Look Back In Yalobusha History

• 5 years ago, Feb. 14, 2008 – Local businessman Casey Washington brought Caterpillar to town by offering them the use of the former Steele Manufacturing building he purchased. Caterpillar’s Oxford facility had been damaged by a tornado.
Superintendent of Schools Sammy Higdon was honored by the Mississippi Association of School Administrators as Superintendent of Distinction.
Supervisors hired consultant and lobbyist Irb Benjamin to walk the jail project through the legislative process and continue through the design and construction.
City officials put a potential new business at a competitive disadvantage by sticking tight to a distance requirement that wouldn’t allow Dunn’s Family Steak House to serve beer because of its location near the North Main Street Methodist Church.
In an editorial, the Herald took the mayor and city board to task for improperly discussing business behind closed doors – a violation of state law.
Mari and Eddie Foster were sponsoring a Water Valley history writing contest in honor of the late Bruce Gurner.
Blue Devil basketballers ended their regular season with wins over Senatobia; girls 55-51 and boys 40-33.
• 10 years ago, Feb. 13, 2003 – Ole Miss student intern teachers in the local school system included Kathy True, John Wiginton, Mary Ann Jackson and Donna Blake.
The Brad Brooks family was representing Mississippi in the National Young Farmer competition.
Students receiving academic honors at Northwest Mississippi Community College included Reggie M. Kuykendall, Elizabeth Daniell Black, Justin Ford Brewer, Michael Trent Champion, Jamie Vice Fortner, Catherine W. Harris, Carolyn J. Morgan, Linda Michelle Sharp, Coy-Anna L. Stewart, Donna M. Stough, Michael L. Watts, Jennifer R. Whitehead, Robert Lewis Bradford, James Leonard Cable, Amanda Gaye Champion, Monica Leigh Gregg, Kristy Dawn Kelly, Amanda L. Marchbanks, Amanda Kay Mills, Andrea Kelly Pullen, Emily Jordan Regis, Amber Leigh Samuels, Myra Elaine Jenkins, Silena K. Davis, Bonnie B. Hill and Larhonda N. White.
• 20 years ago, Feb. 11, 1993 – Eight Holley Automotive employees received their 20 year service awards: Ron Ostran-der, Carolyn Easley, Shirley McCullar, Allen Dickey, Chuck Schwinn, Larry Tur-ner, Eddie Foster and Bille Mitchell.
Paige Kirkpatrick was first chair oboe in the Mississippi Lions Band.
Water Valley was to receive half a million dollars in a HOME grant from the state to rehabilitate 34 owner-occupied homes.
The Yalobusha General Hospital payroll was $1.7 million for 126 employees.
Margaret Hill and Carrie Washington were among the Northeast Mississippi Community College students named as favorites.
• 30 years ago, Feb. 17, 1983 – Vandals struck the special announcements sign at WVHS spray-painting 83/4 on the front. Officials speculated it might have been related to the next year’s graduating class.
Valerie Herod was among 21 contestants in the Miss “W” pageant at Mississippi University for Women.
A memorial scholarship was set-up to honor the late Jerry Wayne Foster, who died in a tractor accident the year before. The scholarship named for Foster, an Eagle Scout, would provide $1000 per year.
Boy Scouts receiving honors at the annual banquet included merit badge winners Scott Spence, Chris Redwine, Philipson Howell, Ronnie Stark and Randall Foster.
Promoting a good breakfast at the elementary school were students Tammy Walton, Whooty Owl; Shalisa French, Healthy Hilda; Michael Guarr, Healthy Harry; Kevin Edwards, Mike Milk; Brandon Pratt, Fred Fish; Callie Cox, Alice Aple; Demetric Spearman, Oscar Orange; Leslie Magee, Charlie Carrot; Bernita Turner, Benny Bread; Pamela Sayles, 4-4-3-2 Food Group; and Robbie Griffin, Basic 4 Serving.
• 40 years ago, Feb. 15, 1973 – Young 4-H members from Yalobusha placing at the District Livestock Show were Richard Ross of Oakland and Anthony Harbour of Coffeeville.
The Funny Dog Show was held at the downtown bandstand by the Jaycettes. Winners included best behaved, Lassie shown by Ron Patterson; funniest dressed, Peanut shown by Phillip Carr; cutest dressed, Candy, shown by Rickey Morris; and ugliest dressed, Pierre, shown by Mark Ragon.
• 50 years ago, Feb 7, 1963 – Rev. Dorsey McCay and family were moving into new housing with the completion of the new North Main Street Methodist Church parsonage.
Editor Edward B. Shearer noted that Roy Fly had corrected him on the lowest recorded temperature in Water Valley. According to Fly, the lowest official temp was minus-13 in February of 1951.
• 60 years ago, Feb. 12, 1953 – The big news for the week was a spaghetti supper at the grammar school to raise funds for a covering for the lunch room floor. The 7th graders would present an entertaining program in the study hall.
The Blue Devils were defeated by Coffeeville; boys, 47-44 and girls, 44-39.
C. L. Peacock of the handle factory was one of the first local businesses to take advantage of the electrical engineering service offered by TVA. The problem at the plant was that the wiring was out of date.
• 70 years ago, Feb. 11, 1943 – Two local men, Kermit Cofer and John Hjalmar Erikson, received commissions as 2nd Lieutenants in the U. S. Army.
Stamp No. 17 from the War Ration Book One would now be required to purchase a pair of shoes.