Obituaries 05/20/2026
Barbara Helen (Ferguson) Ballard COFFEEVILLE – Barbara Helen Ballard entered into the presence of her Savior on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the age of 79, surrounded by her loving family at her home. Born Dec. 24, 1946, in Woodland, Barbara Helen Ferguson Ballard was the daughter of the late Minnie Florence Ward Chandler and…
Read MoreHistoric Magnolia Tree Gets Helping Hand
WATER VALLEY – The Water Valley Main Street Association is sponsoring an extended project along Main Street that includes a new ADA-compliant crosswalk at the corner of Panola Street and Main Street to improve access to Railroad Park, along with a new sidewalk in an area of the park where one had not previously existed.…
Read MoreCounty, City Ink Building Deal
WATER VALLEY – Plans to redevelop the former Yalobusha County jail building on Calhoun Street officially moved forward Monday after the Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors unanimously executed a lease agreement with the Water Valley Utility Commission and the City of Water Valley. The agreement clears the way for renovations to begin soon on the…
Read MoreWater Valley Lands Veteran Coaches
WATER VALLEY – The conversation turned serious during deer season last winter, when Gunner and Elizabeth Nichols sat in a deer stand on family land near Tillatoba contemplating building a house there and possibly making a future in Yalobusha County. The coaching couple agreed the move would only happen if the right opportunity opened at…
Read MoreThe Real Life Of A Lineman In The Contractor World
– Guest Commentary By Michael Gray, owner, Gray’s Power Supply – Barney was born into the American dream family. His father married his mother and then later came home as a decorated World War II veteran, opened the first grocery store in Sardis, then a clothing store and began raising a family. Through school Barney…
Read MoreMy Storm Cleanup Idea Flopped
A few weeks ago I had a grand idea to try and help the ongoing winter storm debris cleanup in Yalobusha County. As you may recall, the county is responsible for 12.5 percent of the debris removal cost, a project now looking like it could approach $9 million in the county alone. FEMA pays 75…
Read MoreCity’s Darkest Mystery Still Draws Crowds
School is wrapping up and despite the month of May being a very active and exciting time for many families in the Valley, all I want to write about is the status of my yard plants. But, since my column’s readership is already hotly distributed along Wagner Letter lines (Wagner Letters fans versus the surprisingly…
Read MoreYouth Invited To June 10 F.I.S.H. Camp
Young outdoors enthusiasts will have a chance to spend a day fishing, learning and exploring nature during the upcoming F.I.S.H. Camp hosted by the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery and the National Park Service. The free camp is planned June 10 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery Visitor Education Center…
Read MoreSchool’s Out! So It Must Be Summer
We hope you will join us in Oakland on Memorial Day at noon at the James Riley Swearengen Walking Track and Park as our Oakland Area Lions Club kicks off our America250 Mississippi grant with a memory walk recognizing those who have died during military service. Cassaundra Pipkin and the Oakland Area Lions have put…
Read MoreLocal Children Celebrate School Achievements
Haven Rose Dukes and Scottie Little graduated from kindergarten Friday night at North Delta School in Batesville. Joanna Pullen graduated from K4 kindergarten, and her father, Sam Pullen, will also graduate May 22. Sam recently passed his boards and will become a nurse practitioner. He will be working at the clinic in Charleston for Tallahatchie…
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