THE REYNOLDS REPORT

Category: Town Progress Updates

Major milestones on infrastructure improvement and restorations in Water Valley, Mississippi.

  • Community Update: The Heroic Final Push for the Watermelon Carnival!

    Community Update: The Heroic Final Push for the Watermelon Carnival!

    The Reynolds Report Team

    As the sun sets today, the final touches are officially in place, and the stage is set for an incredible weekend. If you’ve stepped outside or driven through town today, you’ve probably noticed the sheer buzz of activity. Tomorrow, the Watermelon Carnival officially kicks off, but before the games, food, and festivities begin, we need to take a moment to talk about the incredible people who made it all happen.

    A Massive Shoutout to the City Street Department

    To say our City Street Department went above and beyond today would be a massive understatement. This tireless crew was out there grinding from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, pulling a grueling 13-hour shift in the heat to execute the final push. It has been a monumental task with the rains kicking the grass into high gear but their sweat equity and all the many who’ve also helped is the reason this festival is ready to roll.

    When you see a street crew worker this weekend, give them a wave and a big “Thank You”—they truly earned it today!

    Teamwork at Its Finest

    A setup of this scale doesn’t happen without a massive, coordinated effort across our entire community. Today, in addition to all the others who’ve helped, we want to extend our deepest gratitude and highest praise to everyone who answered the call:

    • The Sheriff’s Department & Inmate Labor: Thank you for providing indispensable muscle, heavy lifting, and logistical support over the last few days. Your hard work behind the scenes kept everything moving smoothly.
    • The Fire Department: A special tip of the hat to our firefighters! Armed with the specialized gear and trucks, they stepped up to tackle and prepare areas that were previously inaccessible, ensuring the site is 100% complete and safe for families.
    • Every City Department & Partner Organization: To every single city employee, local organization, and volunteer who has poured time, energy, and resources into this over the past several days and weeks—thank you. Your pride in our town shines through in every detail.

    See You at the Carnival! 🍉

    Thanks to this army of dedicated workers, the groundwork is laid for an unforgettable festival. Now, it’s time for all of us to enjoy the fruits of their labor!

    Grab your friends, bring the family, and come hungry. We wish everyone in our community a safe, happy, and immensely fun Watermelon Carnival!

  • ☀️ HATS OFF TO OUR WATER VALLEY STREET DEPARTMENT! 🍉👏

    ☀️ HATS OFF TO OUR WATER VALLEY STREET DEPARTMENT! 🍉👏

    If you’ve driven by City Park this afternoon, you’ve probably seen the grass looking fresh, green, and completely event-ready! A huge shoutout and thank you to the hard-working crew with the Water Valley Street Department for grinding out in this blazing summer heat to get the park looking so good ahead of this weekend’s Watermelon Carnival! 🍉✨

    Now the amazing folks with the watervalleymainstreet Water Valley Main Street folks are doing their magic!!! Thank you to them as well!

    With the park ready to go, the team is now moving on to prepare Oak Hill Cemetery and Oak Grove Cemetery. We know so many folks coming home to Water Valley for Carnival weekend make a point to visit and pay respects to loved ones buried there, and having those grounds looking beautiful means the world to our community. ❤️🕊️

    If you see the Street Department crew out working hard around town this week, be sure to give them a big wave and a word of thanks!

    We’re set for a fantastic Watermelon Carnival weekend—who’s ready for some fun, music, and watermelon?! See y’all out there! 🎉🍉

    WaterValley #WatermelonCarnival #WaterValleyMS #TheReynoldsReport #CommunityFirst #ThankYouStreetDept

  • Growth on the Horizon: Water Valley Industrial Area Officially Joins City Limits!

    Growth on the Horizon: Water Valley Industrial Area Officially Joins City Limits!

    We have some fantastic news to share about the future of our community! Yalobusha County Chancery Court Judge Mitchell Lundy has officially granted the annexation of the industrial buildings area, bringing these city-owned properties fully into the Water Valley city limits.

    Mayor Tommy Reynolds recently met with Judge Lundy to finalize this milestone, marking a major step forward for our local economy.

    What This Means for Water Valley

    While we won’t dive into the nitty-gritty legal paperwork, the positive impact of this decision will be felt across our community for years to come. Bringing the industrial development area into the official city limits unlocks several key benefits:

    • A Stronger Tax Base: Integrating these commercial properties helps fortify our local financial foundation.
    • Enhanced Revenue Streams: Increased city revenue translates directly into better public services, infrastructure improvements, and community resources.
    • Job Creation & Economic Growth: With the area officially zoned within city limits, Water Valley is in a prime position to attract new employers, support industrial development, and bring more jobs home to our residents.

    This update ensures that our city-owned industrial assets are fully aligned with Water Valley’s long-term growth plans. A huge thank you to Judge Lundy, Mayor Reynolds, and everyone working behind the scenes to keep Water Valley moving forward!

    Stay tuned to the blog for more updates on how we are building a brighter, more prosperous future together.

  • A Meaningful July 4th & Time Capsule Secrets!

    A Meaningful July 4th & Time Capsule Secrets!

    Hello, Water Valley neighbors! We hope everyone had a safe, joyful, and blessed Independence Day weekend. Reflecting on everything our community shared this past Saturday, July 4th, Mayor Tommy Reynolds perfectly captured the sentiment of the entire town:

    “It was a great day today—I’ve never been to a more meaningful July 4th celebration.”   

    Reynolds offered a warm welcome to the crowd and read the first prayer of the Continental Congress penned by Rev Jacob Duche’.  The Continental Congress later adopted the Declaration of Independence.  From the deep respect paid to our nation’s history to the fascinating look back at our own local heritage, it truly was a landmark America 250 celebration for Water Valley. Here is a recap of how our community marked this historic day together! 🌟

    🎵 Patriotic Harmony & Shared History

    Our program kicked off with an unforgettable lineup of music and community reflection that celebrated the diverse fabric of our nation. 

    Joyful Voices and Moving Melodies: Effie Burt led the attendees in a deeply powerful, rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing, and we enjoyed her beautiful solo performance of What the World Needs Now is Love.

    Sing-Alongs: Neighbors stood shoulder-to-shoulder with song sheets for America the Beautiful led by April Hammons.  Eddie Wood and Dawn Denham closed things out by leading a rousing performance of Woody Guthrie’s 1940 classic, This Land is Your Land. Fun fact (not fact checked, however) shared by our emcee: Guthrie wrote it as a response to God Bless America and penned over 300 verses! We stuck to a few selected favorites for our sing-along).

    Between the musical sets, we anchored ourselves in the foundational promises of our country. Residents led moving, shared community readings of the Declaration of Independence read by James McCormick, Mary Beth Pulsifer, Anne Winebrenner and Tommy Reynolds.  For the Bill of Rights, Jesse Gurner read the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of the press and freedom of religion.  Chief Jason Mangrum read the second amendment guaranteeing the right to keep and bear arms.  Eddie Wood read the 3rd, 4th, and 5th amendments. Jack Williams read the 6th through the 10th amendments.  Calvin Hawkins proudly read the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, honoring the abolition of slavery, the guarantee of citizenship and due process, and the protection of voting rights.

    🥁 The Parade & Community Catch-Ups

    Following the program, our streets came alive with color and pride during the official parade. Local Girl Scouts (including Nicole Folsom’s daughter in uniform!) and Cub Scouts led the way, escorting a beautiful array of flags—including the American, State, City, our historic 1976 Bicentennial flag, and the official America 250 flag!

    After the parade route (where we were very grateful for the water bottles waiting outside!), the community headed over to the Casey Jones Railroad Museum for America’s birthday cake and Cokes. It was the perfect backdrop for catching up with neighbors.

    ⏳ The 1977 Time Capsule Exhibit is Now Open!

    The newly unearthed 1977 Bicentennial Time Capsule was another major highlight of the day! As a reminder, this was recently discovered near City Hall on the electric department window side, thanks to City Clerk Vivian Snider redirecting our search.

    The Condition: While moisture had infiltrated the heavy-duty PVC capsule due to an unglued end cap, it has not dampened our community spirit. We have the original inventory list and are actively working to recreate the contents.  In addition, Grant Thompson and Jack Gurner have generously provided home movies and bicentennial slides from the 1976 parade!

    Your Summer Invitation: The original 1977 capsule and its recovered contents are currently on display at the Water Valley Railroad Museum.

    Looking Ahead: The public is warmly invited to bring items to the museum all summer long to contribute to a brand-new time capsule. We will repack it at the end of the summer and rebury it, not to be opened for another 50 years!

    🤝 A Massive Thank You to Our Sponsors

    Events like this do not happen without the incredible generosity of our local organizations. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the sponsors who made this America 250 celebration possible:

    • Oddfellows Lodge in Water Valley
    • The Main Street Association
    • Bozart Gallery
    • The Lions Club
    • The City of Water Valley

    Thank you to everyone who organized, participated, volunteered, and attended. You made this a July 4th we will never forget.

  • Stepping Toward a Safer, More Connected Community: A Big Thank You to Our City Crew!

    Stepping Toward a Safer, More Connected Community: A Big Thank You to Our City Crew!

    At The Reynolds Report, we love sharing updates that show real, tangible progress right here in our town! Recently, our dedicated City of Water Valley public works crew was hard at work installing a crisp, high-visibility pedestrian crosswalk leading directly to the trailhead of the Yalobusha Greenway.

    Whether you’re out for a morning jog, walking your dog, or taking a family stroll over the footbridge, getting to our town’s recreation spaces safely should always be a top priority. Mayor Tommy Reynolds joined the crew on-site to inspect the progress as they laid down wooden guide stencils and rolled on fresh, durable white paint to bring this safety upgrade to life.

    Expressing Our Gratitude to Our City Workers

    Great communities are built by hard-working hands, and our municipal crew deserves a huge round of applause! 👏

    • Hands-On Dedication: Under the hot Mississippi sun, our workers carefully measured, prepped, and painted a bright crosswalk designed to capture drivers’ attention and protect pedestrians.
    • Pride in Their Craft: From mixing heavy-duty paint to laying down precise line guides, their attention to detail ensures this crosswalk will serve Water Valley families safely for years to come.
    • Service Behind the Scenes: Their steady efforts every day keep our streets safe, clean, and functioning smoothly.

    “A town’s true strength lies in the people who maintain it. Thank you to our city workers for your hard work, craftsmanship, and dedication to keeping Water Valley safe!”

    Enhancing Quality of Life in Water Valley

    While a new crosswalk might seem like a simple improvement, projects like this reflect a much larger vision: continuously improving the quality of life for every resident in Water Valley.

    By making our streets safer and seamlessly connecting neighborhoods to community treasures like the Yalobusha Greenway, we are:

    • Promoting Active, Healthy Living: Giving walkers, runners, and families a safer, designated crossing to access trail amenities and enjoy the outdoors.
    • Prioritizing Pedestrian Safety: Clearly marking trail crossings near roadways to calm traffic and protect residents of all ages.
    • Investing in Local Infrastructure: Upgrading walkability and connectivity to make Water Valley an even more inviting place to live, work, and raise a family.

    Keep an eye out for more continuous improvement updates right here on The Reynolds Report. Next time you head out to enjoy the Yalobusha Greenway, take advantage of the fresh new crossing—and if you see our city workers around town, be sure to give them a wave and a big thank you!

  • Paving the Way with Next-Gen Tech & Internet Tax Dollars

    🍉 Over $1M in Street Upgrades Coming!

    Hello, Water Valley neighbors! We have some monumental news that is going to make your daily commute smoother, your neighborhoods safer, and our town a true trailblazer in the state of Mississippi.

    At our July 1st meeting, the City Council officially greenlit a massive street improvements contract to Falcon Construction for a low base bid of $1,012,989.50. This major project is bond-funded and supercharged by a very special state revenue stream—meaning your hard-earned dollars are going right back into the ground where they belong.

    Not only is this project a massive financial win, but Water Valley is also making history with how we are executing it.

    💰 Powered by Progress: How the Internet Sales Tax is Rebuilding Water Valley

    A million-dollar investment is a big deal for a town of our size, and we are incredibly proud to share how this is being made affordable. A vital piece of the financial backbone for this project comes directly from the Mississippi Infrastructure Modernization Act, frequently known as the state’s Internet Sales Tax law.

    Passed during a historic special legislative session, this law changed the game by requiring out-of-state online retailers to collect and remit state use taxes on internet purchases. Crucially, the law mandates a strict diversion formula: 15% of these internet tax revenues are sent straight back to local municipalities, and another 15% go to counties.

    Here is why this matters to you:

    • Strictly for Upgrades: By law, these diverted funds cannot lapse into a general state fund. They must be spent strictly on the repair, maintenance, and reconstruction of local roads, bridges, streets, or water/sewer systems.
    • Mayor Reynolds’ Legislative Legacy: Before taking office as our Mayor, Tommy Reynolds proudly supported and voted for this infrastructure act during his 44 distinguished years in the Mississippi State Legislature. He fought for this legislation because he knew it would create a level playing field for our local brick-and-mortar small businesses while securing a dedicated, permanent revenue stream for local hometown roads. Today, as your Mayor, he is thrilled to put those very same digital dollars to work right here on our physical streets!

    🚀 A Mississippi First: Mapping Our Streets with LiDAR!

    Because we are utilizing these vital public funds, we want to make sure every single penny is spent with maximum efficiency. That is why Water Valley is proud to be the very first municipality in the state of Mississippi to utilize advanced LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to map out our entire street system before the pavers even arrive!

    Instead of old-school, manual visual inspections where crews have to guess how much asphalt is needed or miss hidden structural flaws, we are letting lasers do the heavy lifting. Our city engineer is moving quickly to direct Falcon Construction to begin using this high-tech data immediately so we can get ahead of the bad weather season.

    🧠 How Does LiDAR Street Mapping Work? (An Easy Overview)

    If you see a specialized vehicle driving through town equipped with unique pods and sensors on the roof, you’re looking at a Mobile LiDAR Mapping System. Here is a quick breakdown of how this modern technology changes the game for road repair:

    • Laser Speed Scanning: The system fires millions of harmless laser pulses per second toward the pavement while driving at normal highway speeds.
    • Creating a “3D Digital Twin”: By measuring exactly how long it takes for each laser beam to bounce back, a powerful onboard computer calculates the distance down to the millimeter. This creates an incredibly detailed, 3D point-cloud map of every road, curb, and dip in town.
    • X-Ray Vision for Road Damage: Advanced software automatically color-codes the streets based on exact damage severity. It detects microscopic alligator cracking, hidden potholes, deep ruts, and slope issues that the human eye simply cannot see.

    📊 Why This Matters for Water Valley Taxpayers:

    1. Zero Guesswork: The technology tells us exactly how much resurfacing material is needed and where. This prevents contractors from over-ordering asphalt, saving our town thousands of dollars in overrun costs.
    2. Perfect Paving Pre-Planning: It highlights foundation weaknesses under the asphalt before paving starts. This means when we fix a road, it stays fixed, breaking those frustrating, costly “damage repair cycles.”
    3. No Traffic Disruption: Traditional surveying requires closing lanes and putting crews in harm’s way. LiDAR scans are done seamlessly at regular driving speeds without interrupting your day.

    📋 What’s Next?

    Our team is finalizing the paperwork, and the engineer is giving Falcon Construction the official green light to deploy. We are thrilled to bring this level of cutting-edge transparency, fiscal responsibility, and technological efficiency to our infrastructure. Our historic town may be deeply rooted in tradition, but we are absolutely stepping into the future when it comes to taking care of our citizens.

    Thank you, Water Valley, for your support, your patience as work begins, and your shared pride in our community. Big, smooth changes are on the horizon!

    Send us a message at [email protected] and let us know what street you’re most excited to see get a high-tech facelift, or leave a 🍉 on our socials to celebrate this Mississippi-first milestone with us!

    Gratefully yours,

    The Reynolds Report Team

    #WaterValleyMS #TheReynoldsReport #LiDARInnovation #InternetSalesTaxAtWork #CommunityFirst #SmoothRoadsAhead