Look Back In Yalobusha History
Thirty years have passed since the groundbreaking for the new office-warehouse complex on Central Street that houses C.W. White, Inc. The company’s founder, C.W. White, watched the initial excavation started. With White were (from left) contractor Brad Van Winkle, George Telford and Charles White. – Photo by Tommy White
Teens Attended Dance At Theater Following Football Game In 1956
10 Years—October 5, 2006
Circuit Court Judges Ann Lamar and Andy Baker appointed Chief Deputy Lance Humphreys as Sheriff Pro-Tempore following a brief hearing in Yalobusha County Circuit Court Tuesday morning.
Homecoming Queen Whitney Hodge was crowned by BETA President Chessi Clark in a ceremony before the football games. The queen was escorted by her father, Jeff Hodge.
Anne Fair Pender was guest speaker at the September meeting of the Town and Country Garden Club. Anne is the daughter of the first President of Town and Country Garden Club, the late Luella Fair.
Mayor Bill Norris and Robert Boxx, director of Outdoor Recreation for Mississippi, inspected the area where improvements are beginning in the Railroad park.
In a Region 3-A game, the Water Valley Blue Devils defeated the M.S. Palmer (Marks) Dragons, 24-14.
20 Years—October 10, 1996
Cheering for the Water Valley Junior High Blue Devils this season are Kellie Magee, Ashley Sims, Jill Terry, Scarlet Hart (co-captain), Natalie Flippin (co-captain), Mandy Thompson, Beth Cobern, Whitney Rogers, Julie Jones (co-captain), Lee Ann Holt, Heather River and Anna Crow. They are coached by Suzanne Oakley.
Bro. Ferman Anderson observed his 32nd Anniversary as pastor of First Christian Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Jones have The Garden Club of Water Valley’s “Yard of the Month” for October.
Stan.s Short Shots, written by Stan True, says that trolling is the best way to catch crappie.
The Water Valley National Guard’s eight-man team won the Commander’s Cup during the recent summer camp. Members of the team are SFC Gary King, Pvt. Tommy Turner, Staff Sgt. Michael Phillips, Sgt. William Sheffield, Specialist Edwin Daniels, Sgt. Joe Walker, Cap. Alan Cameron and Sgt. Randy Hughes.
A strong Bruce team defeated the Water Valley Blue Devils in every element of the Friday night game except the scoreboard. The Devils beat the previously unbeaten Trojans by a score of 23-15.
30 Years—October 9, 1986
The Rotary Club donated $500 toward paying for the new athletic field house. Accepting the check from Rotary members Keith Mitchell, secretary-treasurer, Rupert Kolb, president and “Sonny” Lollar, sergeant-at-arms, was W. R. Newman, Water Valley Touchdown Club vice-president.
The Water Valley Blue Devils, in an overtime cliff-hanger, defeated the Hernando Tigers, 7-0. Halfback Craig Hawkins made the TD,, and Ken Hart added the PAT. Coaching the team was Terry Allen.
The The 1986 cheerleaders were Fay Hawkins, Michelle Greer, Sheneatta Hervey, Stefanie Boyd, Ruby Magee, Raina Degler, Amy Fernandez, Krystal Turner, and Dee Ann Cox.
40 Years—October 7, 1976
Robert Taliaferro had another “first” when B&I Gin ginned the first bale of cotton of the 1976 crop. Robert is pictured with the 432 pound bale. Ginner Ross Ingram, pictured with Talifaferro, stated that the hand-picked cotton would grade strict middling, which was selling for 81 cents a pound.
Practicing for the upcoming musical presentation of the “Wizard of Oz” were elementary students, Kathy Potts, Damon Burks, G. G. Mayo, Collie Holloway, Marjorie Ford, and Jim Shearer, who were part of the cast. The production was directed by Ethel King and Caroline Anderson was the pianist.
The Bruce Trojans soundly defeated the Blue Devils by a score of 48-6.
An alleged arsonist attempted to burn the Bethel Baptist Church during the latter part of last week.
Tony Hardy was pictured with a new style storm shelter, the “Super Bubble,” which was being installed at Hardy’s Garden Plants on Highway 315-E.
Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Pruett celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with all their children, Carl Pruett, Kenneth Pruett, Wanda Dickey, and Michael Pruett, present.
50 Years—October 6, 1966
First Baptist Church was heavily damaged by fire Tuesday night and within a few hours Shields Shoe Shop was destroyed by fire.
On one side of the front page was a picture of Earl Fly, vice-president of Mechanics Bank, beside a sign stating that “Buck’s suitcase was packed and he was (under sign was an old suitcase) leaving Town if Bond Issue Fails.”
On the other side of the page was an undefeated sign stating Suratt can stay in town. Buck was chairman of the “Get Out the Vote” Campaign for the Ram Tool Bond Issue and 2400-plus voters approved the BAWI Bond Issue.
The Water Valley Blue Devils soundly defeated the Coldwater Panthers, 47-6, taking over the third spot in the Chickasaw Conference.
The Junior High Devils dropped a hard-fought game, 19-0, to Batesville.
Cadet Luther Fortinberry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Toxey Fortinberry, was promoted to the rank of Cadet Sergeant at Tennessee Military Institute in Sweetwater, Tenn.
60 Years—October 11, 1956
Pictured were quarterback Bobby Schmitz and fullback Charles (Buddy) Larson, who will be co-captains in the most crucial game of the 1956 Chickasaw Conference race, as the Blue Devils play Holly Springs Friday night. The local team defeated Hernando in last week’s game.
The Water Valley Blue Devils and the Holly Springs Tigers and their cheerleaders will be honored by the Valley Theatre at a supper immediately following the game at Holly Springs Friday night. Following the supper there will be a dance for all teenagers in Yalobusha and Marshall counties.
The Oakland Hornets will meet a strong Lula-Rich Team Friday night. They had defeated Lambert in a hard-fought game, 14-7, playing before a large homecoming crowd the previous Friday night.
The Mrs. Water Valley Contest is being held next week.
The Jeff Davis PTA was planing a supper for a study on the PTA Manual.
Water Valley Junior Blue Devils, coached by Bobby Tyler, will meet the Granada team tonight (Thursday) on the local field.
70–Years—October 10, 1946
Mayor F. B. Deshon was pictured signing the contract with J. W. McNeese Construction Company for the erection of a factory building in Water Valley to house the Rice-Stix Plant. Also pictured were Aldermen G. L. Gafford, A. G. Carter, Lawrence Berry and M. L. Elliott; president and vice-president of The Mechanics Savings Bank, W. E. Blackmur and Earl Fly; City Clerk Walter Hunter; and City Attorney Kermit Cofer.
Three Yalobusha County 4-H members were in Columbus, Ohio at the National Show. Robert Lawshee was exhibiting two animals and Gilda Lynn Jones and Floyd Boyles were exhibiting one animal each. They were accompanied to Columbus by Assistant County Agent Frank Tucker.
George Arrington has been appointed the new game warden for Yalobusha County by the State Game and Fish Commission.
Water Valley’s High School football team, showing a decided improvement over their initial game, defeated Oakland’s team by a score of 44-0, playing on the local field.
Six milk cows have provided Mr. and Mrs. Free an income of $100.80 per month over the past eight months.
