By Jack Gurner Reporter WATER VALLEY – The school district will continue with implementation of the Common Core State Standards in spite of the growing controversy at the state and national level. Superintendent Kim Chrestman told school board members at their meeting June 23 that state school officials are unsure what Governor Phil Bryant and…

By David Howell Editor OAKLAND – A traffic stop Friday night led to a big drug arrest for the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department.     Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported deputy Thomas West and Constable Brent Anderson arrested Kenneth Jackson of Oakland after making the stop on County Road 216 last Friday night. Jackson gave consent for…

School’s Insurance Is Going Up, Again By Jack Gurner Reporter WATER VALLEY – The cost of insurance for the Water Valley School District is going up this year by about $9,000 after a $20,000 increase last year. “But,” as district business manager Randy Goodwin pointed out, “Nobody wants to insure a school.” The insurance discussion…

By Jack Gurner Reporter JACKSON – The Water Valley Main Street Association won two awards at the 25th annual Mississippi Main Street award luncheon including the top honor, Main Street Merchant of the Year. Mark Loughman, president of the Mississippi Main Street Association board of directors, presented the statewide recognition to the BTC Old Fashioned…

By David Howell Editor WATER VALLEY – Did you know ancient Chinese rulers liked to keep panda bears as pets? Or that Governor Phil Bryant started his career working at a sheriff’s department in a ground floor position overseeing supplies?     The state’s First Lady Deborah Bryant spent a fun hour interacting with almost 100…

Sentence Also Includes 15 Years Post Release Supervision By David Howell Editor WATER VALLEY – Three years after shooting his father in the back of the head and leaving him for dead, Dustin Davis received a five year prison sentence, plus 15 years post-release supervision.     Dustin Davis pled guilty to aggravated assault last week…

    The North Mississippi Herald will increase the price of single copy sales to 75 cents, starting with the July 3 edition next month. The increase marks the first for single copy sales in almost a decade for the paper.     “Many of the weekly newspapers across the state are now at the 75 cent…

By David Howell Editor WATER VALLEY – Over 200 potential jurors have been subpoenaed for a trial scheduled to start Monday.     Dustin Davis was charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit murder after allegedly shooting his father, Joe Davis, in the head with a large-caliber handgun in June, 2011. Davis was 16 at…

By Jack Gurner Reporter WATER VALLEY – Melissa Ondrovcik isn’t afraid of a little hard work. In fact, she isn’t afraid of a lot of hard work or even the creepy crawlies that sometimes show up under the plants out on her Mudline Farms. Ondrovcik, who describes herself as an instructor of German/ farmer, is…

By Jack Gurner Reporter WATER VALLEY – Things got a little hectic for law enforcement and emergency medical responders over the weekend. But, only the superstitious would believe it had anything to do with the Friday the 13th full moon. According to the experts, there is no evidence that Friday the 13th is unlucky or…