Looking Back: Five Years Ago: KA softball team wins district title

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

FIVE YEARS AGO 

(SEPT. 27, 2017) 

— The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation has awarded a grant totaling nearly $265,000 to East Mississippi Community College to enhance the Wellness Center at the Scooba campus and provide an outdoor fitness facility that will be open to the public. 

— One year ago, Kemper Academy fast-pitch softball team started the season with only 11 players and won just two contests. Goodness, what a difference a year can make. KA erupted for nine runs in the top of the fifth inning last Monday night at Calhoun Academy, whipping the host Lady Cougars 16-8 to capture the District 3-A championship. 

10 YEARS AGO 

(SEPT. 27, 2012) 

— DeKalb Mayor Homer Hall was presented with the Patriotic Employee Award on Tuesday from District 3 Representative Andrea Mayfield of the Employer Support Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Group. Hall was nominated for the award, which is given to a select few, by Dekalb Police Chief Steve Jackson, who serves in the Guard. 

— The Kemper County School District has followed through with its plan to take the Kemper County Board of Supervisors to court. On Monday, school board attorney Bennie L. Jones filed a suit in Kemper County Circuit Court, asking for a judgment from the court forcing the Kemper County Board of Supervisors to perform their official duties by fully funding the Kemper County School District. 

25 YEARS AGO 

(SEPT. 25, 1997) 

— Kemper County officials have learned that the Preston location of the Choctaw Glove and Safety plant will close its doors and cease operation next Friday, Oct. 3. The Preston plant, which was formerly known as Kemper Glove, Preston Glove and Slate Springs Glove Company, is a division of the Choctaw Glove and Safety that operates in both Noxapater and Union. 

— The longest losing streak in this decade for Kemper County High School is over. Kemper racked up more than 230 yards rushing last Friday night and escaped with a 21-20 victory over homestanding Northeast Lauderdale in a non-division game at Trojan Field. 

50 YEARS AGO 

(SEPT. 28, 1972) 

— Daleville 4-H Club won first place in the youth Division at the Kemper County Fair as it presented the Key To Better Living. 

— Mr. and Mrs. W.H. (Willie) Little of Andrews Chapel will be honored with a reception on their 50th wedding anniversary. 

— In what has been termed “the most important agricultural meeting in years.” Agricultural and forestry leaders in Kemper County gathered Friday, September 22 to formulate a positive plan toward revitalizing the agricultural economy of the county. 

80 YEARS AGO 

(SEPT. 24, 1942) 

— Farm machinery and equipment in the hands of dealers was frozen on Thursday, September 17 by order of Secretary of Agriculture Claud R. Wickard, who has been given authority for rationing farm machinery. 

— The Nanih Waiya tribe of Indians will celebrate the 112th anniversary of the signing of the Dancing Rabbit Creek read Saturday and Sunday at the treaty grounds fifteen miles north of Gholson. 

— On their way to Raymond Thursday night the EMJC football squad in a bus belonging to DeKalb Schools was run into by a furniture truck as the bus was coming off a bridge east of Meridian on Highway 80. No one was seriously injured. Minor damage was done to the bus.