Lifestyle

DeSoto Parish EMS were treated with baskets of “goodies” by Bon Chasse Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, as a thanks for all they do for the residents of our parish. We may be partial, but we think we have the best group of EMTs and Paramedics in the state.

The Mansfield garden Club met at the Mansfield Battle Park on September 27 for a donation ribbon cutting ceremony. A three seat aluminum bench with tabs from the Corner Collection on Line and a plaque from Signarama on Barksdale Boulevard. These were donated as permanent gifts to the off of State Parks.

A donation will be made to the Battle Park for the purchase of flowers, scrubs, etc. to enhance a future planned butterfly garden on the nature trail located at the park. Be sure and check this out.

The last regular meeting of the Mansfield Garden Club was in March 2024. The club was established in 1947, cancelled its activities and will no longer be a Garden Club. This was due to members’ age; health issues and other commitments limited the attendance in participation in club activities.

Do you have too much “stuff” in your house and you would like a chance to get rid of it while making a little extra cash? The Ninth Annual Fifty Mile Trail of Treasure, which is always the second Saturday in October, will be held on October 12 with a rain date of October 19. The path of the continuous yard sale begins with vendors setting up on Hwy 171 in Stonewall, where they will continue through Mansfield. Pickers and treasure seekers will then find their way down Hwy 84 through Stanley and Logansport, cross over the bridge into Texas with Haslam and Joaquin completing the journey. Or, you can reverse the trail and begin in Texas, according to your preference. There are some booths such as Kickapoo Winery, plus a few more, highway 5 from Kickapoo to Logansport.

New beginnings!! DeSoto Parish takes great pride in developing LEADership capacity in all that exercise our Mission Statement and Core Values. Our aspiring Operation LEAD process pairs our current administration with those that desire to serve as a future administrator. The first training this week focused on Attendance, Engagement, and Discipline (level of leadership). Thank you for your collaboration and commitment that will LEAD to growth for all staff and students served.

Northwestern State University’s Department of Mathematics held the inaugural Math 4 Fun event Sept. 21 bringing together 27 teachers from Natchitoches, Sabine, Red River, DeSoto, Bossier and Caddo parishes as well as the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, NSU and East Texas Baptist University.

Dr. Judith Covington, director of Math 4 Fun, said it’s exciting to see such interest from the local teachers. Math 4 Fun is a local organization with plans to offer similar events in the upcoming months. Serving with Covington on the leadership team are Dr. Leigh Ann Myers, NSU; Randy Key, LSMSA, and Zenda Owens, Natchitoches Central High School.

Come join in 2 paint projects in one fun filled day (canvas and ceramics) on Saturday, September 14 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the Logansport Community Center, located at 113 S. Third Street in Logansport. To preregister call 318-471-5958. There are only 24 spots that will fill on first come first serve basis.

BackAlley Community Theatre in Grand Cane is excited to present Drinking Habits by Tom Smith, the weekends of September 20 and 27. Two nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing have been secretly making wine to keep the convent’s doors open, but reporters Paul and Sally, are hot on their trail. The continual flow of new guests spurs paranoia throughout the convent, and they fear that spies have been sent from Rome to shut them down.

Brian McCarty performed on the BackAlley stage in last season’s Chapter Two. He has been in several BAT productions including Not A Creature was Stirring, Christmas Bells, and In-laws Outlaws. Brian serves on our Board of Directors. He retired from the DeSoto Parish Library last year, and lives in Mansfield with his wife, Melony. They share a passion for travelling, most recently swimming with whale sharks and manta rays in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. They will continue their adventures after the close of Drinking Habits.

The payouts for the Teacher Incentive Allotment designations have been received by qualifying TISD teachers! The teachers were recognized at the monthly Timpson ISD school board meeting on Tuesday, August 13.

When Timpson ISD’s Teacher Incentive Allotment designations were approved last spring, qualifying teachers became eligible to receive TEA pay stipends depending on their level of designation — Recognized, Exemplary, and Master.

TISD is thrilled to announce that 17 teachers qualified for these pay stipends! A teacher’s designation is based on student growth and teacher observation scores. The stipends will range from $3,000 to $32,000, with evaluations occurring each year. Every single teacher at Timpson ISD will now have the opportunity to designate and advance their designation levels. Over $232,000 was awarded to qualifying teachers this year.

What a FUN DAY!! It was HOT, but it was fun! The scavenger hunt was well attended, with 9 teams playing. Thanks to Donna Griffith for getting that together. We had a great parade, with several local citizens, local dignitaries, our Desoto Parish Sheriff ’s Office and Fire District 8. Thanks to all the merchants for all you did to promote and support the Village this week! Y’all are awesome! We had two events that required cookies so we had Christen Seekford and Grand Cane Pralines make them. So pretty and delicious!

Our WONDERFUL MAYOR had great plans for the week and it was such a joy to see it all come to fruition! Life is Grand in Grand Cane and We are Strong & Alive at 125!! My best clerk friend Andrea Dickerson Mahfouz and her husband Daniel came from Westlake to support our little Village! Thanks friend!

Henrietta CM, located at 4242 Hwy 191, will host the well known gospel group The Southern Plainsmen in concert on Sunday, June 30 with refreshments served afterwards.

The Southern Plainsmen were organized in May 1978 in the rolling pine-hills of West-Central Louisiana and is an outreach of the Southern Plainsmen Ministries, Inc., a non-profit Christian organization. The ministry, supported by the contributions of its Christian friends, appears in Christian churches regardless of denominational affiliation on an expense plus freewill-love-offering basis.

Pastor Chuckie Clark cordially invites everyone to join the Henrietta CM Church congregation while hearing God’s word through the celebration of music. For more information call 318-567-2644. We look forward to meeting you.