Look Back In Yalobusha History

• 5 years ago, Dec 5, 2008 – Another Thanksgiving had passed and the Compassion Ministries volunteers were pictured serving the Community Thanksgiving meal at the Dunn Family Steak House on North Main Street. More than 250 meals were served.
Pat Ray and Betty Ruth Swearengen of the Town and Country Garden Club were pictured along with other members decorating the Railroad Park Pavilion.
Unemployment was up for October at 9.7 percent.
Police were seeking information regarding the theft of lucky school bus No. 13 that disappeared from the high school parking lot and was recovered on CR 214 Thanksgiving Day.
County taxpayers were looking at paying for a 65 percent increase in Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance coverage for county employees after the company paid out more than half a million bucks in local claims.
Darrell Hugueley was elected State Director of the Mississippi Good Sams camping organization.
Breanna Scroggins took 2nd place in the open gaited trail pleasure and 4th in the under-17 gaited pleasure categories at the State Championship Show in Jackson.
• 10 years ago, Dec. 4, 2003 – Ernestine and Ernie Aune were named Grand Marshals for the annual Christmas Parade.
Ronnie Eubanks was home on leave from Iraq and was pictured with some of his coworkers during an informal gathering at the Post Office.
The Yalobusha County Ole Miss Lady Roundballer Support Group organized with members including Travis Clement, Melvin Ford, Cecil Ford and Dee Cox. They were pictured with Coach Carol Ross.
Dr. Nycole Campbell-Lewis accepted the position of executive director of the Delta Health Alliance in Stoneville. Dr. Campbell was a 1990 graduate of WVHS.
• 20 years ago, Dec. 2, 1993 – Teresa and Rayford Edgar were selected as Christmas Parade Grand Marshals.
Nicole House was a Junior class maid during homecoming at the University of Mississippi.
Rev. Randy Bain was called to First Baptist Church to become their new pastor.
Sue Boyd was named an assistant vice-president at the Oxford Sunburst Bank and Steve Jones was named a loan officer at the Water Valley branch.
Twenty-five year service awards were given to Jackie Ward and Efazine Caldwell of the Yalobusha General Hospital and Nursing Home.
Joann White was named Holley November Employee of the Month.
Attending the leadership training workshop at the University of Mississippi were WV Jr. High Student Council members Yolanda Campbell, Lakesha Joy, Deon Hence, Katasha Rockette and advisor Paul Harris.
• 30 years ago, Dec. 8, 1983 – Flooding was the big story after the Valley was hit hard on Saturday, Dec. 3. About 30 inches of water stood in front of Snooky Williams Insurance Office and Main Street look like a lake.
Volunteers were pictured pushing a Yalobusha General Hospital Ambulance up Main Street after it stalled in the water. Contaminated water from the sewer system flowed onto Main Street and into several of the store buildings.
Rainfall at Enid Lake was recorded at 7.2 inches during the past week.
Linda Eakes was named a Junior Auxiliary Region III Director for the coming year.
Ceremonies at the Post Office honored the late Cecil Sager for his service and Gene Simpson was presented a 30-year award by Postmaster Paul Parker.
The Lady Devils won the South Panola Invitational Tournament for the second straight year, whipping North Panola 43-28.
New Junior Auxiliary members were Barbara Brown and Zandra Walker. New Provisionals were Margie Fraser, Nancy Fachman, Heidi Summers and Beverly Davis.
• 40 years ago, Dec. 6, 1973 – Thanksgiving was over and Water Valley was getting cranked up for the annual “Wonderful World of Christmas.” Earl Fly was pictured in a motorcycle helmet after being named Parade Marshal by the Jaycees. Preparing decorations on the “bandstand” were Jaycees Jody Burk, Van Fairburn, Billy Person, Tommy Ashford, Hollis Johnson and Paul Henry McCullar.
Acting Mayor Watson Hunt and the City Board declared the office of Mayor officially vacant after the death of Mayor Tolbert Maddux. City officials also announced that $100,000 would be spent repaving about five miles of city streets.
Mike Edwards of Water Valley received the James Molpus entomology scholarship during the Mississippi Insect Control Conference at Mississippi State University.
Teresia Vaughn, an employee of Holiday Inns, was pictured with Kemmons Wilson, founder of the company, during the 18th annual franchise holders’ conference in Memphis.
In a generous Christmas gesture, the City of Water Valley was giving free parking from Thursday through Monday downtown. Those pennies do add up.
• 50 years ago, Dec. 5, 1963 – Sixteen more miles of Interstate 55 were opened between Batesville and Oakland allowing traffic access from there north to Memphis and beyond.
Blue Devil halfback Andy Myrick was selected to the state UPI All-Star Team.
Parsons Motors on South Main Street was burglarized the past Sunday night and about $100 taken. Considerable damage was done during the break-in.
Mrs. Annie Smith and her granddaughter, Donna Jean Potts, 4, both of Water Valley, were killed in a collision near Greenfield, Tenn.
New electrical lines were being installed that would bring 13,000 volt service to the city by May of 1965.
Hunters posing with their deer kills included Jerry Hill, Gilbert McCord, Steve Hedges and Warren Sager.
Babs Chittom was cast as Angelique in the University of Mississippi Players’ production of “The Imaginary Invalid.”
• 60 years ago, Dec. 3, 1953 – Mayor O. T. Hamner announced that the city had put together a 600-gallon tank truck for fighting grass fires. The truck was built from discards under the supervision of Alderman Bill Robinson.
The WVHS Band had their new uniforms and would debut them at the Miss WV Jr. HS contest at the city auditorium and they would also be seen during the Christmas Parade.
William H. “Sonny” Cook Jr. was a guest at the National Association of Manufacturers convention in New York. Cook was a 19 year old student at the University of Mississippi.
Santa was a guest at Parker’s Ben Franklin store in the newly opened toyland display.
Prices were being “scalped” at the Fall Pow-Wow sale at Blu-Buck Mercantile Co. on Main Street. Keen Kutter pocket knives regular $3 version was on sale for only $2.59.
• 70 years ago, Dec. 2, 1943 – Thanksgiving was delayed for American sailors, according to an International News Service Report quoting Commander Luther Reynolds of Water Valley. Outnumbered American warships in the Solomons Sea sank four Japanese destroyers and damaged another Thursday. The cost – a delay of 24 hours in Thanksgiving dinner. Not a hit was scored by the enemy and not a man was lost in the action.
Lt. William M. “Buddy” Carter graduated from a special one-month training course at the Sanitation School at Medical Field Services in Pennsylvania.
Lorene Hardy Mahaney was attempting to form a basketball team of wives of service men living in Water Valley. They were anticipating a game with the WACs at Camp McCain.