The attached report displays all individuals charged over the last 7 days, including those arrested by summons who may not have been booked directly into the Detention Center. The attached arrests have been made by DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO), Mansfield Police Department (MPD), and Louisiana State Police (LSP.) An arrest is indication that probable cause existed during an alleged offense. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Comments are disabled on crime related posts to ensure public safety.

Weekly K-9 training exercises continued this week at the DeSoto Parish Sheriff Training Center, where law enforcement agencies from across the region gathered to sharpen skills and strengthen interagency cooperation.

According to the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Wednesdays are dedicated to advancing the capabilities of K-9 teams through hands-on, scenario-based training designed to prepare deputies and their canine partners for real-world situations. The latest session was hosted by Sgt. Kelby Pearah and included multiple surrounding agencies participating in the day-long exercises.

The morning training focused on practical scenarios, with deputies rotating in and out of the bite suit to help K-9 teams practice controlled apprehension techniques. Participating agencies included sheriff’s office K-9 handlers from Panola County, Sabine County, DeSoto Parish, Red River Parish, and Sabine Parish.

Training emphasized building searches and tracking operations inside structures — skills considered critical when locating suspects who may be hiding inside homes or businesses. Teams also worked on reinforcing K-9 recognition between uniformed deputies and suspects to ensure clear identification and controlled responses during high-stress encounters.

Officials noted the training not only improves operational readiness but also strengthens partnerships between neighboring law enforcement agencies.

“We appreciate all agencies in attendance for bringing their K-9 teams and for their willingness to participate — including those who volunteered to step into the direct line of a K-9,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement, adding a lighthearted acknowledgment to DeSoto Deputy Nolan Perot, who left training with a few scratches after assisting in exercises.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson praised the continued collaboration among departments.
“Training opportunities like this continue to strengthen partnerships between agencies and help ensure that deputies and their K-9 partners remain prepared to serve and protect the residents of their respective communities,” Richardson said. “We are always grateful to see agencies come together with a shared commitment to mastering their profession and focusing on safer, more effective methods in doing so.”

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office plans to continue hosting weekly K-9 training sessions as part of its ongoing commitment to public safety and professional development.

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DeSoto Parish residents can expect warm temperatures through the end of the workweek before a much wetter and cooler pattern moves into the area this weekend, bringing increased rain and thunderstorm chances.

Wednesday:
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms develops after noon. Skies will begin cloudy but gradually become mostly sunny during the afternoon. High temperatures will reach near 84 degrees with south winds at 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night:
Mostly cloudy skies with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Overnight lows will fall to around 66 degrees with light south winds.

Thursday:
Partly sunny and warm with a high near 84 degrees.

Thursday Night:
Partly cloudy conditions with an overnight low around 66 degrees.

Friday:
A 30 percent chance of showers develops after noon under partly sunny skies. Afternoon highs will climb to near 86 degrees.

Friday Night:
Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Low temperatures around 68 degrees.

Saturday:
Rain chances increase significantly. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop, becoming more widespread during the afternoon. High near 82 degrees with an 80 percent chance of precipitation.

Saturday Night:
Showers and thunderstorms likely with cloudy skies and a low near 63 degrees. Rain chances remain at 60 percent.

Sunday:
Cloudy and cooler with showers likely and possible thunderstorms. High temperatures will reach around 74 degrees. Rain chances stand at 70 percent.

Sunday Night:
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms continues under mostly cloudy skies. Low near 62 degrees.

Monday:
Unsettled weather persists with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy conditions with a high near 76 degrees.

Residents are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts as rain chances increase heading into the weekend and early next week.

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You ever notice how life has a way of barging in like a neighbor who doesn’t bother knocking? One minute you’re minding your own business, sipping coffee, feeling almost in control of your day—and the next, life taps you on the shoulder and says, “Scoot over, I’m sitting here now.” Around here, we treat interruptions the way we treat seagulls at the beach: we try to enjoy the view, but we keep one eye on the sky because we know something unpleasant might fall at any moment.

But what if we’ve been misreading the interruptions? What if the things we label as nuisances, delays, and potholes are actually holy things—God’s way of nudging us, slowing us, or getting our attention before we wander too far down the road of selfimportance and illusion of control?

We usually treat interruptions as spiritual speed bumps—annoying, jarring, and always arriving at the worst possible moment. But have you considered that the interruptions in your life might be holy things?

They might be God’s gracious way of getting your attention, redirecting your steps, or opening a door you didn’t even know was there.

Lent is a season of selfimposed interruption, if you observe it. It disrupts our usual habits and routines. Asking someone what they gave up for Lent is a bit like asking about New Year’s resolutions—we don’t always want to admit how fragile our commitments are. We resist resolutions and Lenten disciplines because they interrupt the normal choices we make. They threaten the illusion that we are in control.

But Lent brings us the gift of holy interruption. By intentionally letting go of our triedandtrue rhythms, we make room for new life to spring forth in the garden of the Resurrection. Lent is a minorkey season that unsettles the usual. It prepares us for the massive interruption of human history called the Resurrection.
Everything about Jesus was an interruption. His life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and reign as Lord and Savior interrupt human selfishness and sinfulness. Following Him certainly changes the course of your wellplanned life. He steps into our stories not to tidy them up but to transform them.

So, the next time you are interrupted, be encouraged. God may be allowing you to put aside your need to control and opening up an opportunity to experience His love and grace. God often shows up when we are not looking for Him. His love and grace can be found in holy interruptions.

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By Nutrition Agent, Erin Stockton

Recipe of the Month: Hearty Taco Bean Soup

Serves: 8 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes (or 4 hours slow cooker)

This Hearty Taco Bean Soup is an easy one-dish meal that’s loaded with protein, fiber, and colorful veggies. It’s so quick and easy that you’ll even have time for a brisk evening walk after dinner. Pair with whole wheat tortilla chips, reduced fat shredded cheese, and a dollop of low-fat sour cream for a balanced, satisfying meal.

Ingredients:

– Vegetable oil cooking spray

– 1 medium onion, chopped

– 1 lb lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken

– 1 (28 oz) can no salt added crushed tomatoes

– 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies

– 1 (16 oz) can reduced-sodium chili beans

– 1 (15 oz) can no salt added black beans

– 1 (15 oz) can no salt added pinto beans

– 1 (14 oz) can no salt added whole kernel corn, drained

– 1 (1.2 oz) package reduced-sodium taco seasoning mix

– 3 ½ cups water

Stovetop Instructions:

1. Spray a large pot with vegetable oil cooking spray. Sauté onions until soft.

2. Add ground meat and brown well.

3. Add all remaining ingredients and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. Sauté onions and brown meat in a skillet.

2. Transfer to slow cooker.

3. Add all remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

Erin Stockton is a Nutrition Agent with the LSU AgCenter in DeSoto, Sabine, and Natchitoches Parishes. A certified educator for over 20 years, she provides research-based programs to help families make healthy food choices and stay active. For program requests or questions, contact her at 318-872-0533, estockton@agcenter.lsu.edu, or on Facebook at LSU AgCenter DeSoto & Natchitoches Nutrition & Community Health.

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“Why do couples fight about the same things over and over?”
 See what Ida says about breaking the cycle.

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DeSoto Parish Schools is inviting prospective and current educators to experience the district firsthand during Discover DeSoto Day 2026, a full-day event designed to showcase what officials call “The DeSoto Difference.”

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will take place at 399 Jenkins Street in Mansfield. District leaders say the initiative aims to provide teachers with an inside look at the school system’s campuses, programs, and collaborative culture.

Participants will have the opportunity to visit all nine DeSoto Parish school campuses, attend cluster meetings, and connect directly with district administrators and fellow educators throughout the day.

Organizers say the event is intended to help educators better understand the district’s educational approach and professional environment.

School officials encourage educators interested in learning more about career opportunities and district initiatives to attend and see how DeSoto Parish Schools are “winning together.”

Those interested in participating can register or request additional information by contacting Amanda Tingle at amanda.tingle@desotopsb.com or by calling 318-872-2836.

District leaders say Discover DeSoto Day offers a unique opportunity for educators to explore the community, meet leadership teams, and experience the programs and partnerships that support student success across the parish.

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Several DeSoto Parish 4-H members recently represented the parish at the Louisiana 4-H State Hunting Skills Competition, earning strong finishes during a weekend of challenging outdoor and marksmanship events.

According to DeSoto Parish 4-H officials, participants competed in multiple skill areas designed to test real-world hunting knowledge and safety, including general hunting skills, map reading, and shotgun proficiency.

In the Junior Division, Ryan May earned 3rd place in Hunting Skills and finished 7th overall, marking an impressive performance among competitors from across the state.

In the Senior Division, Clay Usrey placed 10th overall, while Mason Boyett secured 15th overall, showcasing the strength and preparation of the DeSoto Parish team.

Organizers credited the team’s success to dedicated preparation and coaching throughout the season.

Special recognition was given to Coach Jennifer Miller for her leadership and commitment to guiding the students.

Officials also thanked Miller for providing action photos from the competition and for helping develop a strong team representing DeSoto Parish at the state level.

DeSoto Parish 4-H leaders congratulated all participants on their achievements, noting that the Hunting Skills program promotes outdoor education, responsibility, safety, and teamwork among youth participants.

The competition serves as one of the premier statewide events for 4-H members interested in conservation, outdoor sports, and hunting education.

By Steve Graf    

Each and every day we wake up and make a decision in the first five minutes to either be happy, angry or sad. It’s a choice! Now, there are exceptions for those who have a mental illness or might be going through some tough times, but in general, everyone else makes a choice.

As anglers, we also have choices to make when we’re on the water whether it’s in a tournament or just out fun fishing. So much of the time, the choices we make say a lot about who we are as a person.

Today, having so many boats on the water means there are a lot of eyes out there — people who are watching every move you make as an angler.

That’s why it’s important to set a good example and use discretion when fishing around other anglers. Over the last few years, I’ve had a few encounters that had me shaking my head in disbelief. Anglers do dumb things that make everyone scratch their heads and ask, “What are you doing?”

To quote the famous line from the 1994 Tom Hanks movie Forrest Gump as he was told by his momma, “Stupid is as stupid does.” This quote pretty much sums up how too many boaters and anglers alike handle themselves on the water today.

Here are a couple of examples: Last year while on Toledo Bend, I had two incidents on the same day! While fishing a point in the back of a cove, I was casting my Carolina rig directly up on the point in five feet of water. On this day I was scouting for an event I had coming up in three days.

As I’m fishing this point, another boat with two anglers (who looked like tournament anglers) came around the backside of the point (opposite from me) and gradually started to turn and fish their way in my direction about 100 yards away. Now at this stage, I’m really OK and feel like there’s not really a problem since I’m thinking this boat will go behind me.

Then he did the unthinkable as he turned his boat 90 degrees and ran right over the spot I was fishing! He literally trolled right over my line between me and the point! Outranged at his stupidity, I threw my hands in the air and asked him, “What are you doing? How dumb are you?”

He turned and looked at me like I had three heads and seemed bewildered at my question. So, I repeated my question where the entire north end of Toledo Bend could hear me.

As I lectured him on right and wrong and the dumb decision he just made, he turned his trolling motor on high and got away from me as quick as he could without even a response to my lecture. It was as if he never saw or heard me! I mean I was the ONLY BOAT fishing this point after all; how could he not hear me?

Later that same day, I had another incident with an angler who was fishing with his grandfather and his son. Basically, the same situation; I’m fishing a spot just off a bluff close to the boat road when this boat came running down the boat road and shut down behind me about 30 yards away.

As I’m fishing this spot just off the bluff, this boat starts to idle behind me and is going away from me. So, at this point I’m thinking he’s doing the right thing and fishing away from me … or so I thought!

But no, that’s not what he did! He actually turned his boat 180 degrees and cut between me and the spot I was fishing about 20 yards in front of me, right where I was throwing my lure!

Once again, I’m dumbfounded and about to lose my mind by his action. I told him it was a good thing he had his young son in the boat because otherwise he too would have gotten a verbal tongue lashing like the other angler I chatted with earlier that day! Again, I asked him the same question, “How dumb are you?”

But during these times we live in, it’s just another day on the water and incidents like these are now commonplace. Anglers and pleasure boaters continue to do the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.

At the end of the day, I’m exhausted pretty much every time I go on the lake as I’m always on high alert for anglers cutting me off or someone doing something else dumb.

The problem isn’t just on the lake, it’s also at the boat ramp, as people have totally forgotten what the word courtesy even means. So many boat owners have no understanding of boat ramp etiquette and the process of launching a boat! IT’S NOT HARD, PEOPLE!

If you want to be entertained one day, take the time to go to a boat ramp and watch the comedy show of people who can’t back a boat down a boat ramp or load a boat on to a trailer. It’s hilarious and makes for great entertainment!

So, my advice today to all boaters/anglers who understand how to act on any body of water is to have patience and be prepared to help people launch their boat while teaching them how to do this the right way.

On the fishing side of things, you’ll also need patience as other anglers continue to cut you off as you’re going down a stretch of boat docks or a tree line.

So many boat owners and anglers have no idea about the unwritten rules of the water, or as I call it, common sense! I guess it’s up to us old anglers to teach and share our knowledge because they aren’t going to learn it from anyone else. Good luck, good fishing and stay safe!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now — writing emails, generating art, passing professional exams, and promising to “revolutionize” just about every industry. Depending on who you ask, it’s either the greatest productivity tool ever created or the beginning of the robot takeover. But for all the headlines about automation replacing human jobs, there’s a quieter truth we don’t talk about enough: some skills just can’t be downloaded. This week’s cartoon plays with the gap between tech-world hype and real-world reality, reminding us that while algorithms may be impressive, there’s still plenty of value in good old-fashioned hands-on know-how.

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March 4 holds a unique place in pop culture as National Grammar Day, a lighthearted observance that has grown in popularity thanks to social media, memes, and the internet’s enduring fascination with language.

The date itself is a playful nod to grammar rules, sounding like the command “March forth.” Over the years, it has become a day when grammar enthusiasts, writers, educators, and casual word lovers alike celebrate the quirks of language.

Online, March 4 often brings viral debates over Oxford commas, homophones, and common grammatical pet peeves. Brands, news outlets, and public figures frequently join in, posting tongue-in-cheek corrections and wordplay that engage audiences in a way few other observances do.

National Grammar Day also highlights how language shapes pop culture. Catchphrases, slang, and internet shorthand evolve rapidly, reflecting how communication adapts to technology and social trends. What was once considered “incorrect” grammar often becomes widely accepted usage, blurring the line between rules and cultural norms.

In an era dominated by text messages, emojis, and memes, March 4 serves as both a celebration and a reminder: language is alive, constantly changing, and deeply connected to how people express identity and humor.

From classrooms to comment sections, National Grammar Day proves that even the smallest details of language can spark big conversations — and plenty of laughs.

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In 1965, Washoe was born in West Africa. Ten months later, she and four other youngsters, Dar, Pili, Tatu, and Moja, were brought to the United States to be raised by foster parents Allen and Beatrix Gardner. Allen and Beatrix played with them, talked to them, fed them, chased them, ran from them, gave them a comfortable and intellectually stimulating home, and all the other things most parents do to bond with and raise their children. Washoe and the others acted very much like children of their age with one exception, they could not speak. Fostering Washoe and the others was difficult because they were unable to communicate vocally, but Allen and Beatrix both worked as scientists at the University of Nevado in Reno and understood that getting the desired result usually took a long time to achieve. One of the most important tools in their arsenal as scientists was patience. Most doctors concluded that they would never be able to communicate because they all lacked a specific gene, the FOXP2 gene, which is essential for the normal development of speech. They would never be able to speak. They accepted the prognosis that the youngsters would never be able to communicate verbally, but Allen and Beatrix were determined that they would be able to communicate.

Rather than trying to get Washoe and the others to speak verbally, the Gardners stopped using verbal communication around them altogether. When in their presence, Allen and Beatrix communicated with each other using American Sign Language (ASL). The Gardners feared that trying to communicate with them verbally and with sign language simultaneously would be confusing. The Gardners hoped the youngsters would learn by watching them communicate with each other. Washoe was especially interested. They used the proper sign language to each other when Washoe was eating, bathing, and while she was being dressed. They invented exciting games; introduced new toys, books, and magazines; all of which were designed to stimulate sign language. They made scrapbooks of Washoe’s favorite pictures and used the proper sign language for whatever was shown in the photos. Dinner time began with Allen and Beatrix shaping their dominant hands into a flattened “O” with the fingertips touching the thumb then tapping the fingertips to their lips once or twice. In American Sign Language, this is the sign for “food” or “to eat.” Then one day at dinner time, long after doctors and other experts had given up hope that she would ever be able to communicate, Washoe told Allen and Beatrix that she was hungry by signing the word “food.” The Gardners were overjoyed. Within a short time, Washoe could tell the Gardners that she was thirsty and that she wanted to play with her toys by using sign language. She quickly learned the sign for “more” to let the Gardners know she was still hungry, still thirsty, or that she wanted more toys. Her vocabulary continued to grow. Then she began to learn to answer questions such as “Who is that?” and “What do you want?”

As her vocabulary grew, the Gardners noticed something extraordinary. Washoe began teaching the other youngsters the sign language she knew, and they were signing back correctly. With the help of the Gardners, Washoe and the others learned a sign language vocabulary of hundreds of words and expressions. Washoe became the first of her kind to learn a human language and teach it to another primate. Washoe and the others were all chimpanzees.

 

Sources:

1. “Friends of Washoe,” accessed February 22, 2026, https://www.friendsofwashoe.org/learn/chci_history/project_washoe_begins.html.

2. “Meet Tatu and Loulis—the last of the ‘talking’ chimpanzees,” National Geographic, accessed February 22, 2026, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/chimpanzee-sign-language-experiments.

3. “FOXP2 gene,” MedlinePlus.com, accessed February 22, 2026, https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/foxp2/.

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Willie Mae Pennywell
07/19/1950 – 02/24/2026
Visitation: Friday, March 6 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel
Services: Saturday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m.at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel

Sandra Isbell
December 4, 1955 ~ February 26, 2026
Details not available

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

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