Look Back in Yalobusha History

Six Inch Snow In 1988 Was Biggest In 20 Years

10 Years—January 10, 2008

Sylva Rena Grocery and Bait Shop owner John Crawford has been interjected into Yalobusha politics after his business did not fit the criteria to obtain a privilege licensed to sell beer. The store is less than 300 feet from Sylva Rena Baptist Church.

Carothers Construction is no longer interested in purchasing a 2.7 acre plot of land on Railroad Street behind the Big Yank Building. Spring Hill North Church has now expressed an interest in purchasing the property.

Preston Phillips, nine-year-old son of Ricky and Linda Telford, killed his first deer, a six-point.

A scholarship was established in honor of Rodney Childress, who taught agriculture for 40 years at Water Valley High School.

Town and Country Garden Club members Mary Lou Jones, Teresia Edgar, and Dale Tyler, were pictured with new trash containers to be placed on Main Street.

20 Years—January 8, 1998

 An anonymous benefactor donated a new sophisticated whirlpool bath and a battery powered lift to Yalobusha General Hospital. Shown with the new equipment were Patti McMinn, Director of Nursing; Loretta Crawford, Infection Control; and Todd Hughes, Plant Operations Director.

Todd Lester, former TV star, was scheduled to address a dinner meeting of Yalobusha County Baptist’s Brotherhood. Lester was Eb on the popular TV series, “Green Acres.”

Shirley Berry, “Mrs. Mississippi Senior America,” was the speaker for the Water Valley Ambassadors’ meeting. She was  introduced by Ambassador President Lannon Franklin.

Pink Ladies made Christmas ornaments for Yalobusha County Nursing Home and presented them to Hospital Administrator Bob Jones. Pink Ladies making the presentation were Dale Tyler, Loy McMinn, Lucy Coleman and Dot Lowe.

Becky Brown downed a nice eight-point buck while hunting at Miller Point Hunting Club near Clarksdale.

30 years—January 14, 1988

Yalobusha General Hospital is in the process of converting six acute care rooms to private nursing home rooms. Pictured with a room under construction were Charlie Holloway, Director of the Engineering Department; Hospital Administrator Bill Vandergriff; and Linda Schmitz, RN, Director of the Nursing Home.

Mrs. Yvonne Vance will head the Oxford Sunburst Bank and Wayne Harris was promoted to Assistant Vice President and Manager of Sunburst Bank in Water Valley.

Walking in the heaviest snowfall Water Valley has seen in 20 years were Mr. and Mrs. Paul Parker. The couple didn’t let the snow deter them from their daily walk.

Judy Sartain, after watching her daughters, Jennifer and Jill, play in the snow just couldn’t stand not joining them. Joining the fun, she made the trip down Church Street on a sled.

A merger between the Bank of Water Valley and Peoples Bank was approved.

City Street Commissioner Larry Hart is pictured as he directs Street Foreman Mike Scroggins, who is using a motor grader to push the six-inch snowfall off Main Street.

40 Years—January 12, 1978

Hon. Frank Evans, long-time Yalobusha County Circuit Clerk, submitted his resignation.

Mrs. Clinton (Christine) Morgan, senior employee in the Water Valley Fred’s organization, was presented a certificate for 23 years of service to the company.

Bubba Defer was pictured with two of the three deer he killed last week. Helping his big brother hold up the deer was two-year old Tommy Wayne Defer. They are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Defer.

John Frank Wilson was pictured with his dream buck, a huge eight-pointer, weighing over 200 pounds.

Pictured was a logging operation in Yalobusha County. Statewide timber and related activities account for 73,000 full-time jobs and a half a billion dollar annual payroll.

Extension Home Economist Mamie Shields was shown teaching Maggie Dickey and Thelma Williams to make braid from corn shucks. The braid will be used to fashion beautiful hats.

50 Years—January 11, 1968

Hershel Howell was elected president of the Yalobusha County Sportsmen’s Club. He succeeds Frank Tucker, who had served as president of the club for the past nine years.

Coach Truman Albritton’s Junior High Blue Devils scored their fourth win of the season, defeating the Sardis Red Raiders. The Water Valley High School Blue Devils and Devilettes did not fare as well as they lost all games during the week—being defeated by East Tallahatchie, Coffeeville, and Bruce.

Master Sergeant Bill Foster of the 4420th Combat Support Group, son of Mrs. Clara McCullar of Bergland Street, received the Air Force Commendation Medal at Eglin AFB, Fla.

Paul Howell, young son of Peggy and Hershel Howell, got his first buck with a 243 rifle. The spike weighed about 100 pounds.

Mrs. Minnie Carrie Potts observed her 89th birthday with family and friends at her home near Water Valley.

Order of Eastern Star officers installed included: Mrs. Hazel Cook and Martin Adams, Worthy Patron and Matron; Brooks and Louise Chittom, Associate Matron and Patron;  Brenda Parker, Associate Conductress; Ova Bagguley, Martha; Jeanette Smith, Chaplain; Ruth Adams, Ruth; Cathryn Redwine, Marshal; Sheila Riley, Conductress; Mildred Lee, treasurer; Grace Harding, Electa; Christine Johnsey, Adah; Kate Johnsey, Warder; Herbert Woods, Sentinel; and Nell Gholson, secretary.

60 Years—January 9, 1958

The Water Valley Board of Aldermen passed new ordinances governing parking on Panola and Clay Streets. On Panola parking will not be permitted on the north side of the street between Masonic and Leland Streets; and on Clay parking will not be permitted on the north side the entire length of the street. 

The Bank of Water Valley was selected by the Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors as the depository for all county funds for 1958.

 Stores which will begin closing on Thursdays were Rays, Burns, Parker’s Ben Franklin, The Fabric Shop, Rusk’s, Stubbs, Gregory’s, Baddour’s, Pegram’s and the Post Office.

The Water Valley High School basketball team defeated University High in two games.

Oakland Methodist was among 10 Mississippi churches honored by Mississippi State College and the Mississippi Chris-tian Community Fellowship.

70 Years—January 8, 1948

Water Valley celebrated the completion of the new Rice-Stix plant with an open house with Earl Fly as Master of Ceremonies. 

New county officials being sworn in were: Sheriff Bob Jones; Chancery Clerk J. Roy Bennett; Circuit Clerk Carolyn Kennedy; Tax Assessor Guy C. Shaw; Superintendent of Education Herman White; and supervisors, Beat One, Dr. R. J. Criss; Beat Two, R. S. Oakley; Beat Three, R. E. Rowsey; Beat Four, Vernon Craig; and Beat Five, W. A. LaCook.

The First Presbyterian Church of Water Valley hosted the Presbytery of North Mississippi with Dr. P. M. Watson, former pastor of the local church, now pastor at Marks, preaching the opening sermon.

The first public showing of the new 1948 Ford pick-up took place at Hendricks Machine Shop in Water Valley.