The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Oct. 14, 2014

The USS John F. Kennedy in 1968.

30 YEARS AGO

OCT. 18, 1984

Evergreen weather reporter Earl Windham reported .37 inches of rain on Oct. 8 and 1.81 inches on Oct. 16. He reported a high of 88 degrees on Oct. 8 and a low of 55 on Oct. 13.

“Twister hits Range, Lenox: A tornado touched down at noon Monday and caused an estimated $100,000 damage. No one was injured.

“The twister was first spotted at 12:30 p.m. at the Bill Mayo residence near Range, ripping off a barn roof and turning the barn on its foundation.

“Several other barns and some houses were damaged similarly as the twister (1/4 to 1/2 miles wide, according to County Commissioner Percy Salter and Civil Defense Director John Gibson) traveled East and hit Lenox, and then went back up into the sky.

“The tornado came out of a heavy front that was moving East. It was the only one spotted in Conecuh County, according to Salter and Gibson.”

“Stallworth accepted Military Academy: William S. Stallworth, son of Mamie S. Stallworth of 6 Magnolia Heights, Evergreen, Ala., has been officially accepted into the U.S. Military Academy’s Corps of Cadets as a new member of the Class of 1988 during the annual acceptance parade.”

45 YEARS AGO

OCT. 16, 1969

“Kendall named to third place in Brewer cabinet: Evergreen’s R.G. (Bob) Kendall Jr. was named to his third cabinet position in the current administration by Gov. Albert Brewer on Monday.

“Kendall, State Highway Director nearly 13 months, was named Industrial Relations Director, replacing Richards Holmes who was named legal advisor to the governor.”

“Marion H. Wilkins, former engineer for the Conecuh County Board of Directors, was named State Highway Director on Monday by Gov. Albert Brewer.

“Wilkins had been serving as assistant director under Bob Kendall prior to the Monday announcement.”

“Miss Lisbeth McMillan, much beloved, retired fifth grade teacher, and Miss Elizabeth Beamgard, director of the Alabama Library Services, were the principals in the dedication last Wednesday of the Marcus O’Gwynn Memorial Library at Evergreen City School. The library was one of the late Mr. O’Gwynn’s main interests while serving as principal of the City School. He started the library prior to his death.”

“Charles Grant, 17, of Evergreen is to be awarded the Southern Regional FFA Agri-Business Award at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri this week.”

“Seaman Don C. Hansen, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. Hansen of Evergreen, is serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy in the Mediterranean.

“The JFK recently hosted a two-day tour by the Honorable Sergent Shriver, U.S. Ambassador to France, Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of the late John F. Kennedy, their family and high ranking French and military guests.”

60 YEARS AGO

OCT. 21, 1954

“Heavy Week Of Criminal Court Will Convene Here Monday Morning: A heavy week of Criminal Court will begin here Monday morning with a total of 30 cases on the docket.

“Three capital cases and two second-degree murder cases will be tried during this term of court.

“Everette Green, young boy from near Castleberry, will be tried on the charge of first-degree murder in the killing of his father, Edward Green, last spring.

“In the two second-degree murder trials, Leroy ‘Goo’ Rankin will be tried on the charge of killing Idell Knight at Burnt Corn and Quincy Tate will be tried on second-degree murder charges in a case continued from Spring court.”

“Fire Destroys Home Near Annex Friday: The second fire in two weeks in northern Conecuh County burned down the home of Elmer Gaskey near Annex Friday morning. The house, clothing and furniture was a total loss. No one was at home at the time.”

“Operation Of Airport Lights Before Council: The Evergreen City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday night, considered a proposal to keep the Evergreen Airport partially lighted at night. The federal government has been keeping the runways lighted and the beacon operating, but is withdrawing the service.

“The council is considering paying the cost of operating the beacon and maintaining the runway lights on a standby basis. By so doing, the field can be used in emergencies at night by aircraft in trouble.”

75 YEARS AGO

OCT. 19, 1939

“LADY KILLS BIG RATTLER: J.W. Grace, substantial citizen and farmer who lives in the northern part of the county on Evergreen, Route 2, was in Evergreen Saturday and while here related the story of his wife killing a big rattler near their home last week. Mr. Grace says that Mrs. Grace discovered the snake while out helping him look for some cattle. It measured five feet and two inches in length and had 16 rattles.”

“Johnstonville Farmer Grows High Own Rice: Mack T. Johnston, good farmer of the Johnstonville community, was in Evergreen the earlier part of this week showing his acquaintances a specimen of highland rice which he grew on his farm this year. Mr. Johnston says that he had about one-fourth of an acre planted from which he has gathered 600 pounds.”

“On The Screen At the PIX THEATRE – MUSIC, MARVELS AND FANTASY IN ‘WIZARD OF OZ’ – Engineering and photographic problems never before encountered in a motion picture went into the filming of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ hailed as Hollywood’s most ambitious musical spectacle since ‘The Great Ziegfield.” The picture, 100 percent musical and filmed in Technicolor, opens at the Pix Theatre next Sunday for an engagement of two days.

“Heading the cast are Judy Garland as Dorothy, Frank Morgan as the Wizard, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Jack Haley as the Woodman, Beert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Billie Burke as Glinda the Good Witch, Charlie Grapewin as Uncle Henry, Pat Walshe as Nikki and Clara Blandick as Aunt Em.”

90 YEARS AGO

OCT. 15, 1924

“STRAWBERRY GROWERS TO MEET: A general meeting of all strawberry growers in the Castleberry district will be held at Castleberry next Saturday morning at 10 o’clock, Oct. 18.

“The committee appointed at a previous meeting to devise organization plans will make a report to the growers at this meeting: The personnel of the committee is as follows: C.S. Beasley, W.B. Monk, A.F. Bell, J.W. Skinner Sr., H.B. Reed, G.W. Mellinger, J.E. Reed.”

“General J.B. Stanley, the venerable editor of The Greenville Advocate, was among the prominent visitors to Evergreen last Friday. General Staley never comes to Evergreen without coming around to The Courant office where he is always welcomed with a glad hand.”

“The new brick structure being erected by Mr. W.M. Newton on West Front Street between the post office and Wild Bros. Hardware Co. is rapidly nearing completion. There will be two ground floor spaces and offices on the second story. The demand for business houses is almost equal to the demand for homes, and leases on the new building have been concluded.”

“BOOTLEGGERS TRAPPED: The better element of citizenship of the Flat Rock community have been complaining for some time about being annoyed with ‘shinny makers’ and other law business, and it was the greatest difficulty, that officers could get on a track of the offenders. But the sheriff’s office is composed of men who belong to ‘never quits’ and, on last Sunday, made a drive and, it is stated, placed two men in the toils of the law.”