The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for July 7, 2020

Congressman Bobby Bright

11 YEARS AGO

JULY 2, 2009

Congressman Bobby Bright (D-Montgomery) was the keynote speaker during Tuesday night’s annual Rotary Club banquet at Bolden-Cardwell Hall in Evergreen. Pictured seated are outgoing Rotary Club president Marc Williams and his wife, Sharon. Evergreen dentist Dr. Douglas O’Connor took over the reigns as club president during the banquet.

No decision yet in election lawsuit case: The first part of this week came and went without a decision in the ongoing lawsuit over Evergreen’s disputed mayoral election.

Since a hearing on June 5 and as of yesterday (Wednesday) morning, no decision had been handed down in the case, according to officials in the Conecuh County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

During a hearing on June 5 in Evergreen, Judge Edward McDermott instructed attorneys in the case to submit to him a lists of voters being challenged and their reasons for challenging those voters before June 19.

Detroit man shot, killed: Evergreen police are calling on the public for help in trying to solve a case in which a Detroit man was gunned down Monday night in an Evergreen mobile home.

According to Evergreen Police Detective Sean Klaetsch, officers were called to a mobile home on Jerusalem Church Road in Evergreen around 10:30 p.m. Monday and found Rudy Wiggins, 74, of Detroit dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Wiggins, a Vietnam veteran, who was visiting relatives in Evergreen, was shot multiple times with a handgun.

36 YEARS AGO

JULY 6, 1984

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported 0.20 inches of rain on June 29. He reported a high of 93 degrees on June 24 and a low of 62 degrees on June 26.

Repton creates municipal court: A municipal court was created at a special meeting of the Repton City Council on June 25. The council appointed David Steele as judge.

The council also employed two new policemen, Randy Shue and Robert Taylor. Speed limits will be enforced, the council and police department announced. In case of an emergency need of police, call 911.

The council also established the Repton Public Library Board and appointed these members: Mrs. Marcus Straughn, Mrs. Keith Graham, Mrs. Dora Augustin, Mrs. John Davison and David Johnson.

Voters in Conecuh County’s three incorporated towns will elect city officials in municipal elections Tuesday. Voters in Evergreen will elect members of the council by districts for the first time. Running for mayor in Evergreen are W.B. Epperson, Pat Poole and Lee F. Smith.

(Candidates for city council included John D. Hagood, Jimmy Johnson, Aubrey D. Padgett, William “Bill” Durant, Jones B. Sasser, T.L. Sims, John E. Smith, Pete Wolff III, Larry W. Fluker, Alex Johnson, Hugh J. Bradford Sr., John “Fat” Claiborne, Patricia L. Dailey and Betty Bowers Rigsby.)

61 YEARS AGO

JULY 2, 1959

Dickey Bozeman Buys Thomasville Times: Sale of The Thomasville Times to Clyde Dickey Bozeman is announced today by Earl L. Tucker, editor and publisher. Bozeman took over the Clarke County weekly at close of business Tuesday.

Bozeman is the son of R. Gaston Bozeman Sr. of Evergreen, editor and publisher of The Courant from 1926 to 1957, and now serving the paper in an advisory capacity. He joins his brother, Bob, in the weekly editing and publishing field.

Castleberry Man Bitten By Monster Rattlesnake: Frank Pate, good citizen living near Castleberry, is reported to be about fully recovered from the effects of a rattlesnake bite which he suffered Sat., June 27, while working about his farm. Mr. Pate’s quick thinking and action in taking his pocket knife and gashing the affected leg, causing it to bleed, no doubt saved his life. He was brought to the Conecuh County Hospital for treatment but was able to go home Monday.

“Mr. Pate saw the snake after it had bitten him but did not kill it as he was too busy trying to save his own life. Two of his neighbors, A.J. Smith and Pete Singleton, later found the snake and killed it. It measured 5-1/2 feet in length, weighed 12 pounds and had 11 rattles. They brought it to Evergreen, where it attracted a large crowd of curious spectators for several hours.

86 YEARS AGO

JULY 5, 1934

Misses Hazel Crawford and Kate McConaughy have returned from a visit to the World’s Fair in Chicago. Miss Crawford is visiting her aunt, Mrs. M.B. Binion.

Sgt. Hobson Lewis, Corp. Orman Bower, Privates Ted Bates, John Salter, Robert Quarles and Otis Pierce returned Sunday from Birmingham, where they have been stationed in connection with the miners strike for the past two months.

Messrs. C.P. Deming and Jim Hartzog are leaving Sunday to attend the Ford Dealers Convention at Detroit, Mich. and the World’s Fair.

Evergreen Eligible For P.O. Building: A news dispatch from Washington dated June 30 states that Evergreen along with 10 other Alabama cities and towns has been placed on the eligible list for a new post office building. According to the Washington story, $65,000,000 is now available under the deficiency appropriation bill for the construction of post offices throughout the country.

The post office and treasurer departments were authorized by the bill to choose from the specified list which cities should have new buildings. List of cities given: Anniston, $210,000; Gadsden, $85,000; Fairfield, $84,000; Atmore, $65,000; Brewton, $68,000; Evergreen, $65,000; Fort Payne, $68,000; Guntersville, $63,000; Opp, $63,000; Roanoke, $65,000 and Scottsboro, $65,000.

136 YEARS AGO

THE CONECUH-ESCAMBIA STAR

JULY 3, 1884

Reliable information has just reached us of a serious difficulty that occurred between Dave Bowers and Eb. Riley at Andalusia last Saturday, the 28^th ultimo, in which Bowers shot Riley with a pistol, the ball taking effect a little below the corner of the mouth and passing out just below the ear, slightly fracturing one of the jaw teeth; otherwise only inflicting a flesh wound. The difficulty arose about an account of $250 Bowers claimed against Riley and to enforce the payment Bowers had locked up a suit of Riley’s clothes, when the trouble commenced. Bowers made his escape.

This will certainly be long remembered as the rainy summer.

The pulpit of the Evergreen Methodist church was occupied last Sunday by Rev. J.S. Frazer.

Rev. B.H. Crumpton preached at Castleberry last Sunday while Rev. B.F. Riley occupied the Baptist pulpit in Evergreen.

Rev. B.F. Riley will lecture under the auspices of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union at the Baptist church on Thursday night, the 3^rd inst.

Last Sunday several from Evergreen went out to Belleville to hear that eminent Presbyterian divine, Rev. J.C. Duncan. Mr. D. is very popular in this section. He is now making an effort to build a Presbyterian church in this place, and we hope he will succeed.

Last Friday Mrs. G.R. Farnham very kindly remembered her Sabbath school class by inviting those composing it to attend an ice cream supper given at her residence. The occasion was a delightful one, and was thoroughly enjoyed by those present.