unique challenges in healthcare access and health outcomes. LCHE is working diligently to build a platform of engagement for community members to contribute to candid conversations about creating a more equitable state for all Louisianians.

Your participation is vital in the forming of a future where healthy living is a tangible reality across the state. The tours will kick off in Region 7 of our state, starting in Natchitoches. 

Join Us: 

WHEN: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 starting at 7:00pm

WHERE: Natchitoches Arts Center

 716 Second Street Natchitoches, LA 71457

Registration and information link: LA40by2030Tours.eventbrite.com

Note: There may be a virtual option. Organizers will offer updates soon.  

Following Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams’ Welcome to the City and comments, Natchitoches First Lady Tiffany Williams will serve as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies.  Presenters include Alma Stewart Allen, Founder and President of LCHE; Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Region 7 Director Dr. Melinda Whyte; and Margeaux Fisher, LCHE Fellow.

We are calling upon community members, governmental and non-governmental organizations, local and state officials, service providers, advocates, visionaries, and community champions to come together to rally around a shared goal of improving the health of people across the region.

For more information, www.eventbrite.com/e/la40by2030-tours. Should you have any questions, email info@lahealthequity.org or text/call 225-772-7029.

*As designated by the Louisiana Department of Health to include the following parishes: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, and Webster. 

The Village of Grand Cane is celebrating 125 years with a full day of activities Saturday, June 29 beginning at 10am.

The average soldier during the American Civil War only experienced combat one day out of thirty. What did they do when they weren’t fighting? The Mansfield State Historic Site invites you to see the answer firsthand on Saturday, July 6 from 9am till 4pm. Visitors will witness what the daily life of a Civil War soldier was like including how they trained, what they ate, and where they sheltered during those four years of fighting.

The Annual Balloons over DeSoto will take place July 14 from 4-10pm at the C.E. “Rusty” Williams Airport in Mansfield. This is a free family oriented event for everyone to enjoy. There will be food, hot air balloon rides, car show, live entertainment, food vendors and a firework show. There will also be free parking and a shuttle service.

Viola Street
May 27, 1935 – June 25, 2024
Service: Tuesday July 2, 2024 at 11am at Shady Grove UMC – Mansfield

DeSoto Parish Schools shared the announcement of Steven Turner as a new Assistant Principal of North DeSoto High School. Mr. Turner joins NDHS with over 20 years of experience as a Music Educator with the last three as the Band Director at North DeSoto Middle School (NDMS). DPS stated he has been an integral part of the leadership team at NDMS, contributing significantly to the school’s continued academic success.

In response to his new appointment, Mr. Turner shared his enthusiasm:
“I am truly honored to join North DeSoto High School as the Assistant Principal. Over the years, I have found a supportive and nurturing environment that has enabled me to grow as an educator. In this new role, I am committed to expanding my efforts to ensure the success and well-being of every student on a larger scale. I am incredibly proud to be a Griffin and want every student, teacher, staff member, and parent to know that I am here for them, dedicated to being their strongest advocate.”
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Turner to his new role at North DeSoto High School. We are confident that his dedication and experience will greatly benefit the North DeSoto High School community.

Source: DPS Facebook page

Matt Vines

STONEWALL – For most programs, losing 23 seniors off a team that advanced to the semifinals would signal a rebuilding effort and lower expectations for the next season.

But North DeSoto isn’t most football programs – not anymore.

Coach Dennis Dunn said the foundation of the program is such to where the Griffins just reload, having plenty of players who have patiently waited for their turn in the spotlight.

“We’ve had two big classes the last two years,” said Dunn, who guided North DeSoto to their first-ever state title game appearance in 2022. “This year’s senior class will be big as well – that’s just where our senior classes are now.

“Our program is to a point where it’s the next man up. The kids have worked hard in the program from middle school until now to get an opportunity to play. You want your culture to get to where the names and the faces change, but the results don’t.”

That next-man-up attitude has been especially prominent in North DeSoto’s spring and summer workouts.

Highly-rated quarterback Luke Delafield missed spring practice and the beginning of summer workouts with a thumb injury suffered on the baseball diamond.

Delafield is throwing the football again, but the Griffins still got plenty of work in with quarterback Miller Warren.

“Miller got a lot of reps and started the spring game against Evangel,” Dunn said. “Our next guy Hudson Toothman also played a valuable role, so it’s a positive to get guys live reps and to put them in situations to see how they respond.

“It’s unfortunate for Luke, but any time you can see the game from a different vantage point, you can mentally take in what’s happening out there. He’s so much further along from even this point last year in seeing defenses and reading coverages – he knows what’s happening pre-snap and what to expect post-snap. He’s a student of the game, and you love to see that.”

Studying Delafield’s first two seasons, the young gunslinger has combined for more than 5,700 passing yards and 76 touchdowns to 25 interceptions. He’ll be just a junior this season as he tries to lead the Griffins to their first-ever state title.

There are key weapons missing like receiver Landry Wyatt, running back Trysten Hopper and offensive linemen Gage Caskey, but North DeSoto does return is three most productive skill players including Delafield.

Leading receiver Cole Cory is one of the best pass-catchers in the state with 1,431 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.

Kenny Thomas led the North DeSoto ground attack with 1,269 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore.
The defense will be replacing key cogs like defensive back Lake Bates and linebacker B.T. McMillian, but the defensive line is emerging as a strong point after a young group has learned and gelled this past season.

“Up front is a strong point for us with guys like Konner Watson and Javon Brown after we were young on the defensive line last year,” Dunn said. “We have some holes to fill on defense with both of our linebackers and most of our secondary gone, but we have quality guys who are ready for their turn.

“They’ve played live reps this spring, and we continue to work on coverages and teach guys who haven’t been in the moment. They are starting to recognize offensive formations and respond to what the coverage calls are. 7-on-7 offers a lot of experience doing that.”

A Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer for less than 12 hours, Ray Sibille sat on the couch in the lobby of the cozy Church Street Inn on a heat-em-up Sunday morning by the Cane River, his smile modest and sincere, bright as the morning sunshine.

“I still can’t believe it,” he said. “Everything’s been so wonderful. Just perfect. What a weekend…”

Just out of the elevator and around the corner comes Pat Day, a Colorado native and National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee in 1991, in Natchitoches for the weekend, for his buddy Sibille. More handshakes and smiles.

Somewhere within their gravitational pull was Eddie Delahoussaye of New Iberia, a 2002 LASHOF inductee and a man who was almost as happy with Sibille’s induction as Sibille himself. Throw in Day and, between the three, you can count about 15,000 wins and $250 million in winnings.

Lot of money. Lot of winner’s circles. But to be a part of the Class of 2024, that seemed for Sibille to override all the rides around all the tracks.

“I thought I might go into the Hall a dozen years ago with Eddie,” Sibille said. “Then I thought, ‘Well, maybe I wasn’t quite good enough.’ But you know what? God’s timing is better than mine.

“If I’d have gone in then, my first grandson would be this big,” he said, pretending to hold a baby to his shoulder and pat it on the back. “And my other one wouldn’t be born yet. Now they’re both here and …”

What he didn’t say said it all. He just smiled. Pat Day smiled.

Through the glass front of the Church Street Inn, the bright sun poured through.

Saturday night’s audience in the Special Events Center behind the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum was among the largest and most receptive in the history of the Induction Ceremonies. Such a beautiful crowd. Smiles and laughter and a deep appreciation not only for the accomplishments of the inductees, but even more so for the personalities themselves, for the people who through a combination of genes and talent and work ethic and fate, found themselves in the glow of a night they won’t forget.

A few, like Sibille, had to stop for just a moment during their brief induction interviews Saturday might, stop and gather their emotions when they thanked some of the many people who helped each of them realize their dream.

The first inductee, Bobby Ardoin, set the tone when he cried, for just a moment, thanking his adoptive parents who, it turns out, raised a tireless educator and writer. “They let me do just about anything I wanted,” Bobby said to laughs. (They raised a good one.)

Grambling icon Wilbert Ellis brought about 200 fans with him (no exaggeration) and did not disappoint as he accepted the Ambassador Award, only the second ever awarded. In his acceptance interview, he preached respect and education, (and “preached” is used as a metaphor here, but just barely). Love Coach Ellis.

When he was a young coach, Class of 2024 inductee Frank Monica saw his Lutcher football team’s 27-0 winning streak snapped in the Class AAA 1976 semifinals by Jesuit, now Loyola, of Shreveport. At Lutcher, too. But after the game, Monica came into the winners’ locker room, got on a bench and told the Flyers how proud he was of them, congratulated them on how good of a team they were, and wished them a state championship — which they won the next week at Winnfield. So he lost with class — but he had plenty of opportunities to win with class, too: he’d go on to coach three different schools to three state titles. And all weekend in Natchitoches, he and his family beamed and spread the humor and humility.

Seimone Augustus. Perry Clark. Kevin Jackson. Kerry Joseph. Every inductee present radiated a sincerity and graciousness no one could fake. Go see them sometime. They’ll be waiting for you, in the Hall.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Dr. Ralph Abraham transitions to newly created Surgeon General; Undersecretary Michael Harrington named Secretary; Chief of Staff Drew Maranto named Undersecretary

Baton Rouge, La. (June 25, 2024) — Governor Jeff Landry and the Louisiana Department of Health are announcing key leadership changes with the Governor’s appointment of Secretary Dr. Ralph Abraham to the newly created Office of the Surgeon General, promotion of Undersecretary Michael Harrington to Department Secretary and promotion of Chief of Staff Drew Maranto to Undersecretary.

Surgeon General

Governor Landry made the leadership changes upon signing House Bill 853, which creates the Office of the Surgeon General. The Surgeon General is co-equal with the Secretary within the Department’s organizational chart and is charged with crafting health policy, including healthcare workforce development; advocating for wellness and disease prevention; and coordinating with other state agencies and institutions to improve health outcomes in Louisiana.

Under the bill, the Surgeon General is appointed by the Governor and must be a licensed and practicing physician in Louisiana. The Surgeon General will absorb the duties of the State Health Officer, making the new position budget-neutral.

Abraham has been a practicing family medicine physician in Richland Parish for more than 30 years and served three terms in Congress, representing Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District. Before earning his Medical Doctor degree from LSU Health Shreveport, he practiced veterinary medicine for 10 years.

Secretary

The Secretary of the Department of Health is responsible for implementing the Surgeon General’s recommendations, overseeing fiscal matters and ensuring the operations of the Department are carried out efficiently and effectively. Both the Secretary and the Surgeon General report directly to the Governor.

Harrington is a former hospital system executive with more than 25 years of service in both for-profit and not-for-profit health systems. He has a long record of developing innovative systems that engage people with a focus on growing patient safety and prioritizing financial viability. Harrington was previously president of Christus Health Louisiana and president and chief operating officer at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami.

Undersecretary

Another key leadership change at LDH is the promotion of Chief of Staff Drew Maranto to Undersecretary. In this role, Maranto will oversee the State Medicaid program, as well as eight administrative divisions with departmental responsibilities for budget preparation, financial planning, purchasing, personnel, accounting, data processing and development of strategic and operational plans.

‘One team and One Louisiana’

Governor Landry said that making key changes within LDH is part of his administration’s strategy of strengthening state agencies and making them more responsive to Louisiana’s needs, while encouraging innovation and efficiency.

“I am confident that Surgeon General Abraham and Secretary Harrington are going to form a dynamic team that puts the health needs of Louisianans first. They will ensure coordination between agencies and institutions as we move our state forward in a coherent unified direction,” Governor Landry said. “It has been a top priority for me to have a doctor oversee health policy and have a talented health executive oversee implementation, which is what we have with Dr. Abraham and Secretary Harrington. I also want to thank Rep. Brach Myers, who carried the bill that made this momentous change possible, and the Legislature for unanimously approving it. We are one team and One Louisiana, focused on ensuring the Louisiana Department of Health is a highly responsive agency that meets the health needs of all Louisianans while safeguarding their safety and welfare.”

“It is an honor to serve as Louisiana’s first Surgeon General, and I am particularly excited about the opportunity it will afford me to help modernize the Department, improve health outcomes, pursue innovative policy and work closely with agencies and institutions throughout Louisiana,” Dr. Abraham said. “This position was created to reverse the prior trend of bureaucrats creating policy and doctors reacting to it, moving us in a unified way forward. This is the culmination of my life’s work dedicated to improving the lives of patients, so I look forward to bringing a doctor’s point of view to health policy and continuing to work toward Governor Landry’s goal of making a stronger, healthier Louisiana.”

“Becoming the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health means overseeing a budget of more than $20 billion and more than 8,000 employees, and I am looking forward to shepherding those resources responsibly and in a way that delivers results for Louisiana,” Harrington said. “Healthcare accounts for nearly 50% of the state budget and impacts nearly every aspect of our economy. The team Governor Landry and I envision puts a doctor in charge of promoting health policy and the Secretary in charge of implementing that vision. I look forward to helping lead a team that is so dedicated to making Louisiana healthier than we found it.”

Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan previously served in an interim role as State Health Officer. He will continue to serve as Deputy Secretary with the appointment of Dr. Abraham as Surgeon General. Surgeon General Abraham and Secretary Harrington wish to thank Dr. Croughan for his leadership during his interim appointment.

He was no doctor. His formal education ended when he graduated from high school after the 11th grade; more than 65 years ago, there was no 12th grade. As a kid, Thomas Ernest Harris, born March 5, 1909, was given the nickname by an older gentleman who for some unknown reason, began calling him “Little Doc”.

The Doc Harris I knew growing up was a dad that I cherished and wanted to emulate. His career with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries working in Predator Control, made me the envy of kids at school. I got to go with my daddy to run his traps where we would find a variety of wildlife such as wolves and bobcats in his traps. When I told classmates about what dad had trapped, I’m sure my chest stuck out a bit as I noticed their envy.

Dad enjoyed squirrel hunting but never had the passion for deer hunting. Yet on his one and only deer hunt, he brought home a trophy 9 point buck weighing over 200 pounds.

Working for Wildlife and Fisheries, one of his annual tasks was to assist at wildlife management areas, checking in hunters and recording the deer taken.

One year, his assignment was on a wildlife management area in Sabine Parish and after checking in the hunters, there was a lull before they began trickling back with their deer. Dad, not being a deer hunter, didn’t have a deer rifle but one of the guys working with him at the check station had brought his 3030 but had no plan to use it that day, asking dad if he’d like to use it.

Dad borrowed the rifle, walked out back behind the check station and took a seat on a log, probably enjoying the coolness of a fall morning. His enjoyment came to an abrupt end when this big buck stepped out of the thicket in front of him, dad shot, brought down the only buck he would ever take on the only deer “hunt” he would ever make.

Before starting work as a trapper, he held a variety of jobs, one of which was a salesman for Watkins Products. He’d sometimes take me with him as he drove around the countryside visiting with folks and I never remember him as a high pressure salesman. He would sit and visit and tell tales with customers and if they were interested in what he was selling or if they weren’t, he enjoyed just sitting and visiting.

Once I went along with him and at one of his stops, while visiting, the customer he was talking with pulled out a plug of Brown’s Mule chewing tobacco. He cut off a chunk, handed it to daddy who followed suit. Being the curious kid I was, I asked if I might try it – I was maybe 6-7 years old.

Daddy thought it was a good time to teach his young son a lesson on the evils of tobacco, so he cut a piece off, handed it to me with the expectation of watching me retch and turn green and never want to fool with tobacco again. To his surprise, I loved it and instead of being repelled by the nasty stuff, I wanted more.

Daddy grew up on his dad’s farm in Goldonna. After his Naval career ended, he met and married a pretty young lady from the neighbouring village of Readhimer and together, they raised three children, me, my brother Tom who was two years younger than me and our sister, Linda. Daddy was a Christian, deacon and Sunday School teacher and faithful church member.

The daddy I knew was a mixture of seriousness and fun, mostly fun. He could turn any project into fun and that’s why today, my memories of my daddy were basically all good ones.

On the day he died from lung cancer in 1976, I had taken my mom to visit him in the Veteran’s hospital in Shreveport. For a few moments, he and I were in the room alone when he told me he had overheard his doctor tell a colleague that his condition was terminal. He told me to take mom back home, that he was tired of fighting it and was ready to go meet Jesus. I got a call from the hospital that night telling me daddy had passed away.

Having just experienced Father’s Day, I had to write this column in my daddy’s memory and honor. How blessed I am to have been raised by a daddy like Doc Harris.

SHREVEPORT, LA — LifeShare Blood Center is urging blood donors to include giving blood in their summer plans. Blood donations are urgently needed through the summer and, historically, there is a higher demand for blood products in July.

According to a recent Pew Research Center analysis, July 4th and 5th are the two busiest days of the year for U.S. hospital emergency rooms, with nearly 10,000 more patients than any other two-day average. The biggest reason for the spike is due to injuries from fireworks. About one-third of fireworks-related injuries are burns, based on research from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Dr. Tim Peterson, Medical Director for LifeShare Blood Center states, “Burn patients use lots of blood products over long periods of time, especially red blood cells and plasma due to the loss of red cells and clotting factors with these types of wounds. Plasma and red blood cells are needed to maintain an adequate oxygen supply by the patient as they recover.” A single donation can impact up to three people since most whole blood donations are separated into individual components: red cells, platelets, and plasma.

Unlike most other life-saving medical treatments, blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled. Red blood cells expire after only 42 days and platelets after only 7 days. “We rely on each donation, each day, to meet the needs of our local patients and hospitals,” says Mandi Johnson, Director of Community Engagement.

United We Give is an annual campaign hosted by LifeShare to anticipate and prepare for the decrease of blood donors during the summer months. This year, United We Give is July 1st-5th and each donor will receive a $10 gift card for lunch and a limited-edition t-shirt. We’re excited to have Raising Canes* again this year as our partner in this campaign.

*Donors in the El Dorado, Arkansas area will receive a $10 eGift Card to a vendor of their choice.

By Doug De Graffenried

You can’t drive forward while looking in a rear-view mirror.

You can try and some do.

Ministers spend a great deal of time in a car driving to various places. I enjoy my automotive world. With technology, I can hear the phone ring despite playing my radio loud enough to change my heart rhythm. I play the radio so loud because I don’t hear well after all these years of playing the radio very loud in my car. The vehicle allows the phone call to interrupt my musical moment. I never miss a phone call while driving. When I am alone, the air-conditioning is on the “freeze out” setting. I want to make sure that my glasses fog up heavily when I exit the vehicle. If I can’t see at all, the air conditioning was cold enough. I also look for sermon illustrations while I am driving. Jesus is certainly watching, but I am too! When I raise the phone while driving, I’m not texting. I am photographing.

This morning driving to work, I had the radio loud and the air conditioning on “freeze out,” while I observed the world. In front of me was a black mustang convertible. There was a girl in the car. I could tell because she had her rearview mirror cocked in the “installing make up while driving” position. We sat at the light, and I watched as she applied some ointment, powder, or treatment to her face while the light was red. Because of the angle of the Mustang rear window, I could not tell if she continued applying make-up while driving. She was going “my way” and I did note she was an excellent driver and I’ll bet a super multi-tasker.

I have witnessed full facial make-overs while the person was driving the car. I have seen men put on a tie, send a text message, and read the newspaper at the same time while driving on the Interstate. But I am fascinated by the women who can put on that eye makeup stuff while driving. I have seen mascara going on while the nice lady was driving the car and making a cell phone call. I am amazed. They are doing all of this while looking backwards. The road they are traveling on is out the front window!

But really, you can’t drive forward looking in a rear-view mirror. Jesus said, “If you put your hand to the plow and look back you are not worthy of the kingdom.” Jesus was saying you need to keep your spiritual focus and your life looking forward. If you look back to regrets, mistakes, slights, hurts, sins, or even successes you will miss the beauty of this day. Today is out there, it is not back there!

You didn’t know your car was spiritual, did you?

 All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty

Wagstaff, Jonathan
W M 40
Aggravated Assault with a firearm
Stalking victim under 18
Logansport

Adams, Ted Arlen Jr.
W M 44
Domestic Abuse Battery
Mansfield

Sepulvado, Alexis Payge
W F 23
Obstruction of Justice
Registration not renewed
Converse

Bentley, Kanner Day
W M 32
Simple Burglary
Possession of firearm by convicted felon
Theft of motor vehicle
Stonewall

Anderson, Rhonda Shantay
B F 40
Warrant Desoto Parish
Mansfield

Perry, Joshua Jerome
B M 23istribution or possession with intent to distribute CDS1
Zwolle

Henderson, Quadarius
B M 21
Simple Criminal Damage to property
Mansfield

Hill, Daytrus Oneal
B M 38
Distribution or possession with intent to distribute
Possession of CDS II with intent to distribute
Logansport

Jones, Calvert
B M 45
Possession of schedule I with intent to distribute
Mansfield

Sanders, Dominique Daqunne
B M 35
Resisting an officer
Disturbing the Peace
Disturbing the peace/Drunkenness
Mansfield

Pouncy, Shamanskie Orlando
B M 33
Failure to register as Sex Offender
Gloster

Bounds, Allen
B M 30
DWI
Shreveport

Anding, Gavin Blaine
W M 18
Simple Battery
Logansport

This past week the Louisiana Legislature passed into law a bill that requires the displaying of the 10 Commandments in every public- school classroom in the state. Our young people are trying to survive the cultural cesspool that modern American society has become and being reminded of the eternal principles of morality and faith, and encouraging respect for parents, can only benefit them.

Naturally, the atheist and “civil liberties” groups like the ACLU (which hasn’t found a conservative civil liberty to champion in decades) immediately vowed to sue arguing the display constitutes an “establishment” of religion, notwithstanding the fact that the 10 Commandments also provide the general foundation for American civil and criminal law.

These groups quote Thomas Jefferson, that there should remain “a separation between church and state.” Well, all that our Framers intended by the Establishment Clause was that there be no official state religion of the kind the Pilgrims fled when they settled in America. That is all. The Framers never intended for there to exist this outright hostility to all notions of religion and faith in public life. However, that’s what we have.

Jefferson absolutely favored free exercise of religion and cited as one of his proudest accomplishments the religious freedom law he wrote for his native state of Virginia. Jefferson opposed a mandated state religion. Beyond that, he supported the broadest definition of religious liberty possible.

Back to the new law.

It should be unnecessary but perhaps the way to avoid having the law struck down is by including other historical displays such as the Declaration of Independence, the Mayflower Compact, and the Northwest Ordinance. Perhaps, the Jewish Torah and Muslim Koran as well. By surrounding the 10 Commandments display with other religious and historical displays, it would be imbued with academic, educational, and historical value outside of any religious context.

The current U.S. Supreme Court has been more accommodating of free exercise of religion, including the case of Kennedy v. Bremerton, the “praying football coach” who was fired from his job at a public high school after he briefly knelt after games to offer a prayer of thanks. The Court ruled in his favor, finding that the coach had never attempted to force his players to join him, or based playing time upon player participation in the prayer. Rather, in firing the coach the school district had unconstitutionally punished him “for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance.”

I note that for decades the Supreme Court employed the “Lemon test” in establishment of religion cases. (Lemon v. Kurtzman). The test applies three principles: 1) Whether the “religious” action or display had a clear secular purpose. 2). Whether the primary effect of the action or display would advance or inhibit religion. 3). Whether the action or display would create an excessive government entanglement with religion.

Let’s do a quick analysis:

I would argue the display has a clear secular purpose in that the 10 Commandments have great historical, academic, and educational (and, depending upon how the display is prepared and posted, even artistic) significance aside from any religious connotation. Second, I don’t think a display of the 10 Commandments in Louisiana public schools has the primary effect of advancing religion. I think it primarily contributes to students’ education about American and world history as well as the study of the Bible as an academic pursuit. Finally, it would not create an excessive entanglement with government because a display of this type would simply be present to be noticed or not noticed by uninterested students. It’s no more an entanglement of government with religion than a rendition of the Mona Lisa hanging on the same school wall.

Well, the Lemon test is complicated and confusing and has now been rejected by the Supreme Court which ruled that, instead, the establishment clause “must be interpreted by ‘reference to historical practices and understandings.” I much prefer the new standard because America has many historical practices involving faith and religion in the public square as well as the understanding that such practices are based not only on faith and religion but on our nation’s culture, history, and tradition.

Even if this new law is struck down, it nonetheless has great symbolic value in having existed in the first place. Essentially, the new law—however long it may last—sends an unmistakable message about the values of Louisiana and what we think is important to emphasize in public education.

Royal Alexander

The Village of Grand Cane is celebrating 125 years with numerous events on Thursday evening and a full day of activities on Saturday, June 28 beginning at 10am. 

Community HealthWays and LSU Ag Center will sponsor an Indoor Health & Resource Fair Thursday, August 1 from 10am until 2pm at the 4-H Building in Grand Cane. Along with health screenings, there will be door prizes, food and school supply giveaways. This event is free to the community. For more information contact Maria Bourgeois at 318.658.6409 or Erin Stockton at 318.872.0533.

The DeSoto Parish Police Jury is hiring. Click here to see openings. 

NONE

From grade school onward, Wyatt Adair has drawn inspiration from art. The interplay of colors, layouts, and the power to share one’s creativity with the world has fueled his passion. His journey in the world of art is truly inspiring and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and dedication. That is why the 2024 graduate from North DeSoto High School in Stonewall is the most recent recipient of the DeSoto Arts Council’s (DAC) Scholastic Arts Grant (SAG).

Sophia Tolliver has been Wyatt’s Talented Arts Teacher in DeSoto Parish since he was in sixth grade. Her belief in Wyatt’s potential speaks volumes. His interest in digital art and graphic design, along with his focus on clean lines and composition, sets him apart.

“I believe wholeheartedly that Wyatt has a bright future ahead of him in art and design and that his many skills will take him far,” said Tolliver. She said it is no surprise that Wyatt was invited to attend Louisiana State University to study Business with a minor in Arts, concentrating on Digital Design. “He has always been a step above the rest, and I have every confidence he will continue to bring this same level of excellence to his time in college and eventual career.”

During Wyatt’s visits to towns and cities while growing up, he said he was consistently intrigued by the layout of graphic designs used in corporate advertisements when presenting their products and services on signs and billboards.

“What inspired me the most is when I recreated their process and learned how that particular design had a stronger composition than others,” he said. “Practicing this has caused me to figure out more techniques and how color theory is used when creating the advertisements.”

Wyatt said all these different types of advertisements had led him to pursue a passion he’s always dreamed of… running his own advertising business model. “My goal is to find and create the best way to advertise any type of product or service through billboards or magazines,” he said.

Wyatt’s dream of running his own advertising business is exciting! His passion for creating effective advertisements that resonate with audiences will undoubtedly lead to a successful career. The NDHS graduate said he received the DAC’s cash grant just in time to cover some of his last-minute college-prep expenses. The DAC offers DeSoto Parish seniors and college students an opportunity to apply for the $1,000 cash Scholastic Arts Grant (SAG) to aid in their pursuit of a higher education and study in the performing or visual arts at a college, university, or art training institute. The DAC wishes Wyatt the Best of luck to him on this creative journey!

The DeSoto Arts Council (DAC) is a non-profit organization comprising volunteers and members dedicated to fostering individual creativity, cultural preservation, economic development, and lifelong learning through the arts in DeSoto Parish. DAC’s grant programs receive funding from generous donations by individuals, community programs, and local businesses. For more information on how you can contribute, download grant applications, and explore the arts in DeSoto Parish, please visit us online at desoto-arts-council-of-la.org.

Source: https://desoto-arts-council-of-la.org