Monday, April 14, 2014

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for April 14, 2014

Lt. Laula M. Middleton of Evergreen
26 YEARS AGO
APRIL 21, 1988

Local weather reporter Earl Windham reported .10 inches of rain on April 12 and 1.34 inches on April 18. He reported a high temperature of 83 degrees on April 16 and lows of 42 on April 12 and April 13.

“Three new fire departments have recently been established in the county at Paul, Brooklyn and Sand Cut. Memorandums of understanding and agreements of mutual aid were signed by the Alabama Forestry Commission, Conecuh County Commission and the three new fire chiefs. Taking part were Mrs. Katie Sue Burt, chairperson of the county commission, and Leonard Fialko, representing the AFC, Joe Findley, chief of Brooklyn Fire Department, Butch Cobb, secretary, and Clayton Cobb, chief of Paul Fire Department, and Bobby Edgars, chief of Sand Cut Fire Department. This brings to 18 the number of fire departments in the county, all volunteer.”

“William Carson Green, 71, of Ridge Road and Washington, Castleberry, died Tues., April 12, in a Brewton hospital. He was a prominent citizen of Castleberry and member of a well known family. He served as postmaster for a number of years and was a member of the Castleberry United Methodist Church.”

“Conecuh Inns, Inc. announced Vincent W. Henderson as General Manager and Master Chef of the Evergreen Inn.”

41 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 1973

“The 28th annual Conecuh County 4-H and FFA Fat Calf Show will be held Monday at the Conecuh Cooperative Stockyard Livestock Arena.
“Herbert Oakley, extension farm agent for the county, is show chairman. He states that only about 36 calves will be shown, the smallest number in many years.
“Exhibiting calves will be the following FFA and 4-H members: Jimmy Beverly, Kenny Brown, Mark Bolton, Scott Matthews, Jimmy McNeil, Mike Windham, Steve Windham, Randy Smith, Larry Bethune, Greg Graddy, Bobby Tingen, Harry Pipkin, Thad Lee, Neal Hayes, Brenda Pipkin, Charlotte Pipkin, Allen Pipkin, Johnny Cook, Cook Morrison, Ira Cook, Kent Cook, Lynn Lee, Randy Brown, Johnny Stowers, Paul Ellis, Jim Ellis, Stanley Stallworth, Edward J. McMillan, Lee Hamrac, David Bell, Teresa Kilpatrick and Joyce Little.
“Eugene Darby, president of the Conecuh County Cattlemen’s Association, will serve as master of ceremonies.”

“Heavy rainfalls in recent weeks have damaged county roads extensively, according to John Fleming, chairman of the Conecuh County Commission. He said there had been washouts four times on some roads.
“Right now county crews are working 10 hours a day, six days a week, trying to get the roads open. If the weather permits, all county roads should be passable by the end of the week.
“The most damage was suffered by roads in District 3 and 4, represented by W.E. Godwin and C.L. Smith, respectively.”

56 YEARS AGO
APRIL 17, 1958

“The 12th annual Conecuh County Fat Calf Show will be held at the Conecuh Cooperative Stockyards Monday. The event is sponsored by the Evergreen Junior Chamber of Commerce.”

“Patterson Attacks Folsom, Corruption In Address Here: Attorney General John Patterson lashed out at the Folsom administration in addresses here and in Castleberry Tuesday. Mr. Patterson is stumping South Alabama this week in his bid for the Democratic nomination as governor.
“Speaking from a flat-bed truck in ‘No-Man’s Land’ here, the attorney general minced no words in attacking the present administration.
“The attorney general was accompanied by Rebe Gosdin and his Sunny Valley Gang who played prior to his address.”

“Every school in Conecuh County will receive a new, high-fidelity recording of our National Anthem next week from the American Heritage Foundation, it was announced today by Guy Kelly, superintendent of schools.”

“J.H. Wheeler, Customer Relations Manager with Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co., spoke last week to the students of Repton, Castleberry, Lyeffion and Evergreen High School. Mr. Wheeler spoke on Southern Bell’s part in the ‘Continental Air Defense of the United States.’”

71 YEARS AGO
APRIL 15, 1943

“Decorated In North Africa: The awarding of the Oak Leaf Cluster for Air Medal to Lt. Laula M. Middleton of Evergreen for the destruction of enemy aircraft and successful bombing missions in North Africa was announced by the War Department last week. Middleton, son of Mrs. Evelyn Middleton of Fairvew, graduated from Evergreen High School, and from there went to the Snead Junior College and thence to Auburn. He enlisted in the Air Corps early in November of 1941 and was assigned to Foster Field, Texas for his early training. He received his wings there and was assigned to a pursuit ship. He received advanced training in Orlando, Fla. and was then assigned to active duty as a bomber pilot.
“Lt. Middleton’s record is brilliant. He has been decorated and promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in less than a year from the date he was awarded his wings. So far as is known, Middleton is the first local boy to receive a decoration for his part in the war.
“His younger brother, Aviation Cadet Willis Middleton, is in the Naval Air Corps and is now in the process of earning his wings. He and Laula hope to unit over Tokyo or Berlin.”

“Pearson-Lowrey: Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Pearson of Auburn announce the engagement of their daughter, Betty, to Jacob Lowrey Jr. of Burnt Corn, Ala., stationed at Columbus, Miss., with the U.S. Army Air Corps, the marriage to take place early in May.”

“A letter received last week by Brown Hagood, young son of Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Hagood, from Dr. M.M. Hagood indicated that he was now stationed somewhere in the Pacific.”

86 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 1928

“J.M. JONES TO ERECT STORE BUILDING SOON: Mr. J.M. Jones will begin at an early date the erection of a handsome brick store building on Rural Street adjoining the new building recently completed for the Sanitary Market. The building will be 20 by 80 feet and will be modern throughout. Plans call for an attractive front of press brick with large plate glass show windows.
“Work will begin as soon as material can be placed and other necessary arrangements can be made. When complete, Mr. Jones will occupy it with his business, which is at present located in the Taliaferro Building on the same street.”

“DROWNED BODIES ARE RECOVERED: Floating on the surface of the Alabama River, within 100 feet of the spot where he sank to his death, the body of George C. Brassell, 79, was found at four o’clock Friday afternoon by an employee of the Alabama Sand & Gravel Co.
“Mr. Brassell, together with his nephew, W.J. Brassell, lost his life on the morning of April 5, when a boat in which the two men accompanied by Joe B. Sayers had started out on a fishing trip down the river, capsized. Sayers managed to save his own life by swimming.
“The remains of W.J. Brassell were recovered from the river Thursday afternoon by Sayers and a companion who with many others were conducting a systematic search for the bodies of the two men who were lost in the river’s treacherous currents.
“After a careful examination of the body, Dr. S.E. Centerfit stated that death was due to accidental drowning. A verdict in accordance with this finding was rendered by Coroner J.J. Diffly.”


From an editorial by Courant Editor R. Gaston Bozeman - “EVERGREEN SHOULD HAVE A LANDING FIELD: Evergreen is well located geographically and otherwise to be a very desirable place for a landing field for aeroplanes. It isn’t too early to begin to plan for such a thing and if possible arrange one here. A good field here would put us on the map as few things could and it isn’t out of our reach to have one. According to reports, a permanent mail route between Chicago and New Orleans will begin at an early date and Evergreen will in all probability be on this route. Even though we may not hope to have mail service right away, a landing field would be decided asset in the event of an emergency. The town would be in position to put in a claim for this service at the opportune moment and in the meantime get some good advertising, by being designated as a landing field on all air route maps. Let’s be thinking this over at least.”

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