Look Back In Yalobusha History

The Yalobusha County medical community formally endorsed a plan in February of 1964 by the Water Valley Jaycees to give mass Sabin inoculations in the county 50 years ago.
The Sabin Oral Vaccine is two drops of an odorless, colorless, tasteless liquid placed on a sugar cube and swallowed. It gives permanent protection against polio and was recommended whether or not the person had previously had the Salk vaccine. The two vaccines have eradicated polio from most countries in the world, and reduced the worldwide incidence from an estimated 350,000 cases in 1988 to just 223 cases in 2012.
Paul Strode, president of the Jaycees, said that clinics would be set up in all schools in Water Valley, Coffeeville and Oakland. The organization was asking for a 25-cent donation per person to help offset the tremendous cost, but urged every citizen in the county to take the immunization whether they could make a contribution or not.

• 5 years ago, Feb. 19, 2009 – Yalobusha County recorded the first homicide of the year when Ernest Moore was shot and killed as he drove down Kennedy Street in Coffeeville.
Alderman Thomas S. “Tommy” Swearengen died Wednesday, Feb. 11, after a long bout with cancer.
BorgWarner was “in the middle of the ugly” after another 30-plus employees were laid off. Plant Manager Hans Werner said that the company was “cutting out what is absolutely not necessary to run this business.”
Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley held a ratepayers’ forum at the Yalobusha County Courthouse.
The school board voted to allow public contributions to support athletic programs after the state announced funding cuts and several programs were cut to help offset future deficits.
Chase Buchanan of Water Valley was selected as Outstanding Student in Business Administration at Northwest Mississippi Community College and inducted in the school’s Hall of Fame.
• 10 years ago, Feb. 19, 2004 – The school district was facing a $380,000 shortfall for the next school year. Superintendent Sam Higdon said that he would present a plan that would include some cuts, but would avoid layoffs.
Band members attending the I-55 Band Clinic at NWCC were Octavius Townsend, Justine Horton, Hagan Volbracht, Terrance Carr, Alex Hobson, Danielle Berry, John Rue, Amber Bowles, Blake Beshires, Markie Jackson and Brandi Sims.
Participating in the Northwest Junior Judging Contest held at Batesville were Corey Mills, Mallory Washington, Besth Tillman, Drew Tillman, Kyle Jones, Marianna Turner, Lauren Kimzey, Kelsey Kimzey and Haley Vance. The lamb judging team won first place while the swine and the beef team placed second.
• 20 years ago, Feb. 17, 1994 – Other than the ice storm, it was a slow news week for the Herald. There was a rook tournament upcoming at John Kyle Park and the Wild Turkey Federation was having their banquet in Grenada.
• 30 years ago, Feb. 23, 1984 – WVHS students Teresa Heath and Jane Massie were named 1984 United States National Award winners in Business Education.
WVHS Drum Major Kim Herring was pictured on the front page after attending the Northeast Mississippi Band Director’s Clinic at Booneville.
The U.S. Postal Service was looking for a suitable site for a new post office building in Oakland, according to Postmaster James Donaldson.
Toxey T. Fortinberry was named Farm and Land Realtor of the Year by the Mississippi Chapter of the Farm Land Institute.
Plant Manager Jerry Fondren presented three Holley Carburetor employees, Rozella VanWinkle, Travis Clement and Jerry Davis, ten-year service pins.
More letters were pouring into the Herald about the planed demolishment of the Bank of Water Valley building including one from Bill Barrett, Executive Director of the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association and another from Bill Steiner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Southern Regional Office in Charleston, S.C.  
• 40 years ago, Feb. 21, 1974 – Mrs. Mamie Shields was chosen by the Board of Supervisors to serve as Extension Home Economist for Yalobusha County. She formerly served as associate home economist here.
WVHS bandsmen attending the Northeast District Band Clinic held at Northeast Mississippi Junior College in Booneville included Anthony Steele, Cindi Pittman, Elizabeth Chinault, Lynda Sartain, William White and Mary Beth Knight. Band Director Stanley Crow accompanied the students.
An outbreak of hog cholera at a farm located at Holcomb caused areas of Yalobusha County to be included in a special target area where restrictions were placed on the movement of hogs.
The county firetower was moved from its location west of Water Valley to a new location near Coffeeville.
Mrs. Maggie Crouch celebrated her 85th birthday with four generations of her family: her daughter, Mrs. Jack Myrick; her grandson, Roy J. Beck; and her great-grandchildren, Stefanie and Greg Beck.
•50 years ago, Feb. 20, 1964 – Girl Scout Troop 78 was hawking cookies and pictured with samples were troop members Mary Tyler, Laura Parsons, Margie Dell Mayo, Kim Horan, Debbie Hill, Dorothy Caulfield, Linda Coleman, Debbie Edwards, Carol Sartain, Jane Henry, Mary Jane Harding, Nancy Tyler, Lee Ann Mott, Janelle Landreth and Renee Hollowell. The group was under the leadership of Mrs. James B. Tyler.
Beavers were becoming plentiful in the county and causing problems. Bobby Johnsey was pictured with a 34 pounder he caught near the Pine Valley community.
Spring practice was about to begin for the Blue Devil football team under Coach Bobby Clark. Missing from the Chickasaw Conference championship team that had a perfect 10-0 record would be 13 seniors. Returning were seven lettermen, all juniors, including quarterback Jack Harvey, halfbacks Ricky Parsons and Tommy Fortinberry, center Gene Walker, guard-fullback Mike Sartor and ends Joe Holt and Kenny Maynor. Other experienced performers included Larry Evans, Glenn Taylor, Kenny Taylor, Harold Henderson, Bubba Peacock, Tommy Edwards, Danny Gordon, Larry Michletti, Preston Bonner, Mike Hedges, Pete Smith, Jo?n Coleman, W. C. Vaughn, Mike Ledbetter, Steve Williams and Duane Pierce.
• 60 years ago, Feb 18, 1954 – Construction of the new skating rink in the community recreation area north of Lafayette Street and east of Hwy. 315 began with ground being broken by Mayor O. T. Hamner. The mayor had also proclaimed the upcoming Saturday as Pancake Day in Water Valley in honor of the visit of Aunt Jemima, played by actress Anna Short Harrington, who would preside over a pancake breakfast at the grammar school cafeteria.
Four unnamed local stores fell victim to bad check passers who took them for a total of $92.60.
Coffeeville’s basketball boys with their great center “Little Bud” York advanced to semi-final tourney play by defeating Camp Ground, 90-32.
Ruby Mays was elected to serve as business manager of the Ranger Rocket, Northwest Junior College publication.
Lucreatia Majure of Coffeeville was a member of the chorus for Blue Mountain College’s Operetta “The Count and the Co-ed.”
• 70 years ago, Feb. 17, 1944 – New recruits from Water Valley at the U. S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, were James Blackmur Aune, Kenneth Ray Sissell, Raymond David Dickey, Joseph Johnson Pilkington and Robert Clarence Wilson.
Mrs. Ruth Cowan announced the following pupils made the honor roll in music: Ann Appleton, Bubber Appleton, Charles Appleton, Teresia Bagguley, Jane Brown, Mary Elizabeth Brown, Laura Jo Burns, Prudence Burns, Boots Carpenter, Martha Ann Duvall, Beverly Edwards, Mary Lee Edwards, Patricia Tarver Eudaly, Ann Gafford, Billy Maud Green, Billy Hughes, Elizabeth Mitchell, Jimmie Dee Watson, Eleanor Dale White, Shirley Fair, Marie Goodwin, Arda Joy Reed, Darolyn Sissell, Ruth Sissell, Mary Lena Treloar and Jimmy Kathryn Woods.
• 80 years ago, Feb. 23, 1934 – Barron Leland, 87, beloved citizen of Water Valley, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, after a short illness. As a lad of only 16, he entered the Confederate Army to fight for his beloved Southland. He began his business career here in 1869 and retired in 1928 after 59 years of service to the community. He was grandfather to the late Barron Caulfield.
• 100 years ago, Feb. 19, 1914 in the City Itemizer – The Sober Man was the title of a front-page article that began, “This is the day of the sober man. The man who leads a clean, honest, temperate life may not be brilliant, but he stands a better chance of succeeding than his more accomplished brother who chills his brain in drink.”