News

The Sabine Parish Tourist Commission in partnership with the Louisiana Office of State Parks, Fort Jesup State Historic Site, the Friends of Fort Jesup, and Cane River National Heritage Area announces the kick-off of the Bicentennial Celebration of Fort Jesup. Set for Friday, February 25th and Saturday, February 26th at Fort Jesup State Historic Site, the event will include living history demonstrations, cast-iron cooking, music, and children’s activities that celebrate the culture of Louisiana’s Final Frontier.

Fort Jesup became part of the claims of both the United States and Spain. When the Louisiana Purchase Treaty of 1803 failed to clearly define the western boundary of Louisiana, the United States and Spain claimed the area as their own. The dispute gave rise to the “Neutral Ground,” an area where the laws of neither nation were enforced. Soldiers and settlers were kept out, and rogues and outlaws ruled the region.

Logansport High School has earned $10,000 for its selection as an National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Founder’s Award finalist.

The school is among five across the country under consideration for the $50,000 grand prize, which will be announced March 10 at the NIET National Conference in Dallas, Texas.

“Logansport High School Principal Diana Curtis leads a cohesive team committed to a shared vision of high expectations for every educator and student – and it shows,” said NIET chairman and founder Lowell Milken. “Their efforts to advance the effectiveness of their faculty has enabled the whole school forward and embody ‘The DeSoto Difference.’ I applaud Principal Curtis and Superintendent Clay Corley for their dedication to transforming goals into realities every day.”

For his actions on April 12, Terry Dewayne Powell, who had shown no remorse for the murder and robbery of Lynda Palmer, and attempted robbery and murder of Matthew Yeager, was sentence by Judge Amy Burford McCartney to mandatory life in prison for the second-degree murder of Palmer, plus 99 years for Palmer’s armed robbery. She then sentenced Powell to 50 years for the attempted second-degree murder of Yeager and added on 49.5 years for his attempted robbery.

Powell continued his antics from his trial in January where he offered no defense in a trial that began on Wednesday morning, and ended on Thursday. The jury was able to see what happened to Palmer and Yeager through a video complied from surveillance cameras from inside and outside the motel that Mrs. Palmer was employed at and Yeager was a guest. It showed Palmer handing over the cash then being shot as she went to a second register.

Due to the extremely dry conditions statewide and the overwhelming emergency responses recorded by local fire officials, State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, along with Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, have issued a statewide cease and desist order for all private burning, pursuant to authority under R.S. 40:1602.

Earlier in the week, DeSoto Parish Police Jury President Ernel Jones had also issued a burn ban. Even though we received a brief shower on Saturday in portions of the parish, the ban is still on.

Private burning shall only be allowed by permission of the local fire department or local government.

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 !