News

The 2021 National Day of Prayer in DeSoto Parish will be done a little different once again this year. Tradition would call for the event to be held on the DeSoto Parish Courthouse lawn, with Logansport holding their meeting on the Riverfront and Stonewall holding theirs at one of the schools. To comply with Gov. John Bel Edwards’ gathering mandates, this year’s event will be held but without speakers, special music or fellowship. The traditional date will still be held on the first Thursday in May, which falls on May 6th this year.

The theme for 2021 is “Lord, Pour Out Your Love, Life, and Liberty,” with related scripture found in 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.”

Local organizer of the event, Winter Case, said, “The National Day of Prayer has not been cancelled or delayed. Due to the attendance restrictions we are opting for a non-meeting National Day of Prayer event.

On April 16, officers and members of the DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for 4C Coffee House in Grand Cane. Owner Rhonda Cox (center holding bow) is surrounded by family, friends, and parish officials welcoming the new business to the community. Days and hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

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The voters of DeSoto Parish voted down a proposition regarding a levy 1 mill tax on all property subject to taxation in DeSoto Parish, which was to fund animal services, including the animal shelter and mosquito control. The unofficial turnout of Early and Absentee Voting showed 1,065 (43%) saying yes with 1,404 (57%) against. The percentage of ballots cast in this election was 122% with a total of 2,469 voting.

In District 2 of DeSoto Parish, Kyle D Kennington-R won the Police Jury seat over Ronald “Ronnie” Allen with 288 (62%) voting for Kennington with Allen receiving 176 (38%).

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A surprised look is just what you can expect and what those in attendance at Judge Amy Burford McCartney got when she entered the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Training Facility on April 21. Volunteers for Youth Justice had the judge’s staff, family and close friends quietly working on the surprise event where they wanted to present the 42nd District Judge an award as VYJ Hero of the Year for 2020.

Judge McCartney arrived to a room full of people, including her husband, son and family, with Sheriff Jayson Richardson, who had gotten her to the facility with the guise of having a meeting that they both needed to attend. She was met at the door by representatives of VYJ and voices shouting “Surprise” in unison.

Due to the sponsorship of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury, Shreveport Green will provide DeSoto Parish residents a day of hazardous waste material collection to be held on Saturday, May 8, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. This year’s collection sites include Logansport, Grand Cane and Stonewall. The services provided by Shreveport Green return to the three locations that had the most participation from the public, and are strategically placed for the ease of usage for the yearly recycling opportunity.

DPPJ President Reggie Roe said that this would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of all those things cluttering your garage and storage unit. However, this collection is for residential waste only, and not for business or farm materials. Shreveport Green will have chemists, staff and volunteers available at the three locations, to help with the identification of your waste substances for proper disposal.

DeSoto voters will head to the polls on Saturday, April 24, to decide who will become the next representative for our district with the Board of Education and Secondary Education (BESE) and whether or not to pass a 1-mill property tax allocated for DeSoto Animal Services. DeSoto’s District 2 will cast votes for their Police Juror members.

BESE Board run-off candidates will be Michael Melerine-R and Cassie Williams-D, with the winner taking the place of former representative Tony Davis.

In DeSoto District 2, voters will cast their preference between Kyle D. Kennington-R or Ronald “Ronnie” Allen-R. The victor of the Kennington-Allen runoff will fill the seat vacated by Judge Nicholas Gasper, who resigned his Jury seat after winning the election to serve as Judge for the 42nd Judicial Division.

The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department was treated to a barbeque dinner on Monday, April 12th by the Joaquin City Council as a “thank you” for the department’s hard work and selfless service to the community throughout a very difficult year in 2020. In addition to the challenges presented by the COVID 19 pandemic, the JVFD also responded to an above average number of structure fires as well as high water rescues during the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. This service continued into 2021 with multiple unprecedented winter weather events.

Councilman Jesse Griffith spoke for the Council, saying, “No matter what the call was, these guys were here to answer it. Our EMRs (Emergency Medical Responders) had to adapt on the fly with how they handled medical calls, and they have dealt with several severe weather events. They’re always here, day or night.”

On Thursday, April 15, the DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Pink Leopard Boutique, located at 211 Washington Avenue, Suite D in Mansfield, with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Owner Linda Duncan and her staff welcomed clients, friends, and the business community to their Open House, complete with a DJ and charbroiled hamburgers and hot dogs. Those that made purchases were treated with a free gift bag that contained a manicure set.

Duncan is originally from Mansfield, but moved to Center, Texas when she was 14 year old. Coming back to Mansfield several years later she has worn several different hats in her past employment history. She worked for Calhoun Property Management, the Mansfield Police Department, and was the manager of Factory Connection.

At the April 5 meeting of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury discussion was raised with State Representative Larry Bagley and Senator Barry Milligan in attendance to help clarify the parking lot situation at the Clista A. Calhoun Center with the state. Although the Jury paid for the majority of the work done on the lot at the Center, the state is the actual owner. Bagley said that the best deal he could work out with the state was an agreement between the state and Jury to lease the parking lot for 20 years, but all repairs would have to be done by the Jury.

Jeri Burrell asked if the Jury ever was repaid for doing the original work, and that she was against leasing the lot. Ernel Jones also added that the Jury built the parking lot.

The DeSoto Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome two new businesses to the parish, with ribbon cuttings and grand openings set for both this week.

Make plans to join chamber members, officials and friends of the Pink Leopard, located at 211 Washington Avenue, Suite D in Mansfield on Thursday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. (the location is across the highway from the old Capital One building.) for their grand opening and ribbon cutting. Owner Linda Duncan is excited to bring her upscale boutique and gifts to Mansfield, offering sizes ladies small through 3X. The Pink Leopard will be open Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. For more information call 318-461-4558.

The following day, Friday, April 16, come join the same group of people for the festivities in Grand Cane at the new 4C Coffee House, located in downtown historic Grand Cane in the Geo. N. Parker Co. Building, at 9:00 a.m.