Archived Stories

I hope everyone had a terrific Christmas. At least nobody around here was cold. The temperatures were so mild that we could’ve all gone swimming at Enid. I write this column on Tuesday morning, but by the time most of y’all read this, we will be just hours from learning our fate in the Sugar…

A New Year always makes you think ahead a little. Not in a resolutions and big promises kind of way, but in a quieter way. At the Chamber, when we talk about hopes for 2026, we’re really talking about people we know. Folks we see at the post office, the grocery store, ball games, and…

  10 Years—December 31, 2015 – Another year has passed and much of the local news was captured in the pages of the Herald, a 127 year tradition. In 2015, the newspaper recorded a pair of late winter snows in late February and early March before declaring enough snow, time for spring. Among highlights captured…

I’ve decided to start the new year with a positive attitude and a list of resolutions, because apparently that’s what humans do when the calendar flips over and they feel guilty about everything they ate in December. I figured if my human can write lists about “self-improvement,” I can too. Besides, how hard could it…

Sunday afternoon, your writer, along with my son Timothy Sullivan and my husband David, motored to Cleveland for a holiday meal with our son Derek and Jane Claire Deck. We enjoyed oyster Rockefeller, crab spears grilled by son Logan, macaroni and cheese, and a delicious pasta Derek prepared with steak and sausage and all kinds…

The Hubert Creekmore Literary Society (HCLS) will celebrate the 119th birthday of Water Valley poet, writer and editor Hubert Creekmore on Friday, Jan. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Bozarts Gallery. Mississippi writer Hubert Creekmore was born in 1907 in Water Valley. Some believe he was born at the brick hospital next door to the home…

WATER VALLEY — The newly hired General Manager of the Water Valley Electric Commission said Monday night that fixing Water Valley’s electric system will take time and hard work, but he does not view the task as insurmountable. Jim McClure shared his assessment during a welcome reception at City Hall, marking his first public remarks…

WATER VALLEY – TVIfiber is proud to announce the official launch of SmartTown™, a secure extended Wi-Fi service now live and available to current and future TVIfiber subscribers in Water Valley. This innovative service allows subscribers to enjoy a seamless, authenticated internet connection not only at home, but throughout the community — whether working downtown,…

WATER VALLEY — Preparations are complete and anticipation is building on Main Street as Water Valley gears up for the 2025/2026 Crappie Drop that will be held at the Pocket Park, a New Year’s Eve tradition in Water Valley. The celebration will begin around 11 p.m. and continue until approximately 12:30 a.m., with the countdown…

This week’s column resembles a Betty’s Week format, starting with a few corrections and then a walk through the days between editions. That’s how her column started decades ago—Betty Shearer, for newer readers—correcting mistakes. Over time, it evolved into a weekly blog long before people were sharing personal experiences on social media. First, let’s get…