Ten Years Ago: EMCC wins first National Championship

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The Looking Back feature has re- turned to the Kemper County Mes- senger. Every week we will take a quick look at stories of interest from back issues of the newspaper. 

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 (DEC. 10 2020) 

— A massive fire at the Kemper County coal plant caused major damage last Wednesday morning. No flammable materials such as coal or natural gas were involved in the fire and no injuries were reported, of- ficials said. The Philadelphia Fire De- partment responded with five firefighters and Ladder 1, according to Fire Chief Pierce Clark. The Merid- ian Fire Department and firefighters from Key Field responded as well to assist Kemper County volunteers and plant employees. 

— The number of cases of COVID- 19 in Kemper County has increased by 77 in the past week, according to statistics provided by the Mississippi Department of Health website. 

FIVE YEARS AGO (DEC. 8, 2016) 

— What many thought would be a high-scoring affair turned out to be a defensive battle as Kemper County High School used several huge de- fensive stands along with a pair of big offensive plays to take a 12-8 win over Charleston in the MHSAA Class 3A State Championship Game played at Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday. 

— The Community Foundation of East Mississippi and the Partners for Kemper County Board of Directors held a press conference Monday at the Kemper County Economic De- velopment Authority office in DeKalb to announce the establishment of two new funds to solely benefit Kemper County. 

— The Kemper County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to re- move currently unpaid or future in- terest or fines from garbage bills. 

— The Lions of East Mississippi Community College remained unde- feated in postseason bowl play under head coach Buddy Stephens with a 27-17 win over No. 13 Kilgore (TX) College in Sunday afternoon’s Mississippi Bowl. 

10 YEARS AGO (DEC. 8, 2011) 

— East Mississippi Community Col- lege has completed a magical and unprecedented season of football competition with the school’s first- ever NJCAA National Champi- onship. The Lions, who finished 12-0, were ranked No. 2 in the nation fol- lowing their second MACJC State Championship in the last three years – and ventured to human Ariz. last Saturday for the El Toro Bowl against No. 1 ranked Arizona Wester Col- lege. There the Lions bolted out to a commanding 2-0 lead and never 

trailed in a 55-46 shootout in claim- ing the historic win over the host Matadors for the national title. 

— The Thanksgiving with 4-H workshop was held Monday Nov. 21 at the Farmer’s Market building in DeKalb. Six youths attended this workshop. This was a fun-filled day for these youth, but they also expe- rienced a great deal of learning op- portunities. 

— The John C. Stennis Vocational Complex has recently updated its green house. Students are actively engaged in green house activities. 

25 YEARS AGO (DEC. 5 1996) 

— The Kemper County High School JROTC Drill Team was the overall first place winner of the Hat- tiesburg High School regional drill team competition. En route to their first place overall win, the team gar- nered five first place trophies in team events, one second place, and two third place. 

— The Lady Rams of Kemper Academy continued their winning ways last week, taking a pair of Academy Division 3-1 wins and tak- ing sole possession of second place in the league. 

50 YEARS AGO (DEC. 9, 1971) 

— Mrs. J.T. Darnell received the Club Woman of the Year Award from Senator Berta Lee White, who was speaker for the occasion. Mrs. Dar- nell is an active member of the Lib- erty Club and serves as Secretary for the County Homemaker Council. 

— From the Sledgehammer Col- umn by Lamar Sledge: Coach Billy Brown stopped me to inform that there was a dog — evidently a child’s dog, that has been hang- ing around West Kemper School playing with the kids. It will retrieve sticks and jump into an open au- tomobile door. Billy’s chil- dren love dogs also and he knows how they do miss a pet and he would like for the owner to claim it. 

 — The Senate has given final Congressional ap- proval to the draft bill — permitting a return to mili- tary conscription until June, 1973. Drafting is ex- pected to begin this month. 






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