Look Back In Yalobusha History
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An eyewitness to the 2009 crash, William Teeter (left) described the final moments to deputy David Wallis. – Photo by Jack Gurner
Cass Choate, a pilot from Oakland, Tenn., crashed his Pitts S2B single engine aircraft into a patch of Kudzu near Oakland, Mississippi 15 years ago on July 8. Choate was seriously injured when his plane went down into a kudzu-covered wooded area about three-quarters of a mile east of I-55 and about 300 feet south of Hwy. 32.
Eyewitnesses reported that Choate had just finished some aerial maneuvers when the engine of his Pitts S2B developed problems, made a noise like a back-fire twice, and blew two puffs of blue smoke.
Emergency responders had Choate out of the plane within a half-hour of arriving on the scene, carrying him toward a waiting medical helicopter that had landed in a field nearby. Medics were able to stabilize him for transport by air to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis.
The crash was one of two in Yalobusha County the Herald has covered in the last 20 years. On Labor Day weekend, 2012, Dr. Ken Byrd was flying home in his Cessna 210 airplane. Byrd was returning to Memphis from a weekend visit in North Carolina when he steered his plane farther south than originally intended, likely diverting to dodge a strong thunderstorm. He could not remember the final minutes of his flight, but his plane went down a quarter-mile from I-55 near Tillatoba.
Byrd sustained serious injuries, undergoing multiple surgeries during a three week stay in intensive care. His injuries forced him to retire as an OBGYN physician. He returned to Water Valley two years after the crash to thank first responders for helping save his life.
The physician explained that the professionalism from the first responders–both during his extraction from the crumpled cockpit and the transport out of the woods to the waiting helicopter–made it possible for him to walk again. He had fractures on two of his lumbar vertebrae, rendering his spine very unstable. One wrong move and he could have been easily paralyzed.
Through The Years From The Herald
• 15 years ago, July 16, 2009 – The new mayor and board of aldermen met for their first meeting July 7, a brief 32-minute session.
County supervisors began divvying offices in the newly acquired Carothers Building on County Road 436.
Steffi River was headed to Hattiesburg for the 60th Anniversary Miss Hospitality Pageant.
• 20 years ago, July 15, 2004 – A delegation of seven citizens met with county supervisors to protest any tax increase and ask for an increase in law enforcement presence by the sheriff’s department.
The group also wanted to know why supervisors needed expensive trucks.
The Water Valley city board approved hiring Joe Gurner as Librarian/Office Manager at the Blackmur Library.
Corey Mills, daughter of David and Michelle Mills, won first place in the 4-H Seed Identification and Judging Contest held at Mississippi Delta Community College.
Miss Mattie Cofer celebrated her 100th birthday and Mrs. Mary E. (VanWinkle) Cooper celebrated her 90th.
The church family at Bethel sent 22 air conditioners to the troops in Iraq.
• 30 years ago, July 14, 1994 – Pictured readying supplies for the mission trip to Honduras were Mike Whitehead, Sheila Flippin, Natalie Flippin, Ashley Aldy and Paul Pullen. This was the third trip for Water Vallians.
Jeff Miller was a member of the 1994 Delta State University Summer Band.
Dr. Nina Evans announced the opening of her family dentistry in Grenada.
Jordan White and Nancy Margaret Ray were honored by the United States Achievement Academy.
• 40 years ago, July 19, 1984 – Watermelon Queen Margie Ford and her mom, Cecil, were pictured on the front page with hostesses for the annual Watermelon Tea including Cheryl Goodwin, president of the Southern Living Garden Club; Mildred Bell, Garden Club of Water Valley; Mildred Harmon, president of the Garden Club of Water Valley; and Carol Pittman, president of the Town and Country Garden Club.
Participating in a “Hit-A-Thon” fundraiser were members of the Bondafoam sponsored baseball team: Kenon Jenkins, Aduba Manning, Kevin Champion, Delass McGee, Greg Tutor, Jerry Brown, Lance Humphreys, David Allen, Terry Brown, William Baker, Chris Mooneyham and Coach Louis Tutor.
Lions Club members and others shown cleaning up around town were Robert Todd, David Bell, Dr. Rayford Edgar, Joe Black, Dr. Andy Jones and Rev Frank Hamilton. In another photo – a very strange photo – Lions club members David Bell, Keith River and Wilbur Todd were pictured with the beloved cartoon character “Tweety Bird” and commenting that they had the “chicken” and needed a grill. It was a promotion for their chicken barbecue.
• 50 years ago, July 18, 1974 – Andrew Berry was honored for 51 and one-half years of service with the City Electric Department.
Fred Kendrick was honored by the officers and directors of the Bank of Water Valley.
Julie Tubbs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Homer D. Tubbs, appeared on Talent Showcase on WMC-TV doing her tap routine.
• 60 years ago, July 16, 1964 – Steve Wells of Water Valley and Richard Helm of Coffeeville placed in the state contest at 4-H Congress with their project “Farm Pond Management.” Other winners included Steve Brower and Larry Kilgore of Coffeeville for their “Control of Hornflies on Beef Cattle” demonstration and Don Harding of Water Valley won with “Control of Garden Insects.” The senior dairy judging team of Harold Waller, Don Harding, Earl Nichols and Steve Moore placed seventh in the state and the senior crops judging team of Bill Ross, Steve Brower, Larry Gean and Joe Avant placed tenth.
Girls competing were Beverly Allen, Marty Brower, Patsy Jones, Jackie VanWinkle and Sandra Shaw.
New Jaycee officers included Binnie Turnage, president; Oscar Mackey, vice-president; Guy Dale Shaw, secretary; and Melvin Ford, treasurer.
• 70 years ago, July 15, 1954 – Plans for the Tri- Lake Fair and Livestock Show were being finalized.
The Community Council was seeking a couple to operate the newly completed skating rink.
Columnist Myrle Cox complained of the 102 degree temperature on the Herald’s thermometer.
Women fishing in the state with artificial bait were required to have a fishing license, according to the director of the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission. He said there was confusion because of a law that exempted the little ladies from having to have hunting licenses.
• 80 years ago, July 13, 1944 – A. L. Shaw was granted a change of venue for his trial for the murder of Camp McCain soldier James Deskin. His trial was set for September in Circuit Court in Sardis.
