News

Juneteenth is short for June Nineteenth, which marks the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas in 1865. It was Union General Gordon Granger who read General Orders No.3 stating that all slaves were free. Today, it commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is also known as Freedom Day.

On January 1, 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation at the height of the Civil War. On paper, slaves in Texas were free, but they were not aware of it. Texan slave owners kept the news to themselves, delaying emancipation of 250,000 slaves by another two years.

There are several theories why such news was delayed, including the murder of the messenger and securing further cotton harvests from Texas.

Other delayed news was the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court, which was only heard more than two months after.

There will be a Teen Health Summit held on Thursday, June 23rd from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the DeSoto Parish Health Unit in Mansfield. Parents, pre-teens, and teens are invited to learn about the importance of prioritizing your overall health. Information will be provided regarding a variety of health issues, drugs, teen violence, and more. Free food and drinks will also be served. For more information, or questions, please seek out the Louisiana Department of Health Facebook Page or call 318-575-5339.

On June 7, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the first group of plans approved under the American Rescue Plan’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF), which includes Louisiana’s. The CPF provides $10 billion to states, territories, freely associated states, and Tribal governments to fund critical capital projects that enable work, education, and health monitoring in response to the public health emergency. A key priority of the program is to make funding available for reliable, affordable broadband infrastructure and other digital connectivity technology projects. In addition to the $10 billion provided by the CPF, many governments are using a portion of their State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) toward meeting the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of connecting every American household to affordable, reliable highspeed internet.

It’s been a year ago since a trail ride got out of hand in DeSoto Parish with citizens from Frierson to Grand Cane upset with how some of those attending the event conducted themselves. Meetings were held by the DeSoto Parish Police Jury and new policies were set in place to avoid such chaos happening again. Originally, the policy and procedures put into place had a unanimous vote among jury members.

As time went by, trail ride organizers, including Police Juror Jeri Burrell who has participated and chaired trail rides for many years, decided that that the guidelines were too severe, and stated that the Jury could not tell people what to do on their private property. DeSoto Administrator Michael Norton made it clear that the permits would only cover the grounds for which the permit was requested. If it were to spill outside or the permitted property that would not be considered part of the parish permit.

Mayor Ricky Burch has announced that the Village of Stanley will host Game Night on Thursday, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center on Hwy. 84. Concessions will be available for purchase during the event. Please keep in mind that this is a fundraiser to help with improvements and beautification in the Village.

The DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce cordially invites you to join members, officials, family and friends of Cardis Wilkinson and his father, Steve, as they hold the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting to Cardinal Music Company, located at 2070 Hwy 171 Ste. E in Stonewall. The business has moved in the facility formerly occupied by Sublime Hair Salon. The event is Monday, June 20 at 10:00 a.m. For additional information call the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce at 318-872-1310.

Please join us for our June DeSoto GOP lunch on Thursday, June 16th at the Stonewall Community Center. Doors open at 11:30 and lunch will begin at 12:00 noon. Our guest speaker will be Judge Frances Pitman. Lunch will be fried fish with all the trimmings provided by On the Geaux Catering. Lunch will be $15 per person payable at the door by cash or check. Listening is always free. Please RSVP by responding here or texting 318-218-6854. (submitted)

If you shopped in Walmart #323 in Mansfield during the Memorial Day weekend, you might have noticed the tribute that management and staff set up for our military that were killed in action, in addition to Prisoners of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) soldiers. None of these soldiers of any division of our military ever came home, no matter what the circumstances. Memorial Day is to remember these brave men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice so that Americans can celebrate with their many freedoms. Thank you, Walmart, for this outstanding remembrance!

Plaque Inscription on the Fallen Soldiers’ Table

This table is reserved to honor our fallen comrades. The tablecloth is whitesymbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.

The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of our fallen comrades, and the loved ones and friends of those comrades that kept the faith.

After years of debate and court fights, The Caddo Parish Commission and Chapter 237 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, reached an agreement in July, 2020 to remove and relocate the monument. It was funded by the UDC and dedicated in 1906.

The monument features a large central pillar with a Confederate soldier atop. A depiction of Clio, the muse of history, stands as the pillar’s base, and the pillar is surrounded by busts of Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, P.G.T. Beauregard, and Henry W. Allen.

The Caddo Parish Commission contracted with a Florida company to remove the monument. It’s being moved to the Battle of Pleasant Hill Battlefield Site, which is on private property in DeSoto Parish.

The DeSoto Parish School Board is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all eligible children without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows:

Sites & Addresses:

Mansfield Elementary/Middle Schools; 1915 McArthur Drive; Mansfield, LA 71052 – Operating Dates & Days: June 1, 2022 through June 29, 2022; Meals & Times Served, Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and Lunch at 12:45 p.m. North DeSoto Upper Elementary; 2535 Hwy 171;