Look Back In Yalobusha History
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The Mechanics Bank team 35 years ago in June, 1988, included (front, from left) Bobby Reaves, Josh Harris, Justin Bell, Chris Allen, Ty Edwards, Heath Brooks, Andy Aldy and Keatres Morgan; (second row) Coach Lowell Edwards, George Walls, Reggie Pulley, Ronald Burgess, Anthony Loomis, Harley Camp, Dee McCollins and Coach Floyd McGehee. – Photo by Jack Gurner
• 15 years ago, June 19, 2008 – Rev. Harold Spraberry was featured on the front page in a story about becoming minister of First Presbyterian Church.
State economic development officials visited Water Valley including Chris Berryman of TVA and Joseph Geddie of the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association. They were pictured with local officials looking over the industrial park.
Local businessman W. R. Newman appeared before the planning commission regarding plans to open a mobile home dealership on the Hwy. 7 bypass south of the Hwy. 315 intersection.
Gasoline distributor Tommy White warned consumers that government mandated 10 percent ethanol fuel caused a drop in fuel efficiency and other problems.
Antoinette Edrington was featured in a story by Lucia Holloway.
The Town and Country Garden Club purchased 23 litter containers for Water Valley downtown business district.
Defensive tackle Bryant Mix was inducted into the Northwest Community College Sports Hall of Fame.
Nichole House was selected 1993 Miss Yalobusha County at the Community Involvement Group pageant.
• 20 years ago, June 19, 2003 – Three juveniles ranging in age from 15 to 17 were charged in connection with the vandalism of the City Park gazebo.
Ray Tidwell was BorgWarner’s Employee of the Month for June.
Bamboo from Yalobusha County’s Whitten Plant Materials Center was part of the diet for Le Le and Ya Ya, giant pandas from China on loan to the Memphis Zoo.
Mrs. Mattie Cofer was honored on her 99th birthday in the Fellowship Hall at Church of Christ.
• 30 years ago, June 17, 1993 – The American Legion honored Mrs. John Anthony and Mrs. Ethel King for their dedication and service in fund-raising activity.
New officers for the FFA were Tommy Lewis, student advisor; Chad Moore, reporter; Angela McNatt, secretary; Brian Schmitz, vice-president; Caleb Beard, treasurer; Tammy Foster, president; and Jeremy Warren, sentinel. The group won first place in the Northwest Federation and second in district.
The FFA Senior Tool Identification Team, Reggie Polk, Chris Russell, Kenan Stewart and Wade Shultice, won first place in the Northwest Federation and second in district.
Stephanie Dickey Paccasassi and Denise Clement Tate graduated from the University Medical Center in Jackson.
Several local students, Jahnaee’ Surrette, Jason Judson and Michael Rhyne, were named winners in the United States Achievement Academy awards.
• 40 years ago, June 23, 1983 – Nearly two hundred Yalobusha County citizens gathered at the Courthouse in Water Valley on June 20 for a meeting with supervisors to protest the building of a prison facility in the county.
VFW Post 4100 Ladies Auxiliary members presented an American flag and dedicated a flagpole to Yalobusha Nursing Home. Mrs. Pearl McCullar made the presentation. The pole was built and installed by Markley Trusty.
Three members of the local FFA chapter, Brad Surrette, Kevin Herrera and Mike Dunn, were part of the State FFA Band that performed during the 50th Annual State Convention. Also, Doug Carter received a $100 reward in recognition of being selected a District Star Agribusinessperson.
Mrs. Dolly Henderson of the Water Valley Progressive Homemakers’ Club and Mrs. Opal Wright of the Coffeeville Homemakers’ Club received awards at the annual program of the Mississippi Extension Homemakers’Council.
• 50 years ago, June 21, 1973 – Employment was at an all-time high in Water Valley. According to the Chamber of Commerce, 550 were employed at Big Yank, 450 at Motts, 470 at Holley, 103 at Carothers, 100 at Yalobusha General Hospital, 90 in the school district and 50 in the city departments.
Eddie Aune was pictured at Boy’s State in Jackson with Public Service Commission Chairman D. W. Snyder.
• 60 years ago, June 20, 1963 – A long-range paving program on a county-unit system was underway that would save Yalobusha taxpayers considerable money. The board of supervisors jointly purchased paving equipment that would allow paving at $2,000 to $2,500 per mile. Estimates on contractor bids ranged from $9,000 to $13,000 per mile
Lucia and Don Holloway were elected delegates to the National Junior Chamber of Commerce Convention in Louisville, Ky.
Cecil Brower of Coffeeville was elected president of the 4-H Advisory Council. Other officers were Quay Jones, vice president; Mrs. Harold Allen, secretary; and J. M. Fancher, treasurer.
Carl Ashmore was promoted to first lieutenant in the U. S. Army at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
• 70 years ago, June 18, 1953 – It was blazing hot and folks were complaining about the weather Editor Edward B. Shearer wrote in his Shearings column. He noted that O. T. Parsons had purchased an automatic fire alarm system that would set a bell ringing when a major change in temperature took place. Last week the alarm sounded and no fire was found. Parsons believed the June heat set off the alarm.
Mabry McMillan received his M. D. from the Harvard University School of Medicine.
The State Plant Board reported that no weevils were found in Yalobusha County cotton fields.
The Community Recreation Council announced the opening of the wading pool in the north end park. It was to be supervised by members of the Junior Auxiliary.
Members of local Boy Scout Troop 14 were at Camp Yocona and won the water carnival events. Two Scouts, Assistant Scoutmaster Jim Allen and Davis Lee Hale, were “tapped out” for the Order of the Arrow.
Smiley Burnette, one of the great cowboy sidekicks billed as America’s No. 1 cowboy comedian, made a personal appearance at the Grand Theatre.
There was a long list of tonsillectomies from the Water Valley Hospital including William Everett Pryor, Annie Rose Pryor, John Thomas Pryor, Joyce Ann Wrenn, all of Water Valley and Malcolm Shaw and Dorothy Powers of Coffeeville.
• 80 years ago, June 17, 1943 – Herman White was appealing to local farmers to support the Farm Bureau organization. He asked them to become members by contacting one of the directors W. Y. Parker, Clyde Williams, Arthur Massey, Wayne Williamson, Arthur Williams, or Fred Dailey.
Ross Ingram brought in the first cotton bloom of the season from his forty acres.
William Sissell won $53.57 showing a cow at the Como Livestock Show. The Yalobusha 4-H boys won a total of $128.47 including Crystal Liles, Raymond Jones, Wesson Brister and Gray Harrison.
