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.
DESOTO PARISH, La. โ A 21-year-old Texas man who was wanted by the DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office on a felony charge involving a juvenile is now in custody.
The Sheriffโs Office had identified Zackery Levi Byrd, 21, of Joaquin, Texas, as a wanted suspect on a charge of felony indecent behavior with a juvenile.
DPSO initially released information seeking the publicโs assistance in locating Byrd. The agency later updated the notice at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, announcing that the suspect was in custody.
The original notice also advised that Crime Stoppers could pay up to $1,000 for information leading to a suspectโs arrest and provided options for submitting anonymous tips through P3Tips.com, the DeSoto Sheriff App or by calling 1-800-505-7867.
No additional information regarding Byrdโs arrest was provided in the update.
An arrest is an accusation and does not constitute a conviction. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A Texas man was taken into custody within two minutes of a reported burglary in progress at a downtown Logansport business Thursday night, according to the DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office.
At approximately 9:49 p.m. on Aug. 20, DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office Dispatch received a report of a burglary in progress at Main Street Market, located along Highway 84 in downtown Logansport.
Patrol deputies who were already in the area were immediately dispatched to the business. By 9:51 p.m., deputies had a suspect identified as Aaron C. Brazzel in custody.
A DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office K9 Unit was also dispatched to clear the perimeter and ensure no additional suspects were involved.
Brazzel, 29, of Joaquin, Texas, was transported to the DeSoto Detention Center and booked on charges of simple burglary and possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance.
Sheriff Jayson Richardson commended the departmentโs dispatchers, patrol deputies and K9 Unit for their swift response and coordinated efforts, which resulted in the suspect being taken into custody without further incident.
The information was released by DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office Public Information Officer Deputy Mark Pierce.
An arrest indicates that probable cause existed in connection with an alleged offense. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
DESOTO PARISH, La. โ DeSoto Parish will continue to experience hot conditions this week, with temperatures reaching around 100 degrees before rain chances increase Wednesday night and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday will be sunny and hot with a high near 100 degrees. Southwest winds will be around 5 mph. Wednesday night will bring a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, followed by a chance of showers after 10 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent, with a low around 77.
Thursday will be mostly sunny and hot with a high near 97. A slight chance of showers will be possible before thunderstorms become more likely after 10 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. and a low around 74.
Friday will be mostly sunny and hot with a high near 97. There is a 20 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m. Friday night will be mostly clear with a low around 74.
Saturday will be sunny and hot with a high near 97, followed by mostly clear skies Saturday night and a low around 75.
Sunday will remain sunny and hot with a high near 97 degrees.
The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to remain vigilant as scammers continue using phone calls and text messages to impersonate banks, government agencies, law enforcement and other trusted organizations.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies receive multiple scam reports each day, with criminals continually changing their stories and tactics in an effort to obtain money or personal information.
Scammers may claim to represent a bank or fraud department, law enforcement agency, Medicare or Medicaid, or another organization. Residents are urged not to provide personal or financial information, send money or click links contained in unsolicited text messages.
The Sheriff’s Office said one of the biggest warning signs is an unexpected call concerning a problem the recipient knew nothing about, particularly when the caller creates a sense of urgency and demands immediate payment.
Officials advise residents who receive such calls to hang up immediately.
Anyone concerned that a call may have been legitimate should independently locate the official telephone number for the business or agency the caller claimed to represent and contact that organization directly. Residents should not call a number supplied by the suspicious caller.
โNever use any phone numbers provided to you by a caller either,โ DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Deputy Mark Pierce said. โWe receive multiple reports a day, and every single one is different, but all of them can be avoided by simply hanging up.โ
The Sheriff’s Office is also offering its โSurviving Scammersโ presentation to local groups interested in learning more about recognizing and avoiding scams. Presentations can be arranged for small groups, apartment communities, facilities, churches and other organizations.
Those interested in scheduling a presentation may contact the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-872-3956, ext. 251, or contact Pierce at mpierce@dpso.org.
A pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies came to a safe conclusion on Interstate 49 in DeSoto Parish after Louisiana State Police successfully deployed spike strips, according to the DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office.
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, DeSoto Parish Dispatch was notified by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriffโs Office of a pursuit involving a silver 2012 Honda CR-V traveling northbound on I-49 toward DeSoto Parish.
Natchitoches Parish authorities later advised that they had terminated their pursuit and asked DeSoto Parish law enforcement agencies to remain alert for the vehicle.
Shortly afterward, the DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office Aviation Unit located a vehicle matching the description traveling northbound on I-49. The departmentโs Real-Time Crime Center assisted in confirming that the vehicle spotted from the air was the same vehicle involved in the earlier pursuit.
DPSO patrol deputies then located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop after observing it traveling at a high rate of speed. According to the Sheriffโs Office, the driver did not stop and continued fleeing, resulting in another pursuit.
The DPSO Aviation Unit maintained visual contact with the vehicle from the air and provided information to deputies on the ground.
Louisiana State Police joined the pursuit and successfully deployed spike strips near the 185-mile marker, just south of the Highway 175 exit. According to DPSO, the spike strips brought the pursuit to a safe and quick conclusion.
The investigation remains ongoing, and charges are pending. Additional details may be released at a later time.
Sheriff Jayson Richardson commended the DPSO Patrol Division, Aviation Unit, Real-Time Crime Center and Dispatch, along with Louisiana State Police, for their response.
โThis incident is a great example of what can be accomplished when multiple agencies and divisions work together,โ Richardson said. โWhat began as a dangerous situation was brought to a peaceful and safe conclusion because everyone involved worked together and communicated effectively. I am proud of the way our people handled this incident.โ
The information was released by DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office Public Information Officer Deputy Mark Pierce.
The DeSoto Council on Aging and DeSoto Parish Sheriff Department will host a Senior Fun Day on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, for area residents ages 60 and older.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DeSoto Parish Sheriff Facility, located at 120 Sprockett Lane in Grand Cane.
Senior Fun Day will feature door prizes, bingo, guest speakers and lunch.
Guest speakers will include Gina Martinez, an outreach representative with the Attorney Generalโs Office, and Dr. Richie Bell, a statewide insurance agent.
Transportation will also be available for those who need a ride to the event. Seniors who would like to schedule transportation should contact the DeSoto Council on Aging Transportation Department at 318-872-2270.
DESOTO PARISH, La. โ Cooling stations have opened at multiple locations across DeSoto Parish as the area prepares for dangerously high temperatures in the coming days.
According to the DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office, the high temperatures can quickly lead to heat-related illnesses, particularly among the elderly, young children and those who work or spend extended periods outdoors.
Cooling stations will be available daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:
DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office Main Office โ Mansfield
Clara Springs Baptist Encampment โ 4420 Highway 177
The cooling stations will remain open each day until temperatures return to safer levels.
The Sheriffโs Office is also encouraging residents to check on elderly neighbors, family members and others who may be particularly vulnerable during the extreme heat.
Anyone who needs assistance because of the heat, including transportation to a cooling station or help with another heat-related concern, is encouraged to contact the DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office. Those needing assistance outside the cooling stationsโ operating hours may also contact the department for help determining the safest course of action.
Residents are encouraged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activities when possible and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
The information was released by DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office Public Information Officer Deputy Mark Pierce.
Hunters hoping for an opportunity to participate in Louisianaโs 2026 black bear hunting season have only a few days left to enter the stateโs permit lottery.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is reminding hunters that the deadline to apply for the 2026 Louisiana Black Bear Hunting Lottery is Friday, Aug. 28.
This year, 42 black bear tags will be available through the lottery, with hunting opportunities offered across all Louisiana Black Bear Management Areas.
The 2026 black bear hunting season is scheduled for Dec. 5-20.
Applicants must have a valid Louisiana black bear hunting license before submitting a lottery application. The application fee is $50 and is non-refundable.
Bear harvest permits are divided into three categories: WMA, Private Landowner and General.
Hunters selected through the lottery will also be required to attend an LDWF bear hunter training course before participating in the hunt. Training courses are scheduled for Oct. 16, 17, 22 and 23. According to LDWF, failure to attend the required training could result in forfeiture of the permit.
Louisiana’s black bear hunting season returned in 2024 following decades without a regulated season. The hunt is managed through a limited permit system as part of the state’s black bear management program.
Hunters interested in entering the 2026 lottery should complete the application process before the Aug. 28 deadline.
Additional information, eligibility requirements and application instructions are available through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Louisiana Black Bear Hunting Lottery webpage.
Louisiana residents planning to take to the roads or waterways during the upcoming Labor Day weekend are being reminded to drive and boat sober as law enforcement agencies prepare to increase impaired-driving patrols across the state.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hosted the Louisiana Highway Safety Commissionโs โDrive Sober or Get Pulled Overโ press conference on Monday, Aug. 24, in the Joe L. Herring Room in Baton Rouge.
LDWF Enforcement Division Col. Stephen Clark joined representatives from several law enforcement agencies to emphasize that impaired operation of vehicles and vessels will not be tolerated. Officials said DUI enforcement patrols will increase during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.
โDuring Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, Louisiana Game Wardens will join our law enforcement partners in maintaining a visible presence statewide,โ Clark said. โWhile our primary responsibility will be on the waterways, we are part of the same coordinated effort to prevent impaired operation and save lives. Through that coordinated effort, we can carry a consistent safety message from Louisianaโs roadways to its waterways.โ
Louisiana game wardens will focus much of their enforcement efforts on the stateโs waterways, where increased recreational boating is expected during the holiday weekend.
The statewide campaign also involves agencies responsible for highway and local traffic enforcement.
Other speakers at Mondayโs press conference included Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Frank Besson, New Orleans Police Department Capt. Anthony Micheu, Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas โTJโ Morse Jr., Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman.
Officials are urging residents to make plans for a sober driver before drinking and reminding boat operators that impaired operation on the water can have serious consequences just as it can on the highway.
The message from participating agencies heading into the holiday weekend is simple: Drive sober. Boat sober. Help keep Louisianaโs roads and waterways safe.
Iโve always felt that I grew up in the perfect era. It was the early โ70s and the Vietnam War was coming to an end. My generation never had to worry about being drafted by the armed forces. If you wanted to join the military, it was strictly voluntary.ย
While a few of my classmates chose to go in that direction, my attention was trying to get an athletic scholarship to play either football or baseball on the Division 1 level.
Letโs go back to my early years of growing up in the small East Texas town of Mt. Pleasant. As a child during this time frame, we had a lot of freedom. If you had a bike, it was this form of transportation that was basically unlimited. If you could ride your bike on it, there was no limit to where you could go.
We woke up at daylight and were on our bikes by 8 oโclock every summer morning and only came home for lunch, or right at dark. My kids still have a hard time understanding that the only rule we had — be home when the streetlights came on.
Parents didnโt always check on their kids. They pretty much knew where they supposed to be. My mother always knew where I was and who I was with most of the time. There was also a certain amount of trust between parents and their kids, until that trust was broken and we got into trouble.
We lived about three miles out of town and several days out of the week, I would ride my bike for miles. I was either playing ball somewhere at a local ballpark or somebodyโs back yard. We rode our bikes looking for coke bottles on the side of the road that we could trade for candy at the local country store.
We played in creeks and ditches, especially after a big rain. As friends we were always together every day and spent a lot of time playing baseball or going to the local pool.
Occasionally, you could find me fishing at one of the stock ponds, or tanks as they call them in Texas. If I wasnโt at one of the ponds on our ranch, our neighbor Mr. Rayford Jones, who lived across the road from our house, owned a cattle farm and allowed my brother and me along with his grandson to fish his two ponds (tanks) that were full of bass and catfish.
Growing up in the country meant you probably had a garden to tend to. Every other day, I had to spend a couple of hours raking grass out of the garden, which was absolute torture for me. But the produce that came out of the garden was incredible, especially after dad had a load of chicken manure brought in!
We also had about two acres around our house that had to be mowed once every two weeks. Not with a riding mower, but with a push mower! Thatโs right, a 14-inch cut push mower, which required at least two days to complete the job.
I had a brother, seven years younger, who was supposed to take over the lawn cutting duties after I left home for college. Guess what showed up two days before I left home: thatโs right, a Sears riding mower!
To say I voiced my displeasure to my parents about this purchase would be an understatement. For five years I push-mowed two acres and now my little brother would get to use a riding mower!
That being said, there were several chores demanded of me that my brother never took on. So, I guess you could say being the youngest had its privileges.
Looking back, I had an awesome childhood with more freedom than kids have today. They say itโs a different world than what my generation grew up in. Iโm not sure thatโs totally right.
Thereโs just so much more media exposure with up to the minute news and social media sites that are always shedding light on topics most really donโt want to hear about.
Thereโs always been bad people in the world who are looking to prey upon the weak. Todayโs kids are growing up in a bubble of overprotection. Parents are less likely today to allow their kids to roam free like we did.
I think kids and young teenagers today are not near as mature as earlier generations. This is due to parents being overprotective, afraid to let their kids make mistakes they can learn from. With my generation, we all had summer and part-time jobs that helped us to mature and understand responsibility at an early age.
Our parents did a great job of preparing us for the real world. That gave us something I think is lacking with so many of todayโs youth –maturity and accepting responsibility. We can only hope and pray that the generation of today will find its own path to success sooner rather than later.
Our country is at a crossroads in so many ways today. Far left extremists continues to gain ground in small areas of the country. But I donโt think when it comes down to a national election, they will have enough support to win.
I think common sense once again will prevail with the American people,like it did back in the good ole days. If it wasnโt for todayโs social media, these small pockets of far-left activists would never even be heard. In God we trust! Stay strong America!
What if one concert could bring together people who love classic hymns, contemporary Christian music, love country music by artists like Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Brooks & Dunn & Jelly Roll, those who love Southern Gospel and traditional Black Gospel, along with those who grew up listening to the Eagles, the Beatles, James Taylor, STYX and classic rock?
Thereโs one that can.
Itโs an Amazing! Rhythm Disciples (ARD) concert.
The Disciplesโ mantra is โFamiliar Music. Timeless Message.โ They like to describe their concerts as seven very accomplished musicians with very diverse backgrounds coming together to make โA VERY Joyful Noise!โ
ARD was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in the fall of 2024, when seven musicians who also happened to be friends came together to play music, have fun and praise Godโand ended up forming a unique music ministry.
โIt all came together very quickly and very organically,โ said bassist Keith โDonโt call Me Shirleyโ Shirley. โWe were just jamming around and having fun. We would play a Southern Gospel song, then a contemporary Christian song, then a country song, then a classic rock song. Sometimes we would almost accidentally mash them together, look at each other and say, โHey, that works!โโ
Shirley gives credit where he believes it belongs.
โWe knew the good Lord had His hand in this from the get-go,โ he said. โThe blending of the various musical stylesโor โmashups,โ as we call themโcame together so naturally and so quickly that we knew God was doing something.โ
Donโt let all the joking fool you. There is an extraordinary amount of musical experience on an ARD stage.
Among the Disciples are four members of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, current and former church music directors and ministers, and musicians holding at least five music degrees, including a doctorate. Violinist Andrei Kurti studied at the Moscow Conservatory and has performed at Carnegie Hall and in concert halls throughout Europe.
Altogether, the group stopped counting after passing 300 years of combined musical performance experience.
But ARD is difficult to put into a musical box.
โI donโt think you can pigeonhole us as a Gospel group or even simply a Christian music group,โ said vocalist Julia Brown. โWhat we see happening over and over at our concerts is that folks who donโt normally listen to Christian music hear us play a classic rock song or even a current country song reinterpreted through the lens of faith, and they think, โHey, I know that song!โ Before they know it, theyโre hearing a contemporary Christian song or a Southern Gospel song and finding that they like it, in spite of themselves.โ
โFamiliar music is the bridge, and Jesus is where the bridge leads.โ
The Amazing! Rhythm Disciples have performed at churches of various denominations, non-denominational churches, festivals and other events. Along the way, they have watched people of different generations, races, backgrounds and faith traditions come together to laugh, cry , praise and sing along while hearing a message centered unmistakably on Jesus Christ.
โWe take music people know, along with humor and fun, and use it to open the door,โ said one of the Disciples. โThen we walk through that door with them. And no one receives a bigger blessing than us.โ
That connection is at the heart of an ARD concert.
โWeโre constantly striving to connect with someone in the audience and convey the message that no matter what problems youโre having in your life, you donโt have to face them alone. Thereโs strength and hope in Jesus. If we reach one person, itโs all been worth it.โ
After a recent Disciples concert at a church, an elderly lady approached the group with just one word to describe what she had experienced:
โJoyous.โ
The band couldn’t have asked for a better description.
ARD believes sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ doesn’t have to be somber. There can be laughter. There can be great music. There can be familiar songs, unexpected arrangements, stories, memories and plenty of fun.
And there can be joy.
That’s why the Amazing! Rhythm Disciples plan to keep doing exactly what they set out to do:
Making a VERY Joyful Noise!
THE AMAZING! RHYTHM DISCIPLES Familiar Music. Timeless Message. Making a VERY Joyful Noise!
A bomb discovered at a Nevada casino on Aug. 26, 1980, was supposed to be carefully dismantled by the FBI. Instead, the attempt to disarm it triggered an explosion that caused millions of dollars in damage.
The bomb had been planted at Harvey’s Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, by extortionist John Birges. He demanded $3 million from the casino and built the device inside a large metal box.
When authorities discovered the bomb, FBI bomb technicians were brought in to dismantle it. During the operation, however, a mistake caused the device to detonate. The explosion tore through part of the hotel and caused an estimated $18 million in damage.
Despite the enormous blast,ย no one was killed.
The bizarre incident became one of the more unusual chapters in the history of casino crime and bomb disposal. Birges was eventually arrested and convicted for the bombing.
Human beings are amazing creatures. We can build skyscrapers, transplant hearts, send people into space, and teach a telephone to recognize our face. But ask us to do something difficultโeven something we have dreamed about doingโand suddenly we become extraordinarily creative theologians.
โI would, Lord, butโฆโ
That sentence may be humanityโs oldest hymn.
Moses certainly knew the tune. In Exodus 3, God appears to him in a burning bush and essentially says, โMoses, remember that thing you have cared about most of your life? Remember your people suffering in Egypt? Remember how you once tried to do something about it? Well, Iโm sending you.โ
You would expect Moses to shout, โFinally!โ
Instead, Moses begins producing excuses like a Louisiana mosquito produces relatives.
โWho am I?โ
โWhat if they donโt believe me?โ
โWhat if I donโt know what to say?โ
โIโm not a good speaker.โ
And finally, when the theological arguments run out: โLord, please send somebody else.โ
That last one is refreshingly honest.
We do exactly the same thing.
โIโve always wanted to write a book.โ
Wonderful. Start writing.
โWell, I really need the right desk.โ
So we buy the desk.
โNow I need the right chair.โ
We buy the chair.
โOf course, proper lighting is important.โ
Six months later we have a magnificent home office, three notebooks, seventeen pens, a new computerโand not one sentence.
Or maybe we have always wanted to get in shape. Monday morning arrives with all the promise of a new creation. Unfortunately, Monday is inconvenient. Tuesday looks better, except there may be rain. Wednesday is Bible study. Thursday feels too close to Friday, and everybody knows you should never begin anything major that close to a weekend.
Next Monday it is.
Church people are particularly gifted at sanctifying excuses.
โSomeone ought to visit that person.โ
Someone ought to.
โWe really need somebody to work with the children.โ
Absolutely.
โSomebody should invite that new family to lunch.โ
Amen!
Apparently, โSomebodyโ is the busiest member of every congregation in America.
The funny thing is that we sometimes make excuses about doing the very things we have asked God to let us do.
We pray for an opportunity, and when God provides one, we say, โNot quite what I had in mind.โ
We pray, โLord, use me.โ
God says, โAll right.โ
And suddenly we begin renegotiating the contract.
โLord, when I said โuse me,โ I was thinking perhaps in an advisory capacity.โ
Moses discovered something important at the burning bush. God never really answered Mosesโ question, โWho am I?โ
Instead, God answered the question that mattered: โI will be with you.โ
That is the hope for all of us excuse makers.
God does not wait for us to become fearless, eloquent, organized, perfectly prepared, ten pounds lighter, completely confident, or free next Tuesday.
God simply calls.
And when our excuses begin piling up, God keeps saying what he said to Moses:
I will be with you.
So perhaps the next time God opens the door we have spent years asking him to open, instead of developing another excellent reason why we cannot walk through it, we might take one trembling step.
We excuse makers may discover that God has already gone ahead of us.
And apparently, he is not nearly as impressed with our excuses as we are.
Strabo was a Greek geographer born in 64 BC in what is now Amasya, Turkey. Strabo was from an affluent family which afforded him a good education. When he was about 21 years old, Strabo continued his education in Rome where he studied grammar, writing, history, rhetoric, and philosophy. At some point, Strabo began writing a geography based on his extensive travels throughout the known world. He described the people, places, animals, and collected stories from the places he visited. He published his first edition of Geographica in 7 BC which included the story of a hetaira called Doricha. A hetaira was a highly educated female companion who often served a variety of roles including artist, entertainer, conversationalist, and some say, prostitute. Strabo wrote that Doricha โwas bathing, an eagle snatched one of her sandals from her maid and carried it to Memphis; and while the king was administering justice in the open air, the eagle, when it arrived above his head, flung the sandal into his lap; and the king, stirred both by the beautiful shape of the sandal and by the strangeness of the occurrence, sent men in all directions into the country in quest of the woman who wore the sandal; and when she was found in the city of Naucratis, she was brought up to Memphis, and became the wife of the king.โ In his story, Doricha became the queen of Egypt. I must stress that there is no evidence that there ever was a queen of Egypt named Doricha.
Straboโs tale has been told and retold through the centuries. In 1634, Italian Giambattista Basile published a notable version called La Gatta Cenerentola in his book entitled Il Penatamerone. Cenerentola derived from the Italian word โcenereโ which meant ash or cinder because the clothes of servants at the time were usually soiled by ash or cinder because of their cleaning duties. In his version, the first to be published in the Western world, Basile changed Dorichaโs name to Zezolla. In 1697, Frenchman Charles Perrault published an even more embellished version of the tale in his book which translates to Histoires ou contes du temps passรฉ (Histories, or Tales of Past Time). Perrault changed her name from Doricha to another name which was a reference to her clothes being dirty. It is Perraultโs embellished version of Straboโs 2,000-year-old tale that we all know because he added a magic pumpkin, a fairy godmother, and a glass slipper. Perrault called her Cendrillon, but we all know Doricha as Cinderella.
Ida Fuller –Nauos 08/27/1943 – 08/20/2026 Visitation: Friday, August 28 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel Services: Saturday, August 29 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Mariah B.C.
Emerson Lee Cole 10/12/1981 – 08/19/2026 Visitation: Friday, August 28 from 2:00- 6:00 p.m.at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel Services: Saturday, August 29 at 11:00 a.m at Zion Chapel B.C.
Dennis R. Atkins 11/13/1963 – 08/18/2026 Visitation: Friday, August 28 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel Services: Graveside Saturday, August 29 at 11:00 am. at Bethlehem Cemetery
Birda Ruth Copeland 11/05/1943 – 08/16/2026 Services: Graveside Saturday August 29 at 11:00 a.m. at Union Cemetery
DeSoto Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries โ unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.
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.
The Mansfield Police Department issued a community safety reminder regarding the use of 4-wheelers on city streets and the potential dangers associated with toy guns.
According to the department, 4-wheelers are not permitted on any street within the city limits of Mansfield, and citations can be issued to those found in violation.
Police said 4-wheelers operated in violation of city ordinances may also be towed and impounded. The registered owner or operator will be responsible for towing, impound, storage and any other applicable fees associated with removing and recovering the vehicle.
The department is asking residents to refrain from operating 4-wheelers on city streets.
Police also urged parents, guardians and residents to use extreme caution with Nerf guns and other toy guns, particularly near or inside local businesses. Although the items may be toys, the department noted that others may not be able to distinguish them from actual firearms, potentially creating a dangerous situation.
According to police, actions involving toy guns that cause fear, alarm, threats or disturbances could result in serious consequences, including possible criminal charges.
โLetโs work together to keep Mansfield safe,โ the department stated. โYour cooperation and commitment to the safety of our community are greatly appreciated!โ
Hot and sunny conditions will continue through the week, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees for three consecutive days before dipping slightly over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday will be sunny and hot with a high near 100 degrees. Southwest winds will be around 5 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 79.
Thursday will remain sunny and hot with a high near 100 degrees. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low around 78.
Friday will bring another sunny and hot day with a high near 100 degrees. Friday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 76.
Saturday will be sunny and hot with a high near 99 degrees. Saturday night will be mostly clear with a low around 76.
Sunday will continue the sunny and hot weather, with a high near 99 degrees.
The DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office is reminding the public that three Safety Exchange Zones are available throughout the parish to provide safer, convenient locations for important meet-ups and exchanges.
Specific parking spaces are designated as Safety Exchange Zones at the DPSO Main Office in Mansfield, the Logansport Substation and the Stonewall Substation.
According to DPSO, the areas are appropriate for child custody exchanges, online buyer and seller meet-ups, and other situations where safety may be a concern.
The Safety Exchange Zones are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week through live video surveillance by the DPSO 911 Communications Center.
Those planning to use one of the zones are encouraged to call the 911 Communications Center ahead of time at 318-872-3956 and provide a dispatcher with the date and time of the planned exchange. If needed, deputies can be dispatched quickly.
The Sheriffโs Office said the monitored locations are intended to provide additional peace of mind for residents who need a public location to conduct an exchange.
โThe right place. The right choice. Your safety is our priority,โ the DeSoto Parish Sheriffโs Office stated.
DESOTO PARISH, La. โ The DeSoto Parish Cattlemenโs Association held its quarterly meeting at the DeSoto Parish Extension Office, bringing local producers together for presentations on cattle vaccines, calving protocols, livestock safety and upcoming industry events.
DeSoto Parish Cattlemenโs Association President Henry Richardson welcomed attendees and introduced the eveningโs speakers.
Jacob Bellow, Brand Inspector with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Livestock Brand Commission, introduced himself to producers and discussed safety measures they can implement to help prevent the theft of livestock and machinery.
Shannon Midkiff, Louisiana Cattlemenโs Association President-Elect, provided information about upcoming events being offered by the association. Shae Simon, LCA Executive Director, also addressed the group.
The eveningโs first featured speaker was Reese Bassano with Elanco Animal Health, who provided information about rebates available on Elanco products and introduced Dr. Darin Matlick and Dr. Robin Faulkner, both with Elanco.
Matlick presented information about modified live versus killed vaccines, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each.
The program then turned to proper calf delivery. Joshua Salley with the LSU AgCenter used a calving simulator to demonstrate how to properly deliver a calf during cases of dystocia.
Salley was assisted by DeSoto 4-H members Jenna Bamburg and Clay Usrey, who are also serving as Louisiana 4-H State Livestock Ambassadors. Bamburg and Usrey assisted with the simulated calf delivery and showed producers items that should be included in calving kits.
Elanco sponsored the meal for the meeting, which was provided by Kyle Bryant and Big Pit Smoking.
The DeSoto Parish Extension Office thanked the speakers, sponsors and those who attended the quarterly meeting.
Texas has a documented long-term water problem and is aggressively planning future supplies. Louisiana has major new industrial and data-center water demands of its own. Because the two states share interconnected river systems, Louisiana should conduct and publicly release a comprehensive study of the cumulative effects before major water commitments are made.
That question matters because Louisiana citizens have watched enormous economic-development projects negotiated under NDAs, public authorities become major players in private industrial development, fights over eminent domain and permanent underground COโ injection, massive transmission projects, thousands of acres targeted for solar development, rapidly expanding data centers, and even discussions involving nuclear development and radioactive-waste disposal.
Researchers at the University of Texas reported in May 2026 that Texas data-center growth could eventually account for ๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต% ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฌ under a high-growth scenario.
Louisiana is facing many of the same questions as enormous data-center and industrial projects move into our state.
The Texas Water Development Board adopted its 2027 State Water Plan on July 23, 2026.
Texas estimates that implementing more than 3,000 recommended water-management projects through 2080 will require nearly $174 billion in capital investment.
Even if Texas builds all of those projects, its plan still projects approximately ๐ญ.๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ด๐ฌ.
Texas also warns that without the recommended strategies, roughly one out of every four Texans in 2080 could have less than half of the municipal water supply needed during a drought of record.
North Texas already takes water from ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, and additional Texoma conveyance infrastructure is being developed.
Texas planning also identifies additional supplies involving ๐ช๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ and the proposed ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป ๐ก๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ฟ on the Sulphur River; ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ขโ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐, which feeds Big Cypress Bayou toward Caddo Lake; and ๐ง๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ on the Sabine River.
These are not all one project. Some are operating, some proposed, and some are long-range strategies.
But Louisiana should not look at each one in isolation and ignore the cumulative question.
The Sulphur River belongs to the larger Red River drainage system.
Lake Oโ the Pines controls flows into Big Cypress Bayou toward ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ, a Texas-Louisiana water system. The Corps of Engineers has documented that reservoir operations altered the natural downstream flow regime enough that special releases have been used to restore portions of that flow.
Texas planning identifies approximately ๐ณ๐ฑ,๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ from Lake Oโ the Pines as a potential North Texas supply strategy and approximately ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฎ,๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ associated with Wright Patman.
For decades, many Louisiana citizens probably would have laughed if somebody suggested Louisiana might someday discuss selling Toledo Bend water to Texas.
Then it became a real public-policy discussion.
Residents pushed back. Public meetings were held. Controversy followed.
Louisiana law expressly gives the Sabine River Authority power to enter contracts involving the sale, distribution, or consumption of water within or outside Louisiana, subject to required approvals.
Nobody has shown us a document saying Texas is going to reroute the Red River.
We are not claiming one exists.
But Texas already takes water from the Red River system and is planning or studying additional supplies from tributaries connected to that regional drainage.
So what happens when you add all of those withdrawals together?
What happens at Shreveport?
What happens at Alexandria?
What happens during drought?
And what happens underground?
The ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ is hydraulically connected to the river in significant areas. When the river rises, water can move into surrounding alluvial sediments and contribute to groundwater recharge and bank storage.
If major upstream withdrawals materially alter river levels, flow duration, or high-water periods, Louisiana needs to know whether recharge could decline, groundwater levels could fall, hydraulic gradients could change, or poorer-quality groundwater could move differently.
That does not mean the Red River simply pours directly into the Chicot.
It does mean Louisianaโs groundwater systems are not isolated underground tanks.
USGS data show that approximately ๐ฑ๐ญ% ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ comes from the Chicot aquifer system.
And even if Texas water transfers never directly lower Chicot water levels, another concern remains:
If significant quantities of water are transferred from Toledo Bend or elsewhere in the Sabine system, the concern does not stop at the reservoir shoreline.
The Sabine continues south toward Sabine Lake and the Gulf. Freshwater flow affects salinity, wetlands, fisheries, ecosystems, municipalities, and industry.
Change the amount and timing of freshwater long enough, and downstream systems can change with it.
The Calcasieu is a separate basin, but southwest Louisianaโs water resources do not exist in isolation. If one source becomes less dependable, demand can shift elsewhere.
Louisiana officials may not like citizens asking these questions.
But they created the atmosphere that makes us ask them.
When citizens repeatedly watch public business conducted under NDAs, they stop assuming silence means nothing is happening.
When enormous projects are negotiated before communities understand them, citizens stop accepting:
โDonโt worry about it.โ
Louisiana citizens have watched eminent-domain battles, permanent underground COโ injection, huge transmission projects, enormous solar developments, data centers beside rural communities, nuclear and radioactive-waste discussions, and actual discussions about sending Toledo Bend water to Texas.
Texas is identifying reservoirs, pipelines, interbasin transfers, drought strategies, and future supplies while planning for population growth, industrial expansion, and data-center demand.
Where is the cumulative analysis combining Lake Texoma, the Red River, Wright Patman, Marvin Nichols, Lake Oโ the Pines, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, the Sabine, the Red River alluvial aquifer, the Chicot, industrial growth, data-center demand, and drought?
Maybe Texas can develop all of these supplies without materially harming Louisiana.
Fine.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐.
Model it.
Put the numbers on the table.
Show us what happens to the Red River at Shreveport and Alexandria, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, the Sabine, the Red River alluvial aquifer, and the Chicot.
Show us what happens under drought conditions.
And model it while accounting for the unprecedented growth in AI data centers, power generation, and industrial development across both states.
Because Louisiana citizens should have learned one lesson by now:
Region C Water Planning Group โ North Texas water-management strategies, including Lake Texoma, Lake Oโ the Pines, Wright Patman, Marvin Nichols, Toledo Bend, Red River off-channel storage, and other potential supplies:
North Texas Municipal Water District โ Texoma Two-Step program; additional pipelines designed to add approximately 90 million gallons per day of Lake Texoma conveyance capacity:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers โ Big Cypress Bayou / Caddo Lake Sustainable Rivers Program; documents the downstream connection between Lake Oโ the Pines, Big Cypress Bayou, and Caddo Lake:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers โ Lake Oโ the Pines environmental pulse releases designed to reproduce portions of the natural flow regime downstream:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers โ Lake Oโ the Pines / Ferrells Bridge Dam Water Control Manual and environmental-flow information for Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake:
U.S. Geological Survey โ Relation of water levels in the Red River alluvial aquifer to the Red River, documenting river/aquifer hydraulic relationships:
U.S. Geological Survey โ Louisiana groundwater withdrawals dataset; approximately 960 million gallons per day, or about 51% of Louisiana groundwater withdrawals, came from the Chicot aquifer system:
LOUISIANA โ Louisiana State Police is reminding motorists that the stateโs expanded Move Over Law is now in effect, extending protections to disabled, immobilized and nonoperational vehicles displaying hazard lights, flashing lights or another emergency warning device.
Under the expanded law, motorists approaching a roadside vehicle on a highway with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction should safely move into a lane away from the vehicle.
If changing lanes is unsafe or impossible, or if a motorist is traveling on a two-lane highway, drivers should slow to a reasonably safe speed and maintain a speed appropriate for road conditions.
The law applies regardless of whether motorists encounter blue emergency lights, amber warning lights or the flashing hazard lights of a stranded motorist.
Louisianaโs Move Over Law also continues to require motorists to yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles using audible or visual warning signals unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
Louisiana State Police emphasized that the law is intended to provide additional space for first responders, roadside workers and stranded motorists to remain safe.
โDifferent lights. Same responsibility,โ Louisiana State Police stated. โMove over. Slow down. Give them room.โ
DeSoto Parish Schools is recognizing Willa Smith, Supervisor of Student Learning, following her selection as a 2026-2027 English Learner Fellow by the Louisiana Department of Education.
The fellowship will provide Smith with an opportunity to collaborate with educators and leaders from across Louisiana while strengthening practices designed to support English Learners.
According to DeSoto Parish Schools, Smith will also be able to bring knowledge gained through the fellowship back to local schools and classrooms to help support student learning and success.
District officials said the selection reflects Smithโs commitment to ensuring students have access to meaningful learning opportunities and the support they need to succeed.
โWe are proud to see Ms. Smith representing DeSoto Parish Schools at the state level and continuing to lead with a focus on student success,โ the district stated.
Logansport High School is celebrating Class of 2026 graduate Ethan Benison after he earned the distinction of AP Scholar with Honor from the College Board.
According to Logansport High School, Benison earned the recognition by scoring a 3 or higher on four or more Advanced Placement exams while maintaining an average score of at least 3.25 across all AP exams taken.
The school noted that more than 2.8 million high school students take AP exams each year, with only 5% earning the AP Scholar with Honor distinction.
โEthan, we are SO proud of you!โ Logansport High School stated in announcing the achievement.
Benison graduated from Logansport High School as a member of the Class of 2026.
