Look Back In Yalobusha History

• 5 years ago, Dec 11, 2008 – Fires plagued the county over the past weekend destroying homes on County Road 87 north of Coffeeville and a home on Fairview Drive in Water Valley.
Dr. and Mrs. Paul Odom were Grand Marshals of the Water Valley Christmas Parade and were pictured being driven in the parade by Linda Shuffield with her brother, Charley, riding shotgun.
Sales tax collections were going up in the county with Water Valley recording the largest increase at ten percent.
The WVHS Drama Club presented “Christmas In The Land Of Oz” with players Shelby Wilkins as Dorothy, Reginal Tenner as the Mayor, Randall Winkler as Scarecrow, Morgan Way as Lady Lion, Devin Cobb as Uncle Henry and Jesse Anderson as the Lion.
• 10 years ago, Dec. 11, 2003 – Derrick Surrette, young farmer and bank agricultural lender from Water Valley, was the 2003 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Discussion Meet winner.
Specialist James Sims, on leave from Iraq, presented an American flag to Mrs. Becky Crow’s General Music Class at WVHS.
Clarinet players from the Water Valley Community Band pictured were Jackie Lowery, Vivian Gilley, Liz Reynolds and Marty Gurner. Julie McCullar and Kim Jones were not pictured.
There were still a few Halloween photos in the paper including Addie Grace Camp, 6, as a flower; Kane Kimzey, 5, a scarecrow with his dog, Bert, dressed as Toto; Lauren Kimzey, 11, fortune teller; Hayden Summer, injured football player; and Briana Norwood, 5, cowgirl, and Brooke Norwood, 3, Cindrella.
Ernie and Ernestine Aune were pictured riding in the Christmas parade as Grand Marshals.
Constance Thweatt joined the staff at the Family Hairloom.
• 20 years ago, Dec. 9, 1993 – Christine Fielder, Yalobusha County Extension 4-H Program Assistant, was honored with the Outstanding Program Assistant award.
Sheriff Lloyd Defer was hit head-on while driving on Wise Street by Hubert Howard, whose address was listed as Grenada and Water Valley. Howard was charged with driving in the wrong lane and possession of crack cocaine. A .380 pistol found in his car was confiscated.
The Sylva Rena community float entitled, “Santa’s Workshop,” took first place in originality in the annual Christmas Parade. The Holley Automotive entry, “On the Second Day of Christmas,” took first in theme.
Louis Henry Tutor and his wife Patricia Ann Jenkins were killed in a one-vehicle crash near the Hwy. 7 bypass intersection with Hwy. 32.
Nicole Calvert, daughter of Herald “Turkey Creek Crossing” columnist Tammy Calvert, said that if you don’t have lights on your house or on a tree visible through a window, Santa won’t stop at your house. She said that she hadn’t heard that anywhere, but knew that it was true.
The first Habitat for Humanity house was under construction and Byron Beard’s building trades class from WVHS was pictured setting up foundation forms.
• 30 years ago, Dec. 15, 1983 – The Blue Devils and Lady Devils basketball teams defeated South Panola in action here.
Cindy Fernandez and Kim Herring attended the Mississippi Band Director’s All-Star Clinic in Biloxi.
Alan Berry was pictured with other members of the Delta State University Delta Chorale.
A front page photo showed a group of youngsters visiting with dentist Dr. Barry Weeks including Bennett Crow, Beau Nelson, Stephanie Marshall, Cory Burns, John Walker and Angela Weeks.
Airman Tracy Watts of the USAF graduated from the Department of Defense fire protection course at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. He was headed to his first assignment at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
Students receiving degrees at Mississippi State University included Mrs. Cheryl Odom Harris, BS in education; Leslie Wayne Harris, BS in agriculture; Lori Ann Brower of Coffeeville, BPA in accountancy; Murdis Ellen Logan of Coffeeville, BS in education.
Steve Shuffield won the Mississippi Heavyweight title in full contact karate.
• 40 years ago, Dec. 13, 1973 – Guy Dale Shaw was appointed as Executive Director of the Mississippi Assessors’ and Collectors’ Association.
The Devilettes lost to Horn Lake in the first round of the Lafayette tournament.
Earl and Eunice Fly were pictured atop the back seat of a convertible as they led the Water Valley Christmas Parade.
Pictured decorating the Christmas tree at the Holley Carburetor plant were Charlotte Jones, Verna Melton, Sue Cobern, Ruth Wilbourn and Jeannie Moxley.
Coach Jim Murphy, a native of Water Valley, led his Lucedale Panthers to  eight wins with no losses.
• 50 years ago, Dec. 12, 1963 – Former Mayor Tom Myers, 78, died of an apparent heart attack. Mr. Tom, as he was affectionately known, had been a resident of Water Valley for 74 years and rose to the rank of engineer on the I. C. Railroad.
The First Methodist choir was pictured preparing for their presentation of “Night of Miracles” under the direction of Oscar Parsons.
Andy Myrick was pictured with Mississippi State University coach Billy Tohill as he signed a scholarship agreement with the school.
Carnes and Ralph McCormack of Coffeeville were members of the Northwest Mississippi Junior College Singers and the Ranger Marching Band.
Elton Sprouse displayed a huge hornet’s next he found while checking fire lanes in the county.
• 60 years ago, Dec. 10, 1953 – WVHS center Sonny Willingham was pictured making two of the Devils’ 43 points in a game they won against Camp Ground.
Water Valley students at Mississippi State College included Robert Glynn Brooks, Oliver Woodrow Johnson Jr., Thomas Herman Edwards, Willis Garland Gholson, David Lawrence Langford, Samuel Banks Powell and Leo Gaylan Reed.
• 70 years ago, Dec. 9, 1943 – Two Water Valley boys, Clayton E. Latham and Ellis C. Morris, were new recruits at the Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Ill.
J. A. Fair was to serve as worshipful master of the Valley City Lodge No. 402.
Among the local youngsters writing Santa were Leo Gaylan Reed, Elizabeth Mitchell, J. H. Baker, Bob Brooks, Mae Bell Cook, Billy Gene Moorhead, Marline French, Virdine Potts, Margaret Moorhead, Fannie Daughtery, Harold Tatum, James Bowles, H. C. Logan, Jencie Watson, David Langford, Clinton McKin-ney, Virginia Ann Wilbourn and Edward Bradley Shearer (that would be former Herald editor Ed Shearer III. He wanted a hunting knife, a tommy gun and a cash register bank).