The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for May 16, 2023

15 YEARS AGO
MAY 15, 2008

The public is invited to attend Hillcrest High School’s annual commencement exercises on Fri., May 23, at Brooks Memorial Stadium in Evergreen.

SA baccalaureate and graduation plans set: Rev. John King will be the guest speaker at Sparta Academy’s Baccalaureate services this Sun., May 18, at 3 p.m. at the Evergreen Baptist Church. Claude B. Nielsen will be the guest speaker at Commencement exercises on Fri., May 23, at 7 p.m. in the Richard Brown Gymnasium.
Sparta Academy’s honor graduates this year are Amanda Nolin, Pia Cumagun, Hayden Armuelles, Hope Burleson, Myles Wiggins, Keary Watts and Casey Pierce.

Conecuh Sons charter Camp 2143: The Alabama Division of the Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans, has a new camp founded by Conecuh sons.
Confederate Constitution Camp 2143 was chartered May 1 and is domiciled at Montgomery.
Eight of 10 charter members of the new camp are either Conecuh residents or expatriates. Larry E. Darby is the commander, Daniel W. Joyner is the lieutenant commander and John E. Hooks is the adjutant. All three are graduates of Sparta Academy.

The 16^th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, held Saturday, successfully collected 2,229 pounds of food from various communities in the Conecuh County area.

40 YEARS AGO
MAY 19, 1983

Council votes against changing parking back: An effort to get the parking on West Front Street changed back from parallel to angle parking met with a “NO” from the Evergreen City Council, after a discussion with Mr. Carlton of the State Highway Dept. at the regular meeting Tuesday night.
Chief of Police Ed Bundy submitted his resignation effective May 27. Council voted to accept his resignation.
Two building permits were granted: Pete Wolff III to construct a commercial building on his used car lot on Highway 31 South; James C. Brooks for a storage building at his residence on Snowden Road.

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported .16 inches of rain on May 8, .16 on May 9, .01 on May 11 and .07 on May 13. He reported a high of 88 on May 14 and a low of 53 on May 9.

Deputy’s car gunned early Tuesday AM: A deputy sheriff’s car was shotgunned early Tuesday morning by an unknown white male who is still being sought. The deputy was not injured, but the shot, believed to be 00 buckshot, shattered holes in the windshield of the driver’s side of the car.
Deputy Sheriff Mack Goneke was in the car when it was shot about 12:10 a.m. Tuesday on the Old Stage Road near Repton on the Conecuh-Monroe boundary.
After firing the shot the man ran into the wooded area along the road. Goneke tried to follow him without any luck.

65 YEARS AGO
MAY 15, 1958

William Guthrie Jones, age 72, longtime resident of this city and much-beloved citizen, passed away at his home early Thursday morning, May 8, following a lingering illness of many months.
Mr. Jones was born and reared at Patsburg, Crenshaw County, Ala. He moved to this county in 1912 and engaged in farming for three years at Belleville. In 1915 he opened a barber shop in Evergreen and continued its operation for 43 years, having sold it only a few weeks before his death. He was a member of the Greening Masonic Lodge, and served as its secretary for about 12 years.

Evergreen High Sets Graduation Exercises: The schedule of graduation exercises for the Evergreen High School is announced today by Principal C.W. Claybrook.
The Baccalaureate Service will be held Sunday afternoon at 4:30 at the First Baptist Church of Evergreen. The Rev. Stanley Kelley, a recent graduate of the Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a graduate of Evergreen High School, will preach the Baccalaureate sermon.
Graduation exercises will be held Friday evening, May 23, at eight o’clock in Memorial Gymnasium.

Clarence Smith, whose wife, Ramona, and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Smith, live here, has recently completed his classes in Minesweeper Automatic DeGausing at the U.S. Navy Schools Yorktown, Va. Prior to enlisting in the Navy, Clarence graduated from Evergreen High School and was employed by The Evergreen Courant.

90 YEARS AGO
MAY 18, 1933

Fourteen Seniors Get Diplomas At Repton: Fourteen seniors were granted diplomas at Repton High School Friday night, May 12, at the closing exercise of the institution. In addition to the graduating exercises, senior class night program was given. J.C. Merrill, president of the class, presided during the program. The graduating address was delivered by R.G. Bozeman of Evergreen.
Diplomas were awarded to the following: Mason Brantley, Bartine Boulware, Omega Craig, Wesley Ellis, Roberta Ellis, Lilly Charles Gaston, Annie Chloe Howington, Hunter McInnis, Sue Moorer, J.C. Merrill, Everton Odum, Stephen Owens, Edna Peavy, Zema Pipkins.

Former Citizen Victim Of Accident Tuesday: Johnny I. Hildreth, age 37, former citizen of this county at Paul, but for the past nine years a resident of Opelika, was fatally injured Tuesday night when he was run down by an auto in the street near his residence, sustaining injuries from which he died at an early hour Wednesday.
According to reports, Mr. Hildreth had parked his car near his home and was responding to call to the telephone in his home when the unfortunate accident happened. He stepped from his car into the street in the path of the fast moving car which snuffed his life away.
The remains were brought here Wednesday night and carried to the home of his mother at Paul. Funeral services will be held at Paul this morning with Rev. G.B. Nall of Atmore officiating.

115 YEARS AGO
MAY 20, 1908

School Closes: The commencement exercises of the Agricultural school began on Sunday night with the annual sermon preached by Rev. J.M. Dannelly of Montgomery in the Baptist church. The sermon was one of the best that has ever been heard here on a similar occasion. There was a large congregation present to hear him.
The concert did not occur on Monday night on account of rain but will take place tomorrow night.
The alumni address was delivered by Wm. H. Crawford of Montgomery on yesterday morning.
The class exercises last night was specially interesting and entertaining. The Courant would be glad to make special reference to the parts performed by each one of the class of 1908, but time and space will not permit. We take occasion, however, to compliment the faculty of the school upon the excellent order maintained, thereby rendering the entertainment the more enjoyable.
This morning at 10 o’clock, Hon. A.E. Gamble of Greenville will deliver the literary address and tonight the graduating exercises will occur. Then will come to a close the 14^th annual session of the school.
The graduating exercises and awarding of diplomas will take place in the college chapel tonight. The class of this year is as follows: Ben F. Rountree, Oscar C. Moorer, Edwin W. Hagood, Homer B. Tisdale, Miss Ida Murphy, Miss Minnie B. Guerry, Miss Gertrude O. Tisdale, Miss Marcella McCreary, Miss Mary McCreary (and) Miss Olive McCreary.