By Billy DavisThe Panolian BATESVILLE – Assistant District Attorney Smith Murphey slipped into a judge’s robe Tuesday, held for him by wife Carole, in a ceremony to mark his first term as circuit court judge.     The ceremony marks a memorable change in the five-county 17th District, where outgoing Circuit Judge Andrew C. Baker has…

By Jack GurnerReporter OAKLAND – One man was killed Monday afternoon after he took an Oakland police vehicle and crashed into an 18-wheeler minutes later on Hwy. 32 in Tallahatchie County. Gregory Smith, 41, of Oakland was working off a fine at the police department when he took the vehicle and headed west on Hwy.…

By Jack GurnerReporter HOUSTON, Texas – A 12-year-old boy whose Christmas Eve abduction and murder has drawn national attention once attended school in Water Valley. Jonathan Foster was a first through sixth grade student at Davidson Elementary School, starting around six years ago, according to school officials. His burned body was spotted by a passing…

By David HowellEditor WATER VALLEY – At presstime Tuesday two candidates have qualified to run for District Three supervisor and many incumbents have also filed the necessary paperwork to seek re-election.     Water Valley realtor Lee McMinn and former supervisor Bailey Walker are the first to qualify for District Three Supervisor. M.H. “Butch” Surrette has …

Staff Report COFFEEVILLE – Police officers will be better protected after aldermen unanimously approved the purchase of three new bulletproof vests. The vote to purchase the protective gear came during the regular November meeting of the mayor and board. The vests are estimated to cost about $1000 each. The department’s old vests had all passed…

By Jack GurnerReporter WATER VALLEY – Comes now the New Year. And while we know not what it may bring, let us welcome it with hope and faith. Those words were written by Herald columnist Dudley Wagner and appeared seven decades ago in the Jan 2, 1941 edition of the newspaper. The coming of each…

Two people were injured in a two-car crash around 7:45 Tuesday morning near Griffin Motors on Highway 315 South east of the city. Emergency medical responder Herbie Rogers (brown jacket) treats one of the injured.                       – Photo by Jack Gurner

January Water Valley firefighters were called to Rolling Hills around 1:40 p.m. New Years Day to put out a grass fire that residents say was set by youths playing with fireworks. Betty Shearer reported in her column that several Vallians and other former Water Valley folks attended the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Sunday, Jan…

By David HowellReporter WATER VALLEY – A $5,000 cash offer for information leading to arrests in any unsolved murder in the county will remain in effect in 2011.     In May the Yalobusha Crime Stoppers publicized the reward for information on any  unsolved murder in the county. The offer also came just two months after…

All City of Water Valley offices and departments will be closed Friday, Dec 31 for the New Year holiday.