Look Back In Yalobusha History

On July 13, 1942, the regular July session of Yalobusha County Circuit Court opened at Coffeeville.
This important event, however, was secondary in interest to the opening of the new courthouse there.
The opening of court and the opening of the courthouse were attended by various appropriate ceremonies. Robert W. Upchurch, attorney, was chairman of the program committee, which also included Miss Carolyn Kennedy, Miss Margaret Armstrong, Sam E. Hyde, and Dr. R. J. Criss, Sr.
Mrs. J. C. Sides, Mrs. John Provine Bailey, Mrs. Estelle Kennedy and W. W. Eodes composed the decoration committee.
Walter Armstrong, president of the American Bar Association, delivered the opening address, and was introduced by W. I. Stone. Senator Wall Doxey, candidate for reelection to the United States Senate, also made a talk in the afternoon.
During the term of court, Judge John M. Kuykendall, Circuit Judge of the 17th Judicial District, will preside. Court opened immediately after the conclusion of the program.
(The Board of Supervisors let a new contract for rebuilding the Coffeeville Courthouse to R. F. Pittman for $16,016 in January 1942. A fire had severely damaged the courthouse earlier.)

• 5 years ago, July 19, 2007 – County leaders reached a tentative agreement on funding the Economic Development Authority and the organization’s full-time director.
The Planning Commission held a discussion regarding a derelict property on North Main Street in the 1200 block. (The property is still derelict today.)
Gladne Harris was featured in Alexe van Beuren’s Talk of the Valley column and Wildcat Wilbourn was featured in the Footnotes in History column.
Ashley Harris, M.D., began his medical residency at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.
Members of the 1957 grammar school team included Raymond Jenkins, David Vaughn, Stan True, Bobby Cox, Harold Hardy, Jimmy McDonald, Pitt Person, Bobby Schmitz and Jerry Harrelson.
Brittney D. Griffin was among 179 graduates of the Mississippi National Guard Youth Challenge Program.
• 10 years ago, July 18, 2002 – The Garden Club of Water Valley worked with the Wings of Wonder class at WV Elementary School to create a butterfly garden. Youngsters involved included Watt McCullough, Anna True, Hunter Edwards, Danny Smith, Devyn McCormick, Whitney Bennett and Hunter Wiginton.
Austin G. Gray was named STAR student at Lafayette High School.
The Chamber of Commerce held a Fourth of July parade and pet show downtown. Pictured in the parade were Blayne Clark and Cooper and Coulter Clement.
Rhonda Boyd, cake decorator for Larson’s Piggly Wiggly, was pictured with youngsters participating in the Housing Authority’s Summer Youth Program. She was teaching them how to decorate a cake.
Magnolia Furniture – located in the old Chittom Furniture building at the corner of Wood and Railroad Streets –  held their grand opening with Mayor Larry Hart cutting the ribbon.
• 20 years ago, July 16, 1992 – The Yalobusha County Farm Bureau broke ground for their new building at Champion Circle and Hwy. 32 West. Holding shovels were Daryl Burney, president; John Ashford, Insurance Agency Manager; and John Avant, contractor.
Eddie Foster was elected president of the local crafts, art and antiques group. Mari P. Foster was vice-president and Dot Terry, secretary.
The Sylva Rena Fire Department received a $5314.38 check from Woodmen of the World through their matching funds program. Roy Vance, district rep for WOW, handed off the check to Bailey Walker and Lloyd Thompson of the SRFD.
Valley Clover 4-H Club members Natalie Bruce, Alison Black, Joy Crocker, Karla Hamilton and  Rebecca Reynolds distributed pine trees for Arbor Day as a community activity.
Kellie Burns won a blue ribbon and Lailah Bruce took first place during 4-H Achievement Day in Shannon.
• 30 years ago, July 22, 1982 – Yalobusha County’s horse judging team – Kim Watkins, Tillatoba; Suzette Hamilton and Brian Bean, Coffeeville; and Ronnie Stark, Water Valley – were 7th in state competition. Other winners included Christy Anthony, Jay Bowen, Tanya Bowen, Water Valley; Lisa Harbour, Eddie Jarrell, Tim Nead, Coffeeville; Paul Craig, Tillatoba; and James Grant, Reid Grant, Oakland.
Miss Hospitality Trina Riley was sponsored at the state contest by Holley Carburetor, Inc.
Greg Burress, David Karr and Gene Logan received University Scholarships to attend Ole Miss.
1982 Watermelon Queen Patricia Keith was honored at a tea at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hamric Henry.
Tim Rutherford, Cindy Fernandez and Denise Romburger attended State Music Camp at Miss. State University.
Clinton McKinny and Hubert Sanders were pictured receiving a certificate of appreciation from Mrs. J. G. Carpenter for the Odd Fellows contribution to the Heart Fund drive.
• 40 years ago, July 20, 1972 – WV Band Flag and Rifle Team members – Mary Childress, Nancy Swanson, Lindy Hill, Cindy Pittman, Lori Hardy, Paula Knight, Charmie Lassen, and Lynda Sartain – attended the annual Mississippi State Band Camp.
Larry Davis was pictured with the Jaycees “Red John,” a gaily painted toilet, that he had to keep in his yard until he presented a new member to Dave Hollister, membership chairman.
New members of the local National Guard unit were James Stacy, Earley Rhyne, James Dickey Jr. and Terry Allen.
In the want ads Henry Simmons was offering to shell peas for 75 cents a bushel. And, in real estate, a practically new three bedroom house was going for $14,000.
• 50 years ago, July 19, 1962 – Although it wasn’t local news, Herald Editor Edward B. Shearer noted that President Kennedy’s med-i-care bill had gone down to defeat in the Senate. He noted that citizens didn’t have to worry about our doctor’s going on strike like they had in Canada.
Carol Haley won district and state honors for her 4-H health-oriented presentation “It’s Your Turn Now.”
J. C. Sides Jr. of Coffeeville, Yalobusha ASCS member, gave a speech on effective administration of acreage allotments and marketing quota programs to the state ASCS Conference at Biloxi.
Miss Kate Johnsey reported in her Fishing column that “Snow” Mattox saw a cougar walking in an old log road in the woods near his house. And, uncle Bruce Gurner killed two cottonmouth moccasins on the beaver dam east of the 315 bridge and north of Yocona. They were both in excess of five feet long and six inches around. Their heads were as large as four fingers of his hand.
• 60 years ago, July 17, 1952 – Yalobusha Countians were $140,333 in debt as a result of the deficit spending of the federal government for the fiscal year ending June 30, according to an estimate by the Mississippi Economic Council. The nation’s deficit was a staggering $4 billion-plus. (Today it is more than $15 trillion – 375 times as much. Based on those figures, Yalobusha County’s share would be over $50 million. Each one of us owes $50,000.)
“We trust these figures on your part of the federal debt will cause you to realize there is no such thing as free government money,” said H. K. Griffin, council head.
• 70 years ago, July 16, 1942 – Lt. Charles Barbour was killed instantly when his plane crashed on takeoff from Mission, Texas. He had been married barely two weeks before to Paulette Williams of Water Valley.
Elmo Bagguley, a graduate of WVHS in ’41, was safe in Honolulu after his ship, USS Yorktown, was put out of action at the battle of Midway. Tokyo has twice claimed the sinking of the Yorktown, but she still is afloat.