News

With a Children’s Calming Center one of the main objectives that Judge Amy Burford McCartney stated on her re-election campaign, the vision is now a reality. Several locations were considered and various floor plans and ideas from other Calming Centers were looked over and even toured. On Friday, February 11, the DeSoto Parish Courthouse the new Calming Center for Children was proudly unveiled by all that had a part in its planning and construction.

A majority Black district in northwest Louisiana looks like the first major casualty of war in the redistricting special session.

Under a plan by Republican leaders, House District 23, represented by Rep. Kenny Cox, D-Natchitoches, would be fragmented and absorbed by neighboring districts to accommodate a new seat in New Orleans.

Cox, an Army veteran who reportedly formed a human net to catch people jumping from a burning Pentagon on 9/11, made an emotional plea Monday to the House and Governmental Affairs Committee to spare his district.

“I’ve been in the war, and I’ve had to do a lot of killing and a whole lot of things,” Cox said. “But this bothers me more. I have not been able to rest. Because we have a collective group, a historic district where people have something to vote for the first time in over 300 years.”

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced $100 million dollars has been allocated to 33 Louisiana parishes through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The HMGP funding will be used to support recovery and mitigation projects in the parishes related to Hurricane Zeta, the severe winter weather event in 2021, the May 2021 flooding event and Hurricane Ida. The total amount listed below may include funding from multiple events.

The current owner of the former King Mart store located at 117 Polk Street (the twostory gray building with blacked-out windows) recently made the decision to demolish this structure. It has been declared a public safety hazard by the City of Mansfield’s building official/inspector. In its present state, the city’s inspector declares that this building has been deemed irreparable and should be torn down immediately. Demolition is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, March 1st and is expected to take approximately 7 -10 days to complete, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

At the January meeting of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury election of officers was top priority. Motion was made by B. D. Mitchell, seconded by Keith Parker to nominate Reggie Roe, who has held the position of President for several years. Also, Richard Fuller made the motion, seconded by Jeri Burrell to nominate Ernel Jones, who has also had experience serving as the President and Vice President of the Jury in past years.

Jurors voting in favor of Jones included James Holmes, Kyle Kennington, Richard Fuller, Jeri Burrell, Thomas Jones, Rodriguez Ross, and Ernel Jones, voting for himself, for a total of 7 Jurors. Voting for Roe were B. D. Mitchell, Keith Parker, Greg Baker, and Roe casting a vote for himself, totaling 4 votes, making Jones the newly elected President.

Over the past few months, residents may have noticed a few extra beards here in DeSoto Parish! That is because, in November, Sheriff Richardson informed his deputies that our office would be participating in a new challenge as part of an effort to raise money for local charity. For deputies participating, beards could be grown and neatly kept in exchange for a small donation. The total amount donated would then be delivered to a local charity of the Sheriff ’s choosing. As a result, we are happy to announce that nearly $1,000 was raised among our whiskered staff !

Mansfield Mayor John Mayweather delivers his State of the City Address:

On Friday, February 11, at 2:30 p.m. the public is cordially invited to join Judge Amy Burford McCartney, Volunteers for Youth Justice, and the DeSoto Parish Police Jury for the Grand Opening of the DeSoto Parish Juvenile Court Calming Studio. The new facility is located at the DeSoto Parish Courthouse, 101 Texas Street in Mansfield.

The Calming Studio is a state-of-the-art unique concept providing a therapeutic atmosphere to youth who are required to attend Child In Need of Care court (CINC). The design of the Studio diminishes stress and trauma associated with a child’s experience during court proceedings.

This sensory-rich room has been created in partnership with Judge Amy Burford McCartney, Volunteers for Youth Justice, DeSoto Parish Police Jury, LA Commission on Law Enforcement & NW LEPA, Inc., Flaghouse, Inc. in Canada and Lauren Marchive, architecture/environmental consulting in Shreveport.

State Representative Larry Bagley was recently presented with the Elected Official of the Year Award for his legislative efforts to improve the lives of those with disabilities. Bagley serves on the powerful Appropriations Committee and as the Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee, which has allowed him to successfully direct over $76 million over the past 6 years to support organizations that serve those with disabilities.

“From my first visit to Holy Angles in Shreveport, I was all in,” Bagley said when asked why he works so hard to help fund services for those with disabilities.

February 2, is our traditional Ground Hogs Day and while most of the country will be watching Punxsutanwney Phil emerge from his den in Pennsylvania. In Louisiana we really don’t have ground hogs so we improvise. Some have teased that we let a crawfish or a gator come out and predict our length of seasons. In South Louisiana the Cajuns watch for Pierre C. Shadeaux, which is a nutria rat.

Shadeaux doesn’t predict whether or not we will have six more weeks of winter. He takes into account our Southern weather where in Louisiana we can have on shorts and flip-flops on Monday and be in coats, hats, and gloves by Friday. Shadeaux predicts if Louisianans will see a longer spring and shorter summer or vice versa.