Four Charged In Early Morning Drive-By Shooting
OAKLAND – Four people have been arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting that occurred on Spruce Street in Oakland in the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 25. According to Yalobusha County Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch, deputies responded to the call at 4:26 a.m. after multiple rounds struck a house and two parked vehicles. No…
Read MoreSchool Board Contemplates Budget Increase
WATER VALLEY – Rising property values in Yalobusha County could lead to a lower millage rate for local school taxes, even as the Water Valley School District will likely request more funding for the upcoming year. That tradeoff—more funding a lower millage rate—was the focus of the June 23 school board meeting, as members began…
Read MoreThe Civic Glows Again, Thanks to Local Talent
WATER VALLEY – The Civic is stepping into the spotlight with a brand-new look, thanks in part to a dazzling addition: a row of custom Art Deco light fixtures designed and installed by two generous and talented artists. James McCormick and Joe Tidwell teamed up to bring a touch of glamour and glitz to the…
Read MoreMusic Fest To Open Carnival Weekend
WATER VALLEY – After a long absence, the Water Valley Town & Country Garden Club will once again present Music Fest on Thursday evening, July 31, as the opening event of the Watermelon Carnival weekend. This year’s performance will take place at The Civic, Water Valley’s newly renovated auditorium, marking a proud milestone for both…
Read MoreObituaries 07/03/2025
Jimmy Glenn Cofer WATER VALLEY – A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Jimmy Glenn Cofer passed away peacefully at the age of 72. Born on May 31, 1953, Jimmy lived a life defined by strength, determination, service, and a love that touched everyone who knew him. Though his early life brought great challenges,…
Read More‘No Thanks’ On Skydiving Trip
Don’t mention this to Don Dalrymple, but I’m thinking about chickening—er, I mean backing—out of a planned skydiving trip later this month. It sounded good when I half-heartedly committed back in a February column. Don had issued a dare—or maybe a challenge—for me to jump out of an airplane. “It would be great—and a business…
Read MoreTicks And City Folks Don’t Mix, Especially In Upstate New York
I don’t have a lot to report from Water Valley this week as I’ve not been in Mississippi at all since mid-June. I’ve been holed up at an artist residency right outside Saratoga Springs, a town in upstate New York. This residency is a place one may come to get some creative work done in…
Read MoreJournal Recalls A Fourth Of July In Dubai
An old journal reminds me that I was in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the 4th of July of 1998. It was my second year to spend most of my time there while supporting a squadron of ships loaded with army equipment that was stationed in the Persian Gulf. There was nothing…
Read MoreHerald Celebrates 137th Birthday This Week
Friday, July 5, 1935 – Herald editor L.C. Barber recorded a birthday celebrated by the North Mississippi Herald. The newspaper turned 44. Captain McFarland established the Herald in 1888. He was a grand old soldier and won spurs in the war. Mr. J.D. Peacock succeeded Capt. McFarland as editor and owner of the paper until…
Read MoreYalobusha Students Earn College Honors For Spring 2025
The following area students have been recognized by their respective universities for academic achievement or graduation in the spring 2025 semester. Mississippi State University Deans’ List James Griffin, Allyssa Sierra, Mariama Hawkins, Elizabeth Wood and Kamry Camp, all of Water Valley. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, students must have 3.50–3.79 GPA with at…
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