News

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.

On Friday, June 30, 2023, shortly after 9:30 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on I-49 just north of LA Hwy 509. This crash claimed the life of 33-year-old Michael Sandifer.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2015 Nissan Altima, driven by Sandifer, was traveling south on I-49. For reasons still under investigation, the Altima exited the left side of the roadway, traveled across the median, and struck a concrete bridge pillar head-on.

As a result of this crash, Sandifer, who was unrestrained, suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the DeSoto Parish Coroner’s Office. Although impairment is not a suspected factor, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

Members of the DeSoto Parish 4-H Jr. Livestock Club participated in a field trip to visit the Veterinary Technology Program at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The 4-H youth met with Dr. Doug Landry, Program Director, who took them on a tour of the facility. Students were able to see first hand what Pre-Vet students at NSU get to experience such as exam rooms, X-rays, and surgery equipment. A special thanks to Dr. Landry for showing the group around. If you are interested in joining the DeSoto 4-H Livestock Club, please contact the 4-H office at 318-872-0533.

On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, shortly after 2:00 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on LA Hwy 175 north of LA Hwy 509. This crash claimed the life of 84-year-old Oristene Jackson of Mansfield.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Jackson, was traveling north on LA Hwy 175. At the same time, a 2015 Honda Crosstour, driven by 70-yearold Priscilla Powell of Hemphill, TX, was traveling south on LA Hwy 175. For reasons still under investigation, the Silverado crossed the centerline and struck the Crosstour head on.

Mansfield homicide suspect Zamir Keshun Massey was taken into custody on Monday, June 26 and booked into the Dallas County Jail. Dallas police helped the Mansfield Police Department with the arrest of Massey after he was found hiding within the city.

Massey was wanted on multiple charges in connection with a deadly shooting on June 14 in Mansfield.

Also assisting MPD, who are the lead investigators on the case, are the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Department and the U. S. Marshall’s Service Office for the Western District of Louisiana.

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s’ Office is back with another installment of “Beyond the Badge,” a way of helping DeSoto residents get to know those that serve our community here at your local Sheriff’s Office! First Responders are more than just a uniform, they are mothers, fathers, neighbors, and some of their kids even go to school with yours! As a vital part of protecting and serving DeSoto Parish, we want you to know who they are on a personal level. Each month we will be highlighting one, selected by their supervisor, and we hope you read and share along with us. For the month of June we want to introduce you to: Administrative Assistant, Holly Kennedy- Jones!

In June 2023, Javarius Holden was sentenced by the 42nd District Court in DeSoto Parish on charges of Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. He received 40 years in prison (10 suspended) and 3 years supervised probation. Fentanyl is no longer a foreign substance to our area. Currently it is most commonly used by individuals who reside outside of DeSoto attempting to gain entry and negatively affect the lives of our residents. In an effort to protect those in our community with a weakness for these dangerous narcotics, and out of safety for our DeSoto Parish children, Sheriff Jayson Richardson will continue lead this effort to seek out, arrest, and charge those responsible for trafficking these dangerous drugs across our DeSoto Parish border. Our Narcotics Agents have made great headway in making our Parish a safer place to live, and we are grateful for all the hard work they and our K9/Deputies put in each and every day.

Mansfield Mayor Thomas Jones reported, “As the citizens of Mansfield are aware, railway switching in the heart of our city has been an ongoing issue for several decades now. Extended wait times have really worsened over the years with more concerns about accessing the local hospital for medical emergencies responding to house fires, accidents and public safety in general”.

“I had been in communication with KCS management several years ago about the railway switching bottleneck on the main streets of the city. At that time, KCS was looking at an extension track south of the parish towards the Benson Community. Evidently that potential project stalled and other talks began. So we fast forward to the current plan which has come into fruition, an extension track north of Mansfield. This extension will allow an entire unit train to park outside of the city limits. This should lessen wait times as passing trains can continue without slowing down as much,” Jones continued.

The LSU Ag Centers are excited to welcome Erin Stockton to the DeSoto Parish Extension Office. Erin is our new Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for the LSU AgCenter in DeSoto and Bossier Parishes.

Erin will be working with the Flavors of Health program here in DeSoto and in Bossier Parish. She will also handle SNAP-ED programming in Bossier Parish. Some of the programs that Erin will be offering include healthy eating, pressure cooker testing, living with diabetes, and much more.

Erin is a graduate of William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in English. She is also a graduate of Louisiana Christian University where she earned a master’s degree in the Art of Teaching. Erin has been an educator for the past 18 years in MS and LA, with the past 13 years spent in Sabine Parish. She was actively involved in 4-H as a volunteer and sponsor while her children were in school.