Looking Back Returns to the Messenger
The Looking Back feature has returned to the Kemper County Messenger. Every week we will take a quick look at stories of interest from back issues of the newspaper.
This week there will be items from one year ago, five years ago, 10 years ago, 25 years ago, and 50 years ago
Some items appear just as they originally did, while some have been paraphrased and condensed.
ONE YEAR AGO
(OCT. 29, 2020)
— The Kemper County Homemaker volunteers held their annual “Think Pink” event on October 20. Due to COVID-19 the event was conducted as a grab and go.
— The Kemper County Wildcats exploded for 30 points in the third quarter as they rallied to defeat Southeast Lauderdale 44-9 Friday night in prep football action. The Wildcats improved to 6-2 and will be playing for the 5-3A championship this Friday when they visit Forest.
— Effective Tuesday, all Kemper County schools will go to a virtual learning platform for the next two weeks.
— The nation is focused on the 2020 presidential election which is now less than a week away. In Kemper County there is also a special election on the ballot for coroner for the remainder of the term.
FIVE YEARS AGO
(OCT. 27, 2016)
— The Kemper County Wildcats had their biggest challenge of the Region 5-3A schedule so far but rose to the challenge Friday night at home against Forest. The Wildcats (9-1 overall and 4-0 in the region) trailed going into the fourth quarter but scored 16 unanswered points to put away the Bearcats 40-26 on senior night in DeKalb.
— Johnny Whitsett, president of the Kemper County Board of Supervisors, said he has been surprised by the wide-ranging response to an ordinance banning any person to appear in public in Kemper County wearing a clown costume or clown make-up until Nov. 1, the day after Halloween. When the story was published last week it quickly went viral and was picked up by several mainstream media outlets including The Washington Post, Jackson Clarion-Ledger, and the Associated Press.
— The Kemper County School District received an “F” rating from the Mississippi Department of Eduction for the 2015-16 school year. East Kemper Elementary received a “C”, West Kemper Elementary an “F”, and Kemper County High School an “F”. According to Jackie Pollock, Superintend of Education, “The district has made significant improvements in the area of student achievement over the past several years. However, there have also been challenges and areas in need of improvement.”
10 YEARS AGO
(OCT. 27, 2011)
— Shelby Whitt of Houston was crowned East Mississippi Community College’s 2011 Homecoming Queen Saturday in Scooba during halftime of the Lions 54-0 Homecoming victory over Mississippi Delta.
— The Kemper County Circuit Clerk’s office will be open each of the next two Saturdays for absentee voting for the Nov. 8 general election. Circuit Clerk Roma Allen’s office, as well as others around the state, has been swamped for the past few weeks with absentee-voting issues.
25 YEARS AGO
(OCT. 24, 1996)
— State officials from the Mississippi Alcohol Beverage Control and Kemper County authorities confiscated 235 gallons of moonshine whiskey last Friday night near Porterville. He had a street value of more than $3,500.
— Sam Tisdale, a former deputy sheriff with Kemper County, has been appointed as a Kemper County Constable for Post II by the Board of Supervisors.
—The Kemper Academy Rams, without two of their most experienced players, jumped all over homestanding Rebul Academy last Friday night and cruised to a 28-0 non-division win.
50 YEARS AGO
(OCT. 28, 1971)
— Kate Rhaly, Crystal Clay, and Liz Dudley all received ribbons for modeling in the State 4-H Dress Revue in Jackson.
— West Kemper called on Carthage Friday night and went home with a 21-0 Choctaw Conference victory after jumping to an early lead with a 14-point first quarter. Billy Joe Boyd played hero’s role for West Kemper, scoring the game’s first two touchdowns on a 67-yard run followed by an 80-yard return of a pass interception.
— An 8 ounce can of Sallys Biscuits, sweet milk or Buttermilk, were 7 cents a can.