Look Back In Yalobusha History
In December 1942, Assistant Yalobusha County Soil Conservationist J. B. Majure was warning farmers that there could be a shortage of kudzu because of the war. Seeds were being imported from Japan and that supply had been cut off.
The demand for kudzu stock by Yalobusha farmers was expected to exceed that of any previous year.
Majure recommend careful land preparation for planting by plowing deep furrows 25 feet apart and applying one to two tons of manure along with 200 pounds of super-phosphate per acre. He warned that if the beds had not settled sufficiently, it would be necessary to harrow, roll, or otherwise firm the ground to produce a firm seed bed.
“It is important to take every precaution to see that plants set out this winter survive,” he added
Apparently they made it.
• 5 years ago, Dec, 20, 2007 – Supervisors were set to hear from Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps on the possibility of locating a regional/county correctional facility in Water Valley.
The Water Valley Main Street Association discovered during a survey that Main Street businesses accounted for 209 full-time and 129 part-time jobs.
Cole Bailey was pictured with his first buck, a four-point, killed with a muzzleloader.
Private Latasha Judson, a 2007 WVHS grad and new recruit, was pictured after completing her National Guard training.
The late W. S. “Shine” Tyson was pictured from 1956 with a pair of snowmen Christmas decorations that were among the many contributions he made to the city’s holiday cheer.
Betty Baker was pictured receiving a certificate of appreciation from Steve Cummings of the Extension Service for her work with the Yalobusha County Homemaker Volunteer Club.
• 10 years ago, Dec. 19, 2002 – Local scholars Julie Jones and Vietta Booker were inducted into Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society at the University of Mississippi.
Restaurateur Bill Rotenberry was cited by Compassion Food Ministries for his contributions to the Thanksgiving dinner program. At the same time, the group’s director, Raymond Aven was also recognized for his work.
The charter members of the VFW Post 4100 still living were honored at the Post home including Robert Norwood, Tom Ashford, Norris Harding, James Mixon and Sam Knox.
Bennett Hill passed the exam to become a professional land surveyor.
The late J. L. “Pete” Reid was honored by the State House of Representatives with a resolution honoring his life and accomplishments.
Dr. Mark Ellis joined the staff at Lee Pullen Dental Clinic.
• 20 years ago, Dec. 17, 1992 – Sherry Martin was two votes short of victory in her bid to be Ward Four Alderman and had to face Danny Dickey in a run-off.
Valery White was selected as the Farm Bureau Queen for Yalobusha County.
Winners in the Soil Conservation Service “Hands of Healing” poster contest were Lynn Finch, first; Nakeya White, second; and Melissa Bolden, third.
An organizational meeting was to be held for the Skuna Valley Volunteer Fire Department.
Outstanding students at Northwest Mississippi Community College were Mark Fielder of Coffeeville, welding; Myra Pipkin of Coffeeville, nursing assistant; Ken Johnson of Oakland, respiratory therapy; and Jeffrey Scott of Water Valley, music education.
Former Water Valley resident Roy Lee Redwine, 49, died of injuries from an automobile accident in Arlington, Tenn.
Toxie T. Fortinberry retired after 52 years as a realtor.
• 30 years ago, Dec. 23, 1982 – South Central Bell added 290 new telephone circuits to the local switching center to handled increased calling and to prepare for the future of wired residential telephones.
Workers from the City of Water Valley and Yalobusha County Beats Two and Three worked together to dig a ditch on Central Street near the shopping center to help with drainage in that area.
Sheriff L. A. Jones said that the death of Jack Daniel Ponder, 59, was being investigated as a murder. Ponder’s body was found at his home and he is believed to have been dead for several days.
Jim Gholson and Buster Jackson were ordained as deacons at Bethel Baptist Church.
• 40 years ago, Dec. 27, 1972 – Water Valley native Robert Turnage was elevated to the position of head coach at Meridian High School. Turnage had gone to Meridian in 1967 to coach under another Water Valley native, Bob Tyler.
• 50 years ago, Dec. 20, 1962 – The Blue Devil basketball team was pictured on the front page: Jack Harvey, Gene Walker, Harry Neal, Larry Woods, Joe Thomas, Joe Holt, Andy Myrick, Raymond Steele, Larry Prestage and Tommy Fortinberry.
Youngsters at the grammar school were given coloring sheets with a replica of the year’s Christmas Seal design. Pictured coloring were Pam Alexrod, Becky Fair, Reed Thompson and Beverly Burns.
One of the first small watershed projects in the state was located in Yalobusha County near Coffeeville. With federal funds, the Soil Conservation Service dredged the nine-mile channel of Durden Creek.
• 60 years ago, Dec. 18, 1952 – The charter for the local Amalgamated Clothing Workers of American and new officers were presented including Leo Harmon, president; Janie Davis, vice-president; Gene Tyler, secretary-treasurer; and Edna Harmon, recording secretary. Board members were Dorothy True, Earl Nichols and Jewel McCullar.
An open house was held at the new west Yalobusha Clinic at Oakland, which was built as a community project under District 4 Supervisor Vernon Craig.
• 70 years ago, Dec. 17, 1942 – The Herald put out a 20-page paper called the Service Men’s Special Edition containing photos and information about local men in uniform now totaling some 600.
Fire destroyed the second story of the Howard Kelly home on Markette Street. Two officers from Camp McCain and their wives were living there at the time.
The choirs and women’s organizations of Water Valley’s churches were cooperating to produce a special Christmas program. The event would help raise funds for the “kit bag” project that provides service members some necessities when they leave for overseas.
