Look Back In Yalobusha History
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Bill Morgan, popular 11th grade student of Coffeeville High School makes a donation to the March of Dimes as he lies in a Memphis hospital bed in January 1955. His mother, Mrs. Julia Morgan, holds the poster. Billy and his Mom are glad there was treatment available for him when Polio struck him down – treatment paid for by voluntary contributions to the March of Dimes.
15 Years Ago – Jan. 21, 2010 – Three Water Valley artists – Pati D- Amico, Bill Warren and Annissa Wilkinson – were among 11 area artists participating in the first Bozarts Alliance show.
Star students selected at Davidson Elementary school a month earlier included (kindergarten) JiReginald Hervey, Casey Telford, Laurie Caldwell, Audria Houston and Aylissa White; (first grade) Eli Hodge, Madison Purdy, Alexis Clark, Sadie Platz, Brantley Simmons and Morgan Owens; (second grade) Brandon Potts, Jasmine Chandler, Jaliyah Hervey, Dalen McGee, Kyjuan Hervey and Jacob Cade; (third grade) Alexis Gooch, Sara Katherine Brooks, Katie Fowler, Chapel Hyde, Catherine Hill and Cloie Taylor; (fourth grade) Dante Ramirez, Shyhiem Brown, Aijah Turner, Shadarrica Tyson, Elizabeth Mitchell and Alex Martin; (fifth grade) Alexis McCullen, Emma Wilks, Steven Woodard, Temara Gilliam, Maddison Hernandez and Kobe Sims; (sixth grade) Grant Blake, Cooper Clement, Austin Smith, Keauana Farrow, Addey Welch and Desirae Robinson.
• 20 Years Ago – Jan. 20, 2005 –Approximately 50 soldiers of the Service Battery 1st Battalion, 114th Field Artillery based at the Water Valley National Guard Army were deploying to Afghanistan. The troops were first scheduled to go to Camp McCain before departing to Fort Dix, New Jersey for 77 days of training before heading to war.
Members of the Town and Country Garden Club were seeking photographs of World War II veterans to be used in commemoration of the anniversary of the ending of World War II. The ceremony was scheduled at the annual Watermelon Music Carnival in August.
Fourteen eagles were spotted during the annual Mid- Winter Bald Eagle survey at Enid Lake. The sightings were down from previous years, presumably because of unseasonably warm temperatures.
• 30 Years Ago, Jan. 19, 1995 – A deer hunter was injured after he fell from his stand causing his gun to discharge. Keith Wright was shot in the arm and leg. Sheriff Lloyd Defer credited R.E. Gibbs for “keen observation” after he noticed Wright had not come out of the woods and immediately started searching for him.
The January, 1995, Grand Jury for the Second Judicial District returned 60 True Bills while in session on January 13, 1995. The jury examined 67 witnesses during the session. Ruby J. Cox was foreman of the jury.
• 30 Years Ago, Jan. 24, 1985 – James B. (Crip) Tyler received a certificate of appreciation from Water Valley Postmaster Paul L. Parker during a retirement party. Tyler had a total of 38 years of service.
Ole Miss Chancellor Gerald Turner was the featured speaker at the Water Valley Rotary Club meeting.
Water Vallian Chelle Wilson, “Miss Teen Mississippi,” was among 51 contestants in the “Miss Teen USA” Pageant held in Miami. She was a graduate of Water Valley High School and enrolled as a freshman at the University of Mississippi.
• 50 Years Ago, Jan. 23, 1975 – With meat prices increasing daily in the supermarkets, Northwest Junior College offered an alternative – a do-it-yourself meat processing course. Students were offered instruction in slaughter and cutting cattle, swine and lambs. Students were also taught correct procedures in grading and curing meat.
Mae Williams of Coffeeville and Russell Odell Williams were married January 24, 1975 at the home of Justice of the Peace, Buck Hendricks. Mr. Hendricks officiated at the single ring ceremony. The newlyweds were making their home on Edgefield Street in Water Valley.
• 60 Years Ago, Jan. 21, 1965 – The Davidson Tigers’ record was extended to 21-0 after defeating Marshall and Eupora. The Tigers won with an 82-66 margin over Marshall, and were led by Joe Bailey’s 23 points. Jack Cook scored 22 points and Jerry Martin scored 15 points.
The Tigers easily defeated Eupora, 80-45. Jack Cook led the scoring in this contest with 21 points. Sidney Joseph and William Bland scored 14 points each.
Three Yalobusha County students at Northwest Mississippi Junior College graduated at mid-semester. The group included Jerry Denley of Coffeeville, receiving his diploma as an Associate in Business; Joy Person of Water Valley graduated with a major in physical education; and Miss Emma Faye Allen of Water Valley completed the nine-month secretarial training program.
• 70 Years Ago, Jan. 20, 1965 – Marshal Forest Barber urged people to comply with a city ordinance which makes it an offense to fire rifles or other firearms inside the city limits of Water Valley. Barber stated that several cases of damage caused by the discharge of rifles have been brought to his attention. One was the shooting of a cow while others involved damage from air rifles including broken windows. Barber said Donnie Carthon, son of Jack Carthon was wounded in an eye by a shot from an air rifle.
At a recent meeting of the executive committee, the following men were selected as Boy Scout leaders for Water Valley Troop No. 14 for 1955. Selected were Scoutmaster, Jack Gurner; Commissioner, Lawrence E. Cox; Interstate Representative, Louis Gafford; Troop Committee, Ira V. Gore, Dr. John Wright, Lawrence Berry, Dr. R. N. Edgar, Carmon King and E.B. Shearer.
• 80 Years Ago, Jan. 18, 1945 – Sgt. James H. French, son of Dr. and Mrs. D. C. French discovered that a radio group had not received notification to withdraw after their command post was threatened by the advancing Japanese. With utter disregard for his safety, Sgt. French volunteered to return to the old command post under intense fire and covered the withdrawal of the radio group. For his actions, French received the Bronze Star medal.
