News

Last week, during the Unclaimed Property Professionals Organization (UPPO) Annual Conference, Louisiana’ s Unclaimed Property Program was awarded the prestigious UPPO Members’ Choice Unclaimed Property State of the Year Award.

“I am incredibly proud of our Louisiana Treasury Unclaimed Property Program and staff who work hard returning unclaimed property to its rightful owners,” says Louisiana State Treasurer John M. Schroder. “Over the last four years, our Unclaimed Property Program has gone from being ranked 38th in the nation to being among the top for outcomes. In addition, we have seen a 632% increase in the number of checks issued.” Louisiana’s Unclaimed Property Program went from issuing 77,000 checks to more than 564,000 checks over the last four years.

Please make plans to join members of the DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce, parish officials, friends and relatives, as they welcome Titan Property Network, located at 5258 C Hwy 3276 in Stonewall. Realtors Danny Lowery and Becki Bass invite you to stop by and tour their facilities as they answer your questions, mingle with friends, and enjoy refreshments at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20. Be sure and register for their door prize!

Sheriff Jayson Richardson has gathered some bearded deputies together to present a donation to a local charity here in DeSoto Parish. Over the past four months, deputies who want to grow out their whiskers can donate money that will in turn be given to a local charity of the Sheriff’s choosing. This month, Sheriff Richardson was able to provide DeSoto Parish’s “Mansfield In Motion” with a $1,000 donation.

Keep DeSoto Beautiful will be joining groups from all over the state in celebrating Love the Boot, a statewide cleanup effort aimed at creating a clean and healthy state!! Keep DeSoto Beautiful will be coordinating a Parish wide cleanup on Saturday, April 23. Groups and individuals from all over the parish are invited to sign up; pickup supplies; clean your selected spot; and report your results to Keep DeSoto Beautiful!

April 11 kicked off National Telecommunicators Week. We appreciate and thank all of our dedicated dispatchers who are the ones behind the scenes, keeping the calm in the midst of a storm. Whether it is bad weather, domestic disputes, a cow in the roadway, or an even worse tragedy…they are the first ones responding. They are there 24/7, and will always be there when you need them the most. Show your appreciation this week by highlighting and appreciating someone you know that is a dispatcher!

In the March 31, 2022 edition of The Enterprise, we erroneously reported that Thomas Jones had been elected as the new Mayor of the city of Mansfield.

Mansfield Mayor John Mayweather (D) and candidate Thomas Jones (D), who currently serves on the DeSoto Parish Police Jury, will both be on the April 30, 2022 ballot, with early voting beginning April 16, running through April 23. Mansfield voters can vote either at the DeSoto Registrar of Voters office at 104 Crosby Street in Mansfield or at the Stonewall substation, located in the Stonewall Municipal Complex at 1746 Hwy 171. You can also call 318-872-1149 or find them on Facebook.

Jones received 626 (43%) to Mayweather’s 502 (34%). Former Mansfield Alderman Joseph Hall, Jr. (D) garnered 330 votes (23%). A total of 1,458, or 49.5%, turned out to cast their Mansfield mayoral votes. Since none of the three candidates received 51% of the vote, a runoff has been declared between Mayweather and Jones.

History was made last week when the state legislature overturned Gov. Edwards’ veto on US Congressional maps. Such action took place Wednesday, March 30, after lawmakers suspended its current session and convened a special veto override session. During the one-day veto session, the House voted 72-23 to override the governor’s rejection of the map, while the Senate voted 27-11. The votes largely fell along party lines.

The override, which required a two-thirds vote in each chamber, was a rare occurrence in Louisiana.

The Governor, most state Democrat lawmakers, and civil rights leaders opposed the US. Congressional map redesign submitted in February because it did not create a second majority-minority district. Instead the current configuration of the six US. Congressional districts were only tweaked to reflect population shifts between northern and southern parishes.

On Sunday, March 27, DeSoto Parish Sheriff ’s jail bookings show that James Coday Johnston was booked into the DeSoto Parish Detention Center at 11:18 p.m. He was arrested on a charge of domestic abuse battery by strangulation, due to a disturbance at the Johnston residence.

Johnston represents District 6 on the DeSoto Parish School Board and was released on bail in the amount of $50,000 on Monday, March 28.

Johnston is currently serving his third term as a School Board member for District 6 with his term expiring December 31, 2022. Since he is booked with a felony, his resignation would be required if convicted.

The DeSoto Parish School Board is proud to report that Superintendent Clay Corley was named Superintendent of the Year for Region VII. During the March School Board meeting, Dr. Gwile Freeman presented a plaque recognizing Corley for this achievement. DPSB Vice President Dudley Glenn said, “We are grateful for Mr. Corley’s leadership and dedication to the students of DeSoto Parish as well as parents, faculty, staff, and the communities that surround and support our schools”.

The DeSoto Parish School Board is excited to announce that Tamela Phillips, North DeSoto High School Principal, has been named a Louisiana Principal of the Year Semifinalist. We are proud of you, Mrs. Phillips! You are the DeSoto Difference!