Looking Back – 1966
The Christmas decorations were going up just before Thanksgiving in 1966 as city lineman Arthur Nolen wired in one of the displays.
20 Years — November 17, 2006 – The Lady Devils were one of six Class 3A squads left vying for the state championship the previous year. The girls appeared to have picked up where they left off, having already defeated the Charleston Lady Tigers.
The Junior Auxiliary surprised Betty Shearer at its annual Gala when it presented the Community Inspiration Award to her and her late husband, Ed Shearer III.
30 Years — November 21, 1996 – A pile of rubble was all that remained of the former Water Valley Coca-Cola Bottling Company building that stood at the corner of Main and Martin streets for many years.
Steele Manufacturing Company manager Roland Duke and employees Carolyn Cummings and Kim Adams were pictured with a T-shirt being presented to all company employees. The shirt carried the message, “100 percent American USA Apparel, American Made by Proud Employees of Steele Manufacturing.”
The Blue Devils defeated the Ripley Tigers in the first game of the playoffs at Bobby Clark Field.
Airman Kathleen Nicholas graduated from an apprentice course at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi.
40 Years — November 20, 1986 – The Blue Devils defeated the Nettleton Tigers 21-6 in the Sweet Potato Bowl at Vardaman. The game was played on one of the coldest nights in Water Valley football history, with the temperature around 16 degrees and a wind chill near zero.
John Ingram was named the game’s most valuable offensive player, while Marvin Holmes received most valuable defensive player honors.
Sgt. Kevin Surrette of the Water Valley National Guard unit welcomed new enlistees Pvt. Larry Stokes, Pfc. Fredrick Franklin and Pvt. David Daniels. Three prior-service enlistees in Battery C, First Battalion, 114th Field Artillery in Water Valley were Sgt. Anthony Hernandez, Spc. Jeffrey Tubbs and Sgt. Larry Neal.
Airman John Hill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frankie Hill of Tillatoba, completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
50 Years — November 18, 1976 – Terry Anderson, son of Bro. and Mrs. Ferman Anderson, was named an All-Conference linebacker in the Tri-Lake Conference and was eligible for nomination to the State All-Star Squad.
Fifteen World War I Battery A veterans attended a reunion held in Water Valley on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. They represented most of the surviving members of the group.
Sixth-grade students in the Water Valley School System dressed as the main characters of books they had read while giving book reports. Pictured were Maury Banks, Anita Ragon, Lisa Odom, Linda Doollin, Aretha Gaston, Larry Kimzey, Kevin Reese, Roy Pigue, Douglas Carter, Mike Brown, Marc Bryan, Stearling Massey, Clifton Moore, Christopher Turner, Dean Cummings, Mitchell Whiteside, Barry Schmitz, Christy Mayo, Chris Ostrander, Anne Hemphill, Walter Shuffield, Patricia Keith, Joe Clark, Marjorie Ford, Robert Cook, Mike Todd and Bobby McKee.
Mike Riley, son of Mrs. Bob Riley and the late Mr. Riley, was named “Safe Driver of the Month” for October by the Junior Auxiliary as part of its efforts to promote safe driving.
60 Years — November 17, 1966 – Oscar Parsons Jr. was emcee at the annual Blue Devil Football Banquet. Guest speaker was Tad Smith, Ole Miss athletic director.
Yalobusha Country Club was taking bids for construction of a clubhouse, swimming pool and golf course.
70 Years — November 22, 1956 – “I am four years old and I caught a fish,” proudly announced Nancy Brooks Tyler in a caption beneath a photograph of her and her fish. Nancy, the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James “Crip” Tyler, caught the fish at Enid Lake.
Many distinguished guests attended the Yalobusha County Sportsmen Club’s Brunswick stew supper. Club president Red Cotton and game wardens Frank Hyde and C.P. Tillman introduced M.M. Bedenbaugh, public director of the State Game and Fish Commission; Rex McRaney, executive director of the commission; Elkin Jack, commission chairman; U.S. Rep. Jamie Whitten; Aubrey Seay, commissioner; and Charlie Turner of The Commercial Appeal.
Listed in the Yalobusha Service Column were Sp3 David Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Jones of Water Valley, and Sgt. Ben Hunt and William Paris, both of Oakland.
80 Years — November 21, 1946 – Kraft Cheese Plant officials were optimistic about the future of dairying in the area.
The Houston Hilltoppers defeated the Blue Devils 25-14 on the local field. Water Valley players mentioned in the story included Samuels and Vanderberg.
An election was being held to determine whether city residents were willing to spend an additional $10,000 on the Rice-Stix building.
