The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Oct. 24, 2017

USS Kearsarge (CV-33)

TEN YEARS AGO

OCT. 25, 2007

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 1.10 inches of rain on Oct. 9. He also reported a high of 89 degrees on Oct. 9 and lows of 47 on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13.

Train derails near Castleberry – again: For the second time in less than a year, a train has derailed near the Town of Castleberry.

Early on Friday morning, eight cars loaded with coal left the Louisville & Nashville Railroad tracks about two miles south of Castleberry, according to Castleberry Fire Chief Paul Calloway said.

Friday’s derailment is the second train derailment to have taken place near Castleberry within the past year, officials said.

According to Heather Walton, County Emergency Management Director, none of the cars involved in Friday’s derailment were carrying hazardous materials and while one of the cars did spill its load of coal, none of the coal spilled into any nearby creeks or streams.

According to Calloway, as of Tuesday afternoon, the exact cause of the derailment was not known.

Seven Castleberry firefighters responded to the derailment with the department’s pumper truck, but there was no fire or injuries as a result of the incident, Calloway.

The Courant contacted CSX Railroad officials earlier this week with a request for information about the incident, but those calls had not been returned as of press time.

35 YEARS AGO

OCT. 28, 1982

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported no rain between Oct. 18 and Oct. 24. He reported a high of 83 degrees on Oct. 21 and a low of 39 on Oct. 24.

Air Show at local airport Sunday 2 to 4: An air show will be staged Sunday afternoon from two until four o’clock at Evergreen’s Middleton Field Municipal Airport on Highway 84 West. The gates will open at 12 noon for the big show which is sponsored by the Conecuh County Rescue Squad.

The show will feature such thrilling events as acrobatic planes, stunt pilots’ performances, parachute jumping, helicopters, radio-controlled planes, antique airplanes on display, military aircraft, World War II airplanes, plane rides for spectators and a display of antique cars.

A freak accident ended with this big North American Van tractor and trailer rig blocking the Rural Street-West Front Street intersection in downtown Evergreen for several hours Monday afternoon. A sliding tandem on the rear of the trailer broke loose, dumping the back end of the trailer on the street. The rig was heading south when the tandem broke loose. Evergreen police did an excellent job of directing traffic while folks from Knud Nielsen Co. unloaded the 30,000-pound cargo onto a flatbed trailer from Poole Truck Line and Conway Diesel Co. got the trailer up, the tandem back under and the truck able to move. It all created a good bit of excitement on an otherwise dull Monday afternoon.

60 YEARS AGO

OCT. 24, 1957

Grace Serves Aboard Carrier In Far East: Joe L. Grace, seaman apprentice, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rinnie A. Grace of Belleville, Ala., is serving aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge with the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Far East.

The Kearsarge arrived in Yokosuka, Japan Sept. 21, following visits to Guam, M.I. and Hawaii.

From “As a Man Thinketh” by R.G. Bozeman – This issue of The Courant is reaching you readers a day later than usual. This is all due to the illness of our very capable linotype operator who spent the past week in the local hospital nursing an ailing leg. Bob is a pretty fair linotype operator and had it not been for him I guess you might have missed this issue altogether. In addition to being a day late, we also had to curtail news and advertising coverage. Glad to tell you that Herbert Harpe is out of the hospital, and we hope we can do a better job next week.

The Courant has a new employee these days – Arthur Pendleton, who came to us from Milton, Fla. Arthur is a printer and had considerable experience in this work in the shops at Milton.

Halloween Carnival At Lyeffion School: There will be a Halloween Carnival at Lyeffion High School Thursday night, Oct. 31, beginning at 6 p.m. There will be games and fun for everyone, climaxed by crowning the Queen and Princess, to be chosen from the 12 candidates representing their classes. Come prepared to meet spooks and hobgoblins, or perhaps you might win a turkey for Thanksgiving.

85 YEARS AGO

OCT. 27, 1932

ROTC Appointments Given Two Conecuh Boys: Auburn, Ala., Oct. 27 – Of the 162 cadet officers appointed in the ROTC at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, two are from Conecuh County. They are J.T. Millsap, Evergreen, and E.A. Price, Castleberry.

These appointments come at the beginning of the fourth year of study in the department of military science and tactics, under the direction of a staff of army officers stationed at Auburn. Next spring, prior to graduation, these young men will be awarded commissions in the Reserve Army.

HALLOWEEN PARTY: A Halloween Party given at Lyeffion High School Friday night, Oct. 28, for the benefit of the school. Lots of fun and refreshments for all. Come, bring your money and your friends.

Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Deal and two children who have been residing in Thomasville, arrived today to make their home in Evergreen, and will operate “The Oaks,” which has been under the management of Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Riley.

Evergreen Theatre – Program – Friday and Saturday – Oct. 28-29 – “HUCKLEBERRY FINN” – with Jackie Coogan, Mitzi Green, Junior Durkin and Jackie Searl – Also, “I Ain’t Got Nobody” and “Mystery Trooper” No. 5.

Mayor J.L. Kelly, Sheriff J.G. Moore, J.E. Jones, County Solicitor, and W.S. Dreaden, Circuit Clerk, spent several days this week in Montgomery on business.