News

Buoyed by billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief aid, Louisiana legislators took on several big issues this spring and made progress in simplifying the tax code, supporting education and expanding criminal-justice reform.

Some public-interest groups praised the tax changes as important steps toward strengthening Louisiana’s economy, while others expressed concern that some of the changes could lead to a budget crunch down the road.

The Council for a Better Louisiana viewed the main changes…lowering state income tax rates for individuals and corporations and eliminating deductions for what they pay in federal income taxes, as “a positive step forward,” while noting that it was only the beginning of righting a complicated, messy system.

On June 10, Representative Larry Bagley held several town hall meetings across DeSoto Parish to introduce the new Louisiana Office of Broadband and Connectivity Executive Director, Veneeth Iyengar. He was joined by Sen. Gerald Long as the two explained what the Louisiana Broadband service was about, with the infrastructure, access and affordability for residents of the state.

Iyengar explained that the lack of rural Internet connection in Louisiana has been an ongoing issue in the state, and the problem became more noticeable when schools were shut down during the pandemic and more families were forced to resort to online learning. In all, there are 403,000 Louisiana households (about 25 percent of the state’s total number of households) with no kind of Internet connection according to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. Forty-two percent of households have no broadband connection.

In June 2019, Frierson area residents attended a police jury meeting to discuss the rowdy and dangerous actions of a large number of people attending a trail ride that was hosted by Thaddeus Lee. The main concern seemed to be handling the mass crowds and parking issues. A workshop was held to see that this behavior, lack of respect for personal property, and the traffic violations would be handled in a more controlled fashion. This past weekend, the same problems arose, but this time it was centered around the Grand Cane with the Big W Trailride. The increase in attendance went from 800 in 2019 to 7,000 to 8,000 in 2021.

On Friday, May 28, 2021, Chief Bill DeLoach, members of the Board of Commissioners, firefighters and guests gathered together to dedicate their classroom building to a late DFD 8 Board Member, Nita Richardson.

In honor of Ms. Richardson and her many years of service to the DFD 8 fire district, the building has been renamed the Nita Richardson Emergency Services Training Building.

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DeSoto Regional Health System is proud to announce the return of their annual community health fairs to be held in Mansfield, Louisiana, and Zwolle. The 2021 edition of the fairs will see the return of health booths, blood tests, blood pressure checks and PSA for Prostate Cancer Screening for men.

Mansfield’s Fair will be held at the First United Methodist Church, located at 502 Polk Street, in the Fellowship Hall on June 29 from 6:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

On July 13, Logansport’s Fair will be held at Logansport High School, located at 17228 Hwy 5 in Logansport from 6:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

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On June 2, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on U.S. Hwy 84, east of Logansport. This crash claimed the life of 15-year-old Seth Sloan, of Mansfield, who was unrestrained.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2012 Dodge Challenger, driven by a 17-year-old juvenile, was traveling eastbound on U.S. Hwy 84, near Natural Gas Road. For reasons still under investigation, the juvenile driver lost control and exited the roadway, before colliding with a concrete retaining wall.

The juvenile driver was properly restrained and sustained minor injuries. Sloan was pronounced dead.

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State Representative Larry Bagley has been working with the new Louisiana State Director of Broadband Development, Veneeth Iyengar. Iyengar has agreed to come to District 7 and take part in some Town Hall Meetings.

Bagley will be hosting two separate meetings on Friday, June 11th. The first meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Logansport High School at the Practice Gym, located on the right side of the campus as you enter the school grounds. The address is 17228 Hwy 5 in Logansport. The second meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m. at Stonewall Government Plaza (inside the new DPSO facility), located at 1746 Hwy 17 in Stonewall.

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Officers and members of the DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce invite you to join them for the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for Kidz Stylez, located at 820 Polk Street in Mansfield. The ceremony is set to take place on Thursday, June 10 at 10:00 p.m. Make plans to attend the festivities as we welcome Mansfield’s newest business to our community. If you have any questions call the Chamber at 318-872-1310.

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On June 3, DeSoto deputies reported to a 911 call regarding a shooting that had taken place at the 1600 block of State Highway 481 between Stanley and Mansfield. The victim, identified as Jacob Ebarb, 28, of Mansfield, succumbed to a gunshot wound.

The shooting took place outside of Ebarb’s sister’s home where several people were outside where an had argument ensued. Demetri Rochell Johnson, 28, was arrested and booked with second degree murder.

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that on Thursday, June 10, 2021, US 84 (Main Street) at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing in Logansport, DeSoto Parish will be closed.

This closure is scheduled to take place from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is necessary to allow UP to perform repairs to their railroad crossing.

Alternate route: LA 5 Restrictions/Permits: Total road closure at the railroad crossing. All vehicles will need to utilize an alternate route.

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