News

School board and city council meetings are going uncovered. Overstretched reporters receive promising tips about stories but have no time to follow up. Newspapers publish fewer pages or less frequently or, in hundreds of cases across the country, are shuttered completely.

All of this has added up to a crisis in local news coverage in the United States that has frayed communities and left many Americans woefully uninformed, according to a report by PEN America released on Wednesday.

“A vibrant, responsive democracy requires enlightened citizens, and without forceful local reporting they are kept in the dark,” the report said. “At a time when political polarization is increasing and fraudulent news is spreading, a shared fact-based discourse on the issues that most directly affect us is more essential and more elusive than ever.”

Josh Sarpy has made history at North Desoto High School! Josh is the first wrestler to sign a scholarship to compete at a D1 university.

“He was all in all the time” said Dustin Burton Head Wrestling Coach at North Desoto.

Sarpy is a returning LHSAA State Champion who did not give up a single point at last years state tournament. Coach Burton’s expectation for Sarpy are high. He stated, “It’s easy to expect nothing less from last year. I don’t think that’s where our everyday goals should fall. Josh…will he exposed to some of the country’s best all year long and I believe not just competing in that caliber of season but finding success is possible?”

Sarpy will compete at the 120 pound weight class this year for the Griffins and plans to bring back another State Title to Stonewall.

Kerri Woods is pictured receiving her 15 year service award appreciation certificate by Juror from District 1B B. D Mitchell. Those that also were awarded certificates but had conflicting work schedules were Reggie Routree – 5 years; Weston Williams-5 years; and Nathaniel Whitaker – 5 years. We congratulate all of these workers and thank them for a job well done.

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It seems DeSoto Parish Districts 4B, 4D, and 6 constitutes were content with their current representation as they re-elected their jurors to continue representing these seats, with a new juror elected to take the position over District 1A. Jimmy Holmes will now serve District 1A after receiving 588 votes (60%) over Bruce Abrams. Holmes will fill the seat now being held by Charlie Roberts who did not seek re-election.

Attorney Adrienne White was honored with the 40 Under Forty Award presented by the Southern University Alumni Federation. The 40 Under Forty Awards Gala, which was a soldout event, was held on October 31, 2019 in Baton Rouge, during Southern University’s Homecoming Week. Per the Southern University Alumni Federation award selection process, the 40 Under Forty Awards recognize Southern University alumni, “ages 40 and under, who have made significant contributions to their professional disciplines, local communities, and/or to the preservation of Southern University”.

Ms. White is a Partner at the Law Offices of White & White in Mansfield. While in private law practice, she also has served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the Louisiana Department of Justice; a Special Assistant District Attorney for the DeSoto Parish District Attorney’s Office; and a Pro Bono Attorney for the Legal Services of North Louisiana.

DeSoto Parish Schools’ focus on educator excellence and student success was celebrated on November 12, when it received a $50,000 award from the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET). NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken and CEO Candice McQueen surprised DeSoto Superintendent Clay Corley with the District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness during an all-school assembly at Mansfield Elementary School.

This is only the second time NIET has given this award, which honors school districts that have focused on supporting excellent instruction and improving student performance. DeSoto was chosen for this award because of its decadelong commitment to investing in educators’ professional growth, fostering teacher leadership, and increasing student success.

On Friday, November 21, DeSoto Chamber of Commerce officers, members, businessmen, and officials gathered to welcome Hancock-Whitney Bank to Mansfield. The branch is located at 1017 Washington Avenue (Hwy 84) in the old Walmart parking lot). The direct local phone number is 318-872-5800.

The employment staff will remain the same at Hancock-Whitney with Candace “Candi” Remedies - Financial Center Manager (FCM), Kim Pepmiller - Multiservice Banker (MSB), Rhonda Williams – Senior Teller, and Kennedy Curry – Teller.

Days and hours of operation include lobby hours of 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. and drivethrough hours are 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Information on their website located at www.hancockwhitney.com states that they are the official bank of both the New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers.

The Louisiana Department of Education today announced nearly 400 publicly funded early childhood education programs have earned a spot on the state’s “Honor Roll” as a result of their performance in 2018-2019. The announcement comes the day before the state will release annual early childhood performance profiles.

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This week the Louisiana Department of Education publicly released the results of the 2018-2019 School and District Performance Scores. Schools in Desoto Parish continue to show growth in student performance. In fact, the latest release of accountability results show that Desoto Parish leads Northwest Louisiana with District Performance Scores and is an “A” district in K-8 and High School Student Achievement Progress for a second consecutive year.

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