Look Back In Yalobusha History
Herald Editor Ed Shearer III bestowed the late Tim Hayles with the Most Creative Use Of A Garbage Bag Award.
Hayles, a fairly dignified man, was recognized for his efforts in December of 1982 after he made the mistake of going out his back door after preparing for a shower and having the door shut and lock. His dog had raised a considerable ruckus and since the back was secluded, Hayles decided to take a quick look.
The temperature hovered just above the freezing mark and Hayles searched frantically for anything with which to make cover. He found a garbage bag and used it to improvise trousers. Then, mustering his courage, he presented himself next door at the Cecil and Melvin Ford home.
Ford daughter, Margie, answered the door, looked calmly at their visitor and announced, “Mother, Tim Hayles is out here in a plastic garbage bag.”
Cecil Ford managed to control her howls of laughter long enough to telephone Hayles’ wife, Sarah Ruth. It apparently took some convincing to get her to drive home and let him back in their house.
Some stories are just too good not to bring up every once in a while.
• 5 years ago, Dec, 27, 2007 – Supervisors passed a resolution to move forward with plans to build a state/county jail. But, some believed it might not happen right away. “It might be a few years,” commented one county official.
Both city and county officials placed additional restrictions on the sale of beer beyond those already imposed by the state. Particularly important to both sets of local lawmakers was not allowing Sunday sales and restricting the temperature to hot only.
A beer delivery truck was pictured on the front page of the Herald making the first delivery in Yalobusha County to Sprint Mart. The Herald purchased the first six-pack – although others claimed they were first – sold in the county.
Crime Stoppers made the most recent vandalism of the gazebo in City Park the Crime of the Week.
The Herald made a New Year’s resolution to help clean up the Valley.
• 10 years ago, Dec. 26, 2002 – Ol’ Santa was pictured on the front page holding a high-level conference with five-month-old Hunter Moore.
Charlinda and James Lewis were shown in front of their new home on Eckford Street that they were able to purchase with the help of a Rural Development Agency loan.
Members of the Town and Country Garden Club Dot Trusty and Yvonne Jones were shown harvesting sweet potatoes from their downtown flower planters. The crop resulted from vines the group planted earlier in the year.
The VFW Post 4100 Auxiliary donated American flags for each classroom at Davidson Elementary School.
Bobby Martin was selected Employee of the Month for December at BorgWarner.
Members of the local National Guard Unit Color Guard in the Christmas Parade were Greg Andrews, Michael Phillips, Wayne Phillips and Jeremy York.
• 20 years ago, Dec. 24, 1992 – Dean Hill was presented the “Take Pride In America” state award by Mrs. Kirk Fordice for his work organizing and maintaining the Wildcat Brake Management Area at Enid Lake.
Winners in the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Lighting Contest in the business category were Horan Office Building, first in theme; Peoples Place, first in originality; and Snooty Snippers, second in originality. In residential, the Wallace Odom home, first in theme; the Tim Hayles home, second in theme; the Don Blackwood home, first in originality; and the Bernice Minor home, second in originality. Honorable mentions were given to the Travis Clement home and the Mike Redwine home.
Anchor Club members Leah Ann Norris, Michelle Anthony, Stacey Avant and Heather Horan presented Lions Club treasurer Barron Caulfield with a check to help with their annual Christmas Basket Fund.
Ron Ostrander was named Holley Automotive Employee of the Month.
• 30 years ago, Dec. 30, 1982 – Otuckalofa and Town Creeks were acting up and had created a water hazard on Hwy. 7 south of town, which had to be closed for several hours. Rising waters had lapped at the front door of John Ford’s Quick Stop and had actually entered his furniture and appliance store around back. All the stores in the Magnolia Shopping Center were threatened and the parking lot was full of water, but none got into the businesses.
Andrew J. “Andy” Myrick, who grew up in WV, announced the opening of his office for the practice of medicine and surgery in Oxford.
Members of Girl Scout Troop 0085, Felicia Spearman, Teresa Rowsey, Talisha Jones, Beverly Shaw, Dorette Tatum, Lenora Gooch and Marsha Jenkins were pictured with Christmas fruit baskets they had made for shut-ins and the sick. Leaders were Emma Dora Gooch and Merline Dowsing.
• 40 years ago, Dec. 28, 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. 27, 1962 – Winners in the annual City Electric Department Christmas Lighting Contest were: Doorway, Mrs. Tom Edwards; Outside Tree, Mrs. W. J. Tippler; Unique Decoration, Mrs. Don Holloway; Overall House Front, Mrs. Dalton Hyde; Picture Window, Mrs. Herman Smith; and Inside Tree, Mrs. Carey Holloway. Sponsors emphasized that out of town judges made the selections.
• 60 years ago, Dec. 25, 1952 – Authorization was issued to begin construction on five miles of Hwy. 330 in Yalobusha County between Bruce and Coffeeville.
Jack Kehoe, 14, was killed when the pick-up truck in which he was riding overturned on Hwy. 315 north of Water Valley.
The Jaycees delivered 250 Christmas Sacks with 28 pounds of food each to needy families. The Junior Auxiliary provided toys to be delivered with the food.
Winners in the City Christmas Lighting Contest were: Windows, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Hayles; House Fronts, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Gholson; Outside Tree, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Myers; Doorways, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Thompson; Inside Tree, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Hart. A special mention was made of the decorations at Ray’s Dry Goods and the carousel in City Park.
• 70 years ago, Dec. 24, 1942 – In the personals was a long list of folks home for the holidays including James Brown, Martha Lee Parsons, Mary Myers, James Spencer, Edward Oakes, Jim Woods, Ernestine French, Mary Craven, Don and Charlotte Anderson, F. H. Potette, Jimmie Dick Henderson, Jack Craven, Buck Suratt, and Hunt Armistead.
