16 YEARS AGO
JAN. 30, 1997
“Conecuh County District Attorney Tommy Chapman’s request last Thurs., Jan. 23, 1997 to Gov. Fob James for assistance in the investigation into the brutal slaying of Richard Cary, Scott Williams and Brian Crane has been answered.
“Gov. James signed a proclamation authorizing Mr. Chapman’s requested $10,000 reward for any person giving information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the slaying.
“The slayings which took place on Nov. 20, 1996 at Cary’s Store in the Brooklyn community has been under intense investigation by local and state authorities.”
“A ribbon cutting was held Monday morning for the new Tri-County Medical Center Castleberry Clinic. On hand for the ribbon cutting were Vaughan Evergreen Medical Center Administrator Jim Peace, former Castleberry Councilman Bill Moncrease, former Mayor Bill Seales, Chamber President Alesia Stuart, Tri-County Director Marilyn Sawyer, Councilman Alton Henderson, Tax Assessor Terry Sullivan, Tri-County board member Myrtle Crosby, Castleberry Mayor Blaine Albrecht and Tri-County board member Daniel Evans.”
“Evergreen’s own Eddie Salter gave the ‘Call to Dinner’ last Thursday night at the annual Evergreen-Conecuh County Chamber of Commerce’s membership banquet. A large crowd was on hand for the event held in the Hillcrest cafetorium.”
31 YEARS AGO
JAN. 28, 1982
“Weatherman Earl Windham had no ‘external comments’ to accompany his weekly report. He did report moderate temperatures for this time of year and rainfall of .07 of an inch on Jan. 19 and .38 on Jan. 23.”
“Congressman Bill Dickinson of Alabama today requested President Reagan to expedite the request of Alabama Gov. Fob James that 46 Alabama counties be declared disaster areas because of severe ice storms which have recently crippled much of the state. Counties within the congressman’s district which are affected are Montgomery, Covington and Conecuh.”
“Conecuh County Judge of Probate Frank T. Salter seems happy that he is now able to issue these ‘new’ tags for automobiles and trucks. You’ll notice that the ‘new’ tags return to the old style by which the initial number(s) indicate the county, 21 meaning Conecuh, replacing those used for the past five years which had three letters and three numbers.”
“Conecuh County’s Junior Miss, Rebekah Williamson, joined 47 other Alabama Junior Miss contestants Fri., Jan. 22, in a tour of Alabama Army and Air National Guard facilities.
“The tour took place as a part of the state pageant activities in Montgomery. The tour was conducted by Alabama Guard members at the Army Aviation Support Facility and the Dannelly Air National Guard Base in Montgomery.
“Rebekah is the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Jack Williamson of Evergreen.”
46 YEARS AGO
JAN. 26, 1967
“Heardiss Reeves, age 47, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., died of accidental drowning on Jan. 16.
“A native of Evergreen, Mr. Reeves was a veteran of World War II and had made his home in Florida for a number of years.”
“MARION INSTITUTE BRIGADE BEAUTY SUPPORTS MARCH OF DIMES – Connie Gunter of Evergreen, Marion Institute Brigade Beauty of January, is doing her bit to help fight birth defect during March of Dimes month. The B.B. at Marion Institute is a feature of the cadet newspaper and she is chosen each month from among the girls at Judson College, located across town from the M.I. campus. Connie’s appeal is simple – all she says is PLEASE.”
“Chaulaurie Farm, Evergreen, recently purchased an Aberdeen-Angus bull from Roy Barrow, Evergreen.”
“State Director Hugh J. Caldwell Jr. said today that 340 registrants would be called to the Montgomery Induction Station in February to fill Alabama’s quota of 226 men. None will be called from Conecuh County.”
From “Front Page, Upper Left Corner” by Bob Bozeman – “The weatherman sure is all confused… the weather the past few days has been plumb summerish. I’m afraid if this goes on too long we’ll have plants and trees budding and take a loss when sure-to-come freezes hit.
“Meanwhile, I’m sure we’re all enjoying this mid-winter ‘Spring.’”
61 YEARS AGO
JAN. 31, 1952
“The Humble Oil Co. well on the property of Allen Moye near Pollard in neighboring Escambia County was in production this week as a 300 barrel a day producer. The well came in as a gusher on Jan. 19. It was the first gusher ever brought in in Alabama.”
“The U.S. Post Office at Brooklyn was burglarized last Thursday night with the robbers netting about $24 in cash. The post office is in the store operated by Miss Alice Amos, Postmaster. Sometime during the night, the robbers entered the store and carried off a small safe containing post office funds.”
“Cpl. Cornelius E. Gross Jr. of 409 Cemetery Ave., Evergreen, recently arrived in Japan from Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division. Cpl. Gross is serving as a trombone player in the 1st Cavalry Division’s band.
“Gross served in Korea since April 27, 1951 and for his service there was awarded the Korean Service Ribbon with one campaign star.”
“George C. Stamps, well known local businessman, sustained a bad fracture of his right leg Thursday afternoon, Jan. 24, when he stepped in an old abandoned flower pit. He was given treatment locally by Dr. R.L. Yeargan, but because of the seriousness of the fracture was sent to a bone specialist in Atlanta. He returned from Atlanta Tuesday and is reported to be doing nicely at his home on Bruner Avenue.”
76 YEARS AGO
JAN. 28, 1937
“SMALL FORTUNE IN GOLD COINS UNEARTHED IN CLARKE COUNTY: Rockville, Ala., Jan. 22 – Digging under old smokehouse sites is a favorite outdoor sport in Clarke County this week, following the Jim Allen family’s discovery of $2,700 in pre-War-Between-the-States gold coins a foot beneath what was once the floor of a smokehouse in their backyard.
“The Allen treasure was found on Jan. 13, and other would-be gold-diggers might like to wait until Feb. 13 – just for luck – but they are afraid someone else may get ahead of them.
“Test Reveals No Gold: Two years ago he asked W.E. Woodson to bring a divining rod and test for gold. Woodson complied with the request and reported ‘There’s no gold here.’
“Last week Jim Allen’s 31-year-old son, Marshall, found a silver half-dollar near the spot. He called his younger brother, Claude, who began digging with a rake in the wet earth. Within 20 minutes, they encountered a small porcelain urn, the top of which appeared to have been broken off recently.
“Inside were the glittering gold coins, there edges and contours as distinct as when they were minted, in 1861 or earlier, according to the dates thereon.
“While mostly in 20-dollar pieces, there were several five and 10 dollar gold coins and a small amount of silver halves, quarter, dimes and half-dimes. The total face value of the find, the place at approximately $2,700. Of this, $2,500 in gold and $5.65 in silver is being held in the Jackson, Ala. Bank & Trust Co.
“Division On Coins Decided: Son Claude, as finder, claims half. Father Jim is entitled to the other half, according to Claude, because he owns the land. Brother Marshall, who started the fruitful digging, stands by gloomily and says: ‘It looks I’m left out.’
“Four other brothers, a married sister and an aged mother are pleased but have little to say.
“On Banker George Warren’s advice Father Jim, 62, and Brother Claude have placed the major part of the money in a safety deposit box. They have mutually agreed that both must be present when it is opened.
“On Probate Judge Coma Garrett’s advice, they called on Harwell G. Davis, former Clarke Countian and now federal collector of internal revenue, for counsel as to what the federal government would allow on the gold coins.
“Some of the coins may have considerable premium value and, if allowed to dispose of them individually, the Allens may find their fortune greatly increased.
“Value of Gold Determined: If the government will accept the gold on a weight basis, it will be worth 40 percent more than face value due to subsequent decrease in gold dollar content on the part of the United States Treasury.
“Mr. Davis has taken the matter up with Washington treasury officials.
“First court registry of what is now the 80-acre Allen place, eight miles south of Jackson, was made in 1850 by Robert C. Payne. The Payne family lived there during the War Between the States, when, in the opinion of most Clarke Countians, the money was buried lest it fall into the hands of ‘Yankee’ raiding parties.
“Jim Allen paid $1,000 for the house and farm 26 years ago.”
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