Big Yank’s ‘Mean Mechanics’ Capture Softball Title In 1975 Season
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Almost 200 people attended the Hold Our Topsoil Field Day in September, 1985. The event was held near Coffeeville and among attendees were (from left) Yalobusha County Sheriff Lloyd Defer, State Senator Johnny Morgan, Lt. Gov. Brad Dye, and Pete Reid, Jr., Yalo- busha County Soil Conservation Service Chairman.
10 Years – September 17, 2015 – Drew Pitcock was named principal at Water Valley High School following a leadership change. Pitcock was hired by the district at the start of the school year and comes from the Grenada School District. Pitcock previously served in the military and in law enforcement before transitioning into education.
A pair of town hall meetings are scheduled for public discussion on the two systems of county government. An election was scheduled in November for votes to decide if they wanted the county to continue operating as a beat system or change to a unit system with a countywide system of road administration. The referendum was scheduled following a petition signed by a little over 15 percent of the county’s qualified voters requesting the vote.
20 Years—September 15, 2005 – Members of the Yalobusha Disaster Team, Billy Stark, Slick Crowell, Jim Tate, James Gay, Don and Rick Peeples, Jim Gholson, Jimmy Berry, Laramie Minga, and Lane True, provide Katrina relief in the coastal area in the wake of one of the nation’s most destructive natural disasters in history.
Among nursing home residents who enjoyed a visit from exotic pets from the Memphis Zoo were Irene House, Mary Mason, Mary Alexander, and Bessie Tutor.
Mississippi National Guardsman Reggie Polk visited with third grade students at Davidson Elementary. He was scheduled to return to Iraq to finish his tour.
Obituaries for the week included: Otis Cooper Gwin, Frances Lorene Shearer Surrette, Betty L. McKenzie Aven, William Arnold Champion, Deneen Holland, Tommy Lynn Worsham and Laura Mae Kennedy.
The Blue Devils scored seven touchdowns against Aberdeen to pick up a 47-7 win. The head coach was Trent Hammond and calling the plays at quarterback was Antonio Johnson.
The county’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.7%.
Former Blue Devils were invited to attend a celebration of 100 years of football.
30 Years—September 14, 1995 – Linda Maynor was listed in the latest edition of Strathmore’s “Who Who Registry of Business Leaders.”
Jordan White, son of Linda and Tommy White, was among Mississippi State’s 1995 football recruits.
Sherry Johnson was the first lady Rotarian in Water Valley.
The Blue Devils defeated the Coffeeville Pirates, 37-0, in the County Title battle.
Water Valley native, Jimmy Treloar, was named superintendent of Lafayette County School.
Water Valley patients in the hospital were Terry Burke, Lorene Campbell, Willie B. Cooper, Hershel B. Cummings, Mary Dunn, Aileen Harris, Josephine Lipscomb, Charles W. Rogers, and Cecil Tate.
40 Years—September 19, 1985 — Among nearly 200 people attending the Hold Our Topsoil Field Day, held near Coffeeville, were Yalobusha County Sheriff Lloyd Defer, State Senator Johnny Morgan, Lt. Gov. Brad Dye, and Pete Reid, Jr., Yalobusha County Soil Conservation Service Chairman. Young conservationists attending were Jennifer and Julie Jones, daughters of Dr. and Mrs. Andy Jones.
Predicted to be District 2-3A crown winners, the Lafayette County Commodores, left the Blue Devils on the losing end of a 40-0 match Friday night, as they continued to reach for the state title.
Mrs. Tisha Shelton was honored with a surprise birthday party on her 86th birthday.
Mrs. Harold (Mary Lou) Williams, President of the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, attended a Waste Awareness Conference, sponsored by Shell Oil, in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Mr. and Mrs. Olin Gore visited Buck Suratt in the Baptist Hospital in Memphis.
Marty Gurner was named chair of the St. Jude Bike-A-Thon, scheduled for October 5.
50 Years—September 18, 1975 – Vallian Paul Pittman enjoyed a big helping of shrimp during First Thursday Festivities at the University of Mississippi.
Independent Women’s Softball League Champions for the 1975 Season were Big Yank’s “Mean Mechanics,” finishing with a 7-2 record. Team members were Mona Anthony, Theresa Moorhead, Sherry Swearengen, Cindy Ross, Beth McMillan, Sheila Hale, Dreva Williamson, Brenda Lantrip, Rhonda Moore, Anita Faulkner, and Sue Hill. Coaches were Cindy Ross and Steve Ross, and the scorekeeper was Pam Crawford.
Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Hill announced the birth of their son, Thomas Franklin Hill, Jr., born September 10, 1975.
Miss Mae Alma Johnson married Leon Lester on August 2, 1975.
The Blue Devils lost to the Coldwater Panthers, 35-12, in Tri-Lake Conference play.
Nancy Person Sheffield, Len Jackson Crawford, Karen Ann Rotenberry, Luther Gene Folson, Jr., James Robert Parsons, Donna Kim Horan, Rebecca Jo Reis, and Roy Eugene Clark received degrees at Ole Miss.
60 Years—September 16, 1965 – Cheering the Blue Devils on to victory were Martha Lee Pass, Grace Ann McMinn, Mary Lou Fortinberry, Marcia Michel- letti, Brenda Morris and Paula Scarbrough.
The Blue Devils defeated the Hernando Wildcats, 41-0, in their first Chickasaw Conference win of the season.
Dr. Fred Hedges didn’t do well on the doves, but he killed a bobcat with his bird shot. The cat had killed a chicken, but even after being shot he did not drop it.
Michael Lee Hedges was named one of the most outstanding seniors of the Class of ‘66 in The Yellow Jacket segment of the paper. Editor of The Yellow Jacket was Barron Caulfield.
Going to Natchez Friday to confer a Masonic degree were Olin Gore, W. G. Cotton, Bob Christian, Robert Ellis, O. T. Parsons, Sr. and E. B. Shearer.
A tea-shower, honoring Mrs. Wayland Adams (Suzanne Bell), was held in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church.
70 Years—September 15, 1955 – “Miss Water Valley,” Mary Lou Johnson, assisted by first alternate, Ann Gafford, and second alternate, Janice Taylor, cut the ribbon opening the third annual Tri-Lake Fair and Livestock Show. The event, sponsored by the Water Valley Jaycees, was held at the new fair grounds on Highway 315.
Mary Anne Kendrick, Mary Belle Spivey, and Gloria Bell left Sunday for MSCW, where they will attend school.
Frank L. Tucker, an avid 4- H Club supervisor, received the coveted Diamond Clover Award, in recognition of his outstanding 4-H Leadership. The award was presented by the Cooperative Extension Service.
Senior class officers at Jeff Davis School were: president, Bobby Gene Walters; vice president, Charles Stone; secretary, Patsy Harmon; treasurer, Shirley Camp; and reporter, Ann Martin.
80 Years—September 20, 1945 – Major Eugene Hughes of Oakland was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious military achievement.
T-Sgt. James Martin was highly commended for his work in connection with improvement of station motor pool operations at his base in Europe.
Seaman Kenneth Samuels, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Samuels, witnessed the Japanese signatories boarding the USS Portland from a motor launch. Before all officers and men assembled at general muster, the Japanese had signed the surrender.
Game Warden W. M. Wright stated that hunting licenses can be bought at many places in Yalobusha County.
Water Valley girls receiving degrees from the University of Mississippi were: Dorothy Jane Bennett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Bennett, Master of Arts degree; Evelyn King, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray King, and Ann Wagner, daughter of Mr. Ed Wagner, both receiving Bachelor of Art degrees.
A Presidential directive placed all Civil Service personnel on a 40-hour work week. This has caused all local boards of selective service to now be closed on Saturdays.
