Look Back In Yalobusha History
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Giant Lizards Roam City In ’09 Create Havoc
Lago and tegu in 2009
It was a once-in-a-lifetime story on this date 15 years ago. Reports of giant reptiles roaming the city had circulated for several weeks in May and June of 2009.
People said they had seen everything from alligators to iguanas to monitor lizards. Then, on Monday, June 15, police cornered one of the critters, a tegu lizard, on the Highway 7 bypass.
Herpetoculturist Eric Lago was called to the scene and bagged the critter. Lago, who lived on County Road 109 just outside the city limits, had several escape from his residence.
So, it was over. The city was safe again because all the lizards had been accounted for…or so we thought. But, like a bad science fiction movie, the monsters came back. In July, police and animal control were called to the Berkshire Apartments for another sighting.
Through The Years From The Herald
• 15 years ago, June 18, 2009 – A line of strong thunder- storms with high, straight-line winds moved through the area blowing down several trees in the county.
Supervisors voted to terminate the county’s Civil Defense Director, Cecil Harrison. The county’s fire coordinator, Frank Hyde, was appointed as interim CD Director.
Watermelon Carnival T-shirts went on sale and were pictured on the front page being modeled by youngsters Makenzie Chandler and John Paul Ashford.
Members of the 2009 Water Valley FFA Opening and Closing Team placed fourth at the Mississippi FFA Convention. Team participants included Dustin Person, Joshua Sullivan, Gary Bratton, Kye Gilley, Cody Perkins, Cass Phillips and Chris Caldwell.
• 20 years ago, June 17, 2004 – The emergency spillway stilling basin at Enid Lake was drained for the first time since 1983 offering a rare view of the baffle blocks used to slow the current in an overflow.
New Chamber of Commerce officers were Derrick Surrette, president; Mike Brown, vice-president; and directors Bobby Turnage, Terry Varner, Amy McMinn, Missy Kimsey, Ora Lee Phillips, Johnny Avant, Keith Marchbanks and Lee Pullen.
Winners in the second annual “Old Timers” baseball game included Kenneth Mayes, Ryan Taylor, John Walker, Ron Hart, Roy Vance, Jeremy Vance, Michael Fonte, Jeff Bynum, Eddie Mister and Chris Yancy.
Ray Brasher was designated a Public Housing Manager after completing training by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.
Alisha Holland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Holland of Oakland, was named Miss Yalobusha County during the 1994 pageant.
– Photo by Jack Gurner
• 30 years ago, June 16, 1994 – Alisha Holland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Holland of Oakland, was named Miss Yalobusha County during the annual pageant sponsored by the Community Involvement Group. Little Miss Yalobusha County was Samantha Jean Goodwin. Miss Teen finalists included Katasha Rockette, Kimberly Hervey, Lakesha Gilland and Miss Teen Merlissa Caldwell. Junior Miss finalists were Vernay Hervey, Amanda Jean McCammon and Junior Miss Sabrinna Jean McCammon.
An editorial from the Mississippi Economic Council warned of federal government involvement with health care.
Dorris’ Sir Trouble, out of the Sylva Rena Kennels, competed with about 100 dogs at the Southern States Field Trials at Carver Point on Grenada Lake. Trouble, owned by Buddy Dorris, placed first in trailing, second in hunting, fifth in endurance and third in all- age HGA.
• 40 years ago, June 21, 1984–A“WeCanDoIt”Day was planned for the city on June 30 to clean up the mess left by the tornado and flood.
Valery Lynn White, 11- year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy White, was cast in the lead role as Annie in the University of Mississippi Summer Showcase production.
The Yalobusha County Soil Conservation Service was repairing nine structures in Yalobusha County under the provisions of the Emergency Watershed Protection Act. Some of the work was on Otouchlofa Creek.
Becky and Lisa Mathis were pictured participating in the Blackmur Library Summer Reading Program with Librarian Ann Ivy King.
South Central Bell was offering free installation of “Touch-Tone” services because “the Information Age is bringing a lot of new services.”
• 50 years ago, June 20, 1974 – Yalobusha General Hospital Administrator Marguerite Cook was honored by the Pink Ladies Auxiliary for her “years of service to the health facility.”
Charman Gayle “Charmie” Lassen was named Miss Hospitality and would compete in the state pageant in Biloxi.
Denise Tidwell was crowned “Miss Poppy” by the American Legion Auxiliary. First alternate was Bonnie Newman and second alternate was Paula Mills.
The Water Valley National Guard Battery C, 114 Field Artillery, was honored during their recent summer camp and testing.
The Yalobusha Homemakers Flower and Vegetable Show was held at the American Legion Hut in Coffeeville and Mrs. Thomas Turner, show chairman, and Mrs. Forest Barber, garden leader of the Coffeeville club, were pictured selecting vegetables to be exhibited at the show.
• 60 years ago, June 18, 1964 – Four Yalobusha County men, brothers Jimmy and John L. True, J. H. Langham and Ray Hylander, were being held on open charges after they were involved in a shooting incident during which deputy sheriff Loyd Hughes and landowner Tal Brower were wounded. The four men were “joyriding” on a bull- dozer being used in road construction. The men drove the dozer into Brower’s pasture and when approached by Hughes and Brower, Hylander fired a blast from a 12-gauge shotgun. Doctors removed 43 birdshot from Hughes and 38 from Brower.
Attending the International Order of Odd Fellows’ sponsored United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth were Tommy Edwards, Cheryl French, Sweetie Hall, Martha Bess Cooper, Suzanne Bell, Carlisle Throop and Nancy Spears.
Boy Scouts Owen Riddick and Hilly Griffin of Coffeeville were headed for the 1964 Boy Scout National Jamboree at Valley Forge, Pa. Guardsmen pictured receiving instruction on the 105mm Howitzer from Sgt. Gary Ayers of Coffeeville were Cpl. Jimmy Berry, Pvt. John E. Watson and Pfc. Jim Dollahite.
• 70 years ago, June 17, 1954 – Attorney John S. Throop Jr. of Water Valley announced his candidacy for Senator, representing the 28th District, Yalobusha and Grenada.
Joe Pegram, valedictorian of the WVHS 1954 graduating class, received the Reader’s Digest Award, consisting of an engraved certificate and one-year subscription.
