The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for June 14, 2022

23 YEARS AGO
JUNE 10, 1999

Local weather observer Harry Ellis reported .02 inches of rain on June 4 and .07 inches on June 5. He reported a high of 93 degrees on June 4 and a low of 65 degrees on June 4. Total rainfall for the month of May 1999 was 5.17 inches.

Retired longtime City of Evergreen Assistant Street Superintendent Sanford Moye was tragically killed when his Ford Expedition was struck by a southbound train Tuesday morning. The crossing near the depot has been the scene of several collisions over the past several years. This was the first one to involve a fatality in many years.

Saturday night in the Wiley Salter Auditorium at Reid State Technical College, Conecuh County’s Junior Miss for the 2000 was crowned. Cassie Crane, daughter of David and Mildred Crane, will represent Conecuh County as their Conecuh County Junior Miss for 2000.
(Other participants in the program included LaJuana Johnson, first runner-up; Kristie Faulkner, second runner-up; Kristen Godwin; and Jamie Neese.)

A ribbon-cutting was held Wed., June 2, at 1 p.m. for Various Supplies, owned by Bonnie and Bobby Stokes. Shown with Bonnie is Wendell Byrd, chairman of the Conecuh County Commission, and Jatricia Pugh, president of the Chamber of Commerce. They offer discounts on all fishing and hunting supplies, office supplies and equipment, and much more. They are located across from the Conecuh County Courthouse.

51 YEARS AGO
JUNE 10, 1971

Donnie Harden earns promotion, to manage station: Donnie Harden of WBLO has been promoted to general manager of Radio Station WMPI-FM in Scottsburg, Ind. Harden is presently employed at WBLO in Evergreen as announcer-salesman.
He will assume his new duties Monday morning. His wife and children will join him later this month after disposing of their grocery business.
Bill Moody, Vice President and General Manager of WBLO, said that radio station WMPI is owned by Bill Vogel who is part owner of WBLO. He also said Harden is to receive some stock in WMPI.

Evergreen FFA chapter wins top Alabama honors: The Evergreen High School No. 1 FFA Chapter reaped a bountiful harvest of awards at the State Convention in Montgomery last week. D.C. Fleming, chapter advisor, rounded out his 20^th year in Vo-Ag and FFA work with what he terms “the best bunch of boys I have ever worked with in my career in education.” Pictured are Butch Adams, holding the Superior Chapter Plaque (third year in a row this top award has been won by the local chapter), Herbert Brown, retiring state vice president; John Crum Sessions, Robert Ward, John Johnston, committee chairman with area and state award in the Building American Communities Program, and behind the boys, Dave Fleming.

Army Private Edwin L. Radford, 18, son of Mrs. M.V. Radford, Rt. D, Evergreen, recently completed nine weeks of advanced individual infantry training at Fort Polk, La.

60 YEARS AGO
JUNE 14, 1962

Intersection claims one more collision: It happened Monday afternoon at “that intersection” on Rural and West Front Streets at the foot of the overhead bridge. The large crowd that gathered seconds after the crash obligingly moved back to allow the photographer to get this story in picture of the dangers of driving through this busy spot.
A 1959 Oldsmobile driven by Patrick T. Casey of Montgomery collided with a 1954 Chevrolet driven by Willard Harrington of Evergreen Monday afternoon at the intersection of Rural Street and West Front Street. Six persons were injured. According to estimates by Police Chief Johnny Andrews, the Chevrolet was a total loss and about $500 damage was done to the Oldsmobile.

Mrs. Mamie A. Ellis, Evergreen, ended a long teaching career with her retirement at the close of the past school year. She taught in Conecuh County schools for 23 years and also taught at the old Baptist Orphanage in Evergreen for several years.
Mrs. Ellis began her teaching career in the county system in 1915, teaching in the Flat Rock, Effie and Ivey schools. For the past 20 years, she taught at Repton Elementary School, except for one year when transferred to Brooklyn.
On the last day of school, the faculty members at Repton School surprised Mrs. Ellis when they presented her with a milk glass flower bowl at an appropriate ceremony.

79 YEARS AGO
JUNE 10, 1943

Courant Office Showered With Cotton Blossoms: Beginning early Monday morning, June 7, with two fine specimens sent in by Joe H. Josey, Castleberry, Rt. 1, The Courant has literally been showered with cotton blossoms this week. Virtually every mail has brought them in one or two letters with blooms and a number have brought them in person. However, honors for being the first to reach us must go to Mr. Josey, though by only a few hours.

Diplomas were awarded to 50 seniors at the Evergreen High School Tuesday night by Principal M.A. Hanks at the close of the graduating exercises, which were witnessed by a large audience.
Six members of the class are now serving in the armed forces. They are Homer Findley, Marvin Hanks Jr., Charles Kelly, Dewey Langham, Billie Lemley and Winston Pierce. Diplomas were awarded to Marvin Hanks Jr., Charles Kelly and Dewey Langham who went into the service recently. Billie Lemley is completing his work by correspondence and will be given a diploma later. The other two left before having finished enough of their work to get diplomas.

FORMER CITIZEN DIES TUESDAY IN ANNISTON: Friends here received news Tuesday of the death of John W. Stewart, eldest son of the late Rev. John W. Stewart, founder and longtime superintendent of the Baptist Orphanage here. Mr. Stewart was in the service with the Quartermaster Corps at Fort McClellan, but his home was in Birmingham. Funeral services were held Wednesday in Birmingham.

101 YEARS AGO
JUNE 8, 1921

H.G. Culverhouse of the State Highway Department was here on Monday and formally received the state and federal aid road from Travis bridge to the Butler line.

Solicitor Dickey and Court Reporter Letford are at home after the Baldwin term of circuit court, and will have a rest spell until the special term of Monroe court which is scheduled for July 12.

J.T. Fincher and B.M. Johnston represented Conecuh at the dedication of the White House of the Confederacy at Montgomery on Friday night.

New Train Schedule: The new schedule of passenger trains passing Evergreen beginning on Sunday last is given below: Southbound – No. 1, 2:07; No. 3, 11:10 p.m.; No. 5, 9:40 a.m.; Northbound – No. 2, 4:13 a.m.; No. 4, 3:35; No. 6, 2:07 p.m.

The Advertiser says: “The Castleberry strawberry season has come to a close. That little Alabama community is reported to be $250,000 better off than when the season opened, having shipped the equivalent of 200 cars of berries. Why not change the name of the village to Strawberry anyhow?”
The name of Castleberry at once suggests the luscious fruit, which has made the place famous far beyond the confines of Alabama. It will always be Castleberry and we hope will never cease to produce the toothsome berry.