Coca-Cola Supply Threatened By Sugar Shortage

• 20 Years Ago, June 23, 2005 – The largest earth-moving project at Enid Reservoir since its construction was underway with the construction of the new fish hatchery.

Benny Martin took the title of Park Manager at George P. Cossar State Park. He had worked as the park’s assistant manager for eight years prior to the promotion.

Northwest Mississippi Community College announced a $200 tuition increase for the 2005-06 academic year. With the increase, the tuition would cost $850 per semester, up from a state-low of $650 per semester last year.

• 30 Years Ago, June 22, 1995 – Water Valley’s 11-man police team has a new recruit. Although he’s only 18 months old, some folks scatter when he rides down the street. The new policeman is Canto, a German shepherd who hails from Germany. The dog was trained in Amsterdam and understands both German and English commands. His handler was officer Roger Thomas.

City Clerk Doris B. Cox will retire from her post on June 30, ending a 34-year career in government service. As City Clerk, she served mayors Watson Hunt, Garlon Maynor, M. Hamric Henry and Larry Hart.

• 40 Years Ago, June 20, 1985 – A Water Valley state trooper is credited with foiling a kidnapping. Trooper Bill Williamson pulled over a vehicle speeding on I-55 south of Oakland on June 12. He became suspicious of the adult occupants of Colorado when he found a nine year-old boy from Enid, Oklahoma in their company. The trooper brought the individuals to the jail to post bond. Williamson and deputy Jim Dollahite investigated further and learned the parents of the boy had reported him missing and had no idea of his whereabouts. The boy was placed in a temporary home until his parents could get him the next day.

Jail escapee Leon Butler, 19, had little to show for his “day on the town” except scratches and weary feet. Butler was held in the jail on charges of robbing Ace Hardware and Piggly Wiggly. He escaped from the jail’s exercise pen around 8:20 a.m. Twenty-one law enforcement agents joined the search, and he was apprehended after a dog owned by Edward Scanlon cornered him near the elementary school. Scanlon then apprehended the escapee. He then surrendered him to WVPD officers Roger Thomas, Barnett Gilley, Calvin Sellers and Thomas Scroggins at 4:05 p.m.

• 50 Years Ago, June 19, 1975 – The Water Valley City Board and Junior Chamber of Commerce jointly announced the Bi-Centennial program for Water Valley. The group asked support of ever person in making this an outstanding Bi-Centennial year. The group also welcomed any historical material that could be displayed.

Rays advertised a 25-year anniversary sale in a full page ad in the Herald. The department store opened in 1950.

• 60 Years Ago, June 17, 1965 – The Yalobusha County School Board set Monday, August 30, as the opening date for the schools in the county, according to Melvin Ford, county superintendent of education.

Thanksgiving holidays will be November 25 and 26. Christmas holidays will commence on December 17 and classes will resume January 3. The closing date for the schools will be May 20, 1966.

Airman 1-c Carroll L. (Ronny) Hardin, son of David A. Hardin, Sr., of Rt. 5 , Water Valley, has been awarded the U.S. Air Force Air Medal at Tan Son Nhut Airfield, Vietnam. Airman Hardin won the award for his personal bravery in volunteering his off-duty time at night to fly with aircrews to ignite and drop flares in support of the fight against Communist aggression.

New lights installed at the Water Valley Boat Landing were the result of a project by the Yalobusha County Sportmen’s Club.

• 70 Years Ago, June 23, 1955 – Virgil Homer Arrington, City Marshal of Coffeeville was killed almost instantly late Friday afternoon, June 17, on his farm 10 miles north of Coffeeville, when his tractor turned over on him.

Nolen’s Grocery was observing it 50th anniversary in the same family. The store was established by the late W. A. Nolen in 1905, and the business continues today under the management of his son, Howard Nolen.

The re-writing of the burial records for Oak Hill Cemetery for the period of Sept. 1874 to Feb. 9, 1924, were completed this week. The completed work was on file in Water Valley City Hall, available for inspection by anyone who may be interested. The work took more than six months and was completed by Fred Kendrick, Mary K. Holloway, Mrs. Drusilla Holmes and Mrs. Rayford Edgar. Principal causes of death listed in the old record were “Yellow Fever,” “Diphtheria,” “Flux,” “Congestion,” and “Consumption.” One note found in copying the old records showed that the Sexton of the Cemetery himself was a victim of yellow fever. The number of cases of yellow fevers recalls the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. Although there were later outbreaks of that dreaded disease, the 1879 outbreak was the most severe of those in this part of the state. Another record of the death of a man stated, “Apparently he had too much to drink and lay down on the railroad track to sleep. The pieces of his body were picked up and buried.

• 80 Years Ago, June 21, 1945 – The body of Lt. Robert Mark Woods, one of the 17 victims of a plane crash near Vicksburg last week, arrived here Monday and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery Tuesday.

Lt. Woods was born in Water Valley 21 years ago, the son of the late Cillman Woods, attorney, and Mrs. Addie Woods, and received his early schooling here. He received his wings as a Navy pilot in December, 1943, and had specialized in training as a night fighter pilot in Florida. Lt. Woods had recently completed his tour of duty, including the invasion of Faigon, Luzon and other engagements. When killed he was en route to a new assignment at an instructors’ school at Jacksonville, Fla.

The regular meeting of the Yalobusha 4-H Club Council was held in the Coffeeville Courthouse on Saturday, June 16. The president of the council, Judith Kuykendall, presided. The members decided to publish a monthly 4-H newsletter to increase the interest in 4-H club work in the county. The paper staff selected for the project included: Editor – Gilda Lynn Jones of Jeff Davis; Assistant Editor, Frank Mixon of Jeff Davis; reporters, James Robert McCain of Camp Ground and Theron Bratton and Robert Lawshe, Water Valley.

The supply of Coca-Cola in Water Valley will be affected by the further curtailment in the supply of sugar after July 1 because the manufacturer of that popular drink will not compromise with the use of substitutes. The allotment of sugar to industrials had been cut by half during the quarter of 1945 due to the war. The announcement was made by W.L. Elkin, Manager of the Water Valley Bottling Company.