Look Back In Yalobusha History

• 5 years ago, May 1, 2008 – A front-page photo showed Mary Cloud Taylor and Lena Thompson sitting on the edge of the walking path at the Crawford Sports Complex during the Relay For Life. The image won first place in the Mississippi Press Association contest.
Yalobushians voted for Greg Davis over Travis Childers in the First Congressional District race.
Shelby Hernandez was the winner in the final competition in the Yalobusha County Idol Contest, raising over $1,000 in the final round.
• 10 years ago, May 1, 2003 – Alana Reed was selected as the 2003 Watermelon Queen at the annual pageant. Anna Jane Crow was first alternate and Amanda Lynn Gilley was second alternate.
Dale Tyler was named First Lady of College Football by the American Football Foundation.
Mrs. Elvie Walker Gordon celebrated her 95th birthday with a party attended by 38 family members.
Toni Hill was pictured explaining auto insurance to members of the WVHS computer discovery class Arnisha Fondon, Sandra Rockette and Jeffrey Bell.
Preparing for “Tea by the Sea” at Blackmur Memorial Library were little cuties Greta Koshenina, Jackson Koshenina, Kay Frances Stewart and Mira Rose Kafka.
• 20 years ago, Apr. 29, 1993 – Attending an education program sponsored by the local SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) chapter were Jill Hyde, Kyle Dean, Alicia Sprouse, Misty King, Jason Shelton, Freddie Harley, Christy Wilbourn, Keith Jones, Demetric Weekly, Latina Barr, Katrina Barr, Quiana Turner, Wendy Hollinger, Dana Ross and Amanda Langdon.
Tangela Baker and Shonette Morgan attended the Mississippi Achievement Conference at Ole Miss.
David Wood placed fifth in the state at the Junior Roundup Beef Show in Jackson.
Joni Neal and Paige Kirkpatrick attended the annual Mid-South Honor Band Clinic at Ole Miss.
Jerry Holt, principal of WVHS and a former coach, announced his resignation.
Julia Massie was one of 67 Mississippi university students appointed by the State Baptist Student Union to serve as a summer missionary.
• 30 years ago, May 5, 1983 – James Daniels was honored by the State Department of Welfare as outstanding volunteer for the Yalobusha Welfare Department’s transportation program.
Woodsy Owl visited elementary school students Keith Whitten, Donald Bynum and Rodney Lawrence.
The Yalobusha Baptist Association had completed organization and was working out of an office in Water Valley with Mrs. Odel Sansom as secretary. Rev. Guy Reedy was chairman of missions committee and Dr. B. C. Sellers was association moderator.
Winners in the Junior Auxiliary Art Contest held at the elementary school were Paula Jenkins, Cassandra Joy, Ron Methvin, Joey Walker and Tina Ward.
Ben Williams was pictured attending pre-law day activities at Ole Miss.
• 40 years ago, May 3, 1973 – Jerry Holt of the Delta State football team was named best blocker and permanent co-captain.
James Womble, a beat three county worker, was pictured with a rattlesnake he killed .
Pvt. Terry Allen received two letters of commendation from his commanding officer at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
Fred B. McCullar II of Water Valley was initiated into Phi Eta Sigma men’s honorary at Mississippi State University.
• 50 years ago, May 2, 1963 – C. L. “Buster” Beene was seriously injured April 29 while at work at Hendricks Machine Shop.
High winds damaged several properties in the Pine Valley area. Leroy Stewart’s barn was blown down, Mrs. J. C. Cade had her front porch blown off, Ivan Edwards had barn damage, R. V. House had roof damage to his house and C. B. Gardiner had barn damage and his TV aerial was blown down.
Danny Ross Ingram was elected vice-president of the School of Agriculture at Mississippi State University.
Former Water Valley resident James Cofer, 40, was killed in a plane crash off the coast of Texas.
Named Little Mr. and Miss Sylva Rena Community Club were Edwina Langdon and Dean Tutor. Mr. and Miss Sylva Rena were Barbara Ford and Steve Moore.
• 60 years ago, Apr. 30, 1953 – Maggie Martin of the Bryant Home Demonstra-tion Club was state winner in the canning contest 5-jar exhibit and was awarded a cash prize and shipment of fruit jars.
The local draft board No. 87 inducted five men including Bobby Tyler, John Eddie Haywood Jr., J. C. Turner (all of Water Valley), Elvin Britt and Mat Willieseal Campbell Jr. (Coffeeville).
William F. (Bill) Henry was hurt in an auto accident on South Main Street during which he struck an auto belonging to Ed Harris that was parked in front of his station and then struck one of the glass covered brick posts at the Hendricks Machine Shop.
News from our men in service: Cpl. Earl Kehoe Jr. graduated from the 7th Army Non-Commissioned Officers Academy in Munich. Pfc. Willie C. Booker returned from a tour with the 25th Infantry in Korea, Journalist First Class James R. McCain sailed into Hong Kong on the USS Valley Forge, an attack aircraft carrier. Airman Thomas Hunter Few was promoted to Airman First Class.
Water Valley was among the towns listed that were set to sponsor an entry in the Miss Mississippi contest.
• 70 years ago, Apr. 29, 1943 – Yalobusha County generously went 20 percent over quota in the War Bond drive raising more than $134,000.
Mrs. Ella White dropped by the Herald office to renew her subscription and said she thought the photo of new Herald Editor Edward B. Shearer put in by former Editor Mullen was that of a gangster. “Mr. Mullen has the picture of a gangster on the front page of the Herald this week,” she told Shearer. She added that Shearer didn’t look quite as criminal in person as in the photo.
Mrs. W. J. Barnes moved her hat shop from Main Street to her home at 207 Crosby Street.