The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for May 30, 2017

Evergreen officials and veterans with Purple Heart signs.

THREE YEARS AGO

JUNE 5, 2014

A host of local officials, businessmen and developers gathered at the future site of the new Food Depot grocery store in Evergreen last Thursday morning to mark the halfway point of the store’s construction. Pictured at the event are Evergreen City Projects Manager Jeff Sullivan, Evergreen Concrete’s Mike Lanier, Rusty Daniels and Brent Salter with SDS Properties, Conecuh County Engineer Winston Foshee, Super Food’s Supermarkets President/COO John M. Wilson, Evergreen Mayor Pete Wolff, Evergreen Economic Development Director Bobby Skipper, incoming Evergreen City Clerk Mary Skipper, outgoing City Clerk Becky Robinson, Evergreen-Conecuh County Chamber of Commerce representative Mercedes Harper and Larry Ryland.

The City of Evergreen began installing “Purple Heart City” signs along all major thoroughfares leading into the city Tuesday of last week. Pictured with a couple of the new signs Wednesday of last week are City Projects Manager Jeff Sullivan, City Councilman John Skinner, Purple Heart recipient Greg Hall, City Councilwoman Vivian Fountain, Purple Heart recipient Ray Fleming, local Disabled American Veterans chaplain Michael Jackson, City Councilman and Purple Heart recipient Luther Upton, Purple Heart recipient Johnny Mack Grace, Mayor Pete Wolff and City Councilwoman Maxine Harris.

Evergreen weather observer Betty Ellis reported .44 inches of rain on May 26, .01 inches on May 27, .68 inches on May 28, .47 inches on May 29, .02 inches on May 30 and .60 inches on June 1. She also reported a high of 89 degrees on May 26 and lows of 66 on May 26, May 28, May 30 and June 1. Total rainfall for the month of May was 8.54 inches.

28 YEARS AGO

JUNE 1, 1989

Evergreen High School will hold its final graduation exercises Saturday night at 7:30 o’clock at Brooks Memorial Stadium, according to Principal Ronnie Brogden. The school will be consolidated into Hillcrest High School this fall along with Conecuh County High School and Repton High School. Lyeffion High School has already been consolidated with Evergreen High. Hillcrest, grades nine through 12, will serve the entire county.

Mrs. Louise Bradley, principal of Conecuh County High School, announces that the school will have its final commencement ceremony on Fri., June 2, at 7 p.m. at the M.C. Thomasson Stadium. Thirty-one seniors will be awarded diplomas.

Conecuh County High School 1988-89 valedictorian is Kerrie Garrett, daughter of Mrs. Shirley Garrett and James G. Garrett of Castleberry. The salutatorian is Tracey Madden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Madden of Castleberry.

Evergreen City Clerk Mrs. Laurice A. Baggett was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the Alabama League of Municipalities during its recent convention in Montgomery. Mrs. Baggett received a plaque “in recognition of outstanding performance in promoting he aims and objectives of the Alabama League of Municipalities.”

PFC Jeff Walker (of Evergreen) graduated May 2 from Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. He is a 1987 graduate of Sparta Academy.

53 YEARS AGO

JUNE 4, 1964

Frank T. Salter of Evergreen won nomination to the office of Judge of Probate of Conecuh County over veteran Judge Lloyd G. Hart in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary Election. Nomination is tantamount to election in Conecuh.

Salter rolled past Hart by a complete, but unofficial count of 1,935 to 1,591. His margin of 344 votes came as a surprise to many political observers, although his victory had been predicted freely in the closing days of the runoff campaign.

Mr. and Mrs. D.T. Stuart and Miss Nell Stuart attended the graduation of D.T. Stuart III Wednesday from Auburn University.

Mr. and Mrs. W. Davis attended graduation of their son-in-law Charles Branum from Livingston State College Sunday.

Ellington Begins 13^th Year Here: Mr. Fitzhugh Ellington, minister of the Evergreen Church of Christ, this month begins the 13^th year of his ministry here. During the 12 years of his service, the church has made much progress in every way. Payment for the sanctuary has been completed, additional lots purchased and an educational building constructed and paid for, as well as heating and air conditioning the church plant. Mr. Ellington is a graduate of Alabama Christian College and served as a member of the College Board of Directors for five years.

78 YEARS AGO

JUNE 1, 1939

Thirty-Six Seniors Receive Diplomas: The graduating exercises held Tuesday night at the Evergreen High School wrote finis to the high school career of 36 eager seniors when they were presented diplomas by Principal Marvin A. Hanks.

The speaker for the occasion was Dr. C.W. Williams of the University of Alabama, who was selected to deliver the baccalaureate address.

After the address, the diplomas were presented by Mr. Hanks to the following 36 seniors: Russell Brown, Elly Cowart, John Dunn, Mary Horton (valedictorian), Warren Johnson, Devon “Bud” King (salutatorian), Elwin Knight, Willis Middleton, James Mitchell, Paul McGraw, Eugene Powell, Moye Pugh, Roger Salter, Gordon Stinson, J.W. Weaver, Jean Archibald, Fannie Merle Brooks, Eloise Cowart, Nelda Davis, Nan Deal, Avalon Ellis, Marion Gantt, Margaret Harper, Marylene Heath, Mary K. Higdon, Earline Ivey, Eleanore Jones, Sara King, Donirene Lee, Pauline Morris, Etelle McCreary, Ann Shaver, Willie Mae Sheffield, Movalene Smith, Nadine Wells and Estelle Williams.

Conecuh Hi Holds Closing Program: Castleberry, Ala., May 30 – The 24^th commencement of the Conecuh County High School took place Monday evening with the exercises being opened by the invocation led by Rev. B.M. Herlong.

(Graduates included valedictorian Ruby Lynch, salutatorian Thelma Williams, Edna Weaver, Lillian Findley, Marjorie Ward, Myrtle Josey, Juanita Sullivan, Edythe Hooper, Albert Griffin Jr., Luther McDonald, Floyd Oliver, Duard James, George Bethune, Winston Riggs, William Davis, Golden Suddith and Robert Deuel.)

103 YEARS AGO

JUNE 3, 1914

Cedar Creek: Our rural mail route started today from Castleberry and is welcomed by everybody. This community has felt the need of mail service for a long time.

The Board of County Commissioners is in session this week the full board being present. Tax matters and routine business are being considered.

Congressman Dent says that the proof sheets of the soil survey of Conecuh County have been completed and that the books will be ready for distribution within about two weeks more.

Mayor Gaston, L.C. Gaston, H.L. Dees, A.R. Knight and Milton Dunn were among prominent Repton citizens here yesterday.

The first tomatoes of the season were shipped from here last week. Since that time increasing quantities have gone forward daily by express. The crop has been greatly injured by the dry spell and truckers are much discouraged.

On next Sunday, June 7^th, the local lodge of Woodmen at China will decorate the graves of deceased sovereigns at Witherington Cemetery, and all Woodmen are invited to participate.

Miss Hart and Mr. Rowland Wed at Repton: Repton, Ala. – Miss Nell Hart and Mr. A.A. Rowland were quietly married at the home of the bride’s parents yesterday morning and left on the noon train for a bridal tour.