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| 'Pride of Conecuh' B-25 Mitchell Bomber |
25 YEARS AGO
AUG. 25, 1988
“Harry Ellis reports a ‘deluge’ of 2.52 inches of rain during the violent thunder and lightning storm early Saturday night. He also reports two nice showers, .18 of an inch on Aug. 18 and .56 on Aug. 22.”
He reported a high temperature of 94 on Aug. 22 and low temperatures of 70 on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22.
“Repton Mayor George Armstrong easily won re-election in Tuesday’s election. He polled 109 votes to 31 for Vernon E. ‘Rip’ Bowling.
“Incumbent council members Willie Anderson, Ransom English, Lois McMillian and Grady Busby were re-elected without opposition. Also unopposed was Bruce Hayes who will replace Councilman Chester Fawley, who did not seek re-election.” “Castleberry’s voters re-elect Mayor L. Ryals: Mayor Lawrence Ryals won re-election to a second term of office rather handily as he polled 202 votes to 127 for Alton Henderson and 14 for Wilbur Rabon.
“James Ball received 22 votes to eight for Jerry L. Garrett to win District 1.
“Incumbent councilman Bill Moncrease was unopposed in District 2.
“Phelan Findley Sr. won a rather narrow victory in his bid for re-election in District 3. He received 42 votes to 25 for Clayton Barlow and 10 for Jefflyn Wilcox.
“The only runoff is set in District 5 where incumbent councilwoman Carolyn Laster will face challenger Tommy Jones. Laster had 37 votes and Jones 26 to emerge as leaders in a four-way race. James Varner received nine votes and Joe Rabon, seven.”
40 YEARS AGO
AUG. 30, 1973
“Chuck Neese was awarded the Eagle Scout Badge, highest award of the Boy Scouts, in a program at Evergreen Rotary Club last Thursday. Present for the awarding of the badge were Chuck’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Calder.”
“Firemen did a good job of controlling this fire which was discovered a little after 6 p.m. Monday. The firemen kept the blaze confined to the area above Harper’s Furniture Co. and the Drapery Outlet. The upstairs area was gutted including Jerry’s Barber Shop and Bill Register’s office as well as furniture owned by Harper. The downstairs area of Harper’s and Drapery Outlet suffered extensive water and smoke damage. Elmore’s had some smoke and water damage and Wild Bros. Hardware Co. had some damage from smoke. Firemen from Monroeville and Andalusia and the U.S. Navy firefighters from Middleton Field helped the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Dept.”
“Charlie Wade Kelsoe, 45, died Wed., Aug. 22, in the Veteran’s Hospital in Montgomery after a short illness.
“Mr. Kelsoe was retired from the U.S. Navy and served overseas during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.”
“Henry Steven Dunn, 84, a former resident of Evergreen died Mon., Aug. 27, in a nursing home at Creola, Miss.
“Mr. Dunn was a longtime employee of the City of Evergreen and prior to his retirement was superintendent of the Streets and Sanitation Department for a number of years.”
55 YEARS AGO
AUG. 28, 1958
“Car Strikes Child Early Tuesday A.M.: Laurine Jackson, 11-year-old girl, apparently suffered only cuts, bruises and scratches when struck by a car early Tuesday morning. The child, daughter of Will Jackson of Evergreen, was still in the hospital under observation at noon Wednesday. She had no broken bones.
“The child was injured about 6:50 a.m. Tuesday according to Police Chief John Andrews who investigated.
“Andrews said the girl was standing behind a large truck in front of Cotton Tractor Co., waiting to cross the highway toward the bus station. After a southbound car had passed she darted into the path of a northbound car and was knocked down and dragged for some distance, but the car wheels did not run over her.
“The car was driving by Mrs. Luverne Davis, Repton. Andrews said the accident was unavoidable and no charges were made against Mrs. Davis. He said his investigation revealed that Mrs. Davis was driving at a very slow speed, probably less than 25 mph.”
“Matron Jumps Clear Before Train Hits Car: Mrs. Multon White, Evergreen, was scared but uninjured after her car was hit by an L&N freight train Tuesday morning. The car was hit at 6:55 a.m. only five minutes after a child was struck by a car only a few hundred feet away.
“Mrs. White’s car stalled on the main tracks of the L&N at the Belleville St. crossing. She told Police Chief John Andrews that she made several unsuccessful attempts to start it before she heard the whistle of the northbound freight and realized her danger. She leaped from the car before the train hit it.
“The train engine pushed the car about 150 feet after striking it without the automobile leaving the tracks or being turned over. Andrews said the car was a ‘total loss.’
“Andrews said that W.H. Palmer, engineer of the train who lives in Montgomery, made every effort to stop the train after he saw the car, but was not able to do so.”
70 YEARS AGO
AUG. 26, 1943
“Above is a photo of the North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber, ‘Pride of Conecuh,’ which was released recently by the Bureau of Public Relations, War Department. Conecuh County citizens made possible this bomber through the purchase of War Bonds during the month of December 1942.
“It was bombers of this type which blasted Tokyo, Rommel and is dreaded by the enemy on all fronts. A Mitchell was the first U.S. bomber to sink a U-Boat.
“Conecuh citizens will follow with more than ordinary interest, the exploits of ‘Pride of Conecuh’ as it takes its place at battle front.”
“Purple Heart Awarded to James C. Gaston: The medal of the Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously by President Roosevelt to Pfc. James C. Gaston for ‘military merit and wounds received in action resulting in his death Nov. 3, 1942.
“Young Gaston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie J. Gaston formerly of Belleville, now of Loxley, was killed in action in the Solomon Islands. He enlisted in the Marines over two years ago before his death.
“Mr. and Mrs. Gaston also have a memorial award from Gov. Chauncey Sparks.
“In April of this year, Lewis Gaston, a younger brother of James Gaston, enlisted in the Marines and is now in training. His father says that Lewis wanted to get into the Marines and take his brother’s place and is anxious for the opportunity to come when he can be assigned to service and avenge his elder brother’s death. He is now wearing around his neck a 25 cent piece which was taken from James’ body, as a constant reminder and inspiration to him to go forward and complete the service so nobly begun by his brother.”
85 YEARS AGO
AUG. 30, 1928
“First Bale Ginned Last Friday P.M.: Arthur Coleman was the first to have a bale of 1928 cotton ginned here. The bale was ginned last Friday by the Evergreen Manufacturing Co. It was an unusually small bale, weighing less than 300 pounds. The second bale came from R.F. Croom’s farm Saturday morning and was grown by Mr. Henderson. Mr. Croom’s bale was sold and brought 18 cents per pound. The other did not sell.
“Both of the gins are running some each day this week. If the weather permits picking, they will be running full time by the last of the week.”
“Evergreen Schools Open Monday, Sept. 3: The new school year is very near at hand and whether we are ready or not, it behooves us to approach the opening with a fine spirit.”
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