News

On Saturday, November 20, the Logansport Christmas Festival will kick off with over forty vendors, a car show, parade, lighting of the Christmas lights, and music. They were invited to join the “Trail of Lights” this year that runs from Marshall, Texas to Natchitoches, and places in between. Come by a part of this year’s fun that kicks off our holiday season in DeSoto Parish. For more information you can find them on Facebook and at www.logansportchristmas.

schedule of events.

The Mansfield Branch of the National Association of University Women (NAUW) will hold its Annual Literacy Festival on Monday, November 21, 2022, at the Mansfield Housing Authority Center at 2:00 P.M. The goal of this event is to celebrate and encourage everyone to love Reading. Come and Celebrate The Day! There will be Free Books, Storytelling, Snacks, Treats, a Bounce House, and Cake Walk.

Young Author, Kennedy Williams, a Mansfield native, will be the featured guest. Kennedy is a student at Evangel High School in Shreveport, LA., and a promising author of children’s books. She will be sharing her experiences with the children.

Darron Spencer, Children’s Librarian, at DeSoto Parish Library in Mansfield, will make a presentation and give information on the services available at the library and how to get a library card.

It’s seems an appropriate time to remind everyone of a common phone scam, and one that was attempted on a resident in our parish as recent as today. Luckily, this resident was able to catch on to the scam and shut it down before losing money. It was then reported to our office. First we want to say, please withhold judgment on those who fall victim to some of these more recent scams. As scammers learn our behavior they modify their own, but they do not give up. Their stories and tactics become more and more believable as time goes on.

On November 4, the state ethics board issued an opinion that the brother of the Mansfield mayor cannot be the next police chief for the city.

Kem Jones, the brother of Thomas Jones, who began serving as mayor on July 1, wrote to the state ethics board on September 7 asking five questions all related to scenarios of him being the chief of police or in some capacity in the Police Department. He recently served as Investigator during Gary V. Evans administration as District Attorney.

Kem Jones, who said he is a certified officer, even asked if it was permissible for him to be the chief, a training officer or auxiliary officer without monetary compensation.

An attorney for the ethics board cited state law that prohibits an agency head from employing an immediate family member. A brother is included in the list of family members.

The lack of paid compensation is immaterial, the board said.

Veterans and family, please check in the main office of each school to be escorted to the program being held in your honor. Thank you for your service!

T h u r s d a y , November 10 10:00 a.m. - Program honoring all Veterans will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Central School Auditorium in Grand Cane with a reception to follow.

Friday, November 11: 8:00 a.m. – Logansport High School: On Friday, November 11th LHS will host a Veterans Breakfast, followed by a program at 9:00 a.m. in the gymnasium.

9;00 a.m. – Stanley High School will hold their Veterans’ program at 9:00 a.m. in the gymnasium.

If you haven’t already participated in Early Voting, please make an effort to cast your ballot on November 8 at your designated location. DeSoto voters will go to the polls for school board members in several districts, our state senator, and 8 propositions that are to be voted on statewide.

Donnie Dufour, who is currently serving as Finance Chairman, has represented District 4 for several terms and is being opposed by Xavier Foster and Robert Mitchell. KaTina Lane and James “Jim” Veuleman are challenging Alice Hamilton Thomas of District 5 for her seat, who currently serves as DPSB President.

District 6 School Board member Coday Johnston is opposed by Brian LaFleur, while current Dale Morvan of District 7 has been challenged by Sonja Smith Polley. Bobby Boyd, Representative for District 10, has one contender, LaTarsha Ross Shelton. Member for District 11, Rosie Mayweather, has one contestant challenging her, Johnny R. Jones.

Listed below, you’ll find a list of DeSoto parish residents owed money by the state of Louisiana.

The names listed on page 4B in the Classified and Legals section have been reported to the Louisiana Department of the Treasury as being persons appearing to be the owners of unclaimed funds subject to the provisions of LSA-R.S. 9:151-182, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. The amount of names for the mailing addresses in DeSoto include 117 for Mansfield, 1 for South Mansfield, 39 for Frierson, 28 for Logansport, 20 for Gloster, 73 for Stonewall, 15 for Keachi, and 11 for Pelican These funds have been presumed to be abandoned and taken into the protective custody of the Department of the Treasury. There is no deadline for claiming your money; however, you must provide proof of ownership before the funds will be released. A copy of photo identification will be required and other information that will positively identify the rightful owner may be needed.