Look Back In Yalobusha History
Chickens from Water Valley were being shipped to Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Japan and Canada as well as all sections of the United States, officials of Mott’s Inc. of Mississippi said in March of 1964.
Local residents were eating these same chickens in soups, TV dinners or in pot pies since 95 percent of the chickens processed here were shipped to other plants for further processing.
In one hour 3500 chickens were moved automatically from the killing room on specially constructed hooks. In one day, people standing side by side cleaned about 27,000 chickens.
Nothing is wasted. “The only thing lost is the cackle,” officials boasted. The offal (entrails, heads, claws, etc.) is first ground then loaded into trucks and shipped to Jackson along with feathers. About 600 dozen eggs are boxed to be sold.
The public was invited to an open house to view the fascinating operation of the plant, which had only been open since December.
• 5 years ago, March 12, 2009 – Fourteen candidates qualified for Water Valley’s city elections.
Aldermen raised the price to rent the city auditorium after losing more than $1000 just on heating and cooling costs alone. The rent went from $150 to $200. The additional would allow the city to break even on the heating and cooling, but not on overtime for city employees and other services.
The Yalobusha County Soil and Water Conservation Service and the Water Valley Main Street Association gave away around 1000 trees to 92 individuals.
BorgWarner had 283 workers in their local plant, down from 514 in January 2007.
Ray Cox was featured in a story about his six decades of repairing sewing machines.
The WVHS FFA Opening/Closing Team pleased first in north district competition. Members were Cass Phillips, Dustin Person, Chris Caldwell, Kye Gilley, Gary Bratton, Joshua Sullivan and Cody Person.
The WVHS baseball team won four in a row including back to back wins over Eupora and the Hamilton Lions.
The Lady Devils softball team took Clarksdale, 15-0.
• 10 years ago, March 11, 2004 – The Wood Street Methodist Church, which had been converted to apartments, burned on Sunday, March 7.
Mayor Larry Hart told aldermen that Cellular South would build a cell tower either at Hwy. 315 and Hwy. 7 or on Central Street near the Rasputins business.
The Mississippi National Guard’s 223 Engineering Group returned home from Iraq. Several members were from the Water Valley area. The group was addressed by Water Valley native General Roger Shields.
Paul Parker was honored with an “Ageless Hero” award from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi as one of the people who made contributions after the age of 65.
The Yalobusha County Junior Market Lamb judging team won first place in the Northwest Junio Judging contest held in Batesville. Member were Drew Tillman, Kyle Jones and Haley Vance.
Local farmers honored at the Yalobusha Agriculture Appreciation/Recognition Banquet included Buzzy Hill, livestock; Walt Moore, row crops; Travis Brooks, specialty crops; and Mary Alice Moorman, forestry. The late J. C. Sides Sr. was selected for inclusion in the Yålobußha Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Area Rangers from Grenada and Enid Lakes recognized for outstanding performance included Pam Samuels, Dala Jones, Charles Lee, David Scobey, Jacqueline Ferrell, Shelby Staten, Devin May, Booker Mays and Mike Miles.
• 20 years ago, March 10, 1994 – Four WVHS students scored 30 or above on the American College Test (ACT). They were Jeremy Warren, 32; Margaret Keith, 31; Brain Baggett, 30; and Mark Nicholas, 30.
Scoring 25 and above were Stacey Avant, George Young, Timothy Dodge, Stacy Van Canneyt, Crystal Turner, Braden VanWinkle, Sholunda Rucker and Heather Horan. Non-seniors who scored high were Candi Harris, Jimmy Parrish, Sandi Pullen, Jinny Fachman, Chris Riley and Yoshia Hence.
Stacy VanCanneyt, a WVHS senior, won first place in the State Voice Competition held at Ole Miss.
Taking “Best Tasting” honors at the Wildlife Tasting Buffet were Bobbie Williams, Billy Deer Meat Balls, 1st; Beverly Ford, Pheasant Pie, 2nd; and Ronnie Stark, Deer Steak and Gravy, 3rd.
• 30 years ago, March 15, 1984 – Winners of the Pilot Club’s Patriotism Essay Contest were Nicole Campbell, 1st; Valery White, 2nd; and Lenora Gooch, 3rd.
Cindy Fernandez, a junior at WVHS, was selected to compete in the Olympia National Scholastic Typing Contest.
Fashion models for the Anchor Club’s Style Show were Shelby Singleton, Melinda Henderson, Dawn Martin, Amy Carlisle, Denise Romberger, Cindy Fernandez, Amy Carlisle, Marla Sharp, Kim Herring, Sandy Loper, Mandy Sharp, Missy Melton, Michelle Newman and Susan Burress.
Letters continued to roll into the Herald from people protesting the demolition of the Bank of Water Valley including one from Duane Williamson Roller, Associate Professor of Classical Archaeology, Wilfrid Lauier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. His mother grew up in Water Valley.
• 40 years ago, March 14, 1974 – The 352 members of the Billy’s Creek Water Association were on the verge of constructing a water distribution system in their area after receiving a $122,000 grant. The purposed service area includes both sides of Hwy. 32 and the Water Valley Boat Landing area.
Gerry Jones of Coffeeville was a freshman class Centennial Festival Maid at Blue Mountain College.
Bill Oliphant of Water Valley worked with Jim Isbell on Adult Basic Education classes offered through Northwest Mississippi Junior College.
Dianna Williams was voted a “Sweetheart” of Circle K Fraternity at Mississippi College.
• 50 years ago, March 12, 1964 – More than 8000 Yalobusha citizens received the first of three inoculations to prevent poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis or polio). The mass inoculations were sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and given at several points around the county. Two drops of Sabin vaccine on a sugar cube (used as a carrying agent) immunized those taking it against one type of polio. Subsequent inoculations would be given, one in April and the other in the fall for two other types of the disease.
Local students of Mrs. J. B. Cowan attended the Junior Music Festival at Ole Miss. Laura and Robby Parsons rated Superior and Paula Scarbrough rated Excellent in the piano solo events.
Linda Davis was pictured with Margie Babb in an ad offering an Easter special at Margie’s Beauty Salon.
• 60 years ago, March 11, 1954 – Herald “Just Rambling” columnist Myrle Cox mentioned that “Little Ed” Shearer had gone off to be a soldier. “Will they ever find clothes to fit him?” she asked. Myrle also praised City Marshal Forest Barber for being at the Main Street crossing to assist school children in getting across the busy street. A child had just been killed in Coffeeville, making his efforts even more appreciated here. He was at his post at 8 a.m., noon and again at school closing time.
Mrs. J. B. Cowan and 26 of her students attended the Federation of Music Clubs Festival at Ole Miss. Receiving excellent ratings were Gary Cox, Lynda Edwards, Alma Ann Everett, Geri Mitchell, Nancy Turner, Brenda Shirley, Diane Thompson, Sara Nell Trusty, Lucretia Webb and Bessie Fay Champion.
• 70 years ago, March 9, 1944 – Beginning March 16, local merchants would take Thursday afternoon of each week through August.
Construction had begun on restrooms for the city. Plans call for a building of native rock similar to the Legion Hut. The structure was being built across Main Street from City Hall (Water Valley Main Street Association building). A delegation of women, led by Miss Jessie Wagner met with aldermen to ask that a separate facility be built for ladies facilities.
Soldiers featured on the front page were Pfc. Rufus Wade Doolin, stationed with an M. P. Battalion in New York, and Corp. A. D. Morris with the Fifth Army in Italy.
• 80 years ago, March 16, 1934 – The Herald posted a small notice at the bottom of the front page informing former Yalobusha Democrat correspondents that the paper had been absorbed by the Herald and they could continue under the same arrangement to provide news to the Herald. The Democrat was the last in a long series of papers absorbed by the Herald including the Water Valley Progress, City Itemizer, Progress-Itemizer and Progress-Herald.
State officials placed the entire county under quarantine because of the presence of rabies. All dogs running at large, without wire muzzles, were to be shot by law enforcement.
