April Fools’ Prank 20 Years Ago Ended Fooling Around At The Herald Office

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April Fools’ Day fell on a publication date in 2004 and Jim Shearer had a little fun with what would later be described as an over-the-top April Fools’ story about the railroad returning to Water Valley. It was an obvious ruse but as Jack Gurner surmised, the railroad has always been a sensitive issue here.

The story stated that the reconstituted Illinois Central Railroad, speaking on the condition of strict anonymity, stated the railroad was returning to its former glory with a new launch in Water Valley. Most of the northeast part of the city would be demolished, the story stated, to make way for new shops and a huge roundhouse.

The long-gone rails weren’t a problem either, as ICC spokesperson L. Ferro Carril explained the tracks would just be laid over the pavement. Carril suggested that automobiles and high speed freight trains should be able to share the same space with no

significant problems.
“Of course, people are going to need to drive more defensively when a big train comes toward them,” a city officials reportedly explained. “But don’t show too much fear because you have just as much right to be on the tracks as the train does. Hold your position and the train will just have to get out of your way.”

Seems obvious, right? But just in case the story jumped to page 5 where there was a picture of a train and an explanation. “In case you haven’t already guessed, the publication date falls on April Fools’ Day.”

The calls poured in when the paper came out and the prank was long cited around the Herald office when there were “fun” ideas floated for publication.

Now for the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say. And we can only tell it now because 20 years should be long enough. Several weeks after the story came out, we learned that one of Congressman Roger Wicker’s aids took the bait. Apparently he read the headline and thought he had missed something big in the Valley. He made a few phones calls, scrambling to find information before someone told him it was an April Fools’ joke. The Herald staff all had a good laugh and we were sworn to secrecy. But that ended the April Fools’ pranks at the Herald office and always serves as stark reminder the readers place a lot of trust in their hometown newspapers.

Through The Years  From The Herald

• 15 years ago, April 2, 2009 – Austin Brooke Mills was crowned Watermelon Queen .

A lost pit bull hitched a ride with Lasha Hollowell to the police station. His name turned out to be Chino and he had run away from the Johnsey home south of town.

Isabella Kelly of Water Valley won second place in the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Holiday Card Contest.

• 20 years ago, April 1, 2004 – Water Valley Junior Auxiliary 2003-2004 provisional members were Leah Ann Wrenn, Brandy Russell, Mary Ann Jackson, Beth Villegas, Lee Ann Vance and Jill Hill.

• 30 years ago, March 31, 1994 – Five WVHS juniors attended the annual Rotary International Leadership Conference at Olive Branch: Yoshia Hence, Randy Goodwin, Jinny Fachman, Ben Eakes and Jimmy Parrish.

WVHS DECA students placed in the District 2 DECA competition. They were Heather Horan, third, apparel and accessories; Jennie Griffin, fifth, apparel and accessories; Sholunda Rucker, first, food marketing; Jennifer Jackson, sixth, general marketing; Stacy Avant, first, hospitality and tourism marketing; Travis Romberger, fourth, retail merchandising; and Scott Russell, Eric Allred and Michael Sutherland, third, quiz bowl.

• 40 years ago, April 5, 1984 – The team of Kim Herring, Kevin Herrera, Chris Vick and Denise Riley won the Senior division of the State Future Problem Solving Bowl held in Columbus at MUW. The Intermediate Team – Valerie Phillips, Robert Todd, Angie Brooks and Sandra Evans – won second place.

Tammy Foster and Kerry Redwine each received a $100 Savings Bond for selling more than 200 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies.
Guy Dale Shaw found some balloons in his garden with messages attached. Young students from Margaret Willes Elementary School in Amarillo, Texas launched the balloons and asked the finder to respond.

• 50 years ago, April 4, 1974 – The WVHS Band received an “Excellent” rating on the field at the state band contest held at Hinds Junior College.

Members of the Garden Club of Water Valley joined the city clean-up campaign by planting dogwood trees in Railroad Park. The group included Garden Club President Mrs. Paul Parker, Mrs. Ernest Edrington, and Mrs. C. C. Stacy. Helpers included Ernest Edrington; Jimbo Thompson, clean-up chairman; Jodie Burks, Jaycee chair- man; and Mayor Watson Hunt.

• 60 years ago, March 26, 1964 – The Junior 4-H Livestock Judging Team – Marty Langston, Shelby Rogers, Harry Avant and Bill Harding – and the Senior 4- H Livestock Judging Team – Early Nichols, Don Harding, Harold Waller and Steve Moore – won second place at the Northwest District Livestock Show.

• 70 years ago, April 1, 1954 – The P.T.A. at Camp Ground school was sponsoring a womanless wedding with such characters as Mr. and Mrs. Paris France (Chester Shoemake and Johnny Schmitz); their daughter Petite France (Elmer Mills); and Billy Jack Hill as the minister. Others included Harvey Reed, Lawrence McDonald, Carlton Pass, Floyd McCain, Harry Sartain, and Edwin Earl Hill.

Kathryn G. Williamson, librarian at WVHS, won $75 in the Lion Oil Company Teacher Essay Contest for her essay titled “My Responsibilities As A Teacher.”

• 80 years ago, March 30, 1944 – Roosevelt Hervey, who worked at the home of Miss Eliza McFarland, was struck by lightning while standing under a clothesline. He suffered severe burns on the back and legs, but was making a recovery in the hospital.

• 90 years ago, March 23, 1934 – Two Confederate veterans “answered the last call,” according to notices in the Herald. John P. Spurgeon, 87, who had been in ill health for some time, and Thomas H. Walker, 87, who had also been in ill health, passed away over the last week.