News

The annual DeSoto Parish Jamboree is always a time of the year when athletes and students join together for a football experience that introduces the Parish to our athletes each season. It also gives cheerleaders and students a chance to meet. While they are rivals on the field, they also support each other in their various classifications.

Music is always a major part of the event with bands, cheerleaders and dance lines showcasing their talents.

This year, those that attended the 2025 Jamboree, were treated with a vocal performance by Chandler Jones, who is a Pre-K student at Mansfield Elementary. The little Wolverine sang with power and pride to honor our Parish and Nation with his talent.

Thank you, Chandler, for your outstanding performance that was enjoyed by all.

Warning: Standing near the Wellness Team may cause spontaneous peace signs, contagious smiles, and random acts of kindness.

Your DeSoto Parish Wellness Team is all about spreading kindness, building connections, and making sure every student knows… YOU MATTER.

In DeSoto Parish, we don’t just talk about wellness, we live it. And YOU MATTER to us!

At its August meeting, the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the Louisiana Department of Education recognized DeSoto Parish Schools as one of the top three school systems in the state for awarding STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Diploma Seals.

In the 2024–2025 school year, DeSoto Parish awarded 121 STEM Diploma Seals to graduating seniors. These seals highlight students’ commitment to advanced study in the biomedical and pre-engineering pathways.

The STEM Seal is awarded at two levels: Silver Seal — earned by students who successfully complete four required STEM pathway courses.

Gold Seal — awarded to students who complete the four required courses plus four additional pathway courses.

As part of a continued effort to further investigate the illegal distribution of Methamphetamines and Ecstasy in and around the Logansport area, the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office has more arrests to report as a follow-up to those posted earlier this month from the same area.

DeSoto Narcotics Agents and the DeSoto S.L.I.U. work tirelessly to ensure public safety by following up on any new lead that may arise, from one investigation to another, and hold accountable those who aim to distribute these dangerous drugs among our children, neighbors, and/or relatives.

On 08/21/2025, Robert Jackson (44yo white male of Logansport) was taken into custody by DeSoto Narcotics Agents and S.L.I.U. Division on a Narcotics Warrant for 2 counts of Distribution of Schedule II (Meth). Jackson was booked into the DeSoto Detention Center.

Welcome to Back-Alley’s Season 20252026 — our 25th season! BackAlley is excited to present six productions, which include five plays and one music show. Our opening show, How Time Slips Away, features songs performed by Rocky Maddox with Terry Sparks and friends, followed by “The Play That Goes Wrong,” “One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall,” “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” “Farce of Habit,” and Agatha Christie’s “Black Coffee.”

To purchase Season Tickets and/or make a donation, go to backalleygrandcane. com and click “tickets” and/or “donate.” For questions regarding season tickets and/or donations or to mail your request, call or text our box office @ 318--461-0202. We will send your season ticket confirmation and/or donation acknowledgement in a timely manner.

At approximately 2:00am on August 17, 2025, DeSoto Sheriff Patrol Sergeant Angela Jordan conducted a traffic stop on I-49, just north of the Hwy 175 exit, regarding a white Volkswagen Arteon that DeSoto dispatchers communicated had been reported stolen out of Texas. The stop was immediately assisted with the aid of K-9 Cpl. Kelby Pearah and K-9 Karen and other deputies in the area.

The driver was swiftly taken into custody without incident, and a search of the vehicle that followed revealed a much broader identity theft investigation which remains ongoing.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that on Saturday, September 6, 2025 and Sunday, September 7, 2025, there will be intermittent lane closures on I-49 northbound and southbound at the LA 3276 interchange (Exit 191 – Stonewall) in DeSoto Parish.

These lane closures are scheduled to take place from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day, and are necessary to allow for survey work to be conducted in the interchange area.

All ramps will remain open during this work.

Restrictions/Permits: N/A Alternate Route: No detour necessary.

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.

Ben Bonner is a 36 year old black male (5’04 tall and 141lbs) with a last know address on Hwy 175 in Mansfield, LA. He is currently wanted by the Mansfield Police Department and DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office on charges of:

• Aggravated Assault If you have information that may lead investigator to locating this suspect please contact our office at 318– 872–3956. You may also report anonymously using one of the following methods:

• Visit www.P3Tips. com• Use the “Submit A Tip” feature in Contact Us section of the DeSoto Sheriff App

• Call 1–800–505–7867

Two North Louisiana sheriffs have been elected to top leadership positions on the Executive Board of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association (LSA).

DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson was elected Vice Pres- ident of the LSA Executive Board. His service on the board began in 2021. In addition to his board role, Sheriff Richardson also serves as Chairman of the Louisiana Commission on School and Nonprofit Security and as Finance Chair of the Statewide Interoperability Executive Subcommittee (SIEC), which oversees Louisiana’s radio communication systems.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker was unanimously elected by his fellow sheriffs to serve as Sergeant-at-Arms. This marks his first leadership position on the board and a historic first for Webster Parish. Traditionally, LSA board members progress through officer roles, beginning with the Sergeant-at-Arms role and culminating in the presidency of the association.

Mayor Thomas Jones proudly announces the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana (PIAL) has officially upgraded Mansfield’s Public Protection (PPC) from Class 4 to Class 3. This is an advancement that reflects years of dedicated service and strategic planning and investments in fire protection and infrastructure.

Jones stated, “Notably, the city was once rated Class 6. This latest upgrade makes a significant leap forward and demonstrates the city’s progress in protecting lives and property.”

He added that effective September 1, 2025 the new Class 3 rating will apply to all qualifying properties within the corporate limits of Mansfield potentially reducing fire insurance rates for both residential and commercial property owners.

Jones closed by saying, “Our goal is to achieve Class 1 over the next few years.”