Looking Back: 80 Years Ago: Black Bomber Flies over DeKalb

Here are a few items of interest from issues of The Kemper County Messenger from one, five, 10, 25, 50 and 80 years ago.

ONE YEAR AGO

(JAN. 21 2021)

— A 2,800 square-foot building has been erected at the Gerald Pool baseball complex on EMCC’s Scooba campus that will serve as the baseball team’s locker rooms.

— Due to COVID concerns, The Kemper Women’s Civic League will not meet until further notice.

— Primarily comprised of home-and-home series with intra-divisional opponents, East Mississippi Commu­nity College’s 2021 men’s and women’s basketball schedule has been announced.

FIVE YEARS AGO

(JAN. 19, 2017)

— With its lease set to run out in July, the Dollar General store in DeKalb is planning to relocate on Highway 16 on the east side of town

— When three new fire trucks rolled into DeKalb earlier this month, Kemper County Emergency Man­agement executive director Ben Dudley said it gave each of the county’s nine volunteer fire depart­ments “a fairly new frontline pumper.”

— With the tremendous success his football program has seen, it is of no surprise that Kemper County High School head football coach Chris Jones has been a highly sought-after commodity. Starkville High School officially named Jones as its new head football coach on Wednesday afternoon. Jones helped build the KCHS football program into a powerhouse, posting a 46-12 record over his four years at the school, including a 15-1 record and the MHSAA Class 3A State Football Championship in 2016.

10 YEARS AGO

(JAN. 19, 2012)

— June Wright was never more vis­ible while serving as Superintendent of Education in Kemper County than during basketball season when she was perched on her chair on the floor at the corner of the court to cheer on the Wildcats — sometimes even voicing displeasure if a referee made a call against her team. She took that same mentality to work each day, however, being remembered by many in the past week as one who fought tirelessly for “her” children. Wright, 55, died Jan. 12 at her resi­dence near Preston.

— A Dec. 11 fire which caused ex­tensive damage at Kemper County High School has received more than its fair share of attention. But a rash of fires across the county during the past month — six of them to be exact — has raised concern with local officials as well as residents.

— Earnest Meridith, 96, and Mrs. Leola Meridith, 86, are celebrating 74 years of marriage. The children, as well as friends of he Liberty commu­nity on the Neshoba-Kemper County line, congratulate them.

25 YEARS AGO

(JAN. 16, 1997)

— An investigation into one matter turned into quite a night for two Kemper County Sheriff’s deputies, and led to the arrest of one Missis­sippi’s most wanted in regards to narcotics. Nathaniel Lard, who has been wanted by numerous law en­forcement agencies for the past decade, was brought in during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day after an altercation with the local authorities.

— Mississippi’s married couples moved one step closer to an income tax break last week when the Senate approved a bill to repeal the so-called “marriage penalty.”

— From Scooba News by Thelma McConnell: Words can never express the joy that Clifton and I experienced as we celebrated our 60 years of marriage.

50 YEARS AGO

(JAN. 20, 1972)

— Senator John C. Stennis an­ nounced Wednesday morning that the Farmers Home Administration has approved a loan of $175,000 and a grant of $62,000 to the Kipling Water Association for the construction of a water system.

— During the past holi­day season East Missis­sippi Junior College signed four players from the West Kemper Wildcats football team. They were William Brown, quarterback and safety; Billy Joe Boyd, full­back and defensive corner­back; Larry Blanks, end and defensive halfback; and Clark Ellerby, tackle.

— The DeKalb Branch of the Kemper-Newton Re­gional Library System is privileged to have the use of Senator John C.. Sten’s personal book of Norman Rockwell’s painting.

80 YEARS AGO

(JAN. 15, 1942)

— Many citizens of DeKalb received their worst fright since the Orson Wells “Men from Mars” radio program last Friday when a big black bomber swooped low over the city; and all were re­lieved when it was learned that the pilot of the plane was Lieutenant Virgil M. Creekmore, the son of Dr. And Mrs. V.M. Creekmore of DeKalb. Lieutenant Creekmore, with several other pilots who were fly­ing members to Tampa, Florida, was in Meridian last week and he took ad­vantage of the opportunity to pay his friends an im­promptu visit.

— The East Mississippi Junior College Lions downed the fighting Woods Junior College quintet by the one-sided score of 47-27. The Lions gained the lead in the first few minutes of play and they were never halted. “Wild Bill” Duncan, lanky forward for the Lions team, scored sixteen points to take top honors as individ­ual scorer.

— From Scooba News: Leon Quarles, Jr. has with­drawn from Ole Miss to join the Aviation Cadets. He will be called for exam­ination this week.