News

An appellate court has upheld a DeSoto District Court’s ruling finding Clerk of Court Jeremy Evans in violation of the state’s public records law.

Attorneys’ fees and civil penalties of more than $15,000 that were assessed by Judge Nicholas Gasper also were affirmed.

LSU student Coy Fortenberry filed suit against Evans in June after records requested three months earlier were not turned over. Fortenberry sought information such as office expenses, employee salaries, travel expenses and entertainment, outreach expenses, donations, advertising and legal fees.

Fortenberry was given dates when the records would be ready, but they were not. He finally received some of the information, but the request was not complete as employees’ names were redacted and months’ worth of financial information was missing.

The Shreveport — and Marshall-based Brig. Gen. Joseph Bailey Camp 5 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will dedicate a memorial plaque at the Mansfield State Historic Site at noon Saturday, June 1, 2024.

The state-owned site is at 15149 state Highway 175, about three miles south of the town of Mansfield in DeSoto Parish. The event is open to the public. Seating will be limited, so participants may wish to bring their own portable seats.

The plaque will honor the dozens of Union Army units that fought at the April 8, 1864 Battle of Mansfield in DeSoto Parish, site of the last major Confederate victory in the Civil War. The marker also lists units that took part in the following day’s Battle of Pleasant Hill. The two events, often referred to by historians as the Battle of Sabine Crossroads, marked the turning point of the failed Union Red River Campaign, whose object was the capture of Shreveport to cut Texas off from the Confederacy.

Memorial Day is a time to remember the men and women who have died serving our country. This special day is not the only time we should remember them but the holiday underscores the importance of having a time to revere and respect people who are sacred to our country. They are our heroes who are buried across America and thousands on foreign soil that never made it back home. They left their families and friends to go to hostile places where they laid down their lives for us.

Take a moment and visit the grave of someone who died representing us. When you go take just a few moments and give thanks for that person who will be one of many, many thousands who have made what we have in America possible.

We take America for granted. We enjoy so much freedom, opportunity and protection. We are so far from perfect but nothing in the world is perfect.

If you believe in anything, believe in these four guys and the ultimate sacrifices they made for their country. They died saving the lives of hapless servicemen aboard a sinking troop carrier attacked at sea on February 3, 1943. They are the Four Chaplains and on Wednesday, February 3, a date set aside by Congress in their honor, we can pay homage to their selfless deed privately with a simple prayer of remembrance or publicly at multi-faith memorial services held at various placed across the United States.

The United States Army Transport SS Dorchester was part of a convoy that departed New York City on January 23, 1943 carrying war materials and, more important, a hull full of troops. World War II was well underway and the thought of engaging in the fight must have been daunting for the 904 servicemen on board, not to mention that the convoy was on high alert on the lookout for Nazi submarines out hunting in wolf packs.

For Breanna James of Stonewall, a desire to serve her country dovetailed with her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Northwestern State University. James will graduate this week with a Bachelor of Science and commission as a 2nd lieutenant through NSU’s ROTC program. She has assessed Adjutant General’s Corps and will continue service in the Louisiana Army National Guard. Her initial assignment will be with the 528th Engineer Battalion in Monroe.

James’ family has a tradition of service in the U.S. Army and Navy.

“My Pawpaw always told me stories growing up of his experiences in the military and of my great grandparents, so I developed a very deep admiration for the men and women who served our country,” she said. “I always felt a strong calling to be a part of something greater than myself and to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of.”

Chef Hunter Lee a native of DeSoto Parish and resident of Mansfield, Louisiana and Jefferson, Texas has been selected to compete in a national competition with chefs across the country.

With over 17 years as a caterer, business owner, personal chef, kitchen personality and regional tv chef/entertainer, columnist, author, food critic, and founder of Benwood’s Surely Southern line of seasonings, sauces, and “Sweet Hot’s pickles his extensive life in food and entertaining has brought countless awards and recognition. In his words “this would be an amazing accomplishment and I humbly ask for your support and votes”.

On May 2, while finishing up work in the area, Sparklight Advanced Technicians Dwayne Dyess and Jasson Fitzgerald saw heavy smoke nearby and headed over to see if they could assist. As they drove over, neighbor Troy Abraham flagged them down in the street. His phone was unable to make outbound calls and he told Dwayne and Jasson an elderly woman was in the home that caught fire with six young grandchildren. The woman could not run, having a seriously medical condition.

Dwayne and Jasson run over quickly and carried the woman and the six children to Troy’s house for safety before the home was fully engulfed in flames. They then waited for EMS to arrive to make sure everyone was safe. The two then returned to work and completed their day. The woman was released from the hospital that night and all people are fine, though the home is a total loss.

A DeSoto Parish woman who’s been in a five-year legal battle with the former district attorney to get her land and an oil and gas royalty payment returned has prevailed with a settlement of her lawsuit.

Deborah Wilkinson of Stanley sued former DeSoto Parish District Gary Evans in late 2019, alleging Evans wrongfully took more land than he was entitled to — along with a royalty lease payment check — as part of a land sale.

Wilkinson’s civil lawsuit was scheduled to go to trial today in DeSoto District Court. But both parties agreed to a settlement Thursday.

Love the Boot Week recently took place April 17-23, 2023. Volunteers worked together statewide with 8,476 volunteers removed 293 tons of litter at 280 events in 54 parishes. Let’s work together to grow our impact in 2023 and Let Louisiana Shine!!

Keep DeSoto Beautiful weld their cleanup Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. They are urging citizens from all over the parish to gather a group of volunteers, select a site to clean, and register with us. We will have bags and gloves to share, additionally you may check out grabbers and vests if needed.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson wants to provide an update to the public on the progress our office has made in regards to the Distribution of Illegal Narcotics within DeSoto Parish. S.L.I.U. stands for Street Level Interdiction Unit, for which our office has a few you may see out patrolling the streets of DeSoto Parish. These narcotics related incidents sometimes reveal other crimes such as illegal weapons, active warrants, or stolen property for which you may see associated charges. Sheriff Richardson would like to thank our DeSoto Narcotics Agents, K9s and Handlers, S.L.I.U., and Tri-Parish Drug Task Force for the hard work they continue to put in to ensure dangerous illegal substances are removed from our streets, and bring to justice those who wish to distribute them among our friends, children, and families.