Look Back In Yalobusha History
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A picture likely taken in 1936 shows local farmers bringing their melon crop to town for shipment across the country.
• 15 years ago, July 24, 2008 – Sales tax collections in Water Valley and Oakland were “flat” over the past year, only increasing by less than one percent. In Oakland, collections actually decreased 2.3 percent.
Watermelon grower Jerry Vaughn and son, Trea, were pictured on the front page with one of their big Carolina Cross melons.
Robert Walker of the electric department was pictured hanging a watermelon banner on a Main Street light pole.
Shirley Riley was the grand prize winner of the Mississippi Magazine 2008 recipe contest with her sweet potato cake.
Tyler Epes won the best overall award at the state 4-H convention with a photo that captured her reflection in the eye of her house, affectionately known as Dog.
• 20 years ago, July 24, 2003 – Mattie Moore Cofer was treated to a 99th birthday party at the Church of Christ.
Habitat for Humanity held a FUNd Day fundraiser and political rally at City Park. Winners included Kurt Savage, first in the nailing contest; and Jeremy Mills, junior division winner.
Angela Barley was nominated to the Who’s Who Among American High School Students.
Blackmur Memorial Librarian Pencie Latham was pictured sitting on the steps and reading a story to youngsters participating in the Summer Reading Program.
The high school had a brand new principal, Dr. Glenn Kitchens.
Ashley Harris was featured in a story from Mississippi State University about his plans to enter medical school.
Local youngsters participating in the Mid-South Kick-Boxing Tournament in Memphis were Codie Shuffield, Tanner Shuffield, Tyler Price, Ariel Price and Chad Fischer.
Betty Potts (third from left), a Big Yank employee, made the first watermelon banners in 1993 on her own time for the downtown light poles. With her are (from left) Mayor Larry Hart, Electric Department Superintendent Roy B. Stevens, Potts, Big Yank Plant Manager Bill Murry, Dr. Rayford Edgar, Dr. Barry Weeks and Melvin Ford, all three of the Chamber of Commerce.
– Photo by Jack Gurner
• 30 years ago, July 22, 1993 – Two teams from the elementary school attended the World Finals of the Odyssey of the Mind Competition at College Park, Maryland. Team members were (first team) Ashley Langdon, Cassandra Hawkins, Dawn Baker, Brandon Sims and James Carr, (second team) Lailah Bruce, Sarah Beard, Karla Hamilton, Aliya Ramirez and Rebecca Reynolds.
Dr. Mark Newman, a WV native and professor at Mississippi State University, produced two textbooks, one on agri-business and one on agri-science.
Dana Singleton Kivett was valedictorian of her nursing class at Tallulah Technical Institute.
• 40 years ago, July 28, 1983 – A front-page photo showed Paul Nunnery, Director of the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village, and Rev. Guy Reedy, pastor of First Baptist Church, standing with Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Berry, who donated 17 acres of land for the new child care cottage.
Dr. Barry Weeks announced the opening of his family practice of dentistry at 607 N. Main Street.
The Blue Devils were set to begin practice on August 8.
Mrs. C. R. Potts brought two large cucumbers into the Herald office, one was 18 inches and the other 14 inches in length.
Loyd R. Hughes completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
• 50 years ago, July 26, 1973 – Laura Parsons represented Water Valley at the state’s Miss Hospitality in Biloxi.
Water Valley’s Battery G of the 114th Field Artillery was on two weeks of active duty at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
Earl McMinn, Al Reed, John Crow and Jerry Holt were pictured with five big catfish they caught grabbling in Grenada Lake.
Western Division winners and overall champions in the Little League program in Water Valley were the Indians coached by Jimmie Jones. Team members were Tim Wilder, Johnny Moya, Michael Fondon, Jackie Chandler, Larry Hughes, Jerry Fondon, Rusty Wilbourn, Pat Williamson, Michael Patterson, Ronald Judson, Scott Williamson, Tommy Fondon, Greg Jones, Paul Judson and Victor Hervey.
J. Russell Bailey of Coffeeville was elected president of the Mississippi Retail Merchants Association.
• 60 years ago, July 25, 1963 – Yalobusha Sheriff Forest Barber was pictured with 39 cases of beer, four cases of whiskey and one case of gin confiscated from a truck driven by Billy F. Suddeth of Tupelo. Suddeth who was fined $200 in justice court.
Dorsey McKay of Water Valley, candidate for lieutenant governor, was shown with his rocking chair that bore a sign reading, “Kennedy won’t sit here.”
Frank Brooks was district winner in the FFA and Standard Oil sponsored tractor operation and maintenance contest.
Sgt. First Class Frank Wrenn, an Army veteran of 19 years, was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
City Marshall W. G. (Freck) Mitchell warned citizens that all parking tickets must be paid or face the judge in city court.
• 70 years ago, July 30, 1953 – Mrs. Jewell Riggs of Water Valley was elected president of the Grenada Unit of the Mississippi Hair Dressers for the third consecutive year.
Merle Cox mentioned in her Just Rambling column that a wall of the recently burned Grand Theatre fell shaking nearby buildings.
Danny Ross Ingram added three more ribbons to his collection of horse show trophies. He placed 3rd in Okolona, 4th at Brownsville, Tenn., and 1st at Batesville.
Camp Ground Baptist Church reported 92 participants enrolled in Bible School.
The Community Recreation Council was still trying to raise funds to build a skating rink at the community park.
Doyle Redwine was offering free pony rides at his store on Hwy. 32 west of Water Valley.
• 80 years ago, July 22, 1942 – James Russell Sutherland was pictured on the front page with a short article about his service with a Navy medical unit in San Diego.
Sellers Denley, editor of the Coffeeville Courier, sent a note to Herald editor Edward B. Shearer asking that his ad be run in “the second best paper in Yalobusha County.”
