School Board Rejected Hefty Budget Cuts In 2010
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Coffeeville’s 1965 Pirates won the North Mississippi basketball championship at Water Valley by defeating Myrtle 66-57 in a real thriller. Myrtle had defeated Coffeeville in the District 2 Finals the previous week. The Pirates are (front, from left) Allen Williams, Ray Schmitz, Allen Parker, Joe Bailey, Hilly Griffin, (second row) Mike Jones, Joe Simpson, Coach Paul Pittman, Bobby Martin, David Arrington and Owen Riddick. Parker and Schmitz made the All-Star North Mississippi Team. – Photo by Jimmy Denley
• 15 Years Ago, Feb. 24, 2010 – In a 3-2 split vote, the school board rejected a proposal by Water Valley School District Superintendent Sammy Higdon to make over a million dollars in budget cuts for the coming 2010-11 school year.
Higdon presented the cuts, explaining to board members that superintendents across the state had been told by State Superintendent Tom Burnham to prepare for a 15 percent cut in funds. Higdon’s recommendation followed almost half-a-million in cuts to the school budget the previous year that cost 14 people their jobs. Board members agreed to review the cuts in a work session before making a final decision.
Five Delta State students from Yalobusha County were named to the President’s List of Delta Scholars: Kanesha Dudley of Coffeeville, Megan B. Wallace of Oakland, Haley Mitchel of Scobey, Joseph Bozone of Tillatoba and Chessie E. Clark of Water Valley. Also two Yalobusha students were named to the Dean’s List: Amber N. Burney and Derek L. Deck, both of Water Valley.
• 20 Years Ago, Feb. 24, 2005 – The flu bug was biting in the community with a dozen confirmed cases in the nursing home. All of the residents had taken a flu shot and hospital administrator Terry Varner reported precautions were being taken to minimize the farther spread of the virus. Staff members were also affected.
A story on the Water Valley Interchange reported Howard Shere’s customer base had grown to almost 2,500 customers across the state. Shere’s business had been open a decade, providing internet access to only a 100 customers in his first year.
Brad Brooks won first prize in Lawler’s Big Buck Contest for the 2004-2005 season. His winning buck was killed in east Yalobusha County and was a 10-point with a 16-inch spread. Larry Lawler presented Brooks with a $400 cash prize.
A pair of Panola County men opened a grocery store in Water Valley. Gail White and Jerry Cranford opened SuperValu on Central Street after Winn Dixie had closed in the same location.
• 30 Years Ago, March 2, 1995 – The Town and Country Garden Club presented a potted anthurium to Mayor Larry Hart in recognition of the many services he and other elected officials freely give the citizens of Water Valley.
The Eleventh Annual Wildlife Tasting Buffet was scheduled at the National Guard Armory. Wildlife photographer Paul Brown of Brandon was the guest speaker.
• 40 Years Ago- March 7, 1985 – After 52 years as Ford Dealer for Yalobusha County, Mrs. P.M. (Dixie) Hendricks retired. She received an acceptance of her resignation from Ford Motor Company in Detroit. Hendricks Machine Shop had been in operation since 1902 as a machine shop and foundry.
Sheriff Lloyd Defer released statistics for crime in 1984. Defer reported there were 161 people arrested by his department – 123 were from cases or offenses in Yalobusha County, 35 were from out-of-county warrants and three were from out-of-state fugitive warrants. Seven of the arrests were for the possession and sale of drugs.
• 50 Years Ago, March 6, 1975 – Among participants in the 1975 National Achievement Conference sponsored by the University of Mississippi were Johnny Herod and Dorothy Walker, both of Water Valley.
Terry Anderson, 15 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ferman Anderson of Water Valley, was Mississippi’s senior winner in the Marlin Essay Contest. Terry wrote his winning essay, “What Should A Hunter Do, As An Individual, To Preserve The Sport of Hunting?” The contest is sponsored nationally by the Marlin Firearms, Co. of North Haven, Conn., the National Rifle Association and the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission.
R.L. (Bob) Riley announced that he would be a candidate for sheriff of Yalobusha County. Riley reported he was a 20-year veteran of Water Valley, where he owned and operated a lumber company for 16 years.
• 60 Years Ago, March 4 1965 – Eight students from Yalobusha County were enrolled at Memphis State University including Jewel D. Yates Barrentine and James Larry Vickery, both of Coffeeville; Aortha Yvonne Shields, Annis Ruth Gholson, Jesse Pinkney Hart, Charles H. King, William D. Beck and Minnie Eleanor Nelson, all of Water Valley.
• 70 Years Ago, March 3, 1955 – Ed Holloway, a temporary employee of the North Mississippi Herald, victimized several Water Valley business men by passing worthless checks Saturday afternoon. He left Water Valley the same afternoon, shortly before one of his victims became suspicious and started looking for him. The seven checks totaled $275.
The Water Valley High School Blue Devil baseball team would leave winter behind and go for a five win-four loss record in 1975. Team members included (front, from left) Mike Tate, Buddy Willingham, Gordon Simpson, Keith Wright, Brennan Horan, Herbert Green, (second row) Joe Turner, Edward Love, James Jones, James Campbell, Hal Clark, Jeff Tubbs, Terry Anderson, (back) Tim Anderson, Bill Boydston, Al Reed, Steve Judson, Rex Howell, Steve Jones, Marvin Hall, Dwight Burgess and Leonard Fondon.
