By David Howell Editor WATER VALLEY – Oxford officials had a opportunity last Thursday to see firsthand the operations of Caterpillar and the Yalobushians who helped  an Oxford company find a temporary location after a catastrophe.     A stormy February night spawned a tornado that devastated much of Caterpillar’s Oxford facility. That same night a…

By David Howell Editor OAKLAND – The U.S. Justice Department signed off on an annexation that will expand Oakland’s boundaries to include developer L.J. Lindley’s rental cabins and other businesses.     This annexation marks the third in less than three decades for Yalobusha’s smallest municipality, each cherry-picking a specific I-55 development.     “We got this…

By Jack GurnerReporter WATER VALLEY – It certainly isn’t the usual government project. Repairs to the Blackmur Memorial Library not only were made on time, but under budget as well. The project began when water damage was discovered in the 2002 addition. Mayor Bill Norris said that estimates for repair were in the $70,000 range.…

By Jack GurnerReporter WATER VALLEY – The City took yet another step in the process toward renovating Baker Street Park by holding a second public hearing Monday night. The first was held last November 27 when Brenda Lacy, an associate manager with the Mississippi Development Authority, explained the community development block grant process. This latest…

Yalobusha County’s unemployment rate was the lowest it has been for January in the past five years. The January figure of 7.7 percent is almost a point and a half lower that the January 2007 figure of 9.1 percent. The average for the past five years is 9.2 percent, according to statistics from the Mississippi…

By Jack GurnerReporter WATER VALLEY – Police Captain Roger Thomas reports that Jazzmonica Deanne Johnson was found in Meridian and returned to her family by Meridian police. Johnson disappeared from the home of her father at 331 Suggs St. on March 2, according to the police report. Lt. Rick McCuan reported the following activity in…

The Water Valley Blue Devil baseball team was able to pick up it’s third division win Tuesday night over the Bruce Trojans. The win improves the Blue Devils overall record to 11-5 with a 3-1 mark in the division.

Water Valley’s oldest business will celebrate its 120th year of operation in conjunction with Water Valley’s sesquicentennial observance in April. The North Mississippi Herald will complete 120 years of continuous publication with the April 25 newspaper, according to David Howell, editor. As part of the Herald’s birthday observance, we are looking for the oldest copy…

City Officials Reduce Distance Requirement For Beer Permit    By Jack GurnerReporter     WATER VALLEY – The Dunn Family Steakhouse on North Main will soon be able to serve beer to patrons. The restaurant was the only existing business put at a competitive disadvantage by the city beer ordinance that went into effect January 19. During…

WATER VALLEY – A lot of work went into getting Caterpillar back into production after the Feb 5 tornado knocked out the company’s Oxford plant. Thanks to the help of their Water Valley neighbors, they were back in business within just a few days. One of the first to respond was Casey Washington of Valley…