2006 Bank Robbery Went Awry When Get-Away Car Wouldn’t Crank
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Law enforcement officers from the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department respond to the 2006 armed robbery at the Oakland bank. Although the institution has operated under different names through the years, the robberies all occurred at the same Oak Street building. In 1983, Willie B. Maggitt, 25, was charged after authorities said he entered the Bank of North Mississippi, fired a shot into the ceiling and ordered a teller to “fill up the bag” before fleeing with about $13,000. A joint investigation involving the Yalobusha, Panola, Tallahatchie and Grenada county sheriff’s departments, the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the FBI led to his arrest in Grenada. The building was robbed again in 2006. In 2017, when it operated as BancorpSouth, a lone gunman stole more than $13,000 before dye packs hidden with the cash exploded behind the bank, scattering most of the money. Investigators recovered the cash, discarded clothing and other evidence during a multi-agency investigation involving the Oakland Police Department, Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Highway Patrol and the FBI.
20 Years—July, 27 2006 – Oakland was the scene of an armed bank robbery earlier in the week, when two men robbed Bancorps South. It only took 32 minutes for a pair of bank robbers to be rounded up a decade ago when the bank in Oakland was robbed. The glitch in the plan came when the get-away car would not start. The men exited the bank with $11,000, but a dye pack inside the cash also exploded as the men fled.
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Yalobusha County Sheriff Steve Shuffield and Tallahatchie County Sheriff William Brewer and some of their deputies converged on the crime scene shortly after the crime was reported. Marvin Horton was police chief at Oakland when the incident occurred. The men were captured in neighboring Tallahatchie County after a store owner reported the suspicious pair.
A new Water Valley ordinance tighten restrictions on property zoning. The updated regulations of the 1977 ordinance prohibits parking motor homes and boats in front yards.
Charles Pittman, assistant to Gov. Haley Barbour, addressed the Water Valley Rotary Club.
Water Valley High School was welcoming 11 new teachers and Davidson Elementary was receiving seven new teachers.
30 Years—August 1, 1996 – Cora Lynn Turnage, in her official 1996 Watermelon Queen photo, was the featured front page picture.
Announcements were made in this issue of the paper of reunions of Water Valley High School Classes of 1946, 1951, 1966 and 1967.
All former students, faculty, and families were invited to a Jeff Davis School reunion.
Julie Tyler, Andrea’ Clement, and Amy McMinn, Junior Auxiliary members, were pictured staking out plots in City Park to be occupied by crafts people during the Carnival.
40 Years—July 31 1986 – Aluminum beverage cans were being collected to help fund building a new field house at the Water Valley High School football field. Pictured were head football Coach Terry Allen and Lance Clement as they tossed cans into the trailer.
Leigh Rounsaville, seven-month-old daughter of James and Barbara Rounsaville, was pictured as she carried on the family watermelon tradition by playing on a truck load of jubilee watermelons. She is the youngest great-grand- daughter of the late Jim Bolen, who was in the watermelon business for many years.
Plant Manager for Colt Industries’ Holley Automotive Division’s Water Valley Plant, Travis Clement, presented Sheriff Lloyd Defer with a $1,000 check for the reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the so-called “Water Valley Rapist.”
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Johnson were honored at a reception on their 50th wedding anniversary.
50 Years—July 29, 1976– Mrs. Doris Cox took the oath of office for City Clerk, administered by Water Valley Mayor Watson Hunt, while retiring City Clerk Lawrence “Doc” Cox looked on. Mr. Cox retired at the age of 65 after serving in that post for 23 years.
Among new personnel named for the next session at Water Valley High School were: Bobby Cox, Guidance Counselor; Dean Wright, Head Football Coach; and Cindy Pedigo, Assistant Band Director.
A field of Cub Scouts from Water Valley Pack 250 competed in eight physical fitness events in City Park. Winners of first and second place trophies were Lance Clement, Scott Welch, Danny Rogers, Tim Posey, Tyron Campbell, Glenn Person, and Lee Williams. Cub Master Travis Clement presented the trophies.
Frances Ann Vaughn is pictured with an 80 pound watermelon. She is the 15-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Vaughn.
Robert Earl Upchurch’s horse, Tuffy, was named first place Yearling Gelding in the Grade Western Division at the State 4-H Show.
60 Years, July 28, 1966 – The Grand Jury’s report stated that the Welfare Building is in bad condition, most other buildings were in good shape, and the county’s finances were good.
Two Yalobusha County football players were members of the State All-Star Team. Larry Evans of Water Valley and John Hartley of Oakland were being welcomed to Jackson by
Batesville native, Billy Key, a member of the Jackson Touchdown Club.
In a story by Herald reporter, Patty Craven, information on the upcoming baseball tourney was given.
70 Years—August 2, 1956 – “Jamup” Mize, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Mize, was pictured with catfish caught by Clayton Harmon and Bill Melton, who were grabbling somewhere on Grenada Lake. The largest fish weighed 26 pounds.
Four Yalobusha County boys recently attended the state-wide 4-H Congress, held at Mississippi State College. Attending were David Kiihnl, Johnny Perkins, Jr, J. L. Crawford, an
80–Years—August 1, 1946 – An urgent request has been received from officials of the University of Mississippi for cooperation by Water Valley citizens in providing living quarters for faculty members, students, and student families, to take care of the overflow at the University this winter.
David Burns of Water Valley was on the editorial staff of the 1946 Ole Miss Yearbook, “Ole Man River”. It was delivered after several weeks’ delay due to a shortage of materials.
