65 years ago, Sept. 2, 1954
“A record-breaking enrollment in Columbia City Schools was announced this week by Superintendent S.F. Smith. … A total of 1,490 students have registered to attend classes here in the first through 12th grades.”
“Janis Dale, representing the Popetown Home Demonstration Club, was chosen Queen of the Forests of Marion County in the Forestry Queen Contest held at the American Legion Hut Saturday night. … Melba Sue Parker and Syble Pittman were runners-up.”
“Betty Tolar, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Tolar, on Saturday, Aug. 21 celebrated her 11th birthday at the Lutheran Hospital polio ward. … Betty is improving at the hospital, however has to be in the iron lung for six hours each day.”
60 years ago, Sept. 3, 1959
“Three more girls have entered the Queen of the Forest contest in Marion County … Mary Ann Windham, Suzanne Ireland and Bettie Ann Land. Mary Ann Windham is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Hal Windham, 805 Sumrall Road. She is 5’4”, weighs 123, has green eyes and brown hair and measures 36-24-36. She is 17. Suzanne Ireland, 16, is the daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. H.O. Breland, Route 4, Box 345-A. She is 5’-8”, weighs 124, measures 35-23.5-37 and has blonde hair and blue eyes. Bettie Ann Land, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Land is 16, weighs 106, has blue eyes and blonde hair, measures 32-23-33 and is five feet, four inches tall.”
50 years ago, Sept. 4, 1969
“Three Columbia students were among 579 students at the University of Mississippi receiving diplomas at the end of the summer term. … They were: James L. Berry Jr., Bachelor of Science in Medicine; Richard E. Rhoden, Bachelor of Science in Medicine; and Thomas D. McNeese, Juris Doctor.”
“Committee Chairmen for the Columbia Community Theatre were named at the meeting of the Board of Directors last week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J.P. White Jr. … The committee appointments were Annette Nesler, Properties; Rene Gonzalez, Publicity; Lou Brock, Make Up; Nell Wolfe, Talent; Polly Newsom, Hospitality; Maggie Mae Burrow, Play Reading; Cecil Jones, Lighting; Gloria Brookfield, House; James G. Fortenberry, Staging; Jack Cavin, second vice president, Production; Patti Wilkinson, first vice president, Membership; and Yvette Johnson, special appointment, Costumes.”
40 years ago, Aug. 30, 1979
“One county official described the arrest of a Marion Countian Saturday on vote fraud charges as only ‘the tip of the iceberg.’ And that became obvious Tuesday as 25 more arrests were made in connection with the election, and Sheriff Bobby Reed said he planned to make about 15 more arrests Wednesday. … The newspaper learned that that first arrest was concerning vote buying for a ‘whole ballot,’ not just one candidate as rumored. ‘Some of those arrested signed statements that they sold their votes for as much as $25 per vote and some for as little as $5 per vote,’ the sheriff said. Also two arrests were made at the North Columbia precinct at the National Guard Armory. The criminal affidavits on those arrests charged that the two arrested had ‘violated the privacy of the absentee ballots.’”
“Marion County vote tabulations were completed before 11 p.m. Tuesday night with only two contested county-wide races. Thomas B. (Tom Boy) Forbes was elected sheriff, and William Stafford was re-elected superintendent of education. In Beat One Hoy Stringer was elected supervisor, and Lynwood Oglesbee was elected justice court judge.”
30 years ago, Aug. 31, 1989
“Houston ‘Buddy’ Stuckey was recently recognized for 20 years of continuous service as the state president for Dixie Youth Baseball. Stuckey was awarded a plaque for his service during the recent ‘World Series’ held in Hattiesburg.”
“While many of her classmates from Jefferson Middle School were enjoying their last days of summer vacation, Carla Shivers was handling launch, docking, experiments and crises simulations as one of the mission directors for the Student Space Station in Jackson. The 32 students who participated in the last of three Student Space Station programs held this summer at Belhaven College and the Davis Planetarium conducted a simulated space shuttle mission with eight students, plus one adult advisor, spending the four-day mission inside a space capsule simulator located on the grounds of the planetarium.”
