News

The Desoto Parish School Board today announced an amendment to its policy for serving meals to students under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the 2024–2025 school year. All students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge at the following sites: — Logansport High School — Mansfield Elementary School — Mansfield Middle School — Mansfield High School — North DeSoto Lower Elementary School — North DeSoto Upper Elementary School — North DeSoto Middle School — North DeSoto High School — Stanley High School

For additional information please contact: DeSoto Parish School Board: Dr. Nichelle Harris, Supervisor, Child Nutrition Program, 400 Jenkins Street, Mansfield, LA 71052, (318) 872–4115, Nichelle.Harris@ desotopsb.com.

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With 2024 half over, the good people of DeSoto Parish have seen their fair share of challenges. From record setting rainfalls to multiple confirmed tornadoes which have devastated our local communities, the people of this parish push on with grit, determination and unity. These natural disasters have resulted in three declared emergencies in 2024 for our parish from both the Office of the Governor and the Office of the President of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury. Rainfall accumulations have been recorded to be more than 50 inches for parts of DeSoto Parish. This information is available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The rainfall totals are daily observations from automated and human facilitated weather stations across DeSoto Parish.

Logansport’s Rickey Warren Memorial Fireworks Extravaganza - 2024

The targets were set, and silence fell on the crowd. Four keen eyed DeSoto Parish 4-H’ers bravely stepped up to the line to take their shot at a National Championship. Jacob Berry, Addison Burnley, Emma Houston, and Eli Smith all had invested countless hours on the practice range, checking equipment and safety preparations in order to make this dream of winning a National Championship a reality. And as the week of June 22nd approached, all were prepared for the task. The 4-H members, along with their families made the 13-hour trip to Grand Island, Nebraska to represent the state of Louisiana in Air Rifle and Muzzleloading.

On July 1, Sheriff Jayson Richardson was officially sworn in by District Judge Amy Mc-Cartney for his third term as Sheriff of DeSoto Parish.

Sheriff Richardson stated that he looks forward to seeking growth for our DeSoto community by showing those abroad that DeSoto Parish is a safe place to work and live. His aim for the future is to continue making progress in areas of public safety, and being fully transparent with our DeSoto residents.

While Sheriff Richardson is widely respected for being an honest and fair leader in law enforcement, it is a lesser known fact that he is also very technology driven. His work in bringing the DeSoto Sheriff’s Office into the modern age has solidified our office as one of the leading law enforcement agencies in the state of Louisiana.

The Louisiana “America 250” State Commission today unveiled a new standard license plate commemorating the 250th birthday of the United States. The Louisiana “America 250” State Commission is charged with coordinating activities and events related to this celebration.

The new Louisiana standard license plate features 18 stars representing Louisiana as the 18th state to join the union in 1812. It was designed by the Louisiana “America 250” State Commission. The license plate will be distributed from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026 — the conclusion of the U.S. Semiquincentennial year.

Surrounded by supporters, elected officials, and citizens, Lisa Lobrano Burson was sworn in today as DeSoto Parish Clerk of Court in Mansfield. Chief District Court Judge Amy Burford McCartney administered the oath of office to Burson, who was joined by her husband, Jason, and son, Maverick.

“I am honored to serve as your Clerk of Court and fully appreciate the responsibility and duty that you have entrusted to me. I am grateful to you for that trust, and along with it, the expectation to fully perform our duties with the highest integrity, competency, and service.

“When I announced candidacy for this office in 2023, I pledged to bring transparency and accountability to the forefront of the Clerk’s Office. Beginning today, my staff and I will carry out this promise.

If you notice the top of the paper (the official term is the masthead) on this week’s edition, The Enterprise and Interstate Progress has turned over to Volume 121, Issue 1 effective July 1, 2024. The Enterprise officially marked its 120th anniversary to begin its 120th year of publication.

In 2021, we had to leave our much-loved address at 202 Adams Street on the DeSoto Courthouse Square to move to our beautiful new office facility, located at 110 Welsh Street, still in Mansfield. We are situated behind the old Capital One building and across the street from Progressive National Bank’s drive-through at 110 Welsh Street in Mansfield. If you haven’t stopped by to see our new location, we’d love to have you come by for the grand tour of our beautiful “Lagniappe House: Home of the Enterprise”. It truly is a “little something extra” just like the name says.

One of the annual events that is most anticipated in our area is the Annual Rickey Warren Memorial Fireworks Display on the banks of the Sabine River in Logansport. On Thursday, July 4, this will mark the official ninth (a year was skipped due to Covid) year that DeSoto Fire District 1 has delighted throngs of people that are drawn to DeSoto Parish and Shelby County to view the spectacular pyrotechnics show. DFD 1 Chief Mark Magee said that the show is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. or “dark thirty”, but could be a little later as they wait for complete darkness in the nighttime sky to fully showcase the exhibition. The event is completely free, but donations are gladly accepted and appreciated. The show was put on hold due to river conditions, but DFD 1 planned to begin working on the show on Monday, July 1.

Daughters of the American Revolution Bon Chasse Chapter presented Mansfield State Historic Site manager, Amy Boone, with a stand for their American Flag. Pictured are Rose Martin, Chapter Regent, Amy Boone, and Pam Melton, Chapter Vice-Regent.

If you have never visited this site in Mansfield, you are missing out on some wonderful Louisiana history.