Lifestyle

In the heart of the DeSoto Occupation/ Vocation Educational (DOVE) Program, there is a storyteller whose voice doesn’t echo through the room in the traditional sense — yet it fills the space with clarity, humor, and uncommon courage. Her name is Morgan, and she is reshaping what it means to communicate, to lead, and to be truly seen.

Most people notice the wheelchair first. Morgan’s teachers will tell you, gently but firmly, that those people don’t know her yet. “She is so much more than that,” said Morgan’s paraprofessional, Sonya Dearman. “She is very observant and has an unbelievable memory. She keeps this all inside and then will type a detailed description of what happened.”

What Morgan holds inside — and brings forward with the help of her speech-generating device (SGD)—has become the heartbeat of the DOVE classroom.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I always do. A New Year always brings with it promise and uncertainty, but this coming year brings with it a greater foreboding than we have experienced in the past. The Chinese have a saying: “May you live in interesting times.” But their definition means dangerous or turbulent. We in Louisiana and throughout America certainly live in “interesting” times today.

One resolution I make each year is to maintain my curiosity. It doesn’t matter how limited your perspective or how narrow the scope of your surroundings, there is (or should be) something to whet your interest and strike your fancy. I discovered early on that there are two kinds of people — those who are curious about the world around them, and those whose shallow attentions are generally limited to those things that pertain to their own personal well-being. I just hope all those I care about fall into the former category.

Keep Louisiana Beautiful suggests 10 resolutions aimed at litter prevention and removal Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser ask Louisianans in all 64 parishes to stop littering in 2025. Adopt one, or all 10, of KLB’s proposed New Year’s resolutions to help clean up our Sportsman’s Paradise. ”Litter hurts our economy, our environment, and our quality of life,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “By adopting one or all of these resolutions, you are doing your part to prevent litter and helping to let Louisiana shine.” “Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s 2023 litter study revealed Louisiana is spending an estimated $91.4 million each year on litter abatement,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “We also found that 92% of Louisiana citizens believe that litter is a problem. It’s time to work together to address our state’s litter problem.” In 2025, I resolve to: Bag my trash, tie the bag tight, and put a lid on my outdoor trash can.

If you ever worked at the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, you knew the sound of Mr. Rick Pharris’ deep voice echoing down the hallway. And when you heard it, you didn’t stay seated — you stood up to go say hello… if he didn’t beat you to it first with a handshake and a smile. That was Mr. Rick. Warm, genuine, and respected by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Last week, we lost a true servant of the public and a 30-year retiree of the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office. Throughout his career, Rick proudly served our community in many roles, including Courtroom Bailiff, Senior Bailiff, Patrol, S.W.A.T., EMT, and Probation and Parole Officer among other titles. No matter the assignment, Rick brought professionalism, integrity, and a willingness to help wherever he was needed. Rick officially retired from DPSO on February 18, 2019.

Meet our resident — Kemariya Thomas. Ms. Thomas is a resident with us from Northwestern State University. She is working alongside her mentor, Mr. Williams in his 8th Grade Social Studies class at Mansfield Middle School. Ms. Thomas has enjoyed many things about her residency so far but her favorite has been seeing how students have progressed since the first day of school and also seeing how competitive the students get on review days. We welcome Ms. Thomas to our DeSoto Family.

Get ready for a jolly good time as the Logansport Chamber of Commerce invites you to a magical morning at the Logansport Community Center, located at 113 Third Street on December 13th.

We’ll have three seating times for your convenience: 8-9 AM, 9-10 AM, and 10-11 AM. For just $5.00 per person you’ll enjoy fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, cozy hot chocolate, a fun Christmas Craft, plus a keepsake photo with Santa to take home. Seats are limited per time slot, so make sure to grab yours early — this is one holiday event you don’t want to miss! We encourage everyone to wear their favorite comfy pajamas.

To get on Santa‘s nice list and to get a ticket, please contact Tori Rankin Dyess at (318)-780-0637 or Teresa Stephens at (318)-518-2775.

The elves accept cash app, Venmo, PayPal, check, or cash.?

Come make merry memories with us.

One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall is pure holiday magic wrapped in tinsel and tied with a bow made of belly laughs. It’s the theatrical equivalent of finding an extra present under the tree you didn’t know was there. Kids love the fun and the surprise cameo from a very important reindeer (no spoilers!). Grown-ups love that it reminds us — without ever getting sappy or preachy — that the best Christmas gifts don’t come from a store.

One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall comes to BackAlley Community Theatre in Grand Cane with three more performances only-Friday/ Saturday, December 12, & 13 at 7:00 pm, and Sunday, December 14 at 2:00 pm. Grab your tickets now at backalleygrandcane.com. Call 318461-0202 for questions.

Few holiday traditions are as comforting as baking cookies at Christmastime. The smell of cinnamon, ginger, and sugar drifting through the kitchen feels timeless — and in many ways, it is. The history of Christmas cookies stretches back centuries, blending ancient feasts, medieval innovations, and cultural exchanges that shaped the treats we enjoy today.

Cookies themselves can be traced back to 7th-century Persia, shortly after sugar became more widely available. As trade routes expanded, cookies spread into Europe by the 8th century. By the Middle Ages, winter solstice festivals had merged with Christian Christmas celebrations, and spiced biscuits became popular across Europe.

As the generations pass and the numbers of the “Greatest Generation” dwindle, few remain to tell their stories again and recall where they were when they first heard the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, the American Army and Navy base in Hawaii was attacked, “without provocation” by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Since Japan had not declared war on the United States, the attack came as a surprise to those stationed at Pearl Harbor, which lead to great loss of life and equipment. The devastating strike of more than 350 bombers, fighters and torpedo planes blasted and pulverized the US Naval Base and Hawaiian countryside. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and another 1,300 wounded, with three American battleships destroyed or damaged beyond repair including the USS Arizona, USS Utah and USS Oklahoma.

As we approach the holiday season, we’re celebrating the great work our students and families are doing to make attendance a priority across DeSoto Parish Schools. Every day in class counts toward student success — and you are showing up strong!

September Attendance Challenge Winners: Stanley High School — Winner of the DeSoto Strong Cup with an impressive 96.65% average attendance!

North DeSoto Lower Elementary — Winner of the You Matter School Award for outstanding effort in meeting attendance goals!

Thank you for continuing to make attendance and public education a priority.