News

A Keachi man who burglarized his employer’s business and then set fire to the building must serve a decade in prison, a Caddo District judge has ruled.

Cross McCray, 23, was convicted of simple arson Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Caddo District Court. Judge Chris Victory sentenced him Tuesday, June 17, 2025, to spend the next 10 years in prison at hard labor.

The jury in Judge Victory’s court determined that on December 20, 2022, McCray burglarized his place of employment. Before leaving in a stolen vehicle, he went back into the building and set it on fire. The fire caused extensive damages resulting in more than $500 in damages.

Assistant District Attorneys Briana C. Spivey and Courtney N. Ray prosecuted McCray. He was defended by Michael Enright and Silver Sanders.

The case was docket No. 399445.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson announces the latest string of arrests related to the illegal possession and/or distribution of dangerous narcotics in DeSoto Parish. These arrests involve Possession of Fentanyl, Ecstasy, Crack Cocaine, Meth, Resisting Arrest, and a Stolen Firearm among other charges. Each suspect has been booked into the DeSoto Detention Center and charged with the following. An arrest is an indication that probable cause existed during an alleged offense. All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

ADRIAN WALSH (W/F DOB: 01/01/1999 OF JUNCTION CITY, KANSAS) POSSESSION OF METH POSSESSION DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

ARRESTED BY: DESOTO NARCOTICS AGENTS ARRESTED ON: 05/22/2025 MAURICEEDWARDS (B/M DOB: 07/19/1975 OF FRIERSON) POSSESSION OF CRACK COCAINE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA SPEEDING ARRESTED BY: DESOTO S.L.I.U. ARRESTED ON: 05/30/2025

At its June 5th board meeting, the DeSoto Parish School Board held a special ceremony to dedicate its board room in memory of the late Louis James (L.J.) Mayweather, Jr. honoring his extraordinary legacy of service to public education and the DeSoto Parish community.

Mr. Mayweather faithfully served on the DeSoto Parish School Board for four decades, from 1980 to 2020, making him the longest- serving board member in the district’s history. During the dedication, Superintendent Clay Corley, current board members, and members of the Mayweather family gathered to unveil a commemorative plaque and reflect on his lifelong commitment to students, families, and the advancement of education in DeSoto Parish.

The plaque reads: “With profound respect and deep appreciation, this Board Room is dedicated to the memory of L.J. Mayweather, Jr. His unwavering dedication and consistent devotion to DeSoto Parish Schools has left an everlasting imprint on this community.

Grab your dancing boots and get ready to pop your fans with singer of viral song, “Boots on the Ground” 803 Fresh. It’s countdown to Juneteenth 2025! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the 12th Mansfield Annual Juneteenth Festival happening June 26 through 29 with ticket sales moving fast! The gates will open at 6:00 p.m.

Here’s what you don’t want to miss! On June 27, #803fewah, Boots on the Ground. On Saturday night, June 28 headliner Frank Johnson will perform numerous favorites including his hot single, “Don’t Hate on Me”.

Also, on Saturday Night, the Mansfield “Boots, Hats, and Fans” Street Dance, featuring B-Cam will take place. Also performing will be Bodacious and Breeze Mrdotoomuch comprising music ready to party to on stage throughout the weekend. The annual music vibes provide a family reunion feel full of unforgettable live music.

Juneteenth is short for June Nineteenth, which marks the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas in 1865. It was Union General Gordon Granger who read General Orders No.3 stating that all slaves were free. Today, it commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is also known as Freedom Day.

On January 1, 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation at the height of the Civil War. On paper, slaves in Texas were free, but they were not aware of it. Texan slave owners kept the news to themselves, delaying emancipation of 250,000 slaves by another two years.

There are several theories why such news was delayed, including the murder of the messenger and securing further cotton harvests from Texas.

Other delayed news was the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court, which was only heard more than two months after.

Mansfield Mayor Thomas Jones reports that during the past few weeks, there has been a vast amount of underground drilling along US Hwy 84 and US Hwy 171. This activity is associated with future Internet and broadband connectivity for rural communities in DeSoto and adjoining parishes.

He continued, “With $1.355 billion in funding allocated through the Infrastructure and Investments and Jobs Act to support broadband access and connectivity throughout the state — the 8th-largest allocation in the nation and 10th-largest per capita — GUMBO 2.0 expands on ConnectLA’s efforts to combat the digital divide in our unserved and underserved communities. GUMBO 2.0 is a program that provides grants to Internet service providers and electric co-operatives to expand broadband access in unserved areas of Louisiana.”

At the regular meeting of the DeSoto Parish School Board, state champions in Track and Field, Powerlifting, and Wrestling were recognized parish-wide for their outstanding accomplishments.

Those recognized from Mansfield High School – Class 2A Outdoor Track and Field include Zakhia Austin, LaJordan Boykin, Germance Robertson, and LaBrashia Ross as the 4X100 Women’s Relay Champions.

Other award winners from MHS include 400m Champion LaJordan Boykin, Discus Champion Kaitlyn McDaniel, Long Jump Champion Jayden Hamilton, 110m & 300m Hurdles Champion Jaden Youngblood. Youngblood also was recognized as the 60m Hurdles Champion in Indoor Track.

Students from North DeSoto High School – Class 4A Track and Field are Javonte’ Taylor for the High Jump and Triple Jump Champion, North DeSoto Boys Powerlifting – Division II Champion Blake Chambers – 148 lb. Weight Class.

As a beekeeper, I want to gently remind everyone: please don’t leave fruit out for bees, especially during the June Gap—the brief but dangerous period between spring and summer blooms when nectar sources become scarce. While offering fruit might seem like a kind gesture, it often ferments quickly in the sun, developing harmful bacteria that bees can carry back to the hive. This contaminated food can spoil their stored honey and even threaten the health of the entire colony.

State Representative for District 7 Larry Bagley has reported that office has received many phone calls inquiring about the status of the road closure on LA 764. He wanted to provide you with updated information from Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) related to that closure and upcoming work.

Bagley continued, “The pipe that needs to be replaced under the roadway is too large for our crews to remove and replace, so we are bidding out the work. Up to this point, the project has been designed and the contract proposal has been developed, both on an expedited timeline due to the road already having been closed. The road is closed due to safety concerns for the traveling public, as the decision to close a road/bridge is never taken lightly. We understand the hardship a road closure poses on the communities that depend on that corridor.”

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Department has reported that they need to get the word out about multiple eports of texts and emails that residents have received regarding a ticket or citation they need to pay immediately. Please note: Our office does not send out emails or texts to collect on tickets/ citations. If you receive one claiming to be from our office, the DMV, or any other agency....it is a SCAM.

Most all of these reports have come from elderly residents who don’t use Facebook, so be sure that you are sharing this information with your friends and family. Also, encourage your senior parents, church members, and family to download and have the DeSoto Sheriff Application so DPSO can communicate these scams with them even if they do not use Social Media! It is also a great tool for them to have in the event of a weather emergency, and more.