DeSoto Parish Schools has named Stephen McCutcheon as its new Supervisor of Finance, bringing over two decades of accounting experience to the role.

McCutcheon has been a key figure in the district’s financial operations for 15 years, previously serving as an Accounting Manager for the DeSoto Parish School Board. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS) and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His credentials include the School Finance and Operations (SFO) certification and recognition as a Louisiana School Business Official.

“Stepping into the Supervisor of Finance role with the DeSoto Parish School Board means taking on the responsibility of managing resources wisely, ensuring financial decisions align with the district’s goals and values, and providing a positive and collaborative culture between the Finance Department, employees, and the community,” McCutcheon said. “I am excited to transition into this position to support the students and staff of the DeSoto Parish School Board.”

With a strong foundation in school finance and a commitment to fiscal responsibility, McCutcheon is expected to lead the district’s financial planning efforts and maintain its commitment to financial excellence.

Outside of his professional achievements, McCutcheon is a dedicated father to three children: Tripp (16), Magnolia (13), and Georgia (11).

The DeSoto Parish School Board looks forward to McCutcheon’s leadership in ensuring the district continues to provide exceptional educational opportunities while maintaining sound financial stewardship.

After years of dedicated service, K9 Rex, a beloved member of the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, is officially retiring, Sheriff Jayson Richardson announced on Feb. 20.

Rex, an 8-year-old Dutch Shepherd, has served faithfully alongside his handler, Corporal Kelby Pearah, since 2020. Throughout his career, Rex has played a crucial role in law enforcement, assisting in more than 60 criminal arrests and over 100 narcotics-related seizures and apprehensions. His impact extended beyond DeSoto Parish, as he was frequently deployed to neighboring parishes and counties to support narcotics operations and search efforts.

Beyond his crime-fighting duties, Rex became a familiar and cherished presence in DeSoto Parish schools and community events. Generations of children who attended local schools and library programs over the past five years have come to know and adore him.

With his retirement, Rex will transition from police work to a life of well-earned relaxation. He will remain in the care of Cpl. Pearah and his family, where he is expected to enjoy plenty of chew toys and “Good-Boy” treats.

When asked for any parting words of wisdom for future K9 officers, Rex responded with a series of barks and growls, which—according to his dedicated handlers—likely translate to, “Don’t do drugs, kids.”

By Doug De Graffenried

Right now, I have a laptop where it belongs. I am composing this wonderful tome for you sitting in my recliner. To the right of my keyboard is a numeric keypad. I rarely use the calculator function. It seems I only use the numbers for my passwords. Next to my laptop on the arm of the chair is my cell phone. Of course, on the table next to the cell phone is the remote for the TV. I have a laptop, cell phone, and an iPad all within reach. I think for Lent I need to give up being connected or maybe go on a digital diet.

Do you remember when phones were attached to the wall, had chords, and rotary dials? If you had to make the rare long-distance phone call, it took quite a while with that rotary dial phone. Yes, I do remember party lines. A party line was a vast treasure trove of information for the community, not that anyone ever listened to a party line call.

Cell phones are everywhere now. You can’t escape them. It seems they are always going off in church, at weddings, and even at funerals. Yes, we are all secretly laughing at that dumb ring tone you have set as your default for your phone. There are some things that can’t be unheard over the hushed crowd at the funeral.

So, I am looking at the numbers on my phone. One, two and three are across the top line of the phone. On the computer keypads one, two, and three are across the bottom. I have noticed this same phenomenon at ATM’s and gas pump numeric pads. I’m wondering why. Why can’t all the numeric keypads have the same arrangement?

Whoever oversees numbers, could you get together so there will be only one pattern on these number pads? It is very confusing to those of us who use both.

As a minister people often ask me “why?” I will tell you that ministers mostly can’t answer why questions. Those are management questions. We minister types are pretty good at answering “how” questions. So, if you are dealing with some “why” event in your life, I invite you to church we can talk about “how” you can live through your “why.”

Members of the LHS Elementary and Junior High/Senior High 4-H Clubs proudly represented their school at the LSU Livestock Show, bringing home numerous awards across multiple categories.

Congratulations to Kamyllia, Farrah, and Clay, who all placed in their respective competitions:

Kamyllia
Poultry Showmanship: 3rd place

Farrah
Poultry: 1st place in 9-year-old showmanship, Reserve Champion Junior Showman, two 3rd place awards, and 6th place on birds.
Dairy: 1st place in 9-year-old showmanship, 3rd place with both heifers.
Goats: 4th place in showmanship, 2nd place in the market goat category.

Clay
Poultry: 4th place in 13-year-old showmanship, two 1st place finishes, one 2nd place, and earned both Breed Champion & Reserve Champion honors.
Dairy: 2nd place in 13-year-old showmanship, 3rd place in one category, two 6th place finishes with his heifers, and 4th place with his cow.
Sheep: 6th place in 13-year-old showmanship, 4th place with his lamb.

The impressive performances by these young competitors highlight their dedication and hard work in livestock showmanship. Congratulations to all participants on their outstanding achievements!

Two Mansfield High track athletes captured state championships in their respective events Saturday at the LHSAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at LSU.

One Wolverine is a proven champion while the other surprised the field as a freshman.
Senior Jaden Youngblood won the Division II boys 60-meter hurdles for the third straight season.
Freshman Jaydan Hamilton wants to start a similar streak as he won the Division II boys long jump title in his first year of high school competition.

Youngblood’s time of 7.98 in the 60 hurdles blew away his competition as he won by four-tenths of a second.

See Youngblood’s race, which is the fastest time recorded in Louisiana this season, here on Instagram.
Hamilton leapt 22-2.5 to win the long jump by less than two inches. The mark came on the second of his six attempts, measuring a foot longer than any of his other jumps.
The two state titles accumulated 20 points for the Mansfield boys, good for a seventh-place finish in the Division II team standings.

On the girls side, LaJordan Boykin finished fourth in the 60-meter finals with a 7.87. She scored four points as the Mansfield girls placed 18th with six total points.

The Mansfield 4×200 relay of Boykin, Germanee Robertson, Ty’Aira Ford and La’Brasia Ross finished fifth with a 1:49.50 to account for Mansfield’s two other points.

The North DeSoto boys scored one point in the Division I championships as Javonte Taylor placed sixth in the high jump (45-0.25).

By Steve Graf

Times sure have changed here on Walton’s Mountain as bass tournaments have become a magnet for anglers looking to cash a check and make some money — illegally. In a few cases, it’s just about fulfilling their ego by being the so-called “best” angler on their designated lake. These are anglers who want you to think that they are the best fisherman on the planet! Let’s look at why cheating has become the preferred technique when it comes to tournament bass fishing.

If I had to speculate on why this has become a problem nationwide, I would first look at the money involved. Bass tournaments today are offering some big money and prize packages. For example, the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash Series offers a prize package valued at over $100,000 for the biggest bass caught in their event. THAT’S $100,000 FOR JUST ONE FISH!

Numerous trails with both team and individual formats are offering anywhere from $10,000 up to $75,000 for first place. But the cheaters aren’t just showing up at these major tournaments, they’re also backing their boats in the water at your local Thursday night three-hour shootouts, which is really sad!

If it’s not for money, then what other reason would someone have to cheat? For guys that like to race, it’s the need for speed that’s the addiction, but for bass anglers fishing for a couple of hundred dollars on a three-hour event in the middle of the week, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the reason for cheating.

Once you’ve been labeled a cheater in the bass tournament world, your reputation is gone, and everyone knows the kind of person you really are. It’s just not worth losing your pride and dignity.

Are the anglers who cheat just a sign of the times and the world we are living in? A lot of people today are looking for a shortcut and don’t want to earn their keep. Not many people want to work for what they have! They either want it given to them or they will cheat to get what they think they deserve.

I’ve even witnessed, first-hand, guys who thought it was OK to cheat in a golf tournament by turning in a score that wasn’t a true reflection of their actual score. This was all for a $200 gift card to the local pro shop! This seems to be especially prevalent with the younger generation, which is very disturbing to me.

Where have we gone wrong with raising kids that think it’s OK to cheat or stretch the truth, or is it a “social media” thing? Now we just might be onto something here, as both young and old people love to post their accomplishments on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. I guess they think it gives them instant fame and credibility on their ability to achieve success.

All I know is this — IT HAS TO STOP! People who fall into the “cheaters” category need to be taken out behind the woodshed and taught a lesson. I’m wondering when the day will come where tournament anglers take a page from the NASCAR guys and hold kangaroo courts in the parking lot.

The next thing that must happen is when these guys get caught cheating and committing fraud: judges need to come down harder on them with automatic jail time and a lifetime ban from fishing tournaments. All fishing tackle including rods and reels, their bass boat and any other equipment needs to be forfeited.

I’m personally tired of going to tournaments and asking the question, “did they cheat or was their catch legitimate?” The problem is that no event is immune from someone cheating. Even the Fishers of Men Tournament Trail, a Christian anglers tournament trail, has delt with this issue lately. How sad is it that someone thinks it’s OK to cheat in a Fishers of Men event!

Besides the issues with forward facing sonar, cheating is just another reason honest anglers are walking away from bass tournaments and refusing to pony up entry fees. They’re tired of worrying about that two percent of anglers out there that don’t want to play by the rules. Both issues are having a negative effect on tournament organizations trying to provide a reputable bass fishing trail.

Here’s my concern. One day something bad is going to happen to one of these low-life cheaters when they show up at an event and anglers decide to take matters into their own hands. I just hope they have good medical insurance!

‘Til next time, keep your boots dry and your hooks wet. And remember, if you must cheat to win, you’re really a loser!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

Gov. Jeff Landry visited Northwestern State University on Feb. 25 to meet with community officials, legislators and leaders in business, industry, education and economic development to address the pending closure of the International Paper mill in Campti and its projected negative impact for Natchitoches Parish. 

“There is no one who understands the economic impact of the loss of these jobs more than me,” Landry said, referencing the closure of multiple Fruit of the Loom facilities in south Louisiana in the 1990s and early 2000s. “It’s not only the jobs that are leaving the Campti facility, but the downstream effect of what it does to the small businesses that are attached. While I don’t have all the answers today, I can tell you that we will continue to work towards building economic opportunities throughout central and north Louisiana.”

“I think that the greatest opportunity that we have for economic development is actually central and northern Louisiana,” he said, referencing the selection of Richland Parish as the site of Meta’s $10 billion artificial intelligence data center.

The governor said a proposed constitutional amendment on the March 29 ballot to reform the state’s tax code could open new opportunities to bring jobs to north and central Louisiana. He has also tasked higher education administrators with shaping Louisiana’s universities and community college systems to support jobs and industry.

“I think it’s evident from the governor’s remarks that his intention is clearly to bring the full force of the government to do whatever we can do to mitigate the reality of this decision by IP,” said Susan Bourgeois, secretary of the Department of Louisiana Economic Development. “One of the things I started out talking about in my role was that we really had to take the whole of government approach to economic development. It’s not just a government solution to the challenges or the opportunities that we face. It really does have to be the private sector, the education sector, the public sector, all of us pulling on the same rope.”

Bourgeois said her office is currently working with five active wood-related projects in north Louisiana.

“We’ve announced 21 wood-related projects in the last seven years that our team is now going to focus on seeing about placement of employees, placement of product and how we can redeploy some of the Louisiana resources that were used at the Campti facility in those projects,” Bourgeois said.

Susie Schowen, secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said she has engaged a rapid response team, the team that responds to layoffs, who can offer services specifically for IP workers.

“The IP workers are getting services in career counseling, envisioning where their career could go and how to connect with training. We can help offset the cost of that training with the focus of getting people jobs right here in this area.”

“We want to do as much as we can to backfill, to give back, what the closure is going to cause,” Landry said. “We will work as hard as we can and the good news is you’ve got other areas of the state that are performing, and a high tide has a tendency to lift all boats. We are focused on this area, not only Natchitoches but the central and north Louisiana area. We are hyper focused on opportunity because I think that there are opportunities out there.”

Landry said there are companies around the country and around the world are looking for investments in the U.S., which aligns with President Donald Trump’s agenda to boost American manufacturing.

“Right now, that is being driven primarily by the president’s agenda and we want to be able to capture as much of that as we can. You see this great team and we have worked hard and I don’t know anyone who isn’t trying to soften the impact,” he said.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission has resources available at laworks.net/. Information on the Louisiana office of Economic Development is available at opportunitylouisiana.gov/.

Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced new voter list maintenance data sharing agreements with Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. These agreements will help ensure the further accuracy of Louisiana’s voter rolls by detecting duplicate registrations within neighboring states.

“I am thankful to Secretary Nelson of Texas, Secretary Watson of Mississippi, former Secretary Thurston and current Secretary Jester of Arkansas for working with our office to help keep our voter list accurate and up-to-date,” Secretary Landry said. “Election integrity is my highest priority as Louisiana’s Secretary of State. These agreements underscore how focused my office is on maintaining safe and secure elections, while also safeguarding voters’ sensitive data.”

Secretary Landry previously announced a similar agreement with Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen in July 2024.

By Brad Dison

During World War II, Leslie Townes was a civilian working with the United States military. Leslie was so skilled at his job that he led a group of sometimes as many as 30 other male and female civilians who also worked with the military. Leslie and his team went wherever they were needed, usually on short notice, and performed their jobs to perfection.

On April 30, 1945, when Soviet soldiers surrounded Hitler’s command bunker in Berlin and Hitler realized that Germany would lose the Battle of Berlin, he and several others in his bunker committed suicide. On May 2, the Berlin garrison surrendered to the Soviet army and the war in Europe was over. Leslie and his team had been working in Germany at the time the Soviets overran Berlin. Because of Leslie’s work, the Russians provided him with a pass and transportation to get into Berlin to see Hitler’s bunker. Remember, Russia was our ally during World War II. Leslie could not pass up the opportunity. Several Air Force men who had just returned from flying President Harry Truman to the Potsdam Conference accompanied Leslie to the bunker. Leslie said, “They drove me in a big car past all the rubble that used to be Berlin… There were all these Russian sentries guarding a big concrete dome sticking up out of the ground, covered by grass and mud, surrounded by huge bomb craters.” Leslie was shocked by what he saw inside. He said, “The place was a shambles, furniture scattered all around,” then added, “as if the last tenant had just gotten a divorce and his ex-wife had tried to take the rugs with her.”

Leslie and his Air Force escorts began collecting some of the smaller items from the bunker. The Russian guards made no attempt to stop them. The Russians had already rummaged through and collected what they considered valuable. Some of the items Leslie collected from Hitler’s bunker included stationary with Adolph Hitler’s initials and the handle from Hitler’s toilet. While the Air Force men collected other items, one of them noticed Leslie staring at a large swastika flag which covered one whole wall. As Leslie contemplated what that flag represented as he stood just feet from where the dictator met his demise by his own hand, one of the airmen said, “would you like to have that?” Leslie was a little doubtful. He did not want to leave the swastika flag flying as Hitler had left it, but he was unsure how they would get it out of the bunker. Finally, the airmen rolled it up from the floor to the ceiling and removed it from its fasteners. They folded it as well as they could. The guard, who had paid little attention to them until now, was watching their every move. The airmen gave the guard a couple packs of American cigarettes. In return, the guard gave them an iron cross that he had found in the bunker. Leslie referred to this as the first post-war Russian-American trade pact. As the guard lit a cigarette, Leslie and the airmen left Hitler’s bunker with Leslie’s large swastika flag. Leslie’s plan was to display the items in a museum.

Following the war, Leslie’s work with the U.S. military continued until his retirement in 1991. He had worked with the military for 50 years. In 1997, Congress passed a bill that made him an honorary veteran of the Armed Forces. Leslie was the first American to be so honored by Congress. During the presentation at the Capitol Rotunda, Senator Strom Thurmond presented a resolution which referred to Leslie as, “a great man, a great American, a great entertainer.” The man who took Hitler’s flag from his bunker, who led his troupe of performers around the world entertaining the soldiers for 50 years, was Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope.

Sources:

1. Bob Hope with Melville Shavelson, Don’t Shoot, It’s Only Me (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1990), 48.

2. The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg, South Carolina), October 30, 1997, p.3.

On this day in history, February 26, 1932, one of America’s most iconic musicians was born—Johnny Cash. Known as “The Man in Black,” Cash’s music transcended genres, blending country, rock, blues, and gospel into a sound that resonated with generations of fans.

A Life in Music

Born in Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash grew up during the Great Depression, an experience that deeply influenced his storytelling style. His breakthrough came in the 1950s with hits like I Walk the Line and Folsom Prison Blues, which showcased his deep voice and signature boom-chicka-boom rhythm.

Over his decades-long career, Cash recorded over 1,500 songs, won 13 Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame—a rare and prestigious honor.

His Legacy Lives On

Even after his passing in 2003, Cash’s influence remains strong. His music continues to inspire artists across multiple genres, and his story is immortalized in the 2005 film Walk the Line. On this special anniversary of his birth, fans around the world are revisiting his greatest hits and reflecting on the legacy of one of music’s greatest storytellers.

Connie Faye Jackson
08/01/1960 – 02/20/2025
Visitation : Friday February 28,2025 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel in
Mansfield
Service : Saturday March 1, 2025 11:00 a.m. Mary Evergreen B.C. Grand Cane

Marietta Blackmon
09/28/1947 – 02/20/2025
Visitation : Friday February 28,2025 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel
Mansfield
Services : Saturday March 1, 2025 @ 1 :00 p.m. Friendship B.C. Grand Cane

DeSoto Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or billvance.erg@gmail.com. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to billvance.erg@gmail.com

Over 150 future teachers from seven area parishes attended the Educators Rising Regional
Conference held at NSU’s Teacher Education Center on Feb. 12. The conference was
sponsored by NSU’s College of Education and its collegiate chapter of Educators Rising and was
a fun filled day of competition and learning.

The future teachers attended presentations given by accomplished educators from NSU’s faculty
as well as guest presenters. They also engaged in competitions in areas such as Job Interviews,
Children’s Literature, Lesson Planning, Impromptu Speaking and other topics. The Educators
Rising program is a solid preparation for anyone’s future.

Desoto parish was well represented by 11 sharp students from Mansfield High School under the
leadership of first year English teacher and Educators Rising sponsor Grace Lewis.

Educators Rising is a nationwide network dedicated to promoting teaching as a career to young
people. Chapters at middle school through high school and college work to raise awareness of
Education as a worthwhile career path. NSU’s collegiate chapter is part and parcel of the
university’s 140 year tradition of excellence in teacher training.

During Love the Boot Week, April 5-13, 2025, Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) has partnered with Coca-Cola in spearheading the recycling of plastic bottles and aluminum cans for litter cleanup events happening in 27 parishes. This effort, facilitated by the Osprey Initiative, will lead to thousands of bottles and cans being diverted from the landfill. Love the Boot Week is Louisiana’s largest litter removal and beautification effort held during Earth Month, with events organized by businesses, non-profits, schools, governments, and families in all 64 parishes. Events in eligible parishes can sign up for recycling when registering for Love the Boot Week at LoveTheBoot.org.

“Thank you to Coca-Cola for continuing to fund recycling during Love the Boot Week,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “It takes all of us working together to keep our communities clean. If you are having a Love the Boot cleanup in one of the 27 parishes where recycling is available, I encourage you to participate in this important effort to divert cans and bottles from the landfill.”

“At Coca-Cola, our bottles and cans can live many lives, and efforts like this to collect and recycle are fundamental to that process,” said Scott Ryan, Vice President of Franchise Operations for The Coca-Cola Company. “We’re proud to sponsor and participate in Love the Boot Week again this year and commend Keep Louisiana Beautiful for their leadership in litter reduction in the state.”

With support from Coca-Cola, Osprey Initiative will facilitate recycling from litter cleanup events in the following parishes: Acadia, Ascension, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafayette, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Vermilion.

The recycling program will include a combination of pick-up and drop-off services, and 21 regional offices of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will serve as recycling drop-off locations for Love the Boot events.

This is a significant expansion from the 2024 recycling effort, which was successful in collecting 13,891 aluminum cans and plastic bottles at 62 sites in 15 parishes. Last year during Love the Boot Week, 19,441 individuals volunteered a total of 100,712 hours at 760 events in all 64 parishes, leading to the removal of 347 tons of litter. In addition to litter removal, volunteers focused on community beautification, planting 921 trees and 4,408 plants, and refurbishing 366 gardens.

Recycling bags will be shipped from Osprey to those who sign up for recycling. Osprey will pick these bags up, sort the material, and deliver the recyclables to a recycling facility.

“When items are properly recycled, they don’t end up littering our environment or entering our landfills,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “Not only does recycling reduce waste, but it also requires less energy to use recovered materials when making products in comparison to virgin materials. We are grateful to Coca-Cola for funding recycling at Love the Boot Week events, so the bottles and cans collected can be repurposed rather than ending up in a landfill.”

Everyone in every parish is invited to register for a cleanup or beautification event and/or sign up to volunteer for Love the Boot Week at LoveTheBoot.org.

About Keep Louisiana Beautiful

Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) is a state program under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Department of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism promoting personal, corporate, and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. KLB supports local communities through programs and resources for litter education, prevention, removal, enforcement, beautification, recycling, waste reduction, and sustainability initiatives. KLB is affiliated with the national organization, Keep America Beautiful, and is supported by a robust statewide network of Community Affiliates and University Affiliates. Learn more at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org.

Red Bird Auction Company, located in Arcadia, is gearing up for its next live auction on Thursday, March 13th, at 10 a.m. Specializing in Industrial Machinery Auctions, Red Bird Auction brings together a wide selection of high-quality equipment ready to find a new home!

Join us at 392 Gap Farms Lane in Arcadia for an onsite auction experience, or participate remotely from anywhere by visiting bidredbird.com to place your bids online. The auction will feature a range of Heavy Machinery and Construction Equipment, including but not limited to Trucks, Cars, Tractors, Big Trucks, Trailers of all kinds and Construction Equipment Implements.

Are you looking to turn your equipment into cash? Red Bird Auction is currently accepting consignments! Contact Burkes Brown today at 601-502-5084 or email burkes@bidredbird.com to consign your items.

Be sure to follow Red Bird Auction Company on Facebook and Instagram for updates and sneak peeks leading up to the event!

Red Bird Auction— License Number LA AB-556.

By Doug De Graffenried

This winter has been a great season for the dogs digging holes in the yard. They are unencumbered by grass or other plants. They dig with abandon. They discovered a corner of the yard where fences meet. The corner is a natural low place in the yard, thus aiding their digging.

Their corner digging has become a game. They dig and I fill. The hole is amazing. They have actually dug under the fencepost in the corner. The hole takes me a while to fill in each day. I know, from looking at them, that I have two dogs working on the digging project.

The other day I was filling the hole, and I noticed that it seemed to go a good distance out into the yard behind the house. It was rather strange, and I tried to imagine the position the dog must have been in to dig out on the other side of the fence.

Since I was curious, I walked around the fence to the other side and found out that the dogs were digging on the other side of the fence as well. They were working on a “two-sided hole.” Most of the dogs I have owned dug under the fence to get out of the yard. It appears as though I have a couple of dogs who dig for the joy of digging.

They could have escaped and explored another world for most of the day, but they did not. My dogs are focused on digging the best hole ever dug in that backyard!

The dogs are on a perfect hole digging mission.

What about your life? Do you have that kind of focus and that kind of tenacity as you strive to live out your purpose? That raises another question, doesn’t it, what is your purpose in life? To refer to last week’s article, I pose an alternative query, Which path are you on? There is a place called the church and on Sunday mornings we help you answer that very question.

We can also help you escape from that hole you have dug for yourself!

BOSSIER CITY – North DeSoto’s Dalton Compton and Chase Smart repeated as state wrestling champions in their individual classes this past weekend at the LHSAA State Wrestling Championships in Brookshire Grocery Arena.

Compton and Smart took home Division II titles at different weight classes this year, though.
After winning a pair of titles in the 144-pound weight class, Compton stepped down to the 138-pound class and defeated Teurlings Catholic’s Brennan Romero with a technical fall at the 3:13 mark.

The junior still has one more season to win his fourth straight state championship next season. Compton finished the season with a 39-6 mark.

Smart finished his high school career with a second title, this year in the 144-pound class after taking home the 157-pound crown last year.

He defeated Comeaux High’s Ryan Jenkins with a technical fall in 2:15.

As a team, North DeSoto finished fifth with 193 points.

The Griffins won state a year ago, preventing Teurlings Catholic from winning a fifth straight title, but Teurlings started another streak this season (314 points) by besting the field by 76 points.

North DeSoto was the top public school team in Division II as the other top four finishers (Teurlings, St. Thomas More, Archbishop Rummel, Archbishop Shaw) are all private schools. Wrestling is one of the few LHSAA sports that hasn’t split on public-private lines.

Other North DeSoto wrestlers to finish in the top six of their weight class include Jacob Kershaw (second, 132 pounds), Andrew Arinder (second, 190 pounds), William Erdelac (third, 165 pounds), Hayden Bell (fifth, 157 pounds), and Connor Locke (sixth, 150 pounds).

Kershaw made the championship match for the third straight finish, earning his third straight second-place finish.

The junior dropped a tight 7-4 decision against Archbishop Rummel’s Kaiden Triche in the title match.
Arinder, just a sophomore, lost to Teurlings’ Carter Macha in a 9-0 decision.

North DeSoto’s program likely won’t be exiting the top ranks any time soon as ND claimed the middle school state championship earlier this month.

By Steve Graf

After much soul searching and really being appreciative of the life I’ve had, I thought it would be a good time ask the question — “what if?” With today’s article I’ll throw out a few scenarios as to what might have been “if” certain things had not happened in my life.

First, what if my real mom and dad would have stayed together and never divorced? For sure my brother (Mike Comer) and I would have grown up together and probably would have been lifelong buds who both shared a passion for sports and fishing. Mike would have been a brother who could have led the way for me and given me direction. I would also have had a relationship with my real dad, who I never met, which is something every boy wants and needs.

What if my aunt and uncle never came to my rescue during my early struggles in school and life itself? I’m pretty sure I would have ended up in some juvenile detention center. At some point, I would have gotten caught sneaking into people’s houses, which over time, I’m sure would have lit my fuse for theft of items other than food.

What if I had never moved to Mt. Pleasant, Texas? I would have missed out on being raised on a ranch and the lessons I learned from that experience. I would have never met my best friend growing up, Kevin Owsley, who I still miss today. I would have not had guidance from some of the best coaches and teachers a young boy could want.

I would have missed out on all the camping trips to Daingerfield State Park with my buddy Kevin. I would have missed out on the awesome summers of playing baseball and going to Park Recreation with coach Sam Parker.

What if I had never moved to Mt. Pleasant? I would have missed the best four years of my life at MPHS! What a great place to go to high school, a place with so much school spirit and pride, a school with the best sounding band from Tiger Land and an athletic program second to none. So much I would have missed out on, like being a member of a state championship baseball team.

What if I had chosen to go to a different college other than Northwestern State? Would I have met the love of my life and raised three awesome kids in a family-oriented community like Natchitoches? Would I have had the same success at another university? Would I have gotten the opportunity to play professional baseball?

What if I had never taken up tournament bass fishing? Well, with regards to this question, I would definitely have more money in the bank and I would have missed out on so many of the friends I’ve made through tournament fishing, friends for life and people I can count in a time of need!

What if I had never started the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show, which has become one of the best outdoor programs on radio. The people I have met through this program during 18 years is endless. The two co-hosts that I share a mic with each week, Mike Echols and Gary McCoy, have given me so much more pleasure and happiness than any one man deserves.

Gary and Mike, with their wit, humor, and outdoor expertise, make it worth my drive to Shreveport each week. Love these two more than you can imagine! Hook’N Up & Track’N Down would not be the same without them.

We can “what if” our lives all we want, but what’s important is that we don’t look back at what might have been, but look forward and be proud of the life we have led.

So, I think it’s obvious my life has been full of joy, sadness, disappointment and success which I guess can be summed up as a journey. Everyone has a journey with some having more than their fair share of ups and downs, but that’s what life is all about — the journey. It’s like one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” That’s exactly what mine has been — a wonderful life!

‘Til next week, see you at the boat ramp! Good luck, good fishing and if you’re not sure it’s a bite, set the hook! If you see me on a lake near you, make sure to stop and say hello.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

By Brad Dison

On January 30, 1882, Franklin D. Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family at Hyde Park, New York. In 1887, when Franklin was just five years old, his father took him to meet President Grover Cleveland. During the meeting, Grover looked down at little Franklin and said in a disgruntled voice, “My little man, I am making a strange wish for you. It is that you may never be President of the United States.” Grover Cleveland’s wish did not come true. Franklin Roosevelt served as the 32nd President of the United States. He is the only U.S. president in history to serve more than two terms. Most of us associate Franklin as being wheelchair bound because of polio, but as a young man Franklin competed in sports such as polo, tennis, golf, and sailing. In 1900, Franklin entered Harvard College where he participated in various sports.

On October 14, 1890, David Dwight Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas. Shortly after his birth, Dwight’s mother reversed his first and middle names to avoid him being confused with his father who was also named David. In high school, Dwight excelled in his coursework and in sports. Dwight was such a good student and athlete that he earned an appointment at the United States Military Academy, more commonly known as West Point. As he had done in high school, Dwight excelled in the military and quickly rose through the ranks. In December 1943, President Franklin Roosevelt selected him as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. In 1953, Dwight began his tenure as the 34th President of the United States.

On February 6, 1911, Ronald Reagan was born in an apartment in Tampico, Illinois. At Dixon High School, Reagan was mostly interested in drama and football. In 1928, Reagan worked his way through Eureka College as a lifeguard. Reagan played on the college football team and acted in school plays. After college, he worked as a sports announcer until a screen test enabled him to become a Hollywood actor. He became president of the Screen Actors Guild, and then governor of California. In January 1981, he became the 40th President of the United States. His vice-president was George Herbert Walker Bush.

On July 6, 1946, while attending Yale, George and Barbara Bush had a son whom they named George Walker Bush. George W. participated in sports in high school and attended Phillips Academy before transferring to his father’s alma mater, Yale. George W. played on the college rugby team. In January 2001, he became the 43rd President of the United States.

The aforementioned Presidents of the United States certainly loved sports, especially in college. During their college years, each of them participated in a sport which until 1923 was only available to men. During World War II, women were accepted in the sport only because of the large number of collegiate men who were being drafted into the military. Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush were all college cheerleaders.

Sources:

1. “Franklin D. Roosevelt,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/franklin-roosevelt.

2. “Dwight D. Eisenhower,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/dwight-eisenhower.

3. “Ronald Reagan,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/ronald-reagan.

4. “George W. Bush,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/george-w-bush.

5. “A New Deal,” Thirteen PBS, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/web12/segment3.html.

On February 19, 1945, one of the most significant battles of World War II began as U.S. Marines launched an assault on the heavily fortified island of Iwo Jima. The battle, which lasted for 36 days, saw more than 70,000 Marines fight against 21,000 Japanese soldiers, resulting in one of the most intense conflicts of the Pacific Theater.

The famous photograph of Marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi, taken by Joe Rosenthal, became an enduring symbol of American resilience and sacrifice. The battle was a turning point in the war, providing the U.S. with a crucial strategic position closer to the Japanese mainland.

Today, veterans and historians continue to reflect on the bravery of those who fought, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.

Shelly Nanekka Barbers – Wilbert
12/31/1981 – 2/16/2025
Visitation :Friday February 21,2025 Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel Mansfield ,La.
Services :Saturday February 22,2025 @ 1:00 p.m.Springville B.C. Coushatta , La.

Warden – Dennis Graylyn Reed
5/16/1960 – 2/16/2025
Visitation: Friday February 21,2025 Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel Mansfield ,La.
Services: Saturday February 22,2025 @ 11:00 a.m. Friendship B.C. Grand Cane ,La

Rebecca “Becky” Heard McConathy
9/20/1945 -2/15/2025
Visitation: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
Services: at 1:00 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church, Mansfield, LA

DeSoto Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or billvance.erg@gmail.com. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to billvance.erg@gmail.com

A DeSoto Parish man who’s spent over three decades on death row could be the first person executed in Louisiana under the state’s newly finalized execution protocol.

DeSoto District Judge Amy McCartney signed a warrant on Feb. 11 scheduling the execution of Christopher Sepulvado for March 17. Sepulvado, who has been on death row since 1993, was convicted of torturing and killing his 6-year-old stepson, Wesley Mercer.

Sepulvado is the second Louisiana death row inmate to receive an execution date this week. As Louisiana prepares to resume executions, legal challenges are expected to follow, with each case potentially facing scrutiny in state and federal courts before any sentence is carried out.

Deputy Zachary Moore of the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO) recently served in his role as Staff Sergeant in the Louisiana National Guard, deploying to New Orleans to provide security in high-traffic areas during the Super Bowl.

SSG Moore was among many National Guard members tasked with ensuring public safety during the major event. His deployment highlighted the strong presence of Reserve and National Guard service members within the ranks of DPSO.

“We always miss our deputies when they are away, but we are incredibly proud to have men and women in our ranks who are currently serving or have served in the military,” DPSO stated.

The department continues to honor and support its personnel who balance both law enforcement and military service, recognizing their dedication to protecting both their community and the nation.

The attached report displays all individuals booked into the DeSoto Detention Center between the dates of FEB. 3 – FEB. 9 (1 week) and includes arrests made by DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO), Mansfield Police Department (MPD), and Louisiana State Police (LSP.) All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Booking photos for each, unless they have bonded out, are readily available in the DeSoto Parish Sheriff App on iPhone or Android. The attached images may be clicked and scrolled for view.

Residents should prepare for a mix of wet weather and cooler temperatures as a series of weather changes move through the region this week.

Wednesday will bring showers and a possible thunderstorm, mainly before 3 p.m. with a high near 66°F. Winds will shift from east to west at 5 to 10 mph. Rain chances stand at 90%, making for a wet day across the area. By Wednesday night, conditions will turn mostly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 38°F, accompanied by northwest winds of 5 to 15 mph.

On Thursday, expect partly sunny skies with a high near 51°F and north winds of 10 to 15 mph. The evening will remain partly cloudy, with lows around 36°F.

Friday will see mostly sunny skies early, with a 40% chance of showers developing after noon and a high near 59°F. Rain chances increase overnight to 50%, with mostly cloudy conditions and a low around 50°F.

Saturday is forecasted to bring widespread showers and possibly a thunderstorm, with temperatures reaching a high of 73°F. Rain chances remain high at 90%. By Saturday night, precipitation chances drop to 30%, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 34°F.

Looking ahead, Sunday will see a return of sunny skies, though temperatures will be cooler, with a high near 49°F. The night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dipping to around 29°F.

Residents are advised to stay weather-aware, especially on Wednesday and Saturday when thunderstorms are possible.