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Discover local events and entertainment with Roundabout Oxford®. Stay informed and enjoy local restaurants with Eat in Oxford. Keep your mind exercised this autumn with our Puzzle Playground.
The Local Voice #477 is the current printed edition. The newspaper is distributed FREE to over 300 locations throughout Lafayette County. This newspaper has 16 pages of interesting local content for you to make your holiday jolly and bright. Pick up a free copy of the collectable printed newspaper in the Oxford and Ole Miss area, or access the digital edition PDF here, which has even more pages, an additional nine pages of bonus content, puzzles, and puzzle solutions that aren't in the printed newspaper.
Let us know if you can't find a printed newspaper
Scroll down, read more from The Local Voice or click here to access the digital newspaper. Our digital edition has the solutions to all our puzzles, plus additional content not found in the newspaper or on our website!
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University of Mississippi:
They Came for College, They Stayed for Hotty Toddy
by Marisa C. Atkinson
For the Siebert family, Ole Miss is more than tradition; it's perseverance, connection and home
What began as merely following a cousin to Ole Miss in the late 1960s turned into a way of life. In the fall of 1966, Bonnie Schoenknecht Siebert followed her cousin from Joliet, Illinois, to the University of Mississippi. Transferring from Joliet Junior College, the nation's oldest junior college, Bonnie graduated from Ole Miss in January 1969 with a degree in education. She returned to Joliet and almost never came back. Read more
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The Local Voice 20th Anniversary
Flashback #2: TLV Satire
"Poor Economy Threatens Developer's Ability to Ruin Oxford's Small-Town Vibe"
by Sherman Smithers
The Local Voice celebrates twenty years of publishing in 2026 and we are highlighting fantastic articles from our archive all year long.
This column by Sherman Smithers was originally printed in The Local Voice #152 (released March 22, 2012).
To access the digital edition PDF of The Local Voice #152, click here
Citing recent government reports that show the nation’s housing market is far from recovering, Stan Mabry, 34, says he may be forced to choose a different career path. The Brentwood, Tennessee, native has spent the last nine years trying to saturate the Oxford real estate market with hastily-built condominiums in areas that were once home to wildlife and nature trails. Despite his best efforts, the town may stay its current size and retain its appeal unless something miraculous happens within the next couple of months. Read more, laugh more!
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University of Mississippi:
Southern Studies Professor Aims to Change the World One Film at a Time
by Rebecca Lauck Cleary
Angela Tucker to screen film about U.S. Rep. Barbara Jordan in February on campus
Filmmaker Angela Tucker knows how films have the power to change the world, a sentiment she shares with students as a new assistant professor of practice in documentary expression at the University of Mississippi's Center for the Study of Southern Culture. Read more
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Local Fundraiser:
Help Jeff Callaway while recovering from heart Surgery
by Volta Taverna
Jeff Callaway has worked at Volta for over 4 years now and is like family to us. He recently suffered a heart attack and needs bypass surgery. Unfortunately, Jeff does not have health insurance, and the medical costs associated with his hospitalization, surgery, and recovery are overwhelming.
Jeff has been in critical condition since he came out of surgery earlier this week. The hospital is doing their best to keep him sedated and stable while remaining in ICU. There were several complications and there will be many hurdles for Jeff to overcome. Please keep Jeff in your thoughts as he will need a lot of support over the next coming months. Read more and donate what you can here
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Mississippi Festivals:
16th Clarksdale Film & Music Festival Brings Hollywood Excitement to Mississippi Delta
Curated fest of music documentaries and Mississippi-connected films, plus blues performances, filmmakers, and more!
This year's festival runs January 23–25, 2026. All movies screen on Friday and Saturday at a special pop-up theater inside Stone Pony's Tack Room (226 Delta Ave.). Sunday afternoon's mini fest of music is at Bluesberry Cafe (235 Yazoo Ave.). Read more
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Local Views: Lafayette County Master Gardeners
"Yaupon Holly"
by Bronwynne Bailey
Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) is one of the most versatile, durable, and ecologically valuable shrubs a gardener can plant in the southeastern United States. Long before it became a staple in modern landscapes, Indigenous communities prized yaupon for its caffeine-rich leaves, which were dried to make a ceremonial tea. Read more
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University of Mississippi:
Artificial Intelligence Agents Are Reshaping Sales at a Growing Pace
Ole Miss marketing professor explores AI's impact on sales, training and workforce
University of Mississippi marketing professor Gary Hunter's new research suggests it may depend on how effectively organizations learn to work alongside something faster than any human team: autonomous artificial intelligence agents. Read more
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University of Mississippi:
Center for Air and Space Law prepares military attorneys for Space Force and national security roles
“Space is no longer aspirational; it’s operational,” said Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the Center for Air and Space Law. “That shift changes the legal questions dramatically – from how we interpret treaties to how we advise commanders making real-time decisions. Read more
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The Local Voice 20th Anniversary
Flashback #1:
Jesse Yancy:
"Black-Eyed Pea Gumbo"
The Local Voice celebrates twenty years of publishing in 2026 and we are highlighting fantastic articles from our archive all year long.
This column by Jesse Yancy was originally printed in The Local Voice #220 (released January 8, 2015).
To access the digital edition PDF of The Local Voice #220, click here
A New Year’s celebration was marked by two traditions in my family: fireworks and black-eyed peas. Many of the fireworks were left over from my father’s superb Christmas collection, which contained the usual array of bottle rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers, but he always had a few fountains and a big rocket or four put away for the last night in December. The peas, which we had on the table pretty much year-round, assumed an incandescence all their own that night as a signature of memory and togetherness. Read more
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Local Views: Lafayette County Master Gardeners
"Plants Perfect for the Holidays: Amaryllis"
by Bronwynne Bailey
It’s that time of year! How will you decorate for the holidays? What gifts will be meaningful for your friends and family during this festive season? Plants make beautiful, sustainable gifts and complement your holiday décor. Read more
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Local Views: Dana Criswell
"When 'John 3:16' Becomes a Crime"
A retired Baptist pastor in Northern Ireland, Clive Johnston, just sat through a trial for preaching a brief Gospel message near Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. The judge didn’t rule. Read more
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Local News You Can Use:
What Mississippi's Maternal, Infant Health 'F' Means
University of Mississippi public health expert offers perspective, advice for expectant moms to improve health outcomes
When Mississippi received another "F" on the March of Dimes 2025 Report Card for maternal and infant health, it reinforced what many families already know: pregnancy and childbirth can be far more complicated than they appear. Read more
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Local Schools:
Program Helps K-12 Educators Solve Complex Classroom Issues
Carnegie Foundation investment supports University of Mississippi summit for educators
A $275,000 investment from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching supported a University of Mississippi effort to help K-12 educators use improvement science to benefit their students. Read more
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GRAMMY Museum Mississippi:
NEW EXHIBIT at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi: The Killer, The Preacher, and the Cowboy
Titled The Killer, The Preacher and the Cowboy: The Legacies of Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley, the exhibit will officially open to the public on Thursday, January 22. Read more
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Local Resources:
Families Anonymous Established in Water Valley
Mississippi’s First FA chapter to start meeting in January
A group in Water Valley, Mississippi, is working to help family members of those affected by drug abuse (including alcohol) and related behavioral problems. A chapter of Families Anonymous — the first in the state of Mississippi — has been established to aid individuals whose lives have been disrupted by the behavior of a family member. Read more
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University of Mississippi:
Ole Miss Student Joins Elite Cohort of Newman Civic Fellows
Emerson Morris uses interdisciplinary studies to highlight community needs and inspire action
University of Mississippi junior Emerson Morris takes pride in her community and home state, and she hopes to channel her passion to one day advocate for underserved regions of The South. Read more
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Univeristy of Mississippi:
Research Reveals the Emotional Complexity of Forgiveness
by Don Feitel
Ole Miss researchers delve into why it can be harder to forgive than to hold onto pain
Forgiveness is often viewed as a pathway to peace and healing, but new research suggests it may be more emotionally difficult than many people expect. Read more
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University of Mississippi:
Ole Miss Researcher Who Dives for Discovery Named Sigma Xi Fellow
by Marisa C. Atkinson
Marc Slattery honored for connecting coral reef chemistry to potential medications, mentoring students
Scuba diving. Sponges. Coral reefs. Sigma Xi fellow. One thing ties them all to the University of Mississippi: Marc Slattery. With a nearly lifelong love of marine life, Slattery studies sea creatures in hopes of finding new ways to treat cancer. His research and student mentorship have been recognized nationally by Sigma Xi, the scientific research honor society, which selected him among 18 fellows nationwide. Read more
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University of Mississippi:
Ole Miss Program Aims to Educate Next Generation of the Space Economy
Global, online degree focuses on commercial realities shaping the future space economy
The University of Mississippi School of Law is launching a new master's degree program for fall 2026 that is open to everyone across the galaxy. The first of its kind on Earth, the online Master of Science program in air and space law will help students understand how to contribute to the aviation and space industries that are a backbone of the global economy. Read more
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University of Mississippi:
Mississippi-grown Tree Marked Historic Playoff Week at Ole Miss
30-foot Leyland cypress from Walnut tree farm added holiday cheer at Ole Miss' College Football Playoff game
It was the most wonderful time of the year for the University of Mississippi as the Rebels hosted their first College Football Playoff game, and an extra addition to the Student Union Plaza brought a little extra holiday cheer. Read more
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University of Mississippi:
Alumni Couple Elevates Ole Miss Athletics With Gift
by Bill Dabney
Rebels name Field Club in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Berrys' honor
Fans who attended the College Football Playoff game between the Ole Miss Rebels and Tulane Green Wave on Saturday, December 20, 2025, may have noticed some new names in the University of Mississippi's Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Read more
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Local Crime in Oxford & Lafayette County
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On November 25, 2025, Deputies with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a welfare concern regarding a juvenile that made threats of self-harm on social media. Deputies made contact with the juvenile, who also made a sexual misconduct allegation that occurred in Lafayette County. Read more
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On December 19, 2025, Deputies with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a hidden camera located in a short term rental property in Lafayette County. Read more
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The Local Voice
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Oxford, Mississippi 38655
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