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

Alabama Gov. Jim Folsom

22 YEARS AGO
DEC. 2, 1999

MCH clears project hurdle: The proposed $5 million expansion and renovation project for Monroe County Hospital cleared another hurdle Tuesday night.
A preliminary feasibility study for the project was favorable, according to Alfred Murray, CPA, of Warren, Averett, Kimbrough & Marino, PC of Birmingham.
With the favorable report, the Monroe County Hospital Board of Directors took the next step and agreed to spend about $20,000 for more comprehensive analysis, which should be completed by Jan. 4, 2000.

Shields upends Hillcrest Jaguars 51-45 on the road: J.F. Shields improved to 3-0 Tuesday of last week when the Lady Panthers whipped Hillcrest 51-45 in Evergreen.
It marked the second win over Hillcrest for Shields and the third over a 5A opponent. Shields upended Monroe County two weeks ago.
In last week’s win over the Jaguars, 5-5 junior guard Adrianne Hollinger scored 21 to lead the offense. Stephanie Sanders, a 5-7 freshman center, tossed in 10 points, converting six of six free throws, and grabbed five rebounds.
(Other players on Shields’ team that season included Tandra Blackmon, April Hollinger, Flokae Ige, Quantus Jones, Latoya Lett, Tameka Knight, Wykelia Kyles, Shete McCants, Demetrius Montgomery, Dominique Nettles, Ashley Odom, Kataya Reed, Shenese Riley, Keisha Sanders, Taneshia Tucker and Wanda Williams. Herbert Blackmon was head coach.)

47 YEARS AGO
DEC. 5, 1974

Junior Miss pageant set: Eighteen senior girls from high schools around Monroe County will compete for the title of Monroe County’s Junior Miss in the annual Monroeville Jaycee-sponsored pageant Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Greer Auditorium at Monroeville Elementary School.
The Junior Miss parade around the square in downtown Monroeville will begin at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (Friday).
(Contestants that year included Laura Allen, Sherie Andrews, Donna Jordan, Dawn Reed, Vickie Gulsby, Renaei Coburn, Hattie McCants, Jo Ann Nettles, Charlotte Willis, Vivian Stacey, Edie Langlois, Susan Yarbrough, Carol Wiggins, Kandy Smith, Brenda Odoms, Donna Ward, Sarah Jones and Rita Croley.)

Patrick Henry basketball squad: The Patrick Henry Junior College Patriots will open their season today (Thursday), meeting Huntingdon College freshmen at 1:30 p.m. in the PHJC gym. Members of this year’s team are Bradley Moore, Willie White, Jim Lee, John Davis, Coach Eddie Dutton, Larry Woolfolk, Dickie Burgess, Sidney James, Gary Meadows, trainer Joe Allen, Jiles Hands Henry Fields, Bennie Lee Middleton, Kenneth Rankins, Jimmy Taylor, Clayton Harp, Larry Lowe and Larry Snowden.

In memory of Bill Grant: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Grant of Frisco City receive a plaque in memory of their son, Bill, from Chuck Lovinggood, captain of Monroe Academy’s 1970 football team. Bill, an MA athlete who was a member of the 1970 football team, collapsed and died during a track meet in Selma in April 1971. The plaque presentation came during a dedication ceremony recently for the school’s gym, which was named the Bill Grant Memorial Gym.

72 YEARS AGO
DEC. 1, 1949

Uriah Resident Is Named To Commission Post Here: Miley L. Pearce of Uriah Route, Tuesday was appointed a member of the County Commission of Monroe County for District 1 by Governor Folsom.
He will fill the unexpired term of W.M. Linam of Excel, who died suddenly last week.
A prominent farmer of the Uriah community, Mr. Pearce has never been a candidate for a political office. He is a World War veteran. Mr. Linam’s term is set to expire Jan. 1, 1951.

MCHS Grabs County Grid Crown In 21-13 Triumph Over Frisco City: Monroe County High, led by the running and passing of fullback Hurtis Tomlinson and playing heads-up ball in taking advantage of the breaks, racked up a 21-13 victory over a fighting Frisco City team last Wednesday night. A record season crowd of 2,000 witnessed the contest at Frisco City.
For Monroeville, it was the running and passing of Tomlinson and the punting of end John Arthur Sirmon that led the Tigers to victory.
(Other top MCHS players in that game included quarterback Kenneth Hundley. Top Frisco City players included Garland Byrd, I.D. Byrd, Royce Byrd, Hybart Sawyer and Charles Walston.)

The Journal Gets New Office Supply Salesman: Charles Bayles of Monroeville began work last week as a member of The Journal staff. He will serve primarily as an office supply and subscription salesman. Mr. Bayles attended the Monroeville schools and is a veteran of six years in the Air Corps. For the past three years, he has been associated with the Monroe Cold Storage and Locker Plant.

97 YEARS AGO
DEC. 4, 1924

The Lions Club will meet at the Commercial Hotel Friday night, Dec. 5, at 7:00. This will be Chapter Night and several prominent visitors will be present.

Mr. H.B. Mims, a prosperous merchant of Beatrice, was transacting business in the city the first of the week.

OBITUARY: We know that Jesus is preparing a place in the Father’s home and as a place is made, someone is called to fill it.
On Nov. 14, 1924, God called Ervin Faulkenberry home to rest in his Heavenly mansion after two weeks illness. He was only 18 years of age when he died; was born Nov. 8, 1906 near Tunnel Springs. At the age of 14, he gave his life to God and always kept close to his side.
Though he is dead, he will never be forgotten.

TUNNEL SPRINGS: A.C. Belsher of Peterman has recently purchased a large tract of timber near here from J.J. Jernigan and C.J. Jackson. He will begin to build a mill and install machinery at an early date. Mr. and Mrs. Belsher and family will move to Tunnel Springs early after the Christmas holidays. They will occupy the residence formerly occupied by Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Foote.

According to the tabulation of the report to the census bureau, there were 17,732 bales of cotton ginned in Monroe County from the crop of 1924 prior to Nov. 14, 1924 as compared with 9,476 bales to the same date in 1923.

121 YEARS AGO
DEC. 6, 1900

Mr. Q. Salter is attending the Grand Lodge at Montgomery and Mrs. Salter accompanied him as far as Evergreen where she will visit relatives.

There will be an oyster supper at Mr. Richard Mosley’s near Burnt Corn on Tuesday night, Dec. 11, to which all are invited to attend. The proceeds of this supper will be devoted to helping build the new Presbyterian Church now being constructed in that community.

The gin of Mr. W.E. Mason had a narrow escape from being burned last Saturday night and only the timely arrival of good help was the flames extinguished. This was done before any damage was done.

Cards are out announcing the marriage of Mr. Louis N. Lambert and Miss Maud Burns at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Burns, at Beatrice on Dec. 20, 1900. The Journal extends hearty congratulations in advance.

Quite a number of applicants were in attendance upon the semi-annual examination held in the courthouse on Monday and Tuesday for license to teach public schools in Monroe County.

Mr. A.R. Boulware returned Thursday from Birmingham, where he went for medical treatment. His many friends are glad to know that his health is greatly improved.

JONES MILL: Mr. T.J. Millien, the general agent of the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Co., was up last week. He and Mr. Jas. H. Jones spent some time in the woods south of here, prospecting as to the proper place to railroad, etc.