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

SIX YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 2017

Veterans Memorial Park receives anti-tank gun: Monroeville’s Veterans Memorial Park has a new addition in the form of an authentic, steel anti-tank 90-millimeter S/N 7 Gun, a weapon that was manufactured in 1944 and used in World War II and the Korean War.
Hornady Transportation provided the delivery of the cannon free of charge while the unloading was provided by Hammer Construction, who also installed the display pad at Veterans Memorial Park at cost of the materials and labor. VFW Post 8485 and American Legion Post 61 contributed to the cost of the project.

Dixie Youth Minor League All-Stars: The Monroeville Dixie Youth recently announced its all-stars for the 9-10-year-old division. (Members of the all-star team included Jack Simpson, Nathan Ramer, Trice Hudson, Cooper Kilgore, Peyton Gaines, Timothy McQuigg, Brady McKinley, Hayden Rowell, Cayden Powell, Carter Ross, Sawyer Wasden and Jackson Casey.)

First Extraordinary Olympics a success: Monroe County Public Schools System held its first Extraordinary Olympics May 12 at Monroe County High School.
Students from Excel, Monroeville Elementary, Monroeville Middle and Monroe County High participated, according to Terri Norris, Pre-Employment Transition Specialist/Transition Coordinator.
Each student participated in track and/or field events. The track events included 100-, 200- and 400-meter runs and the 100-meter relay. The field events included standing long jump, javelin throw and medicine ball throw.

31 YEARS AGO
MAY 28, 1992

Hitting the road again: Two brothers and three of their close friends, known collectively as the River Road Band, will travel from Monroe County to New Orleans Friday as finalists in the June Jam Talent Search. The talent search is sponsored by the band, “Alabama.” The winner of the New Orleans competition will be featured at the annual “June Jam” music festival scheduled for June 13 in Fort Payne.
Wayne Lambert handles lead guitar and vocals for the band; Ronnie Lambert plays bass guitar; Paul Bell, lead guitar and vocals; Randy Manning, drums and vocals; and Kent Stewart, keyboard.

Excel grabs lead in Babe Ruth: Excel recorded a pair of wins Saturday on opening day in Frisco City to take an early lead in the South Monroe County Babe Ruth Baseball League. In the first game of the regular season for both teams at the ball park on Snider Avenue, Excel pounded Frisco City, 26-0, in five innings. Excel came back in the third game to beat Uriah Red, 18-11.
(Excel’s players included Chris Bishop, Matt Cole, Lee Fore, Lynn Janes, Jamison Ledkins, Travis Ledkins, Chris Lint, Jerry Pharr, Steven Pharr and Patrick Ross. Frisco City’s players included Randy Coleman, Tony Dean, Derrick Harris, David Lawson and Chuck Murph. Uriah players included Tyler Burgess, Kevin Colbert, Jonathan Conway, Todd Daniels, Bryan Ellsworth, Jeremy Henley, John Murray Ikner, John Jeter, Petrise Johnson, Joey Matheny, Brad McKinley, Clint Metts, Morgan Middleton, Brian Odom, Ronald Parker, Anthony Peavy and Jimmy Plum.)

56 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1967

Guard Leaves For Camp Saturday: Ninety-two National Guardsmen from the Monroeville area will leave Sat., May 27, for their annual two-week summer encampment.
Members of the 131^st Quartermaster Co., Monroeville, this year will spend their two-weeks training period at Fort Lee, Va.
Under the command of Lt. Richard A. Horton, the main body is scheduled to arrive at Fort Lee by bus Saturday night.
The company is scheduled to arrive back in Monroeville Sat., June 10.

Babe Ruth To Open Season Schedule Next Tuesday Night: The opening of the Monroeville-Frisco City four-team Babe Ruth League will be Tuesday night, May 30, according to Roy Adams, newly elected league president, at the Vanity Fair Park.
Managers this year are Glen Bayles and Gary Downs, Pirates; Dick Otterberg, Tigers; Link Erickson, Giants; and Donnie Griffey, Red Sox.
Officers who will serve with Mr. Adams are Joe Whatley, vice president; Benson McLaurin, treasurer; and Ronald Dees, secretary.

T.L. Brown Again Reports First Bloom: For the second year in a row, T.L. Brown of Mexia has reported finding the first cotton bloom to The Journal.
Mr. Brown said he found the bloom Wednesday morning in one of his fields near Mexia.
He said the bloom is about 15 days ahead of the one he found last year. Mr. Brown said, “This particular field of cotton looks pretty good and should be ready for harvesting sometime in July.”

81 YEARS AGO
MAY 28, 1942

New Monroe Theatre Opens Thurs., June 4: The new Monroe Theatre, located in the building adjoining Veazey Electric & Hardware Co., will be complete and ready for opening on Thurs., June 4. It will be modern and comfortable in every respect. Claudette Colbert’s greatest role, “Remember the Day” with John Payne is the featured picture.

Lt. Raymond Owens, who recently received his “wings” at Kaye Field, Columbus, Miss., spent a few days last week with relatives here and at Repton.

RICHARD DORSEY RABON COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN: Richard Dorsey Rabon, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Rabon of Uriah, has been commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve after completing a course of training at Abbott Hall, Northwestern University in Chicago, Eighth Naval District Headquarters.
Ensign Rabon has been under instruction as a midshipman for the past few months and will be assigned to a Naval unit either afloat or ashore. He attended the University of Alabama.

Pvt. Leon F. Nettles, who has recently completed his basic training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, is now receiving special instruction as radio mechanic at Coyne Electrical School, Chicago, Illinois. After this special 13 weeks of training, he will be stationed at the Army Air Base, Orlando, Fla. Pvt. Nettles is the son of Mr. and Mrs. S.B. Nettles, Tunnel Springs.

INJURIES FATAL TO GEORGE FRED EVERETTE: Mr. George Fred Everette died in a Mobile hospital on Friday night, May 22, resulting from injuries received while working at the Gulf Shipyards.

156 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1867

THE JOURNAL: Old subscribers are reminded that the first volume of The Journal closes on the 16^th of June, and we respectfully request their continuance for the ensuing volume. Those whose subscription ends with this volume will be notified of the fact by a cross mark (X) on the margin of this issue, opposite their names.
As our terms are strictly in advance, we give notice in time for all who wish to continue to send us the “three dollars” with their names. In accordance with our rule, the names of all those who do not pay up by the 15^th of June will be erased from our books. New subscribers are also solicited.

Rev. Mr. Dennis will preach in the Methodist Church at Claiborne on the third sabbath in every month.

CHANCERY COURT: His Hon. Chancellor Loomis is holding this court at Claiborne during the present week. Attorneys present: Judge Gibbons of Mobile, Col. Portis of Clarke; Col.’s Kilpatrick and Cummings of Wilcox; together with our county lawyers. Messrs. McCorvey and Nevil, students at law, are present for examination and license. Monroeville was largely represented both by attorneys and citizens on Thursday.

Claiborne Sabbath School, numbering some 50 or 60 pupils, presents one of the most interesting features in our community. It is due to the indefatigable efforts of the worthy superintendent, Mr. Fred Hickox, merchant of our town, assisted by a corps of amiable and accomplished ladies, together with the cooperation of various gentlemen, both from town and county.