Looking Back In Yalobusha County History
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
Shown with the still they captured Friday, Oct. 3, 1952 are (left to right) Police Chief V. H. Arrington, Water Valley Police Chief D. B. Gore, Water Valley police officers C. C. Crews and A. T. Herring (see story on page 4). – Photo by T. C. Reese
Friday, Oct. 3, 1952 Sheriff Loyd Farmer with the assistance of Coffeeville Police Chief V. H. Arrington, Water Valley Police Chief D. B. Gore, Water Valley police officers C. C. Crews and A. T. Herring captured one of the largest stills that has ever been seen in this section of the state.
This was an oil burner outfit with a 500 gallon copper kettle and three 1000-gallon sheet iron mash containers.
The still was located about 12 miles from Coffeeville on the old A. G. White farm in the southwest corner of the county, about one mile from the Calhoun County line. The farm was sold to the government by Mr. White and lies in the Grenada Reservoir Area.
The kettle was destroyed along with 2500 gallons of mash. The tip was given by a farmer in that community. No arrests were made.
Through The Years From The Herald
• 15 years ago, Oct. 11, 2007 – Supervisors heard a complaint from Fletcher Fly that the county had taken a road from him without compensation.
A busted commode and a vote against upholding the law highlighted the first Tuesday meeting of the board of aldermen. The city water department destroyed the commode after they went onto the property to clean out the stopped up plumbing. Aldermen voted to table discussion of continuing the illegal practice of going onto private property to work.
Teacher of the Month for August was Karen Hamilton, seventh grade math teacher at WV Junior High.
The Blue Devils lost to tough division rival Eupora, 30-6.
• 20 years ago, Oct. 10, 2002 – Haley Barbour, soon to be Mississippi Governor, was honored at a luncheon at the Yalobusha Country Club.
Strong winds from the remnants of Hurricane Lili blew down a large pecan tree into the home of Shan Eubanks on Market Street.
Ackerman defeated the Blue Devils, 21-19, in region 2-2A play. But, they had a good meal before hand having been fed by Peoples Band and Trust.
Raymond Bruner spoke on the history of Palestine Church and Cemetery at the Yalobusha Historical Society meeting.
Matt Kehoe, a freshman at NWCC received the annual scholarship awarded by the Mississippi Association of Supervisors.
Compassion Food Ministries held a dedication and open house at their new facility located on Hwy. 7 at Springdale Family Worship Center.
• 30 years ago, Oct. 8, 1992 – Postmaster Roy McCullar and Clerk Wallace Forsyth were honored by their co-workers on the eve of their retirement from the Postal Service.
David Fuller was named administrator of the Yalobusha General Hospital and Nursing Home.
The Blue Devils were 2-0 in division play with a win over the Houston Hilltoppers, 18-14.
Michael Fonte, nine-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fonte, captured first place honors in his age group in the recent Pass, Punt and Kick competition in Batesville.
Brother Ferman Anderson, Jr. began his 28th year at First Christian Church.
The Order of Easter Star presented a check for $500 toward a new door security system for the Yalobusha Nursing Home. Presenting the check to Katie Partain, director of the nursing home, were members Nell Gholson and Nancy Goodwin.
Shedlia Freeman and Camisha Freeman, both of Water Valley, were involved with Homecoming activities at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
Members of the Water Valley Fire Department were pictured with a new rescue vehicle made from an out-of-service ambulance donated by Yalobusha General Hospital. Volunteers had completely rebuilt and reequipped the vehicle including response team members Thomas Scroggins, Bobby Phillips and Fire Chief Bob Ward. Mills Body Shop completed the project with a bright red paint job.
An elderly man, W. B. (Bill) Mixon, was found dead at his home on Lafayette Street. Police were treating the death as a homicide.
• 40 years ago, Oct. 14, 1982 – Police foiled a hold-up attempt at the Herman White home on South Main Street. The robbery suspect gained entrance to the home by posing as an insurance salesman. He held a .25 calibre automatic against Mr. White’s stomach and demanded $3000. Mrs. White managed to escape and attracted the attention of a passerby who alerted police.
The Blue Devils fell to the South Pontotoc Vikings, 14-6. The next game was homecoming and members of the court were: Marilyn Boydston and Debra Woodard, 10th grade; G. G. Mayo and Wyanda Cox, 11th grade; Carla Phillips, Christy Mayo, Jackie White and Lisa Odom, 12th grade.
Pictured on the front page preparing for the Junior Auxiliary Halloween Carnival were Valery White dressed as Little Orphan Annie, her little brother Jordan dressed as Superman, Jennifer Jones and Bethany Caulfield.
The “SuperStubbs” for the fourth time won the area softball championship. The group, sponsored by Stubbs Department Store, is composed of Nicole
White, Louise Benson, Tasha Hall, Lulu Hall, Anita Ragland, Carla Phillips, Dale White, Sandra Judson, Martha Hobdy, Pam Harris, Jayne Massie, Mary VanWinkle and Coach Crip Tyler.
• 50 years ago, Oct 12, 1972 – Negotiations were underway between Colt Industries of New York, the board of supervisors and the Mississippi BAWI board for Colt to begin manufacturing by one of their subsidiary plants in the building formally occupied by the bankrupt Ram Tool Corp.
The Blue Devils defeated the Bruce Trojans, 28-18, and the little Devils defeated Coffeeville, 20-0. Recent picks as Jaycee outstanding players were: Dennis Hall, Reed Thompson, best defensive players and Cliff Craven, Mike Horan, best offensive players.
Members of the Ole Miss Marching Band “The Pride of the South” from Water Valley were Laura Parsons, Rebecca Reid, Julie Sartain and Jack Hughes.
• 60 years ago, Oct. 11, 1962 – Dr. D. E. Spears was elected president of the Yalobusha General Hospital Medical Staff. He succeeded Dr. George Brown who had served since the hospital was opened.
The Blue Devils were deadlocked with Senatobia for the Chickasaw lead after defeating the Horn Lake Eagles, 39-7. The little Devils scampered by the Batesville Tigers, 13-0.
Two local Boy Scouts, Billy Humphreys and Bill Ray, were to receive their “God and Country” award at the morning service at First Methodist Church.
A runaway car driven by Mrs. C. E. Hervey came down Pate Street and struck the home of Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Pike, III on Dupuy Street. Mrs. Hervey and Mrs. John S. Throop, Sr., a passenger, were bruised and severely shaken.
The WVHS Yellow Jacket staff included Editor Peggy Ashmore, Asst. Editor Elsie Davis, and Business Manager Bill Gafford.
• 70 years ago, Oct. 9, 1952 – 250 Walk Out In Strike At Rice-Stix Plant, the headline read. Workers went out on strike Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. following a short period of negotiations between the leaders of the CIO clothing workers of America and management of Rice-Stix.
The Blue Devils defeated Batesville, 13-7, in a game scouted by Ole Miss line coach Frank “Bruiser” Kinard, who praised the Devils’ performance.
Janis Watson was editor of the Camp Ground Spotlight. Other staffers included Asst. Editor Charlotte Horton, Sports Editor Jimmie Jones, Ann Surrette and Betty Porter, fashion editors.
• 80 years ago, Oct. 8, 1942 – The surprise blackout came quicker than expected, even before the notices in the Herald received wide distribution in the area. The siren sounded the previous Thursday night about 9 p.m. and the lights went off. Although some scoffed at the idea of enemy planes overhead Water Valley, there was always a possibility that aircraft launched from carriers in the Gulf might strike industries around Memphis. And, if they were unable to hit those targets, they might drop their bombs on targets of opportunity – like Water Valley – if they could see lights below.
County supervisors offered a compromise plan to the state welfare department that would allow the food stamp program to continue if the minimum stamp purchase was lowered from $4 to $2. Originally county officials wanted to stop the program because they said it reached too few people for the cost.
Herald Editor Moon Mullen said that he would take the picture and print it on the front page of the first local person to donate his auto bumpers to the scrap drive.
