Letters to the Editor – Feb. 12, 2009

Newcomer Finds Warm Welcome In The Valley

To The Editor,

WELCOME TO WATER VALLEY!!!

We wanted to personally thank everyone in Water Valley who has made us feel so welcomed. Life has a tendency to have little road blocks along the way, and in December we had a large one come our way.

Owning a small business in Oxford, I knew we could not re-locate far, but we did need a change of scenery. I had a friend from Water Valley ask me if I had ever thought of Water Valley. At that time I had not.

The next day I took a little trip to Water Valley and fell in love. The next thing was to get the approval of the man of the house, my 10 year-old. After going and checking out the school, it was all thumbs up with him.

After a few more trips to the Valley we where able to find the perfect home with help from the Chamber of Commerce.

I’m not going to name names,  but I’m going to call them Angels because little angels kept popping up, starting the day we moved. It was the coldest day of the year and I had some heavy stuff to un-load – no fear, two angels showed up.

My son went out the next day and found more angels. He was so excited as he bounded through the back door. He told me about meeting folks at the hardware store and how He had found the “old-timey soda fountain” and how the man had shared stories with him at the train museum.

Another of my son’s trips to town was shattered last week when he blew a tube on his bike. Another angel came by and picked the bike up and had it fixed.

Another angel came by last week with home-baked bread and invited us to her church, something that has been missing in my life for some time. We visited the church last Sunday and we felt so welcomed. Oh, the freshly baked bread still warm from the oven was the best I have ever had.

Thanks to you all again. Water Valley is a true angel of a community; something that has been lost in the bigger towns; something I’m glad to say I have come home to; and something so fortunate to have found and be able to let my son be a part of.

Becky and Austin Lacy

 

Job Corps Can Make A Difference

To Whom It May Concern:

  In difficult economic times, youth entering the workforce face tremendous challenges. With competition for jobs getting tougher by the day, youth need an advantage in order to secure employment.

  Job Corps can provide that advantage. The Job Corps program has a proven record of assisting youth between 16 and 24 years old in achieving career success. Students in Job Corps improve their reading and math skills an average of 2.6 and 2.4 grade levels respectively. In addition, nearly 20,000 students a year earn a High School diploma or GED. Moreover, nearly 60% of students who enter the program complete vocational training, with many receiving third party industry certifications. When completing Job Corps, 80 percent of graduates get a job or join the military, making an average wage of $8.41 per hour. Eleven percent of Job Corps students decide to pursue further education.

  The Batesville Job Corps Center is accepting applications for enrollment. Those interested should call 662-563-4656, extension 266, for more information.

  Job Corps can make a difference.

  Thank you,

 

Cordella Smith

  Center Director