Interstate Speed Limits Increased To 70 In 1996
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After seeing the Looking Back item in the Feb. 26th edition about the 1956 tournament, Helen Maxine Jones Walker (WVHS Class of 1960) shared this photograph of the Water Valley Grammar School girls basketball team proudly holding a ball marked “1955-56 Champs.” The Water Valley Grammar School’s Girls basketball team was the top seed in the annual Yalobusha County Grammar School Tournament in 1956. Team members as identified on the back of the picture are manager Martha Ann Miles, Coach Mr. Daves and players (top row, from left) Kay Baddley, Anne Brown, Mary Allred, Sue Wright (captain), Daves, Barbara McCulley, Judy Vaughn, Babs Chitton, Laverne Mills and Nancy Turner; and (bottom row) Helen Jones, Sara Johnson, Ann Wilborn, Toxie Fortinberry, Sue McCullar, Lettie Redwine, Shelby Johnson and Lou Larson.
10 Years Ago — March 10, 2016 – County supervisors met with attorneys from the Jackson-based law firm Watkins & Eager PLLC to discuss possible legal action related to contamination from a decades-old release of trichloroethylene (TCE) at the former Colt Industries/Holley Automotive facility on Highway 32. Testing by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality identified a contamination plume extending northwest from the site, now occupied by BorgWarner, affecting an area that included about 28 homes and 11 commercial buildings on South Main Street, Frostland Drive and Champion Circle.
MDEQ officials said the contamination does not affect drinking water because there are no wells in the area, but testing focused on the possibility of “vapor intrusion,” where underground solvent vapors could enter homes or buildings through soil. Initial soil gas testing at 24 sites showed chemical levels well below residential screening limits, though MDEQ said additional testing would be required during the summer months when drier soil conditions could change the results.
20 Years—March 9, 2006 – Water Valley High School Head Coach Trent Hammond announced the retirement of senior athlete Jason Langdon’s jersey No. 2, at he football banquet. Langdon’s jersey was framed and presented to him.
The Sheriff’s Department received two new trucks and Chief Deputy Lance Humphreys requested that the trucks be unmarked. The trucks would replace two unmarked patrol cars being used by Sheriff Steve Shuffield and Humphreys, which would then be marked.
First baseman for the Water Valley Blue Devils, Jace Hamilton, claimed on Friday that he would hit his first home run of the season on Saturday in the game against the Tupelo Golden Waves. He made good his promise on the first pitch that came his way and also hit another ball out of the park on the last pitch to him in the game.
Rebekah Hill, a student at Faith Christian Academy, won fist place in the Lions Club poster contest in district competition. Rebekah’s prize was $100.
30 Years—March 7, 1996 – Town & Country Garden Club members were selling red and white crepe myrtles. Pictured was local gardner Elvis Champion, who was explaining the proper care and pruning these plants need to Loy McMinn, City Crepe Myrtle Chairman for Town & Country Garden Club.
The Water Valley High School cheerleaders, coached by Suzanne Oakley, placed seventh in state competition. Cheerleaders were captain Sonya Brown; co-chairmen, Nancy Margaret Ray and Tracy Sutherland; Amanda York; Jill Hyde; Pamela Sunderland; Leif Tierce; and Christy Wilbourn.
A bill introduced by Rep. Tommy Reynolds will make Yalobusha County eligible for a showbarn.
Gov. Kirk Fordice signed a law raising the state speed limit on Mississippi Highways to 65 mph and to 70 mph for all four-lane interstate highways with fully controlled accesses.
Mary Poe was selected as queen and Elmer Jackson as king at the Valentine’s Day party held in Yalobusha County Nursing Home.
40 Years—March 13, 1986 – The Odd Fellow Lodge and Rebekah Assembly hosted “Kermit Cofer Day” with a special program at the courthouse, followed by a reception in Mechanics Bank.
Gloria Cook, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cook, competed in the “Miss Northwest Junior College” Pageant on March 13.
Rickey Mooney, 17-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Mooney, won the Bank of Water Valley’s weight loss competition. Dot Trusty, a bank officer, presented him a check in the amount of $131 for his loss of 31 pounds in a six week period.
50 Years—March 11, 1976 – Craig Hart, STAR Student at Water Valley High School selected Mrs Elsie Ashford as his STAR Teacher.
Mrs. Mamie Shields was to lead the county clean-up campaign.
The family of the late W. V. Moore of Oakland was presented a special Presidential Award by the American Dairy Association. Accepting the award was Lee Moore, son of the late Mr. Moore.
Earning high ratings at Junior High Solo and Ensemble Competition at Southaven were Jennifer Jones, Debbie Person, Nora Smith, Joey Joyner, Scott Mills, Charles Jaudon and Jim Shearer.
Selected as Area Chamber of Commerce Officers for 1976-77 were: Dave Hollister, president; Bobby Clark, vice-president; Jane Johnson, secretary; Dave Hollister, Bobby Clark, L. D. Jones, Eleanor Womble, Bluford McCullar, and Pat Holloway, executive committee.
A Noncommissioned Officers School has been established by the Mississippi National Guard. Among the members of the first class were 1st Sgt. Jodie Burks of Water Valley and 1st Sgt. Bobby Dye of Coffeeville.
Vallian Robert Litton won five trophies in the Mississippi State Field Trials held last week.
60 Years—March 10, 1966 – B. C. McCullar, manager of the Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, announced that four new directors would be elected to replace Bill Trusty, Fred Kendrick, Albert Mott, and L. C. Stewart, who were retiring. They had served thee years and were not eligible to succeed themselves.
Mary Belle Spivey, former Vallian, was named the STAR Teacher at Murrah High School in Jackson. She is the daughter of Mrs. Earl Bell and the late Erroll Spivey.
Members of Girl Scout Troop 110 participated in Girl Scout Week. Scouts Kim Clark, Margie Potts, Patty Scroggins, Laura Parsons, Ronda Cook, and Mary Roberts helped teach members of Mrs. Hubert Weaver’s Brownie Scout Troop 226, Jane Lantrip, Cherie Richards, Sylvia Pryor, Belinda Bryan, Ellen Hyde, Carol Cook, Connie Newman, Cheryl Jaudon, Betty Green, Debra Bratton, and Betty Holloway, some of the basics of Scouting.
William Kyzer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Kyzer of Scobey, has been promoted to staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.
Verdia Haywood, son of Percy Haywood, Sr., was named STAR Student at Davidson High School. Verdia has selected Mr. Joseph Ford as his STAR Teacher.
70 Years—March 8, 1956 – Mrs. Teresia Edgar was named “Outstanding Jaycette” for 1955. She is president of the local club.
Water Valley employees of Southern Bell Telephone Company were the first to reach 100 percent membership in the American Red Cross 1956 Campaign for Funds. Buck Suratt, Red Cross Chairman, received the check from Mildred Hamilton. Operators on duty, pictured with Mrs. Hamilton and Mr. Suratt, were Mrs. L. D. Boxx, Mrs. Addie Bratton, Mrs. Billy Humphreys and Mrs. Pauline Heflin.
Seniors listed on the Water Valley High School Honor roll for the fall semester were Dale Ashmore, Bill Harris, Lynn Raley, Ronald Pass, Bennie Cole Taylor, Binnie Turnage, Patsy Nell Gray, Mary Lucia George, Betty Ann Hill, Patsy Thomas Bray and Mary Ellen Wood.
80 Years—March 14, 1946 – Tom Myers retired after 45 years with Illinois Central Rail Road, 38 years of this was as a locomotive engineer.
Rufus Leon Black, TMV 2- c, son of Mrs. W. M. Adams of Water Valley, recently underwent a serious operation in the Naval Hospital at Coronada, Calif.
Cpl. Jack Johnsey returned to civilian life through the separation center at Camp Shelby. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Johnsey.
Lt. Commander Jack E. Kennedy was given full command of the U.S.S. Wilhoite and is now in Philadelphia, Penn., where the ship is undergoing repairs. He has served for the past three years in the famous Third Fleet under Halsey.
