Looking Back In Yalobusha History
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This wood and metal structure used as a warehouse by Reliance (Big Yank) at the old fairground on Hwy. 315 burned in 1963.
• 15 years ago, Feb. 7, 2008 – A Senate Bill was introduced to put Yalobusha County in the hunt for a joint regional/county jail that would be financed by the state.
A Water Valley School District bus ran off into a ditch on Eckford Street last week slightly injuring two youngsters.
The Lady Blue Devils were 3-0 and the boys were 2-1 in basketball play.
• 20 years ago, Feb. 6, 2003 – Jane Henry Crow and Hamric Henry were pictured standing by a portrait of Mr. Henry and his wife, the late Dorothy Jane Bennett Henry, which was to be hung during dedication of the new Henry Chapel at Seven Oaks Funeral Home.
The first Y-Fest was scheduled for the Multipurpose Building in Coffeeville.
Local students on the President’s Scholar list at Mississippi State University were Ashley Harris, Lee Holt and Carter White.
• 30 years ago, Feb. 4, 1993 – Students in the WVHS Distributive Education Clubs of America headed for the state competition were Kari Smith, Sholunda Rucker, Teresa Walton, Callie Cox, William Baker and Centro Henderson. Mrs. Rosa Hill was the advisor.
Girl Scout cookies were on the way and being sold by Troop 85 under leader Emma Gooch. Members were Tawanda Mitchell, Kalinda Jenkins, Hope Brown and Laticia Harris. Brownie Troop leaders were Peggy Foxx amd Brenda Joiner. Brownies were Brittany Foxx, Lucinda Walton, Alicia Joiner, Monique Woodard, Latoya Harris, Justina Pricthard, Alisha Ross, Tasha Hilliard and Felisha Hilliard.
• 40 years ago, Feb. 10, 1983 – The first woman president of the Mississippi Future Farmers of America, Nanci Mason of Collins, visited and spoke to the local chapter. She was pictured with Sterling Massey, treasurer; Brad Brooks, advisor; Eric Carlisle, secretary; Andy Grass, vice-president; Patrick Harris, sentinel; Douglas Carter, president; and Kevin Harmon, reporter.
Aldermen heard a proposal to convert the old ICG Railroad depot to a restaurant.
WVHS Band students attending the I-55 clinic at NWJC were Cindy Fernandez, Susan Burress, Amy Walley, Kim Herring, Denise Romberger, Jimmy Huckaby, Deanne Cox, Vet McLeod, John Ingram, Bill Sikma, Mike Eubanks and Paige Williams.
A new DECA club was organized at WVHS with members Mike Todd, Lisa Phillips, Lisa Odom, Carol Pruitt, Nancy Card, Linda Potts, Patricia Miles, Pamela Bell, Darnell White, Kevin Reese, Chris Crews, Bill Childs, Joe Clark, Brenda Potts and Jerry Smith.
WV Police Chief James Pierce demonstrates the new hand-held radar purchased by the city in February 1973.
• 50 years ago, Feb. 8, 1973 – The Junior Blue Devils ended their season as champs of the Tri-Lake Conference. They defeated Calhoun City and Coffeeville for the south-half crown and Senatobia for the overall title. Team members included Edward Love, Jessie Woodard, Dannell Crawford, Larry Johnson, Hal Clark, Brennan Horan, James Jones, Michael Herod, Dan York, James Robinson, Kenneth Wright, George Brooks, Milton Rockett, Terry Anderson and Marvin Hall. Coaches were Lincoln Shields and Keny Goodwin.
• 60 years ago, Feb 7, 1963 – Two fires in the city slowed two local industries; Choctaw Athletics and Big Yank. The first fire was in the old powerhouse where Choctaw Athletics was manufacturing and repairing sporting equipment. The second destroyed two buildings at the fair grounds northwest of the city on Hwy. 315.
Big Yank rented the space from the Jaycees to warehouse materials. The origin of the fires was unknown.
City officials applied for federal grant money to build a new municipal building at the corner of Railroad Street and Cemetery Street (Blackmur Drive) on the lot now occupied by the city auditorium.
Water Valley’s never-say-die Devilettes upset the favored Horn Lake Eaglettes in the finals of the Chickasaw tournament at Senatobia to win the Chickasaw title.
• 70 years ago, Feb. 5, 1953 – On display at the Herald office was the latest freak of nature, an egg with a design on the shell that Herald Editor Edward B. Shearer described as defying description. Mrs. Tom Warren, who brought it in, called it a flying saucer and suggested that maybe the hen saw a flying saucer.
The Blue Devils, defending champions, dropped to Sardis High School in the Chickasaw Conference tournament finals.
Young high school student Ed Shearer, III, was commenting on the lack of rules at WVHS, noting that the school had little problems with discipline thanks to Superintendent J. N. Bell.
