Look Back In Yalobusha History
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The Water Valley High School Band participated in the State Solo and Ensemble Contest held at Tupelo in February of 1975 getting excellent and superior ratings.
• 15 Years Ago, Feb. 18, 2010 – Four rounds of state budget cuts from Governor Haley Barbour had county officials concerned about the impact on local government.
Barbour had made the cuts to combat lagging sales tax collections as the state’s economy was still struggling after the recession.
District Three Supervisor M.H. “Butch” Surrette reported that cuts at the state level to balance the budget may mean an increase in taxes at the county level. “They are speaking with a loud voice, and they are sending it right on down to the counties for us to raise taxes for them. And I don’t like it,” Surrette said about state law- makers. Surrette was one of 11 supervisors in the state that served on the Mississippi Association of Supervisors legislative committee and regularly provided updates at county meeting.
The Yalobusha County Fuller Center for Housing received a first place award for completing home repairs on 12 houses in the county. The recognition came at the Fuller Center Annual Covenant Partner Conference in Shreveport, La.
• 20 Years Ago, Feb. 17, 2005 – The North Mississippi Herald welcomed William Browning to the staff. Browning was a journalism student at Northwest Mississippi Community College and started covering Valley sports, writing features and covering other news events.
Chris Caldwell was the first customer at the Water Valley courthouse after it reopened following an extensive renovation.
After working 15 years at Enid Lake’s Wallace Creek Campground, John and Helene Dunlap retired from the job. The couple manned the fee booth, collection camping fees during the open season.
Baseball season got started for the Blue Devil team with the first game scheduled on the road in Winona.
Winter took a detour through the Water Valley area during the second weekend of February, 1995, bringing a light covering of snow and lowering temperatures into the teens. This snowman on Central Street faced rising temperatures during the week.
– Photo by Jack Gurner
• 30 Years Ago, Feb. 16, 1995 – The Water Valley Chamber of Commerce set April 1 as the opening date in the newly renovated office on Main Street. The building had been completely renovated, including a new roof, new heating and air conditioning. The building was constructed in the 1940s, and previously housed a fire station, library and chamber offices.
Yalobusha General Hospital Administrator Jamie Carter, accompanied by associate administrator and consultant Edward B. Gilliland and hospital board chairman Smiley Arrington gave an upbeat report on the hospital at a Water Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting. At the time the facility employed 130 and had an annual payroll of $1.5 million. Carter reported the facility had two physicians on staff, Dr. Paul Odom, and Dr. G.W. “Fella” Armstrong, III, and were recruiting another doctor. Also reported were two Oxford surgeons, Dr. Michael Lovelace and Dr. Hubert E. Spears, alternated working at the hospital on Thursdays.
Five nurse practitioners staffed the after hours clinic from 9 to 7 on weekends and a goal was to open the clinic on week nights. The hospital had 32 hospital beds, 59 nursing home beds and 10 swing beds.
• 40 Years Ago, Feb. 21, 1985 – Yalobusha 4-H club members did exceedingly well in the Northwest District Livestock and State Livestock show. At the District Show in Batesville all animals received blue ribbons and qualified for the state show. Tanya Bowen of Water Valley placed second with her light weight commercial heifer. Cheri Carr, also of Water Valley, placed second and third with her crossbred lambs. Blue ribbon hogs were shown by Jonathan Buford, Robert Buford, David Robinson and Bart Robinson, all of Oakland. Bowen was also the high individual beef judger at the district contest. Bart Robinson was third high individual sheep judger and led the sheep judging team to a fourth place finish. Others participating in the judging contest included Chari Carr, Paul Craig of Tillatoba, Mark Fielder and John Stevens of Coffeeville.
Jackie Craig of Tillatoba was a finalist in the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo Queen’s Contest. She was presented at the rodeo on opening night.
Larry Hart reported he would be a candidate for alderman in the upcoming city election.
• 50 Years Ago, Feb. 21, 1975 – Enjoying the Valentine party for Senior Citizens held at the Extension Building in Water Valley were Mrs. Rebecca Maynor, Mrs. Minnie Mayor, Mrs. Dessie Wright, Mrs. Earl Barber of Oakland, Mrs. Byron Williamson, Mrs. Mamie Shields, Yalobusha County Extension Economist and Mr. Byron Williamson.
Guardsmen recently promoted included Sgt E-5 Rickey Jordan, Sgt E-5 Virgil Wilkey, and Sp-5 J. C. Cox. The promotions were announced by Capt. James Lipscomb, Commander.
