26 hilariously strange news stories from around the South – Southern Thing

There's lots of news that comes out of small towns, and some of it can be pretty strange — and hilarious.
Whether it's the news of a one-of-a-kind festival (hey, Mule Fest!), a lawsuit against a farm animal or the request that someone come claim their body part, there's plenty of quality entertainment within the pages of your local paper.
That's why we decided to ask our followers on the It's a Southern Thing Facebook page what is the strangest news to ever come out of their small town? We got nearly 2,000 responses, and they were as diverse as the towns they came from.
Some had us confused, some had our interest, and some had crying from laughing so hard.
Here's a few of our favorites. You can read all of the responses on our Facebook page here.
"Lord, it happened this week. Someone filled a buggy at Walmart with toilet paper, lit it on fire and pushed it into the towels. Folks are going crazy cause Walmart will be closed for a week!" — Bethany Fulghum
"In my home county of Franklin County, Tenn., in the small community of Estill Springs, a lady said that the likeness of Jesus (or maybe Virgin Mary — can't remember!) was on an old upright freezer on her back porch. People literally came from miles around to see it! It even made the Enquirer! Yes, I went, but really couldn't see it." — Sue Stratton Rosinbum
"In the summer of 2003, these mysterious crop circles were found in the crop fields. It wasn't just once. They showed up either. There was no known reason for their showing up in Arkansas, and no one ever figured out how they got there. E.T.?" — Sandra Miller Freeman
"Well, there is a chimpanzee running around loose in Santa Fe, Texas. Nobody knows where the heck the chimpanzee is from or why he's running around town allegedly harassing dogs and people. They even flew out a drone to try to find it. Chimpanzee is still AWOL. Chimpanzee: 1, Galveston County Police: 0." — Lydia Szanyi Boudreaux
Image by Alexandre Gonçalves da Rocha from Pixabay
"'Home of the world's only dry Oktoberfest' – there was an annual tapping of the rootbeer keg and the high school's German band performed (in costume of course). I played the tuba. We were regularly mocked on a national scale." — Sandy Haggard Herren
"I grew up in Agra, a small rural town in central Oklahoma. Once a local radio station challenged them to change their name to Viagra for a day, and they did it. They had a news crew and everything out interviewing residents of Viagra, a small town of barely 300 residents." — Jeremy Porter
"Tater day! Annual parade and celebration of the sweet potato. Flea market, parade, carny food and the most horses ever in a parade along with Miss. Tater Day — the honor of the year!" — Penny Ross Bouland
"In the 1980s, a white buffalo was born in our town. This is a sacred symbol in some cultures. We had many visitors from around the world come to see it." — Jim Connors
"In Cleveland, Ala., in the late 80s, it was rumored, and made the tabloids, that Elvis was still alive and hiding out in Cleveland. Our local pharmacist at the time loved to perpetuate that story!" — Christy Hallman Weems
Image by Rafael Juárez from Pixabay
"Have you heard of the hundreds and hundreds of teeth they found in the wall when a new business was renovating an old building that used to belong to a dentist? Yep, in Valdosta, Ga." — Elan Reaves
"I grew up in Florida. Google 'Florida Man' and take your pick." — Terry Stevens
"In Memphis, they once reported a tree fell in a parking lot and didn't hit anything. That was 20 years ago, and I vowed never to watch the news again. I haven't, and I've been much happier." — Laura Ellis
"Only one I can think of that made national news was when my precious hometown of Kennesaw, Ga., passed a law requiring every home to have a gun. Bless their hearts." –– Susan Wells Bocci
"Prisoners in jail here in Rogersville, Tenn., escaped out of their cells and went on a beer run. They propped the door open with a bible, got their beer, came back and returned to their cells. Police wouldn't have found out, but when they closed the cell door, it locked. They were found the next morning with the empty cans in their cell." — Janice Jude
Image by falco from Pixabay
"In Knoxville, Tenn., a lady opened her mailbox to find that fish heads and a can of sardines were put in there. 'Our paper smelled like fish,' the victim said. This happened over a year ago." — Cara Lakin

"The only known incident of a person being struck by a meteorite happened in my home town." — James Michael Thomas
"They were looking for an owner of an arm to come forward, identify it and claim it … a real arm." — Samantha Trout
"Someone got drunk and hit an Arby's. The headline in the newspaper was 'would you like fries with that DWI?'" — Jessica Blackwell
"One of the small towns in our area was having an alternative prom and was going to have snacks. The local paper, however, said that there would be snakes. It went viral from there." — Lisa Hall
Image by Couleur from Pixabay
"We have Mule Day every year in April. A whole week of parades and festivities and yes, a mule day queen. Strangest thing I remember reading in the paper is a set of grown twin sisters getting in a fist fight (police were called) because one sister gave the other sister's child a popsicle." — Beth Perry Tosh
"In my husband's hometown of Covington, La., two dozen monkeys escaped the primate research center. They had the kids searching the woods for the missing monkeys. They had to set fruit traps to try to lure them back. I'm still not sure if they found them all. 😂🤣" — Vanessa Voyles Moores
"A guy fell through his outhouse, and his mailman found him three days later. Happened in Wythe county, Va., In 1997." — Susan Woods
"I was a sophomore in high school and it was Halloween. My accounting teacher was called away and, three hours later, she arrived back at school. We asked if she was okay and what happened. She told us that her dog (large hunting dog) showed up at her house with a human body part, and it was fresh. Well, the GBI showed up at her house and she was there for two hours of questioning and couldn't comment any more about it. 😳😳😳" — Linda L. Welch-Raines
"One year our local newspaper had a misprint for the annual crab carnival. That year the front page said 'Crap Carnival'." — Elaina Dawson
"We had a lawyer who sued a chicken. His office was in an old house that backed up to the backyard where the chicken lived. He claimed the chicken made too much noise, which interfered with his business. The chicken won." — Kelli Pique
"We made the largest peach cobbler in the world!" — Mark Collins
"My dad riding a horse into a bar. I was totally making fun until I realized that it wasn't just "some redneck". Nope, that was my redneck father. We all laugh about it now." — Jessi Brewer Robbins
"The funeral home got the first interior Starbucks. Lol. Easley, S.C." — Monica Childs
Stadium views before a Texas A&M game at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.
You’ve no doubt heard the phrase, “Everything’s bigger in Texas.”
When it comes to football, that phrase is undoubtedly true. Everything about football in Texas is BIG – from the crowds to the superstars; from the food to the championships; from the venues to the traditions.
If you’re keeping up with college football this season, you know that two Texas teams – the University of Texas and Texas A&M –are doing quite well nationally, and are at the top of the standings in the Southeastern Conference.
But, football in Texas isn’t just about college competition. It starts when kids are young, and continues through professional fandom. Quite simply: Football is a way of life in Texas.
READ MORE: Southern phrases that describe football season
Don’t believe us? Here are 7 things that make football different in Texas:
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A high school football stadium in McKinney, Texas cost $69.9 million and seats 12,000 people.(Josh Bean)
You might think your community takes high school football seriously, but it’s nothing like in Texas. In fact, the phrase “Friday Night Lights” (which was used in the bestselling book and television show) is tailor-made for Texas. High school football shuts down communities and creates important social gatherings on Friday night for games; it creates a strong sense of community pride in towns of all sizes; and it’s a rite of passage for many young athletes. The numbers are impressive, too. In 2022, there were more than 1,500 high school football programs in the state (including teams in the subdivisions 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A along with private school 11-man teams and private school 6-man teams).
READ MORE: The best Tami Taylor quotes from 'Friday Night Lights'
Texas State is one of the many Texas college football teams.(Mike Kittrell)
Texas has the most college football teams at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level with 12 teams: Baylor University, University of Houston, North Texas University, Rice University, Southern Methodist University, University of Texas (Austin), University of Texas at El Paso, University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, Texas State University and Texas Tech University. And it’s not just FBS teams that make up the number of teams; there are a total of 37 college football teams in the state.
Texas also has a huge professional football footprint, with two teams – the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans – competing for fans in the state and across the country. In fact, the Dallas Cowboys are known as “America’s Team” and is the richest team with a value of $10 billion; the team has also won five Super Bowls. In addition to NFL teams, the state of Texas has produced more pro players than any other with 211 home-grown players on the rosters of the league’s 32 teams.
When you consider all of the great football players to come from Texas (either born there or playing there in college), the list is extensive. Players like Earl Campbell, Patrick Mahomes, Jim Brown, Michael Strahan, “Mean” Joe Greene, Vince Young, Michael Stafford, LaDainian Tomlinson…the list goes on and on. Also consider that 9 players who were born in Texas won the Heisman Trophy (including Davey O’Brien and Doak Walker, who both have college football awards named after them).
MORE: Things Southerners say about college football
There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere at a Texas football game. From the high school stadiums that bring thousands to their seats each Friday night, to the Texas-sized college stadiums, epic tailgating scenes and surrounding sites – there’s nothing quite like it. At Texas A&M, for example, Kyle Field holds an SEC-high 102,733 fans; at the University of Texas, the sprawling campus is filled with excellent tailgating areas and downtown Austin (which borders the campus) has some of the best music venues and restaurants in the country for game day activities.
MORE: Everyone knows these types of football fans
You'll find yourself in barbecue heaven at Texas tailgates. Shutterstock
Texas has some of the most distinct dishes in the nation – from breakfast tacos to brisket to country fried steak – and it’s the king of all fried things. You’ll find yourself in barbecue heaven at football tailgates and, if you want to experience the best of fried foods, you can’t miss the Texas State Fair (which happens in conjunction with the annual game between rivals University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma). At the annual event in Dallas, you’ll find a world of creative dishes and fried offerings. You can get a taste for it at www.bigtex.com.
Texas football is infused with tradition; legendary histories, gameday traditions and rituals, and favorite fan activities make the state the perfect place to experience the sport. Some of our favorites? Midnight Yell at Texas A&M, when fans fill Kyle Field the night before games to learn and practice cheers led by the school’s legendary Yell Leaders; the Baylor Line, where new students create a tunnel for football players as they come onto the field, then sit behind the opposing team’s bench to cheer; tailgating at SMU, which takes place along Bishop Boulevard (students even use “boulevard” as the verb, instead of “tailgate”); the iconic “Riff Ram” cheer for TCU (the gibberish-like but also exciting words state "Riff, Ram, Bah, Zoo/Lickety, Lickety, Zoo/Who, Wah, Wah, Who, Give ‘em Hell, TCU!”); then there’s the “Hook Em Horns” gesture from UT and the “Guns Up” one for Texas Tech.
There's truly nothing like football from the Lone Star State.
If you haven't visited Cleveland, Mississippi during the holidays, you're missing out!
This story is presented by Visit Cleveland.
Ever watched a Hallmark Christmas movie and thought, “I wish I could visit that place in real life?” I have good news for you: You can.
The small Mississippi Delta town of Cleveland goes all out during the holidays – it looks like it could be one of the charming towns we see on the small screen. It’s no wonder it constantly gets declared one of the South’s best small towns by publications like Smithsonian Magazine and Southern Living.
The Magnolia State town is filled with passionate folks of all ages. (And I mean all ages: Cleveland is known as both a retirement and university town, as the home of Delta State University.) The town puts their all into making their Christmas celebration, 50 Nights of Lights, into one of the South’s premier holiday events.
The entirety of Cleveland’s adorable downtown is decorated with holiday lights from mid-November until the new year. More than a million lights dot the landscape, some at three stories high. (It’s truly something you have to experience in person.) You can walk or drive through the display, or if you’re feeling truly festive, do both. You’ll notice things walking you didn’t while driving, and vice versa. You’ll love the variety of lights that honor Cleveland – there’s a musical theme in honor of the town’s GRAMMY Museum, a train theme to honor the Train Museum and a Candy Land theme that all kids will adore.
An aerial look at the some of Cleveland's holiday lights.(Visit Cleveland)
The 50 Nights of Lights schedule is jam-packed – with many nights featuring an activity you can enjoy, from ice skating and ice go-karts to concerts, and more. Make sure to check the schedule before you go so it aligns with what you want to do the most. The annual tree lighting (Nov. 9th) with the Delta State Choir and holiday open house on November 9-10 will mark the beginning of the festivities. The town’s charming Christmas parade is held on December 5th.
The Cleveland Train Museum, located just off the decorated greenway downtown, is transforming into a winter wonderland this holiday season, kicking off with their annual Tree Lighting event on November 9th featuring reindeer photos and visits with Santa, an elf, and the Christmas Fairy. For a more intimate gathering, "A Girls Night Filled with Holiday Delight" on December 12th offers cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, while special character appearances throughout the season include Bluey and Pocahontas for the younger guests. The festive calendar concludes with Santa Spotters on December 23rd, giving children one last chance to catch a glimpse of Santa before his big night.
You have to take some time to shop in Cleveland. (Visit Cleveland)
And it's not just about the lights and activities. Cleveland is a well-known shopping destination with its scores of independent, higher-end downtown boutiques and shops beautifully bedecked for the holiday season.
Remember: If you plan on staying overnight in Cleveland for these festivities, book as early as possible. Cleveland has lots of hotels to choose from, but they fill up quickly for the holidays. Cotton House has a prime spot downtown on Cleveland’s historic Cotton Row. The Lyric Hotel West End is one of the state’s newest resort hotels, and it’s a beauty. (Check out all of Cleveland’s accommodations here.)
The annual tree lighting (Nov. 9th) with the Delta State Choir marks the opening of the holiday season.(Visit Cleveland)
While you’re in town, you must experience more of the Magnolia State town’s famous musical attractions.Visit the GRAMMY Museum, located a few blocks from downtown. It has more than two dozen exhibits devoted to various musical genres, and we guarantee you can spend hours there getting immersed in the experience. The Bologna Performing Arts Center, a modern 1000-seat venue which offers shows throughout the holiday season is also hosting the Bethlehem Tree this year, an opulent Italian creche scene which features more than 150 18th-century Neapolitan Nativity figurines. After visiting the phenomenal artisan work on display in the lobby, grab tickets to the Bologna Performing Arts Center’s primary holiday main stage performance on Thursday, November 21, featuring three world-renowned artists: Peabo Bryson, Ruben Studdard and Haley Reinhart. Combined, these artists boast an astounding nine platinum and gold albums, 46 Billboard top 25 singles, and will of course be singing jazzy renditions of all of your favorite Christmas tunes just in time for the holiday season. And you can’t visit the Delta without a stop by nearby Dockery Farms, considered by many to be the birthplace of blues music.
And did I mention that Cleveland is filled with outstanding restaurants? You need at least four getaways to try every amazing restaurant here, but a few places to start are Airport Grocery, where you’ll find tamales, soul food and a fun atmosphere; Bar Fontaine, the rooftop bar on top of Cotton House hotel, that boasts some gorgeous views; and Lena Pizza + Bagels, recently named one of the nation’s best pizzerias by the New York Times, where you’ll love the wood-fired crust and cozy atmosphere.
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and book your holiday getaway to Cleveland today.
Cemeteries don’t have to be scary.
Sure, cemeteries are a spooky element of the seasons as we hurdle toward Halloween. But, they can also be incredibly interesting, historic and unique.
And if cemeteries aren’t on your list of places to visit when you’re on vacation or simply driving around your town on a weekend, might we suggest that you add them to your travels? You’d be surprised at how many final resting places you can visit across the South of the region’s most famous residents.
Here are 20 gravesites worth a visit. Some of them are expected (Elvis Presley, Bear Bryant, Martin Luther King Jr.), but some are completely surprising (Julia Child? Chadwick Boseman? Bob Ross?).
Bear Bryant's grave in Birmingham, Alabama.(Birmingham News file photo)
Paul “Bear” Bryant
The legendary Crimson Tide coach is buried in Birmingham, Alabama, at Elmwood Cemetery. His plot (block 30, lot 58) is very simple; if you want to see a larger memorial, visit his statue at the Walk of Champions on the Alabama campus.
READ MORE: Things Southerners say about college football
Harper Lee
The author of To Kill a Mockingbirdis buried in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, at Hillcrest Cemetery. Her marker is simple – a flat one on the ground that says “Nelle Harper Lee”– so if you can’t immediately find it, look for the coins that are often left on it by fans.
Sam Walton
The founder of Walmart – one of Arkansas’ most famous sons, and when he died the second richest man in the world – is buried in Bentonville Cemetery in Bentonville (where Walmart is headquartered). The inscription on his gravesite doesn’t mention his business acumen, but instead reads “Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
Florida
Ronnie VanZandt
Lead singer and founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, VanZandt is buried at Riverside Memorial Park in Jacksonville (where he was born, and which became a hotbed of numerous rock bands over the years). VanZandt died with fellow bandmates in a plane crash in Mississippi in 1977.

Julia Child
A classically trained chef who became famous for her cookbooks and PBS show, “The French Chef.” Born in California, Child is buried in Neptune Memorial Reef in Key Biscayne following her death at the age of 91; the inscription on her grave says “Fat gives things flavor.”
Bob Ross
The artist and television personality–known for his instructional painting shows and lines like “We don't make mistakes; we just have happy accidents”–is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha. His gravesite is often found covered with handmade paintings from well-wishers.
Martin Luther King Jr.
The late civil rights leader is buried at the King Center in Atlanta across the street from the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. On the same property is Ebenezer Baptist Church where King served as pastor. Originally buried at South-View Cemetery in Atlanta, his body was moved here in 1970 and his wife Coretta Scott King is buried alongside him.
Bonaventure Cemetery Carol Highsmith | Library of Congress
Johnny Mercer
One of the most picturesque cemeteries to visit in the South is St. Bonaventure in Savannah. The grounds are beautiful and its many sculptures and statues are true works of art. Singer and songwriter Johnny Mercer is perhaps the most famous person buried there.
Muhammad Ali
The legendary boxer is buried in his hometown of Louisville at Cave Hill Cemetery. The grave site is in a beautiful wooded spot for reflection, and the inscription reads: “He took a few cups of love, he took one tablespoon of patience, one teaspoon of generosity, one pint of kindness. He took one quart of laughter, one pinch of concern, and then he mixed willingness with happiness, he added lots of faith and he stirred it up well. Then he spread it over a span of a lifetime and he served to each and every person he met.”
Secretariat and other horses
The great racing horse Secretariat (who won the Triple Crown in 1973) is buried at Claiborne Farms in Paris. You can see the gravesites of other famous horses at various locations across the state, including Man O’War’s at Kentucky Horse Park outside Lexington.
Grave of Marie Laveau in New Orleans(Photo by Steve Campbell/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Marie Laveau
New Orleans is the place to visit if you want to see interesting cemeteries. Many of them are made up of above-ground mausoleums (due to the city’s high water table); among them is the final resting place of Marie Laveau, New Orleans’ most famous voodoo priestesses. She’s buried at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
READ MORE: The ultimate Southern literary trail
William Faulkner
The Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author hailed from and lived in Oxford, Mississippi. His gravesite is at St. Peter’s Cemetery (look for liquor bottles placed on his headstone), and you can also find remembrances of him throughout Oxford, at his Rowan Oak home and through statues on the Oxford town square.
READ MORE: Thank you, Mississippi, for your literary history
Dale Earnhardt Sr.
The iconic NASCAR racing star, Earnhardt is buried on his family estate in Mooresville. His death came following a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001. While he was known as “The Intimidator” for his tough exterior, he was beloved by fans and mourned deeply.
Billy Graham
Perhaps the most influential evangelical preacher in American history (reports say he preached to live audiences of 215 million people), Graham is buried on the grounds of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. The marker on his grave reads, “Preacher of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 14:6.”
Chadwick Boseman
The star of “42” and “Black Panther” was born in Anderson, South Carolina and is buried there at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. His unexpected death at age 42 from cancer shocked his fans, and they often pay their respects at his unassuming gravesite.
Elvis Presley's grave at Graceland in the '70s. (Photo by Mick Hutson/Redferns, via Getty)
Elvis Presley
The king of rock and roll is buried in Memphis at Graceland, the home that has become a point of pilgrimage for fans. More than 25,000 people visited a public viewing at the mansion after his death in 1977. Buried alongside Elvis are other family members–his mother, daughter Lisa Marie, grandson, and stillborn twin brother Aaron.
Country music stars
Tennessee is the final resting place of hundreds of country music stars, including Johnny Cash (Hendersonville Memory Gardens in Hendersonville) and many at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville (Marty Robbins, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Porter Waggoner, Jerry Reed and many others).
Buddy Holly
One of the pioneers of rock music, Buddy Holly was just 22 when he died in a plane crash following a concert in 1959. (The day he died was immortalized as “the day the music died” in the iconic song “American Pie.”) His burial site at the City of Lubbock Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas, is small and simple – emblazoned with a guitar and the birth spelling (“Holley’) of his last name.
Selena
Tejano superstar Selena Quintanella-Perez is buried at Seaside Memorial Park in Corpus Christi, Texas; her gravesite is a beautiful monument that is often found adorned with flowers from fans. Selena was killed in 1995 at age 23 by the president of her fan club.
Davy Crockett
Folk figure, Tennessee congressman and adopted Texan who died in the Battle of the Alamo, Crockett’s ashes were collected from the scene of battle (where all defenders of the fort were burned by Mexican troops) and put in a coffin. His remains can be visited at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio.
Happy cemetery hunting!
(Note: If you want to learn about more gravesites across the South, the website www.findagrave.com is a great resource.)

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