Look Back In Yalobusha History
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The Yalobusha County medical community formally endorsed a plan by the Water Valley Jaycees to give mass Sabin inoculations in the county 60 years ago in February of 1964.
The Sabin Oral Vaccine was two drops of an odorless, colorless, tasteless liquid placed on a sugar cube and swallowed. It provided permanent protection against polio and was recommended whether or not the person had previously had the Salk vaccine. The two vaccines have eradicated polio from most countries in the world, and reduced the worldwide incidence from an estimated 350,000 cases in 1988 to just 223 cases in 2012.
Paul Strode, president of the Jaycees, said that clinics would be set up in all schools in Water Valley, Coffeeville and Oakland. The organization was asking for a 25 cent donation per person to help offset the tremendous cost, but urged every citizen in the county to take the immunization whether they could make a contribution or not.
Through The Years From The Herald
• 15 years ago, Feb. 19, 2009 – Yalobusha County recorded the first homicide of the year when Ernest Moore was shot and killed as he drove down Kennedy Street in Coffeeville.
Alderman Thomas S. “Tommy” Swearengen died Wednesday, Feb. 11, after a long bout with cancer.
BorgWarner was “in the middle of the ugly” after another 30-plus employees were laid off. Plant Manager Hans Werner said that the company was “cutting out what is absolutely not necessary to run this business.”
The school board voted to allow public contributions to support athletic programs after the state announced funding cuts and several local sports programs were cut.
The Water Valley High School girls won the 1999 invitational tournament at home. Team members 25 years ago were (front, from left) Yoshia Rockette, Christy Smith, Kellie Burns, Jennifer Bolden, Cortney Parsons, (second row) Octavia Rockette, DeKesha Jenkins, Ethel Phillips, Talisha Bailey, Danica Hollister, Laquea Robinson, Bessie Jones, (back row) Mary Judson, Denise Bishop, Bernadette Sayles and Felicia Townes.
• 20 years ago, Feb. 19, 2004 – The school district was facing a $380,000 shortfall for the next school year. Superintendent Sam Higdon said that he would present a plan that would include cuts, but would avoid layoffs.
Band members attending the I-55 Band Clinic at NWCC were Octavius Townsend, Justine Horton, Hagan Volbracht, Terrance Carr, Alex Hobson, Danielle Berry, John Rue, Amber Bowles, Blake Beshires, Markie Jackson and Brandi Sims.
Participating in the Northwest Junior Judging Contest held at Batesville were Corey Mills, Mallory Washington, Beth Tillman, Drew Tillman, Kyle Jones, Marianna Turner, Lauren Kimzey, Kelsey Kimzey and Haley Vance. The lamb judging team won first place while the swine and the beef team placed second.
• 30 years ago, Feb. 17, 1994 – Other than the ice storm, it was a slow news week for the Herald. There was a rook tournament upcoming at John Kyle Park and the Wild Turkey Federation was having their banquet in Grenada.
• 40 years ago, Feb. 23, 1984 – WVHS students Teresa Heath and Jane Massie were named 1984 United States National Award winners in Business Education.
WVHS Drum Major Kim Herring was pictured on the front page after attending the Northeast Mississippi Band Director’s Clinic at Booneville.
The U.S. Postal Service was looking for a suitable site for a new post office building in Oakland, according to Postmaster James Donaldson.
Plant Manager Jerry Fondren presented three Holley Carburetor employees, Rozella VanWinkle, Travis Clement and Jerry Davis, ten-year service pins.
More letters were pouring into the Herald about the planned demolishment of the Bank of Water Valley building including one from Bill Barrett, Executive Director of the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association and another from Bill Steiner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Southern Regional Office in Charleston, S.C.
• 50 years ago, Feb. 21, 1974 – Mrs. Mamie Shields was chosen by the Board of Supervisors to serve as Extension Home Economist for Yalobusha County. She formerly served as associate home economist here.
WVHS bandsmen attending the Northeast District Band Clinic held at Northeast Mississippi Junior College in Booneville included Anthony Steele, Cindi Pittman, Elizabeth Chinault, Lynda Sartain, William White and Mary Beth Knight. Band Director Stanley Crow accompanied the students.
• 60 years ago, Feb. 20, 1964 – Girl Scout Troop 78 was hawking cookies and pictured with samples were troop members Mary Tyler, Laura Parsons, Margie Dell Mayo, Kim Horan, Debbie Hill, Dorothy Caulfield, Linda Coleman, Debbie Edwards, Carol Sartain, Jane Henry, Mary Jane Harding, Nancy Tyler, Lee Ann Mott, Janelle Landreth and Renee Hollowell. The leader was Mrs. James B. Tyler.
Spring practice was about to begin for the Blue Devil football team under Coach Bobby Clark. Missing from the Chickasaw Conference championship team would be 13 seniors.
Returning were seven lettermen, all juniors, including quarterback Jack Harvey, halfbacks Ricky Parsons and Tommy Fortinberry, center Gene Walker, guard-fullback Mike Sartor and ends Joe Holt and Kenny Maynor. Other experienced performers included Larry Evans, Glenn Taylor, Kenny Taylor, Harold Henderson, Bubba Peacock, Tommy Edwards, Danny Gordon, Larry Michletti, Preston Bonner, Mike Hedges, Pete Smith, John Coleman, W. C. Vaughn, Mike Ledbetter, Steve Williams and Duane Pierce.
• 70 years ago, Feb 18, 1954 – Construction of the new skating rink in the community recreation area began with ground being broken by Mayor O. T. Hamner. The mayor had also proclaimed the upcoming Saturday as Pancake Day in honor of the visit of Aunt Jemima, played by actress Anna Short Harrington.
Coffeeville’s basketball boys with their great center “Little Bud” York advanced to tourney play by defeating Camp Ground, 90-32.
• 80 years ago, Feb. 17, 1944 – New recruits from Water Valley at the U. S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, were James Blackmur Aune, Kenneth Ray Sissell, Raymond David Dickey, Joseph Johnson Pilkington and Robert Clarence Wilson.
Mrs. Ruth Cowan announced the following pupils made the honor roll in music: Ann Appleton, Bubber Appleton, Charles Appleton, Teresia Bagguley, Jane Brown, Mary Elizabeth Brown, Laura Jo Burns, Prudence Burns, Boots Carpenter, Martha Ann Duvall, Beverly Edwards, Mary Lee Edwards, Patricia Tarver Eudaly, Ann Gafford, and Billy Maud Green.
