News

The big shift to homebased work and schooling during the coronavirus means Louisiana more than ever needs to bring internet service to all parts of the state, according to Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell.

“Nothing is more important for rural parts of our state than high-speed internet,” Campbell said. “It’s just like the telephone used to be before we had telephones.”

Louisiana is in line to receive an estimated $600 million in federal government aid over the next 10 years to spread broadband to “unserved and underserved” rural areas. Campbell said the aid is coming from the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.

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The 63-member Louisiana Rural Caucus has elected Representative Kenny Cox of Mansfield to serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

The group elected Rep. Chris Turner of Ruston to serve as Chairman for 2020-2021 and Rep. Rhonda Butler of Ville Platte to serve as Vice Chairman.

The Chairman appointed seven caucus members to serve as officers on the Rural Caucus Executive Committee.

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Russell Tabor has been named principal of North DeSoto Elementary School, effective July 1. Tabor has worked in the district for 12 years, serving as an assistant principal at North DeSoto High School for the last 7 years. Before that, he worked at North DeSoto Lower Elementary School as a first grade teacher and master teacher, and in Claiborne Parish as an elementary teacher.

Louisiana moved to Phase One under the White House COVID-19 guidance on Friday, May 15, which removes the Stay at Home order for Louisianans and allows additional businesses to open under strict occupancy, protection and social distancing guidelines, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday. High risk individuals should continue to stay at home, except for essential activities, like getting food or medical care.

Gov. Edwards outlined the first phase of the Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana, which adopts every major recommendation of the White House plan in Phase One. The Governor also highlighted data that shows that the Stay at Home order improved Louisiana’s overall situation in relation to new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

DeSoto Parish Schools is proud to announce that Nakia Graham, teacher at Mansfield High School, has been named a Louisiana State Semi Finalist for Teacher of the Year.

Nakia graduated from Mansfield High School in 2012, and in her valedictorian address, she boldly professed, “The next time I walk the halls of MHS, it will be as a teacher!” After finishing her degree at Northwestern State University in 2016, Nakia did return to MHS to fulfill her promise.

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A COVID-19 drivethru testing site is opening Friday, May 15 in the Walmart parking lot located at 7292 Hwy #509 in Mansfield. The site is supported by Walmart, eTrueNorth and state and local officials to test anyone who meets CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19 and those in high risk groups without symptoms. Those interested in being tested need to visit www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com to see if eligible for testing and to make an appointment.

On May 6, Judge Charles B. Adams administered the Oath of Office to Rosie R. Mayweather as the new representative for District 11 with the DeSoto Parish School Board.

During a special session on April 23, 2020 the DPSB unanimously approved the appointment of Mrs. Mayweather to fill the vacancy created by the death of her husband, L. J. Mayweather, Jr.

At that meeting Mrs. Mayweather said that she looked forward to serving her community and completing what her husband started.

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On Tuesday, May 5, if you passed by DeSoto Regional Hospital’s Emergency entrance, you may have thought something terrible was going on. In fact, it was just the opposite as deputies, firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel and the general public gathered to participate in the “Light It Up” campaign honoring all doctors, nurses, lab workers, and the entire staff at DeSoto Regional Hospital and DeSoto Regional Health Care.

The Mansfield Police Department, Mansfield Fire Department, DeSoto Fire District 8, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Department, and DeSoto EMS personnel all blared their sirens and lights in unison as healthcare workers watched, waived and cheered. It was quite a moving moment to see other front line responders honor their health care provider brothers and sisters.

Since 1949, DeSoto Regional Health in Mansfield has provided health care to thousands of people living in DeSoto Parish and beyond. Originally founded as DeSoto General Hospital, the medical facility has revolved and updated from basic general care to provide Cardiology, Diagnostic Radiology, ENT, Emergency Medicine, Fitness/Wellness, Gastroenterology, Primary Care, General Surgery, Hematology/Oncology, Nephrology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Therapy Services, Podiatry, and Urology.

In 2020, DRHS found themselves joining other health services in unchartered territory with the Coronavirus, widely known as COVID-19. Health services from mammograms to routine office visits for check-ups had to basically come to a halt to concentrate on COVID-19. As of May 2, DRHS handled 404 completed tests, with 117 of those being positive. They have had four deaths; 2 in-patients with one of those being a DNR (do not resuscitate) and 2 treated at the emergency room.

Desoto Parish Tourism joins the rest of Louisiana and America in a look ahead to recovery with a theme of resilience and hope in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. As a rural community, DeSoto Parish has worked hard to establish our area as a destination for fishing, family reunions and small-town charm.

In 2019 the tourism office launched their new website at DiscoverDeSoto.com. We included places to stay, visit, dining, fishing, attractions and venues. The website is constantly being updated with new events and locations. 2020 was gearing up to be a successful year for our local events before so many were canceled due to the governor’s proclamation to shelter in place until May 15. The public is encouraged to continue with social distancing and wear face coverings.