WATER VALLEY – Excitement is brewing as two dedicated watermelon growers could have the most massive melons ever produced in Yalobusha County. Hal Vaughn has five giant watermelons growing in his garden, and several are already estimated to be well over the 200-pound mark with the potential for almost two more months of growing season…

I appreciate all of the feedback from last week’s column about Parchman, many families have loved ones incarcerated. Water Valley resident Sally Lott McLellan wrote me about serving as a volunteer with the Prison Writes Institute directed by Louis Bourgeois of Oxford. McLellan teaches Creative Arts at Parchman and has worked with inmates in Unit…

Let’s take a quick look at the folks behind the scenes for the Watermelon Carnival, starting with Chamber manager Zandra Walker. From working with vendors and sponsors, talking with people seeking information about the carnival, selling t-shirts and carnival books, to answering phone calls and emails, she’s constantly on the move. Despite the hustle and…

It’s a political-history Wagner Week: Jessie Wagner receives a letter from Earl Brewer who would later become Governor. He was 26 when he wrote this letter informing her about his intention to run for State Senate. Spoiler alert: he wins. Googling the political characters mentioned in this letter is interesting. I tried my best to…

The skating rink located in the North End Recreation Park opened Monday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. It would be open each day following – except for Sunday – from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. There would be two sessions at night; from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. and from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m.…

Christian love and sympathy to the Sykes Wood family of Grenada. I met Sykes and his wife, Janie, back in the early 1960s. They were close friends to my sisters, Ann Hudson and Joyce Weir. They were easy people to love and had two beautiful daughters, Anita Jo Byrd and Leta Wood. It seems like…

I hope everyone has had a great week. It’s been busy for me. We stayed with Dr. Denman a lot this week so I’ve been back and forth a lot. I’m trying to get a lot done though because I got a job starting in August. God has really shown up for my family the…

Get ready to dive into the excitement of the 54th Watermelon Carnival with this year’s special program, now on sale! This edition is packed with engaging content that celebrates the spirit of Water Valley and the cherished traditions of the carnival. Discover the fascinating journey of Dr. Andy Jones, Water Valley’s longest-attending artist at the…

The Water Valley Farmers Market will be open during the Watermelon Carnival, providing a delightful shopping experience under the beautiful Magnolia trees in Railroad Park. Join them on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is the perfect opportunity to shop your favorite vendors and discover…