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The DeSoto Parish Cattlemen’s Association held their first meeting of the year on January 13, 2026 at the DeSoto Parish Extension Office. Mr. Henry Richardson, DPCA President, welcomed the group and introduced the speakers. Mr. Joshua Lynn Salley, DeSoto Parish County Agent, gave an AgCenter update with information on many upcoming events this Spring. Mr. Lynn DeLoach, LCA President, spoke to the crowd on the recent LCA convention and gave an update on recent legislation that affects Louisiana cattlemen. Mr. Ronnie Sale, LCA District I Vice President, was also in attendance and visited with attendees. After a great meal provided by Josh Black with DeSoto Farm Bureau, the crowd heard a beef cattle market update from Mr. Lee Faulk, Livestock Agent with the LSU AgCenter. To conclude the meeting, Mr.

This morning at 8:00a.m., members of the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office paused wherever they were to pray for a family in our community walking through an incredibly difficult moment. Their young son, Eli Taylor, is currently in the hospital.

Eli’s father, Shane Taylor, serves with our office, and his mother, Christine, is a local business owner here in the parish. Staff that were able gathered together in person, while others joined in prayer from patrol units, dispatch desks, and offices across the DeSoto Parish. Different places, one heart.

We strongly believe in the power of prayer and the strength that comes when a community lifts a family up together. We ask you to join us in continued prayer for Eli’s healing, and for peace, comfort, and strength for the Taylor family in the days ahead.

After watching the outpouring of love and prayer shared through countless posts, we thank you, for being a community that stands together when it matters most.

DeSoto Parish Schools proudly recognizes Mr. Donnie Dufour for his many decades of dedicated service to the families of DeSoto Parish.

His leadership reflects a deep commitment to our community, our mission, and our core values — supporting students and educators every day. Thank you, Mr. Dufour, for making The DeSoto Difference.

You’re a three-yearold little ginger haired girl full of happiness, love and sunshine, with your fourth birthday right around the corner on April 28. Your name is Allisa Nacole Taylor and you already are known as a fighter being born with Down Syndrome, a condition where a person is born with an extra chromosome. A medical term for having an extra copy April 20: Alissa Nacole Taylor and I wanna give a Hugh THANK YOU to Kathy McClain. She has been Alissa’s Occupational Therapist since Alissa was a couple weeks old. Thank you for believing in my daughter. Today was her last day. Alissa is aging out of the Early Step program because she will be turning in 3 on April 28th. She will be entering the 3 year old

A brief manhunt earlier on Thursday, January 8., with assistance from the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 tracking team and air support, led to the arrest of a Natchitoches man who fled into the woods following a domestic disturbance Saturday night, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

On Saturday evening, January 3, 2026, at approximately 6:15 p. m., deputies assigned to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Operations Bureau were dispatched by the NATCOM 911 Center to a reported domestic disturbance involving a knife in the 4900 block of Louisiana Highway 3278 near Natchitoches.

Deputies arrived on scene and made contact with the victim, who was uninjured.

While speaking with her, deputies learned her son, identified as 24-yearold Elias M. Quiller, had allegedly threatened to kill her before fleeing into the woods prior to their arrival. Deputies were provided with a description of the suspect.

U.S. District Judge Maurice Hicks Jr closed a long-running school desegregation case in DeSoto Parish on Monday, less than a week after the U.S. Department of Justice, the Louisiana Attorney General and the DeSoto Parish School Board asked the court to dismiss the case and release the schools from federal oversight.

It is the second decades- old desegregation case in Louisiana brought to a swift end by the Trump Administration and state Attorney General Liz Murrill, who last year had a case in Plaquemines Parish dating back to the 1960s dismissed. Murrill and Gov. Jeff Landry, both Republicans, have vowed to fight for other remaining desegregation orders to be lifted, with Landry assuring school systems last year that “there is an end in sight.”

The Central Christian Academy FFA chapter traveled to Franklinton, La last week to compete at the area and state FFA Dairy Evaluation Career Development Event contest and walked away with 1st in Area II! We are so proud of the hard work these kids did to accomplish this! A special thank you to Mrs. Pam Hesser and Mrs. Katelyn Calhoun for the time you have put in with them

The DeSoto Parish SchoolBoardextendstheir congratulations and best wishes to Clinton Fuller, Student Services Director, on his retirement after 34 years of dedicated service, and to Worlita Jackson, Wellness Specialist, who is retiring after 26? years of faithful commitment to our district.

As they close this chapter, we extend our deepest gratitude for their dedication to the students, families, and staff of our schools. We wish both Mr. Fuller and Ms. Jackson a joyful, well deserved retirement filled with new adventures and continued success.

Northwestern State University ROTC Cadets Jaylon James of Stonewall and DaMarkus Lawson of Fort Polk took the oath of office to serve as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army as part of commencement exercises Wednesday.

A separate formal ceremony and reception took place Thursday for family and friends. James graduated with a Bachelor of Science in psychology, a concentration in substance abuse and a minor in military leadership. He has branched Logistics and will continue to serve in the Louisiana National Guard. He is assigned to the 199th Brigade Support Battalion as the Maintenance Control Officer.

Thepastyearmarked a period of significant progress, investment, and long-term planning across DeSoto Parish, with major advancements in infrastructure, public services, recreation, and economic development. From new construction projects to upgraded facilities and community programs, 2025 demonstrated a continued commitment to improving the quality of life for residents.

One of the most visible improvements this year was the launch of a newly redesigned parish website. The updated platform now provides easier access to public information, including Police Jury agendas, Board of Election Supervisors meetings, ITEP committee updates, road permit searches, and public announcements. A new “Need Help” feature allows residents to submit questions or requests directly to the appropriate department, improving communication and responsiveness.