Look Back In Yalobusha History
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Members of the 1973 Rifle Squad, an auxiliary marching unit of the Water Valley High School Band were (from left, kneeling) Cheryl Nichols, Pat Anthony, Dianna Simmons, Sherry Swearengen (standing) Cindy Moxley, Mary Anne Fair, Paula Mills and Sharon McMinn.
• 15 years ago, Oct. 2, 2008 – Several Yalobushians were involved in the Presidential Debate held at the University of Mississippi. Some, like University Police Officer William Sheffield, Director of the Governor’s protection unit Wayland Adams, WVPD officers Lt. Rick McCuan and Capt. Roger Thomas, Sheriff’s Deputy David Wallis, and Coffeeville Police Chief Mark Martain, provided security. Others, like Melinda Grimmet, production supervisor for the physical plant department at UM, worked in the media filing center. Still others, like the Avant and Dean families, Snooky Williams and Daryl Burney, were taking in the sights.
Yosheka Conard was crowned homecoming queen 2008 by 2007 Queen Brittany Weekly.
John and Faye Swann were pictured in front of the Piggly Wiggly they purchased in Coffeeville.
The Blue Devils defeated West Tallahatchie, 20-16.
• 20 years ago, Oct. 2, 2003 – Water Valley native Billy Samuels was selected as the Corps of Engineers Resource Manager at Enid Lake.
The Blue Devils defeated top ranked Ackerman, 14-12, to share top honors in the division with Eupora.
Homecoming Queen Rudy Woodard was pictured with escort James Johnson.
Debbie Hill, a former Vallian, was pictured with one of her carousel houses that she carves out of basswood.
Chenee Olmstead played the role of Alice in the Missoula Players production of “Alice In Wonderland” held at DES and sponsored by the Junior Auxiliary.
The Chamber of Commerce was sponsoring a Fall Decorating Contest.
• 30 years ago, Sept. 30, 1993 – Rodney Childress, vocational agriculture teacher for many years at WVHS, was pictured with four of his successful students, Dr. Michael Newman, assistant professor of agriculture at Mississippi State; Jack Treloar, agricultural instructor at Webster County Vocational Center in Eupora; Dr. Gary Jackson, assistant professor of agriculture at Mississippi State; and Larry Carr, agriculture teacher at WVHS. Another student, Kevin Surrette, agriculture teacher at Green County High School in Leakesville, was not pictured.
Darrick Hervey was one of four recipients of a Chucky Mullins Scholarship at the University of Mississippi.
The Blue Devils had their first loss of the season to Okolona, 10-3.
Members of the Junior Auxiliary Dream Team, which won first place in its division in summer softball, included Crystal Stone, Mary Jane Gray, Carol Conard, Jennifer Jones, Andi Hardy, Angela Weeks, Debra Tatum, Jeanie Story, Jennifer Bolden, Emily Gurner, Tracy Rucker, Christy Wilbourn and Coach Tracy Norris.
• 40 years ago, Oct. 6, 1983 – The Blue Devils reclaimed the county title as they edged the Coffeeville Pirates 12-8 in a hard fought battle. Making it even more interesting was that the two coaches, Jerry Holt of the Devils and Al Reed of the Pirates, are brothers-in-law.
The WVHS Pep Club named Theresa Hervey, Denise Riley, Angela Gordon and Tim Folson as Spirit Award winners for the week.
The first bale of cotton of the season was ginned at B&I Gin on Oct. 3. and weighed 503 pounds.
Steve Sullivan was pictured with a 25-pound pumpkin he grew in his garden and Eric House displayed a six-pound Centennial variety sweet potato.
• 50 years ago, Oct. 4, 1973 – Pesticide containers holding dangerous traces of agricultural chemicals were buried in six feet of soil as part of a program by the Mississippi State Extension Service. Yalobusha County contains five sites where the chemical containers were buried.
Binnie Turnage was the first “victim” to have his blood typed during a special project sponsored by the Jaycettes.
The Blue Devils were up 22-0 when the Charleston team rallied and played to a deadlocked 22-22 score.
The Yalobusha Academy Chargers fell to the Senatobia Chiefs, 49-0.
Jimmie Lee Stapp was being held in the Panola County Jail charged with the breaking and burglarizing of Robert Sulivan’s Economy Service Station.
Junior High cheerleaders were Dixie Martin, Cathy Webb, Joyce Moody, Harriet Fair, Martha Chandler, Catherine Gooch, Donna Wilder and Lulu Hall.
Kenny Redwine was pictured with a 6.25 pound bass he caught in a pond near town.
• 60 years ago, Oct. 3, 1963 – The Herald introduced a new piece of technology to the newspaper printing process. The Photo-Lathe machine, which scans photos placed on a revolving drum and simultaneously cuts the scanned image into a metal plate attached to a second cylinder, would be used to produce the Herald’s photographs.
Participants in the 4-H poultry sale included Bennie Nelson, Jerry Trusty, Dianne Kerr, Pamela Pate, Steve Jones, Edward Pipkin, Joe Avant, Sam Swearengen, Roger Duke, William Jeffreys, Francis Ables, Larry Wrenn, Tommy Dorris, Travis Brooks and Claude Hayles.
The Blue Devils blanked Oakland, 12-0. Bill Camp led the scoring.
J. E. McGonagill, city meter patrolman, was pictured with an elephant ear plant with a 36-inch leaf.
• 70 years ago, Oct. 8, 1953 – Mayor O. T. Hamner was gifted with a brand new Chevy compliments of some of his constituents. Hon. John Throop made the presentation and called attention to the work done by the mayor on securing additional industry.
Just to the right of the gift car story was one about city taxes going up by three mills, bringing the total to 39 mills.
The new 4-H County Club building and county kitchen was formally dedicated. The building was located on the grounds of the courthouse. The offices of the Home Demonstration Agent and her assistant were also located there.
