Look Back In Yalobusha History

By Editor | August 9, 2023 |

Officers for the 1993-1994 Water Valley Band were (front) Melanie Goodwin, vice-president and drum major; Leah Ann Norris, guard captain; (back) Bill Pullen, 9th grade representative; Mandy Holt, 10th grade representative; Rodney Lawrence, president; Naketa White, 11th grade representative; and Deshia Anthony, 8th grade representative. Not pictured were Cathey Maynor, secretary; and Thomasina White, 12th grade representative. – Photo by Jack Gurner

• 15 years ago, Aug. 14, 2008 – The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4100 were granted a permit to sell beer and light wine for on-premises consumption by Yalobusha County Supervisors.
Aldermen hired two police officers, Christopher Blair and Jamie Caldwell, during their meeting Aug. 5.

Water Valley Blue Devil head coach Brad Embry was pictured going over plays during an afternoon training session in preparation for their season opening Aug. 29 against Coffeeville.

The WV Football Boosters sponsored a meet the Blue Devils night August 15.
Lannon Franklin was featured with his new book “It’s A Long Way From The Ant Bed.”

The former board of Yalobusha County Habitat for Humanity was transitioning to the Fuller Center for Housing. Members were Kevin Lee, Lucia Holloway, Lynn Morris, Inez Turner, Clay Ashford, Don Giles and Lamar Burgess.

Unemployment in the county was 9.7 percent in June, up 1.1 percent from May.

• 20 years ago, Aug. 14, 2003 – New WVHS staff members were pictured on the front page including Principal Dr. Glenn Kitchens and Assistant Principal Anthony Barnes.
Jennifer Jones, a member of the Ole Miss cross country/track team was named an SEC Scholar Athlete for the 2002-2003 school year.

Yalo Studio and Gallery was converted into a depot waiting room for the art installation, “Waiting,” by Brooklyn, New York, artist Andrea Ray in 2013.

Camp Ground Baptist Church was preparing to celebrate their 75th anniversary.

District One Supervisor Bill McMinn was pictured at the bridge on County Road 135 in the Airmount community that was damaged by recent heavy rains.

The Herald printed a news release from the University of Mississippi announcing a contest to find a new Ole Miss mascot to replace the old one with a “new energetic, vibrant figure.”
Nikki Woodard was selected by “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” for the Presidential Classroom program.

• 30 years ago, Aug. 12, 1993 – More than 200 people participated in the two-mile Fun Walk of the Watermelon Classic.

Yalobusha County 4-H member Bart Jackson won two classes at the Southern Regional 4-H Hourse Show in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Mayor Larry Hart was pictured giving his official welcome to the crowd at the 14th annual Watermelon Carnival. Another photo showed Master of Ceremonies Russ Wooten and Chamber President Dr. Barry Weeks weighing an entry for the biggest melon contest. It was noted that all the entries were in the 40 to 48 pound range

County supervisors set gross weight and load limits for all roads and bridges. The max on county roads is 40,000 pounds.

Pat and Eddie Ray had the August Yard of the Month, sponsored by The Garden Club of Water Valley.

• 40 years ago, Aug. 18, 1983 – Camille Fly Howell was pictured on the front page being awarded her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Mississippi.

Three members of the James Spence family received “God and Country” awards at First Methodist Church. Pictured were Joseph Stewart Spence, James Stephens Spence and John Scott Spence, the honorees along with their parents, James and Clara Spence. Also pictured were Scoutmaster Jerry Foster and Don Lewis, pastor of FMC.

Winners in the 6th Annual Governor’s Youth Fishing Rodeo at Cossar State Park were: age 13-15, Baucum Chambers of Tillatoba, largest and most; Larry Dunn, smallest; age 9-12, Chris Chambers of Tillatoba, largest and most; Heath Lester, smallest; age 5-8, Lloyd Tippit, largest; Angel Chambers of Tillatoba, most; and Neal Crocker, smallest.

Dr. and Mrs. Andy Jones held an open house at the new Dental Clinic on Wood Street.
Joy Horan was pictured with a pair of bass, one seven pounds and the other three.

Nellie Potts of Water Valley completed a course of practical nursing at Northwest Mississippi Junior College.

• 50 years ago, Aug. 16, 1973 – Jimmy Green and Billy Allred were pictured picking up their football gear to begin “serious” practice under Coach Bobby Clark.

Jan Lollar, 17-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Lollar, was WVHS band drum major for the new school year.

Becky Reid represented the local Farm Bureau in the district Miss Farm Bureau contest at Batesville.

Frank Tucker reported in his Farm and Home News and Views column that the “Williams boys,” Snooky and Harold were just getting back from the Neshoba County Fair.

Suzanne Davis, Lori Hardy and Teryl McClaflin were pictured with tiny baby Tina Hill at the Junior Auxiliary sponsored training course for baby sitters. Tina was being used for practice, but she apparently made it through with very little damage.

Hicky Willingham showed off a seven foot long chicken snake he killed in the Sylva Rena Community.

• 60 years ago, Aug. 15, 1963 – City Marshall W. G. “Freck” Mitchell warned traffic scofflaws that he would no longer issue warnings to first violators. There were too many speeders, reckless drivers and improper mufflers in the city.

Citizens of the Tillatoba community were seeking a water system to serve about 70 people of the area. It was estimated that the complete system could cost as much as $60,000.

The headline read, “Queer Vegetables Still Appearing On County Farms.” According to the story, Dave Walters had a purple top turnip that weighed nearly five pounds, Mrs. James Womble reported that on a plant loaded with hot peppers was one lone bell pepper and Cora Collins had an Irish potato with a bouquet of eleven small potatoes on one end.

Members of the 4-H Club taking a trip to the State Leadership Conference at Mississippi State were Beverly Allen, Steve Brower, Christeen Williams and Sammy McCracken.

• 70 years ago, Aug 20, 1953 – Herald “folder” David Langford got a second job operating the city’s fogging machine. Street Commissioner Bill Robinson announced that David would be glad to spray around the premises of homes on Thursdays only. He couldn’t go into houses or out buildings, but he guaranteed to spread enough of the (probably toxic) fog around so that it would drift under and around houses.

Miss Water Valley contestants were pictured on the front page in their cute short-shorts eating watermelon. They were Pat Person, Doris Bynum, Jeanette Terrell, Joann Taylor (the present Miss Water Valley), Hazel Brown, Beth Bell, Ann Gafford and Jo Taylor. Another picture featured Alice Fay Vaughn, Yvonne Russell, Mary Louise McCulley, Boots Carpenter and Clara Rose Mays.

A new dentist was coming to town. Dr. Fred Hedges of Killen, Texas, was moving to Water Valley to practice in an office suite above the Ben Franklin building. Dr. Hedges was already known to many because of his wife, the former Sue Elliott.

A very young Ed Shearer III wrote in his “Brain Storms” column that he was glad to hear that the city was going to enforce parking regulations. Apparently it was nearly impossible to find a parking space downtown with all the business being conducted.

• 80 years ago, Aug. 12, 1942 – The first bale of cotton of the season was ginned at B & I Gin for Oscar Shaw, who lived about 18 miles northwest of Water Valley.

Staff Sergeant William Mahaney was killed in action “somewhere in the Pacific.” He was the tail gunner in a B-17 with the Army Air Corps.

Posted in Archived Stories