By Jack GurnerReporter WATER VALLEY – Unemployment continues to rise in Yalobusha County topping last month’s 22-year high and holding steady as the seventh highest in the state. The June rate of 16.6 percent is not quite double that of a year ago when unemployment for June 2008 was 9.4 percent, according to the latest…

By Jack GurnerReporter WATER VALLEY – Once again the weather may be the big story for the 40th Watermelon Carnival. Last year it was the excessive heat. This year it may be rain. At press time Tuesday evening, the National Weather Service was predicting an even chance of precipitation for most of the weekend. The…

Members of the Town and Country Garden Club showed their appreciation for city workers by feeding them lunch on the Railroad Park Pavilion Wednesday at noon. Margaret Daum, President of the TCGC, said that the workers deserved recognition. “We just appreciate all the extra work they have put in this week to make the town…

By David HowellEditor WATER VALLEY – A Water Valley gal has turned a prize-winning dessert recipe into a commercially offered cake mix marketed in five states – accomplishing the feat in just over a year.     Shirley Riley entered her favorite recipe, sweet potato cake with lemon cream cheese frosting in the Mississippi Magazine recipe…

Staff Report WATER VALLEY – Twenty-six new cases of H1N1 Swine Flu cases reported in the last week in Mississippi brings the state’s total number of cases to 285. Of these cases, none have been reported in Yalobusha County, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).      Since MSDH began testing for…

The railroad theme mural on Main Street at Martin got a touch up this week from muralist Cristen Barnard of Senatobia. The Chamber of Commerce is paying for the work. Barnard has had to repaint a lot of things when doing this kind of work. “But, I have never had to paint horse poop,” she…

By Jack GurnerReporter WATER VALLEY – Baker Street Park is another step closer to reopening and volunteers hope to throw a party to celebrate. The party is to recognize the accomplishment and thank all of those who participated, according to community volunteer Levert Hawkins, who has been involved since the beginning. “I’m looking at August…

By Jack GurnerReporter  The reliability of the Water Valley electrical infrastructure went up considerably after the Electric Department put new transformers on-line Sunday morning at the north substation. The equipment was a gift from the University of Mississippi, according to Joe Newman, manager of the Water Valley Electric Department. “We got three transformers and the…

The Tri-Lakes Fairground Association’s Summer Festival will be Aug. 6 – 8 at the Water Valley Fairgrounds located on Hwy. 315 across from the V.F.W. Post. Mississippi Delta Shows will return to supply all the thrills, chills and laughter on the Midway Carnival Rides, according to J.C. Womble, Tri-Lakes Fairground Association Public-ity Chairman. Some of…

Nationally acclaimed vocalist and composer Effie Burt will headline Thursday’s Watermelon Music Festival sponsored by Town and Country Garden Club.     Burt was born and raised in Oxford and  has graced stages from Beale Street to Montego Bay. She has been a featured vocalist with the Cedar Rapids/Waterloo Symphony Orchestra and has performed at the…