Looking Back: 80 Years Ago: Local man captured on Wake Island
Here are the 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
(MARCH 4, 2021)
— Both Kemper County Varsity basketball teams are headed to Jackson this week as they have advanced in the MHSAA Class 3A State Basketball Tournament. The KCHS girl started the week with a 49-21 win over West Marion then beat Velma Jackson 55-36 and Jefferson County 64-54. The KCHS boys beat West Marion 78-45, Yazoo County 81-64, and Tylertown 70-50.
— The Kemper County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of the old Super Dollar building located across the street from the Courthouse during Monday’s meeting.
FIVE YEARS AGO
(MARCH 2, 2017)
— East Mississippi Community College assistant football coach Marcus Wood has been tapped to fill an administrative position at the college. In his new role as assistant vice president for the Athletic Development, Wood will spearhead fundraising efforts for EMCC’s athletic programs.
— Seniors Matt Dale and Gus Nave Jr. know exactly what is within the grasp of the Kemper County High School Wildcats. After knocking off St. Andrew 70-50 on Friday, the KCHS boys basketball team is now just two wins away from playing for tis second consecutive MHSAA Class 3A State Basketball Championship. Toss in last December’s win in the MHSAA Class 3A State Football Championship and you have quite a run for the seniors.
— While looking for a college project to tackle, members of East Mississippi community College’s student honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, stumbled upon the Scooba Public Library, which was in dire need of renovation.
10 YEARS AGO
(MARCH 1, 2012)
— There are more people registered to vote than there are voting-age adults in 16 Mississippi counties, including Kemper County, in a report released earlier this week by Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann’s office. In Kemper County there are currently 8,067 active voters on the rolls as opposed to 8,015 voting-age adults in the 2010 Census.
— Aberdeen’s big athletic guards gave Kemper County High School fits in their MHSAA Class 3A Boy’s State Tournament semifinal contest at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson last Saturday morning. Kemper County got 10 free throws from senior sensations Nick Giles and Devonta Pollard in the fourth quarter to hold on for a nail-biting 62-58 win in Vero fo an estimated crowd of 3500.
25 YEARS AGO
(FEB. 27, 1997)
— Kemper County’s Wildcats would like nothing better than a rematch with Franklin County High School. Now, they’ll get it. Kemper advanced to the Big House with a good showing in last week’s South State Tournament, Then, on Tuesday, the Wildcats dethroned defending Class 3A state champion Senatobia, knocking off the Warriors in a thrilling 67-64 decision.
— One suspect is in custody in the Kemper County Jail after an armed robbery took place at a convenience store in DeKalb during Monday afternoon. According to reports from the Kemper County Sheriff’s Office and the DeKalb Police Department, the alleged criminal entered the Dixie Oil gas station in downtown DeKalb Monday afternoon around 1:37 p.m. Wearing a mask, the mad came behind counter and her the store clerk at knife-point.
— Misty Fleming of Scooba was one of more than 90 top students who are new members of Kappa Delta Pi education honor society at Mississippi State University.
50 YEARS AGO
(MARCH 2, 1972)
— Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hailey and Miss Mary Ellen Waddell entertained their sister, Mrs. Joe Persons of Scooba and brother George Waddell of Emelle, Ala., with a birthday dinner last Sunday.
— The calf committee met recently and chose the following Kemper 4-H’ers to receive the cow and calf this year. Ruth McWilliams was chosen to receive the heifer calf, William Keeton was chosen to receive the Hereford cow, and Roland Graham will receive the first heifer calf dropped.
80 YEARS AGO
(FEB. 26, 1942)
— The nation’s number 1 desperado, Charles Chapman, met death Sunday night at the hands of law enforcement officers composed of Meridian police, federal agents, Kemper County’s Sheriff McDonald and the sheriff of Neshoba County. Chapman refused to surrender when halted by the officers and was almost instantly killed by a rain of bullets, 18 of which hit him.
— The many friends of James (Tuff) Stennis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howell Stennis of Kipling, were sorry to learn that he was listed as of the the Mississippi boys captured on Wake Island by the Japanese in December.
—Harry Doolittle gets the award of the week for his splendid leadership of the DeKalb Band this past weekend at the ballgames. As their director, Mr. A.D. Bassett, has recently been notified that he will likable be in the Army soon, probably before school is out, he has started training Harry to take over when he is gone.