By David HowellEditor OAKLAND – Two Oxford men remain behind bars for their alleged role in burning an antique mall in Oakland valued at more than $2 million – an amount that includes contents from 51 vendors renting space at the mall.     Yalobusha County Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported that Larry Loftis, 62, and his…

By David HowellEditor  WATER VALLEY – There are some things in life you just can’t buy.     Last July, John Tolbert learned that a heart is one of them. Instead Tolbert, a Baptist minister, had his faith – the same faith he taught from the pulpit for years – put to the test.     After…

A wind-driven brush fire on County Road 212 between County Roads 220 and 94 threatened to spread into the woods mid-afternoon Thursday. County volunteer firefighters using equipment from the Pine Valley and Velma fire departments were able to bring the blaze under control quickly. With the warm temps and fair weather expected over the next…

By David HowellEditor COFFEEVILLE – Supervisors shuffled road department employees during the “first Monday” meeting held March 7 in Coffeeville.     District Four Supervisor George Suggs received board approval to shift Leslie Doubleday from District Three to his district. The move comes after James Allen retired after working two decades in District Four. Doubleday will…

Staff Report WATER VALLEY – Mississippians spend more of their income on gas than residents of any other state in the nation. Mississippi families earn an average of $37,000 a year, the lowest median household income in the country, but spend about $4884, or 13.2 percent, on fuel for their vehicles. And, that’s with mid-range…

By David HowellEditor COFFEEVILLE – A Coffeeville man was charged with capital murder Friday afternoon following the Monday death of his seven month-old nephew.     Yalobusha County Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported that Tommy Boyd was charged with the death of Braylon Uecker just before 3 p.m. last Friday. Shortly afterwards, in an initial appearance held…

YALOBUSHA COUNTY DELINQUENT TAX LISTING – APRIL TAX SALE For Taxes Due February 1, 2011 (Listing updated 03-23-11) I, Linda Rae Shuffield, Assessor-Tax Collector, Yalobusha County, State of Mississippi, pursuant to the provisions of Section 27-41-55, Code of 1972, Annotated, will on the First Monday and the 4th day of April, 2011, at the South…

WTVA in Tupelo is reporting that Larry Loftis and James Flemon, both of Oxford, are charged with second degree arson, burglary of a commercial building and two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime.  Sheriff Lance Humphreys says Loftis confessed to starting the March 1 fire and agreed to pay Flemon for his help. According…

By Jack GurnerReporter WATER VALLEY – Yalobusha County’s unemployment rate for the first month of 2011 is up just one-tenth of a percentage point from December. There were 740 Yalobusha County residents without jobs during January for a 13.5 percent unemployment rate, according to the latest figures from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. That’s…

By Jack GurnerReporter WATER VALLEY – The School Board has approved up to $105,000 for the purchase of two used school buses to supplement the Dis-trict’s immediate transportation needs. There has been a shortage of buses in recent weeks with as many as four buses from the District’s fleet out of service at one time.…