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

USS Newport News

23 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 2000

Blacksher history published: J.U. Blacksher School students in Patricia McCullers’ community history class recently published a complete volume of the school’s history that documents the history of education in a small rural portion of southern Monroe County.
McCullers said it took two academic years of studying local history to put local events in the context of state and national history.
She said that she began the project with her students because she thought that a publication such as this would draw attention to the community history course and serve the community well.

Monroe Academy holds spring sports banquet: Monroe Academy’s Nathan Stokes was the recipient of the Bill Grant Memorial Award at the 2000 Spring Sports Banquet Thursday night.
In baseball, Bruce White and Chris Caldwell won the Gold Glove Awards; Justin Allred, the Highest Batting Average; Chris Majors, the Coach’s Award and seniors White and Triple Sawyer were named captains.
In softball, Jennifer Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player; Sara Lee won the Coach’s Award and Elizabeth Lane was named the captain.

Sandy Smith, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, presented the 18 members of the Leadership Now class with graduation certificates last Thursday at the Monroeville Water Tower Conference Center. Those graduates included Phillip Allen, Brett Cox, Vicky Dunn, Harvey Gaston, Paul England, Mark Hendrix, Cindy Martin, Emilie Martin, Greg Martin, Jack McKnight, Mike Metts, Linda North, Johnnye Peacock, Allan Sizemore, Dennis Stabler, Bob Turk, Tim Waters and Jeff Vermilyea.

48 YEARS AGO
MAY 22, 1975

Cecil White dies Monday from illness: Cecil White, executive director of the Monroeville and Evergreen housing authorities and a former Monroeville city clerk, died Monday at Monroe County Hospital following a brief illness. Mr. White, 52, served as Monroeville city clerk for 10-1/2 years before becoming housing authority director in October 1971.
He was secretary of the Monroeville Planning Commission; active in the Monroeville Lions and Civitan clubs; treasurer of Monroeville’s York Rite Bodies; senior warden of Alabama Lodge No. 3, Masonic Order; and a member of the Abba Shrine Temple.

Johnny Bartlett, third baseman and ace hitter for the Monroe County High School Tigers for the past four years, has been chosen to play in the Lions all-star game set for Saturday in Mobile. He was chosen for the honor after leading the East to an 11-4 win over the West in a preliminary game in Jackson Sunday. Bartlett was the only Monroe County player chosen to attend, although Scott Higginbotham of MCHS was chosen as an alternate.

Storage for the state: The city-owned lot at the corner of Cherry Street and heavily-traveled Pineville Road in Monroeville has been used by the state Highway Department to store construction materials for more than a year. Mayor W.H. “Jack” Hines expects that usage to continue until widening of Pineville Road is completed; the start of that widening is awaiting completion of right-of-way acquisition. This tract was intended as the location of Monroeville’s new city hall, but that project has been dropped indefinitely because of the cost.

73 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1950

Diplomas were awarded Monday night during a special class night program at Frisco City High School. Members of the class receiving diplomas were Ralph L. Baas, Curtis H. Blanton, Isaac D. Byrd, Honnie Ree Chaudron, Thomas J. King, Frank L. Lynam, William H. Sawyer, Foye O. Stacey, Charles Walston, Doris Bodiford, Barbara Lambert, Odie Jo Petty, Betty J. Sims, Odessa Stacey, Verdie Stinson, Etheleen Stucky and William G. Byrd.

Monroeville Captures Sixth Straight, Defeating Evergreen 8-2 Thursday: Monroeville maintained its unblemished record in Dixie League play last week, trimming Evergreen 8-2 Thursday night behind the effective five-hit hurling of left-hander Bill Hite.
For Monroeville, Grady Gaston and LeVaughan Hanks, with two hits each for five times up, led at the plate. Winning pitcher was Hite.
(Other Monroeville players in that game included Al Clenner, Robert Riley, Hop Stevens and Joe Tucker.)

Uriah Sailor Schedules Return To States May 28: Walter G. Ikner, boilermaker, third class, U.S. Navy, of Rt. 1, Uriah, is scheduled to arrive in Norfolk, Va., May 28, after a four-month cruise in the Mediterranean as a crew member of the heavy cruiser, USS Newport News. While in the Mediterranean, he was afforded an opportunity to visit many of the countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

98 YEARS AGO
MAY 28, 1925

County Superintendent G.A. Harris will leave early next week to continue his post-graduate studies at the University of Alabama.

EARLY COTTON BLOOM: The first cotton bloom of the season was brought to The Journal office Tues., May 26, by Mr. F.H. Melton, one of the most successful farmers in the Monroeville area. The stalk on which the bloom appeared had 17 well developed forms, and the bloom is two weeks earlier than last season. Mr. Melton has four acres of cotton planted early and reports the condition and prospect the most promising in his experience.

DEATH OF T.L. GRIFFIN AND WIFE: Mr. T.L. Griffin and his wife died at their home near Franklin last Friday under peculiarly sad circumstances. Both had been stricken with pneumonia some time before and the one was unable to give attention to the other. When the physician was called on Friday, he found that Mrs. Griffin had passed away unknown to her husband. Mr. Griffin succumbed a few hours later. Two small children survive them.

SENIOR CLASS ENTERTAINED: The Monroeville Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, delightfully entertained the Senior Class of the Monroe County High School at the lovely new home of Mrs. R.D. Hendrix, secretary of the Chapter, on Friday evening of last week. Numerous games were enjoyed, after which gift packages consisting of dainty silk handkerchiefs for the girls and pocket combs in leather cases for the boys were distributed, each bearing a suitable sentiment read by Miss Benie Carter.

123 YEARS AGO
MAY 24, 1900

A most deplorable tragedy occurred near Carlisle on Wednesday night. A son of Mr. Sam Simmons was sent by his father on some errand to the house of a man living on the place. The young man, thinking to have some fun at the expense of the man, put on a fantastic masque and presented himself at the cabin. The man in his fright at the startling apparition, seized his gun and fired, the whole charge taking effect in the body of the unfortunate young man, death resulting in a short time. The parents have profound sympathy in their distress and grief.

Col. B.L. Hibbard and Mr. J.S. Harrengton attended a picnic at Pineville Friday in celebration of the close of Prof. Dale’s school. Three gold medals were awarded for general excellence in the respective grades, the successful competitors being Misses Jennie Stallworth and Jennie Andress and Ivey. The medals were delivered with an appropriate speech by Col. Hibbard.

Mr. G.A. Tuthill of Claiborne was here Wednesday in search of a pair of mules that strayed from his place a few days ago.

Mr. George W. Salter Jr. of Evergreen stopped over en route to Selma and spent Sunday with his brother, the editor of this paper.

Kempville, Ala., May 21, 1900 – Editor Journal: Please say through The Journal that the examination of teachers will be held at the courthouse on the first Monday in June, beginning at 10 o’clock a.m. No teacher will be allowed to take the examination who is not present at the opening. – C.W. McClure, County Superintendent of Education.

JONES MILL: The Bear Creek Mill Co. is extending its log road in Wild Fork.