News

Sheriff Jayson Richardson would like to announce the retirement of Sergeant Carol Sue Richardson from the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office. A very special retirement party was held on March 8th where dozens of coworkers, family, friends, and other recent retirees came to congratulate Sgt. Richardson on her more than 28 years of service with DeSoto, and 35 years overall in law enforcement!

JANUARY: Narcotics Agents with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office concluded an operation that resulted in 5 citations written to clerks in stores across our Parish. Due to multiple complaints about local stores selling THC/CBD products to minors, without checking for identification, agents were able to purchase vape, tobacco, and CBD/THC products with a minor. Agents intend to continue these undercover operations periodically to ensure accountability on local store clerks who aim to illegally sell dangerous products to juveniles.

FEBRUARY: Narcotics agents were able to make multiple arrests that involved the illegal possession, distribution of drugs, and/or illegal carrying of a firearm in our parish. The following suspects were taken into custody on drug related charges: - Kara Parker (22yo W/M of Teneha, TX) for Possession of Schedule II and Illegal Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the Presence of a Juvenile.

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff ’s Office will be hosting a Hunter’s Education Course from March 16th - 18th, and there are still spots left! This course date was specially chosen to assist those in 4H shooting before their season began. Another Hunter’s Ed Course will still be hosted in the coming months, before hunting season. If you should choose to sign up for this early course, you may do so at the link below.

Remember, this is a three day course and attendees must attend all three days to receive certification. Applicants must be at least 10 yrs of age by March 16th to attend. Times, dates, and other information can also be found at the link below. *There is NO COST associated with this course.

For more information call 318-872-3956.

Early Voting will begin in DeSoto Parish and statewide on Saturday, March 11, and will run until Saturday, March 18 (except for Sunday) from 8:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

You can cast your early ballot for the March 25 Spring Municipal Primary at the DeSoto Registrar of Voters main office, located at 104 Crosby Street in Mansfield or at the satellite office located in the Stonewall Municipal Complex at 1746 U. S. Hwy. 171 in Stonewall.

There is one proposition on the ballot that is parish-wide, with the second one only for voters in Fire District 2 casting ballots.

Parish-wide voters will decide whether or not they want to keep the services of the Yopp (DeSoto) Animal Shelter along with its maintenance and programs, mosquito abatement program, and programs of the DeSoto Council on Aging.

The 40th Annual River City Fest dates are slated for May 11-13, 2023, with the carnival beginning on Thursday night May 11th from 5-10 pm, provided by “Sunshine Rides”.. The Fest ,along with carnival and vendors will open on Friday May 12th from 5-10 p.m. with the RCF Annual Parade beginning at 7:00 p.m..

Saturday, May 13th, Festival hours will be from 8:00 a.m. until Midnight,. This includes a day full of events and activities for the whole family.. There will be a car show, treasure hunt, arm wrestling tournament, Cornhole Tournament, mechanical bull, petting zoo, food, arts & craft vendors, balloon release, live entertainment, fireworks, and so much more..

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff ’s Office Narcotics Division recently wrapped up an investigation that led to the arrest of Jessica L. Rials of Grand Cane (33 yo White Female.) During the course of this investigation, narcotics agents were able to locate 41 Fentanyl pills, 170 units of Fentanyl, 3.1 grams of Black Tar Heroin, 31 grams of Brown Heroin, and 1.34 pounds of Marijuana. The amount of fentanyl retrieved could have led to several hundred lethal doses resulting in death.

The Louisiana State Penitentiary Museum Foundation, Louisiana State Penitentiary Warden Tim Hooper, and Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc are proud to announce the following highly-distinguished individuals as 2023 inductees to the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame.

Rotarian Secretary and Treasurer, Teri Byrd, introduced fellow DeSoto Regional Health System co-worker Natalie Ball. Mrs. Ball is the NewVision Administrator there and told the Club about her department now at DeSoto Regional called NewVision Withdrawal Management. NewVision has offices nationwide and offers inpatient medical stabilization and withdrawal management for individuals with drug, alcohol or related issues. They accept most insurance plans and the service is consists of a medically supervised inpatient hospital stay the typically will last for 3 days.

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a federal jury has returned guilty verdicts against Aaron Wade Knight, 31, of Noble, Louisiana, on two counts of making threats of violence against employees with the Sabine Medical Center (SMC) and the Veterans Administration (VA). United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the trial.

In December 2021, voters that owned property in the Stanley School District cast their decisions whether or not to pass District 3 Proposition which read, “Shall School District No.