WATER VALLEY – The ruse was an interview for a newspaper article as Vicki Person sat down last week with the recipient of the Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce’s coveted Braswell Hatcher Service Award. “We told her we were doing an article for the newspaper about outstanding women in the community,” Person told the…

WATER VALLEY – A small field of county candidates on this year’s ballots was likely the culprit for slim turnout at last Saturday’s political rally at the Velma Fire Department. Nine candidates addressed the crowd, with the District 2 Supervisor race the only one with competing candidates speaking as incumbent Kenny Rogers and John Perkins…

OAKLAND – The yellow ribbons are tied to the ole oak trees and on businesses and homes welcoming visitors to Oakland’s 2nd Yalo-Ribbon Festival on Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Oakland along Oak, Hickory, and Holly Streets. The festival is named for the oak trees that settlers found in…

WATER VALLEY – Sprint Mart celebrated the completion of extensive renovations at the local store with a four-day grand reopening last week. The celebration started Thursday as Mayor Donald Gray and the chamber ambassadors hosted a ribbon-cutting. Company founder Joe Gillis cut the ribbon. Gillis launched Dutch Oil in 1972 in Columbus and credits the…

The graduation at Base Camp Coding Academy was an amazing day. Twenty-three students from across north Mississippi completed the year-long program to become software developers. Graduates from prior classes shared about their careers. C Spire CEO Hu Meena and Congressman Bennie Thompson shared advice for the future. Proud parents and grandparents filled the room and…

It’s a Wagner Week and I pulled two letters that both happened to be typed on a typewriter! I consider any typed Wagner Letter to be a true blessing as these people practiced pure chicken scratch on anything handwritten. Little brother Gene is getting sent checks left and right here. I ran some currency conversation…

W. A. Nolen, grocer, was a bit of a local philosopher and provided these “ten points that cost so little and are worth so much” in May of 1943. 1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. 2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. 3. You cannot help small men by tearing down big…

Y’all don’t forget the Yalo-Ribbon Festival in Oakland on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be live music, vendors, kids area, railroad history and memories, and the famous giant cakewalk! Congratulations to my great grandson, Bradley Holliday, for receiving three awards on Awards Day – A-B honor roll, Archery and LEAP. We…

  This week was a busy one for Water Valley High School! Students were all over the place trying to get from one event to the next. State championships, playoffs, test prep and prom were all a part of making this week exceptionally wild. The boys golf team finished out their season by competing in…