A Tragic Day At Suzie Perry Creek In 1996
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Hill’s Construction of Water Valley started work on the Railroad Park Pavilion during the summer of 2006. The project was implemented by the Town and Country Garden Club.
– File Photo by Jack Gurner
20 Years—June 15, 2006–Yalobusha General Hospital was experiencing billing problems because of billing by a newly hired billing company.
Water Valley Ambassadors held a ribbon-cutting for a new city business, Remedial Specialists.
Lacy Marie Harris, granddaughter of Betty and Charlie Harris, was representing Water Valley in the State Miss Hospitality Pageant.
Hill Construction Company began work on the Railroad Park Pavilion, a project of Town & Country Garden Club.
Dawn Marie Peeples of Coffeeville would become the bride of Timothy Dereck Redwine, also of Coffeeville, in a ceremony to be held July 8, 2006.
Randal McCain of Water Valley received the Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association Endowed Scholarship to Northwest Community College.
Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors President, Amos Sims, presented county tax assessor, Linda Shuffield, a certificate acknowledging her 15 years of continuous membership in the International Assessors Officers Group.

Timothy Holmes was 11 years old when he died in a drowning accident on June 13, 1996. Jones was playing near a Corps of Engineers grade construction site at Suzie Perry Creek, which was at flood stage due to excessive rainfall. He slipped into the fast-moving water. His 16 year-old cousin, Mark Hunt of Como, also drowned after jumping in to try to save him. A massive recovery operation was launched and it took four days until both bodies were located.
30 Years—June 20, 1996 – Two youth drowned at Corps of Engineers Grade Control Construction Site on Susie Perry Creek. Work had been halted at the site, west of Water Valley, for several weeks due to heavy rainfall. The report of the accidents stated that the construction did not contribute to these drownings and that there was a massive effort to recovery the bodies.
Cynthia Walton, 18-year-old daughter of Florence and Clay Walton of Oakland, was crowned Miss Yalobusha County in a pageant sponsored by the Community Involvement Group.
Water Valley Blue Devils attending the University of Tennessee football camp were Darrell Clark, Michael Rhyne, Brian Walls, Bennett Crow, Rogers Caldwell, Dan Whitehead, and Coaches Fulmer and John Walker.
The Tri-Lake Fairground Association was again sponsoring The Summer Festival, to be held at the Fairgrounds on Highway 315, west of Water Valley.
Amanda Thomas was among 450 new students entering Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tenn. in August.
John Michael Grimmett, son of Melinda and James Grimmett, and Chessie Clark, daughter of Jill and Hal Clark, are pictured with the 1996 Water melon carnival T- Shirts, now on sale.
40 Years—June 19, 1986 – Yalobusha County Sheriff Lloyd Defer and deputies, along with members of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics pulled up 31 Marijuana plants, with a street value of $20,000.
Pictured was recently chosen Watermelon Queen, Gloria Cook; first alternate, Shelby Singleton; and second alternate, Denise Riley. They would reign at the Watermelon Carnival to be held the first Saturday in August.
Over 80 children have enrolled in the Water Valley Library’s Summer Reading Program, according to Betty Melton, librarian.
Jerry “The King” Lawler is scheduled to appear in wrestling matches to be held at Water Valley High School.
The Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce announced an important organizational meeting for members. President of the Chamber was Kenny Taylor.
A man accused of first degree murder in Shelby County, Tenn., was arrested in Yalobusha County.
50 Years—June 17, 1976 – Kathy Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Williams, was elected Governor of Girls’ State, held recently in Jackson. Girls State is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary.
Dr. Frank Evans, Jr. received his Doctor of Optometry degree during commencement at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis.
Earl K. Fly was presented a special award at the annual Jaycette-Jaycee Awards Banquet. Mr. Fly was the first president of the club. which was the oldest club in the state. He was also the fist State Jaycee President. Making the presentations was Richard Flowers, local Jaycee President.
Named Baseball Coach of the Year by the Mississippi Junior College Association was Coach Jim Miles of Northwest Mississippi Junior College. Miles, a native of Water Valley, coached the NWJC Rangers to the state championship.
The Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Highway Patrol, announced plans to set up road blocks to reduce the number of motorist driving with expired inspection stickers.
50 Years, June 16, 1966 – Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Perkins enjoyed a trip to Nassau, Bahamas, where they spent a week attending the 1986 Lamar Life Sales Conference.
Jimmy Dorris received the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants Scholarship to Mississippi College. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Gonnie Dorris.
Mrs. Don Holloway is chairman of the Water Valley Library’s Reading Program, sponsored by the Junior Auxiliary. “Let’s take a vacation trip to our public library” is the theme of the program.
WVHS Cheerleaders will be washing cars at Chittom’s Service Station to earn money to help pay their expenses to the Ole Miss cheerleading camp.
The Garden Club of Water Valley’s Executive Committee met in the home of Mrs. Aubrey Trusty, newly elected president. Other officers were: Mrs. Paul Parker, vice- president; Mrs. W. W. Frost, secretary; Mrs. Doke French, treasurer; and Mrs. Warren Ray, historian.
S. A. Swearengen, Chairman of the Yalobusha Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee, announces premiums and discounts on 1966 upland cotton crops.
70 Years—June 14, 1956– Water Valley Junior Auxiliary officers for the coming year are: Mrs. M. E. Webb, president; Mrs. Howard Holloway, vice-president; Mrs. Rayford Edgar, treasurer; Mrs. John Throop, Jr. corresponding secretary; Mrs. C. W. Williams, recording secretary; Mrs. James B. Tyler, parliamentarian; and Mrs. Kyle Skinner, historian.
John McNamee is the new Commander of Curtis E. Pass Post No. 37 of the American Legion.
Slim Rhodes and his Mountaineers will appear at the City Auditorium in Water Valley. Sponsored by the Community Recreation Council, proceeds from the performance will benefit improvements to the Community Park.
A. S. Reed, Vocational Agriculture Teacher, attended a farm wiring workshop held at Mississippi State College. This was sponsored by Tallahatchie Valley Authority, the Mississippi Department of Education, and the State College Department of Education.
Winners in the Cotton Style Show were: “The Family Steps Out,” Mrs. Harold Allen and daughters; “Tea Time and Best Dresses”, Mrs. L. C. Stewart; “Wardrobe Must” (street dresses), Mrs. Robert Denley; “Casual and Play,” Mrs. Hubert Clark. The winners were eligible to enter the State Style Show.
80–Years—June 20, 1946 – In the “News of Our Men and Women in Uniform” column included: Horace and Dorris Ward, twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Ward, were discharged from the Navy this month; Richard Carlisle, son of Mrs. Vashti Warren, a coxswain in the Navy, has been discharged; Seaman first class Jimmie Lipscomb, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Lipscomb, has been discharged from the Navy; Pvt. Jessie Tribble, son of Mr. T. H. Tribble, was transferred from Kennedy General in Memphis to Oliver General Hospital in Atlanta; Sgt. Delbert Ross was serving with the famous First Calvary Division in Nippon Capital. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. John Ross, and his wife is Catherine Ross.
Peoples Wholesale was opening a warehouse to hold an assortment of poultry, dairy, and hog feed. E. L. McVey was manager of The Wholesale.
Scoutmaster Roy Barbre announced that 24 boy scouts from Troop 14 camped out at Phillips’ Pond, located two miles northwest of Water Valley. The Scouts are planning a wiener roast and they are being allowed to invite girls.
