News

DeSoto Regional Health System has announced that the postponed Health Fairs in Mansfield, Logansport, and Zwolle have been assigned new dates. The 2020 Health Fairs will be a little different this year concentrating on providing annual health screenings for a minimal price. Due to COVID-19 mandates, there will be no vendors or health booths. This year’s fair will provide free blood pressure checks and COVID-19 antibody testing, along with both and female and male panel testing for a minimal fee. Those that are planning to be tested are asked not to eat or drink anything after 12:00 p.m.

The female panel will cost $30.00 and will include CBC (complete blood count), CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel), Lipid Panel (for cholesterol levels), T4 (thyroid function test that is free), and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone level).

The male panel fee is $35.00 and will include the entire previously mentioned test, along with a PSA (prostate specific antigen).

Sheriff Jayson Richardson (far end of table) speaks to the room of DeSoto Administrators with DPPJ President Reggie Roe at the head of the table.

Parish Officials met on Monday, August 24, to plan the best strategy possible for the citizens of DeSoto. We were blessed not to receive a direct hit, but still obtained severe weather both Wednesday and Thursday. Pictured during a prayer for DeSoto and for lifesaving decisions (clockwise) are Parish President Reggie Roe, DFD 8 Chief Bill DeLoach, Sgt. Melody Holmes (Dispatch Supervisor), Brittany Mayhall (DPPJ IT), Stonewall Mayor Randy Rodgers, EMS personnel unidentified, EMS Asst. Adm. Karl Mann, MPD Chief Annette Blue, Sheriff Jayson Richardson, Parish Adm. Steve Brown (top of his head visible), and EMS Administrator Joe Magee.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson is pleased to announce that due to a manufacturer discount and the amazing show of love from DeSoto Parish citizens, Dillon Cotton was able to raise enough money to cover the entire coast of a brand new Action TrackChair. Dillon, his family and Sheriff Richardson would like to give a huge thank you to the hundreds of citizens and businesses who showed up in support of this cause. Richardson said that the overflow and compassion was inspiring to his staff and Bringing Joye organization and he expressed his gratitude. Pictured is Sheriff Jayson Richardson (standing) and Dillon Cotton.

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On August 29, 2020, around 3:30 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a fatal crash on Louisiana Highway 191 near Fisher Lane. This crash claimed the lives of a father and son.

The preliminary investigation revealed a John Deere Gator ATV, driven by 92-year-old James Booker of Mansfield, was attempting to enter Louisiana Highway 191 from a private drive. For reasons still under investigation, Booker failed to yield to a northbound 2016 Kia Optima and traveled into its path. This resulted in a collision between the two vehicles.

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Gov. John Bel Edwards signed an order on August 26 that extends Phase Two and the statewide mask mandate, closure of bars to on-site consumption and gathering size limits in Louisiana for another two weeks, until September 11, 2020. Despite progress in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in the state, The White House Coronavirus Task Force still has Louisiana in the red zone for new cases, just as schools and colleges return to campus and Hurricane Laura is set to impact the state. Further, almost half of the state’s parishes have positivity rates in excess of 10 percent.

The Governor’s current order expires on Friday, August 28. He signed a new order today.

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In the August 20, 2020 Back to School Section, the photograph of Stanley High School was inadvertently left out of the photo spread on the back page of all of our area schools. We apologize for any confusion or problems this may have caused. You can see in the photo that construction continues at the school to improve traffic conditions on campus. Panther Pride – DeSoto Parish Strong!

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On August 19, The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) released its 2020 Legislative Scorecard, highlighting the lawmakers and leaders inside the State Capitol who supported pro-business legislation in both this year’s regular session and the first special session.

This edition of the Scorecard details the votes taken on 19 key bills that have a tremendous impact on Louisiana’s economy, business climate, and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The report gives citizens an inside look at what happens in Baton Rouge and how the actions taken by the Legislature impact the state’s working families and job creators.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson wants our citizens to know that the DPSO is closely monitoring the weather conditions in the gulf, and they will bring you more updates as these two systems grow closer to DeSoto Parish. Bringing everyone up to date, two hurricanes will hit Louisiana this week. The local impacts of wind and rain will be based on what side of the storm we are on and that is yet to be determined.

Hurricane Marco is forecasted to hit Louisiana Monday into Tuesday as a Category One hurricane. Once Marco pushes inland the Louisiana Gulf Coast has about 24 hours before Tropical Storm Laura’s outer bands begin to hit. Laura is expected to strengthen once it gets in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico late Monday. It will likely become a hurricane in the Gulf and threaten Louisiana by Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The following impact points are likely going to be changing over the next few days:

On August 20, just after 7:30 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 49 just north of the Natchitoches Parish line. This crash claimed the life of two passengers from Georgia.

The initial investigation revealed a 2015 Freightliner 18-wheeler, driven by 48-year-old Patrick Burns of Denton, TX, was traveling north on Interstate 49. For reasons still under investigation, the Freightliner traveled off the road, down a ditch embankment and began to overturn.

Burns and his two passengers were ejected, from the vehicle, during the crash. His two passengers are identified as, 48-year-old Chanell Stephens-Andrews of Loganville, GA and 6-year-old Ayden Ware of Loganville, GA. Both were ejected and pronounced dead at the scene by the DeSoto Parish Coroner’s Office.

Gov. John Bel Edwards signed an executive order declaring that an emergency exists for Louisiana’s November election because of COVID-19, while also acknowledging that the current emergency election plan from the Secretary of State does not go far enough to protect public health.

The emergency declaration, which must be requested by the Secretary of State and granted by the Governor, allows the state to move forward with emergency plans to support the election and take into account health and safety issues that might affect voting.