News

The Krewe of Aquarius, headquartered out of Logansport, has announced that their banquet will be held on January 29, 2022. The Royalty for this year will be a family affair with Sheriff Jayson Richardson named King, along with Queen Tammy Thomas and Princess Joye Malone. The banquet will be held at the RB4 Center in the Bethel Community, just outside of Logansport.

This year’s parade will be held on February 12 at 6:00 p.m. and will be dedicated to the memory of one of the founding members of Krewe of Aquarius, Teri Hawsey. She will always be a part of anything Logansport, especially Mardi Gras.

Watch for more information in next week’s edition of The Enterprise. Also, you can find information on the Krewe’s events on Facebook or by contacting 2021’s Queen Teresa Stephens.

As State Representative Rodney Schamerhorn faces his first session dealing with reapportionment he predicted North Louisiana could lose one legislative representative seat due to the declining population in North Louisiana.

Most of the talk surrounding reapportionment has centered around possibly losing a congressional seat in North Louisiana however the declining population in our part of the state is causing many state representatives and senators to try and find new residents to add to their districts.

“Most of us in this area as saying, representative wise, are thinking that Kenny Cox is term limited and his district would be the best one to lose,” the Hornbeck Republican stated.’

“We’re going to have to lose one,” according to Schamerhorn.

“His would be the best because it runs from Natchitoches to Shreveport,” he added. “All those other representatives (Shreveport/Bossier/ Ruston area ones) can then move in there. And pick up what they needed.

Veteran Texas high school coach Darrell Barbay has been named Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Mansfield High School. Barbay will assume his new role immediately as he begins meeting with coaches, players, parents, and the faculty next week. Barbay, who earned his bachelor’s from Stephen F. Austin State University and his master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, has over 28 years of experience as a coach and athletic director.

“I’m extremely excited to be part of Mansfield High School and the DeSoto Parish school system,” said Coach Barbay. “I look forward to getting on campus next week and meeting the faculty and our kids.”

Barbay’s overall record as a head school coach is 160-85. His career as a head coach began at Hull-Daisetta (TX) High School (1999- 2007) and later at Anahuac (2007-2012) before moving on to Jasper (TX) where he built the Bulldogs into a perennial East Texas power.

Shortly after 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5th, dispatchers with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff ’s Office received a call regarding a White Chevy Z71 truck that had been stolen from the area of Kickapoo Corner parking lot in Gloster. At the time, the vehicle was reported to have left in the direction of Highway 171 in the northbound lane. As deputies responded, it was also reported that the driver was swerving on the roadway, and had struck another vehicle as he exited onto 171. According to nearby witnesses, the driver began driving recklessly as he proceeded north on 171.

At approximately 8:30pm on Thursday, January 6, the Mansfield Police Department was called to the 900 block of Johnson Street to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival Officers discovered that a domestic disturbance had occurred and two people had been shot. Both victims were transported to DeSoto Regional Hospital Emergency Room. The male victim was air lifted to Ochsner LSU Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. The female victim was pronounced deceased at DeSoto Regional Hospital Emergency Room.

This investigation is an ongoing effort between Mansfield Police Department and the DeSoto Parish Sheriff ’s Office, as it happened both inside and outside of the city limits. DPSO can confirm that the suspect in this case, Eddie Ray Jones (50) fled to an area outside of the city limits where he took his own life shortly after the shootings occurred.

An investigation will continue, and further information may be provided at a later date.

On January 4, 2022, shortly after 4:00 p.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a one-vehicle fatality crash on LA Hwy 177, just south of I-49. This crash claimed the life of 48-year-old Allen Boyd, Jr., who was not wearing his seat belt.

The initial investigation revealed a 2017 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, driven by Boyd, was traveling north on LA Hwy 177. For reasons still under investigation, Boyd’s vehicle began to leave the roadway, where it overturned, and ejected him from the cab.

Boyd was unrestrained at the time of the crash and suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.

Captain Linda Carter and the Krewe of Demeter formally invite you to attend the Bal & Tableau honoring the royalty of the Krewe of Demeter VI on Saturday, January 29 from 6:00 p.m. until midnight at the David B. Means Memorial 4-H Building, located at 10117 Hwy 171 in Grand Cane. Tickets for the event are $80.00 with a bottomless cup available for $20.00. The event is formal with the royalty presentation set for 7:30 p.m. The theme of the event is “Cruising with the Krewe”.

For more information call Karen Baker at 318-869-5803 by January 22, 2022.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration announced first-year airport funding awards on Thursday. In all, $2.89 billion will be made available to airports around the nation. The money can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airporttransit connections and roadway projects.

Louisiana has 51 airports on the list to receive funding, with amounts ranging from $110,000 to more than $14 million. The C. E. “Rusty” Williams Airport in Grand Cane was allocated $110,000, along with Springhill and Vivian. The three small airports received the least amount of funding, with Hart Airport in Many and the Minden Airport each receiving $159,000.

On December 28, Raymond and Evelyn Powell celebrated their 73rd Wedding Anniversary. Since Mrs. Evelyn is in rehab at Mansfield Nursing Center due to recent surgery set backs, Mr. P. joined her at MNC for a very special luncheon that was brought in just for them. We wish them the happiest of anniversaries and much health, wealth and happiness in 2022! May God Bless this very special couple!

It has been a tradition for The Enterprise to team up and help Santa with his letters from DeSoto Parish, Joaquin, and Pleasant Hill children for several decades. This year with postal issues continuing to plague the country, Santa needed our help more than ever. Believe me, we did our part with special Santa letter typist elf Taylor Curry, along with staff members Kaycee Deas and Julie Morris. Together we typed over 29 newspaper pages of letters comprising 2 sections that expressed the children’s heartfelt wishes and want lists. The popular yearly feature has become so popular that Santa couldn’t help but chuckle “Ho! Ho! Ho!” when he saw the letters that The Enterprise printed in 2021.