County’s Civil Defense Was Busy In 1976 With Multiple Lake Rescues
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Looking Back From 1976: Water Valley Mayor Watson Hunt cuts a ribbon of photographic film to officially open IMAGES photography studio, located on the second floor of the Tri-Lake Inn. Joining him for the ceremony are (from left) Jack Gurner, Hunt, Snooky Williams and Hershel Howell. The studio, operated by Jack and Jessie Gurner, offered portrait, wedding and commercial photography, along with photo restoration services.
20 Years—April 27, 2006 – The Water Valley Blue Devils baseball team was headed to the quarterfinals. Pictured were seniors, B. J. Phillips and Antonio Johnson, who each had nine RBIs in the match up, as they celebrated the win. The Devils defeated Booneville to advance and would meet the Houston Hilltoppers in the next round of play.
The local chicken plant remained in fledgling stages and made state headlines, as its opening continued to be delayed. Liens on the company kept surfacing and Mayor Bill Norris and city aldermen were waiting to hear from plant owner, John Craig.
“The Water Valley Community Band is scheduled to present their Spring Concert,” reported band member, Clay Ashford, in a release to the Herald. Stanley Crow was director of the group.
30 Years—April 25, 1996 – The secure walking path at Yalobusha General Hospital and Yalobusha County Nursing Home came a little closer to reality with a $500 donation from VFW Post 4100. Presenting the check was VFW Publicity Director Charles Rakestraw and receiving it were Todd Hughes, Maintenance Supervisor for the facility, and Loretta Crawford, LPN, who had worked diligently on this project.
Yalobusha County Nursing Home has a new activities van. Pictured with the van are residents, Margie Colclasure, Frances McVey, Mildred Bell, Clemmie Potts, George Folson, and Linda Melton, employee.
Tina Hill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Hill, a first year law student at Ole Miss, spent part of her spring break observing lawyers in action. Among the firms she visited was Watkins & Eager, where Water Valley native, Ben Williams is an attorney. Ben is the son of Mary Lou and Snooky Williams.
40 Years–May 1, 1986 – Mary Louise Harts Campbell retired after teaching 40 years in the Water Valley School System. She was honored at a retirement service in Everdale Baptist Church.
Pictured holding a bouquet of poke sallet was Paul Roberson, Water Valley Administrator, and Chamber Manager Sam Hidgon practicing his guitar, as a publicity opt for the upcoming Poke Sallet Festival.
50 Years—April 29, 1976 – The first place team in the North Mississippi FFA Forestry Contest, sponsored by Mississippi Forestry Association, is from Water Valley. Team Advisor is Rodney Childress and members of the team are Phillip Carr, Steve Watson, and Jimmy Eubanks. Hollis Ishee, District Forester, awarded the team a trophy and a $50 check.
The Civil Defense Rescue Unit has been very active. A trailer truck, loaded with 79 head of cattle, ran one and three-tenth miles into Grenada Lake. The driver was uninjured but the cattle had to be removed from the truck and herded to shore. The second rescue was on Enid Lake, where the body of Richard Banks of Memphis was recovered. Rescue members assisting were Cecil Brower, Billy Ingram, Harry DuVall, Joe Farmer, Lynn Fly, Carl Byford, J. D. Byford, and Steve Crestman from Coffeeville; and Anthony Boxx, James Hester, and Clinton Randall from Water Valley.
Rehearsing for the presentation of the musical, “Music Man,” at Northwest Junior College were Ronnie Hill of Water Valley and Jimmy Paris of Oakland.
60 Years—April 28, 1966 – Members of the still undefeated Water Valley High School baseball team were Jimmy Murphry, Randy Parsons, Larry Anthony, Jimmy Stewart, Nathan Wilkey, Tommy Ashford, Terry Anthony, Larry Evans, Tom Hudson, Larry Chambers, Phil Wolfe, Jimmy Maynor, Harold Henderson, John Abernethy, John Suratt, Johnny Craven, Labron Neal, and Bobby Stribling. Coaching the team was Don Johnson.
Selected as “Miss Water Valley High School” was Mary Lou Fortinberry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Toxey Fortinberry. Named “Mr. Water Valley High School” was Larry Evans, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Evans.
In a car-train accident on Highway 32, east of Water Valley, Joe A. Crawly of the Pilgrim’s Rest Community was killed. A passenger in the vehicle, Miss Gracie Bonner of Water Valley, was seriously injured.
60 Years—April 26, 1956 – VFW Post 4100 invited the public to a tour of their new Post Home, located three miles west of Water Valley on Highway 315.
