Yesterday's News from The Evergreen Courant for Aug. 6, 2012

14 YEARS AGO
AUG. 13, 1998

“Delma Edward Bowers, 76, of Evergreen died Wed., Aug. 5, 1998 in a Montgomery hospital.
“At the time of his death, Mr. Bowers owned and operated F&L Sales in Evergreen. Bowers retired as tax assessor of Conecuh County on Sept. 30, 1990 after 29 years of service.
“He was a member of the Evergreen Presbyterian Church, served as Vice President of the Alabama Tax Assessors and Collectors Association, Chamber of Commerce, Greening Lodge F&AM and was active in the Past Masters Club.”

“Tommy Chapman, 35th Judicial Circuit District Attorney, and a native of Evergreen was recently elected to the Board of the Alabama District Attorneys Association at its annual meeting.”

“The guest speaker for Reid State Technical College commencement exercises on Aug. 18, 1998 will be Representative Thomas Jackson.”

“Army Pvt. John A. Johnson has entered basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. He is a 1998 graduate of Hillcrest High School, Evergreen.”

“Residents of Conecuh County learned late last week they are losing one of the major employers in the county to Brewton.
“Carol Gordy, chairman and CEO of Natural Decorations, Inc. (NDI) announced Thurs., Aug. 6, 1998 that an expansion plan called for her plant’s relocation to Brewton.”

29 YEARS AGO
AUG. 11, 1983

“Mrs. Charlene (Jones) Sasser was presented a certificate of appreciation for her service in the County Commission offices at Monday’s meeting of the commission. Shown with Mrs. Sasser, who recently retired after over 32 years service, are commissioners Freddie Stallworth, Bud Salter, Chm. David Burt, Jerold Dean and Percy Salter and Clerk-Treasurer Wayne Johnston.”

“The CWA went on strike at midnight Saturday against South Central Bell. These members of Local 10907 were on the picket line at the Bell building here Monday morning: George Finley, James McKenzie and Jerry Brundage. Local members, in deference to the heat, are on the picket line from 7 to 8:30 a.m.”

“Weatherman Earl Windham reports 1.01 inches of rain on July 31, .18 of an inch on Aug. 1 and .04 on Aug. 2.”

“Navy Airman Recruit Larry L. Steward, son of Cecil W. and Bobbie Blackwell of Route 1, Repton, has reported for duty aboard the USS Ranger, homeported in San Diego.”

“Marine Pvt. Jeffrey T. Hattaway, son of James C. Graddy of Route 1, Evergreen, has completed recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Paris Island, S.C.”

“Conecuh County schools will open Aug. 24 with a full school day during which buses will run and lunchrooms will be open.”

44 YEARS AGO
AUG. 8, 1968

“A record vote is virtually assured in the Municipal Election here next Tuesday. Due to an increase in registration of voters and the addition of the voters in the area annexed to the city last year, the over 1,400 voters qualified are an all-time high. Interest in the races for major and five council places are expected to bring a high percentage of voters to the polls.”

“Miss Susan Price reigns as Conecuh County’s 1968 Maid of Cotton after being chosen during the annual meeting of the Conecuh County Farm Bureau here Saturday. Miss Carole Holley is the first alternate. Susan, a sophomore at Mary Baldwin College, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.W. Price Jr. of Evergreen. Carole, a sophomore at the University of Alabama, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Holley of Evergreen.”

“Allen D. Salter, son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Salter of Rt. 2, Evergreen, has completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. He has been assigned to the Air Force Technical Training Center at Chanute AFB, Ill., for specialized schooling as an aircraft equipment repairman. Airman Salter is a 1966 graduate of Lyeffion High School.”

“Kansas City, Mo. – Technical Sergeant Gerald E. Mitchell of the Air Force, graduated from Park College, Cum Laude, with a B.A. degree in History on July 19, 1968. He was a participant in the degree completion program for military personnel at Park College. He has been stationed at Eglin Air Force Base before his enrollment.”

59 YEARS AGO
AUG. 13, 1953

“Conecuh County’s first bale of cotton of 1953 was auctioned off in Evergreen Saturday for 51 cents a pound. Brown Hawkins, a good farmer of the Fairview community, produced the bale and is pictured above at the auction. Others in the picture are Probate Judge Lloyd G. Hart, who acted as auctioneer, Gene Cotter, president of the Evergreen Junior Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the auction, and Clarence Miller, owner of Evergreen Gin, ginners and buyers of the first bale produced in the county. Evergreen merchants participated in the auction to make possible the premium price. The bale graded middling one inch staple and weighed 385 pounds.”

“Miss Marilyn Melton of Evergreen was crowned as Conecuh County’s 1953 Maid of Cotton last Friday night at a special coronation program in the Evergreen High School auditorium.”

“Leonard Bell, who lives in the Lyeffion community, reports that he killed two big rattlers in the woods near his home last week. One snake had 15 rattles and the other, 13.”

“Dr. Pryor Lewis Hollingsworth of Belleville, Ala., who received his doctor of medicine degree in 1899, is one of 93 physicians who will be honored by the University of Tennessee Medical Units at commencement exercises in Memphis Monday night, Sept. 28.
“The physician will be presented with a Golden ‘T’ certificate at commencement exercise.”

74 YEARS AGO
AUG. 11, 1938

“Pres. (Franklin D.) Roosevelt Passes Thru Here Tues. Night: The special train carrying President Roosevelt back to Washington from his long trip across the continent and ocean cruise passed through Evergreen Tuesday night shortly after 10 o’clock. Several hundred citizens who had gathered at the station in hopes of getting a glimpse of the president were able to see him through the window as the train passed slowly by. He acknowledged their presence by waving from his seat in the car but did not appear on the platform.”

“First Bale Ginned Here Wed. Of This Week: To Messrs. C.C. Cook and W.H. Bennett of Route 2 McKenzie go the honors for bringing and ginning the first bale of cotton of the 1938 season. The bale was ginned free of charge by the Evergreen Gin Co. Wednesday afternoon and weighed 557 pounds. These gentlemen stated to Mr. W.T. Chapman, manager of the Evergreen Gin Co., that they had another bale out and would be here with it to be ginned today (Thursday). The Courant was not able to learn what price was paid for the cotton.”

“The Evergreen Bakery is announcing this week that it is now open and ready for business.”

“Dr. A.M. Ferguson, age 61, died at his home in Deming, New Mexico Friday morning at 11 o’clock from heart failure.
“Dr. Ferguson was born and reared near Latham in Baldwin County. He joined the M.E. church at the age of eight years. He finished his medical course in Mobile and located in Bermuda to practice. He lived there 19 years.”