Look Back In Yalobusha History

Water Valley’s fourth fatality in this great war was announced in January 1943 as Mrs. Emma Palmertree received the black telegram from the War Department stating that her son, Floyd C. Palmertree, had been killed in action in North Africa on Nov. 14.
Twenty-six years of age, the soldier had seen three years service when he met death on the faraway shores of a foreign land. He was a volunteer, entering the Army as his country first became conscious of the threat of Old World terror.
He left his mother and three sisters. Two brothers were also in the service, Dalton and Clarence.
The Purple Heart medal pictured here is the actual award given to Palmertree and presented to his family.

Through The Years From The Herald
• 5 years ago, Jan. 3, 2008 – Cathy and Chip Odom won first place in the residential division of the Christmas Lighting Contest sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Second place winners were Shan and Javier Carrasco and third place went to Felicia Hilliard. Business winners were: The Velvet Glove, first; Carolyn’s Flowers and Gifts, second; and Little Professionals Day Care, third.
The Crime Stoppers organization was offering $1000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for recent vandalism in the city.
• 10 years ago, Jan. 2, 2003 – B & M Building Supply became Valley Lumber Company after being sold to Bill McGregor and Ron Triplett.
The home of Mayor and Mrs. Larry Hart won first place in the Residential Division of the Chamber of Commerce Decorating Contest. Second place winner was the home of Mike and Lori Williamson and third was Bobby and Shirley Moore. Business winners were Little Professionals Day Care, first; Alice’s Attic, second; and the Styling Station, third.
Davidson Elementary students collected 1396 canned food items for Compassion Food Ministry’s Food Pantry.
Doris Spain was winner of the Yalobusha County Hospital Auxiliary (Pink Ladies) quilt drawing.
• 20 years ago, Dec. 31, 1992 – Sherry Johnson was elected Ward Four Alderman to replace Bill Norris who resigned the position earlier in the year.
Jeff Miller of Water Valley was a member of the Northwest Community College Jazz Band.
Rex Howell was named a Master Senior Appraiser by the national organization of Master Appraisers.
Officers for Valley City Lodge No. 402, Free and Accepted Masons, were Samuel Roscoe Knox, Worshipful Master; William Paul Howard, Senior Warden; Grant Clyde Giles, Junior Warden; Robert Lynn Partain, Treasurer; Thomas Olin Gore, Jr., P.G.M. Secretary; Malcolm Eugene Burke, Senior Deacon; Buford Wilton Adams, Junior Deacon; and Cecil Benjamin Walker, Tiler.
Two letters to the editor, one from Paulette Baddley and one from Billie Winters, praised the downtown Christmas decorations.
Dale and Bob Tyler had the Yard of the Month for December.
The Arts-Crafts-Antiques Organization was set to elect officers at a meeting Jan. 4.
• 30 years ago, Jan. 6, 1983 – Andy Grass, a senior at WVHS, was pictured on the front page with a 30-pound bobcat he caught in one of his traps.
Dr. Andy Myrick had staff privileges at Yalobusha General Hospital. The new young doctor had just opened a new office in Oxford and was planning an office in Water Valley.
Rev. Fred Eakes, Deputy Grand Master of the local IOOF lodge, sat as Sovereign Grand Chaplain for the installation of officers at the International meeting in Pittsburgh, Penn.
Pete Olivis was pictured with his young daughter, Wendy, and an eight-point buck he killed hunting off Hwy. 32 E.
“Bubba” Bowles and Terry Dickey were pictured with their bucks which were killed at almost the same moment coming out of the woods on New Year’s Day.
Former resident Rick Parsons was ordained and installed as an elder in the Sumner, Miss. Presbyterian Church.
• 40 years ago, Jan. 4, 1973 – New officers for the Valley City Lodge No. 402, F. & A. M. were R. H. Miles, Worshipful Master; J. R. Crook, Senior Warden; J. W. Ray, Junior Warden; Edward B. Shearer, Treasurer; T. Olin Gore, Jr., Secretary; W. G. Cotton, Senior Deacon; Robert L. Christian, Junior Deacon; and Charles L. Simpson, Tiler.
Editor Edward B. Shearer commented that people in the area were looking for action on Hwy. 7, especially between Water Valley and Coffeeville, because of its deteriorating condition.
Ricky Palmertree showed off an eight-point buck he downed while “still” hunting above Oxford.
Hunting columnist Stan True noted that the deer population in Mississippi exceeded 375,000.
Yalobusha County exceeded its goal of $1243 in the Christmas Seal Campaign with a total of $1251.33.
• 50 years ago, Jan. 3, 1963 – Resources for Water Valley’s two banks, Bank of Water Valley and Mechanics Bank, totaled almost eight and one-half million dollars.
Curtis Berry was installed as Worshipful Master of the Valley City Masonic Lodge. Other officers were Bobby Johnsey, Senior Warden; R. A. Ellis, Junior Warden; K. R. Sissell, Treasurer; T. O. Gore, Jr., Secretary; O. T. Parsons, Jr., Senior Deacon; and R. E. Christian, Tiler.
Order of Easter Star officers included Mrs. Lois Edwards, Worthy Matron; Mrs. Catherine Redwine, Associate Matron; Mrs. Juanita Ellis, Conductress; and Mrs. Grace Elliott, Associate Conductress.
Mr. and Mrs. Brice Brazeal were pictured on the front page celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.
• 60 years ago, Jan. 1, 1953 – Lt. Ruby Moorehead, a 1944 graduate of WVHS, was pictured on the front page getting a promotion to first lieutenant at Craig AFB in Selma, Ala.                                                                           
County Agent W. Y. Parker predicted a better year in 1953 on both the county and national level for farmers.
Sloan Chevrolet Com-pany was inviting folks to come see the “startling” new 1953 Chevy. Among the great gifts for just coming in were imported perfume, bang guns, goggles and yard sticks.
There were 133 births and 105 deaths announced in the Herald over the 1952 year.
A mule show was set for the J. T. Williamson barn on Hwy. 7 south. Fred Potts McBerr was going to ride 15 mules that had never been ridden before. And, he was going to do it to the music of the Hill Billy Band.
• 70 years ago, Dec. 31, 1942 – Fifty men left for Camp Shelby to take physical examinations for the Selective Service call. The group would return by the weekend. Some would be rejected for physical reasons while others would enjoy seven days of leave before going into service.
Water Valley’s economy had one of the best years ever in 1942, wrote Herald Editor Phillip E.  Mullen.
He said that 1943 could be a year of victory. Wisely he only wrote could be.
Mullen also noted that he had been talking with some servicemen home on leave for Christmas including one well known young man who was considered a “don’t give a damn high flier” who liked to drink and party in civilian life. The young fellow said: “I haven’t got time for that sort of stuff anymore. I’ve got work to do.”
Another soldier, Sgt. Bruce Gurner, wrote that his address was about to take a turn for the worse geographically speaking. “Moving so far from the Scuna and Yocona Rivers is going to seriously affect my squirrel and duck hunting, but I will probably reach my anticipated destination in time for the late polar bear season.” Gurner was stationed on the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska.
The Corps of Engineers closed the Enid Dam project office in the Trusty Hotel. Workers were needed for war related projects in other areas and materials for the dam were in short supply. The project would continue after the war.
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.