The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for May 13, 2026

USS Midway

44 YEARS AGO
MAY 13, 1982

Local weather observer Earl Windham reported 1.28 inches of rain on May 8. He reported a high of 88 on May 6 and a low of 49 on May 9.

Wayne Stafford is the new owner of Evergreen radio station WBLO, having assumed ownership Monday morning. He and Marv Heffington, the station’s new manager, are congratulated by Ernie Ashworth, noted country music and Grand Ole Opry entertainer, who is also Mrs. Stafford’s (Wanda) brother. Ashworth will become a familiar figure around Evergreen as he assists Marv and Wayne as they make improvements at the station.

Tommy Shipp of Castleberry showed the Grand Champion of the 17^th Annual Conecuh County FFA and 4-H Market Hog Show held here Monday morning at the Evergreen Cooperative Stockyard Show Arena. Jeff Little, owner of Little’s Super Market in Castleberry, paid a premium $1 per pound for this fine home.

Dr. Sergeant’s death is shock: This community and county were shocked by the unexpected death of Dr. Charles Kendall Sergeant of an apparent massive heart attack suffered at his office Saturday afternoon, May 8.
Private memorial services were held Wednesday at his home at 307 Perryman St., conducted by Dr. Lamar Jackson.
Dr. Sergeant was a board surgeon of extremely high qualifications and greatly respected in his profession. He had practiced as a surgeon and as a family physician here for over four years and had earned the love and respect of the people of this area.

59 YEARS AGO
MAY 11, 1967

The 4^th annual Conecuh County Market Hog Show will be held Mon., May 15, at the Conecuh Stockyards. Registration begins at 5:30 a.m., the show at 8:30 a.m. and the sale of the show hogs at 1 p.m. Over 100 head of top quality market hogs are to be shown.
C.L. Kamplain is show chairman and D.C. Fleming is advisory chairman.

Open house will be observed at the Conecuh County Hospital this Sunday afternoon from 2 until 4:30 o’clock, according to Milston Sullivan, administrator.
The board of trustees and the entire staff of Conecuh County Hospital invite the public to come and inspect the hospital during this time. Of special interest will be the recently completed new seven private rooms.

LTJG Freddie J. Patten, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene E. Patten of 401 Belleville St., Evergreen, Ala., is presently serving with Attack Squadron Twenty-Three, a light jet attack squadron temporarily based at U.S. Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
LTJG Patten is a three-time veteran of the Vietnam Campaign. He has served with the U.S. Advisory Group to the Vietnam Air Force and served as Weapons Officer, Attack Squadron Twenty-Three, about USS Midway (CVA-41) and USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), during their deployment in the defense against communist aggression in Southeast Asia.

74 YEARS AGO
MAY 8, 1952

Conecuh County voters went to the polls Tuesday to select nominees for state, district and county offices, climaxing one of the quietest campaigns this county has seen in many years. As a consequence, only some 2,668 ballots were cast out of a possible more than 4,000 qualified list. Ideal weather prevailed throughout the day.

Bill Robinson and Pace Bozeman of the Junior Class have been named to represent Evergreen High School at the annual Boys State in Tuscaloosa this June.

Cpl. Robert Johnston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Newton E. Johnston, Bruner Avenue, returned to the U.S. recently after serving eight months overseas. Cpl. Johnston’s overseas service included combat duty in Korea.
He entered active service with Battery “C,” 117^th Field Artillery Battalion, local National Guard Unit, in January 1951. He went overseas as a replacement after a period of training at Fort Jackson, S.C.
Cpl. Johnston, known familiarly here as “Sleepy,” is a graduate of Evergreen High School.

Miss Wilma Maurice Golson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otis Benjamin Golson, will marry Robert Gaston Bozeman Jr. on Sun., June 8, it is announced today by her parents.
Miss Golson is a popular member of the graduating class of the Evergreen High School.
Mr. Bozeman is the son of Robert Gaston Bozeman Sr. and the late Mrs. Susan Dickey Bozeman. He is a veteran of World War II, serving overseas with the 1^st Marine Division.

89 YEARS AGO
MAY 13, 1937

Exhumed Body Was Not That Of Missing Man: The remains of an unidentified man who was buried here on New Year’s Day was exhumed Wednesday at the request of relatives of W.I. Bozeman of near Chapman in the hopes that the body might prove to be that of Bozeman, who has been missing from home since Dec. 16. Relatives, including his wife and several children, viewed the body, examined the clothing and were convinced that it was not that of the husband and father of whom they have been searching.
The body exhumed was found on the L&N Railroad track near Wilcox by a train crew. It was brought here and every effort made to identify. Failing in this, officers ordered it interred in the old cemetery. The man apparently had been killed by a train several hours before he was found.
Bozeman’s relatives hearing about the occurrence and knowing that it happened shortly after he had disappeared from home, began an investigation. As a result, they secured permission to exhume the body for examination.
The missing man is said to have left home to hunt work and told his people that he was going to Evergreen to see if he might not secure a job with the crew engaged in building the overhead bridge. He has not been heard from since he left home.

Announcement is made elsewhere in this issue of The Courant of the purchase by J.C. (Cary) Murphy of the City Café, popular restaurant, formerly operated by J. Arthur Lewis.

104 YEARS AGO
MAY 10, 1922

The following is the commencement schedule of the State Secondary Agricultural School at Evergreen… Wednesday, May 31^st, 8 p.m., Graduating Exercises; Address by Dr. Spright Dowell, President Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn.
The senior class is the largest in the history of the institution, numbering 17 boys and 15 girls. The class roll is as follows: Ruby Allen, Annie D. Brooks, Ira Mae Bryant, Julius Edward Chapman, Harry Edwin Dickinson, Reginald Rex Golson, Eva Myrtle Hurst, Daisy Leigh Harvell, Helen Lucille Hagood, Charles Thaddeus Ivey, Aline Marie Johnson, Battie Drucilla Johnson, Mary Allen Johnson, Martha Jennings Lundy, Carl Henry Middleton, Algia French Miller, Benjamin Franklin Miller, Carlos Holgrove Mills, Samuel Robert Morris, Claudia Oswald, Ollie Phares, John Carey Pritchett, James Edward Ridgeway, Joseph Pickett Rutland, Lucy Clare Shannon, Johnnie Mae Shoemaker, Henry James Smith, Lemuel Robert Stallworth, Robert Lee Stallworth, John Deming Stearns, Charles Robert Taliaferro Jr. and Sara Elsie Williamson.

The board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce has chosen the following officers: Dr. W.F. Betts, President; W.B. Ivey, Vice President; Byron Tisdale, Treasurer; R.A. Winston, Secretary.

Edward C. Barnes was reappointed on Monday by President Harding to be Postmaster at Evergreen. This makes the third successive term for which Mr. Barnes has received appointment. He has been a most acceptable postmaster and the appointment will meet with general satisfaction.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for May 12, 2026

44 YEARS AGO
MAY 13, 1982

Junior League opens season: Evergreen Junior League Association will officially open the 1982 season Sat., May 15, at 4 p.m. at the City Park. The teams this year are as follows: Little League – Braves coached by Mike Bledsoe and sponsored by Conecuh Timber, Inc. and Whites Home and Auto; Dodgers, coached by Melvin Johnson, sponsored by B&S Drugs, Inc.; Giants, coached by Tom Jones and sponsored by Presley-Fluker; and Yankees, coached by Norman Marable and sponsored by Crispy Chick.
Minor League – Mets, coached by Arlton Hudson and sponsored by Phillip Harold’s Carpet; Orioles, coached by David Thomas and sponsored by Webb’s Car Wash; Red Sox, coached by Gerald Salter and sponsored by Powell’s Dozier Co.
Ponytail League – Angels, coached by Sylvia Morris and sponsored by Sassers Jewelry and Hardees; Tomboys, coached by Elaine Colvin and sponsored by Holiday Inn of Evergreen and Lady Arrow, Inc.; Wildcats, coached by Darwin Covin and sponsored by Aubrey Padgett’s Garage and Woodmen of the World.
T-Ball League – Athletics, coached by Jerry Evers; Rangers, coached by Mike Faulkner; Tigers, coached by Hillary Harper.

A smiling Eddie Salter won both the total beard length and total weight divisions of the turkey hunting contest at Carter’s Hardware & Supply Co. this season. Eddie’s five Toms had beards that measured 53-1/4 inches and weighed 95 and 7/8 pounds.

59 YEARS AGO
MAY 11, 1967

Aggies nip Jackson lose to Lanier: April 26 – Lanier – Away: The Lanier Poets proved to be too much for the Aggies as they defeated the Aggies, 8-1. For 2-1/3 innings, the game was tight as Homer Faulkner struck out six of the first eight batters he faced.
In the fifth inning, the Aggies got their run when Homer Faulkner got on by an error. He advanced to third on a single and a sacrifice. Wayne Caylor finally brought him in with a sacrifice fly. Aggie hits were made by Grover Jackson, Leon Hinson and Homer Faulker.

May 3 – Jackson – Home: The Aggies picked up four runs in the first inning and made them stand up for a 4-0 victory over Jackson. Lead off batter Don Montgomery got on first with a single and advanced to second on an error. Grove Jackson singled to right which brought Don Montgomery home.
Homer Faulkner followed with a home run over the left field fence that scored Leon Hinson and Grover Jackson.
Jackson had good scoring opportunities in the first, fifth and sixth innings, but were unable to get hits when they needed them. Grover Jackson ended all of these threats with strike outs.
Jack White and Bill Bailey made good defensive plays for the Aggies. A good throw to the plate from Jack White prevented Jackson from getting a run in the fifth inning. Bill Bailey made a good fielding play followed by a good throw to end the game. Grover Jackson pitched his best game of the year.

74 YEARS AGO
MAY 8, 1952

Skinnerton Tops Shreve In Sunday Contest 17-12: The pitching of Eugene Davis and hitting of Sam Brown gave Skinnerton a 17 to 12 victory over Shreve Sunday. Sam Brown got a double and a triple, and Grady Booker got a double for Skinnerton. Shreve used four pitchers in absorbing the loss.

Starlington Hits Well But Bows To Bermuda: Starlington got 16 hits to no avail Sunday afternoon as the Bermuda Bears used eight hits effectively to score and 8 to 4 victory. Tink Stinson pitched well but had poor backing afield while Thompson twirled a neat game for the Bears to gain the win. Stinson also led the Bermuda team in stickwork, rapping out three hits.

Paul Aces Take Win From Loree Dollies: The Loree Dollies absorbed a 10 to 7 loss at the hands of the Paul Aces Sunday afternoon. Bertie Hassell was the winning pitcher, and Bernard Powell suffered the loss. Cobb and McClan led the batting for Paul with three hits each, and Charlie Brock led Loree with two safties.

Quarterback Club President Raymond DaLee is shown presenting the keys to Evergreen High’s new activities bus to Principal C.W. Claybrook in the top picture. Looking on are R.G. Bozeman, Ward Alexander and Coston Bowers, QB members, and Coach Wendell Hart. In the bottom picture, the men pose with the Aggie baseball squad just before it boarded the bus bound for Brewton and a game with T.R. Miller as the bust got an early “christening.” Chassis for the bus was purchased with funds raised for that purpose by the Quarterback Club and the body was furnished by the County Board of Education.

89 YEARS AGO
MAY 13, 1937

Century Here Today, Game With Locals: Evergreen retained the lead in the Interstate League by winning Sunday’s tilt from Jay, by a score of 6 to 4 on the latter’s home field. Bill Seale held Jay to five hits to chalk up his second win of the season.
Doc Jones, cross-fire exponent, won over Jay Thursday in a slugfest, to register his first victory.
Evergreen scored in the third, fourth, seventh and ninth frames Sunday, combining timely hits with Jay bobbles to take full advantage of 11 bingles.
Jay scored two runs each in the sixth and ninth, on hits and weird fielding, coupled with Seale’s wildness in cutting loose two wild pitches with men on the bags.
Thursday’s game saw Evergreen scoring in the second, eighth and ninth innings, to win 6 to 6, with Jay pushing runs across in the second, fifth and sixth. Jim Lane drove in the winning run by slamming a scorching line drive to left scoring Seabrook who had walked and stole second.
“Coach” Clements, who base running has been sensational throughout early games, continued his swiping tactics in both games last week, stealing second and third Thursday, and purloining third Sunday to run his total to eight stolen bases.

Invitations have been mailed throughout the county for the “Spring Dance,” which is being sponsored by the Evergreen Baseball Club, proceeds from which will be placed in the fund for enclosing Gantt Field.
The dance will be held tonight, May 13, at the National Guard Armory.

104 YEARS AGO
MAY 10, 1922

Base Ball Goods – Field and Garden SEEDS – Let Us Supply You – Conecuh County Drug Co.

The following is the commencement schedule of the State Secondary Agricultural School at Evergreen:
Monday, May 29^th, 3:30 p.m., Baseball game;
Wednesday, May 31^st, 3:30 p.m., Baseball game;
Wednesday, May 31^st, 8 p.m., Graduating Exercises.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for May 11, 2026

Buel B. Bell, left, and Oscar Wiggins of Ollie in 1984.

17 YEARS AGO
MAY 14, 2009

Riley to sign books today: With the opening performance of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Monroeville is a busy place, and today (Thursday) Alabama’s first lady will pay the city a visit to sign copies of her cookbook.
Patsy Riley, Gov. Bob Riley’s wife, will be at the Old Courthouse Museum on the downtown square from 2-4 p.m. Riley’s cookbook, “When the Dinner Bell Rings at the Governor’s Mansion,” is a sought-after collection of recipes from her own family and from every other first lady in America.

EHS Panthers earn berth in state tourney: Excel’s Lady Panthers will start play in the AHSAA Class 2A state tournament today (Thursday) at 9 a.m. at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.
Excel, 34-9, finished second in the South Regional tournament in Gulf Shores last weekend and is scheduled to play the North Regional champion today in the first round of the double-elimination state tournament.
(Top players on Excel’s team that season included Courtney Addison, Morgan Agerton, Lauren Anderson, Alycia Baggett, Deanna Henderson, Amy Hudson, Claire Jordan, Kayla Jordan, Kristen Lassiter and Kelsey Ledkins. Charlotte Wiggins was Excel’s head coach.)

Resolution approved for FC Schools: The Frisco City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday night urging the Monroe County Board of Education to consider all options in keeping its school open.
In January, the Board of Education unanimously voted to close the school for all grades from kindergarten to the twelfth grade at the end of May. The school’s enrollment is 242 with a racial makeup of more than 90 percent black.

42 YEARS AGO
MAY 10, 1984

Soldier honored: Buel B. Bell of Mobile and Oscar Wiggins of Ollie unveil markers at the graves of Revolutionary War soldier William Wiggins and his wife, Elizabeth Cooper Wiggins, during a special ceremony Saturday at Wiggins Cemetery in Mexia. About 300 people attended the event, which was sponsored by Huntsville’s Hunts Springs chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. One of Wiggins’ descendants, Lucy Wiggins Colson, is a member of the chapter.

Vols to play for state title on Monday: Monroe Academy’s baseball team will pack its gear Monday and head for Block Park in Selma, where it will begin a double-elimination tournament against seven other teams. All will be battling for the Alabama Private School Athletic Association state baseball title.
The Volunteers, who were sporting a 19-2 overall record yesterday (Wednesday), earned a No. 2 seeding in the state affair with wins of 10-5 and 15-5 over Patrician Academy in the recent Region 1 championship series in Monroeville.
(Players on MA’s team that season included Tim Carter, Donald Foster, Steve Lambert, Keith Langham, Mark Manning, Michael McCrory, Steven Simmons and Don Smith. Mike Amerson was MA’s head coach.)

TG&Y names Allen manager: Phillip Allen has been named manager of the TG&Y department store in Monroeville, replacing Bill Joiner, who has retired. Allen has worked with the TG&Y chain since 1973, when he began work as assistant manager of the Gautier, Miss. store. He also has served as co-manager at stores in Gulfport, Laurel, Waveland and McComb, and as manager of stores in Biloxi and Tylertown, all in Mississippi.

67 YEARS AGO
MAY 14, 1959

Civitans To Hear Sam Engelhardt: Sam Engelhardt, Director, State Highway Department, will be featured speaker at a meeting of the Monroeville Civitan Club Thursday night, May 21.
Mr. Engelhardt is expected to speak on federal road projects, according to Civitan vice-president, C.M. Pouncey.
The dinner meeting begins at 7:15 at the Hi-Ho Restaurant. Members are urged to be present.

College Football Game Slated Here Sept. 19: Final arrangements for a football game between Livingston State College and Troy State College, Sept. 19, were made here this week by the Monroeville Civitan Club.
C.M. Pouncey, Civitan vice-president, said tickets will probably go on sale after June 1. Club committees have been appointed to work on final plans for the event, he declared.
The game will be played at Vanity Fair Park. Reserve tickets will cost $2 while general admission will be $1.50.

Joseph J. McMillan Dies At Residence: Joseph Julian McMillan, 84, prominent pioneer resident of Monroe County, died at his home in Natchez Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
Mr. McMillan was a native of Wilcox County, but had resided in Natchez for the past 60 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Tunnel Springs, and a member of the Old Scotland Church.

92 YEARS AGO
MAY 10, 1934

Bids Asked For Claiborne Road: Advertising by the State Highway Department for bids on the road from Monroeville to Claiborne began this week. The highway departments asks for bids of grading, draining and surfacing 12.740 miles of road extending from Monroeville to Claiborne. Bids will be received until May 23.

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and family spent Sunday with Dr. and Mrs. C.F. McKinley at Atmore.

Jones Gets Office In First Primary: Ralph L. Jones of Monroeville, candidate for the office of Solicitor of the 21^st Judicial Circuit, composed of the counties of Monroe, Baldwin, Escambia and Conecuh, was elected to this office in the first primary, he having a substantial majority over both his opponents. Running against him were G.O. Dickey, Evergreen lawyer, and H.M. Caffey Jr., Brewton attorney, who was named by Gov. B.M. Miller to complete the unexpired term of the late L.S. Biggs.

Miss Callie Faulk spent last Friday and Saturday in Montgomery.

Returning to their homes in Monroeville last week following the closing of schools were Miss Velma Dees from Excel, Miss Willie Bayles from Uriah and Miss Ida Belle Roberts from Tunnel Springs.

Prof. and Mrs. J.A. York, the Monroe County High School Band and members of the Glee Club spent last Friday in Montgomery at the annual music festival. They returned home Saturday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Finch and Miss Louise Lee spent the weekend in Atmore.

117 YEARS AGO
MAY 13, 1909

Mr. J.U. Blacksher was up from Maros the first of the week on business with the probate office.

Mr. W.H. Tucker, the postmaster and merchant at Jones Mill, was here on business Wednesday.

Rev. L.C. DeWitt left Tuesday for Louisville to attend the Southern Baptist Convention. Mr. DeWitt goes as the representative of the Bethlehem Association.

Hon. J.F. Jones of Evergreen was a visitor to the capital city of Monroe last week. Mr. Jones’ many friends are glad to know that he is growing affluent as evidenced by his ability to utilize an automobile in looking after his extensive law practice.

A small but merry crowd assembled at the home of Mr. J.J. Shirley Saturday afternoon and had quite a jolly time cutting a bee tree, resulting in only one sting from the busy little bees, Mr. Homer Shirley, being the owner of the tree, also was the recipient of the sting.

One of the men who claims he is walking around the world passed through Jones Mill last Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. J.I. Bizzelle have issued cards announcing the marriage of their daughter, Miss Lucile, to Mr. Hunter H. McClelland on Thursday evening, May 20. Miss Bizzelle and Mr. McClelland are two of Monroeville’s most popular young people, and the Journal expresses the sentiment of all our people in extending heartiest good wishes in advance of the happy event.