Well, the day has arrived when one of the professional bass fishing organizations has made a major decision that will impact a lot of professional anglers both young and old. This decision was to ban forward-facing sonar. Finally, someone has grown a set and decided to level the playing field….or have they, and will it?

Let’s first look at who has decided to step up and save the sport of bass fishing as so many legendary pros think needs to be done. The NPFL (National Professional Fishing League) recently announced that forward-facing sonar will NOT be allowed for official practice or tournaments in 2025.

It will not be allowed for scouting (practice) or at any other time. It must be removed from your boat, along with the black box and the transducer. As one joyful pro angler said, “Time to go back to old school fishing!” No longer will anglers be able to look at bass on a screen like a version of Xbox and catch fish.

Is this good for the sport or is this decision holding the sport back? Well, the answer you get will depend upon what angler you ask. Majority of the old school guys will defend this decision and say “yes” it is good for the sport. Most compare this decision to the banning of the A-Rig (or umbrella rig) which many of the pros thought was an unethical way to catch bass by using more than one bait or hook. Old school anglers feel the same about forward-facing sonar in that it’s an unfair advantage for the anglers versus the fish.

I tend to agree with the old school anglers now that I’ve been a user of forward-facing sonar for the last two years and understand how it works. With this device, no fish is safe anywhere on any body of water. It allows anglers to select and zero in on the bigger bass in a school or swimming solo. This is not good for any fishery and could have lasting consequences as anglers do what I would call selective fishing by targeting larger bass.

Let’s face the facts with this electronic device. It has made champions out of anglers who have never won a tournament in their life. It’s become an equalizer or advantage for the younger or less experienced anglers that are fishing on the professional level. It has allowed them to not only compete but win with little to no experience compared to the guys that have paid their dues and taken years to acquire the knowledge they possess.

Nothing has leveled the playing field quicker for the younger generation of anglers more than forward-facing sonar. Anglers competing on the NPFL will have to rely on finding fish with more traditional ways by locating fish either by catching them or using side scan or down-imaging. No longer will they be able to just ride around on a body of water with three or more transducers and locate bass in real time.

While all organizations will not ban this new technology, there will be others that will follow. It’s still hard to understand how the three major electronic companies (Garmin, Humminbird and Lowrance) will move forward.

These companies will not sit on their hands and stop developing new technology. So, what’s next? Will the next advancement be banned as well? If so, how will these companies continue to survive without innovation and advancements in technology?

Here’s my perspective…. we can’t just continue to ban every new piece of technology that comes out! Tournament organizations need to adapt by altering the rules presently in place; rules that work for both boaters and co-anglers. At some point, they will have to figure out how to make forward-facing sonar and any future innovations work for the benefit of everyone.

But understand this, just because it’s banned on the professional level, does not mean it will be banned for the everyday angler or anglers fishing on the lower levels of competition.

I do agree that anglers on the professional level should be held to a higher standard; that’s why they’re called professionals. It’s the same reason Major League Baseball does not allow aluminum bats. Hitters would have too much of an advantage over pitchers and it would completely change the game.

But with regards to forward-facing sonar, only time will tell if it is doomed or if it will return. I personally think at some point, it will once again be allowed. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and take the time to enjoy some great fall fishing as lakes are less crowded now that hunting season is upon us.

Steve Graf

Angler’s Perspective

MANDEVILLE, La. – Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser are pleased to announce the 29 Community Affiliates meeting the requirements for the 2024 KLB Circle of Excellence: Abbeville, Abita, Algiers, Ascension, Baker, Bossier, Calcasieu, Covington, Desoto, DeRidder, Eunice, French Quarter, Hammond, Jefferson, Lacombe, Lafayette, Livingston, Mandeville, Monroe, Ouachita, Shreveport, Slidell, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, West Baton Rouge, and West Monroe.

At the KLB State Conference, held October 23-24 at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge, each qualifying Affiliate will receive a Circle of Excellence plaque. They also received a $500 check at Affiliate regional meetings over the summer.

Annually, KLB honors Community Affiliates who meet specific benchmarks grounded in professional development, commitment to the Affiliate network, and the implementation of programming resulting in long-term community improvement.

“These communities are putting in the work necessary to clean up Louisiana,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “I’m proud of their commitment and passion for litter prevention and community beautification.”

“These Affiliates are an inspiration and the backbone of KLB,” said Cabell Mouton, KLB Community Engagement and Affiliate Services Director. “Each and every day, they carry out our shared mission to fight litter in Louisiana and beautify our communities for an improved environment and better quality of life.”

There are 40 Community Affiliates in the KLB network, along with 12 University Affiliates. Being an Affiliate is a special mark of distinction and represents a commitment to improving community appearance, promoting citizen engagement and environmental stewardship, and implementing outcomes-based programs. Affiliation offers state recognition and sends a strong message to Louisiana citizens, as well as city and state leaders.

Information about the KLB State Conference and a link to register can be found online at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org. This annual conference is the only forum for state leaders and those working in community improvement to discuss ways to resolve Louisiana’s litter problem and beautify our public spaces. Attendees will hear from over 40 experts on best practices for litter prevention, recycling, beautification, and sustainability efforts in Louisiana.

Those interested in becoming a KLB Affiliate can take a readiness assessment at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org or contact Cabell Mouton at cmouton@keeplouisianabeautiful.org.

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

By Doug De Graffenried

Over a decade ago, I flew to Kansas City for a preacher’s meeting. I had to rent a
car.

I had reserved the car months before the trip. I was expecting a mid-sized car. It
is funny that rental agencies have categories one step above the actual size of a car. A
mini-Cooper is described in their literature at a “mid-sized” car. By their logic, a go-cart
would be an “economy car.” I had reserved a “mid-sized” car. I was not expecting much.

When I arrived at the counter, my rental counter expert was “Karen.” Karen was
from Baton Rouge, and we at once began speaking Louisiana to each other. She could
even spell, “Natchitoches” and knew the proper pronunciation. It is always good to find
home folks when you are on the road. Karen pulled up my reservation and started
giggling. I asked her what was so funny.  She said that the car I was assigned was a
Mercury Grand Marquis. Now if you drive one of those, that is your choice, and I mean
no disrespect to your proper conservative car. I made an audible sigh at the rental
counter. She said, “Yeah, you don’t look like that kind of guy.”

I guess since she was from Baton Rouge and we were speaking Louisiana to
each other, she decided to do something nice.  She said, “Let me fix this reservation.”  A
couple of keystrokes on her computer and she said, “You reservation is in space 31.
Have a nice day.” She made sure I had a map to my destination and the name of the
best BBQ in Kansas City. I was certainly going to take that recommendation!

I walked out of the rental terminal to the parking lot. I found space 31. Karen had
change to Mercury Grand Marquis to a Ford Mustang! The Mustang was a convertible!
There is nothing like pulling up to a preacher’s meeting in a black Mustang convertible. I
enjoyed all three days of my workshop and driving that Mustang convertible.

When you are traveling, and you meet someone who understands” lagniappe”
isn’t it a blessing?

I think of heaven in those terms. Our faith in Christ gives us an abundant joy-filled
life here on earth and when we finally wear out these old bodies, God has lagniappe
planned. Heaven is one serious “upgrade.” I think Jesus takes pride in showing each of
us that place He has gone to prepare for us.

Think of the greatest experience you have had in life, and you have not even
touched the joy that is ours in Heaven. It is way better than a convertible Mustang at a
preacher’s meeting!

By Jeanni Ritchie

In Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the social pariah was one that had the “cheese touch” which originated from a piece of moldy Swiss cheese that lay on the Westmore Middle School basketball court for months.

It was the perfect hook for a 3rd grade science lesson on the ripening and bacteria growth of cheese.

First we created a poll chart for our favorite-tasting cheese with American and Cheddar taking the lead. Every cheese but blue cheese got at least one vote with the penicillium-ripened milk receiving a unanimous yuck from the classroom, teacher included.

Then we put each cheese sample in a separate sealed Ziploc bag and taped to one of the classroom’s windows receiving direct sunlight.

We charted their moldy process daily with the blue cheese turning a putrid green almost immediately. Much as a class excitedly checks on a class pet each morning, these 9-years excitedly checked on their cheese samples each day!

While we never sampled the cheeses once they went onto the window, October 9 is a day to celebrate #moldycheese with safe to eat varieties like Maytag blue, Roquefort, bleu, camembert, gorgonzola, and Stilton.

Just maybe don’t let anyone see you lest they accuse you of having the Cheese Touch!

Jeanni Ritchie is a cheese-loving contributing journalist from Central Louisiana who is not quite daring enough to try cheese with green on it. But you’re welcome to share your moldy
cheese experiences at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.

Wednesday, October 02, 2024 1:23 PM

LANE CLOSURE: US 171 southbound near Mansfield, DeSoto Parish

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that beginning on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 7:00 a.m., the outside (right) lane of US 171 southbound south of the City of Mansfield in DeSoto Parish will be closed.

This closure is scheduled to remain in place for approximately 21 days, and is necessary to allow a contractor for the DeSoto Parish Police Jury to conduct improvements at CSJ Private Drive.

The lane closure will be located just south of Bedsole Lane, about a mile south of the City of Mansfield.

Restrictions/Permits: N/A

Alternate Route: N/A

This work will be performed WEATHER PERMITTING.

Safety reminder:

DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment. Remember to leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Area residents should exercise caution when driving, walking, or biking near an active construction zone.

Additional information:

Call 511, visit 511la.org, or download the Louisiana 511 mobile app for additional information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at dotd.la.gov, by selecting MyDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.

By Brad Dison

In 1962, 24-year-old junk dealer Luigi Lo Rosso was clearing out the cellar of a villa on the southern Italian island of Capri. As with anyone who is tasked with this sort of cleaning, Luigi had three basic categories of items; things to keep, things to throw away, and, most difficult of all, things he was unsure of. Luigi usually took only a few seconds to decide where to place each item. Then, Luigi found a rolled-up canvas. He quickly unrolled the painting and glanced at a distorted image of a woman. Luigi noticed a signature in the top left corner but did not recognize the artist’s name. As quickly as he had unrolled it, he rolled it back up. He placed it in the keep pile and kept sifting through the items in the cellar. Once finished with the task, Luigi returned to his home in Pompeii with the items he had deemed good enough to keep. He sold some of the items, usually “for next to nothing,” but not the distorted paining. He bought a cheap frame to hold the painting and mounted it to the wall. Luigi’s wife was less than impressed.

Two years later, Luigi and his wife had a son they named Andrea. As the boy grew up, he was always aware of the painting because his parents argued about it regularly. There were times when the family considered getting rid of the hideous painting. They considered throwing the painting away. “My mother didn’t want to keep it,” Andrea explained. “She kept saying it was horrible.” For some reason, the painting remained there on the wall of the Lo Rosso home. One day, Andrea’s aunt gave Andrea an encyclopedia of art history. Andrea immediately thought about the horrible painting on their wall. He flipped through the book and found a similar painting of a distorted lady. It appeared that the painting shown in the encyclopedia was of the same lady in the painting that had hung on their wall for decades. The paintings were not identical but had noticeable differences. The title of the painting in the book was “The Buste de Femme.” Andrea learned that the painting was a distorted image of the artist’s mistress, a French photographer and painter named Dora Maar. Andrea looked at the top left corner and realized that the signatures were almost identical. Andrea kept telling his father that the paintings were similar, and the signatures were similar, but Luigi remained unconvinced.

As the years turned into decades, Andrea remained curious about the painting. In 1999, the painting Andrea saw in the book, “the Buste de Femme,” was stolen from a luxury yacht belonging to Saudi billionaire Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Abdulmalik Al-Sheikh. Andrea thought about the painting that still hung on his family’s wall. Twenty years passed. Then, in March 2019, after a four-year search, Arthur Brand, known as the “Indiana Jones of the art world,” found and returned the stolen painting. Again, Andrea thought of the painting that his father had found all those years ago.

Andrea took the reins and sought the advice of the experts at the Arcadia Foundation, a company which specializes in attributions, restorations, and valuations of art works. Cinzia Altieri, a handwriting expert working at the Arcadia Foundation, confirmed the signature on the painting. After an intense investigation, Luca Marcante, president of the Arcadia Foundation, concluded that the painting that Luigi found amongst the junk in that cellar in 1962, which hung on Luigi’s wall in a cheap frame for more than six decades, is an original, authentic painting by Pablo Picasso. Its value has yet to be determined.

Sources:

1. Angela Giuffrida, “Painting found by junk dealer in cellar is original Picasso, experts claim,” The Guardian, October 1, 2024, accessed October 2, 2024, theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/oct/01/painting-found-by-junk-dealer-in-cellar-is-original-picasso-experts-claim.

2. “Stolen Picasso portrait of Dora Maar found after 20 years,” BBC, March 26, 2019, Accessed October 2, 2024, bbc.com/news/world-europe-47704194.

Kenneth Lee Mitchell
October 23, 1949 — September 30, 2024
Service: Thursday, October 10 at 2 pm at Bethel Cemetery in Logansport

UPDATED 9:10AM on OCT. 01st

Regarding the missing persons post on James Bradburry: Mr. Bradburry was safely located late last night and is now home. As per usual, the previous post containing personal information has been removed as to respect the individuals privacy. We thank our community for widely sharing the post in an effort to help investigators in this case.

The attached report displays all individuals booked into the DeSoto Detention Center between the dates of SEPT. 23 – SEPT. 29 (1 week) and includes arrests made by DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO), Mansfield Police Department (MPD), and Louisiana State Police (LSP.) All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Booking photos for each, unless they have bonded out, are readily available in the DeSoto Parish Sheriff App on iPhone or Android. The attached image(s) can be clicked and enlarged for view.

*With regard to the booking on 02/02/24, this individual was transferred into our facility from another due to charges earlier in the year.

By Doug De Graffenried

Back “in the day” I was a small boy attending Vacation Bible School. I remember one of the thrills was learning how to say the name of the book, “Deuteronomy.” When you can say, “Deuteronomy” you are a big boy! I also remember making crafts for my mother. If you take four small boxes of matches, put them in a square pattern, glue two old fashion school bathroom tiles to them, you have a matchbook holder, and your mom will be pleased. We made that on Monday and then on Tuesday, we actually made “ash trays” for our parents. Remember this was Vacation Bible School, 1960’s style.

Fortunately, we don’t make ashtrays in Vacation Bible School anymore. Come to think of it, we don’t even sell ashtrays in stores anymore. That was one whole “section” of the W.T. Grant stores. Ashtrays and cigarette lighters have vanished from cars too. Things have changed for the better I suppose. I do have memories of filling my dad’s cigarette lighter with fluid and then testing the lighter. Do you know what happens to flannel pajamas soaked in lighter fluid? I do!

I wanted to make the point that it isn’t a long journey from ubiquitous to extinct. (I wrote that sentence just to prove I actually attended graduate school.) Think of all the things we used to have around all the time that are gone. Rotary dial phones, cars without shoulder belts, typewriters, mimeograph machines, chalkboards, hymnals (they are vanishing), pure heroes and heroines, and Sunday mornings with nothing happening but church.

Even the mysterious thing called a relationship has changed as “perfumed loved letters” have given way to “text messaging.” Keeping up in a changing world has become ever more challenging, especially in church life. One of the great mantras of church life is, “we have never done it that way before.” I think we should say over some of the things we do, “we should never do it that way AGAIN.”

So, what do you miss that is gone? Do you really miss outhouses or restaurants where there were smoking and non-smoking sections? Do you really miss a humid non air conditioned living room and sitting by the old Victrola. I didn’t think so.

Change is the only constant in life. You are either changing (metabolism) or you are dead. My hope for you is that you are always changing in God’s direction!

Doug de Graffenried is Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston.

You can contact Doug at dougsponderings@gmail.com

There is absolutely no better feeling for an angler than when he puts a plan together and it becomes reality. Tournament bass fishermen spend countless hours fishing and scouting in order to try and formulate a game plan that he hopes comes to fruition. Hopefully this plan will either put him in the winner’s circle or in position to cash a check. Today we’ll wrap up and put a bow on the 2024 Texas ABA Pro League Series. 

This time of year (September & October) is when so many bass tournament organizations schedule their championships. ABA (American Bass Anglers) held their two-day championship on Lake Sam Rayburn on September 14th & 15th. This is a tournament where only anglers that qualified could fish this event.  

Let’s first start with how practice went and took place on Thursday and Friday before the tournament began on Saturday. Thursday and Friday’s practice was not too bad but was pretty much hit and miss as it was difficult to put any kind of pattern together. But one thing I felt I could count on was where I was catching most of my fish, which was on main lake points. 

The lake level was pretty much pool level or about 3 inches low while the bass were very shallow and could be caught with a couple of techniques….flipping a soft plastic trickworm or casting a spinnerbait. Turns out, every fish I weighed for both days actually came on one particular spinnerbait. Now this played right into my hands as I would consider myself a shallow water angler.

I was able to catch a lot of bass on the trickworm, but catching quality was an issue. I just wasn’t able to get a big bite when flipping cypress trees or anything else. They were good solid keeper fish (2 pounders), but not fish that would get me a check. Then on day 2 of practice I spent most of the day with one specific spinnerbait in my hand.

My blade of choice (as some anglers call a spinnerbait) was one that I have had great success with especially on the Red River and Sam Rayburn. This is a quarter ounce white Hummdinger with a small gold willow leaf blade and a small silver Colorado blade. But I think the real magnet for this spinnerbait was the 3-inch paddle tail trailer I used in a ghost shad color. Turns out, it matched the baitfish the bass were feeding on perfectly.

Not only did it catch fish, but every bass I brought to the scales both days came on this one spinnerbait. So many fish were caught on it, that I had to put on a new one for day 2. Twice I had to replace the back blade on this spinnerbait because they were breaking off as the wire just got so weak from all the fish I caught on it. 

I finished 7th overall with over 28 pounds of bass during the two-day event, with 16 lbs. on day one and 13 lbs. on day two. Of course, there’s always the one that got away as I broke off a bass over 5 pounds on day one on of all things, a topwater bait called a Zara Spook. 

Turns out, it was my own fault as the line on this reel was over a year old. This is why fresh line is so important on tournament day! This one mistake cost me leading the tournament on day one and left me with a day two deficit of just over 2 pounds.  

But in the end, it was all good as I wrapped up the 2024 ABA Pro League as runner-up for Angler of the Year. Just the fact that at the age of 63, I proved that even without being a forward-facing sonar expert, you can still compete with those that are. Chalk one up for the older guys! 

Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and take the time to enjoy some of the best fishing of the year as bass start their fall migration feeding period. 

Steve Graf

Angler’s Perspective

The king was dead. The date was February 6, 1952.  People all across Great Britain and around the world were shocked and saddened by the news. King George VI, better known as Bertie to those close to him, had been king of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms since 1936.  The king’s oldest daughter, Elizabeth, next in line to the throne, was heartbroken. She was in Kenya on a royal tour when she learned of her father’s death. She immediately returned to London.  At the moment of the king’s death, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II.

When the king died, the government began planning for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.  Planning and arranging the coronation was a logistical nightmare. Leaders of countries and territories around the world were expected to attend.  One detail was certain from the beginning.  Queen Elizabeth would ride in the horse-drawn coronation coach from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey where every coronation had taken place since 1066, nearly 1,000 years.  Finally, the date of the coronation was set for June 2, 1953. 

As soon as news of the king’s death spread throughout the realm, people began creating all sorts of items to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s upcoming coronation.  There were teacups, coffee cups, plates, figurines, thimbles, spoons, coins, books, and a myriad of other items.  Just northeast of London, Jack Odell and Leslie Smith owned and operated a small shop called Lesney Products & Company Limited where they sold handmade metal miniature road-building equipment.  Although their business was struggling to survive, they began working on a miniature replica of the ornate gilded Gold State Coach which had been used to transport the sovereign to and from every coronation since 1821.  Their finished product had “eight painted metal horses and four riders leading a coach that was either painted or plated in gold or silver.”  The miniature was an instant hit.  Jack and Leslie produced a smaller replica, just a few inches long, and it was a bigger hit than the larger version.  Jack and Leslie sold over a million of the tiny coronation coaches.  Keep in mind that this was decades before the electronic age, where advertisements bombard you each time you look at your phone.  People wishing to purchase one of the tiny coronation coaches had to go looking for them. 

Jack and Leslie realized that they were onto something big, but they were unsure what product to make next.  Compared to the coronation coaches, their miniature road construction equipment was a failure.  After another long day of seemingly endless discussions about what to produce next, Jack and Leslie left their shop and went to their respective homes.  That evening, Jack’s daughter lamented that she wanted a toy that she could take to school but the school had a policy that all toys had to be small enough to fit inside a small container of a precise measurement.  All of their miniatures were too large to fit in the container.  Then, Jack had an epiphany that they create miniatures on the same scale as their wildly successful coronation coach.  The next day, Jack rushed to the shop and shared the idea with Leslie.  They quickly agreed that they had found their next product.  Their new miniatures were a huge hit, and they still continue to sell well. The miniatures that Jack and Leslie began creating, which were based on the scale of the coronation coach, took the name of his daughter’s school’s small container policy.  That is how Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation led to the beginning of Matchbox Cars.

Sources:

1.     Valdes-Dapena, Peter, ” How Queen Elizabeth’s coronation helped start Matchbox cars,” CNN, April 25, 2023, accessed September 28, 2024, cnn.com/2023/04/25/business/matchbox-king-charles-coronation-coach/index.html.

2.     The Strong National Museum of Play, “Matchbox Cars,” accessed September 28, 2024, museumofplay.org/toys/matchbox-cars/.

Gary DeWayne Slaid

April 7, 1954 — September 29, 2024

Service: Thursday, October 3, 2024 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm at Rose Neath Funeral Homes – Mansfield

Keachi – Earlier today, at approximately 12:15 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a single-vehicle crash, at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 5 and Louisiana Highway 172, involving a DeSoto Parish Fire District vehicle. The crash resulted in the arrest of 39-year-old Mark Magee.

The investigation revealed that a 2022 Ford F-250, driven by Magee, was traveling south on Louisiana Highway 5. For reasons still under investigation, Magee lost control and ran off the left side of the roadway, before colliding with a fire hydrant. The Ford is assigned to Fire District 1, unmarked and equipped with emergency lights.

Upon contact with Magee, Troopers detected signs of impairment. During the investigation, a blood sample was collected and submitted for analysis. Magee was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI 1st offense) and careless operation. This investigation remains ongoing.

Troopers witness preventable motor vehicle crashes. Impairment is often a primary cause of crashes across the state. Louisiana State Police urge motorists to have a plan that includes a designated driver when consuming alcohol. Alcohol can impair visual ability, alter the sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills, and decrease reaction times. Alcohol can begin to impair a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle after just one drink. Please choose not to drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver.

The attached report displays all individuals booked into the DeSoto Detention Center between the dates of SEPT. 16 – SEPT. 22 (1 week) and includes arrests made by DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO), Mansfield Police Department (MPD), and Louisiana State Police (LSP.) All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Booking photos for each, unless they have bonded out, are readily available in the DeSoto Parish Sheriff App on iPhone or Android. The attached image(s) can be clicked and enlarged for view.

*Please take note that the list published each week only contains those booked into the DeSoto Detention Center during the time frame listed. If a name is not listed, the individual was not booked into our facility and may require contact of another agency for further information.

Mark your Calendars. Saturday October 5th will be our SXS COURSE GRAND OPENING.

It will be an organized track day ran with different age/skill groups.

Tag your Car guys & let’s have a fun day slinging some Red Clay.

Thank you to all of our SXS COURSE Sponsors 👇

Pipes Auto Sales – W. 70th – Southern Cycle Shop LLC – Monster Energy – B&B Pulling – #BluntRanch – #JonnyMac – Desoto Iron & Metal

UPDATE: Cars must have 3 or 4 point harness, fire extinguisher & some sort of race course tires (MUD TIRES NOT ALLOWED)

Also drivers must have a Full face helmet & fireproof suit etc.

When I was a little boy, keys were my thing. I loved keys. I loved real keys.

I had a reliable source of keys too. My grandfather was a police officer. It seems
that back in the 60’s people would lose keys at a very high rate. Pop would bring me
bags of keys from time to time. I’m sure I was only receiving three or four at a time, but
to me they appeared as a mountain of plenty.

I had a key ritual. I would separate out the door and house keys from the car
keys.

Back in the day, each motor company had a key design unique to that motor
company. For this article we will illustrate using the Ford Motor Company. Because Ford
also made Mercury products the keys were interchangeable. If you worked at it, you
might discover a Mercury car key would fit a Ford product.

One Friday night, Pop stopped by with a bag of keys. I quickly sorted the keys. I
took the car keys outside for an experiment.

I don’t know how I knew this, but I had a couple of Mercury keys which I took
outside. I crawled into the driver’s seat of our 1961 Ford Galaxy and started testing
keys. The Mercury ignition keys would fit into the Ford ignition. (You remember, of
course the difference between the ignition keys and the trunk keys?) While the Mercury
keys fit into the ignition, they would not turn the tumblers.

My key experiment was nearly completed when I put a Mercury key into the
ignition and turned it. The 1961 Ford Galaxy roared to life. I then followed the pattern I
had learned from adults. I pulled the shift lever down into “D.” “D” meant go!

The car lurched forward and traveled about five feet into the side of the house.
The dent in the house was still there 40 years later!

Thus began my illustrious driving career.

The adults filed out of the house. Mom, Dad and Pop the police office all asked,
“How did you start the car?” I shared my key knowledge. Pop cut off my Ford Motor key
supply. I did have a large collection of General Motors keys that I had decided to try on
whoever owned one of those cars. Pop owned a Chevrolet. I had developed a testing
plan for that automobile.

Jesus has given us the keys to the Kingdom. No need to be locked in or locked
out. You have the keys. Often you have the power to set yourself free.

Every Logansport unit got in on the fun Friday in a 44-12 win against Bossier.

Tonashton Bland blocked a punt for a touchdown in addition to rushing for two scores, while defensive lineman Pacer Williams got in the end zone on a fumble return.

Bland scored on touchdown runs of 22 and 81 yards, respectively, as Logansport rolled up 260 yards on the ground and 339 total.

The Tigers returned to their Week 1 selves in a rout of Many (46-7) after struggling to establish the ground game against Loyola (28-6 loss) this past week.

The defense suffocated Bossier, which gained just 96 yards on the night and committed four turnovers (three lost fumbles and a Jordan Meshell interception).

Logansport will focus on themselves during the Week 4 bye as the finishing touches are being put on the renovation of its home football stadium.

That stadium will be rocking when Kinder visits on Oct. 4.

North DeSoto’s tough tests continue against Northwood
North DeSoto no doubt missed receiver Cory Cole, the state’s leading pass catcher in 2023 who suffered a knee injury that will force him to miss significant time if not the rest of his senior season.

But the Griffins traded blows early with Class 5A power West Monroe, tying the score 14-14 on a Chaz Martinez 39-yard touchdown catch from Luke Delafield.

Things unraveled over the next few minutes of the 63-14 Rebels win when West Monroe scored a go-ahead touchdown and recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff.

That series of plays sparked 49 straight points for the Rebels.

The Griffins (1-2) have faced a brutal non-district schedule to date with the Union Parish win (33-21) and losses to Center (35-28) and now West Monroe.

North DeSoto, who dropped four spots to No. 6 in the LSWA Class 4A poll, will get arguably its stiffest District 1-4A test right off the bat when Northwood comes to town this week.

The Falcons (3-0) are certainly less tested, but they did engineer a comeback to top Class 5A Benton (24-21) in the opener.

But Northwood has flashed its offensive explosiveness in wins against Peabody (47-21) and Mansfield (64-32).

The scoreboard operator may want to stretch his fingers beforehand because this one will likely be an octane-filled affair.

The Griffins certainly don’t want to start their season 1-3, but Friday’s Northwood contest carries more importance than just being the district opener.

Northwood may be the last team on the schedule that could seriously push North DeSoto for four quarters.

While Minden and Loyola are building nice resumes so far this season, the other four teams in the district have a combined four wins with Green Oaks being the most quality win of the bunch.

Mansfield built double-digit lead against Northwood in loss

Mansfield appeared to be doing everything right as the Wolverines built a two-touchdown lead at Class 4A Northwood.

That lead didn’t hold in the eventual 64-32 loss, but the Wolverines continue to send the message that they are an improved football program that can punch up in weight.

Mansfield might just be 1-2, but the Wolverines probably feel they should have come out with a win in double overtime against Minden, who is shaping up to be one of the better teams in District 1-4A.
The Wolverines head down to Lake Charles College Prep looking to even their record.

LCP (0-3) may not have a win, but they’ve played a loaded schedule with losses to Westgate (31-20), Barbe (34-28) and state champion Opelousas (27-12).

Mansfield’s tackling will need to be better as the Wolverines struggled to bring down Northwood’s bulky running backs. The Falcons rushed for 325 yards and threw for another 159.

Leading by 11 points, Northwood blocked a punt for a touchdown that essentially sealed the win and started the real scoring separation.

Mansfield had plenty of bright spots offensively as quarterback Sharmal Booker continues to improve each week. He threw for 160 yards on 12-of-19 passing.

The Wolverines earned the 217 rushing yards they amassed (4.1 yards per carry) with Terrell Pegues leading the way (131 yards and a score on 24 touches).

Pegues caught three passes for 39 yards (one touchdowns) and added a 25-yard completion to his tally.
Jeremy Youngblood led the receiving corps with 60 yards on five catches.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited three Bossier Parish men for alleged migratory game bird violations in Desoto Parish on Sep 14.

Agents federally cited Corey Tuminello, 37, of Benton, Curtis Tuminello, 60, of Bossier City, and Steven Barr, 49, of Benton, for violating the migratory game bird treaty act by hunting migratory game birds over a baited area.

Agents were on patrol near Stonewall when they received a tip about dove hunting over a baited field. Agents arrived at the location and found the subjects actively hunting for doves. After an inspection of the area, agents determined they were hunting over an area that was spread with chopped corn.

Agents seized one mourning dove that was shot over the baited area.

All migratory game bird baiting cases are filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution in Federal Court.

Participating agents in this case are Sgt. Michael Meserole, Sgt. Toby Meyers, Corporal Dalton Herrington and Senior Agent Breylan Kemp.

This week, I would like to go back in time and reflect on a group of guys who shared a championship season and were the first team in school history to win a state title. Not only were we teammates, but this group was truly something special. This group was the complete package of talent, attitude and commitment. We were players/friends who would forever be linked together.

Last week, I had the opportunity to reunite with this group of guys that would do something very special in 1978 by winning the Texas Class 3A State Baseball Title, the second highest level at that time. As an athlete who has played on all levels, high school, college and professionally, I’ve been blessed to be a part of several championships.

But the one common thread for every team I’ve played on, was the personal connection to the players. The 1978 team was different and will always have special meaning for me personally. This was a group of guys who grew up together in the small East Texas town of Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

During the 1970’s, MP was a prideful community that was very athletic minded. The mindset here was about winning and anything short of that was not acceptable. But before the early 70’s, MP was just another small town that had minimal athletic team success. Then a coach by the name of Donnie Laurence showed up and began to develop not just a great football power, but a solid all-around high school athletic program.

Along with Coach Laurence, several high-quality coaches arrived including two baseball coaches, Marion Giesecke and Steve Rippee. These coaches help build MP into the second winningest all-around program of the 70’s, only behind “Friday Night Lights” Odessa Permian. It was a very special time in MP Tiger history.

Then in 1978, MP Tiger baseball would be the first team sport to ever win a state title. This was accomplished by a special group of guys who played loose and confident and never walked on a baseball diamond expecting anything less than a victory. These guys played with heart and determination and no matter how bleak a moment was, they never wavered or faltered.

To understand how good they became, you first must look at where they came from. These young men grew up with great success coming up through the Mt. Pleasant Dixie Youth Program. They had great coaching early in their young careers from a handful of special men like James Stansell, P.A. Thomas, Pat Sisk, Joe Traylor and many others. These men knew the game and taught this group how to play the game the right way.

The 1978 Tiger baseball team was built around six seniors, eight juniors, and two sophomores. This was not an average group of players, but guys with an immense level of talent. The skills included great pitching, defense and the ability to hit the baseball. To illustrate the level of talent, this group had three players drafted: two by Major League Baseball and one by the NFL and several that went on to played collegiately.

What made this group so special? Most of the guys on this team were members of the previous 1977 Tiger baseball team. A team that had great talent but underachieved mainly due to the amount of internal pressure that was placed on the shoulders of each player. From my perspective looking back, it seemed like we had a team meeting every other week talking about what we must do in order to make it to State.

As the ‘77 season progressed, the pressure continued to build to the point that the team played tight and did not even win district, therefore being left out of the playoffs. The only year of my four years at MPHS that we did not make the playoffs. Again, this was a team with as much talent as any team I ever played on.

But the 1978 team, guided by great senior leadership, made a group decision that there would be only ONE team meeting before the season started. We committed to play loose and have fun! We knew we had plenty of talent, we just had to relax and let our talent take us to where we wanted to go……. and that it did!

This MP team made it to the regional finals, having to play a best of three series against Fort Worth Boswell. MP hosted the first game of the series, and the mighty Tigers came up short. With the odds stacked against us, the remaining two games were to be played in Fort Worth. We had our work cut out for us; either sweep a double header or go home like so many other MP Tiger baseball teams had done in the past.

But ’78 Tigers made it happen with great pitching, defense (zero errors in the last 4 games) and timely hitting and defeated Boswell twice and advanced to the State Tournament in Austin! As they say, the rest is history as we shut out top ranked Brazosport 10-0 in five innings in the semi-finals and defeated Burkburnett 5-2 in the title game and finished with a record of 26-4.

I cannot describe the bond athletes have that get the opportunity to win a state championship. It’s a connection that forever links you as players. I remember Coach Giesecke’s locker room speech after our huge win. “Fellows, this is a victory you will cherish more later in life, than you do now. You will forever be remembered with this win.” Truer words have never been spoken! He was spot on with his statement!

Steve Graf

Angler’s Perspective