News

DeSoto Clerk of Court Jeremy Evans is pleased to announce that the DeSoto Parish Clerk of Court has migrated to their new e-recording software, ClerkNet, as of July 10, 2023. Evans and his staff say goodbye to the oldsystemandwelcome to a more efficient way to access civil, criminal, and mortgage and conveyance services.

Key Points of the new system include: * COTT Systems internal and external services were turned off on July 21, 2023.

*ClerkNetoffers faster searching and quicker inhouse service.

* If you’ve already signed up for the new public research site at search.desotoparishclerk.org, no further action is needed. Start using the new system NOW.

* If you HAVE NOT signed up, visit search. desotoparishclerk.org to create an account and enjoy the benefits

* IMPORTANT: COTT Username and Password won’t work for ClerkNet login.

The Club heard from fellow Rotarian and new Club V.P. Lisa Lobrano Burson about the prosecution side of the second Brian Horne murder trial. From jury selection and choosing among the many personality types, the challenges of sequestering all the selected members, to the “business of the trial”. Fascinating stuff especially since in attendance at the meeting were Rotary members and Judge at the first Horne murder trial, Robert Burgess, and lead Investigator on the case, Robbo Davidson. It was fascinating to hear these three discuss the different challenges that arose in the trial and the fortunate way the Prosecution was able to use them. We are all proud of the guilty conviction that the Jury arrived at after only a few minutes!

The next Rotary meeting is 8/02/23 at the Genealogical Library in the Mansfield Female College for lunch. They would love to have you join them!

Recently, United States Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04) commended the bipartisan passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on the House floor. The annual legislation includes funding for major priorities for the Louisiana defense community, particularly Barksdale Air Force Base, Air Force Global Strike Command, Fort Johnson, and the Joint Readiness Training Center.

The FY24 NDAA contains numerous provisions to strengthen our national security and gut the Biden Administration’s politicization of our military. The bill takes action to: Roll back the administration’s unlawful abortion travel policy

• Prohibit TRICARE and the DOD from covering and furnishing sex reassignment surgeries and gender hormone treatments for transgender individuals • Prohibit funds from being used for the teaching of CRT

• Prohibit funds for any advisory committee dealing with race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or social justice

With the hard work of Senator Barry Milligan and former Stonewall Mayor Randy Rodgers, Stonewall families will now have restroom facilities and new equipment to entertain themselves at Stonewall Park.

Senator Milligan was able to obtain $174,000 for bathroom facilities and $75,000 for playground equipment.

The families of Stonewall and the surrounding area will be thrilled to be able to use these additions.

SLB announced it is establishing a manufacturing facility in the former General Motors assembly plant in Caddo Parish. This new facility will leverage the global technology company’s capabilities in contract manufacturing, system integration and industrialization of digital infrastructure equipment that support its core mission of energy innovation for a balanced planet.

The company’s $18.5 million investment is expected to create 596 new direct jobs with an annual payroll of more than $50 million over the next three years. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 749 new indirect jobs, for a total of 1,345 new jobs in the Northwest Region.

The Louisiana State Police has issued a Level II Endangered/ Missing Child Advisory, on behalf of the Crowley Police Department, for a 19-month old that was reported missing from the Department of Children and Family Services office located at 600 N. Avenue G., Crowley, LA. Liam was taken by his non-custodial mother, Savannah James, white female, approximately 100 pounds, dark brown hair, brown eyes.

Liam James, is a 19-month old, white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He is approximately 2 feet tall and weighs approximately 30 pounds. Last seen wearing a blue shirt, plaid shorts, blue sandals, and a bandana baby bib.

Savannah was last seen driving a 2003 Silver Dodge Caravan, Louisiana license 831CPW.

Anyone having any information, as to the whereabouts of Liam James, should immediately contact the Crowley Police Department at 337-783-1234 or call 911.

The UM Share School Uniform Ministry, a cooperative ministry of DeSoto Parish United Methodist Churches, offers free school uniforms to all in the parish who have need. Parents are invited to bring their child(ren) to the distribution sites to help pick their favorite style and size. This organized group of Methodist is excited and happy to help those who need a little assistance in getting ready for school.

Logansport and Stanley Schools uniform distribution is Wednesday, July 26, and Thursday, July 27, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. each day. The distribution will be held at the DeSoto Parish Library – Logansport Branch, located at 203 Hwy. 5.

Mansfield and North DeSoto Schools uniform distribution is Thursday July 20, from 10:00 a.m.– Noon and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m, and Friday, July 21, 10:00 a.m – Noon. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. The distribution will be held at First United Methodist Church, located at 502 Polk Street in Mansfield.

DeSoto Regional Health System Foundation Director Terri Byrd has announced that they will host a fundraising Sporting Clay Tournament on Saturday, August 19, 2023. The event will be held at the Shreveport Gun Club, located at 4435 Meriwether Road in Shreveport. Registration will begin at 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m., with the shoot starting at 8:00 a.m. Raffle prize disbursements, awards, and lunch will immediately follow the shoot. The event has grown tremendously over the last 3 years and is a lot of fun.

The registration fee for a 5-person shooting team is $500.00, with the cost for an individual set at $100.00. Military, First Responders and Youth registration fees are discounted to $75.00 each. Proceeds from this event will continue to go toward the new hospital building project. The Foundation has donated over $175,000 back to the hospital and we are continuing to give more.

Mayor Thomas Jones explains that a boil water advisory remains in effect for all customers of the Mansfield Water System.

The City of Mansfield first issued a boil advisory Sunday evening (July 2) for some of its water customers. Initially, only those along Louisiana Highway 509, Herndon Avenue and Florence Street were affected. However, on Monday, Mayor Thomas Jones said the boil advisory is now systemwide.

The advisory is due initially to a 12-inch water main that broke early Sunday afternoon.

About 9:40 p.m. Monday, the mayor issued the following update: “The water main on Florence Street was repaired around 6 p.m. this afternoon. The water leak on Hwy 175 was repaired shortly thereafter.

Although the jury that was selected from Vernon Parish listened and convicted Brian Horn of murdering twelve-year-old Justin Bloxom, they were not aware that this was his second trial. The verdict was returned in DeSoto District Court after less than 15 minutes of deliberations on Monday, July 3. The jury was selected outside of Northwest Louisiana due to pretrial publicity.

The jury had to wait to move to the penalty phase on Wednesday, July 5 because a 12 hour break is required in capital murder cases between a conviction and the sentencing. The jury heard more evidence before determining if Horn should be put to death for the crime or spend the rest of his life in prison. It took the 12 member jury less than an hour to determine Horn’s fate of receiving the death penalty.