Fly Received Command Of ‘The Fightingest Ship In The Fleet’ In 1965
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In a brief ceremony on January 29, 1986, Mrs. Cecil Ford’s sixth grade homeroom class lowered the American flag to half-staff and recited the Pledge of Allegiance in honor of the seven crew members of space shuttle Challenger, who were killed shortly after takeoff a day earlier.
10 Years—January 21, 2016 – Ajinomoto Windsor executives joined local and state officials to announce an expansion at the Oakland plant that will create 60 jobs. Shown spreading the dirt with the ceremonial shovels are District 33 Representative Tommy Reynolds, Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association CEO Brad Robison, MDA Executive Director Glenn McCullough, District 14 Senator Lydia Graves Chassaniol, Ajinomoto Windsor CEO and President Bernard Kreilmann, Ajinomoto Windsor Executive VP Taro Komura and Ajinomoto Windsor Food VP of Operations Steve Charles.
In 2014, opponents of a proposed Walmart Express in Water Valley battled the Goliath company. Ultimately Walmart decided not to build in Water Valley.
After being open for just over a year, six new Walmart Express stores in Mississippi will be shuttered as part of the US-based supermarket chain’s restructuring announced last Friday. The six Mississippi stores – Derma, Sardis, Walnut, Nettleton, Belmont and Mantachie – were included in a list of 154 stores slated for closure in the US at the end of the month as WalMart announced it will shift its focus toward Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets in more profitable locations.
20 Years—January 19, 2006 – Tri-Lake Refrigeration has served Yalobusha County for three decades. The company’s employees include:Kelly and Ginny Harvey, Kim Hudson, Wayne Hollinger, Larry Potts, Josh Snider, Kyle Dean, and Billy Green.
A proposed grocery tax bill could provide the largest tax cut in the history of Mississippi.
The Lady Devils beat Independence, but the boys team lost another one. Seniors Sasha Carr and Laura Burgess combined to score 43 points in the game. Head Coach Shane Linzy had led the Lady Devils to a 19-2 regular season record and they had eight games to go. The girls were currently ranked third in the state.
Obituaries reported were for Fitzhugh Lee Jones, Mrs. Dorothy “Dot” Wilbourn Lowe, and Mr. Dale Sartain.
Yalobusha County Sheriff Steve Shuffield was recently presented a 2005 Award of Excellence for his participation in the state’s Inmate Litter Removal Program.
30 Years—January 18, 1996 – Some of Water Valley’s oldest Main Street Buildings were being restored by owner, Bobby Suratt.
In August, Samuel H. Kaye, AITA, of Columbus and Joy Burnham, Senior Program Associate of the Mississippi Downtown Development Association, made a one-day evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of Water Valley. Their report was expected to help the city in its development. Also, pictured were Cam Tyler, Chamber of Commerce President, and Dr. Barry Weeks, Water Valley EDF President.
Airman Charlie Gordon completed basic training at Lackland AFB.
Yalobusha General Hospital and Yalobusha County Nursing Home Auxiliary (Pink Ladies) presented hospital employee, Loretta Crawford, a check for a thousand dollars to help build a secure walking track. Pink Ladies making the donation were Dorothy True, Alice Williams, Lucille Roberson and Adron Williams.
Births announced in the “Tomorrow’s Men & Women” Column were: Miranda Turnage, daughter of Bobby and Monica Turnage; Courtney Barrett Climer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Climer of Batesville (great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Smith of Water Valley); Garrett Michael King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael King of Water Valley; and Madalyn McNeel Beckham, daughter of David and Bonnie Beckham of Indiana (granddaughter of Jamie and Barbara Thomas of Water Valley).
40 Years—January 23, 1986 – Judge Kermit Cofer was honored by Odd Fellow Lodge 82 and Samaritan Rebekah Lodge No. 38.
Jerry L. Goodman, president of OTASCO, presented a plaque to Elnor Womble in recognition of her being named 1986 “Dealer of the Year.”
Connie and Shellie Wilson were pictured with host, Bert Parks, during a recently taped Mother/Daughter Pageant. The Pilot Club held their annual Christmas Dinner. Program Chairman Jayne River introduced special guests, a group, dubbed “A Partridge in a Pear Tree,” composed of Leland Hurt, First Baptist Church’s Minister of Music, Betty Hart, and Curtis Berry, who sang a medley of Christmas songs.
Beth Mitchell, on behalf of the Pilot Club, presented Hugh Gurner, school librarian, a check for use in purchasing magazine subscriptions for the Water Valley High School Library.
Jerry Griffin, ASCS employee since 1973, has been appointed District Conservationist for Yalobusha County.
50 Years—January 22, 1976 – Students at the Camp Ground Head Start Center were screened for amblyopia.
Deborah Ward was selected as Water Valley High School’s “Betty Crocker Homemaker” for the year.
Bruce Gurner was honored for reporting the weather in the Water Valley Area.
The annual High School Career Day was held with representatives of universities, colleges, businesses and industries, and Armed Forces representatives present. Senior Class members, Dixie Martin, Dana Williamson, and Harriett Fair, were among students helping with the activities of the day.
Yalobusha natives on the OIe Miss Honor Roll for the fall semester were: David Aune, Doug Gurner, Jim Hedges, Paula Knight, Clay Richmond, and Julie Sartain, all of Water Valley; Steve Bailey, Beth Benoist, Edwin George, and Bettie Lou Newman, all of Coffeeville; and Charles Edwards of Tillatoba.
The Clifton Terrells were being honored at an open house on their 60th wedding anniversary.
U.S. Senator John Stennis visited the Northwest Junior College Campus, where he chatted with students and visited classes.
Julia Marie Sartain and Fred Buren McCullar, III were united in marriage on December 21, 1975.
60 Years—January 20, 1966 – Captain William E. Fly, Water Valley native, is now commanding the USS Essex, a large aircraft carrier. Dubbed “The Fightingest Ship in the Fleet,” the Essex was placed under Captain Fly’s command recently. Captain Fly is the son of Mrs. W. G. Fly and the late Mr. Fly.
The speed limit was raised to 30 miles per hour on Water Valley streets.
The Junior Auxiliary was hosting a charity Valentine’s Ball to assist funding for the Teen Center.
Wallace Forsyth was ordained a deacon in services Sunday night at Water Valley First Baptist Church.
The Yellow Jacket’s Outstanding Senior for the Month was Pam Samuels. Among her many qualifications for this honor was her service as an assistant to Mrs. Dale Childress in the High School Office.
Ole Miss student, Bena Lou Kendrick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kendrick, extended an invitation on behalf of Delta Gamma Sorority and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, to a Christmas party for Yalobusha County children. Thirty children, ages four through eight, attended.
70 Years—January 19, 1956 – Yalobusha County had 12 men on Governor J. Coleman’s staff. Serving were John Ashford, Ed Baddley, Kermit Cofer, J. A Ramay and Edward Shearer, of Water Valley; Joe Bailey, Aaron Gordon, Gerald Denley, John E. Kimbrough, and W. I. Stone of Coffeeville; William Callaway and Sam Herron, Jr. of Oakland; and John F. Cook of Tillatoba.
The Coffeeville basketball teams were favored in the annual Yalobusha County tourney. The local teams had split a pair with Ellard and a pair with Batesville prior to the tournament.
Water Valley Jr. Highlites were reported by Ben B. Smith and Danny Ross Ingram. One of the reports given was the top five eighth grade students on the Honor Roll, who were Danny Ross Ingram, Sue Wright, Doug Person, Barbara McCulley and Ben Smith.
An announcement was made that Harry Fair has joined Richmond Chevrolet as the new Parts Manager.
Sartain’s Butane Gas Co. advertised “What it Means to be a Native Butane Gas Co.”
They stated, “We’re here to Serve you. We’re Equipped. “We’re Qualified.”
A pancake supper was held at the Masonic Temple to benefit the Polio Fund. For all you could eat of pan- cakes, sausage, and drinks, the cost was only 50 cents
80 Years—January 17, 1946 – President Harry S. Truman assured Basil O’Conner, president of the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis, that he would broadcast the March of Dimes Appeal to the Nation January 30, birthday of Franklin D. Roosevelt, his predecessor and founder of NFIP.
A pair of nylon hose, an overcoat and $120.84 was the loot of a burglar that broke into the Grand Theatre between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. During the same time period the Holly Springs Theatre was also burglarized. Both theatres were owned and managed by the same people and the manager, Leon Rountree, was in Memphis at the time of the break-ins.
The Mechanics Savings Bank declared a dividend and elected directors and officers at its annual meeting. Directors elected were W. E. Blackmur, F. B. DeShon, Earl Fly, B.N. Suratt, Harris Samuels, R. S. Halliwell, and W. C. Quinn. Officers named were: Blackmur, president; DeShon, vice president; Fly, cashier; Quinn and Samuels, assistant cashiers.
