Looking Back McNairy County Independent 1951 Transcribed by Nancy Wardlow Kennedy Proofed and setup by Nova A. Lemons Pictures included in these newspapers are in a separate folder It was impossible to list everything that happened and all the people - but I tried. I did not add all the visitations, like ‘Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith were visiting in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Plunk,’ or I would still be typing. I did try to list all gatherings, school and church events and obits. I was asked once why a certain community’s news was not listed and I stated that community did not have any news published. Included are all community news included in the paper, except those that just listed the visitation (as mentioned above.) I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed transcribing. 1 MCNAIRY COUNTY INDEPENDENT Jan 5, 1951 Lester Moore, attendance teacher for McNairy County has been named the March Of Dimes chairman. Tennessee, like other states around us, had the greatest Polio Epidemic in 1948-1950 and has exhausted all funds to help those suffering with Polio. Community Chairmen have also been named as listed: (Paper was torn, so several names are missing.) Selmer: Jerry Smith and George Miller. City of Selmer: George Huggins, Wayne Littlefield, Bob Latta, George Weatherford, Kenneth Chambers, Jo McMurry, Bob Beard, Bert Maxedon Jr, O V Erwin Jr. Ramer: Mrs. May Hamm, R C Johnson. Michie: J B Childers, Mrs. Clydus Cunningham, Russell McDaniel, Doc Howard. Stantonville: Ted Smith, Mrs. Julia Sanders. McNairy: Donald Wood. Rose4 Creek: Mr. and Mrs. Parker Ellis, Celeste Higginbottom. Finger: Haven Garner, Mrs. Henry Kirkpatrick. Leapwood: Albert D Hysmith, C S Treece. Gravel Hill: Leonard Moore, Azalee Nichols. Acton: Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Cunningham. Guys: J L Wren, Sam Ingram. Chewalla: Mrs. Bernice Reardon, Inez Derryberry. Sulphur Springer: Murray Barber. Veterans Administration Miss Mary Wood. Publicity Wilbur Wright, Leslie Houston, J O Lott, R B Gooch Jr, Dock Whitaker. McNairy County Colored School Elmer Ledbetter, Hattie Wynn, Lucius Bond. McNairy county is one of the 92 of Tennessee’s 95 counties that are below the national level of physicians available. Selmer Lions always ahead this year. Out of the 13 games played this season, the average point per game is 78 and their opponents average is 41. However they almost didn’t make it in the game against Father Ryan winning by a very slight margin 67/61. Lineup: W McClain 20, Bob Kirk 14, B McClain 20, Hawkins 2, McCullar 11. Subs Barron. The Selmer team played Milan recently. Milan girls won 19/15. Girls lineup not given. The Selmer boys won 81 to 58. Lineup: W McClain 21, Bob Kirk 8, B McClain 27, Hawkins 13, McCullar 12. Subs: Moore, Bill Kirk. McNairy county Quarterly Court met in session on the first Monday. Sheriff Hugh Kirkpatrick opened the court which was presided over by County Judge B Y Howell; Clerk J T Burks was in his place. Magistrates present: C S Treece, W F Maness, W E Floyd, A F Higginbottom, R M Gean, W E English, D R Finger, W B Melton, J B Melton, J P Whitley, H K Maness, L E Scott, J L Hendrix, Haven Garner, Lit Wilson, W G Minton, W R Steadman, J A Churchwell, J O Mitchell, J L Tacker, Otis Plunk, Wilbur Robinson, E G Harris, R E Wade, W S Bingham, Absent were: Esqs J R King and J W Bolding. County School Supt, J C Taylor, gave his report for the year ending Dec 31, 1950: Warrants issued for ending quarter $208,402.81. Taylor asked to borrow $8,000 from Selmer Bank and Trust to pay the Veteran Farm Training Inspectors their back pay. To repay the loan when federal money comes in. Mr. Taylor had been advised by a letter from the Asst Attorney General that McNairy County was violating a law. The Board of Education has been buy construction material at wholesale and using local labor for construction. The letter stated that all structures which 2 exceed $10,000 in cost, shall be built by a licensed contractor. Mr. Taylor discussed the problem of bus transportation. If the Board of Education provided bus transportation to the front door of every bus pupil in the county, the cost would far exceed the budget for this school year. The new Social Security law, which is now in effect will cost approximately $1,000 more than budgeted. The report of the Highway Commissioner Erwin C Hester, disclosed that the State had deducted from the 2 cent gas tax due McNairy County, the sum of $8,328.45, from May through December 1950 for welfare purposes. This averages more than $1,000 per month which has been taken from the road funds because the County Court has not provided a welfare fund as provided by the state. Otis Plunk was appointed to the budget committee to replace Esq M C Etheridge. Esq J P Whitley, getting anxious to eat dinner made a motion to adjourn and was voted down. 25 voted to stay and finish business, one voted to adjourn. A jailer fee set up at $1.10 per day per prisoner. The court adopted a resolution to try to get a Junior College in McNairy County. Showing at the Ritz next week: Tea for Two - Stella - Rio Grande - The Bashful Bachelor - Code Of The Silver Sage - I’ll Get By. Rocky Knob Community: The health of the community is good except for some colds. The condition of Mr. Willie Pickett is improving since entering the West State hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hampton are now making their home near Enville. A young deer was reported seen near Mr. Lee Robinson’s farm by our mail carrier out of Finger. He said it was something he never expected to see. He watched it for several minutes. Buena Vista Community: Health is not so good at this writing. Everybody enjoyed the few days of sunshine, though we are having some more bad rainy weather. Letter to the editor: I would like to know why Leapwood community never has any news. I understand we have a reporter and they are supposed to be getting their paper free. They surely are. Signed A Reader. Cpl Rufus C Howell, son of Mrs. Alvin Barnes of Route 1, Ramer, has received a promotion. He is a graduate of Ramer High School and entered the US Air Force in 1946. Ramer Community: Misses Cora and Elsie Gibson are in Memphis with their father who is in the Baptist hospital in Memphis. Miss Mary Dodds and Miss Norma Jean Long have returned from Christmas holidays to take up their duties at Ramer School. Herb Locke and Harvey King will leave this week for the Army. Santa visited Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Lawson in a big way, leaving a fine little daughter, Dorothy Jean. Guys Community: Mr. J L Meeks is still ill at the home of his daughter Mrs. Tedford Jordan. Mr. Meeks will be 87 years old on Jan 25 and has spent his entire life in the Guys community where he was born. Mr. J H Hamm is recovering from an attack of Pleurisy. Mrs. Tolbert McCoy is in a Corinth hospital. Stantonville Community: Jimmy Mills has been very sick at home for several days. Gravel hill Community: Mrs. Jessie Curtis is on our sick list this week. (Last week) Little Jimmy Holland is suffering from a bad burn he received when his clothing caught on fire. Miss Elizabeth Mullins is having a tonsillectomy today Wednesday. Sulphur Springs Community: Mr. and Mrs. G V Tackett are the proud parents of twin 3 baby girls. Our basketball teams are going to play two or three games this week if weather permits. (Some schools did not have a gym in 1951.) Taylor’s Store Community: Mr. R D Nixon, who has been ill, is some better at this writing. Henry Plunk, Joe Gage and Louis Taylor were accompanied back to Camp Rucker, Ala by Beauard Plunk and Rubel Whitaker. Beauty Hill community: Monte Beard and wife have moved into their new home purchased from Calvin Broom. Amos Lipford has been sick. A revival is on at the Beauty Hill church this week. Pebble Hill Community: Mr. and Mrs. Grover McClain and family have moved to Selmer. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar George have moved into the house vacated by Mr. and Mrs. John Rickman. Mr. and Mrs. J C Whitaker are the parents of a baby boy. Mr. and Mrs. M E Sparks announced last week the marriage of their daughter Miss Janet Sparks to Walter B Tackett on Dec 23, 1950. The wedding took place in the home of the bride. Billie Horner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H L Horner was married Dec 24, 1950, to Paul Cox, son of Mr. and Mrs. J A Cox. Mr. General Scott Derryberry, age 81, died at his home in the Chewalla community on Tuesday Jan 2, 1951. Funeral services, conducted by Rev Bertie Moore, were held at the Chewalla Baptist Church and burial in Indian Creek Cemetery. Shackelford Funeral Directors were in charge of arrangements. The deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Florence Derryberry; one sister, Mrs. J B Jones of Corinth, Miss; and two brothers Mark and Halliard Derryberry of Chewalla. Mrs. Virginia Florence Russom, age 67, died 9, 1950. She was a Missionary Baptist and resided in the Finger community. Services were conducted by Bro Wayne Cox at New Church and burial was in the New Church Cemetery.