Old newspaper excerpts from The Monroe Journal newspaper of Monroe County, Alabama

20 YEARS AGO
JULY 12, 2001

Test run: Rocky Creek Lumber Co., Inc. at Mexboro took its first load of wood Monday afternoon. The timber will be used for a test run in the manufacture of specialty timbers. Jerry Middleton, procurement manager, and John McGowin, owner of McGowin Logging, prepare to test the equipment on the logs.

South Monroe wins Babe Ruth title: South Monroe’s 14-year-olds captured the Babe Ruth baseball District 7 championship Sunday, beating Atmore 4-3 in eight innings at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore.
(Players on the South Monroe team included Brian Barlow, Jason Black, Kurt Black, Neal Butler, Chris Butts, Kyle Dorriety, Oary Gaston, Pete Glass, Brian House, Seth Mack, Cory Nall, Michael Norris, Chad Smith, Blake White and Chris Wiggins. Bruce White was the team’s manager, and coaches included Chuck Black and Gary Gaston.)

Trees for the bypass: The City of Monroeville and the Monroeville Tree Board joined together to plant 25 Drake Elm trees along the Highway 21 Bypass last week. The trees were purchased through a grant obtained by the city. In the photo, city employee Michael Tuberville, Boy Scouts Cole Martin, Richard Martin and Adam Nicholas, city employee Connie Matthews and Alabama Southern Community College Forester Rick Dorrance plant the first tree. K.T. Owens, president of the Tree Board, said a total of 50 trees were purchased. She said another 25 could possibly be planted near the Monroe County Hospital in the future.

45 YEARS AGO
JULY 8, 1976

Two schools combined: The Monroe County Board of Education voted yesterday to consolidate Greer Elementary School at Tunnel Springs with Beatrice Elementary School in Beatrice.
Greer Elementary principal Leon Stallworth was named principal of Beatrice Elementary, replacing Charles McNeil who last week was appointed Frisco City High principal.
Schools Supt. James Allen said the decision to consolidate the two schools was made in an effort to provide a better quality education for the students at Greer Elementary – a library, gymnasium, a better lunchroom and more playground area are some of the facilities available at Beatrice Elementary.

South Monroe Babe Ruth champs: Frisco City took the South Monroe Babe Ruth title recently, ending their season with a 10-2 record. (Members of the team were Thomas Agee Jr., Bryan Baggett, Sammie Carter, Dennis Curry, Ron Eddins, Millford Hill, Mitch Jones, O’Neal Jordan, Bill King, Mathew McMean, Randall Norris, Frank Starr, Michael Stevens, Greg Tatum and Jeff Tatum. Julius Lambert was the team’s coach.)

Sawyer paintings exhibited at bank: Artwork by Miss Lillion Sawyer of Frisco City is the featured exhibit for the month of July at the First National Bank in downtown Monroeville.
Miss Sawyer, who is retired, says she “never painted or drew a straight line until 1975.” The former director of the Monroe County Pensions and Security Department has been taking oil painting lessons from Patrick Henry State Junior College community art instructor, Mrs. Joyce Wesley.

70 YEARS AGO
JULY 12, 1951

Major Edwin C. Lee, 31-year-old Monroeville resident, died suddenly early today (Thursday) in his quarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery.
Major Lee was a member of the Air Force Reserve, having only recently been called back into active duty. His body was discovered around nine o’clock this morning by officers who shared his quarters.
He was the son of Mr. A.C. Lee and the late Mrs. Lee of Monroeville. Other survivors include his widow, Mrs. Sara Anne Lee; one son, Edwin C. Jr.; one daughter, Molly McCall, all of Monroeville; and three sisters, Miss Alice Lee of Monroeville; Miss Nell Lee of New York City; and Mrs. Hershel Connor of Eufaula.

Seven Monroeville players were included in the lineup of the Florida-Alabama League all-star team which selected by League officials this week.
Tunney Cardwell, local southpaw, will be starting pitcher for the game, while Chandler, Monroeville catcher, will also be a starter for the all-stars. Glen Scott, righthander, has been chosen as an alternate pitcher. Other local players given positions on the team are Stevens, left field; Weaver, third base; Johnson, shortstop; and Riley, alternate infielder. Coaches will be Manager Hanks of Monroeville and Vickery of Atmore.

Funeral services for Pvt. Charles R. Hendrix, 19, 21^st U.S. Army Infantry, were held from the Shiloh Church, Frisco City, Monday afternoon with the Rev. W.J. Singleton of Pensacola officiating. Pvt. Hendrix, one of the first of Monroe County’s casualties in the Korean conflict, was killed in action July 5, 1950.

95 YEARS AGO
JULY 8, 1926

MASONIC CONFERENCE: The next session of the Monroe County Masonic Conference will be held with Beatrice Lodge, Beatrice, Ala. at 9:30 on Wednesday and Thursday, July 14-15, 1926. Mr. J.W. Thurmond of Castleberry will be the Lecturer. A public address on Masonry will be delivered on Thursday at 11 a.m. by some good speaker. Let every Lodge in the county be represented. – W.S. Nash.

Mr. Frank Boone and son were up from Uriah Tuesday. The peach harvest is now in progress at Uriah and everybody busy. From five to seven cars per day are being loaded.

Mr. G.W. Castillow, an esteemed subscriber at Goodway, was at the county capital Tuesday and reported crops flourishing in his neighborhood.

PUBLIC SPEAKING: Judge Leon McCord, campaign manager for Judge James J. Mayfield, candidate for the United States Senate, will address the citizens of Monroe County at the following times and places: Monroeville, Fri., July 9, 8 p.m.; Excel, Sat., July 10, 10 a.m.; and Jones Mill, Sat., July 10, 3 p.m.
Judge McCord is one of the ablest and most eloquent speakers in the state. Everybody, the ladies especially, are cordially invited.

Hon. Archie Carmichael delivered an address in Monroeville on Friday night, presenting his claims to the Democratic nomination for governor, speaking to a large and attentive audience.
The address was largely a review of his public life and activities and a discussion of the policies outlined in his announced platform.

120 YEARS AGO
JULY 11, 1901

D.L. NEVILLE SHOT: Last Saturday afternoon, D.L. Neville was shot and seriously wounded by Sheriff J.S. Harrengton.
Neville had been drinking heavily and appeared on the streets flourishing his pistol in a threatening manner and was otherwise disorderly. Friends tried vainly to quiet him and finally the sheriff was appealed to. Anticipating trouble with the young man who is unreasonable at times when under the influence of liquor, the sheriff armed himself and attempted to arrest him, commanding him repeatedly to put down his pistol. Neville ran into the livery stable office and shots were exchanged, the sheriff firing twice and Neville once. Neville’s shot passed through Mr. Harrengton’s hat brim, narrowly missing his head. The sheriff’s second shot took effect in Mr. Neville’s right hand and upper arm, his hand being raised to fire a second time.

Monroe Lodge No. 485 elected the following officers for the ensuing year: A.J. McKinley, Worshipful Master; A.P. Majors, Senior Warden; T.G. Reynolds, Junior Warden; M. Green, Treasurer; R. Perry, Secretary; J.D. McKinley, Senior Deacon; W.R. Black, Junior Deacon; Jackson McKinley, Tyler; I.S. Ridgeway, Chaplain; and J.F. Rowell and G.C. Nettles, Stewards.

Messrs. Jimmie and Robert Dennis of Tincie were here Tuesday and the former dropped in to pay his respects to The Journal. Mr. Dennis says his brother, T.E. Dennis Jr., recently appointed to teach in the Philippines, will leave about the 16^th inst. for San Francisco, whence he will sail for Manila. The voyage will occupy 30 days or more.