Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto Saturday hosted another of its annual Baby Fair events inside the hospital to give mothers-to-be and new moms vital information and material.   pediatricians and other child health care experts were available to answer questions and provide important Among the items offered were car seat and seat belt safety lactation support services and more.  A photo booth was on site and free gifts and giveaways from Baptist-DeSoto and local vendors were available.   Mother/Baby and Nursery Nurse Manager at Baptist-DeSoto said representatives from First Regional Library a diaper bank and other community services were also on hand.   “We’re doing tours of our maternity area information about infant safety once you take your baby home and feeding information for your baby,” Porter said “I feel like the more information you have on how to care for your baby the more comfortable you are when you take them home So it’s good to have that knowledge background instead of just being thrown right into it.  Porter pointed out the hospital is available for any needs a mother may have once baby arrives and comes home.   “If they need lactation assistance or any kind of further education We’re available for that as well,” Porter said which is staffed with an OBGYN 24/7 that will see patients for any type of obstetrical emergency So we always have a doctor here to see those patients.” Experts say mothers-to-be should remember to have regular check-ups engage in safe exercise and avoid harmful substances and follow doctor’s orders about other areas of care for the mother and baby KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with Olivia As Panasonic brings new energy and jobs to De Soto the city is using that momentum to bring some life into its downtown Inspired by community input following the 2022 announcement of the Panasonic plant local leaders are launching a weekly event called Rhythm and Roots Change took off for sleepy Downtown De Soto last year with the opening of a new brewery because it's kind of the thing to do right now,” said brewery owner Lindsay Waller LINK | Learn more about Rhythm and Roots recent community surveys showed that residents want more—especially special events and investment in the downtown area The city’s 2024 community survey showed that people want more investment in the downtown area and that's what the residents want,” said Waller “They want us to remember what downtown was a Friday night farmers market that will feature live music “It's really important that they are involved,” said Whitney Lange De Soto communications and events director but having their employees come and enjoy in our community including young adults like Kaylee Reynolds “The only way you can grow as a town is like De Soto is embracing both its future and its roots “You got to kind of crawl out of your own room and find what is beautiful in De Soto,” said Waller we still want to remain grounded in our community roots,” Lange added Rhythm and Roots kicks off this Friday and will run every week from 4 to 10 pm in downtown De Soto Report a typo COMMUNITY PARTNER Stay connected to All Things Good in the Burg by subscribing today Since I Love the Burg launched in May of 2009 we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week May 5 – 9 and support from communities across Mississippi I am writing to emphasize the crucial role that community support plays in the success of our local schools It is imperative for communities to rally behind their public schools as they are the backbone of our society and fostering a sense of unity and progress A primary reasons why community support is essential for local schools success is the positive impact it has on educational outcomes When community members actively engage with schools by volunteering students benefit from a more enriching and well-rounded educational experience we can ensure that our schools are equipped with the necessary tools and support to help students thrive academically building strong relationships with public schools allows for a collaborative approach to addressing challenges and fostering innovation Community partners bring a diverse range of perspectives creating a dynamic environment for learning and growth By forging close ties with local businesses public schools can tap into a wealth of expertise and opportunities that enrich the educational experience for students and educators alike we are investing in the future of our community ensuring that every child can reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society Erica Jones is Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of Educators Opinions expressed are solely those of the author DeSoto County softball coaches have announced their post-season awards for all-county and all-Region 1-7A selections Here are the selections for all-Region 1-7A honors Londen Armstrong of DeSoto Central was tabbed as Most Valuable Player Colby Young of DeSoto Central was named Pitcher of the Year and Hernando’s Nicki Whitten was named Coach of the Year Here is the all-DeSoto County softball team selections: Coach of The Year – Nicki Whitten – Hernando Following its three-game series victory over Lewisburg Saturday night Hernando softball released the schedule for the North Half championship series with Madison Central The teams square off first at Madison Central on Wednesday for game one then come to Hernando on Thursday for game two will be back at Madison Central on Friday night Here are links to agendas for the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors and city Boards of Aldermen meetings on Monday DeSoto County Board of Supervisors – Monday Olive Branch Board of Aldermen – Tuesday Southaven Board of Aldermen – Tuesday Hernando Board of Aldermen – Tuesday Horn Lake Board of Aldermen – Tuesday Photo: Hernando players celebrate with Macie Dever Boaz after her fifth-inning home run against Lewisburg 2025 – The Hernando High School softball team is known to have a talented stable of pitchers four players who can spin strikes with the best of them.   Junior Haylee Jackson is among the pitching quartet coach Nicki Whitten has at her disposal and when Jackson shut down the Lewisburg offense in a 7-1 victory Friday night that evened the MHSAA 7A second-round playoff series at one-game each Whitten said there was no doubt who she would call on to pitch in Saturday’s series-deciding game three “She deserved the ball in her hand tonight Jackson delivered with an even better performance Saturday than Friday as she handcuffed Lady Patriot bats to just one hit a run-scoring single to right from Lexi Edmiston that scored Leona-Klaire Stokes from second in the Lewisburg sixth inning.   Coming together as a team after the game-one loss to Lewisburg 10-8 was a key to the last two games “We all came together as a team after that first loss and we’re gonna do this thing,” Jackson said.  Whitten said she challenged her team to step up and produce more at the plate and I feel like they did that tonight,” Whitten said “Haylee holding them to one run with our defense behind her but kept Lewisburg from bunching opportunities together in the Lady Tigers’ 30th win of the season (31-2) entering this weekend’s North Half finals against Madison Central.   Designated player Kaitlyn Gentry had three hits for Hernando and Olivia Higginbotham had two runs-batted-in Callie Desmond doubled and Macie Dever Boaz homered to open the bottom of the sixth inning.   “She’s added a lot to our offense,” Whitten said of Dever Boaz you know that she’s gonna hit the ball somewhere The ball is gonna be put in play and it’s gonna be hit hard somewhere.” Hours after Vail Perkins’ three-run walkoff homer gave Northpoint an 11-8 win over University School of Jackson and with the win secured a spot in the TSSAA Division II-A state playoffs the Trojans were back at it Saturday afternoon posting a 7-4 over Evangelical Christian (ECS) at Gagliano Field in Memphis The win moved the Trojans into a Monday meeting with St George’s (Collierville) in the double-elimination West Region tournament and sets up Monday’s winner to take on Lausanne Collegiate in the championship round.   The Eagles had a 4-0 lead in the third inning before Northpoint scored a pair of runs The difference in the game became a five-run fifth inning that gave coach Stephen Kirkpatrick’s team Saturday’s victory.   Landon Lay and Jack Harrell each drove in a pair of runs for Northpoint and five players each had two hits against four ECS pitchers Jayden Parker and Nolan Bone had two hits each with Parker hitting a double.   Kirkpatrick described his team as “resilient” in coming from behind to win.   and the pitching and defense kept us in it,” Kirkpatrick said “We finally will hit the big inning and we did it when we needed to.” Freshman pitcher Palmer King got the win with six innings of work and struck out five while allowing one walk.  Kaden Clayborn worked the seventh inning in relief and struck out one.    Monday’s winner actually faces a doubleheader as the Northpoint-St George’s winner plays Lausanne Collegiate in the championship round The task is daunting coming from the loser’s bracket as Northpoint would need to beat St and Lausanne again on Tuesday to win the region title.   ECS becomes the fourth seed from the West Region in the upcoming state playoffs and Northpoint can now finish no worse than third.   TSSAA Division II-A West Region tournament  MHSAA 7A second round (best of three-game three) The Mississippi Legislature ended its 2025 session without settling on a budget for the next fiscal year and lawmakers were back in Jackson this week trying to hammer out a budget before the July 1 deadline A DeSoto County state senator believes that a budget will be agreed on well before the deadline as state Sen Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven) recently wrote on his social media page.  who serves as a subcommittee chairman for Appropriations said negotiations have been going on this past week in Jackson to resolve differences and agree on a budget that would be presented in a special session of the state Legislature.  It’s a $7 billion budget with about 100 budget bills to provide funding for essential government operations and services Blackwell hopes the proactive initiative of doing the negotiations now will help quickly resolve the differences when the special session is called.   “I’m pleased to report that after this week’s meetings the budget is now 95 percent complete,” Blackwell said and other critical public services that directly impact Mississippians.”  Blackwell is confident differences will be settled well ahead of Gov Tate Reeves’ call for that special session Mississippi could be facing a government shutdown Differences between Republican leaders in the House and Senate were largely blamed for the lack of a budget bill when the regular session ended April 3 The disagreements were particularly over the approach to income tax elimination The House passed a version of the tax cut bill that accelerated the elimination timeline a move the Senate viewed as politically opportunistic leading to a breakdown in budget negotiations Tate Reeves is confident that a budget bill will be settled before July 1 With the discussions apparently moving the process forward Blackwell expects settlement soon so Reeves can call the special session and put next year’s state budget in motion we have until July 1 to pass a final budget—but I’m confident we’ll finish well before that deadline,” Blackwell said.   the delay in finalizing the budget creates uncertainty for state agencies and local school districts moving forward past June as they try to plan for the upcoming fiscal year Photo: Attendees pray at the Olive Branch observance of the National Day of Prayer 2025 – Faith followers in DeSoto County paused for a moment today to pray for the nation as part of the National Day of Prayer observance.  It is an annual event held across the nation when Americans are encouraged to turn to God in prayer and meditation National Day of Prayer is held on the first Thursday of May each year and this year fell on May 1.   Two observances were held in DeSoto County again this year DeSoto County officials gathered inside the DeSoto County Courthouse at 7 a.m followed by a 12 noon gathering for the City of Olive Branch outside City Hall.   The theme for the National Day of Prayer in 2025 is “Pour Out to the God of Hope and Be Filled.” This theme is inspired by Romans 15:13 (NASB): “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of 1 the Holy Spirit.” Prayers were said for many facets of the nation Following are photos from the Olive Branch National Day of Prayer: The modern observance was established in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress President Ronald Reagan amended the law to fix the observance on the first Thursday of May The day is meant to unite Americans of all backgrounds in prayer and reflection While its origins are rooted in Christian traditions it now includes participation from diverse faiths and interfaith groups While many embrace the day as a unifying tradition some civil liberties organizations have challenged it on the grounds of separation of church and state A 2010 federal court ruling briefly found the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional but the decision was overturned on appeal in 2011 moved inside the DeSoto County Courthouse from the courthouse lawn due to the threat of rain: Photo: Hernando pitcher Haylee Jackson stymied Lewisburg batters during Friday’s 7-1 MHSAA 7A playoffs victory Hernando’s Bella Adams drove in four runs while pitcher Haylee Jackson and the Lady Tiger defense stymied Lewisburg hitters in Friday’s 7-1 MHSAA 7A softball playoff series game two Hernando’s victory evens the best-of-three series at 1-1 and sets up a deciding game three Saturday night at Hernando Middle School Adams was “money” when it counted for coach Nicki Whitten’s Lady Tigers With Hernando ahead 1-0 in the top of the third inning Adams belted a line drive base hit to score Jayla Sites and Olivia Higginbotham The two-out single gave the Lady Tigers a 3-0 lead Two more runs came off the bat of Adams during a three-run fifth inning when her sacrifice fly again scored Sites and Higginbotham for a 5-1 lead Macie Dever Boaz followed with a double to right that scored Kaitlyn Gentry for 6-1 Hernando lead a lead that seemed to break the backs of the Lady Patriots One more run was scored in the seventh as a bit of insurance While Adams and the Hernando offense seemed explosive when needed with an eight-hit attack Jackson and the defense proved to be very stingy Jackson kept Lewisburg batters off-balance by giving up only four singles and Hernando’s fielders played errorless ball grown so much from just last year,” said Whitten of Jackson ” She’s shown up every time this year so I couldn’t be more proud of her.” MHSAA 7A second round (best of three-game two) We all recognize the signs of a big storm approaching sending lawn chairs tumbling past our windows or even snapping large tree branches an eerie silence blankets the world—the calm before the storm Squirrels vanish into safe havens to ride out the tempest urging us to take cover and wait out the storm in safety but what about the quiet storms—the ones that start small and catch us off guard just as a precaution.” A manager announces “We’ll be making budget cuts in the New Year “Let’s take some time apart; it’s temporary “Feeling a little blue is normal this time of year; focus on what makes you happy.” These quiet storms can escalate into raging crises A routine test might reveal a life-threatening illness Budget cuts could cost a job and a family’s stability Feeling blue could signal a deeper depressive disorder Obsess over what might happen until worry consumes us much like the sudden tempest that struck the disciples on the Sea of Galilee Picture Jesus and His disciples setting out across the Sea of Galilee don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” (Mark 4:38) The disciples were still learning who Jesus truly was They didn’t have the New Testament to guide them; they were living it we miss what the disciples overlooked: Jesus calms the storms Not only the tempests of nature but also the crises in our lives When a subtle challenge threatens to overwhelm us Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16) You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68) Some believe being a good person ensures heaven but Scripture teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way Most of them endured trials that eventually claimed their lives secured their place in heaven because they stayed in the boat with Jesus When quiet storms loom or raging tempests strike and seek the support of those who share your faith Kathy Yoder is a devotional writer reachable at Kathyyoder4@gmail.com and Kathyyoder.com President Trump recently celebrated his 100th day in office President Trump has arguably delivered more than any executive in American history and demanded that the globe respect America once again he had to sign more than 140 executive orders a feat no other president has accomplished Many of these orders have worked to revive America from the harms of Biden’s inflationary policies Perhaps most relevant to the Mississippi Treasury he’s worked to secure your financial future I have fought against harmful ESG and DEI policies that threaten hardworking Mississippians’ dollars but the outlook is much brighter under President Trump’s watchful eye I signed a letter alongside 22 other state financial officers urging the SEC and Labor Department to give clear guidance to ensure investment decisions protect financial interests not political agendas this March I signed a letter with more than a dozen other state financial officers highlighting debanking eventually going to the White House to discuss ways to limit this anti-American practice whose family has been a victim of debanking is actively working to reverse the disastrous guidance that allowed for this to occur in the first place and I will do all I can to support him in this mission Simply put: Americans should not be blacklisted for having conservative values While ESG and debanking may not affect every American right now It’s time to cut the size and scope of government – and no one (I repeat no one) has tackled the federal bureaucracy like President Trump and his DOGE team President Trump has kept up a pace of about $1.6 billion of savings per day – and he promises that bigger cuts are still on the horizon This is the scale-back many have been clamoring for Mississippi – and America – are heading in the right direction I will continue to fight alongside President Trump to deliver real change for America I ask that you continue to keep President Trump and all those serving the public in your prayers May wisdom continue to guide the decisions of leader’s and may God’s grace and mercy flow down on our nation Mississippi Treasurer David McRae is the 55th Treasurer for the State of Mississippi. In this role, he helps manage the state’s cash flow, oversees College and Career Savings Mississippi, and has returned more than $100 million in unclaimed money to Mississippians. For more information, visit Treasury.MS.gov How to watch Louisiana high school softball: North De Soto vs May 2Data SkriveLutcher High School plays at North DeSoto High School on Friday How to watch Lutcher vs. North De Soto softballLutcher and North De Soto will take the field on Friday, May 2, at 2:30 p.m. CT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country Follow your favorite team and never miss a game Want to track your alma mater, local team or family member's school throughout the playoffs? NFHS Network has high school softball streaming live plus on-demand replays and highlights of all the action from thousands of schools across America Watch North De Soto vs. Lutcher on NFHS Network! All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at NFHS Network and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU If you want to get Mississippi moms and dads riled up would allow homeschool students to participate in public school activities (sports Here’s what gets public school parents so rankled… the Mississippi Legislature has imposed countless mandates on how and what public school students learn increased academic standards and graduation requirements and prescribed penalties for public schools and students if they fall short Among those mandates is a law passed in 2009 requiring public school students to maintain a 2.0 grade point average to participate in high school activities Homeschooled students get a pass on those requirements The sum total of requirements for homeschooling a Mississippi student: The enrollment form provides one line on which the parent is to describe the educational program for home instruction No check-in to see if the program is actually implemented or what the student learned With virtually no regulation of homeschooling in Mississippi educators report numerous incidents of parents withdrawing children from school and completing that nine-line form in response to repeated calls from attendance officers or persistent disciplinary issues the Tim Tebow legislation would provide an easy circumvention of compulsory attendance laws for a public school athlete struggling to meet the 2.0 GPA requirement Just have mom withdraw you from public school The bill ignores the gigantic gulf between what is required of homeschooled students and what is required of public school students – and insists that homeschoolers not only be allowed to participate in public school activities but that they be given preferential consideration where athletics are concerned The legislation declares that they shall not be discriminated against because of their homeschool status when public school team rosters are decided a legal standing not afforded public school students The legislation takes a stab at fairness by requiring that homeschoolers present a portfolio of academic work (graded by their parents) in place of the 2.0 GPA requirement levied on public school students One version of the legislation required that homeschoolers take a state test in order to participate We’ve heard stories of parents who disenroll their children from school to focus their time and energy on their sport of choice Tim Tebow seems tailor-made for these families Their kids can sleep in – ensuring sufficient rest to perform well on the court or field then show up at the public school mid-afternoon to compete with public school students (who spent their day in class) for a spot on the public school team It’s this hypocrisy – the obvious double standard – that so infuriates the parents of the 430,000+ students enrolled in Mississippi’s public schools playing by the rules the Legislature passed that’s close to 90% of Mississippi children Their parents make up a pretty big voting bloc and many of them made calls to their legislators earlier this year to voice their intense opposition Which is exactly why the Tim Tebow bill failed to pass in the 2025 Legislative Session Reeves said recently he’s considering adding Tim Tebow to a special session agenda Public school parents might want to remind legislators why they killed that bill a couple of months back Nancy Loome is executive director of The Parents’ Campaign (msparentscampaign.org) and president of The Parents’ Campaign Research & Education Fund (tpcref.org) She and her husband Jim have three grown children all of whom graduated from Clinton Public Schools. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author The commander of American military operations in the Pacific recently testified before Congress and he brought an urgent message from the field Admiral Samuel Paparo warned that the United States must act quickly if we hope to deter the worst intentions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Under the iron fist of dictator Xi Jinping China is working to assemble a military that can challenge the United States Xi Jinping has poured untold sums of money into his armed forces and its air force’s goal is to gain air superiority over the entire western Pacific China has been expanding its nuclear arsenal much faster than we have It has quickly built new intercontinental ballistic missile launchers which can blast nuclear warheads from China to our American cities and towns the United States has been under-investing in our military If we continue declining as China keeps ascending and our lives would undoubtedly change for the worse Americans have rested easy under the assumption that no country could challenge the United States military We can no longer take that strength for granted Some military leaders like the element of surprise but Xi Jinping tends to broadcast his intentions He has told the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027 Such an attack could result in global economic depression and lead to poverty Xi Jinping would gain control over the most important global shipping lanes and own the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing He would be able to place military assets on islands even closer to the United States China has also made its ambitions clear by consistently violating the rights of other nations PLA vessels have harassed Filipino and Vietnamese ships and bribed African nations into exploitative economic relationships China’s communist system deters innovation so its leaders have resorted to plundering intellectual property from America The CCP runs over one hundred police stations in 53 countries which it uses to track and suppress activists pushing for freedoms in China Xi Jinping’s behavior is not the action of a benevolent world leader but it does help explain the company he has been keeping the Chinese tyrant has been orchestrating a coalition of fellow dictators and North Korea are colluding to challenge the military and cultural strength of the United States Not since World War II have we faced such a widespread This new axis of aggressors is helping one another sow chaos in nearly every corner of the world They have even moved in our own hemisphere Americans have underestimated China’s power and intentions But as they see Xi Jinping’s continued violence they are beginning to wake up to the threat The free people of the world are also watching We must take advantage of this increased attention to rally the world and stop China in its tracks I have been working alongside my colleagues and President Trump to do just that I serve as the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee which is helping lead a revival of American military strength Rebuilding American military hardware is the only way to keep the peace and deter the CCP from further threatening our way of life because we know Xi Jinping is wasting no time Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and provided by the Senator’s office Opinions expressed are those solely of the author.  Expect a group of protesters at the DeSoto County Courthouse Thursday during the noon hour as part of a national action on May Day observed in many countries as International Workers’ Day.   The Hernando protest is part of over 1,000 events in 851 cities across the country Most of the protests will be targeted at President Donald Trump with organizer Kelly Jacobs stating that participants are asking Sen Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) to be involved in a Congressional action to “Impeach Convict and Remove President Trump” from office “Trump has attacked the very foundation of our Democracy,” Jacobs does not respect and obey the orders from our Courts nor protect the American people His directives only profit the millionaires.”  Jacobs said the May Day action is dedicated to “fighting for a better future that prioritizes the needs of working families and their neighborhoods by removing Trump from office.” Hurricane Preparedness Week for the State of Mississippi The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency urges citizens to prepare for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season and five intensified into major hurricanes  “The upcoming hurricane season marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina which serves as a reminder about the significant challenges our state can face from powerful storms,” said Reeves.  “I encourage all residents to take proactive steps in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season Being prepared can make all the difference in ensuring your safety and minimizing damage.” “I encourage all Mississippians to use Hurricane Preparedness Week to prepare now and determining evacuation routes,” says MEMA’s Executive Director Stephen McCraney we can safeguard our communities from any potential tropical storms Let’s work together to ensure the safety and resilience of Mississippi during this hurricane season.” Every Mississippi family should have a fully stocked disaster supply kit with necessities like water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, etc. To download a copy of the disaster supply checklist, click here MEMA encourages homeowners to do an insurance check before hurricane season; homeowners should also purchase flood insurance if their home is in a special flood hazard zone and ways to be prepared on our social media platforms The official Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1 Tate Reeves today has launched a new initiative aimed at making Mississippi a leader in American energy and make Mississippi a model state for energy policy and investment “Mississippi’s Power Play will help our state provide businesses with the energy they need to succeed American energy to Mississippians,” said Reeves “This initiative is critical to continuing our state’s economic momentum That’s because many of the major economic development projects you’ve heard about in the news were large energy-intensive projects If we want to win more projects like these we need to produce more energy in our state Mississippi’s Power Play will help us attract more private sector investment and create more high-paying jobs for Mississippians.” Reeves today held a one-day summit in Jackson with energy industry leaders and government partners from around Mississippi and the country attendees robustly discussed issues that will maximize impact drive continued economic growth and improve the lives of Mississippians “The key to Mississippi’s Power Play is effective public-private partnerships,” said Reeves “We’re launching this massive initiative shoulder to shoulder with the private sector and leveraging our shared expertise to innovate in our state I’d like to thank the energy industry leaders and government partners who attended today’s summit for their invaluable and actionable feedback.” 2025 at 9:41 AM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBRADENTON (WWSB) - The De Soto Parade is coming up in two a little under two weeks The parade begins at the intersection of Manatee Ave and 14th St W and ends at Manatee Ave and 39th St W Roads will reopen once they are clear of pedestrian traffic The estimated time for full reopening is approximately 11 p.m A full list of closures is available at the link at the bottom of this post Prepare for some major road closures ahead of the parade: Noon: Manatee Avenue W will close between 1st Street W/US-41 and 14th Street W 4 p.m.: Manatee Avenue W will close between 14th Street W and 44th Street W 6 p.m.: 9th Street W will close between Manatee Avenue and 3rd Avenue W The southbound lanes of the Green Bridge will also close drivers must access the bridge via 3rd Ave W The intersection of 9th Street W and 3rd Avenue W will be open all day Text “RECOVER” to 888777 for latest storm-related financial assistance info or visit recover.pinellas.gov businesses and visitors online access to permitting The tourism site Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is the county’s main resource for visitors After extensive repairs and cleanup following Hurricanes Helene and Milton dog beach and both fishing piers at Fort De Soto Park reopened Monday These amenities had been closed to the public since September East Beach and Area 3 of the campground reopened late last year Some areas of the park may remain closed to the public Visitors should exercise caution throughout the park as there may still be some storm debris in reopened areas Fred Howard Park and county boat ramps increased to $6 per vehicle This is the first increase in more than 14 years and establishes a flat rate across all paid parking areas managed by Parks and Conservation Resources The prices for annual and six-month passes remain unchanged offering a cost-effective option for frequent visitors Beach access: The County’s beach access parks at Madeira Beach and Redington Shores remain closed as they undergo extensive repairs Indian Rocks Beach Access is also closed as storm-related repairs are underway Updates regarding the reopening of these sites will be shared on the County’s official website and social media channels Other County park facilities: All other County parks have reopened although some facilities may still be closed for repair including some bathrooms at Fred Howard Park For more information about our County parks, preserves and beaches, visit pinellas.gov/parks Enter your email address to stay updated on the latest county news If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request do not send electronic mail to this entity contact this office by phone or in writing Report it to Pinellas County Government using the web page below or via our mobile app Live Chat The city of De Soto is reducing the minimum lot size for units in single-family residential districts from 7,500 square feet to 6,000 square feet The city hopes this lot reduction will lead to more homes at a lower price "It's going to bring more rooftops to the people that want to buy here in town,” Sherelle Witt "Especially with the Panasonic plant coming in we need more houses that even on that smaller lot can cost less." De Soto Mayor Rick Walker said the construction of the Panasonic plant has increased the cost of development in town "Land price is a key driver in what makes housing affordable,” Walker said He said the hope with smaller units is to lead to more affordable units "Smaller lot sizes then would allow a denser development in areas where it's appropriate and then thereby doing a little bit to help with the affordability of new housing coming to the market,” Walker said Data shows homes under $300,000 are already hard to come by in Johnson County "The concern for some people is more traffic but she understands that's a part of change We're still gonna have maybe three or four stoplights,” she said KSHB 41 reporter Elyse Schoenig covers the cities of Shawnee and Mission. She also focuses on issues surrounding the cost of health care, saving for retirement and personal debt. Share your story idea with Elyse KSHB 41 News held a community listening session Wednesday evening at Force of Nature Brewing in De Soto The event was the first of KSHB’s new series where we come to your community to hear your thoughts De Soto community members spoke about the small town’s expansion as the city prepares for the opening of the Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant Kathy Harding’s Lenexa home borders De Soto She said she’s excited about the growth in the area so it’s all a good thing; growth is good,” Harding said “We appreciate the ability to share our feelings and our thoughts about what it’s like to live here,” said Diane Kehres Force of Nature Brewing owner Lindsay Waller emphasized the importance of allowing space for conversations about the varying feelings surrounding the changes coming to De Soto “I wasn’t sure what would happen tonight; I’m very pleased,” Waller said “I’m so happy to see so many people come out and so many different groups at different tables and everyone just sharing and talking together Alyssa Jackson and Elyse Schoenig took note of the topics attendees raised at the event They plan to implement those ideas in future Powering Change coverage “I feel like you ladies really heard what we were saying and you’re taking an interest; that’s so important,” Kehres said Thank you to everyone who came out to the event KSHB’s next Let’s Talk session will be announced at a later date — A team of KSHB 41 reporters spent months with De Soto residents ahead of the Panasonic EV battery plant opening LINK | More KSHB 41 coverage of Panasonic's De Soto plantLINK | What do you want to know about Panasonic's plant You can watch their special report at 6:30 p.m on KSHB 41 or in the video player below Fort De Soto Park (3500 Pinellas Bayway South) one of the most beloved outdoor destinations in Tampa Bay or fish—all while soaking in stunning views of the bay Whether you’re out for a morning jog or casting a line this scenic stretch is the perfect place to reconnect with nature reopened in mid-February after months of closure due to last year’s back-to-back hurricanes Fort De Soto spans 1,136 acres across five interconnected islands each playing a crucial role in the local ecosystem From mangroves and beach plants to palm hammocks and hardwoods the park is a thriving habitat for wildlife as storm debris may still linger along the shore and in the water Park staff and volunteers are working diligently to clear the area and East Beach is welcoming visitors again Campers can also rejoice—Area 3 of the campground is back in business Note that some sections of the park and campground remain closed for repairs so be sure to check before planning your visit Nature lovers will find plenty to admire here The park is home to more than 328 species of birds making it a prime birdwatching destination Its shores also serve as a vital nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles which return annually between April and September to lay their eggs Know before you go: parking fees at Fort De Soto Park are now $6 per vehicle. This is the first adjustment in over 14 years and creates a flat rate across these locations. The boat ramp passenger vehicle fee has also been updated to ensure consistency and fairness, and remains lower than many neighboring beach access areas that charge by the hour. Annual and six-month pass rates will remain unchanged Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWAYNE COUNTY (WDAM) - Over 1,600 acres of the De Soto National Forest will be part of a prescribed burn in Wayne County Forest Service said smoke will be noticeable along both service roads and may be visible as far away as MS Hwy 15 Crews and equipment will also be present along the service roads Drivers should use caution while traveling through the area Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter The target opening has been this spring for the Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto Officials say the plant is expected to create 4,000 jobs and could bring thousands of housing units to the area But when KSHB 41 reached out to Panasonic to confirm the timeline this week The spokesperson also said they should know more in the next couple of weeks Johnson County and De Soto officials tell KSHB 41 they are still confident in the spring timeline The target opening for Panasonic in De Soto has been this spring. When I asked for an update, a Panasonic spokesperson sent me this email:"We cannot definitively say, as the date has not been set."County officials say they are still confident in the spring timeline. @KSHB41 There is a lot at stake in this project tied into the local economy “This was not going to be a 6,500-person town for very long," Alex Waller said A growing De Soto is what made Alex and Lindsay Waller decide to move there and open their own business “I think it's a net positive as a resident," Waller said "It's just there's some growing pains as they're building the big plant and infrastructure out there." De Soto officials said the most recent data estimates around 2,300 housing units in De Soto right now That estimate also shows there are 2,500 housing units under consideration in De Soto The mayor said this number includes zoning applications and incentive requests along with what’s actually under construction realtor and the owner of Oasis Nutrition in De Soto we need more people to be able to buy into the community and be a part of the community You can't just be able to come in and buy a home Some people need to be able to have that affordability of the rent and then transition into a home.” De Soto Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council President Tim Holverson said the city is prepared to keep growing with what Panasonic brings that gets you on the radar for more retail And while Waller hopes the city can hold onto its charm he knows it’s a delicate balance with such a big change on tap “I feel like the change is a net positive for the city,” Waller said Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Fort De Soto Park was ravaged by hurricane Helene leaving behind a trail of debris that took months to cleanup park officials noticed something had changed across the more than 1,100-acre park – an exploding gopher tortoise population first noticed the gopher tortoises on the beach “We did have a gopher tortoise population in the park we started to find tortoise out on our beaches quickly realized it wasn’t our 8,” Harshbarger said Officials say the number of burrows has now swelled to over 80 found so far They also say the tortoises came from nearby Egmont Key and somehow ended up in Fort De Soto after Hurricane Helene so we think that a combination of some potential to float or swim we did have massive amounts of debris that came over from Egmont Key it’s entirely possible that they rode those debris rafts over,” Harshbarger said Eckerd College is studying the gopher tortoise population and monitoring their movement with cameras outside of their burrows Officials stress to park goers to keep their distance from gopher tortoises Respect its habitat as well as to be on the lookout if they are crossing roadways This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The development of Panasonic in De Soto has brought funding for local schools There's a lot more people coming and going,” said Charles Miller Thousands of workers travel K-10 and De Soto roads to get to the plant each day That traffic is an unwelcome side effect for some neighbors which makes it a little more difficult because we're just country roads,” Miller said De Soto Mayor Rick Walker has heard these concerns the concerns I've heard most often have to do with traffic or concerns about what traffic might be like,” Walker said The city and KDOT have already expanded what were once country roads by the plant “We've got three interchanges where we've had improvements," Walker said our road improvements between the interchanges to the Panasonic or the Astra Enterprise Park so that those workers can efficiently get in and out.” Walker said the biggest traffic challenge is rush hour in the afternoon “We've got 3,500 construction workers that are leaving at 4:30 on an afternoon and it does create a bit of a backup for 20 minutes or half an hour,” he said Local road improvements near Panasonic wrapped up last year “One of the major goals of the improvements was to handle projected traffic growth in the surrounding area KDOT is now planning a K-10 Capacity Improvement Project stretching from Lenexa to De Soto They attribute the need for this project to growth to the west Walker hopes employee shift work at the plant will reduce the traffic seen now noting K-10 changes are something to watch for in the future "We'll look to implement a project to improve the safety and capacity of that road in and out of De Soto in the upcoming years,” Walker said KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. 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