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In a significant development for the city of DeSoto, the DeSoto city council has named its new city manager during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Majed Al-Ghafry, currently serving as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Dallas, has been appointed as DeSoto’s new City Manager.

Mayor Rachel L. Proctor made the announcement during Tuesday evening’s City Council Meeting.

“After conducting a comprehensive national search to find the very best City Manager to lead DeSoto into the future, we are proud to say that we have accomplished our mission and are bringing the best of the best to DeSoto,” said Mayor Proctor.

“While Majed Al-Ghafry has built an impressive track record of high-level accomplishments, it was the steady praise that we heard from those who knew him best that told us what we needed to know about his character and leadership abilities.”

The selection process for a new City Manager began back in November 2023 when the City Council engaged the municipal consulting firm Government Professional Solutions (GPS) to conduct a nationwide search.

After a rigorous evaluation, three finalists, including Al-Ghafry, were invited to DeSoto City Hall for a public meet and greet event on April 18th.

It was during this event that Al-Ghafry impressed with his demeanor, knowledge, and evident affection for DeSoto.

“When I told our residents back in April that I loved DeSoto, I meant it!  I’ve had many friends and colleagues from DeSoto over the years and they’ve shared the love and enthusiasm they have for this wonderful city with me,” said Al-Ghafry.

“I’ve also been able to experience DeSoto on my own as a neighbor and a professional, and I can see both its greatness and its untapped potential. This is a very exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to working with our Mayor and City Council, team members, and residents to make DeSoto the absolute best it can be!”

Al-Ghafry brings with him over 35 years of experience in leadership roles spanning both the public and private sectors.

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Majed Al-Ghafry, the Assistant City Manager for the City of Dallas, has been chosen by the DeSoto City Council to serve as DeSoto’s next City Manager. His appointment was announced by Mayor Rachel L. Proctor at Tuesday evening’s DeSoto City Council Meeting.

“After conducting a comprehensive national search to find the very best City Manager to lead DeSoto into the future, we are proud to say that we have accomplished our mission and are bringing the best of the best to DeSoto,” said Mayor Proctor. “While Majed Al-Ghafry has built an impressive track record of high-level accomplishments, it was the steady praise that we heard from those who knew him best that told us what we needed to know about his character and leadership abilities.”

The process of finding a new City Manager began in November of 2023 when the DeSoto City Council hired the municipal consulting firm Government Professional Solutions (GPS) to conduct a nationwide search.

On Thursday, April 18th, three finalists including Al-Ghafry were invited to DeSoto City Hall for a public meet and greet event. It was there that Majed Al-Ghafry distinguished himself with his demeanor, knowledge, and love of DeSoto.

“When I told our residents back in April that I loved DeSoto, I meant it! I’ve had many friends and colleagues from DeSoto over the years and they’ve shared the love and enthusiasm they have for this wonderful city with me.” Al-Ghafry continued, “I’ve also been able to experience DeSoto on my own as a neighbor and a professional, and I can see both its greatness and its untapped potential.”

“This is a very exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to working with our Mayor and City Council, team members, and residents to make DeSoto the absolute best it can be!”

Majed Al-Ghafry is an Executive Engineer and educator who has spent more than 35 years as a leader in both the public and private sectors.

He has worn many hats with the City of Dallas including overseeing all of Dallas’ infrastructure departments, Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, Planning and Urban Design, Development Services, the Office of Historic Preservation and the Tourism, Conventions and Events Departments.

Before joining the City of Dallas, Al-Ghafry served as the Assistant City Manager of the City of El Cajon, California, and as the Public Works Director for the City of San Antonio.

Majed is a Credentialed City Manager who earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas, Denton, a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, professional engineering registrations in Civil and Traffic from the State of California and a professional engineering registration from the State of Texas. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas.

The post Dallas Assistant City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry Named New DeSoto City Manager appeared first on Focus Daily News.

In a heartfelt tribute to a cherished community member, Mayor Rachel Proctor declared May 4th as “Arlana Miller Day” in DeSoto.

This declaration honors the memory of Arlana Miller, a cheerleader at Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana who took her own life by walking into the Mississippi River.

Miller, the daughter of Janice Tappin-Miller, who established the Arlana J Miller Check on Your Strong Friends Foundation and Scholarship led a life that profoundly impacted those around her.

The month of May is considered to be mental health awareness month and with the anniversary of Miller, mental health continues to be a priority for her mother.  

Miller, a bright 19-year-old cheerleader at Southern University, was known for her vibrant spirit and her dedication to uplifting others.

Her tragic passing in May of last year sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the urgent need for mental health awareness and support.

“We’re letting people know it’s okay to not be okay,” said Tappin-Miller.

“Don’t hide because in our community we are looked at as being weak if we say that we’re not feeling okay.”

Since her daughter’s passing, Tappin-Miller has made it her mission to get legislation passed in Louisiana requiring a licensed counselor to be assigned to every sport from high school to college.

The proposed legislation would also require student-athletes to have a licensed counselor throughout their recovery process.   

“We just want to continue to educate people and let them know that your mental health does matter,” said Tappin-Miller

“We’re trying to save our youth especially because they are suffering and it breaks my heart because they’re our future and if we don’t help them now, we’re going to keep losing them.”

The scholarship fund honors Arlana’s legacy by awarding current and future high-achieving cheerleaders at Southern University and A&M College during their matriculation.

Tappin-Miller is not only a mother but an educator, whose family has been pillars in the DeSoto community for years.

Arlana’s story is a stark reminder of the silent battles many face and shows the importance of a supportive community.

“Arlana’s legacy will live on forever and we will help you uphold it by advocating for the importance of mental health awareness and encouraging regular check-ins with those we love!” said Mayor Proctor.

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WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS – 22 individuals in Wichita Falls, Texas, have been federally charged in connection with alleged drug trafficking activities.

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton announced the charges on Monday, May 20.

Sixteen of the defendants were apprehended during a coordinated takedown operation on Thursday.

Multiple law enforcement tactical units were involved, including SWAT teams from five FBI divisions, the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), the Texas Department of Public Safety Special Response Teams, the U.S. Marshals, and the Wichita Falls Police Department.

The remaining six defendants were previously taken into custody.

The charges stem from criminal complaints alleging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

According to the complaints, the investigation began in March 2023, following intelligence received from confidential informants indicating that individuals associated with the Crips street gang were operating a methamphetamine distribution network in Wichita Falls and surrounding areas.

Over several months, law enforcement conducted multiple drug buys facilitated by confidential sources, which were documented through video and audio recordings.

Additionally, searches of suspects’ residences and vehicles yielded substantial quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and firearms.

To date, authorities have seized a significant amount of illicit substances, including methamphetamine, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, powdered fentanyl, and counterfeit Percocet pills laced with fentanyl, along with nine firearms.

If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment in federal prison.

The post 22 Charged in Alleged Drug Trafficking in Wichita Falls appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.

Nine men and a company have been indicted and charged with conspiring to install so-called “defeat devices” on diesel trucks, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

The devices would allow the vehicles to emit far more pollutants than allowed by law contravening the Clean Air Act.

The defendants, Phillip Dwain Waddell, Philip Matthew Ormand, Kolby Douglas Huneycutt, Kyle Kris Kizer, Jonathan Joseph Lohrmeyer, Justin Loutoyama Pasamonte, Archie George Sims, and Adam Marsh Stanley, along with auto dealership James Hodge Motors, Inc. (doing business as Jay Hodge Dodge) and its Chief Operating Officer, Curtis Kevin Poore, face indictments related to conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act.

“These defendants intentionally flouted laws designed to ensure our children – and our children’s children – have clean air to breathe. By installing devices that bypassed automakers’ built-in emissions controls, they spewed pollutants into our neighborhoods. The Justice Department, along with our partners at the Environmental Protection Agency, take violations of the Clean Air Act very seriously,” said Simonton. 

According to the indictment, Waddell allegedly sold aftermarket diesel exhaust components and “delete tunes,” which override on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems required by the Clean Air Act.

These delete tunes purportedly allowed vehicles to emit excess pollutants undetected by OBDs, thus circumventing emission regulations.

“Pollutants emitted from tampered vehicles can have significant harm to public health,” said Kim Bahney, Special Agent in Charge for the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division.

“This scheme occurred over several years and spanned across multiple states, diminishing air quality.”

The indictment alleges Ormand customized delete tunes for specific vehicles, with Waddell allegedly purchasing these tunes and selling them for significant profits.

The defendants, including Huneycutt, Kizer, Lohrmeyer, Pasamonte, Sims, and Stanley, are accused of purchasing and installing these delete tunes on customers’ vehicles.

Additionally, the indictment also alleges James Hodge Motors, under the supervision of Poore, engaged in similar practices, falsifying invoices to conceal the nature of their work on customers’ trucks.

The indictment represents allegations, not evidence, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

If convicted, each defendant faces potential federal prison sentences of up to five years, while the company could incur fines of up to $500,000.

The post Ten Charged for Alleged Clean Air Act Violations appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.