News

Sheriff Jayson Richardson announces the retirement of K9 Rex on Thursday, February 20, 2025. Rex, an 8 year old Dutch Shepherd, has served with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office faithfully since 2020, alongside his handler Cpl. Kelby Pearah. In Rex’s career he has participated in more than 60 criminal arrests and over 100 narcotics seizures and arrests. Rex has also been deployed to multiple Parishes and Counties surrounding DeSoto Parish in an effort to support our neighbors in their own narcotics and search related endeavors.

DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office SWAT, SROs, Investigators, Dispatchers, and Training Unit (among others) have been doing a complete walkthrough of the North DeSoto campuses today. This exercise is aimed at ensuring all first responders are familiar with the entire campus layout front to back, top to bottom. Examples of potential scenarios can be discussed, questioned, and answered. Just one more step in ensuring safety, and an effective response if that need should ever arise. Walkthroughs and training exercises such as this are done at all area schools in rotation, and will continue through the week. We are grateful to these men and women who take part in this training to better equip themselves to best serve students and staff.

Christopher Sepulvado, 81, is scheduled for execution on Monday, March 17, 2025 after a DeSoto Parish judge signed his death warrant. His case has remained one of Louisiana’s most notorious child abuse homicides, sparking decades of legal battles and delays in his execution.

The renewed push to enforce the death penalty comes after Governor Jeff Landry’s recent announcement that the state will resume executions. The decision follows the Louisiana Legislature’s approval of nitrogen gas as a method of execution, a controversial and rarely used technique.

Under the new protocol, Sepulvado will be executed using nitrogen hypoxia, a process that replaces breathable oxygen with nitrogen, causing suffocation. Alabama remains the only state to have previously used this method, carrying its first nitrogen execution in January 2024.

The office of Counseling and Career Services at Northwestern State University will host its annual Spring Career Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom.

The event is open to both undergraduate and graduate students at NSU who would like to meet and connect with prospective employers. Professional attire is required to attend. Assistant Director of Counseling and Career Services Rachel Cunningham said networking with different employers from multiple industries can increase the chances of finding an internship or job after graduation.

I have seen breathless assertions lately in the national “media” that President Trump’s recent actions have sparked a constitutional “crisis.” I couldn’t disagree more. What we are witnessing is a new President exercising his constitutional powers in a decisive manner.

How so? Most notably, President Trump has paused the discretionary spending of enormous sums of federal dollars. In my view, it is not only perfectly legal and well within the authority of the Chief Executive to take this step, but I believe it’s also an obligation of a new presidential administration to review discretionary funding to see that it complies with both federal law and Trump policies.

During National School Board Recognition Month, we’re proud to celebrate District 10 Board Member Bobby Boyd!

Your dedication to serving our students, families, and community sees that our mission impacts student success. Thank you for your support and leadership in shaping brighter futures! #TheDeSotoDifference #SchoolBoard-RecognitionMonth #DeSotoServes

The DeSoto Parish Extension Office — LSU AgCenter would like to thank Mr. Norton (Parish Administrator), Mr. Rister (Parish Engineer), and the DeSoto Parish Police Jury for the recent upgrades to the David B. Means Memorial 4-H Barn. The DeSoto Parish Extension Office staff are grateful for your continued support of our programs for the citizens of DeSoto Parish.

The 37th Annual Shreveport-Bossier- DeSoto African American Scholarship Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at the Morning Star Baptist Church Family LIfe Center, 5340 Jewella Avenue at 6 p.m.

The Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr., President of Grambling State University.

12 people from North Louisiana will receive “The African American Achievement Award’ for their many contributions in making our society a better place to live.

Roy Griggs, owner of Griggs Enterprises, Inc. (McDonald’s Franchise), will receive the “ICON of the YEAR Award.” This special award will be presented by Pastor CeJay, Program Director of KOKA Radio.

Individual Tickets are $50 and a Table of eight (8) is $350. Tickets can be purchase at Flynn’s Church Supply, 4102 Hearne Avenue, Shreveport.

ALL PROCEEDS GO TOWARD COLLEGE SCHOLARHSIPS.

On January 24, the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office bid a happy farewell to Chief Raymond Sharrow as he enters the retirement phase of life! Chief Sharrow, raised in Mansfield and a Stanley High School graduate, has served the citizens of DeSoto Parish in Law Enforcement for the last 30 years! He began his career in Law Enforcement as a graduate of Class 53 at the BPCC Training Academy at Bellevue before joining the ranks at DeSoto under Sheriff Hugh Bennett.

During his tenure at DPSO he has served in the capacity of a Corrections Deputy, K-9 Deputy, Patrol Sergeant, S.W.A.T. Sergeant, Narcotics Lieutenant, Narcotics Captain, a long member of the Tri-Parish Task Force, and he retires as the Chief Criminal Deputy under the leadership of Sheriff Jayson Richardson. He enjoyed todays retirement party in the presence of dozens of current and former employees of the Sheriff’s Office, his wife Sonya, their children and a host of grandchildren.

We are proud to highlight Mr. Mark Ross, District 8 School Board Member during National School Board Recognition Month!

Your dedication to our mission and core values of excellence, integrity, and service carries through to the important work being done with students in our schools. Your contributions make #TheDeSotoDifference in our community.