The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Jan. 25, 2022

USS Kitty Hawk

19 YEARS AGO
JAN. 23, 2003

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported no rain between Jan. 13 and Jan. 19, 2003. He reported a high of 60 degrees on Jan. 16 and a low of 20 on Jan. 18.

The bridge on County Road 30 is very near completion according to the Conecuh County Engineer’s office. The bridge, which is being replaced by the Grady Norrell Co. of Greenville, should be open to traffic in just a few weeks. The Norrell Co. is waiting on a subcontractor to finish the dirt work before they can do the paving and finishing work on the bridge. Local residents have been slightly inconvenienced for the past few months while the bridge is being replaced.

Navy Airman Thomas Bradley, son of Minnie Bradley and Perry Henderson, both of Evergreen, recently contributed to relief efforts on Guam during a Western Pacific deployment while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
Sailors aboard Bradley’s ship joined members of the Fleet Activities Yokosuka community setting up field galleys to aid those whose homes were battered by Super Typhoon Pongsona, which hit Guam with winds of 180 miles per hour. Bradley is a 2001 graduate of Hillcrest High School and joined the Navy in May 2001.

The Evergreen City Council got some welcome news from Naval Air Station Whiting Field Commanding Officer Capt. Brian Watkins at their regular meeting Tuesday night, the Evergreen Airport runways are going to be paved. The project will cost the Navy $1.4 million and should begin in the near future.

44 YEARS AGO
JAN. 2, 1978

Local weather observer Earl Windham reported 0.19 inches of rain on Jan. 19. He reported a high of 55 on Jan. 17 and a low of 22 on Jan. 16.

Dr. Matthew H. Hall has been named President of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, replacing Dr. Woodrow W. Elliott, who is retiring after 10 years in the presidency. This action was taken by the Institute’s Board of Trustees at its quarterly meeting today and announced by Board Chairman, Elmer Lazenby of Opelika.
Hall, a native of Conecuh County, has served as special consultant in the State Department of Education for the past year and a half. For 12 years, he served as assistant superintendent and superintendent in the Decatur City and Madison County school systems.
Dr. Hall is 46 years old and has had an outstanding career in education that began as a classroom teacher in the Mobile Public Schools in 1956. Dr. Hall graduated from Evergreen High School in 1951 and earned his BS degree from Troy State University in 1955 and his MA degree from Peabody College, Nashville, Tenn., in 1956. He earned his AA certificate from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1959 and did graduate study at Columbia University, New York, and received his Doctorate in Education from Auburn University in 1962
Dr. Hall served for 6-1/2 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, including three years in the 82^nd Airborne Division and two years overseas. He has remained active as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve and currently holds the rank of colonel.

69 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1953

New County Officials Elected Last Year Take Office Monday: Mon., Jan. 19, was installation day at the Conecuh County Courthouse as officials who were elected last year assumed the duties of their offices. Of the officials taking office Monday only one is a stranger to the courthouse, he is P.J. “Pal” Godwin, Commissioner from District Three.
John H. Tranum succeeded Albert Ball as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Tranum is by no means a stranger in the courthouse having previously served for a number of years as County Tax Collector.
Mr. Godwin succeeds C.E. “Curt” Robinson as member of the Board of Directors from District Three. Mr. Godwin won out over Mr. Robinson and Robert V. McLendon of Brooklyn in the primary. Mr. Robinson steps down after holding the Commissioner post for four terms, 16 years.
N.G. O’Ferrell began his second four-year term of office after winning re-election last spring. Mr. O’Ferrell defeated Fletcher Presley in the campaign. He represents District Four.
Probate Judge Lloyd G. Hart begins his second six-year term this week. First elected in 1946, Judge Hart was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
Ann B. Salter assumed the duties of Circuit Clerk. Mrs. Salter has been Deputy Clerk since January 1951 when her husband, Leon A. Salter, who was then Circuit Clerk was called to active Army duty with the National Guard. Last spring, Mrs. Salter ran for the office because Mr. Salter was in Korea and was not able to file for re-election and she was not opposed.
Edwin C. Page Jr. began another term as County Solicitor. Mr. Page has held this office for a number of years and was not opposed.

94 YEARS AGO
JAN. 26, 1928

WESTERN UNION MOVES INTO NEW QUARTERS: Monday morning found the Western Union Telegraph office in its new quarters located between O.C. McGehee’s and the Arcade Theater on West Front Street. The pretty little building occupied was constructed by Mr. W.M. Newton and is well finished inside and out. The new office provides much more room and in many ways is an improvement over the small office formerly occupied in the front of the post office building.

RABID PUP BITES NINE PERSONS HERE: Six months old pup belonging to the family of Knud Nielsen bit nine persons here last week before dying sometime Friday. The head was carried to Montgomery Saturday and upon test showed rabies.
Due to the fact the pup was only six months old and so far as known had not been attacked by any rabid animal no one thought seriously of it being infected with rabies before the test.
Those who were bitten and are now taking treatment are: Mr. and Mrs. Knud Nielsen and children, Valgurta and Knud Jr., Mr. Julius Nielsen, Mrs. J.O. Stapp, Ruth Moorer, Lamar Moorer Jr. and Juanita Yeoman.

Walter Harold Bailey left Sunday for Selma, where he enters Central City Business College to take a course in bookkeeping, higher accountancy, typewriting and shorthand.