In the 1990s — 10 years ago

“Construction of the Sardis Lake marina project got a jump start Thursday, Feb. 25, and is approximately six months ahead of schedule, the March 1, 1999, edition reported.

“Inland Dredge Co. was awarded the contract to build the dike and dredge the area where the marina is to be built. The Bickerstaff Brothers, subcontractors for the job, began moving their equipment to the site Wednesday, Feb. 24.”

In the 1980s — 20 years ago

“Cold, muddy waters in a roadside bayou claimed three lives west of Crowder Sunday,” the March 8, 1989, edition reported. Members of the Batesville Fire Department’s Dive Rescue Team were called to State Highway 322 between Crowder and Lambert March 5, 1989, to retrieve the bodies of three people who had been occupants of a car which had been turning into the Walker Chapel Church parking lot when the driver’s foot apparently his the accelerator instead of the brake, authorities said, plunging the vehicle into the bayou’s deep water.

In the 1970s — 30 years ago

“Election of School District Trustees will take plac on Saturday in Batesville and Sardis,” the March 1, 1979, edition stated.

“In South Panola the candidates are Mrs. Elizabeth Dugger Draper, Rodney M. Hentz and Alton Milam.”

Candidates in North Panola were Dempsey Cox, Richard Darby and Taylor Jeff McLeod.

“A gala open house is planned Friday, Feb. 28, as Mississippi Transmission Company, Inc. begins the hook-up of Cable Television for Batesville,” according to that week’s newspaper which included a special section heralding the arrival of cable TV.

In the 1960s — 40 years ago

A special section in the Feb. 27, 1969, edition heralded the coming of cable television to Batesville. “Community TV to bring ten channels to city,” stated a headline. The lineup included channels 2 and 7 from Little Rock, channels 3, 5, 10 and 13 from Memphis, channel 12 from Jackson, channel 9 from Tupelo and channel 6 from Greenwood and an FM radio signal. Also available was a “weather channel” located at the base of the 500-foot antenna which displayed time, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind velocity and direction, and the forecast.

Jim Breedlove was elected president of the Batesville Rotary Club, according to the March 6, 1969, edition. James Whitaker was vice-president, Armistead Flint, secretary-treasurer; John Mothershed, Bobby Baker, Art Broome and Glenn Johnson directors.

Also in that edition, the Lake Drive-In Theatre announced its reopening March 14 after a winter intermission.

In the 1950s — 50 years ago

The March 5, 1959, edition carried a tragic story of the drowning of two fishermen —Odis D. Melton, 27, of Locke Station and Hubert Fortner, 31, of Pontotoc — whose boat overturned during early morning hours.

“Melton’s body was found by Ernest White, C. W. Pittman and B. E. Pittman, all of Marks, and Otis C. Melton, twin brother of the victim. The four men found the boat overturned aobut 150 feet from the shore and then discovered the body where Melton apparently had left the water and walked about in the sand, dying subsequently from exposure and exhaustion,” according to the story. Fortner’s body was found in the water about 50 feet from where the boat overturned.