The DeSoto Parish Extension Office-LSU AgCenter now has a secure lockbox at the front door of the office located at 10117 Highway 171 in Grand Cane.
The public can drop off paperwork, dues, enrollment forms, etc. after hours. Make sure to give them a heads-up if you do leave something so they are aware something is in the box.
Joshua Salley shared that hopefully this makes it easier for those that can not always get by during regular business hours.
(BATON ROUGE, LA) – Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley is urging school system leaders to “recommit to assertive discipline action.” As the first day of school approaches in parishes across the state, Dr. Brumley issued a letter to system leaders this week calling for order in classrooms and affording teachers more disciplinary authority over disruptive students.
“Campus and classroom disruptions are hindering the teaching profession and student learning,” Dr. Brumley wrote in the letter. “As we approach a new school year, please recommit to assertive discipline action to create safe and orderly environments where teaching and learning can flourish. Students and teachers deserve peaceful schools.”
Dr. Brumley’s Let Teachers Teach workgroup dedicated an entire section of their recent recommendations to student behavior and discipline.
In the letter, Dr. Brumley calls attention to a pair of Acts of the 2024 Legislative Session that go into effect August 1.
“These laws address behavior complications educators and students faced in previous years and aim to improve the school experience,” wrote Dr. Brumley. “Affording teachers more disciplinary authority over disruptive students will maintain order in classrooms. Further, students will benefit as distractions will be lessened and academic outcomes strengthened.”
The DeSoto Parish Police Jury will hold their regular meeting Monday, August 5 beginning at 5pm. The meeting will be held in the Police Jury Meeting room.
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
1. Discuss and take action on renting out the David Means 4-H Building
2. Adopt the most current edition of the State Uniform Construction Code
3. Discuss the Jurors having to write a letter to get a public records request and not getting the information requested in a timely manner
4. Discuss Public Information/Relations Officer
5. Authorize a Public Hearing to receive Guest and Public comments regarding the intent to abandon Azalea Road off HWY 171 on Monday August 19, 2024 at 5:05 PM
6. Authorize the sale of the property located on Liberty Lane classified as lots 1 & 2 as listed in the attached appraisal for the sum of $158,000, to be dedicated to the Jail Fund, to the Sheriff and authorize the Administrator to sign all necessary documents of the sale
7. Appoint Kirk Lee to the Bayou Pierre Game and Fish Commission
ROAD ITEMS
1. Authorize taking in Martinez Lane Private Drive from Delton Road approximately 1005 feet, now Martinez Lane, into the DeSoto Parish Road System
2. Discuss speed bump and deaf child sign on Red Bluff Road
3. Authorize the President to sign a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Sabine River Authority for 3-4 loads of sand clay from the Jury's inventory to make a repair to the damaged area at the corner of HWY 191 and HWY 84
4. Update the Parish Transportation Fund list
5. Authorize the E-911 renaming of Butler Private Drive to Falcon Private Drive (runs east off of Red Strong Road, only one structure on the drive)
6. Authorize the President to sign a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement and Resolution for Capital Outlay Grant and amend the Budget in the amount of $2,000,000 for matching funds
7. Amend the Road Budget in the amount of $300,000 for emergency culvert replacement on Barns Road
8. Authorize the President to sign a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Town of Stonewall for installation of a culvert located at 201 Lewing Lane and 158 Tanner Road
SOLID WASTE ITEMS
1. Authorize transferring $1 Million from the Solid Waste Fund to the CD at Community Bank of Louisiana to cover the new estimated cost for Closure/Post Closure at the Landfill and authorize the President to sign Amendment No. 9 of the Standby Trust Agreement with Community Bank of Louisiana for
Closure/Post Closure of the Mundy Landfill pursuant to LDEQ Requirements
2. Discuss and take action on amending the regulations on out of parish permits for compactor sites to read, if you own property or live in the parish and you don’t have a Louisiana License plate you can obtain a permit at no cost.
BUDGET AND FINANCE ITEMS
1. Amend the General Fund Budget in the amount of $1,000 and authorize the President to sign a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with DeSoto Parish Bible Charity School dba KCS Community Center.
2. Adopt a resolution to dedicate funds in the 2025 budget for a 25% match of the LADOTD Dam Safety Program Funds for the project construction cost to repair and/or replace the Smithport Clear Lake Dam
NEW BUSINESS
1. Authorize the President to sign a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement and Resolution for Capital Outlay Grant and amend the Budget in the amount of $2,000,000 for matching funds
Frédéric “Auguste” Bartholdi was born in Comar, France in 1791 to parents Jean Charles Bartholdi and Augusta Charlotte Bartholdi. When Auguste was just two years old, his father died. Soon thereafter, Auguste, along with his mother and older brother, moved to Paris to be closer to another branch of the Bartholdi family.
Auguste was a student of the arts. He studied drawing, painting, sculpting, and architecture. He was most impressed with and often visited the workshops of noted sculptors Antoine Etex and Jean-François Soitoux. Auguste’s interests were in the creation of monuments to historical figures and patriotic celebrations. In 1854, Auguste began drawing what became his first real monument to honor a French Army officer during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. He completed the bronze statue of General Rapp in 1855 and presented it at the Universal Exhibition of Parish. In the following year, it was placed atop a pedestal in Auguste and General Rapp’s hometown of Colmar. Auguste created a handful of other bronze sculptures of notable French patriots.
The viceroy of Egypt learned of Auguste’s talent and hired him to design a statue of a robed female Saeid Misr or “Upper Egyptian,” to be built at the entryway of the Suez Canal in Port Said, Egypt. It was to be called Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia. Auguste got to work right away. He took inspiration from the giant ancient Egyptian statues at Abu Simbel, Egypt. He researched the Colossus of Rhodes which was built at the entrance to the island’s main port in 280 B.C. The Colossus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and stood for almost a thousand years until, according to some sources, an Arab force conquered Rhodes and completely destroyed the statue.
Auguste complete sketches and even a watercolor painting of Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia. He designed the 86-foot-tall female statue to sit atop a 48-foot-tall pedestal. Auguste knew that this statue on such a grand scale would certainly be his masterpiece. Auguste met with the viceroy and displayed his sketches, paintings, and architectural drawings of the statue. The viceroy was certainly impressed, but the cost to construct the statue was just too great. The viceroy had no choice but to discontinue work on Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia. In 1869, the Port Said Lighthouse was built where Auguste’s statue would have stood. Auguste was understandably disappointed.
In the following year, 1870, France was embroiled in the Franco-Prussian War. Auguste served as a squadron leader of the National Guard and liaison officer during the war. He took part in the unsuccessful defense of Colmar from Germany. When the war ended in 1871, Auguste began constructing numerous monuments in honor of French heroism in the region. All the while, he kept thinking about the statue that would have been his masterpiece. He was determined to build it, but who would pay the enormous price to construct it? He ultimately convinced the French government to help in the form of public fees. They held various forms of fundraisers such as theatrical events, art exhibits, auctions, and a lottery. In 1883, poet Emma Lazarus wrote her famous sonnet entitled “The New Colossus” to be auctioned for the statue’s construction.
Finally, Auguste had the funds to build his masterpiece. He recycled and modified his original female “Upper Egyptian” design along with the statue’s original title Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia to better fit the statue’s intended placement. In July 1884, Auguste completed his 151-foot masterpiece, and the statue stood tall above the rooftops of Paris for two years. Then, the statue was disassembled, packed up, shipped to what was then called Bedloe’s Island, and reassembled where it remains to this day. Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi recycled the look of Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia and renamed the statue Liberty Enlightening the World. You and I know Auguste’s recycled masterpiece as the Statue of Liberty.
Sources:
1. The Statue of Liberty: Overview + History, Ellis Island Foundation, https://www.statueofliberty.
2. Auguste Bertholdi – Father of the Statue of Liberty, Colmar et sa region, L’Alsace essentielle, https://www.tourisme-colmar.
3. Gabriela Hammond, “The Woman Behind the Statue of Liberty: Who is Lady Liberty,” February 15, 2021, https://www.
Being from the great state of Texas, it was instilled in me from day one how important it was to follow the laws of the land, especially when it came to hunting and fishing. The last thing you wanted was a Texas Game Warden knocking on your door because you violated a wild game law. Today I’m going to reveal an incident that took place over 30 years ago that will illustrate that not all states have the same respect for the law as others…. even the guys enforcing the laws!
Growing up in my neck of the woods, there was one particular game warden that had a nasty reputation like that of Buford Pusser from the movie Walking Tall. To protect the innocent, we’ll call him Billy Ray. As like Buford, he walked tall and carried a big stick. He was the game warden who took great pride enforcing the laws of East Texas great outdoors.
Billy Ray had the reputation for getting a little rough with those who decided to try and skirt the rules. There were many stories about him that were legendary with how he caught those who did not follow the laws of hunting or fishing. You might think you were going to get away with breaking a law, but Billy Ray would eventually track you down.
Upon my arrival to Louisiana back in 1979 as a tall skinny teenager looking to continue my athletic career/education at Northwestern State, I found out quickly that Louisiana laws were pretty loose when it came to hunting and fishing. During this time, Louisiana had what was known as an open range law which meant you did not need permission to hunt on another person’s property as long as it was not posted.
Being from Texas, this was shocking to me that I could walk onto another man’s property and hunt. Because where I’m from, this would never even cross your mind to set foot on another man’s property without permission, unless you wanted to answer to Billy Ray later on.
But on one particular dove hunt I was invited on, I realized that some Louisiana game wardens were above the law. Now a good friend of mine owned a big track of land that had a great amount of dove waiting on someone to take a few shots. My buddy called the night before the hunt with the invite. I asked him if the field was baited because he had the reputation for also skirting the laws on dove hunting. He assured me that all was legal and that I had nothing to worry about.
So, the next day as I and another buddy drove up on the field and began to spread out, I once again asked about baiting. The property owner said, “Well there might be some scattered seed out in the middle, but he felt we were good to go.” Now that I was nervous and anxious, my buddy decided to let us know that if we see a green truck with a red light on top come over the levy, run into the woods and hide.
Well sure as shoot’n, thirty minutes into the hunt the green truck with the red light rolled over the levy and onto the property. Heart racing, my friend and I hit the woods on a dead sprint hoping to evade the game warden. Then the game warden emerged from the truck and shouted out for our buddy who invited us on this outlaw hunt. He wanted to know who else was hunting with him that day. My buddy promptly cranked the bus and ran over us by replying that me and my friend had run into the woods.
The game warden called for us to come out and announced that it was okay to hunt. He also pulled out his shotgun and began to hunt with us….over a baited field!!! Only in Louisiana!
Now we all know that there will always be good cops and bad cops, but today I feel things are different in Louisiana. Personally knowing several Louisiana game wardens, I don’t think this would happen today…..or at least I hope not!
Till next time, good luck, good hunting and the next time you’re invited on a dove hunt, do what you’re supposed to do….inspect the field yourself.
Steve Graf
Today is the last day to pickup school uniforms from the DeSoto School Uniform Ministry at First United Methodist Church, 502 Polk Street, Mansfield from 3-7pm.
The Pelican Library will host a blood drive Tuesday, August 6 from 1-4:30pm. The need for blood doesn’t take a summer break! To schedule a time for your donation call the library at 318-755-2353. Walk-ins will also be accepted. Receive a LifeShare cooler tote and cool shades for your donation! Refreshments will be provided.
Single-game tickets for the 2024 Northwestern State football season are now on sale. The Demons, under first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle, will host five games at Turpin Stadium this year. Sept. 7 is the home opener against Prairie View A&M. NSU’s other home games this season are against Weber State on Sept. 21, and three Southland Conference matchups against Texas A&M-Commerce (Oct. 12), Lamar (Oct. 26) and McNeese (Nov. 16). For more information on single game or season ticket options visit www.nsutickets.com or call 318-357-4268.
Dorothy Bailey
April 16, 1940 – July 28, 2024
Service: Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 11am at Mt. Mariah Baptist Church – Kingston/Frierson