By Jack Gurner Reporter WATER VALLEY – Unemployment appeared to take a big jump for January, but the Mississippi Department of Employment Security says the figures aren’t strictly comparable to any from 2012. The unadjusted unemployment rate for Yalobusha County in January is 11.6 percent, which they say can’t be compared to December’s 9.5 percent.…

The Green Gala of Yalobusha was held last Saturday night. The event was a “green-themed” fund-raiser for the Water Valley Art Council’s Summer Art Camp.

By David Howell Editor WATER VALLEY – While financing and architect selection are among the biggest hurdles to cross before starting construction on a new county jail, there are other lingering issues regarding the proposed jail site.     Supervisors briefly touched on these issues during a recessed meeting on March 11, when they agreed to…

Staff Report       Former Water Valley Blue Devil Defensive Coordinator Coach Richard Russo has been tapped by the Independence High School Football Selection Committee as the Wildcats’ new head football coach. The Blue Devil Defense allowed a school record 39.7 points per game in 2007 prior to Russo’s arrival and improved to 23.0 in…

Thursday, March 14, is the 150th anniversary of the birth of legendary railroad engineer John Luther “Casey” Jones, a Water Valley District engineer from 1888 until the wreck in 1900. What have we learned about Jones in the 113 years since his fatal crash? For one thing, there never was a “Cannonball” train. That myth…

By Jack Gurner Reporter WATER VALLEY – Police have charged Beau Rayburn, 31, with burglary and grand larceny in connection with a break-in at Turnage Drug Store March 1. Rayburn was arrested Tuesday, March 5, in a separate incident involving shoplifting at a convenience store on Frostland Drive. The investigation of the shoplifting incident linked…

By Jack Gurner Reporter WATER VALLEY – Staff members from Mississippi’s Welcome Centers will be in town March 26 to look over the city’s tourist attractions. About 25 people are expected, Mayor Larry Hart told aldermen at the first-Tuesday city board meeting on March 5. “They want to see our three art galleries and some…

By David Howell Editor COFFEEVILLE – Financing and selecting an architect has been the focus during back-to-back recessed meetings dealing with a new county jail.     Supervisors worked behind closed doors during the first recessed meeting, held last Friday, as they discussed proposals from more than a half-dozen architects competing for the job. On Monday,…

By Jack Gurner Reporter WATER VALLEY – Only one challenger filed papers by Friday’s deadline to run for city office in the upcoming municipal elections. Ray Hawkins, assistant chief of police at the University of Mississippi, will run for the Ward 2 Alderman position against long-time incumbent Fred White. Hawkins serves on the board of…

DES students were treated to a fun learning experience last Thursday with a visit from the Cat in the Hat bunch from Mississippi Public Broadcasting.