The Monroe Journal News Flashback for Oct. 23, 2023

U.S. Senator Jeremiah Denton

12 YEARS AGO
OCT. 27, 2011

Excel Groundwater Fest a success: The first-ever Excel Groundwater Festival is being called a success, and Mayor Jenny Countryman said she expects it to be a building block for future events.
A total of 75 fourth graders at Excel School participated in the event, sponsored by the Town of Excel and the Alabama Rural Water Association (ARWA).
“The water festival is something the Town of Excel and ARWA hope to do each year,” Countryman said. “Plans are to expand the festival to the 11^th and 12^th grade students, providing them with the understanding of the importance of water. This year’s festival was a great success.”
In conjunction with the festival, the town hosted an art contest. Branston Lambert took first place in the contest, followed by Sarah Watson James in second.

Vols hold off Rangers: Monroe Academy had to hold off Lyman Ward Military Academy in Camp Hill Friday night to claim their ninth straight win.
MA’s Volunteers outscored the Rangers 21-7 in the second half to record a 28-14 win against a team that came into the game with just one win.
Justin Rowell finished the contest with 195 yards and four touchdowns on a season-high 34 carries. On defense, middle linebacker Watson Kennedy had an outstanding game, recording nine solo tackles and an assist.
(Other top MA players in that game included Craig Bryan, Trent Day, Hunter Glass, Cameron Ingram, Jacob Johnson, Austin Jordan, Jake McKenzie, Peyton Powell, Jonathan Simpson, Wesley Stabler and Joseph Watson. Mitchell Turberville was MA’s head coach.)

37 YEARS AGO
OCT. 23, 1986

Dailey new police chief: Bill Dailey was appointed Tuesday night by the Monroeville City Council as police chief, replacing Charles Colbert, who had been chief for 12 years.
Dailey, who had been Colbert’s second-in-command as the police department’s only captain, was given the option of retaining Colbert in another job. For the moment, the captain’s slot was left vacant. Dailey talked with Colbert privately Tuesday night after the council’s decision, and again Wednesday morning. No agreement had been released by 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Excel High School’s senior football players said their farewells to the school’s football stadium Friday with a 20-0 victory over Georgiana High.
Randy Brown led Excel’s rushers with 108 yards on 20 carries. Stacey Kelly sparked Excel’s defense with 10 solo tackles and six assists.
(Other top Excel players in that game included Jerome Anderson, Shannon Countryman, Paul Felts, Greg Hall, Ricky Johnson, Marcus Jordan, Lance Marrow, Derrick McCants and Dale Watson. Ed Parrish was Excel’s head coach.)

Mike Denton to visit here for his father: Mike Denton, adult son of U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton, will campaign for his father in Monroeville Saturday afternoon.
David Long, secretary of the Monroe County Republican Party, said the younger Denton would arrive at the Harvest Festival on Courthouse Square around 1:15 p.m.
Mike Denton, 27, is general manager of Tidewater Steel Co. in Chesapeake, Va., which employs 85 people.

62 YEARS AGO
OCT. 26, 1961

Burglars Enter Kelly Mill Store: A burglar or burglars forced entrance into the Kelly Mill Mercantile Co. Store at Dottelle early Sunday morning, forced open a safe and escaped with approximately $75 in small change, according to Riley Kelly.
Evidence indicated that the burglary was perpetrated after the night watchman left about 4 a.m. Two large locks on the front door were broken to gain entrance, the combination was knocked off the safe door and then the lock was picked.

Whippets Whip Aggies 14-13 In Homecoming Thriller Friday Night: The Frisco City High School Whippets “squeaked” by the Evergreen Aggies Friday night in a thriller before a huge homecoming crowd at the Frisco City stadium. Final score was Frisco City 14, Evergreen 13.
The Whippets broke into the end zone in the second frame when a 32-yard pass from Joe Kelly to Bill Sawyer netted their first touchdown. Johnny Dorough kicked the extra point.
In the third quarter, Whippet fullback Ed Brown went over from six yards out for the second Frisco City touchdown. Johnny Dorough again kicked the extra point. This time it meant victory for the Whippets.(Other top FCHS players in that game included Mike Lawrence, Larry Till and Ronnie Wiggins.)

Police Chief Warns Of Fake Salesman: Monroeville Police Chief Jesse Crutchfield urges merchants not to purchase ads in any policeman magazine unless the advertising solicitor carries a letter of introduction from the Monroeville Police Department.
“There have been no complaints at the present time of any illegal ad selling,” Mr. Crutchfield said. “However, I have received word that a fake solicitor may come into the area within the next few days.”

87 YEARS AGO
OCT. 22, 1936

Moore In Charge Of Local Water Company: Effective Oct. 15, Mr. T.B. Moore became local manager of the Monroeville office of the Alabama Water Service Co., succeeding V.T. Collier, who had managed that office during the past several years. Mr. Moore comes to Monroeville from Leeds.

Frisco City Downs Camden By Big Score: Frisco City High School’s football eleven continued its successful season by trouncing the Camden team 59-0 in a game played on the Frisco field last Friday afternoon.
Frisco City will journey to Jackson this Friday evening, Oct. 23, to play a night game with the strong Clarke County team.
On the following Friday night, Oct. 30, Monroeville will go to Frisco City for a night game on Frisco City’s newly-lighted field. This will be the first game on the field since it was equipped for night playing.

Mrs. A.C. Lee spent last weekend at Biloxi, Miss.

Judge McDuffie In Who’s Who: Judge John McDuffie of Monroeville is among a hundred and twenty Alabama graduates listed in the recent issue of Who’s Who in America. Judge McDuffie received his LL.B. degree from the University in 1908.

Cotton Crop Of 18,074 Bales Ginned: Monroe County ginnings had reached 18,074 bales on Oct. 1 of this year, according to the Department of Commerce figures. This is approximately 1,500 bales lower than the figures for Oct. 1 of last year when to that time the total ginnings amounted to 19,505 bales.

113 YEARS AGO
OCT. 27, 1910

Collector Marshall and Assessor Finklea are touring the county looking after tax matters.

R.L. Coxwell is taking in the sights of the agricultural exposition in Montgomery.

On Friday night, Oct. 28, 7:30 o’clock, a Halloween party will be given at the courthouse. Admission 15 cents. All are invited, both young and old.

A preliminary hearing in the case of the State vs. J.R. Bailey, Brutus Bailey, Russian Bailey and Fate Solomon, charged with the killing of John Johnson was had before County Judge Slaughter last week, resulting in the defendants being bound over in the sum of $2,000 each to await the action of the grand jury.
From the evidence brought out in the trial it appears that the deceased created some disturbance on the church grounds on the night of the killing during services. The Baileys remonstrated and endeavored to get the man to leave. A quarrel ensued, resulting in the killing. Only one witness was examined by the defendants and their line of defense was not indicated.

There has been unusual activity in the building line in Monroeville during the last few months and the indications are that the good work will continue for some time to come.

For Sale – a few thoroughbred S.C. Brown Leghorn and Rhode Island Red cockerels. Mrs. H.C. Fountain, Burnt Corn, Ala.

T.P. Buffington of Excel has set the pace for the farmers of his community by growing 94 bushels of corn on one acre.