Whitten Won Two-To-One Victory In 1944
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Members of the 1994 Sartain’s Home & Auto Magnolia Youth League team were (front, from left) Carter White, Josh Samuels, Will Taylor, Michael Hughes, (standing) Timmy Grover, Matt Lovelace, Ryan Taylor, Coach Steve Thompson, Jeff Becker, Josh Thweatt and Matt Weeks. Not pictured were Demaro Bounds, Mario Morgan, Brandon Sims and Patrick Franklin. – Photo by Jack Gurner
• 15 years ago, July 9, 2009 – Yalobusha County’s total assessed value increased 4.4 percent, almost doubling the previous year’s growth. The total assessed value of the county was $74,169,067, according to Tax Collector/Assessor Linda Shuffield.
First District Congressman Travis Childers visited the county for a “Coffee With The Congressman” event at the Coffeeville Courthouse.
Supervisors voted to hire Frank Hyde as director of the county’s civil defense. Hyde was already serving as the fire coordinator, E-911 coordinator and arson investigator.
City officials were administered the oath of office by Mississippi Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson Jr. during a ceremony July 6.
Billy B. Williamson was pictured showing off the first official cotton bloom of the season. The bloom was picked just south of town in his son, Pat Williamson’s, field.
Movie fans were pictured gathered in the lot at the corner of Panola and Main for the Friday night Movie on Main Street presentation of the film “Independence Day.”
• 20 years ago, July 8, 2004 – The Billy’s Creek Rural Water Association honored R. E. “Dick” Gibbs posthumously for 31 years of service. In 1972, Gibbs went door- to-door getting people signed up for the association.
The Magnolia Youth League 9-10-year-old all stars took 2nd place in the sub-district tournament in Bruce. Team members included Travis Baker, Earnest Bounds, Daniel Watkins, Austin Hodge, Brady Dickey, Dakota King, Devin Kimzey, Mikey Watson, Taylor Edwards, Christopher Gaston, Justin Durdin, Tyler Kimzey, Demetrick Cooke, Garrett Coffey, and Coaches Tim Hodge, Grant Coffey and Steve Edwards.
John G. Brower III and Zachery C. Brower exhibit Angus cattle at the Junior Augus Show in Kansas City.
Charlsa Erin Carr attended the second session of the Lott Leadership Institute on the campus of the University of Mississippi.
Dorothy Shelly was awarded the Decoration of Chivalry by the Mississippi Association of Ladies Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant of Mississippi.
• 30 years ago, July 7, 1994 – Sylva Rena Baptist Church AcTeens began a clown ministry and their first stop was the Yalobusha Nursing Home where they entertained residents. The group included Debra Tatum, Lauren Pullen, Kelly Pullen, Alisha Sprouse and Kristy McMillen.
Michele Glick was a finalist in the 1994 “Teen of Mississippi” scholarship and recognition program in Jackson.
New Town and Country Garden Club officers were Teresa Edgar, president; Mary Lou Jones, vice-president; Ethel King, publicity chairman; Maxine Baird, recording secretary; Pat Riley, corresponding secretary; and Luella Fair, treasurer.
Winners in the 4-H Northwest District Junior Achievement Day “Share The Fun Competition” were Leann Langkawel and Laliah Bruce. Winners in the Cloverleaf Exhibits were Andy Wright and Ross Burney.
Miranda Spooner and Annie Carroll of Water Valley attended the Youth Nature Camp at Holmes County State Park sponsored by the Garden Clubs of Mississippi.
Jinny Fachman was one of 144 gifted Mississippi High School students attending the three-week Governor’s School at Mississippi University for Women.
• 40 years ago, July 12, 1984 – Margie Ford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Ford, was selected as the 1984 Watermelon Queen. Alternates were Nina Evans, Lisa Odom, Kim Boyd and Amy McCullar.
Other winners included Amy Carlisle, Miss Teen Age; Lisa Lynch, Junior Miss; Andrea Davis, Miss Pre-Teen; Fantasy Hood, Little Miss; Allison Pullen, Tiny Miss; Lauren Pullen, Petite Miss; Chris Terry, Tiny Mister; and Correy Burns, Petite Mister.
Police held a 16-hour in-service training course here and WVPD officer Charles Jenkins was pictured being shown the use of the P.R. 24 stick, aka nightstick or police baton.
Chelle Wilson was named Miss George Payne Cossar State Park. Alternates were Angela Eubanks of Oakland and Gloria Kay Cook.
Site preparation began Monday, July 9, for the new Jones Supermarket on the same site where the old one was destroyed by the tornado. Owner Jimmy Jones said he hoped the new store would be open by Nov. 1.
Holley Carburetor employees donated 273 pints of blood during the Mississippi Blood Service summer bloodmobile visit.
• 50 years ago, July 11, 1974 – Miss Virginia Dell “Ginger” Allen was off to Vicksburg to represent Water Valley in the Miss Mississippi Pageant.
Six WVHS bandsmen – Malinda Hill, Steve Swearengen, Cindi Pittman, Melissa Gurner, Sherry Swearengen and Mary Beth Knight – were off to the Mississippi State Band Camp.
Ross Cardwell was pictured with a 1.5 pound tomato that measured 15.5 inches around that he grew in his garden.
• 60 years ago, July 9, 1964 – W. E. Blackmur, long- time Water Valley business- man and banker, presented a check of $1,400 to the Water Valley Library as an endowment, the income of which is to be used to purchase children’s books for the library. He also gave a sign to the library.
A celebration was held at the Bank of Water Valley in honor of Fred A. Kendrick’s 40 years of service to the institution.
James Lee Johnson, 29, was killed instantly when a car he was working on at Edgar Service Station fell on him.
Miss Amy Tyler presented a series of book reviews at the City Library.
Muscle Beach Party with Frankie Avalon and Annette was playing at the Valley Theatre.
The white male victim of the hit and run driver on I-55 was identified as John William Runnels, 17, of Memphis. Charles Edward Bond of Michigan City, Indiana was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident by Yalobusha Sheriff J. G. Treloar.
• 70 years ago, July 8, 1954 – Gamma Globulin was administered to some 30 to 40 children between the ages of six months to 15 years, who lived within a one mile radius of the Charles Williams home after their two-year-old son, Tommy, was diagnosed with Infantile Paralysis (Polio). It was not believed that his illness was critical and he was expected to return home in two weeks.
The Yalobusha County 4- H junior judging teams entered state competition. The livestock judging team members were Mike Boone, Fred Allen Womble, James Edwards and Gene Standridge. The poultry team consisted of Travis Bonner, Spencer Bailey, Frankie Davidson and Charles Magee and the dairy team included Johnny and Van Perkins, Danny Ross Ingram and Jimmy Wilson.
• 80 years ago, July 6, 1944 – Pvt. Howard C. Tyler of Water Valley penetrated to a depth of three-quarters of a mile into Normandy before being wounded on D-Day. He was recuperating from arm and shoulder shrapnel wounds at a hospital in England.
Congressman Jamie Whitten won a two-to-one victory over opponent District Attorney Gerald Chatham of Hernando.
Sgt. John M. Abernethy, 23, of Water Valley, a waist gunner on a Flying Fortress, was awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air Medal, equivalent to another award of the medal.
Pvt. Thomas E. Hayles was working in an Army post office, part of the postal unit in the Mediterranean Theater. His unit handled mail volume equivalent to Memphis or Oakland, California.
J. E. McGonagill was running for the office of city marshal based on his six years as night marshal.
• 90 years ago, July 13, 1934 – A $25 reward was being offered for the burglars who broke into the McCullar-Suratt Co. store overnight the past Sunday. About $300 to $500 of valuable merchandise was taken. This was the third burglary in two years. Two of the thieves from the past year were caught.
