News

We had several of our usual sponsors of The Enterprise’s Annual Back to School edition out of town for the last couple of weeks. They requested that if at all possible to please hold the issue until they could get their advertisements together.

We want all of our student and sports sponsors to be able to participate in this special edition so we made the decision to hold it one more week. So, watch for August 11th’s edition! School is back in session and busses are on the road. Please drive safe and be aware!

There are over a dozen Deputies at the DeSoto Parish Sheriff ’s Office who not only serve and protect our parish, but they have served our country as well.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson has chosen to set aside one of our fleet vehicles to show our love and support for our Veterans, who accepted the challenge to protect the freedoms we hold dear in this great nation. This news may seem more appropriate for Veteran’s Day, but we just could not wait that long. With men and women currently on active duty around the world, we will honor our service members every day. So, if you see it on the road, know that it will always be driven by one of our vets here at DPSO!

Last week, Sheriff Jayson Richardson travelled to Baton Rouge to meet with Senator Barry Milligan to show his appreciation for the recent $1.8 million package passed to aid Criminal Justice during this Legislative session.

This package includes $1.5 million dedicated to the North Louisiana Crime Lab, which is something that Sheriff Richardson has advocated for heavily in our area. The package also included $300,000 toward the Louisiana Sheriff’s Task Force for Hurricane Reponse.

Senator Milligan said, “I sincerely appreciate the recognition and happy to serve those who so faithfully serve us!”

At 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19, just about the time the lobby opened at Progressive National Bank’s Logansport Branch, a slender black male, wearing a black shirt, jeans, and high top Air Jordan’s, entered the bank and presented the teller a note demanding money. He left the bank with around $2,000.00 in a maroon truck, with the surveillance camera picking up his Texas license plate number. The back glass of his maroon truck had his name personalized with “Fisher”.

The suspect was later located on Vance Street, which is only about 6 blocks from PNB, and identified as Kadeem Jamel Fisher, age 26. DeSoto deputies had him in custody by about 10:30 a.m.

The note’s entirety was not divulged but he identified himself as a Federal Officer.

He was booked into the DeSoto Detention Center, charged with First Degree Robbery, Theft, and False Impersonation of a Peace Officer. His bond has been set at $855,000, according to DPSO’s website.

The Pelican Branch Library is partnering with LifeShare Blood Center to host a SUMMER BLOOD DRIVE this Friday, July 29-2pm-6pm in Pelican. Donors get a free “Summer Donor” t-shirt. We will have door prizes, hot dogs and a bounce house for the kiddos!! DeSoto Fire District 8 and DeSoto EMS will be there as well as Victoria Horton, from Louisiana Primary Care Association. Come out for this awesome community event. Donate blood, save a life! Call Kriston Newsom, Pelican Library Branch Manager at 318-755-2353 for more information!

Emmanuel Falcon is a Mansfield High School graduate planning to go to LSUS in the fall, majoring in Computer Science & Technology. Based on his academic excellence, Progressive National Bank selected him as our $1,000 College Scholarship Award recipient! Pictured (left to right) are Wayne Davis, CEO; Emmanuel Falcon; Dorothy Falcon Davis, Mother; Chelsey Drew, Administrative Assistant; Kade Rogers, President.

The November 8 ballot for DeSoto will see some candidates running unopposed with some new names seeking election. Multiparish election for Senator John Kennedy’s seat will have the largest number of running mates, with Representative Mike Johnson unopposed. Judge for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal, Sec. 2B. Frances Pitman, also runs unopposed.

Mayors Travis Whitfield of Keachi and Marsha Richardson of Grand Cane will remain in office, with no one qualifying to run against them. The current three aldermen of Grand Cane, Mayor Protem Rhonda Meek, K. E. “Ed” Campbell and Clayton Davis, will maintain their positions with no one running against them.

No one qualified to run for the position of council member in the Village of Longstreet. Aldermen for the Village of Stanley had two qualify for their seats, Dane Blount and Angela Cleveland, who will automatically serve those positions.

On July 20, The Louisiana Department of Education (the Department) announced the 2023 Teacher and Principal of the Year state-level winners.

Brittany Bonnaffons of Hahnville High School in St. Charles Parish has been selected as the 2023 State Teacher of the Year and Dr. David Schexnaydre, Jr. of Harry M. Hurst Middle School in St. Charles Parish is the 2023 State Principal of the Year.

“I would like to extend my personal congratulations to Brittany and David and thank them on behalf of the entire Department,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “I look forward to celebrating with them and all honorees at what I expect to be a fantastic night for Louisiana educators.”

The UM Share School Uniform Ministry, a cooperative ministry of DeSoto Parish United Methodist Churches, offers free school uniforms to all in the parish who have need. Parents are invited to bring their child(ren) to the distribution sites to help pick their favorite style and size. This organized group of Methodist is excited and happy to help those who need a little assistance in getting ready for school.

Mansfield and North DeSoto Schools uniform distribution is Friday, July 22, from 10AM – Noon and 4 – 6PM, and Saturday, July 23, 10AM – Noon. The distribution will be held at First United Methodist Church, located at 502 Polk Street in Mansfield. It you missed the Logansport-Stanley School on Monday, July 18, and Tuesday, July 19th, from 4-6:30PM each day, call the numbers listed below to see if they have the particular uniform pieces and sizes that you are in need of.

On July 15, The Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights (HTOL) announced that they have added Logansport and Ruston as the two newest destinations along the trail. Christmas vacationers can now find information about the holiday happenings in these two towns at the Holiday Trail of Lights website and on social media. The other current cities on the trail are Shreveport-Bossier, Minden, Natchitoches, Alexandria-Pineville, and Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana.

“It’s very exciting to see the Holiday Trail of Lights continue to grow,” HTOL Board Chairman and Marketing Director for Natchitoches CVB Kelli West said. “The addition of Ruston and Logansport to our Christmas marketing materials will make the trail even more accessible and compelling to locals and visitors alike.”