Look Back In Yalobusha History

In Dudley Wagner’s “Here, There and Else-where” column in April of 1942, he pondered why is it that people are so crazy about Water Valley.
It couldn’t be, he wrote, because the town itself is a thing of beauty. There are many towns far prettier than our own. Nor could it be on account of the climatic conditions. I do not know of any place that has a worse climate–hot as the hinges of Hades in the summer and colder than a polar bear’s icebox in winter.
Surely it couldn’t be because of “big business,” he continued. I dare say most merchants are making little more than a living.
Nor could our town be called a city of beautiful homes even though we admit a handful of lovely houses.
Then, I argued with myself, why is it people love the old town so much? Everyone born here loves it and those who have lived here and moved away always have a warm spot in their hearts for it. There must be a reason for this, surely!
Then, all of a sudden, the answer came to me. It’s on account of the folks who live here! There’s a certain spirit of friendliness in this town that does not exist anywhere else. People are kind. They have the right sort of hearts.
Water Valley folks have the milk of human kindness in their makeup. A place is judged by the kind of people who live there, so we’re told, and if that’s the case, then Water Valley stands at the head of the class.
But, that was 70 years ago when Wagner wrote this column. I guess some things never change. Unfortunately, other things do.

• 5 years ago, April 19, 2007 – M. B. “Snooky” and Mary Lou Williams were presented the Braswell Hatcher Service Award at the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet. In what would become known as the most embarrassing Chamber banquet program ever, the Hilarious Hypnotist, Dan “Doc” Holliday, put eight volunteers under his spell.
Three “lovelies” were named winners in the Womanless Beauty Pageant: Hall Clark, first; Eddie Mister, second; and Terry Varner, third. The Herald stretched the limits of taste by presenting a full page of photos from the event.
The hoboes were headed for Water Valley for the fifth and final Hobo Gathering at the Casey Jones Museum.
NWCC pitcher Brandon Hall of Water Valley was pictured during the Rangers’ 10-6 victory over Itawamba.
• 10 years ago, April 18, 2002 – County School Attendance Officer Allison Pullen spoke to the Rotary Club on mandatory school attendance.
Tonya Chinault and Tricia Cook, students in the Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) Lab at WVHS completed a project to give the lab statewide exposure.
A letter to the Editor by Mike Jenkins pointed out the hypocrisy of illegal beer versus legal liquor after he was fined for transporting six cans of beer for personal use.
The Sheriff’s Department recovered a gun case, nine guns and more than $10,000 stored in the case after the burglary of a dwelling.
Turkey Creek Baptist Church celebrated their 157th anniversary on April 28.
The 19th annual talent show was held by the Freddy Folson sports organization.
• 20 years ago, April 16, 1992 – Water Valley was planning for an April 19 Easter with a community sunrise service planned for the City Park.
T. Olin Gore was honored  during the annual Masonic Bodies York Rite Festival during which he received his 60-year service pin.
Members of the 4th grade “Atlas” project were pictured after winning first place in their division in the recent Odyssey of the Mind regional competition. The winners were Tim Wilson, Julie Jones, Salley McCullar, Joy Crocker, Natalie Flippin and Ashley Harris.
Mayor Garlon Maynor submitted a memorial resolution honoring James Nicholson, Jr., a former city alderman.
Winners of the creative writing class “My Town” essay contest for the 5th grade were Kelley Pullen, first; Karla Hamilton, second; and Carla Whisenant, third.
• 30 years ago, April 22, 1982 – Mechanics Bank was selected as one of the nation’s top banks in terms of financial performance.
Seven WVHS students, Brenda Potts, Lisa Jones, Pauline Campbell, Linda Carr, Wanda Stokes, Vanessa Folson and Deborah Fondon, were selected by audition to participate in the Regional Choral Festival.
Suzanne Davis, a student teacher in the final phase of teacher education at the University of Mississippi, was assigned to the WV elementary school.
WVHS students attending career day at Ole Miss included Christine Wood-ard, Brad Willingham, Clare Woodard, Jennifer Jones, Jack Lewis, Debra Woodard, Mike Clements, Margaret Davis, Sharon Watson, Janet Pate, Jerry Foster, Greg Davis, Joey Joyner, Greg Adams, Keith Langston, Paula Webb, Michelle Owen, Harold Potts, Kirk Kimmett, Taylor Trusty and Rosie Carothers.
Water Valley had 4252 telephones, Coffeeville 1751, and Oakland, just over 1000.
• 40 years ago, April 20, 1972 – The cast of “Curse of the Aching Heart” was pictured on the front page. Willing to show their theatrical talents were Nell Gholson, Mildred “Mim” Carpenter, Binnie Turnage, Hortense Wilhoit, James Person, Betty Therrell, Randy Parsons, Kim Horan, Cheryl Goodwin, Kenny Taylor and Gaynell Meador.
At the East Tally track meet Beth McMillan placed second in the 50-yard and 75-yard dash and fourth in the long jump, Linda Belcher placed second in the 100-yard dash and Dorothy Sanders placed second in the baseball throw.
Setting a new WVHS record of 3:38.0 for the mile relay was the team of Reed Thompson, Lawrence John-son, Russell Edwards and Carey Sartain. Terry Allen set a new school record in the pole vault of 11’ 3”.
Jerry Tate of Rt. 2, Water Valley, made a storm shelter from a surplus school bus that he buried in the side of a hill near his home. He said the project cost less than $150.
• 50 years ago, April 19, 1962 – Mrs. Lawrence Hale was selected as Mrs. Water Valley during the American Legion Auxiliary sponsored competition. Mrs. Billy Moorhead was first alternate and Mrs. L. C. Stewart was second alternate.
Pictured with a farm trailer the members of their organization built were FFA officers Frank B. Brooks, Larry Kimzey, Franklin Brown, Harry Neal and “Butch” Surette.
One hundred and twenty dozen Easter Eggs were to be hidden at the Jaycees Fairgrounds for the free egg hunt Sunday afternoon.
The Joe Bailey Jr. family of Coffeeville was named the Methodist Family of the Year for the Greenwood District.
Named King and Queen at the Sylva Rena Commun-ity Club were Beverly Allen and John Wood. In the junior division, Kay Patton and Lynn Hudson were selected.
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs along with the Foggy Mountain Boys were set to play the City Auditorium April 23. They were sponsored by Martha White Flour, both regular and self-rising.
Bill Gafford was elected president of the Beta Club for 1962-63.
• 60 years ago, April 17, 1952 – The 27 members of the WVHS Senior Class of 1952 were pictured on the Herald’s front page. Class president was Sonny Cook, vice president was Beth Bell and secretary was Ann Gafford.
Among the Yalobusha men in service were Airman Charles Holloway, Seaman Winfred B. McCain, PFC Ben Horan, A3C Calvin E. Watson, CPL Herman Rampy, PVT Dudley Avant and PFC George Williamson.
A forest fire raged through the woodlands on W. V. Craig’s farm north of Tillatoba burning five acres of pine seedlings.
Citizens donated 118 pints of blood when the mobile unit from the Mid-South Defense Blood Center visited, according to chairman B. N. Suratt.
Yalobusha’s share of the President’s foreign aid program for 1953 was $276,010.
• 70 years ago, April 16, 1942 – The American Legion Post, made up of men who fought in the “war to end all wars,” were sponsoring a “Scrap the Axis” scrap metal collection day at the band stand downtown.
The fish are bitin’, said Blu McCullar who returned from a two-day fishing trip with 38 big catfish.
Earl Fly and Fred Kendricks accepted joint chairmanship of the United China Relief Fund campaign for Yalobusha County. The pair were in charge of raising the county’s goal of $300.
The Red Cross was beginning the process to replace homes destroyed in the March 16 tornado. Disbursing orders had been issued in 15 cases.
The Otuckalofa Church was going to be rebuilt, according to Meldon Blount, church treasurer. There were no funds in the treasury, so the Herald made the first $5 contribution.