Look Back In Yalobusha History

• 5 years ago, Sept. 17, 2009 – About 95 percent of the city went without electric power for over seven hours after a J. R. Dukes Trucking Company dump truck knocked down the north feeder line coming out of the main electrical substation. Witnesses said the bed of the truck was still in the air as it left Morris Ready Mix and hit the line.
Water Valley native Derrick Surrette, Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, spoke to Water Valley Rotarians Sept. 8. He was pictured with his parents, Butch and Ann Langdon Surrette
Cass D. Phillips graduated from the Navy Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.
Army Colonel Larry D. McNeal retired from the United States Central Command during ceremonies held at McDill Air Force Base, Florida.
The WVHS Blue Devils defeated the J. Z. George Jaquars, 21-14.
Qyleshia Woodard, Qwatertic Williams and Tatianna Doss won third place in their chapter’s service display project at the National Leadership Conference in Nashville.
• 10 years ago, Sept. 16, 2004 – More than 10,000 feet of telephone wire and about the same about of computer cable was to be installed in the Yalobusha County Courthouse in Water Valley.
Character building has always been important at Davidson Elementary School and some of the shining examples cited for exemplary character included: first grade, Grant Blake, Charlesa Derbigny, Amber Golden, Jaqiya Sims, Alyssa Humphreys, Sierra Williams; second grade, Haley Bland, Jazmine Rogers, Shaikayla Orr, Matthew Loflin Taylor, Deonterio Neely; third grade, Jareba Gooch, Anna Williamson, Andrea Daniels, Kanicia White, Aquarius Philips and Paul Rice.
Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Gurner was pictured as he took command of the 82nd Comptroller Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas.
The Blue Devils fell to Lafayette, 41-21. The late Pierre Allen was pictured taking a handoff from quarterback Antonio Johnson. Allen led the rushing attack with 128 yards on 19 carries.
• 20 years ago, Sept. 15, 1994 – Water Valley beat Coffeeville, 14-0, to take the “Yalobusha County Championship.” But, some fans were disappointed that Coach Gary Drewery allowed the second and third teams to play, which made for a lower WV score and kept the defeat from being a rout.
Reverend Ben Goodwin, pastor of the North Main Methodist Church, was named Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi, Free and Accepted Masons.
In his column, Steve Cummings, Yalobusha County Agent, congratulated Yalobusha Farm Bureau Queen Jennifer Sartain on being selected District Queen to represent District IV at the state contest.
Travis Clement was appointed to the Northwest Community College Workforce Council.
Sybil and O. D. Dickey had the Country Yard of the Month Award for their home on Hwy. 315 past O’Tuckalofa Church.
• 30 years ago, Sept. 20, 1984 – Second Lt. Henry C. Ford of Coffeeville graduated from the U. S. Army engineer officer basic course at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
New recruits for the Water Valley National Guard unit who were about to leave for basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma included Bobby Owen, Bobby Hobson and Raymond Chapman. They were pictured with Capt. James Burchfield, commander of the local unit, and Recruiter SFC Jackie Lemastus.
Capt. Burchfield was pictured presenting the First Sergeant’s Trophy to Sgt. Jody Burks. He also presented a trophy to SFC Gary King, first; Sgt. Billy Persons, second; and SP-5 Troy Cobern, third; for their wins in the M-16 rifle competition and one to Sgt. Jerry Short for his win in the 34-39 age group running competition.
The Best Section award went to Sgt. Johnny Ford, Sgt. Harold Hervey, SP-4 Richard Telford and SP-4 Marvin Polk.
The Blue Devils held Lafayette to only 13 points in their lost to the team from the north, 13-0.
• 40 years ago, Sept. 19, 1974 – The always powerful Senatobia Warriors defeated the Blue Devils, 48-22.
New car tags were about to go on sale at Tax Assessor/Collector Guy Dale Shaw’s office. Pictured with the new tags were Deputy Assessors Ruby Taylor, Kitty Hale, Lavonia Treloar and Mary Sue Stevens.
Bosun-Mate First Class Ralph T. Norwood of Water Valley retired after 20 years in the U.S. Navy. He was pictured with his wife, the former Jeannie Greenlee, also of Water Valley during the ceremony at Charleston, S.C.
• 50 years ago, Sept. 17, 1964 – Once again Senatobia defeated the Blue Devils, 24-12. It was the first defeat for the defending Chickasaw Champions in 12 starts under Coach Bobby Clark.
Decorator Products of Water Valley halted operations after a devastating fire swept their facility. Fortunately no one was injured and the molds used to cast products were undamaged. The facility had already been shut down the day before while M. L. Pike was on a trip to Missouri. The small company had opened in 1960 and employed as many as 25 during peak periods.
There was some good news on the business front as word of a large manufacturing facility was announced by several industrial development groups. The unnamed company would locate on the south side of Hwy. 32 just east of Hwy. 7. Employment would reach 700 by the end of the second year.
W. W. Frost, veteran law enforcement officer, died at the age of 75. He had helped organize Battery A for the first World War.
• 60 years ago, Sept. 16, 1954 – Gulf Interstate Gas Company was preparing for an open house at their recently completed compressor station located one mile north of Hwy. 32 and four miles west of the Banner community. The company’s $130 million, 1,150 mile natural gas pipeline was set to go into operation Nov. 1.
The Blue Devils won their second game of the season, 21-7, over the Senatobia Warriors.
Mrs. W. P. Moorhead won a $10 prize for her Bing Cherry Congealed Salad recipe on the Carol Godman’s Homemakers’ Program on Channel 5 TV.
• 70 years ago, Sept. 14, 1944 – Tech. Sgt. John M. Abernethy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for operations against Nazi war plants. He served as engineer and top turret gunner on the Eighth Air Force B-17 bomber “Patty Jo.”
Pfc Chester Joiner reported that he had been in some big battles, but had come through without a scratch.
Jessie Marie Doolin enlisted in the WAVES.
Engineer Ed Kennedy was given his Gold Pass after completing fifty years with the I. C. Railroad.
• 80 years ago, Sept. 21, 1934 – Mississippi’s stormy political petrel Theodore G. Bilbo took the U.S. Senate seat from veteran Senator Hubert D. Stephens. To our credit, Yalobusha County voters gave Stephens a 403-vote margin, with the municipalities going more for Stephens.
Oscar Mackey dug a 5-pound, 3-ounce Portorican sweet potato out of his garden.
Virginia Gault was elected president of the senior class at Jeff Davis High School. Other senior officers included William McDonald, vice-president; Elizabeth Hervey, secretary and treasurer; and Julia Frances Person, reporter.