decision on a movie with local ties and a Faulkner milestone all dominated the local headlines this week. Here are some of the top headlines for this week during 1977, 1981, 1995, 2003 and 2010.

July 13, 2010

Oxford busy building new softball field

Softball athletes will have their own turf this year as the newly constructed softball field behind Oxford High School will near completion this winter. Over the summer, the project has moved forward.

A new parking lot and road were completed in the spring and all that remains is to paint the parking stripes. Along with the field is a new competition-sized shot put area for track and field that will be completed soon.

July 14, 2003

Faulkner Conference to mark 30 years

One of the nation’s longest-running literary events dedicated to a single author marks a milestone as the Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference turns 30.

This year, the panels and lectures will explore the “vast system of relationships” in Yoknapatawpha, the imaginary setting for many of Faulkner’s stories and novels.

July 17, 1995

Movie makers select Canton as filming site

Canton was chosen as the site for location filming of the movie adaptation of John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill” today, ending long months of work and waiting by Oxford city officials who had hoped the movie would be made here.

Although Grisham, the film’s executive producer, and director Joel Schumacher wanted the movie made in Oxford, “they were overruled by dollars and sense,” said Oxford Mayor John Leslie.

July 18, 1977

OJHS will open on schedule

Some parents find it hard to believe that Oxford Junior High School will open on time this fall when they drive by and see how it looks.

But Superintendent Gene Meadows says that classes will begin on time and room will be found for everybody.

“Elliott Lumber Company, the contractors, have assured us that they will be through with some parts of the new two-story addition to the original building, and the cafetorium in time. The cafetorium houses the cafeteria and the choral and band rooms.”