News

St. Mark Baptist Church Cemetery Committee welcomes all families to our annual clean up day in the Holly Community. We plan this day every year to invite families to clean up our local cemetery. In years past we have picked up sticks, raked around gravesites, cut around any trees, and picked up trash. Workers should bring trash bags, gloves, shovels, rakes, clippers, weed eaters, etc.

We will be meeting on Monday, May 30 beginning at 7:00 a.m. Bring water and any snacks that you and your family will need. St. Mark Baptist minister Rev. Willie Sherrin stated, “We cannot wait to see everyone there!”

A DeSoto Parish police juror whose own permit for a trail ride event in Mansfield for May 6 and 7 has been questioned. Now she plans to put on her own ride without a permit. The Bossmane Riding Club, whose trail ride was cancelled by the Bossier Police Jury and permit refused in DeSoto, has filed suit against BPPJ and plans to file against DPPJ on the grounds that their constitutional rights have been violated.

“Our civil rights been violated,” Police Juror Jeri Burrell, echoed during a committee meeting Monday night.

Problems for trail rides in both DeSoto and Bossier Parish’s came right after issues stemming from out of town people attending the Big W Trail ride on June 12, 2021. A person was shot during the event and a DeSoto Deputy had to physically carrying him out of the crowd because emergency vehicles could not get through to pick the victim up. Grand Cane residents also complained of property damage.

The DeSoto Fire District 9 Ladies Auxiliary in Frierson will host their Annual Catfish Fundraiser Dinner on Saturday, May 14 at the “old central station” location, located at 5535 Hwy 175 in Frierson from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Plates are $9.00 and consist of catfish, coleslaw, french fries, hush puppies, dessert and drink. You are invited to sit and dine with your neighbors, or grab a carry out plate to go. Bring your family, friends, and appetite and come join us!

For more information call FDF 1 Auxiliary President Synda Dillard at 318-872-4905 or 318-773-3369.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson has announced the recipients of the annual Louisiana Sheriff ’s academic scholarship program for the 2021-2022 school year. The Sheriffs’ Scholarship is made possible by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program (LSHMP). Louisiana Sheriffs provide scholarships to graduating high school students from each parish where the Sheriff is an affiliate of the program. Qualities such as academic achievement, leadership, and character are considered in making selections of Sheriffs’ scholarship recipients. The only limitations are that applicants be permanent residents of Louisiana, scholarships be utilized in higher education within the State, and students be enrolled as full-time undergraduate students. These scholarships are awarded in sixty-four parishes throughout the state.

Sheriff Richardson would like to acknowledge and congratulate this years selected recipients:

Former Village of Longstreet Clerk Kristen Jackson Thompson appears to have paid herself excess wages totaling $35,428 from January 23, 2019 to May 19, 2021. According to Mayor Wanda Sue Field, s. Thompson was authorized to work a maximum of 30 hours per week; however, available time sheets show that Ms. Thompson paid herself an average of 46 hours per week during this period. By paying herself for excessive hours, Ms. Thompson may have violated state laws.

On Saturday, April 30, Mansfield Mayor John Mayweather, Sr.-D, was unseated by challenger Thomas Jones-D with 920 votes (60%) to Mayweather’s 625 (40%). Jones is currently serving on the DeSoto Parish Police Jury for District 1-B. He will have to resign from that position to fulfill the duties of Mayor.

Also scheduled on the ballot were two propositions for DeSoto Fire District 2 that were cancelled.

Local physician and DeSoto Parish Coroner Dr. Jeffrey Evans, is under investigation with the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The investigation focuses on the amount of controlled substances being dispensed through prescriptions. Other hospital employees also have been questioned.

No comments can be made to the media at this time by the related parties including Evans, the DEA and DeSoto Regional Health System, where Evans has been on staff for decades, even serving as Chief of Staff at one point.

The Board of Directors of DRHS was to meet regarding Evans as of this writing but information could not be updated before The Enterprise’s press time. The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners still lists Evan’s license as active with no discipline noted. The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy separately lists his status as current and without restriction or limitation.

The 2022 National Day of Prayer in DeSoto Parish will be at three locations again this year. Since the COVID Mandates ave been lifted, the DeSoto ceremonies will return to the North DeSoto Middle School gymnasium on Wednesday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m. Logansport will be holding theirs also on Thursday, at a new location. It will be held at the Logansport Branch Library at 6:30 p.m. Those closest to Mansfield can attend theirs that is scheduled for Thursday, May 5 at noon around the DeSoto Courthouse Square.

Local organizer of the event, Winter Case, said, “We are so happy to see our version of The National Day of Prayer return to DeSoto Parish. Stonewall’s worship will be led by Pastor Mike Hawkins of Salem Baptist Church, with Pastor Amador Santos of Hunter Magnolia Baptist Church leading the Logansport service. Mansfield’s event will be directed by retired minister Pastor Toby Shaw.

Jakalynn Taylor is a 15 year old missing juvenile from the Mansfield area. Jakalynn was last seen at his residence just before midnight on April 19, 2022. He was wearing a black hoodie and black pants, and he is believed to still be in the area. Jakalynn is considered to be a possible runaway, and not believed to be in immediate danger. His family is concerned for his safety, and would appreciate any information that may be helpful in his safe return home. If you have information that may assist investigators in this case, please contact 318-872-3956 and ask to speak with an investigator.

Thanks to the sponsorship of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury, Shreveport Green will provide DeSoto Parish residents a day of hazardous waste material collection to be held on Saturday, April 30, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. This year’s collection sites include Logansport, Grand Cane and Stonewall. The services provided by Shreveport Green return to the three locations that had the most participation from the public, and are strategically placed for the ease of usage for the yearly recycling opportunity.

DPPJ President Ernel Jones said that this would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of all those things cluttering your garage and storage unit. However, this collection is for residential waste only, and not for business or farm materials. Shreveport Green will have chemists, staff and volunteers available at the three locations, to help with the identification of your waste substances for proper disposal.