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

28 YEARS AGO

JUNE 21, 1990

Starr gets degree and commission: W. Frank Starr of Frisco City was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in a special ROTC ceremony held recently at the University of Mississippi.

At spring commencement, he received a degree in business management. Starr is a graduate of Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Md. and Frisco City High School. He is the son of Albert and Sue Starr of Frisco City.

League strikeout leader Joey Downs recorded a no-hit shutout Thursday to lead league champion Temple-Inland past Monroeville Telephone Co. (MTC) by a 9-0 score in Monroeville Babe Ruth Baseball League action at the city’s ball park on South Mount Pleasant and Veterans avenues.

Downs, who struck out 100 of the 181 batters he faced this season, retired 18 batters with strikeouts Thursday. In addition to an outstanding performance on the mound, Downs collected two hits and three stolen bases Thursday.

Teammate Terrance Odom added a three-run home run to Temple’s charge, and Zach Stacey recorded a two-run triple.

Scott Booker and Tony Bayles pitched for MTC. They collected six strikeouts.

Miss Maness is finalist: Daphne Delys Maness, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Moody Maness of Excel, has been selected as a finalist in the 19^th Annual Miss Alabama National Teenager Pageant to be held at the Madison Hotel in Montgomery tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday.

53 YEARS AGO

JUNE 17, 1965

Snake Bite Fatal To Francis Hanks: A member of a prominent Monroe County family died Monday morning at the Monroe County Hospital as the result of a snake bite.

Francis LeGrande Hanks Sr., 79, of Frisco City was bitten by a rattlesnake on the back of his leg last Thursday near his home while picking berries. He got into his pickup truck and drove himself to the home of his son, Dr. B.L. Hanks in Frisco City, who took him to the Monroe County Hospital. Mr. Hanks died about 9:30 Monday morning.

Kelly Is Named Coach At Excel: Britton Kelly has been approved by the Monroe County Board of Education as head coach at Excel High School for the coming year.

R.H. Vickery, county superintendent, said approval was made at the board’s meeting Tuesday.

Mr. Kelly has been assistant coach at Robertsdale High School for the past five years. Mr. Kelly is replacing Ed Comer, who has accepted the coaching job at Flomaton High School.

Masons Schedule Conference July 8: The Monroe County Masonic Conference will be held Thurs., July 8, at Frisco City Lodge No. 702. It will be the 60^th annual meeting of the group. The conference will begin at 9 a.m.

HEADS STATE GROUP – A.V. Culpepper, county agent in Monroe County since 1928, was installed as president of the Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents at the association’s 17^th annual convention in Montgomery last Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Mr. Culpepper has also served as secretary of the association. About 150 of the 180 county agents in the state attended the three-day meet.

78 YEARS AGO

JUNE 20, 1940

Geo. E. Johnson Gets Degree In Medicine: George Edwin Johnson of Uriah was awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the 200^th Convocation of the University of Chicago in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel June 11.

Tunnel Springs Lodge Elects New Officers: At a regular meeting of the Tunnel Springs Lodge No. 578, held Friday night, the following officers were elected: J.L. Tatum, worshipful master; J.M. Holloway, senior warden; J.J. McMillan, junior warden; S.B. Nettles, treasurer; W.S. Nash, secretary; S.E. Helton, senior deacon; J.C. Morrison, junior deacon; C.O. Jackson, tyler; C.F. Brown, chaplain.

Monroeville will entertain many visitors next Friday, June 21, at the third annual Monroe Mills Day celebration.

Three years ago, Monroe Mills started operations here for the manufacture of the highest quality of silk and rayon underwear ever marketed in this country. The mill has been in continuous operation since the first day it opened, and has given employment to hundreds of girls and boys in Monroe County.

The Wood Products Co., which located here some two years ago, is engaged in the manufacture of furniture and furniture parts. Within the last few months, upholstering is being done at this plant.

Visitors to Monroeville Friday will be given the opportunity to go through these plants. The program to be put on by the employees of Monroe Mills will be one of the main features of the day and includes softball games, bicycle races, roller skate races, sack races, pie-eating contest, obstacle races, nipple contest and flower show.

103 YEARS AGO

JUNE 17, 1915

Superintendent Barnes and Postmaster Tucker were up from Roy Tuesday attending the Royal Arch Chapter.

Mr. C.M. Simmons, having become discouraged at the ravages of boll weevil, has plowed up his cotton and planted the land to peas.

S.S. Gaillard Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, will have their annual Lawn Party July 3^rd at Masonic Hall. Lunches and cold drinks will be served at reasonable prices. All are invited to attend. Orators for the day, Hon. Jennings Ratcliffe and Hon. John McDuffie.

Monroe County Masonic Conference: The Monroe County Masonic Conference will be held with Blacksher Lodge No. 593 on July 19, 1915 at 10 a.m. Let every lodge in the county be represented. – W.S. Nash, secretary.

The work of construction all along the line of the G.F.&A. Railroad is progressing satisfactorily. Large forces are laborers are at work at various points, while the roadbed where grading has been completed is being put in condition for laying steel. Bridge material is being assembled at the point where the road will cross the river and the promoters are making every effort to put the road in operation to Pine Hill by the early fall.

OLD TEXAS: We had a severe storm here last Friday afternoon that did a lot of damage to the dead timber and some green timber was blown down. More than 100 trees were blown down on the one-horse farm of Darling Wright. A lot of fence was blown down for Darling Wright, W.C. Hipp, Luckie Wright and W.H. Byrd.

128 YEARS AGO

JUNE 20, 1890

Mr. Wm. Simmons, the well-man, is engaged in sinking a well in the jail yard.

The preliminary hearing in the case of Jim Scott for the murder of Mr. Aaron McKinley was had Saturday. Scott was committed to jail without bail.

I cure Cancers and all wound complaints without the knife. Address Dr. P.E. McAvoy, Monroeville, Ala.

At a regular communication of Bell’s Landing Lodge No. 373, F.&A.M., the following officers were elected for the ensuring Masonic year: W.M. Hestle, worshipful master; S.M.C. Middleton, senior warden; Claude Hardy, junior warden; Joe Snell, treasurer; Geo. W. Lyon, secretary; W.D. Brows, senior deacon; W.R. Black, junior deacon; A.P. Majors, chaplain; Geo. C. Nettles, tyler.

MONROEVILLE ACADEMY: The closing exercises of this school, extending from Tuesday night the 10^th to Friday night the 13^th inst., was an occasion of unusual interest, not only to the students and patrons, but also to the large number of visitors in attendance.

Prof. Simmons and his efficient assistant, Miss Imie Russel, have given perfect satisfaction in their administration of the affairs of the school, which fact was evidenced by a meeting of the patrons at the courthouse on last Tuesday which resulted in the unanimous selection of the same corps of teachers another year.

Capt. W.H. Andrews was in town Thursday, traveling for the interest of the military company. He wishes to organize a county company so distributed that it will give mutual protection for the county.