Trial Was Underway 50 Years Ago For City’s Annexation
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
15 Years Ago, Nov. 19, 2009 – It was a heart-breaking loss in the playoffs against Belmont when Chris Conard’s potential game-tying touchdown catch was ruled out-of-bounds, ending the season. The Blue Devils ended the season 7-5.
The topic of merging the county’s two justice court offices, one located in each courthouse, was first discussed during a supervisor meeting. District 1 Supervisor Tommy Vaughn floated the idea to move both court clerks to the Carothers Building, a move that would keep the office open if one of the clerks was out. The discussion was also triggered by an audit finding that flagged the accounting system in the justice court offices because each clerk handles all of the financial duties separately, with no oversight.
District 3 Supervisor M.H. “Butch” Surrette went on the record in favor of the consolidation, while District 5 Supervisor Frank “Bubba” Tillman was opposed.
A student from the University of Southern Mississippi who had been missing for over a week was discovered dead in his car on Hwy 32. Coroner Ronnie Stark ruled the death self-inflicted estimated Steven McGehee had been dead inside the car for almost a week after a construction worker found him on a portion of the highway that was closed for bridge repairs.
• 20 Years Ago, Nov. 25, 2004 – Representatives of the Mississippi Main Street Association traveled to Water Valley for a one-day assessment of the town.
The county’s Extension Service County Director Steve Cummings was selected as outstanding Extension Employee of the Year. Cummings credited the residents of Yalobusha County making it the greatest place to work for the last 24 years.
Blackmur Librarian Joe Gurner announced a buy one, get one free sale as the used books were overflowing at the Book Closet. Gurner said they were running out of room and the sale would continue through the end of the year.
• 30 Years Ago, Nov. 17, 1994 – The Water Valley High School cheerleaders were raising money for a trip to the Citrus Bowl with a variety of fundraisers including selling chances on a $100 bill, a bake sale and a cheerleader camp for the little ones.
Air Force Captain Marc E. Jefferson was named Base Level Personnel Manager of the Year at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Capt. Jefferson is a 1984 graduate of Water Valley High School and the son of Zipporah L. Jefferson of Water Valley.
Patients listed in the hospital at Yalobusha General Hospital included: (from Water Valley) Benjamin Baldwin, Maurene Berry, Minnie Bolen, Gertrude Daniels, William Russell Newman, Raymond Odom, Grace Porter, Bessie Shoemake and Carlene Taylor; (from Coffeeville) Lois Jordan; and (from Paris) Mary Kisner.
Opening day of gun season was just days away and Sartain’s True Value was advertising hunting supplies that included ammo, buck calls, buck lure, cover scent, hunting knives and orange vests.
• 40 Years Ago, Nov. 22, 1984 – A German exchange student staying with Bennie Cole Taylor found a role on the football field as a kicker. Lars Meyn switched from soccer to football and tallied a number of field goals, extra points and kickoffs during his senior season. Coach
Jerry Holt described Meyn as one of the most accurate kickers that he had coached in Water Valley.
Rodney Childress was among 64 outstanding vocational agriculture instructors presented the honorary FFA American Farmer Degree at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City.
Water Valley Police Chief John Watson reported 12 tickets issued during the last week. The tickets included one public drunkedness, three speeding, three D.U.I.s, one driving under suspension, one possession of beer, one reckless driving, one no driver’s license and one improper lane usage.
Ron Browning, owner of Browning Funeral Home, was reappointed to the Committee on Structure and Planning of the National Funeral Directors Association. The committee included eight funeral directors from across the nation.
• 50 Years Ago, Nov. 28, 1974 – The city rested its case Wednesday afternoon after presenting testimony from Mayor Watson Hunt and aldermen Bill Robinson, Houston Vaughn and Lawrence Hale concerning the annexation of land around the city limits. Among those testifying against annexation in the case was Charles T. Allen, Carol Brown, Doyle Sartain, Hershell Howell and Robert Miles. Judge
Herbert Fant set Dec. 14 as the date for the attorneys to file briefs before ruling on the case.
The starting five for the 1974-1975 Blue Devil basketball team were pictured on the front page with their coach, Butler McLeod. The group included James Jones, Marvin Hall, Kenneth Wright, Dewitt Clinton and Milton Rockette.
• 60 Years Ago, Nov. 26, 1964 – A dozen floats and five bands were scheduled to roll down Main Street the next Monday night for the annual Christmas parade. Marching units and bands included the Water Valley High School Band, Northwest Junior College Band, University of Mississippi Air Force Color Guard, Drill Team and Band, Calhoun City Twirlettes, North Panola High School Band, Bruce High School Band, Water Valley Cub Scouts, and Yalobusha County Saddle Club.
Robert Coker of Water Valley and Johnni Sue Harrison of Coffeeville were on the President’s List of Northwest Mississippi Junior College. Marian Brown, Rodney Childress, Karen Dickey, Anita Faye Dorris, William Oliphant, Shirley Sansom and Betty Woods, all of Water Valley, were on the Dean’s List.
All ministers in the county were invited to a meeting at the First Presbyterian Church. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of a county Ministerial Association.
• 70 Years Ago, Nov. 18, 1954 – High school students from all sections of the state will attend the seventh annual Mississippi Youth Congress, which will convene December 3-4 in Jackson at the State Capitol Building. Delegates to the Congress are selected by the high schools and colleges by various organizations.
The increasing number of farm ponds in Mississippi have emphasized the need for more information on fish production. The Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station, with the help of a group of cooperators interested in fish, is conducting a study on an 11-acre lake in the experimental forest area, 12 miles southwest of State College.
• 80 Years Ago, Nov. 16, 1944 – Charles M. Few of Water Valley was among the crew injured when Satan’s Lady II caught flak while coming off a bomb run over Merseburg. Few, the top turret man, unmindful of his own bleeding arm, administered first aid to the more injured pilot. The plane was damaged and went into a spin near the Dutch border and three men parachuted out before the pilot was able to right the ship, still flying on one engine. The seven remaining crew members survived a crash landing at an R.A.F. field.
The Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company warned that orders for home telephones will not be filled as long as the needs of the war have first claim on telephone facilities.
