Old newspaper excerpts from The Monroe Journal newspaper of Monroe County, Alabama

Port of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia.

TWO YEARS AGO

APRIL 14, 2016

Family Feud episode to air Monday: Members of the Harris/Sawyer family will make another appearance on Family Feud, a popular TV game show, Monday.

Jessica Sawyer, her twin brothers Daniel and Michael Sawyer, and their cousins Bart Harris and Ashley Harris first appeared on the show in February, winning one match and losing a match.

Karen Harris Sawyer, who is Jessica’s and Michael’s and Daniel’s mother, appeared on the show in 1982 along with her siblings Susan, Steve and Jeff Harris and Steve’s wife Kathy Harris. Bart and Ashley are Steve and Kathy’s sons.

Monroe Academy’s baseball team picked up three wins last week, improving their record to 24-6.

MA swept Pike Liberal Arts School 11-1 and 4-2 Tuesday of last week at MA and pounded Jackson Academy 11-1 at home last Thursday.

(Outstanding MA players in those games included Drew Black, Logan Caldwell, Noah Goodman, Lake Higdon, Trace Holder, Andrew Lambert, Dalton McKenzie, Griffin McKenzie and Lane Powell.)

MA was scheduled to wrap up its regular season schedule Tuesday at Clarke Prep School in Grove Hill and start the AISA 3A state playoffs Friday at home.

Mockingbird begins: Regular performances of the annual stage production of To Kill a Mockingbird begin this week on the grounds of the Monroe County Heritage Museum on the square in Monroeville.

27 YEARS AGO

APRIL 11, 1991

Guard may return next week: Members of Monroeville’s 778^th Maintenance Co. have moved to the port of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia, and Alabama Army National Guard officials and family members are organizing “welcome home” celebrations in hopes they will catch a flight out Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

Sgt. Norman Arnold, Guard spokesman in Montgomery, could not confirm the April 17 return date but was hopeful the Guard unit would return soon.

Ralph Leek, manager of the Guard’s Family Assistance Center in Monroeville, also could not confirm the date, but he is more hopeful about this date than the April 4-12 departure mentioned in previous weeks.

Excel blasts Hillcrest to keep record perfect: Excel High School’s Panthers pounded Hillcrest High School 11-1 Monday in their home opener to remain unbeaten.

Monday’s victory coupled with a 15-0 win over Red Level High School, a 12-0 decision against Frisco City High School, a 7-3 victory over Hillcrest and a 7-2 win over J.U. Blacksher High School last week left the Panthers with a 6-0 overall record.

(Standout Excel players in those games included Tracy Barlow, Mike Bishop, Bo Daniel, Steve Goodman, Michael Hanks, Trey Harris, Raymond Jamison, Shannon Kelley, Drexel Lambert, Bryan Luker, Mack Ross and Justin Sawyer. Bo Bishop was Excel’s head coach.)

Katrina Keefer was named Monroe County’s Young Woman of the Year for 1992 Saturday night during a competition sponsored by the Monroeville Hub City-Ettes. Miss Keefer, a junior at Monroe County High School and the daughter of Larry and Meda Keefer of Monroeville, also won the physical fitness division and the spirit award.

52 YEARS AGO

APRIL 14, 1966

Museum Group Names Officers: The County Museum Committee was formed last Thursday and officers elected by the representatives present.

Named to head the organization is Mrs. Rance Carr of Monroeville with Mrs. R.B. Williams III of Monroeville named vice-president; Mrs. Sarah Primm of Mexia, secretary; and Col. T.B. Whatley of Monroeville, treasurer.

Spearheaded by the Monroe County Rescue Squad, the committee hopes to collect anything of historical value or antiques pertaining to Monroe County.

Monroe County High’s Tigers opened defense of their Pine Belt Conference title with a 15-0 win over the Uriah Bulldogs last Friday behind the combined one hit pitching of Tommy McMillon and Terry Salter.

The Tigers jumped off to a 6-0 lead with the six runs coming in the first inning off Gary Lambert, who went five innings for the Bulldogs.

The only hit off the Tiger hurlers came in the top of the seventh inning when Gary House lined a single to left field.

Grand Opening Event Scheduled At Owens Hardware & Electric Company: The grand opening event of Owens Hardware and Electric Co. in Monroeville scheduled for Thurs., Fri. and Sat., April 15, 15 and 16, represents more growth and progress for Monroe County.

New location for the firm is on South Mt. Pleasant on the square in downtown Monroeville, in the former Russell Ford location.

77 YEARS AGO

APRIL 10, 1941

4-H Rally Day Largest Ever Held: On Tuesday, April 1, the Monroe County 4-H Club girls and boys participated in one of the biggest Rally Days the County Council of 4-H Clubs has ever sponsored.

The Monroeville square was crowded with clubsters by nine o’clock, each wearing green and white caps. As busloads continued to pour into town, boys and girls began to fall in line for the 4-H Club parade.

By 9:30, the day’s activities were in full swing as the Monroe County High School band led the parade around the square. Around 1,500 girls and boys marched in the parade back of the huge banners which signified the club from which they were a member.

Local Golf Club Elects New Officers: A meeting of the Monroeville Golf Club was held at the City Hall last Thursday afternoon, and E.M. Salter was elected president and Moses Katz re-elected secretary and treasurer.

Plans for the new year were discussed, which included some minor changes in the course.

The local tournament will be held beginning today (Thursday) and will continue through Thurs., April 24. W.C. Daryman and Ted Hartmann were appointed to arrange for this event.

A report of the census bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce issued last week shows that the State of Alabama produced 768,551 bales of cotton last year compared with 769, 696 bales ginned in 1939, a shortage of 1,145 bales for 1940.

The same report shows that in Monroe County there were 10,298 bales ginned in 1940, and in 1939 there were 10,132, or a gain of 166 bales for 1940.

127 YEARS AGO

APRIL 9, 1891

The regular monthly drill of our county military company was held at Monroeville on the 26^th ult. The attendance was very good and the day devoted to review of tactical maneuvers and practice in guard duty preparatory to making a creditable appearance at encampment this summer. The boys were entertained at the Hudson House as the guests of the Monroeville Section. The next county drill will take place at Buena Vista on the 30^th of April when the Flag will be presented with fitting ceremonies.

FLAG PRESENTATION: The ladies of Monroe County will present a flag to the military company at Buena Vista on Thurs., April 30, with appropriate ceremonies. The flag will be delivered by the company’s sponsor, Miss Dovie Finklea.

A reunion of all Confederate veterans will be held at the same time and place. All old soldiers in this and adjoining counties are invited to attend. Addresses will be made by several invited guests.

Drs. James L. Sowell and T. Morton McMillan, two of Monroeville’s most popular and promising young men, graduated with honors from the Medical Department of Tulane University, New Orleans, on the 1^st inst., and returned home last Friday and were recipients of the hearty congratulations of hosts of friends. The graduating class of which the young gentlemen were members was composed of 118 students, 108 of whom received the degree of M.D., and 10 that of M Ph. – the largest class since 1861.

Mr. Franklin Hetherington died at his home on the Ridge April 2, 1891 of tuberculosis, aged 45. Mr. Hetherington was a native of Monroe and was one of our best citizens and most successful farmers and his death is universally regretted.