The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for Jan. 7, 2025

Gov. Kay Ivey

TWO YEARS AGO
JAN. 5, 2023

37 years of service: The Monroe Journal’s staff honored Gail Coleman with a retirement party last week on her retirement after working 37 years in the mailroom. “She was an exemplary employee who showed up for her job and worked hard,” Bo Bolton, publisher, said. “We will miss her and wish her the best.”

Sheriff presents awards during banquet: Monroe County Sheriff Tom Boatwright presented Sheriff’s Department employees with a wide variety of awards and honors during the department’s recent Safety Training & Awards Banquet.
Chief Deputy Calvin Kyles, Administrative Assistant Lisa Hawkins and Lt. Odester Hill were presented plaques in honor of more than 35 years of loyal service to the department and Monroe County citizens.
Boatwright and Kyles also presented Medals of Valor to Sgt. Hunter Capps and Sgt. Russ Gulley. Deputy Jacob Smith was also presented a Lifesaver Award by Boatwright and Kyles.

Tea slated for West: The Belle Lettres Service Organization will host a tea in honor of Caroline West, Distinguished Young Woman of Monroe County, at the Vanity Fair Golf and Tennis Club Sunday at 3 p.m.
Caroline will participate in the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama program Jan. 20-21 in Montgomery. Caroline will arrive in Montgomery on Jan. 15 for a week of rehearsals and preparation for a fun and entertaining program. Also, a highlight of the week, the participants will participate in the inauguration parade of Gov. Kay Ivey on Jan. 16.

27 YEARS AGO
JAN. 8, 1998

Preparing for retirement: A familiar face which has been seen helping customers at the window of the Monroeville Post Office is gone. After eight years as window clerk, Charlie Barnes retired Jan. 2. Barnes has been working at the post office for 16 years beginning as a clerk/carrier. His career at the post office began following 23 years of serving in the Air Force, where he was ranked as a technical sergeant. Barnes said he and his wife, Doris, are planning to travel, but will always return home to Monroeville.

MCHS extends win streak: Monroe County High School’s varsity boys collected three wins last week in Monroeville, stretching their present win streak to five straight.
Last week’s victories improved the Tigers to 9-4 on the season.
(Top MCHS players in those games included Odom Autry, Willie Brown, Keith Dukes, Trent Eager, Jordan Elbrecht, Shaun Harris, Calvin Hartley, Curtis Hixon, Byron Hollinger, Jeffrey Lett, Jamar Nettles, Cary Plummer, Tim Richardson, Tommy Rivers and Rod Thomas. James Bohannon was MCHS’s head coach.)

State tourney coming to Frisco City: South Monroe’s Julius Lambert Field in Frisco City will be the site of the 1998 state Babe Ruth all-star baseball tournament for 15-year-olds in late July.
South Monroe Babe Ruth consists of teams from the Frisco City, Excel and Uriah communities. The league is about 28 years old. It’s games are held at Frisco City’s park on Snider Street. The playing field is named after the late Julius Lambert of Frisco City, one of the league’s founders. Lambert served the league for 25 years as a coach and officer.

52 YEARS AGO
JAN. 4, 1973

Happy first for the Lawrences: With the New Year Monday came Monroe County’s first baby to be born in 1973 – little Scott Randall Lawrence. He arrived at Monroe County Hospital at 7 p.m., weighed six pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 inches long. Besides being the first child to be born on the first day of the new year, he is the first child to be born to his proud parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Lawrence of Monroeville.

Lamar Crocker new pastor at Mt. Olive: The Rev. Lamar Crocker will assume duties Sun., Jan. 7, as pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church at Ollie.
A native of Mobile, the Rev. Crocker was graduated from Davidson High School in 1968. He attended the University of South Alabama and transferred to Mobile College in 1969 where he majored in physical education and minored in religion and sociology. He is presently a student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Police discover Marijuana here: Twenty-seven bags of what appeared to be marijuana were found by Monroeville policemen Tuesday afternoon in the northeast part of Monroeville off Monroe Station Road.
Chief James Maples said the substance was confiscated along the roadside after a passerby notified the department. He added that it had probably been there for several days as the brown paper bag which contained the smaller plastic bags was badly weathered.
Another substance, which Maples said could possibly be “acid,” also was found in the bags. It was sent to Dr. Nelson Grubbs, assistant state toxicologist in Mobile, to be identified.

77 YEARS AGO
JAN. 1, 1948

JOURNAL BEGINS 82^ND YEAR WITH CURRENT ISSUE: With this issue, The Journal begins its 82^nd year of publication to make it one of the oldest weekly newspapers in Alabama. The paper was established in 1866 by the late Col. Horace Hood, who later became publisher of the Alabama Journal at Montgomery.

Beatrice New Member Of Alabama League Of Municipalities: The town of Beatrice has recently become a member of the Alabama League of Municipalities, according to an article in a recent issue of the Alabama Local Government Journal, publication of the organization.
Officials of the town are J.L. Finklea, mayor; Thomas L. Black, town clerk; D.A. Steele, S.L. Martin, E.L. Harper, L.N. Stallworth Sr. and L.N. Stallworth Jr., councilmen.

Miss Anne Hines Weds William Richard Farish In Ceremony Here: The First Methodist Church of Monroeville was the setting on Dec. 27 of a candlelight wedding ceremony, uniting in marriage Miss Anne Crook Hines and Mr. William Richard Farish. The single ring ceremony was performed by the Rev. Charles Sheldon, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Monroeville.
The bride is the eldest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Walter Hudson Hines of Monroeville, and Mr. Farish is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Farish of Beatrice.
After a wedding trip to Florida they will reside in Monroeville.

102 YEARS AGO
JAN. 4, 1923

The only change which will take place in the personnel of the official family of Monroeville with the beginning of the new year will be the sheriff’s office, Mr. John L. Bowden succeeding Sheriff Russell. Mr. Bowden will enter upon his duties Jan. 15.

Mr. T.W. Russell, who has served as Sheriff of Monroe County for the last four years, has removed with his family to his farm near town. Mr. Russell will be employed as a traveling salesman the greater part of the time.

The Monroe County High School resumed work on Tuesday after 10 days holiday vacation. The grammar school resumed work on the same day.

A few schools in the county which suspended for the holiday vacation will remain suspended until the influenza epidemic prevailing in the communities subsides.

Solicitor L.S. Biggs has received his commission and will enter upon the discharge of his new duties on Jan. 15.

Tax Assessor E.A. Thompson and family are comfortably domiciled in the Finklea bungalow in the eastern part of town.

Mr. W.J. Hendrix, postmaster and merchant of Goodway, was among Monroeville friends the first of the week.

The Monroeville Light and Power Co. has received a shipment of cement and other material for laying the foundation for the electric light and ice plant. The poles for stringing the transmission wires are being placed in position and the company expects to be ready to turn on the current within the next 40 to 60 days.