Archived Stories

WATER VALLEY – The Blackmur Memorial Library was formally recognized as a Water Valley historic landmark during a ceremony held June 19, following action by the Board of Aldermen earlier this month. The board approved the designation during its June 2 meeting as part of an effort to support an application for grant funding that…

WATER VALLEY – A powerful explosion rattled windows across Water Valley and destroyed a residence on Thornton Street Sunday night, leaving one person dead, one person severely injured and triggering a massive emergency response as firefighters battled a blaze fueled by an active natural gas leak. The explosion occurred around 8:15 p.m. at a small…

WATER VALLEY – Community members are invited to attend the exhumation of Water Valley’s Bicentennial  time capsule at 11 a.m. on July 4 at City Hall. The ceremony is being organized by the Water Valley Odd Fellows, the oldest civic organization in the city. The capsule was buried during a July 4, 1977 ceremony and…

WATER VALLEY – It is beginning to look a lot like Watermelon Carnival season in Water Valley, and the first sure sign is always the arrival of the official Carnival T-shirts. The 2026 Watermelon Carnival T-shirts are now on sale at the Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce office for $20 each. Shirts are available…

WATER VALLEY – Residents, property owners and business owners will have an opportunity later this month to review and comment on a proposed ordinance that would create a formal process for identifying, registering and maintaining vacant and abandoned structures within the city. The Water Valley Planning Commission will host a public hearing on the proposed…

COFFEEVILLE – The Yalobusha Historical Society will host its June meeting at 2 p.m. on June 18 at its headquarters, located at 14656 Depot St. in Coffeeville. The featured speaker will be Rick Jenkins, whose family moved to Yalobusha County in the early 1830s. A native of Water Valley, Jenkins is a graduate of Water…

20 Years Ago – June 22, 2006 – Mickey Howley wrote that the Herald office at 416 North Main Street was looking good after the completion of a facelift. The lower facade at the Herald was a 1960s ranch house look grafted on a 1880s building wasn’t working. Leigh Ann Black came up with a…

I would like to make it very clear that I am not afraid of the vet. Fear is for squirrels and delivery drivers who refuse to explain themselves. I do not fear medical professionals. What I object to is surprise management. One minute, I was conducting my usual morning duties. The next, my human appeared…

Father’s Day is here! According to Wikipedia, Father’s Day was first celebrated in the United States on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation and in 1972 President Richard Nixon signed a congressional resolution creating a permanent national holiday. My dad died in 1980 at…