News

Sheriff Jayson Richardson attended the October meeting of the DeSoto Republican Party held at Big Zach’s in Logansport. One of the most discussed topics was the Transportation Fund and safe roadways in DeSoto Parish.

The discussion over roadway money and improvements was the most lively, and the Enterprise asked Sheriff Richardson to elaborate on how the conditions affects deputies.

All agreed it is critical that DeSoto have safe roads. Richardson said, “Roadways with proper shoulders allow deputies to get safely off of the road and conduct traffic stops. Many of our public roads do not contain shoulders and deputies must be selective of where they chose to do traffic stops. Safety of the violator as well as the Deputy is our first priority.”

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Mansfield Chief of Police Gary Hobbs visited the Rotary Club on Tuesday October 12, giving a presentation on his vision for law enforcement in the area and his experiences that led to these perspectives. Hobbs is making the rounds as a candidate for Sheriff of DeSoto Parish in the upcoming elections.

Concerning his proudest accomplishment as Chief of Police, Hobbs shared that “one of the proudest accomplishments during the past 5 years as Chief of Police is the fact that I have been able to reduce the department’s annual operating budget by nearly 40%.”

Judge Adams has ruled that District Attorney Gary Evans cannot investigate any DeSoto Parish Sheriff ’s Deputies in regards to LACE fraud in the department. The ruling came as acting Sheriff Jayson Richardson seeks relief from the release of a Louisiana Legislative Audit report first requested by the DeSoto Parish Police Jury in 2017.

Though Adams did mention he could send the investigation to the Louisiana Attorney General’s office, the appeals process is also likely. “Well, we will obviously file an appeal with the 2nd Circuit,” said Evans after the hearing. “It’s my Constitutional duty to investigate criminal activity in this parish, and that’s what I am going to continue to do.”

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After 41 years of service to her community Edith Williams has announced her retirement from Community Bank. Williams was born in Keatchie and graduated from Logansport Rosenwald High in 1964. She has been married to Willie B. Williams Sr. since October 1965, and they are proud parents to four sons.

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On Saturday, October 27, Mansfield State Historic Site will re-create the gruesome aftermath of a Civil War during a special night tour of the Mansfield battlefield. Authentically costumed tour guides will take visitors onto the battlefield by candle lantern, as re-enactors depict various wartime scenes at stops along the trail. Tours last app. 30 minutes and will run ongoing starting at 7:30 pm, with the last tour departing at 9:15 pm.

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The committee to Keep DeSoto Beautiful met October 3 for a progress meeting. The discussion concerned the group logo and logistics for DeSoto’s October 20th Clean-Up Round up.

Keep DeSoto Beautiful is a new initiative that will help combat the litter and waste problems of DeSoto Parish. A First Appearance Survey was commissioned, and along with police jury members toured the most traveled and visible roads of the parish. The assessment found the parish was indeed “littered,” scoring a 1.98 on a 10 scale.

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A DeSoto Parish Grand Jury expected to begin Monday came to an unexpected abrupt halt after current Sheriff Jayson Richardson filed a motion in court seeking to prevent District Attorney Gary Evans from proceeding.

While grand jury proceedings are secret, it’s speculated the Grand Jury was called to consider possibly criminal misconduct of DeSoto Parish deputies as it related to the LACE program. The District Attorney’s office and the Sheriff ’s office have been at odds since the DA took over the administration of the LACE program, as well as the funds generated from the program.

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The Department of Natural Resources recently declared and environmental emergency in Desoto Parish. The 9 square mile area named in the declaration is approximately centered at Louisiana Highway 3015 and Smyrna Road.

The emergency, named EMER 18-003, was declared because “gas was escaping from geological formations to the earth’s surface” according to Police Jury administrator and engineer Scott Brown.

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