In the 1980s — 30 years ago

Batesville Police Chief Troy Carver announced his intentions to retire after a 34-year career in law enforcement that included 24 years with the Mississippi Highway Patrol and a short stint as a Panola County deputy before taking the city chief’s job in 1980, the Aug. 9, 1989, edition reported.

“A July 21 raid at the Blue Moon Cafe on Patton Lane by agents of the Alcohol Beverage Control Division of the State Tax Commission surprised Batesville Police Chief Troy Carver who said he’d recieved no complaints about it,” another story in that edition stated.

“’Your police chief got hot because we went down there,’ said Panola Deputy Sheriff J. C. Sexton, who participated in the raid. … Participants, in addition to Sexton, ABC Agent David Freeman and another ABC Agent, were Deputy Sheriffs Kevin Smith, Allen Neal, Jason Chrestman, Carlton Hays Jr., and Batesville Policeman David Baker, …”

The ABC visit also included Hilltop Grocery on the Curtis Road.

In the 1970s — 40 years ago

“Lt. Gov. Evelyn Gandy led the balloting for Governor in Mississippi’s Democratic Primary on Tuesday, polling 29.9 percent of the votes cast,” according to the August 9, 1979, edition. “Miss Gandy will meet former Lt. Gov. William Winter in the runoff later this month. Mr. Winter received 25.8 percent of the votes cast on Tuesday.”

Panola Circuit Clerk Bob Carter, Sheriff David Bryan and Tax Assessor/collector J. V. “Buck” Still were unopposed in the 1979 Democratic Primary. Beat One Supervisor Horace Mathews, Beat Two Supervisor Bill Knox and Beat Five Supervisor James Travis were re-elected without a runoff. In Beat Four, incumbent J. B. Anderson would face Johnnie Cooper in the Second Primary. Beat Three incumbent Nick Aldridge would face Mack Benson.

In the 1960s — 50 years ago

Lloyd Joiner was hired as Batesville Junior High School Principal and McMahan Candy and Specialty Co. marked its 20th anniversary, according to the August 7, 1969, edition.

Doc Lynn Brown visited family in Panola County between Air Force duty assignments, according that edition. Brown had spent two and one half years in Alaska and was on his way to Vietnam where he would be assigned as a jet engine technician at Thuy Hoa Air Force Base.

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In the 1950s — 60 years ago

Charles Sullivan led a four-way race for governor among Panola voters in the 1959 First Democratic Primary. Sullivan polled 2,101 votes to runner-up Ross Barnett’s 1,507. Carroll Gartin received 1,381 votes in Panola; Robert Flay Mason polled 19 votes.

Statewide, Gartin and Barnett were neck and neck with 72 of Mississippi’s 82 counties reporting. Gartin received 112,169 over Barnett’s 105,438. Sullivan was running third with 95,223 votes.

The eight-candidate race for Panola sheriff polled as follows: G. W. (Bill) Butler, 195; H. L. Callihan, 626; Ross E. Darby, 1,442; A. F. Daws, 108; J. S. (Sam) Dodd, 1,060; Valley D. Holder, 127; J. Rowland Lowe, 640; and Forrest R. Tuttle, 815.