News

On May 13, Gov. Edwards testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources about recent federal offshore oil and gas developments. Specifically, he will address the adverse impact that a protracted moratorium on mineral leases in the Gulf of Mexico will have on Louisiana’s economy. In addition, he will highlight the state’s ongoing work on climate initiatives.

An excerpt of his submitted testimony is below:

On May 17, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that based on the recommendations by the CDC and in consultation with the Louisiana Dept. of Health, those who are fully vaccinated no longer have to wear masks indoors except in certain situations including: educational facilities, public transit, correctional settings, and health care facilities as regulated by LDH. This is in addition to recent guidance that also eased restrictions on masks outdoors for those who are fully vaccinated. Businesses may decide whether to continue requiring patrons to wear masks and are not limited by the revised proclamation. Further, local governments will continue to be able to make decisions to have further restrictions, including face covering requirements, in place.

On May 11, HB 199, which is the first of a package of bills to streamline the state’s sales tax system, cleared another hurdle, passing through the Louisiana Senate. Authored by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, HB 199 seeks to streamline the state’s outdated sales tax collection system, in the hope of bringing Louisiana closer to practices seen in other states throughout the country.

As a whole, the tax reform package has received much support from leadership throughout the state and the legislature. House Speaker Schexnayder said, “We have spent a great deal of time working on this solution to our outdated sales tax collection system. Democrats and Republicans alike can recognize the benefits of these efforts, and the support we have seen throughout the legislature with the passage of this first incentive is proof.”

The UIL Track and Field State Championships took place May 7,8 and 9 in Austin, Texas. Junior, Victoria Byrd, brought home 3 individual medals.

She earned her first medal in the Long Jump competition where she placed 3rd in the event with a jump of 17’ 9.25 inches. Victoria also competed in the 100m and 200m events and took GOLD in both, naming her the 2A STATE CHAMPION in those events.

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Sheriff Jayson Richardson would like to announce the recipients of the annual Louisiana Sheriff ’s Academic Scholarship Program for the 2020-2021 school year. The Sheriffs’ Scholarship is made possible by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program (LSHMP). Louisiana Sheriffs provide scholarships to graduating high school students from each parish where the Sheriff is an affiliate of the program. Qualities such as academic achievement, leadership, and character are considered in making selections of Sheriffs’ scholarship recipients. The only limitations are that applicants be permanent residents of Louisiana, scholarships be utilized in higher education within the State, and students be enrolled as full-time undergraduate students. These scholarships are awarded in sixty-four parishes throughout the state.

With COVID mandates keeping all festivals and events at a standstill in 2020, River City Fest Chairman Kathi Wells gathered her group of volunteers and set her mind that it was never to late to get things rolling again in DeSoto Parish. Word play soon had the group selecting the 2021 theme, “Never Too Late to Let the Good Times Roll.” The dates will still be based around the third weekend in May except they will include Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and will be closed on Sunday.

Mansfield Mayor John Mayweather, the Board of Aldermen, Chief Annette Blue and Assistant Chief Billy Locke are proud to announce that Officer Jeffrey Walker has graduated from the Caddo Parish Training Academy, Class # 49. Chief Blue stated how proud they were of Officer Walker and wish him the best of luck in his law enforcement career. Pictured l-r are Mansfield Police Officer Josh Schenck, Asst.

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Sheriff Jayson Richardson and the DPSO staff would like to congratulate six new deputies on their graduation from the Caddo Parish Training Academy, Class of #49. Among those graduating, three will be heading to Patrol and three are headed to Corrections.

We congratulate Lane Burns, Logan Calhoun, and Tara Carson who will be entering Corrections, and Cody Greer, Charla McLeod, and Kenn Yoruw who will be on Patrol.

The Caddo Parish Training Academy is a 16-week program, with one additional week for those seeking a career in Corrections. The course is a major achievement, but it does not come easy. Academy is challenging in many different areas ranging from physical, mental, and strategical operations. There is a minimum of 496 hours, which must be completed and is set forth by POST, the Peace Officers Standards and Training Council.

Aubree was the spokesman for the group of children that live and play on Mary Jane Boulevard as she gave her approval to Mansfield City Hall, with a special thank you going to City Clerk Marvin Jackson. A “thumbs up” for a job well done is about the best compliment you can get from this group of young citizens. It’s worth mentioning that Aubree and her siblings are among the group that pick up the litter in the Mary Jane Blvd. area when needed. They take their duties seriously to help keep Mansfield beautiful and litter free.

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Last week, former DeSoto deputy Joseph Procell pled guilty to malfeasance in office after having sex with a female inmate during a transport in June 2019. Procell pleaded guilty in exchange for a second charge of third degree rape being dismissed. The dismissal was without prejudice meaning the District Attorney’s Office is not prevented from bring it up again.

Assistant District Attorney Ed Blewer said that Procell was given an 18 month suspended sentence, placed on 18 months of active supervised probation and ordered to attend sex offender counseling. Procell agreed to permanently give up his police officer certification, and he agreed not to work in any position with power of arrest or law enforcement again. Since he pled guilty to the Malfeasance charge only and the rape charged dropped, Procell was not required to register as a sex offender.