The Mansfield Friends of the Library group is sponsoring a book giveaway from now until the books run out. It is being held at the Library’s Main Branch in Mansfield
You are welcome to come in and pick out your FREE books during library hours, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Main Library is located at 109 Crosby Street in Mansfield. Call Ms. Doris Ross, Branch Manager at 318-872-6100 for more information.
Larry Lynch
November 2, 1958 to January 4, 2023
View full obituary here:
https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/01/05/larry-lynch/
Jesse Sumers, Sr.
September 22, 1966 to December 17, 2022
Service: Saturday, January 7, 2022 at 11:00 am at New Friendship B.C. in Frierson, LA.
The DeSoto Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers. Contact your funeral provider or DeSotoParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above with no link to the obituary are FREE of charge.)
There will be a meeting of the Friends of the Library at the Stonewall Branch next Wednesday, January 11 at 1:00 pm. Members of the public are welcome.
At the Stonewall Library Bingo will be held on January 12 at 4:00 pm.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Larry Wayne Lynch will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Chapel, 943 Polk St. Mansfield, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Rev. Frankie Mathis and Rev. Toby Shaw. Burial will follow at Dill Cemetery in Carmel, Louisiana. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 6, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Larry was born on November 2, 1958, in Mansfield, Louisiana to Junior and Rachel Lynch and entered into rest on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Patty Tyler; and brother, Jim Lynch.
Survived by his wife, Adenah Lynch; sons, Zachary Cade Lynch, and Ryan Migues and wife, Jessica; daughters, Kallie Williamson and husband, Calvin, and Erin Ryder and husband, Jakob; sister, Delores “Sis” Shaw and husband, Toby; brother, Randy Lynch and wife, Lydia; grandchildren, Kynleigh and Kynnedi Williamson, Stetson and Jep Ryder, and Keaton and Emmett Migues; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Honoring Larry as pallbearers will be Jeremy Lafite, Justin White, Brad Tyler, Chris Locke, Dale Burr, and David Ferrier.
On January 1, the Prescription Drug coverage offered state workers through the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits changed. Noe CVS Caremark will administer the program. That decision is upsetting to the largest pharmacies in the parish.
A group of Pharmacies and others went to court in late December to block the change. Their request for an injunction was dismissed by 19th District Court in Baton Rouge. The Judge ruled in favor of Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne’s petition for no cause of action. Other petitions were dismissed. As a result, the new contract with CVS Caremark went into effect January 1st.
Journal reporter LaBetha Casey discussed the effects of the program with North Desoto Drug in Stonewall.
For five years or more, Mandi Dominguez, owner of North DeSoto Drug in Stonewall, LA, has been communicating with legislators regarding pharmacy concerns. Recently, against legislative order, Jay Dardenne, who is the Commissioner of Administration for Gov. Jon Bel Edwards, entered into a contract with CVS Caremark to be the preffered pharmacy provider for state employees. Many pharmacies across the state of Louisiana, including North DeSoto Drug, had to opt out because the reimbursement is too low for them to be able to cover the cost of the medicine and fill the prescription, therefore they would be unable to break even on the transaction.
According to Dominguez, the Louisiana Independent Pharmacy Association has fought hard to stop this. She stated, “The pharmacies should be paid properly, and state employees should be able to use the pharmacy of their choice. When the state enters into contracts for other enterprises such as road construction, the state doesn’t pay less than what the contractor charges. This is a sad day for pharmacies and for the future of health care.” The main concerns Dominguez has now is for residents of Louisiana to have good access for healthcare, especially in rural areas, and that healthcare autonomy is gone.
North DeSoto Drug offers an independent discount plan, but Dominguez fears the healthcare of some of her state employee customers will suffer because of having to travel a longer distance to fill their prescriptions. She states that Louisiana has good laws on the books for healthcare, but that no one will take responsibility for enforcing them. When she speaks with legislators, they tell her that the State Attorney General should enforce them, the Attorney General says the Insurance Commissioner should enforce them and the Insurance Commissioner says the Attorney General should enforce them. However, she holds high regard for State Representative, Larry Bagley and State Senator Barry Milligan for fighting on the side of the local pharmacies.
LA State Rep. Larry Bagley stated, “There has never been a time in my 7-year time in office that all of the Democrats and Republicans in the legislature have unanimously voted against any measure every time until this issue arose.” The state senate is hosting a meeting in Baton Rouge later this month to discuss ideas of how to dismiss or counteract this contract. As Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee, Bagley will be attending this meeting. However, since state contracts aren’t laws, the legislature has no say so about the contracts.
According to Bagley, the “big box stores” such as Walgreens, Walmart and similar stores that provide prescriptions will be able to continue being open to serve their customers because of the volume of sales but will run local pharmacies out of business.
The Journal spoke with Mansfield Drug in Mansfield about the impact on his business as a result pf the change. Owner and Pharmacist, Edmund Decote, says that if the State moves to one central Provider not only will it hurt the individuals on State Plans but, also, independent Drug Stores like his.
Ducote said a very important point is a person would lose the advantage of having all of your prescriptions with one pharmacist. He would know which drugs interact with the others. Another lost advantage is the relationship of the local Pharmacist with the area Doctors. Health Care Providers don’t have the services like home delivery and after hours service that independent pharmacies offer. Many prescriptions can be filled while a walk-in customer waits, and many questions can be answered with a phone call.
And in Logansport, reporter Nicole Tull spoke with Headrick’s Drug Store. They will not be affected very much by the state contract with CVS Caremark to be the sole pharmacy provider for state employees. Shomichael Stephens has been the pharmacist there since April. He said, “There are not very many customers on that plan. Only about thirty prescriptions fall into that category. Business will continue as normal.” Stephens is very compassionate for those affected and is grateful his pharmacy will not be impacted.
Stephens said he has been proactive about helping the small-town pharmacy since his arrival. He has welcomed a local author and chef to showcase his seasonings and cookbooks. Recently the pharmacy added a line of CBD products. Stephens encourages people to talk with their pharmacist when adding CBD to their regime as it may interfere with other medications.
From the Krewe of Aquarius:
Krewe of Aquarius would like to Proudly Congratulate our 2023 Queen-Mrs. Tina Graves and 2023 King-Mr. Rusty Morris. We are honored to have them Represent the Krewe in all of our Festivities.
Plan to come celebrate their crowning on January 21st at 6:00 pm at the RB4 Event Center.
The Krewe’s Mardi Gras Parade will be February 4th at 6:00 pm.
For more information on either event please contact Teresa Stephens @ 318-518-2775 or Tammy Thomas 318-286-8771.
By Teddy Allen
Got a box of Moon Pies for Christmas. Nothing says peace on earth or goodwill to your colon quite like a pair of graham crackers divided by corn syrup and vegetable shortening disguised as marshmallows and dipped in chocolate.
Hand me an RC Cola and sing me back home.
Can’t eat an original big-boy-sized Moon Pie anymore, but I do love the occasional Mini-Moon pie, mainly for nostalgic reasons. Well, solely for nostalgic reasons. Definitely not for dietary ones.
It hurts me to type this but … I have to. Others might be in the same culinary boat, feeling guilty like me.
Sad to report that, through no fault of its own, Moon Pies have moved into a Food Group I invented in my maturing years. It’s not one that makes me happy.
It’s “Boy Food That Didn’t Grow Up While I Did.” I wish these foods had aged along with me, but instead, they remained young while I started getting mail from AARP and going to the bathroom three times a night.
I want to like them. Want to look forward to them like I did when I was a kid and my taste buds and digestive tract didn’t know what was good for it.
But in these more mature years, nostalgia and boyhood memory is easily trumped by things like handlebar fat and our old unwanted, rarely mentioned friend, constipation, or its bastard cousin, the-opposite-of-constipation.
In our Boy Food That Didn’t Grow Up While I Did list, Moon Pies don’t bat leadoff, but they’re in the lineup.
So is Vienna Sausage. A can or two and a sleeve of Saltines while on break from your summer job digging sewerage ditches was a welcome banquet. Shade. Water. Vienna Sausage. Welcoming and easy and filling but not too filling. Good times.
I couldn’t even look at a Vienna Sausage now.
They are in the same phylum as potted meat. The wrapper was white and the labeling was “Deviled Ham,” and a red devil with a pitchfork was the brand and packaging. Might still be; I haven’t looked for it since I signed on with a job that offered group insurance.
Keep in mind that its street name was/is “potted meat.” Well … it’s potted. Does not have the same marketing vibe as the playful “melts in your mouth, not in your hands.”
The most recent addition to the list is the youthful Sloppy Joe. There was a time when I could eat four and want more. That time died in the early 1980s. About once every five years I will try to eat one, get all excited, and then take the first bite. That first bite always reminds me that life is a struggle and that if we don’t learn from our mistakes, we are bound to repeat them.
Do you know what was really good in the 1970s? A frozen chicken pot pie cooked for an hour on the stove. Always eat them with a peanut butter foldover. Did that two years ago and started crying when I had a moment of clarity and realized that my dietary life had come to that. Sordid.
You make a homemade chicken pot pie and I’m the first in line, but my days with the little aluminum bake-at-450-for-60-minutes pie tin are over.
Spoiled? or wiser? Or maybe less hungry. Who knows?
All we know is that we’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’, you know that lovin’ feelin’ … It’s gone, gone, gone, baby, it’s gone.
One food remains on the fence: SPAM. Once every fall, during an NFL game on television, I fry SPAM and eat it on white bread. It’s once a year, has to be during an NFL game, has to be white bread, and that’s it. I must have seen a tremendous Cowboys-Redskins game on a perfect Sunday afternoon in 1972 while eating SPAM, and my subconscious won’t let me forget it. No other explanation.
Besides, SPAM helped win World War II for us; Eisenhower said so himself. Maybe that’s why my stomach tips a cap to it once a year.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or Twitter @MamaLuvsManning
Rhonda Meek of the Village Cuisine in Grand Cane announced Tuesday that an early morning fire caused extensive damage to the restaurant. Here is her report:
At 4:30 am I was notified by the sheriffs dept that the restaurant was on fire! From security camera footage, it looks to have started around 10:50 pm and sat unnoticed until a little after 4:00 am when a kind passerby noticed and grabbed my water hose and started trying to put it out and called 911. We thank him for saving it – it could have been much worse.
We suspect lightning as the cause due to the fact that there was another lightning strike on the other end of the newly built patio or some sort of power surge, but we won’t know for sure. The dining room was spared, but the kitchen and dish room are a total loss.
We are very fortunate that it happened when no staff or customers were there. We ask that you pray for me, my family and my staff as we go from here. We appreciate all our fellow merchants, customers and community for stopping by, for your phone calls and texts. We will get through this and move forward.
Village Cuisine has been my baby for the last 14 years and we aren’t done yet – there are too many things that I have planned and have wanted to do to stop now. So, we will be closed until we can rebuild etc. We love our Village Cuisine fans and appreciate each and every one of you! Thank you for a terrific 2022. I look forward to seeing you all as soon as we can.
By Royal Alexander
My mother, a remarkable and resilient woman, passed away last week at 90 years old after a lifetime of mothering, advocacy, and service. I am one of her 12 children, but she was also grandmother of 40 and great grandmother of 6.
She was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana. After graduating from Mount Carmel Academy in Lafayette, she earned her B.A. at Southwestern (ULL) with a double major in piano and voice. She then pursued her Masters in voice at Southern Methodist University, regaling many audiences during her lifetime with her lovely singing.
In the 1960s she also hosted her own TV show in Shreveport on the NBC affiliate Channel 6, KTAL Calling, on which she interviewed TV personalities of the day. She also was a fluent speaker of French enunciated with a beautiful, authentic accent.
My siblings and I, born and raised in Shreveport, grew up in what would today be called a “traditional, old-fashioned family.” This included that period of time in which “children were to be seen, not heard” and in which each child had daily chores to complete with clear consequences for not doing so.
My late father, a former U.S. Marine Corp officer, was a strict disciplinarian and demanded much of his children. He scrupulously insisted we maintain our grades, our faith, and our conduct. In fact, particularly as it pertains to my brothers and I, we were far more concerned about him deploying his sturdy black belt than we were with any temptation that adolescent and teenage boys might be drawn to.
Complementing our father’s military creed was our mother’s gentler approach, which was one of patience, social refinement, and spiritual grace. And an infinite supply of stamina.
There were days she must have driven 100 miles just getting all of us to school, after school activities, swim practice, and then home for dinner.
Growing up, we spent countless hours at Sunday church, at times attending two or even three services on a Sunday at Mom’s insistence when we boys were cutting up at the earlier service. She also hosted lively family celebrations at home, extending late into evenings after Christmas Eve and Easter Vigil Masses. My mother infused her Christian Catholic faith into everything she did.
Staunchly pro-life, she championed the rights of unborn babies. She requested my dad help her and together they founded, in 1974, one of the very first pro-life crisis pregnancy centers in Louisiana. She urged me and my siblings to boldly give a voice to the unborn while always reflecting the values we had been taught.
As a result of this she was, earlier this year, honored by the Republican Party of Louisiana with the Pro-Life Legacy Award in recognition of her many decades of service to the cause of the defenseless unborn.
Even to the very end of her life, she never stopped moving, always serving her community with an indomitable spirit. For many years, she also assisted the Franciscan Brothers of Shreveport at the Christian Service Hospitality House.
She firmly believed that “happiness is a direction, not a position” and that the very best thing we can do for our mental, physical, and spiritual health is to always be moving toward a positive, worthwhile goal. Because, she said, there are so many in need, and therefore so many opportunities to do good.
And she did.
Throughout her life, she would find those in need, or they, her, and she would pour out her heart and her resources to help them. Her humility in her Christian witness brought inspiration to those whose lives she touched.
She was also quite funny.
I must confess she enjoyed the taste of a good whiskey. I remember once having poured her a modest drink and then asking her if she wished me to add ice or water to it. She looked at me with a touch of pity and a chuckle as if to say “honey, I would never ruin a good whiskey by adding ice or water to it.”
While I am struggling with her passing, even now I can see clearly enough to recognize that she gave me and all my brothers and sisters our three greatest gifts: our lives, our faith—and, of profound importance, she gave us each other, our siblings.
I can do no better than to close with these words of wisdom from President Lincoln: “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”
By The Center Square
Louisiana is among states with the biggest population declines in recent years, according to new U.S. Census data.
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows Louisiana ranked fifth among states for numeric decline in the population between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022, losing 36,857 residents in that time. Between April 1, 2020 and July 1, 2022, 67,508 residents left the Pelican State, according to the data.
States that lost more residents include New York with a 180,341 decline, California with a 113,649 loss, Illinois’ 104,437 drop, and Pennsylvania with 40,051 fewer residents.
In terms of percentage loss, Louisiana tied Illinois with a 0.8% decline from 2021 to 2022, behind only New York with a 0.9% loss.
Despite the population loss, Louisiana has remained the 25th most populous state in the U.S. from 2020 through 2022.
This Week’s report covers a one week period as of 9:00 am Monday morning and includes of all arrests made in DeSoto Parish by the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO), Mansfield Police Department (MPD), and Louisiana State Police (LSP.)
This report covers December 19-January 1, 2022
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Jose Esqueda
July 19, 1946 to December 24, 2020
View full obituary here:
https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/01/02/jose-esqueda/
James Ronald “JR” Odum
May 29, 1945 to December 30, 2022
View full obituary here:
https://desotoparishjournal.com/2023/01/03/james-ronald-j-r-odum/
Jesse Sumers, Sr.
September 22, 1966 to December 17, 2022
Service: Saturday, January 7, 2022 at 11:00 am at New Friendship B.C. in Frierson, LA.
The DeSoto Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers. Contact your funeral provider or DeSotoParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above with no link to the obituary are FREE of charge.)
DeSoto schools wished everyone a Happy New Year. 2023 is going to be a GREAT one. They reminded everyone students return to school on Thursday, January 5th.
Next Tuesday January 10 the STEM program at the Logansport Library will be making butter. STEM meets at 4:00 pm.
James Ronald “J.R.” Odum “, 77, passed away at home on December 30, 2022 surrounded by loving family following a brief, courageous battle with illness.
J.R. was born in Lake Charles, LA, the only child to James Guy Odum of Mansfield, LA and Katherine Lewis “Jackie” Riddle Odum of Coushatta, LA on May 29, 1945.
J.R. began his career working for the Louisiana State Police Department on September 4, 1967. He was later commissioned as a Sergeant on November 1, 1973. While continuing to work full time J.R. pursued a career change and studied at McNeese State University obtaining his BSN and becoming an R.N.in 1985
J.R. was an avid hunter and fisherman. He had a wide variety of hobbies that he excelled in such as gun collecting and reloading of ammunition. He was an exceptional and admirable Marksman. He also enjoyed woodworking, cooking, and in his younger years, photography, camping and traveling. He loved to watch football and had a special interest in history.
J.R. was a loving and devoted father, husband, grandfather, and friend. He will be lovingly remembered for his generous heart, warm spirit and the love that he shared with his family.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Georgia Odum of Taylor, AR, a daughter, Becky Odum Rasberry (Jamey Rasberry) of Lake Charles, LA, a grandson, Austin Tyler Devillier, two granddaughters, Amelia Rose Rasberry and Addison Rasberry and his dog, Bubba as well as a host of family and friends.
The family would like to thank Whitney and Sheena with Inhabit Hospice for their compassion and care they provided.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA. Visitation will follow the service on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. that evening with an additional visitation Friday from 9-10 A.M. at Rose-Neath. Burial will be at Liberty Cemetery in Louann, AR on Friday at 2:00 p.m. Proctor Funeral Home of Camden, AR is in charge of arrangements. To sign the online guest register visit proctorfuneralhome.com.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Jose’ Onelas Esqueda, 66, will be held on January 2, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at First Community Church of Mansfield, in Mansfield, LA.
Jose’ was born on July 20, 1946 in Jalisco, Mexico to Amalia Onelas and Vicente Esqueda. After a long and brave battle with cancer, followed by a tragic accident, Jose’ left this earth on Saturday, December 24, 2022 at the age of 66 to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, while surrounded by family and friends.
Among the many family members and friends left to cherish the memory of Jose’ is his beloved wife of twelve years, Tanyau Deloris Houston Esqueda. Jose’ had seven children, Esthela, Raul, Amelia, Jose’ Luis, Alvaro, Bulmaro, Enrique and stepson, Charlie. Included in his large family, Jose’ had thirteen siblings, Jesus “Jessie”, Isidoro, Viente, Roberto, Atanisho, Martin, Juan, Marta, Josefina, Socorro, Irene and Amelia. Also left to cherish his memory is a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
While Jose’ wore many important titles during his life…….son, husband, father, grandfather and brother, perhaps he never realized “friend’ was among his greatest titles as he always brought joy to the hearts of those around him with his kindness and smiles. Someone once said, “The measure of a man is in the lives he has touched.” He touched numerous lives.
Jose’ enjoyed most anything he could do outside. He had a passion for gardening, especially flowers. Before his illness, Jose’ could be found tinkering with anything he could get his hands on, whether his or someone else’s. His philosophy was that it didn’t have to be fixed “right” for it to work…at least for a little while. He definitely left a mark on anything he worked on.
Jose’ will be missed but his life will continue to be celebrated as we take comfort in the fact that we will be reunited with him one day.
The National Weather Forecast for tomorrow includes heavy rainfall, a risk of storms, and a flash flood watch in effect until Monday night. Locally up to 2 inches of rain is forecast.
Excessive Heavy Rainfall will be possible Monday through Monday Night in advance of our next storm system.
An Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms is in place for much of the region Monday, with the severe threat increasing by afternoon through the overnight hours. Damaging winds, isolated tornadoes (some of which may be strong), large hail, and locally heavy rain are all possible.
In addition, locally heavy rainfall of 3+ inches could cause flooding and a Flood Watch is in effect.
The Local DeSoto Forecast:
Monday – A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 9am. Some of the storms could be severe. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 75. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night – Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 62. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
On Saturday, December 31, 2022, just before 2:00 p.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a two-vehicle fatality crash on LA Hwy 177 at LA Hwy 510. This crash claimed the life of 95-year-old Walter Johnson.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe, driven by Johnson stopped on LA Hwy 510, waiting to make a left turn onto LA Hwy 177. At the same time, 2013 Western Star tractor-trailer was traveling south on LA Hwy 177. Johnson failed to yield and was struck by the Western Star. This impact caused the Hyundai to exit the roadway and travel into the ditch.
Johnson was restrained but suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the DeSoto Parish Coroner’s Office. The driver of the Western Star was also restrained and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
In 2022, Troop G has investigated 35 fatal crashes, resulting in 38 deaths.
As of Friday morning, Boil Advisories for the following water works districts have been lifted: Grand Cane Water, Water Works District #1, Highway 513
This is information provided to the Sheriff’s Office to share. All questions should be directed toward your water district.
On Tuesday committees of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury will meet to discuss several items. One item regards the appointment of Stonewall Mayor Ken Kaffka to the board of Fire District #3.
Another issue to be taken up includes funding for the parish Coroner, looking at the Coroner’s salary. Also, to amend the budget to pay the Coroner a $600 monthly stipend instead of purchasing a vehicle.
The Buildings and Properties Committee will take up signing a service agreements with Fitzgerald for the new jail. And to authorize an agreement with Newman Marchive amending the budget $275,600 for the new Jail.
The committees meet together at the Police Jury meeting room on Franklin Street at 5:00 pm Tuesday.
Effective January First, to sell your home you must have Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors installed. And they must be of a certain quality as specified in the law. The same requirement is also imposed on rental homes. This change will affect every one or two family home in DeSoto Parish.
Every one or two family dwelling that is sold or leased must meet the new requirements. A smoke detector may be combined with the CO detector as long as it conforms to the specs in the updated law.
For years fire departments have recommended that all homes have smoke and CO detector devices installed. This is the first time it has been required by state law that the CO detectors be installed before a residence could be sold or leased.
All locations of the DeSoto Parish Library are closed today. They will reopen Monday January 3rd at 9:00 am.
Stonewall Swapportunity will be held at the Stonewall Branch on Wednesday January 4th beginning at 11:00 am. Mrs. Beverly will demonstrate making super cute knit snowmen.
The STEM Program will be held on Tuesday January 3rd at the Pelican Branch from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Kids will learn how to make puffy snow paint and paint a winter scene.
The Logansport Branch will hold Adult Bingo on Wednesday January 3rd at 10:00 am.
By Brad Dison
The coming of a new year brings hope for us all. It is a chance to wipe the slate clean and start anew. Many of us will set goals that we could never achieve, but we must believe that we can achieve anything. We must believe in ourselves. No matter what happens this coming year, don’t stop believing in yourself.
In the early 1970s, Jonathan moved from his hometown of Chicago to Los Angeles, California. The only being Jonathan knew in “the City of Angels” was his beloved dog that he brought with him from Chicago. Jonathan, a talented musician, hoped to “make it big” in the music industry. At eight years old, Jonathan began taking accordion lessons. As a teenager, he made extra money playing accordion and piano in clubs and at parties. Following high school, Jonathan attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music. His parents, teachers, and friends all thought he had the talent required to “make it,” and encouraged him to give it a shot.
Jonathan was hopeful when he arrived in Los Angeles, but he quickly began to struggle just to survive. There were opportunities for up-and-coming musicians to play, but the market was saturated with fine musicians who often played for little or no pay. More often than not, Jonathan’s income from playing music was too little to allow him to pay his bills and eat, too. He became one of Los Angeles’s many starving artists. When he became desperate, which happened often, Jonathan ashamedly called his father and asked for a small loan. His father always sent Jonathan what money he could and reassured him that one-day things would be better.
Then, an event happened which brought Jonathan to the point of giving up on his dream, his beloved dog was hit by a car and severely injured. He had no money to pay the vet. Once again, he called his father for another loan. His father could hear the discouragement in his voice more than any other time that Jonathan had called. “Dad,” Jonathan asked in a dispirited voice, “should I just give up on this thing and come home?” His father reassured him as he always had. “No. Don’t come home,” his father said. Always full of encouragement, his father gave him another piece of advice which Jonathan thought important enough to jot down in his notebook.
With his father’s reassurance, Jonathan kept searching for the right opportunity. He thought that opportunity had finally arrived in 1976 when he recorded a solo album which he named after his hometown, “Windy City Breakdown.” The album failed to chart, and Jonathan’s struggle continued. In 1978, Jonathan joined a British rock group called The Babys. Jonathan recorded two albums with The Babys, but the band failed to achieve the level of success they had hoped for and, in 1980, the group disbanded. In that same year, Jonathan joined another band and began working on an album with them. The band needed two more songs to complete the album, and the band’s lead singer asked Jonathan if he had any song ideas. Jonathan flipped through his notebook and read again the advice his father had given him several years earlier. Those three simple words of encouragement became the inspiration of and title of one of Jonathan’s band’s biggest hits. It has been described as the “perfect rock song” which featured Jonathan playing “one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock.” The song was the best-selling digital track from the 20th century. The band was Journey. The name of the song and the advice his father gave Jonathan Cain was,… “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Those three words were good advice from Jonathan’s father then and have remained good advice to listeners for over forty years. If we “Don’t Stop Believin’” in ourselves, we can accomplish anything in the coming new year.
Happy New Year!
Source: Elkins, Kimberly, “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Guideposts, p.75.
DeSoto Career and Technical Education (CTE) was on fire during the fall semester. Over 1100 students enrolled in CTE courses and over 600 Industry Based Certifications were earned. Students also earned over 300 State IBCS.
DeSoto students had one State Champion. Multiple Area and State honors were achieved. And countless career opportunities were explored.
TKE pledge class ‘plays it forward’ for A.E. Phillips
As a part of their 2022 pledge class project, the brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) have donated to the “Play it Forward” campaign for A.E. Phillips Laboratory School’s (AEP) new outdoor learning space.
Every year, the TKE pledge class is encouraged to complete a project that involves a type of philanthropic or fundraising event.
TKE pledge member Jacob Michelli led this year’s initiative. “I was driving past A.E. Phillips when I saw the ‘Play it Forward’ initiative, and our pledge class project immediately came to mind,” Michelli said. “When I brought it up, they were immediately on board.”
By Steve Graf
Today, I’m venturing away from my fishing stories by wrapping up 2022 and taking a hard look at where we are as a country. In so many ways 2022 was a great year, as we finally returned to a sense of normalcy. It seems like years ago that we were under mask mandates and trying to figure out the facts and fiction of Covid-19. It truly rocked our world like nothing ever has in my lifetime of 61 years. We’re still trying to make sense of what this disease brings with it and the lasting effects it could have for generations.
But for now, I am going in a different direction as I reveal my observations on where we are as a nation. First, politics has come to the forefront now that Trump is no longer in office but has declared he’s running for office again in 2024 as we’re halfway through the Biden years. Never can I remember in my years of living in this great country the political and moral division that exists today. America has truly lost her mind! Can I say that America is considered she or am I being sexist?
The 1960s might be the closest era we’ve seen that is similar to now. For one thing, we have allowed the minority groups and I don’t mean minority as in the African Americans, Mexican Americans or Italians, or any other demographic group that makes up this great nation. I’m talking about the one or two people in a crowd that don’t want the prayer or national anthem recited at a public event. Those that don’t want their kids exposed to Jesus in any shape or form.
So, who’s responsible for our nation turning its back on Jesus? EVERYONE!!! No one political party can excuse themselves from the plain and simple fact that we are a nation divided. Republicans and Democrats and their leadership from within are all guilty of fueling the flames of this division. I guess you could also say, we the people are to blame as well since we are the ones who voted these people into office. Yes, Trump had a hand as well with all of his idiotic Tweets and trying to communicate with Americans through social media…something no other President has ever done. While a lot of his policies were for the good of America, his mouth was nothing but pure venom and created a “pick a side” mentality.
As a church-going member of the First United Methodist Church, I’ve seen a decline in the number of people attending church. Recently I counted 24 empty pews out of 40 during a church service. More than half of the churches or churches all across this country are empty. People have walked away from the church but more devastating, they’ve walked away from God. Our schools and state officials have also taken God out of the equation with no one willing to challenge the powers that be to bring this one saving grace back.
The family dynamic has all but disappeared from the American landscape which used to be our foundation for what was right with this country. Divorce attorneys are in high demand and single-parent dwellings are on the rise. People no longer see the importance of family structure and the stability it brings to the younger generation. One common quote I hear so often amongst couples is, “I’m not happy.” I’m sorry, but I don’t recall seeing anywhere in my Christian upbringing where the good Lord promises happiness. But he has given us the tools and the playbook (Bible) to follow and work things out and to do what’s always in the best interest of the family and the children.
Kids need a mom and a dad under the same roof. This is critical for their total development as a boy or a girl. We have kids today who are so confused about who and what they are. Really?!!! This is a total lack of parenting and not being exposed to the Word of God. Do you remember the slogan a few years ago for educating our children? “No child left behind.” Well, we have left the children behind, and they will turn in whatever direction they can to get the answers they’re looking for. The problem is they’re turning to the wrong people and looking in the wrong places.
People have become so consumed with their own selfish needs that they have forgotten what’s really important. Couples’ ability to communicate effectively and fight hard to save their marriage no longer exists. It’s easier to give up and just get a divorce.
Meanwhile, our churches are empty, and we have turned our back on God, and we wonder why we are in the shape we’re in. If this one concept of getting back in the church does not return to the American landscape, we are doomed to fall not only from God’s grace but as a nation as well. We must start to rebuild our church base and bring back the family dynamics that are missing today. We must elect officials who have the same moral compass as the church. Know what and who the people you’re voting for are and what they represent. If we as Christians don’t rise up and redirect our nation, we will be at a point of no return and I’m not so sure we’re not already there.
For those of you that have made a point to acknowledge my articles this year, I say, “Thank you!” It always makes my day to know that what I’m writing has touched someone in a good way. I’m always very appreciative of the kind words you’ve sent my way in person, by text, or by email. I hope each of you has a healthy and prosperous 2023! See you on the other side! Until then, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget your sunscreen.