Look Back At Yalobusha History
10 Years—Jan. 19, 2009 – BorgWarner was in the middle of a crisis with the latest cuts. Joe Potts, a BorgWarner employee for 31 years, stated that he believes the local plant will survive the current economic down turn.
Yalobusha County recorded its first homicide in 2009 after a Coffeeville man was shot.
Herald reporter, Jack Gurner, was recounting his friendship with the late Tommy Swearengen, who died Wednesday. Even though a long-time local business man, Tommy was best know for his service as Alderman of Ward 3. Jack stated that they were next door neighbors and he recalled that Tommy had always been a “character” but was loved by most everyone.
Betty and Edwin Earl Hill were selected as King and Queen of the Valentine Banquet at Woodland Hills Baptist Church.
Firefighter Brent Rogers of Water Valley was a recent graduate of the State Fire Academy.
Dr. Ashley Harris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Harris, has accepted a fellowship in geriatrics at Harvard University.
20 Years—Feb. 25, 1999 – Justin Brooks, son of Brad and Louanne Brooks, was excited to win the next-to-the last draw after he had given up hope of being a winner at the Wildlife Seminar and Wildlife Tasting Buffet. His prize was, a $50 Savings Bond from Peoples Bank.
Daryl Burney of Coffeeville, president of the Mississippi Association Conservation Districts, presented Rep. Tommy Reynolds an award for being named “Conservation Legislator of the Year” at the MACD annual meeting in Jackson.
Winners in the Wildlife Tasting Buffet were: Best Tasting Category, Cheryl Harris, first; Johnny Avant, second; Amy McMinn, third; and Shirley Edwards, honorable mention. In the Most Unusual category, Connie Rogers was first, Charles Jones was second, Tommy Latham was third, and Sarah Williams received an honorable mention.
Officers of the newly organized Water Valley School System PTA were: Cam Tyler, president; Cayce Washington and Annie Fondon, vice-presidents; Libbie Love, secretary; and Candace Stevens, treasurer.
Mrs. Mary Louise Fly was honored on her 84th birthday with a reception in the home of Benny and Debbie Fly.
30 Years—Feb. 23, 1989 – Water Valley High School was again asked to host the 3-A Girls portion of the North Half Basketball Tournament.
Water Valley Band students selected to participate in the Northeast Band Clinic were Harold Turner, Tracey Norris, Twinkle Van Winkle and Melissa Dennis. Junior high students selected were Heather Horan, Tracey McMinn, Cathey Maynor and George Young.
Enid Lake has risen over six feet in one week.
Members of the 1988-’89 Water Valley High School Boys basketball team were James Lawrence, Derek Hervey, Jeff Bynum, Rodney Phillips, Michael Jefferson, Deshon Hervey, Marcus Stokes, Bryant Mix, Chris Turner, Shelly Freeman, Patrick Robinson. Butler McLeod was the coach.
The girls team included Lisa Schmitz, Katina Brown, Charlene Horton, Marsha Gooch, Valery White, Shenetha Hervey, Linda Covington, Melba Mayes, Andrea Holmes and Pam Horton. The coach was Kim Chrestman.
40 Years—Feb. 22, 1979 – Pictured was the proposed branch of The Mechanics Savings Bank to be built in the Jeff Davis Community on land purchased from Mrs. Dixie Hendricks.
Among 160 outstanding high school bandsmen from a five state Mid-South area, selected for the annual Ole Miss Honor Band were Water Valley High School students, Cheryl Odom, Benjy Gurner and Julie Tubbs.
Retired city electrician Andrew Berry was pictured with the first voltmeter acquired when electricity was installed in Water Valley—nearly a century ago.
Robin Wright, a member of the newly organized Coffeeville High School Band, participated in the Ole Miss Honor Band.
Charles L. Miles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Miles of Water Valley, was promoted to the rank of captain by the Memphis Police Department.
50 Years—Feb. 20, 1969 – Four Yalobusha County 4-H’ers, Tom Baker of Oakland, Debbie Hill of Water Valley, and Beverly Harbor and Donna Harbour, of Coffeeville, showed calves in the Northwest District Livestock Show in Batesville and received blue ribbons.
Harriet Samuels, daughter of Mrs. Earl Fly and a senior at Mississippi State College for Women, received the Blanche Colton Williams Memorial Award in the amount of $50. She had an accumulative average of 95.75.
Some of the state’s finest Class A Boys Basketball Teams will vie for a slot in the State High School Tournament. The North Mississippi Class A Tournament was scheduled in Water Valley, with the winner advancing to the state.
Four Yalobushians, Sheila Riley, Rosa Ruth Hill, and Charles T. White, all of Water Vally, and Queda Denley of Coffeeville received degrees from Ole Miss at the conclusion of the fall semester.
60 Years—Feb. 19, 1959 – In a front page photo, Water Valley’s youngest attorney, Ben F. Horan, was shown with his father, Hon. John P. Horan. Ben had just completed his law degree at the University of Mississippi. His wife, the former Lilly Loyce Bell and he have two children.
Congressman Jamie Whitten has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to allow farmers to sell a part of their cotton allotments.
The Reliance Plant (Rice-Stix) in Water Valley had a weekly payroll of $18,000.
The Water Valley High School Blue Devils and Devilettes basketball teams closed out their season last week, sustaining losses to Bruce in the District 2 A-AA Tournament by scores of 51-37 for the boys and 50-43 in girls’ play.
In a tour of the Rice-Stix Plant, Manager Darrell Brinegar explained operations to Earl Fly, “Doc” Hamner, ”Doc” Bell and Watt Turnage.
Mrs. Lucille Chapman, librarian of the new city library located in the former fire station, was pictured checking out a book for Wesley Hughes.
70 Years—Feb. 24, 1949 – W. T. Trusty told the Herald that the sale of the Trusty Hotel is pending, but that if this sale is consummated it will not affect the Trusty Hardware and Implement Company.
A new flower shop is bing added to the rooster of Water Valley businesses with the opening of Water Valley Funeral Home Flower Shop.
Charles Murray and Tom Myers escaped serious injury Monday when a Plymouth Coach driven by Mr. Murray overturned on Highway 7 north of Holly Springs due to loose gravel.
A popular graduate of Jeff Davis High School, Mildred Harmon, died February 5 of a heart attack, suffered while she was attending a rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas. Miss Harmon had been employed in Forth Worth.
Automobile dealers with large advertisements in the paper are: Hendricks Machine Shop, Ford; Wilbourn Motors, Dodge; Busby Chevrolet Co.; and Crowson Motors, Pontiac.
Mrs. Charles Langford, Mrs. Johnson Lancaster, and Mrs. Edward Shearer, home room mothers, entertained members of the 8th Grade Class at a party in the City Auditorium.
