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

Mergenthaler Linotype Machine.

TWO YEARS AGO

JUNE 1, 2017

The 2018 Monroe County Distinguished Young Women Program will be held Saturday at Coastal Alabama Community College in Monroeville. This year will mark the 57^th annual program in Monroe County. Seventeen high school juniors are participating this year in “Girls of Summer.”

(Those participants included Ali Daniels, Lundy Davis, Erin George, Ashleigh Green, Nakima Gudiroz, Brianna Marie Jackson, Keyonnia Jackson, Brittany Harrison, Anna Ikner, Mimi Jones, Emma Grace McCrory, Helen Ann McInnish, Mary Kathryn Morgan, Sarah Puchner, Natalie Faith Sawyer, Kaylee Weatherford and Katie Wiggins.)

Tigers capture first place: The Tigers captured first place in the Monroe County Cal Ripken Machine Pitch league this season. Team members are Mason McKinley, Caiden Chandler, Holden Brabner, Phisher Casey, Silas McCombs, Eli Waters, Kayven McMillian, Greyson Nettles, Tristan Bradley, Braxton Sewell, Alex McPhaul, Andrew McLaurin and coaches Clint Kilgore, Keith McKinley, Brian Waters and Jerry Chandler.

Journal wins nine in state contest: The Monroe Journal won nine awards as the Alabama Press Association released a partial list of award winners in its Better Newspaper Contest.

Winners of the 25 remaining categories will be announced on Sat., July 8, at its summer convention at the Perdido Beach Resort.

The Georgia Press Association judged the 2,753 entries submitted by 74 newspapers. The Journal won two first place awards, three second place awards and four for third place.

27 YEARS AGO

JUNE 4, 1992

Monroe County’s River Road Band won first place in the performance category while in New Orleans Friday to compete in the finals of the June Jam Talent Search, but they did not win the contest.

Cleveland Browning, the group’s manager, said that even though they did not win the entire contest and will not be going to Fort Payne on June 13 as performers, it was a valuable experience none of them would have missed.

(Members of the band included Paul Bell, Wayne Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Randy Manning and Kent Stewart.)

Local standouts on Legion team: Three Monroe County High School baseball players have been selected to play for the American Legion Post 85 baseball team in Jackson.

Junior pitchers Joey Downs and Jeff Howard and sophomore catcher-outfielder Tony Bayles will begin play with the American Legion team Saturday when it takes on a team from Mobile at 1 p.m. at Springhill College in Mobile.

Jackson’s team consists of 22 players selected from Monroe, Washington and Clarke counties.

The Excel High School Future Farmers of America land-judging team won first place in the countywide competition held recently on the Earl Silcox Farm near Uriah. From left are FFA instructor Herman Waters; team members Jason Booth, Jerry Pharr, Jamison Ledkins and Shane Moorer; and Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation district supervisor Gary House.

52 YEARS AGO

JUNE 1, 1967

Patrick Henry Junior College’s first commencement exercises will be held Fri., June 2, beginning at 6 p.m. in front of the science building.

A total of 40 students will be awarded degrees with 36 of these from the original class which enrolled in the fall of 1965.

Dr. Ernest Snow, state superintendent of education, will be guest speaker for the services.

MCHS Players Picked For All-Star Game: Two members of the Monroe County High School Tigers baseball team were selected to play in the annual East-West All-Star game at Andalusia last week.

Gary Downs pitched two scoreless innings for the winning West squad, striking out five of the six batters he faced. Batterymate Roger Brown caught three innings during the contest including the two innings which Downs pitched.

The game, sponsored by the Lions Club with proceeds going to sight conservation, was won by the West All-Stars, 8-3.

Fourteen members of a new Shrine class were initiated in Monroeville Saturday following a ceremonial parade and fish fry. Members of the new class and the Shrine officials are W.H. Hines, Monroeville, Noble; Billy Sims, Excel, director’s staff; Frank Johnson, Putman; Robert E.L. Key, Evergreen; Roy Robinson, Panama City, Fla.; Ray Jackson, Brewton; Marshall Campbell, Chickasaw; Charlie Deer, Monroeville, Bill Bayley, Mobile, potentate of the Abba Temple; Milton Thames, Monroeville; A.W. Bertagnolli, Arlington; Cecil White, Monroeville; Haywood Croley, Monroeville; Rod Hanks of Mobile, former potentate in whose honor the ceremonial was held; and W.L. Agee, Monroeville, Noble.

77 YEARS AGO

JUNE 4, 1942

Ed Lee, student at A.P.I., Auburn, is at home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee.

The friends in Monroe County of A.L. Shell Jr. of Excel will be interested to learn that he has arrived safely in Australia with the U.S. Expeditionary forces. His father received a cablegram from him last week stating he arrived there March 9 and was safe and well, although a little homesick.

The U.S. Navy Recruiting officer will be in Monroeville on June 4 (today) to take applications of those desiring to make application.

Pvt. Pershing Harris, son of B.W. Harris, and Pvt. William Blanchard Marriott, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.C. Marriott, of Uriah, were enrolled recently at Keesler Field, Biloxi, in the Air Corps Technical School.

Pvt. John F. Sigler of Frisco City was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps at Fort McPherson, Ga. on March 14. From Fort McPherson he went to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where he received five weeks basic training and then to Daniel Field, Augusta, Ga., where he completed his basic training. At present, he is at Herbert Smart Airport, Macon, Ga., on maneuvers. Pvt. Sigler says that this is a job that we all at home must do our part as the soldiers. He wants to give thanks to everyone who wrote him letters. After maneuvers, he will be assigned Clerk at headquarters of the 154^th Observation Squad and will be stationed at Daniel Field, Augusta, Ga.

102 YEARS AGO

JUNE 8, 1917

REGISTRATION OF MILITARY SUBJECTS: Registration under the military selective draft act on Tuesday was effected throughout the county without friction or noteworthy incident. Reports coming to the county board indicate that the total for the county will probably be 2,000 or more. In the Monroeville precinct 245 were registered; 172 at Tunnel Springs, 189 at Jeddo and 69 at Beat 6. No instances of evasion of the registration requirement have been reported.

J.A. Hurry brought to The Journal office Monday the first cotton bloom of the season found in his field Sun., June 3. This is some eight or 10 days earlier than dates on which first blooms have been reported for the last few years.

The concrete pavement extending entirely across the roadway built for Lazenby Mercantile Co. will enable patrons of that enterprising firm to reach the store dry-shod on occasions of the most sloppy weather.

The Lazenby Mercantile Co. is now comfortably domiciled in their commodious and conveniently appointed new brick store on North side where their friends and customers are always assured of a cordial welcome and courteous attention.

The Journal sanctum was favored Friday with the fraternal visit of Editor Higdon of The Atmore Record, accompanied by a representative of the Mergenthaler Linotype company. The Record has just placed an order for a Linotype to meet the demands of expanding business.