Reader theorizes that Bigfoot is attracted to roadkill on Interstate 65

Interstate Highway 65 in Conecuh County, Alabama

Many of you will remember that way back in early August I wrote about an unusual Bigfoot sighting that occurred on Interstate Highway 65 on July 23. The witness in that case said that he and his son were traveling from Greenville to Belleville around 10 p.m. and had just gotten on the interstate at the Greenville-Pine Apple Exit (Exit 128). A short distance later, about 1-1/2 miles south of the exit, they saw a tall creature with “long, stringy, black hair that covered its face.”

The creature’s body was black and covered in hair, the witness said. Only its fingers were visible, he noted.

“Whatever it was, it was as tall as a speed limit sign,” the witness said. “It stood right by the road, toeing or almost toeing the white line, staring at the ground. As we passed by it in our van, it never looked up. It never moved. It just stood there.”

Since that story ran in the paper, I’ve received a number of interesting emails about that incident, including a message from a person who says his father and brother saw the same creature at different times. This person said that his father hunts in the Greenville-Pine Apple area and several years ago the father came home saying he’d seen a “very tall and very hairy” creature in the woods. At first, he thought it was a poacher dressed all in black.

The man hollered at the suspected poacher and when he got closer, the creature “crouched down on all fours and ran off.” He said that it didn’t look like a bear, saying instead that it looked like a “really tall, long stringy-haired man with big hands.”

“It freaked him out,” the readers said, noting that his brother saw the same creature, but at a later time.

One reader theorized that there is likely a multi-generational family group of Bigfoot-type creatures in this area with several more such family groups in surrounding adjacent areas.

“The bigfoots certainly know the whereabouts and activities of the humans in their territories,” he said. “And I-65 would be a source of roadkill wildlife for them to scavenge to eat.”

Another reader said that on July 30, 2006, he was traveling with his wife and two children from Ohio to Lower Peach Tree. As they traveled down I-65 near Evergreen, a “big, black thing covered in hair” suddenly ran in front of their car. Their car struck the creature so hard that they felt the impact of the collision, the man said.

At the time, there were no other cars out on the highway, so the man stopped, got out and saw that all of the ground effects from beneath his 2006 Chrysler had been torn off. The man’s wife described seeing exactly what he saw, but when they told other people about it, no one seemed to take them seriously. The man said he’d pretty much forgotten about the incident, but was reminded of it when he read the recent report about the July 23 incident on I-65.

“Yes, I believe it because I saw it,” the man said.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone else in the reading audience who has seen anything unusual on I-65, whether you think it’s a Bigfoot or not. If you’ve seen something out of the ordinary out on the road, apparently you aren’t alone.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Thurs., Sept. 26, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  0.20 inches.

Fall to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.45 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Questions abound over supposedly haunted cemetery in Wilcox County

Snow Hill Institute in Wilcox County, Alabama.

In this space last week, I shared a couple of old ghost stories from in and around the Snow Hill community. This week, I bring you another unusual story from that same part of Wilcox County, a tale that is clouded in more than a little mystery.

The story begins one day many years ago when a few students from the Snow Hill Institute were driving an oxcart down to some railroad tracks to deliver a load of wood. The road they were on passed through a graveyard that was said to be located on the outskirts of the school property. Their trip took longer than expected and by the time they began their return home, the sun had gone down.

As the oxcart continued down the night-shrouded path, the students eventually reached the graveyard. When the oxen arrived at the graveyard’s entrance, they stopped and nothing the students did could get the oxen to enter the graveyard. The students eventually gave up and decided to leave the oxcart there for the night.

The students continued home on foot, and when they returned to the graveyard early the next morning, the oxen were still there in the same place they’d been left hours before. As soon as the sun rose above the nearby trees, the students finally managed to get the oxen going again and returned to the school with their empty oxcart.

The best source that I know of regarding this tale is the book, “Haunted Alabama Black Belt” by David Higdon and Brett Talley. That book goes on to say that the graveyard near the Snow Hill Institute was “dedicated to the slaves who once worked the land around the school,” and “has its share of tales associated with it. Sudden storms seem to fall upon the cemetery with terrible violence. Ghostly shadows seem to pass between the gravestones, and full-bodied apparitions regularly appear to visitors.”

I’ve tried to confirm some of the aspects about this story, but many of the details remain a mystery. Every modern map that I examined shows no railroad tracks anywhere near the Snow Hill community. In fact, the only modern railroad I was able to find is the track that runs from Hybart, up through Coy and into the western part of the county, many miles from Snow Hill.

Perhaps the old ghost story is referring to an old, abandoned railroad that was pulled up years ago. There was a time when extensive networks of tracks were set down through the woods for logging operations, but those tracks were removed over time to make use of the old iron rails and crossties. Even today, if you know where to look, you can still see where the old railbeds run abandoned through the woods.

One is also left to wonder exactly what graveyard the students passed through in their oxcart. The most prominent graveyard I know of near the old school is the Old Snow Hill Cemetery, but it’s located miles away from the school, really closer to Furman, off County Road 63. Perhaps the story refers to a “lost” cemetery that’s somewhere out in the woods, forgotten by modern residents and visitors.

I’ve heard rumors that there is an old “slave cemetery” that you can walk to from the old Snow Hill Institute school. However, I’ve also heard that it sits up on a hill out in the middle of the woods. If this is true, would it have had a road running through it that you could take to reach the railroad from the school?

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about this old ghost story. Where was the old railroad near the Snow Hill Institute? Where was the old cemetery near the school? Who were the students involved in the tale and when did it take place? If you know, please let me know, so we can better preserve this tale for future generations of Wilcox County residents.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Wed., Sept. 25, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  0.20 inches.

Fall to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.45 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Sept. 25, 2019

Alabama Gov. Guy Hunt

SEVEN YEARS AGO

SEPT. 27, 2012

Evergreen weather observer Betty Ellis reported 1.22 inches of rain on Sept. 17 and 0.09 inches on Sept. 18. She reported a high of 86 degrees on Sept. 22 and lows of 55 degrees on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20.

Six local high school seniors will compete for top honors during Conecuh County’s Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program later this week in Evergreen.

This year’s program will be held Saturday, starting at 3 p.m. at Hillcrest High School in Evergreen.

Competitors this year will include Alexandria Evans, Grace Matlock, Jassmine Riley, Sequoya Stallworth, Amanda Thompson and Victoria Walden.

District Attorney Tommy Chapman announced on Tuesday afternoon that, effective Oct. 1, Gov. Robert Bentley has appointed him Supernumerary District Attorney.

Bentley also appointed Chapman’s Chief Assistant Steve Wadlington as District Attorney to serve out the remainder of Chapman’s term in office, which ends in January 2017.

Chapman was first appointed as District Attorney for the 35^th Judicial Circuit on May 3, 1990 by Gov. Guy Hunt. Chapman was re-elected in 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010. As a Supernumerary District Attorney, Chapman can be called on to represent the State of Alabama at any time by the Governor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the Attorney General.

32 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 24, 1987

$4,330,000 is low bid on central high: A Mobile firm was the apparent low bidder on the proposed new countywide central high school with a base bid of $4,330,000, according to Conecuh County Superintendent of Education Steve Coker. The seven bids opened recently ranged up to a high of $5,078,000.

The base bid is on a contract that calls for a 92,000-square foot building, designed for 900 students, to be completed in 16 months. Coker said he expects to have all county students, ninth through twelfth grades, to begin attending classes there in the 1989-1990 school year.

Johnston will retire Oct. 1; Castleberry named: Tax Collector J. Marvin Johnston formerly announced this week that he would retire Oct. 1 after 20 years of service in that office.

Gov. Guy Hunt’s office notified The Courant on Tuesday that the governor has appointed Mrs. Carolyn Pate Castleberry to fill Johnston’s unexpired term of office, which ends Sept. 30, 1991. She will take the oath of office at 11 o’clock Friday morning in the old courtroom of the County Courthouse.

Johnston, a lifetime resident of Owassa, was first elected Tax Collector in 1966, succeeding the late Henry Wiggins. A popular official, he was re-elected without opposition in 1972, 1978 and 1984.

He graduated from Evergreen High School and Auburn University with a degree in accounting. After meritorious service in the U.S. Army, including a tour of duty in Europe in World War II, he was associated with Ivey Chevrolet Co. in Evergreen for 20 years as accountant and business manager.

57 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 27, 1962

Castleberry Bank Opening Is Today: It will be open house at the Castleberry branch of the Union Bank of Repton this afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. The new bank opened Monday.

The bank is inviting the public to come inspect its facility and the completely remodeled building. It is located in the former bank and post office building and is air conditioned.

Jerry Kelly of Brewton is manager and is being assisted right now by Carl Ryals, cashier of the main bank.

Wet-dry vote is set in county Nov. 6: Conecuh County voters will determine on Nov. 6, whether or not the legal sale of alcoholic beverages shall be allowed in the county.

Judge of Probate Lloyd G. Hart said today that over 600 county electors have petitioned for a “wet-dry” referendum and he has set the date for the election as Nov. 6.

This means that county voters will vote on three ballots when they go to the polls. Nov. 6 is general election and already there is the regular ballot for offices at stake as well as a vote on five constitutional amendments.

James D. “Jim” Martin, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, will be in Conecuh County and Evergreen today. He is scheduled to make a public address at 1:15 this afternoon.

John Nielsen, County GOP chairman, said that Martin will speak from an improvised bandstand in “No Man’s Land.”

77 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 24, 1942

A steel lookout tower has recently been completed near Belleville in this county, and a telephone line is being constructed to connect this tower with other towers in this forest fire protection unit.

This tower is No. 11 in the system of towers constructed by the Division of Forestry cooperating with local land owners. A towerman will be located in this tower at an early date for the purpose of detecting and reporting forest fires to the suppression crews. From this tower fires can be detected for a distance of from 12 to 20 miles, and before fires have reached any considerable size immediate action by the suppression crews brings such fires under control before they can do a great deal of damage.

IN SOLOMON ISLANDS: Sgt. Alton T. McIntyre, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. McIntyre, Herbert, Ala., enlisted in the Marines Aug. 18, 1940. He spent several months in Cuba, Virginia and North Carolina. Last May he sailed from Norfolk, Va. for overseas and his family didn’t know until the last few days where he was. They received a letter a few days ago saying he was on the Solomon Islands, was safe and fine and could tell plenty if he were allowed to.

Knud Nielsen, chairman of Conecuh County Salvage Committee, announced this week that arrangements had been worked out with the city to collect scrap metals at regular intervals when the garbage truck makes its rounds. Housewives and others are requested to collect and place all scrap metals near the can, box or other receptacle used for garbage and the city force will pick such scrap metals up and turn over to the committee. Proceeds from the sale of such metals will be used for the Crippled Children’s Fund.

82 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 23, 1937

Lloyd G. Hart Opens Law Offices This Week: Lloyd G. Hart, who completed the law course at the University of Alabama this spring, has opened offices in the Jones-Deming building on court square.

Mr. Hart is a native of this county, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Hart of the Centreville community. He received his early education in the rural schools near his home and graduated from the local high school in 1928. Since that time, he has been at the University of Alabama, having spent seven and one half years at that institution.

Truman Hyde Takes Over “Mack’s Café” – The eating establishment known as “Mack’s Café” has been taken over by Truman Hyde and will be opened to the public for business next Saturday. Mr. Hyde states that he will operate the café under the same name and at the same location. His wife will assist him.

Strange Ailment Afflicts Child of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce: Stricken with an unusual and strange ailment last June was one year ago, Little Hermione Pierce, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Pierce, still hangs on to life. When first stricken, her parents took her to a number of specialists and were told that her ailment was sleeping sickness or softening of the brain. She has not spoken since the first of August 1936 and has been confined to bed constantly since becoming ill. She has virtually no use of her limbs or muscles, but during the summer months has gained some weight. She takes her food very well, her mother says.

Before this illness came upon her, Hermione was a bright child and learned well in school. Physicians almost from the first have held little if any hope for her recovery.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Sept. 23, 2019

Leonard Lee Rue III

SEVEN YEARS AGO

SEPT. 27, 2012

The Castleberry Parks and Recreation Department recently received a $1,000 donation from the Wal-Mart Foundation of Bentonville, Ark. The grant funds will be used to renovate the baseball field in Castleberry and to have a new fence installed around the field, officials said. Pictured with the grant check are Castleberry Parks and Recreation board members Kenny Johnson, Millie Salter, Jo Wiley and Karl Kast.

Sparta Academy’s varsity football team claimed its first win of the 2012 season Friday night in LaFayette when they blew out Chambers Academy, 48-6.

Friday night’s win was sparked by a pair of seniors who accounted for two touchdowns each and led the charge on offense. Senior running back Chance House carried the ball 11 times for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Jacob Hendrix ran the ball 12 times for 43 yards and also scored twice.

House scored on runs of three and 36 yards and booted four extra points.

Hendrix’s first touchdown came on a 25-yard fumble return for a score, and he later crossed the goal-line on a five-yard run. He tacked on an extra point after House’s first score.

(Other top Sparta players in that game included Jacob Burch, Brooks Carpenter, Cody Carter, Tristan Crutchfield, Tyler Hanks, Drew Hardin, Austin Hiers Johnson, Chase Kaylor, Jacob Lee, Zach Moon, Nathan Pipkin, Stone Riley, Lanse Robbins, Jessie Stabler and Allen Stuart.)

32 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 24, 1987

Sparta Academy’s Warriors are cheered on by these lovely 1987-88 Cheerleaders: Shawn Hammonds and Missi Sanford; Robin Henley, Mary Ann Hughes, Traci Booker and Stacey Holmes.

Eddie Salter will appear in Brewton: The Kiwanis Club of Brewton will present a slide presentation and seminar on “Whitetail Deer” by the most published wildlife photographer in North America, Leonard Lee Rue III. The show will be held Sat., Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. at the Jefferson Davis Junior College Auditorium.

Mr. Rue has authored 19 books, and has monthly columns in the following magazines: American Hunter, Deer and Deer Hunting, Turkey and Outdoor Photographer. He has personally taken over 60,000 photographs of deer in their natural habitat. The seminar will last approximately 2-1/2 hours, consisting of 160 slides.

Also appearing will be Eddie Salter, World Champion Turkey Caller, of Evergreen; and taxidermy displays by Rocky Maxwell of Brewton and Wayne Cooper of Milton, Fla. Door prizes will be given away, including a Remington shotgun. Tickets are available at Mike’s Gun Shop in Pensacola and Jay, Fla., K-Mart in Brewton and at the door.

The Evergreen Aggies lost their second game in a row last Friday night by the score of 9-6 to the Monroeville Tigers.

Evergreen got on the scoreboard first when Tim Stallworth picked up a fumble and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was blocked by Monroeville and the Aggies led 6-0 with 6:41 left in the first half.

57 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 27, 1962

Pulling and pulling hard for the Evergreen Aggies when they go against Monroeville there tomorrow night will be these cheerleaders: Barbara Stinson, head cheerleader, Brenda Ellis, Sandra Brooks, Elaine Kindig, Becky McKenzie and Vreeland Hinson. Becky is a new member of the yell-leading ranks.

Led by All-State quarterback Harrison McCraw, the powerful Andalusia Bulldogs swept to an easy 34-0 victory over the visiting Evergreen Aggies Friday night.

The closest the visitors came to scoring came in the second quarter when Jimmy Warren went 66 yards on a kickoff return before a Bulldog speedster hauled him down from behind on the Andy 15. The Aggies gave the ball up on a fumble three plays later.

Jackets Blast Beatrice 39 To 0: The Lyeffion Yellow Jackets successfully opened the 1962 football season by downing Beatrice by a score of 39-0.

The game was strictly a team effort with every boy on the squad playing outstanding football. Lee and Larry Hardee were responsible for several outstanding plays because of their blocking. Elmer Gaskey, Keith Holcombe, Don Jones, Larry Hardee, Lee Hardee, Allen Cook, Don Garrett, Patton Brown and Charles Salter and John Grimes limited Beatrice to minus yards gained.

(Other top players for Lyeffion in that game included Ronnie Golson and Early Wilson, Harold Wilson.)

69 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 28, 1950

Ileana Stallworth and Pat Everage have been elected cheerleaders by the students of E.H.S. to fill the places left vacant by two of last year’s cheerleaders who graduated.

Evergreen High School is proud of its two new cheerleaders and feels confident that they will do their part in cheering E.H.S. on to victory.

The Aggies will play tomorrow (Friday) night in a stadium that ranks with the best in the state when they go upon the turf of the Municipal Stadium in Andalusia. The city of Andalusia completed the stadium last spring at a cost of $150,000. No need in telling you that $150,000 is a lot of coin, but from all reports the money was well spent. The stadium has concrete seats for several thousand. Temporary bleachers on the visitor’s side of the field will seat several hundred more. Included in the layout, without conflict, are a baseball field, track and football field. The field is lighted by the newest type system with the light posts back on the stands giving spectators a clear view of the field. The lighting system is equaled in few of the state’s larger stadia. A number of local fans took advantage of last Friday’s open date on the Aggie schedule and went over for a look at the Andalusia team and at the new stadium. All of them came back raving about the stadium.

72 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 25, 1947

Evergreen Downs Repton 30 to 0 In Opener: Presenting a stone wall defense and a pair of fleet-footed half backs, the Evergreen Aggies opened the current season with a 30 to 0 win over their county rivals, Repton. A crowd of 1,046 was on hand to see the curtain raiser.

84 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 19, 1935

Evergreen defeated Atmore 2 to 0 on the latter’s home field Sunday afternoon to take the abbreviated championship series by two games to none. The agreement, when the series was scheduled, was to decide the championship between the two teams in a three-game series.

Skin Hyde was in excellent form in the second game, striking out 10 Atmore hitters and allowing three scattered singles during the nine-inning game.

The locals had previously defeated Chapman, four games to one, to win the championship of the Central Alabama League.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Mon., Sept. 23, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  0.20 inches.

Fall to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.45 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

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

Old Carter Hospital in Repton, Alabama.

33 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 25, 1986

Claude D. Kelley of Atmore, who grew up in Monroe County and served a total of 17 years as Alabama’s conservation commissioner under three governors, was honored Saturday as Little River State Park was dedicated under a new name: Claude D. Kelley State Park.

About 200 people attended the ceremony, in which a redwood sign with the new name was unveiled, and enjoyed a free barbecue.

MCHS offense explodes: Monroe County High School’s Tigers ground out 383 yards rushing to demolish the Evergreen Aggies 40-7 Friday in Monroeville.

The Tigers’ ground game was led by sophomore running back Sidney Carmichael, who piled up a season-best 260 yards on 34 carries and scored four touchdowns.

(Other top MCHS players in that game included Tab Andrews, Darron Dees, Cedric Hollinger, Shannon McKenzie, Tony McPherson, Art Owens, Steve Ramer, Alan Richardson and Bob Williams. Howard Busby was MCHS’s head coach.)

The new Monroeville postmaster, Gerald J. Duhon, took the oath of office Monday morning in a ceremony inside the post office.

Gene L. Hodges Jr., sectional center manager-postmaster from Mobile, swore in Duhon, whom he called “a very capable individual.”

Duhon, 40, has been with the U.S. Postal Service since 1969, most recently as superintendent of postal operations for the Opelousas, La. post office. His appointment here to succeed the retiring Dick Farish took effect Aug. 30.

57 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 27, 1962

Dr. Francis E. Nicholas, president of the Monroe County Medical Society, carried his organization’s case for Sabin oral polio vaccine before the Monroeville Parent-Teacher Association Monday night when he was featured speaker during the first meeting of the new school year.

Dr. Nicholas explained how the polio vaccines, both Sabin and Salk, came to be developed and gave the background leading up to postponement recently of mass immunization with Sabin oral vaccine. He emphasized that the action was not due to the incidence of polio from the vaccine but was for the study of a few cases which developed after patients had previously taken the vaccine.

The Frisco City Whippets racked up their second win of the season Thursday night when they defeated Excel High School 47-0 in Frisco City.

The host team scored three times in the first quarter to take a safe lead that was never threatened by the visitors. Mike Lawrence and Bill Wiggins turned in top performances on defense with 10 tackles and eight tackles respectively.

(Other top Frisco City players in that game included Ed Brown, Kenneth Jones, Larry Jones, Joe Kelly and Bill Sawyer.)

Mrs. Alice McKinley of Atmore is spending several weeks in Monroeville with Miss Alice Lee. Mrs. McKinley is recuperating from an eye operation.

82 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 23, 1937

Schools Open With Good Enrollment: The Monroeville high and grammar schools opened Monday morning for the 1937-38 session with 302 registering in high school and 310 registering in grammar school, making the total enrollment 612. These figures promise a larger attendance than ever before and other pupils are expected to enter before this week is over.

Monroeville’s Airport ‘Small Towns’ Model’ – It became known last week that the airport recently opened at Monroeville had been chosen as a model for small towns and that its specifications would be presented by Col. Arthur McMullen of the bureau of air commerce, Department of Commerce, at an international session of airport engineers to be held at Lima, Peru. The airport, formally dedicated Aug. 12, was constructed by WPA labor. It includes a hangar, the exterior walls on one side of which are used as the back of a stadium. A club room is constructed beneath the concrete stadium seats.

Mr. B.H. Stallworth Jr. was taken to the hospital at Repton for an appendicitis operation last Friday morning. His many friends will be delighted to know that he is rapidly recovering.

Mr. and Mrs. Doy McCall and Mrs. Curtis McCall left last Friday for New York City to attend the American Legion Convention.

Cotton Harvesting In Full Swing: The good weather which has prevailed for the past 10 days has made it possible for the farmers to gather the major portion of the cotton crop. If good weather continues, the crop will be gathered in about two weeks. More than 800 bales have been ginned at the local gin up to date.

107 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 26, 1912

The enrollment of pupils in the city graded school has increased to 68. The principal will soon be forced to employ another assistant.

Mr. H.B. Shaw, local agent of the Manistee & Repton railroad, has removed to Monroeville with his family. He is occupying the Hendrix place, Monvil Park.

Mr. F.H. Dendy, who has been with Messrs. Barnett and Bugg in the capacity of stenographer for several years past, left Sunday to accept a similar position with a leading real estate firm in Union Springs.

Dr. J.J. Hestle of Beatrice was among Monroeville friends the first of the week.

GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS: The Monroe County High School building having been completed and paid for, the members of the financial committee and the citizens of Monroeville generally, desire to acknowledge through The Journal their grateful appreciation of the following generous donations by out-of-town citizens: McCreary & Co., $25; Wm. Ivey & Son, $10; T.M. Riley, $50; Vredenburg Saw Mill Co., $150; W.J. Nettles, $10; D.R. Nettles, $5; Y.A. Nettles, $25; J.K. Kyser, $50; S.H. Tucker, $5; Howard Brantley, $5; J.J. Finklea & Son, $50; The Blacksher Co., $200; J.U. Blacksher, $200.

L.M. Sawyer, Tekoa’s leading merchant, was a visitor to the county capital the first of the week.

Mr. G.W. Broughton has removed from Tekoa to Monroeville to afford his children better school advantages.

132 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 22, 1887

Mr. J.A. Grace, the popular proprietor of the Claiborne Upper warehouse, gave us a call Tuesday.

Guns – Boys, when you want a good gun for a small sum of money, come to see us. We have them from $2 up. Roberts, Locklin & Co.

Rev. G.M. Sellars, who has been assisting Rev. Mr. Cowan for several weeks, has returned to the Southern University at Greensboro, to complete his theological course of studies.

Mr. Morton McMillan returned Monday to the A.&M. College at Auburn.

Capt. T.M. Stevens has returned to the University at Tuscaloosa.

The rain that visited this place last week was, from what we can learn, a pretty general one all over the county.

At a special conference held at the Baptist church on the 11^th inst. license to preach was granted Mr. S.P. Lindsay. This is gratifying news to his many friends, who wish him Godspeed in his high calling. He intends entering the theological department of Howard about the 1^st of January.

Master John Frye left Monday for Tuscaloosa to attend the University.

Mr. Charlie Savage stopped in town Monday evening on his return to Evergreen from a visit to his parents at Perdue Hill.

MARRIED – At the residence of the bride’s father, Mr. P. Straughn, near Bermuda, on the night of the 20^th inst., Mr. Miles Jackson and Miss Mary Straughn, Rev. D.W. Barnes of Repton, officiating.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Sun., Sept. 22, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  0.20 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 13.80 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.45 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

George Singleton tells of battle between timber rattler and kingsnake

Eastern Kingsnake, common in Alabama.

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Eyewitness to nature: The Stone Age lingers” was originally published in the Sept. 21, 1972 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

In my wanderings over the backroads of Monroe County, I see many things. I see the laws of nature practiced today, just as they have been practiced for 10,000 years. I see the fight for survival, fought just as hard as it was when the dinosaurs roamed the earth. 

In our modern day world, we are inclined to forget these laws and the balancing of the earth’s inhabitants. Man has, with all his learnings, set himself aside from the survival struggle to a great extent, and most times forgets or is not aware of the fearful battle that is taking place.

It was during one of my backwoods trips that I witnessed one of the most cruel and deadliest fights for survival that one might imagine. As I rode down this trail, I came upon a huge timber rattler. As I approached this large snake, I decided I would harass it a little and make it rattle. 

I had done this on several occasions, by cutting a small keen switch and giving the rattler a switching. This makes one furious, or always had in past experiences. But as I got off my trail bike in preparation for cutting myself a switch, I noticed that something was unusual. 

The big timber rattler was moving as though he was afraid; as if something was after him. Then I saw his reason for fear. A kingsnake was fast closing in upon this huge rattler, and I knew that it was to be a fight to the death.

The rattler was doing everything possible to get away from the kingsnake, but the kingsnake, who was only about half the size of the rattler, wouldn’t be deprived of this battle to the death. The kingsnake teased the rattler for a few minutes, maneuvering just outside striking distance of the rattler’s fangs. With rattles singing, the rattler struck again and again only to find that he was outflanked by the fast kingsnake. 

The deadly teasing went on as though the kingsnake was enjoying the game of death that was taking place with me as spectator. Closer and closer the kingsnake moved, like a shadow or phantom snake, moving ever nearer within grasping range of the rattler. Every move was timed, as though the teasing kingsnake had trained many hours for this moment. 

Minutes passed. The huge rattler was tiring. His rattling seemed to be slower and his strikes were farther and farther apart.

So fast was the move of the kingsnake that I hardly was aware that he had embedded his fangs behind the rattler’s head. The old rattler seemed to summon his last bit of strength, but to no avail. The kingsnake began to slowly squeeze the life from the rattler’s body. 

More and more the kingsnake squeezed. Slower and weaker the rattles sounded. Then there was silence. Mother Nature had trained her silent gladiator well. The huge rattler was dead.

When the kingsnake seemed satisfied that his opponent was dead, he released his hold on the rattler and withdrew to the side. After an unsuccessful attempt to swallow the lifeless rattler, the victorious warrior moved slowly away.

Mother Nature had set the stage for a one act play, a gruesome engaged play to the fullest. I was the audience. As I rode away, I was reminded that I had witnessed one of Nature’s laws in its most primitive forms. Cruel though it was, the law of the fang had been administered.

[This story also included a photo of the rattlesnake with the following caption: A huge rattler that later fell victim to the uncanny agility and strategically placed bite of the Kingsnake.]

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Sat., Sept. 21, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  0.20 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 13.80 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.45 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

'Booger Bottom' said to be between Burnt Corn and Pine Orchard

James Salter Monument on County Road 5.

Where exactly is Booger Bottom?

This is a question that I pondered last Thursday afternoon as I rode up County Road 5 between Burnt Corn and Pine Orchard in western Conecuh County.

Nearly a year ago, a nice lady came by The Courant office in Evergreen and, while taking care of some other business, she said that she’d been reading the local Bigfoot stories with more than a little interest. She said that she grew up in the Burnt Corn-Green Street area, and these modern tales of Bigfoot sightings reminded her of stories she’d heard as a child.

She said that when she was a young girl, many of the community’s older residents told stories of mysterious creatures that lived in the woods along County Road 5. In fact, there was one stretch of County Road 5 that folks called “Booger Bottom” because this was an area where supposedly these mysterious creatures would grab folks off the road and haul them off into the woods. She said that many of the older people were afraid of that area and she recalled hearing her mother and other relatives often talk about this spooky location.

As best the woman could remember, “Booger Bottom” was somewhere between the Old Watkins House at Burnt Corn and Ramah Church, a distance of about three miles. She said that even when she got old enough to drive, she drove a little faster to get out of this area because of all the tales she’d been told as a child.

If you drive this stretch of road today, about the most significant landmark you’ll see between the Old Watkins House and Ramah Church is the James Salter Monument, a large stone marker on the east side of the road honoring one of the area’s early pioneers. Last Thursday, I got out for a closer look at the monument and couldn’t help but wonder just how far I was from “Booger Bottom.” For all I knew, I was standing at ground zero.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this “Booger Bottom” story is how close it is to places where Bigfoot sightings have been reported in recent times. Ramah Church is right down the road from where the Acreman Brothers reported seeing a Bigfoot cross the road in 2015, and it’s also a short distance from where Bigfoot activity was reported near Pine Orchard by Ashley McPhaul and Carl Pugh. Also, through the woods, it’s not far from where rabbit hunter Marcus Lee had an encounter with Bigfoot-type creatures in 2015.

One is left to wonder what types of encounters old-time residents of the Burnt Corn and Green Street communities had that caused them to nickname a stretch of County Road 5 as “Booger Bottom.” Did they repeatedly see or hear something they couldn’t explain? Were there disappearances of animals or people years ago that led people to blame something mysterious that lived in the woods?

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience who knows exactly where “Booger Bottom” was located. I’d like to see the location for myself and to document the exact location, so that people years from now will know where it was. I’ll even meet you there if you’re willing to show me.

Will injury to Drew Brees keep the Saints out of Super Bowl contention?

The Saints-Rams game on Sunday turned out to be a disaster for New Orleans. New Orleans entered that game coming off a close Monday Night Football win over the Texans, but only had a handful of days to prepare for the Rams, who captured the NFC title last year on their way to a loss in the Super Bowl. Many football fans in the audience will remember that the Rams beat the Saints in the playoffs last season in a controversial game in New Orleans.

Sunday’s game started out pretty good for the Saints, but took a huge turn for the worse when Drew Brees injured his throwing hand in the first quarter. Brees went to the sidelines for the rest of the game and was replaced by backup Teddy Bridgewater. Brees had his hand wrapped in white athletic tape soon after the injury and at one point in the second half, the tape was removed, which made it appear that Brees could return for some late game theatrics. Fans were disappointed though when his hand got re-taped, and Brees remained on the sidelines.

On Monday, reports surfaced that Brees had injured a thumb ligament and would have to have surgery. Sources say that he could miss about six weeks while his thumb heals, which is bad news for the Saints. Barring an early return, Brees won’t be back until either the Oct. 27 game against the Arizona Cardinals or the Nov. 10 game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints have a bye week on Nov. 3.

Over the next six weeks, the Saints will play at Seattle, then the Cowboys and Bucs at home, before a pair of roads games at Jacksonville and Chicago. Many preseason publications, including Sports Illustrated, predicted New Orleans to win the Super Bowl this year, but without Brees in the mix, the question now is can the Saints remain in the playoff picture until Brees comes back.

In the end, only time will tell, but for Saints fans it’s sad that what was supposed to have been a great season might get totally derailed due to a torn thumb ligament in Week Two.

----- 0 -----

The third week of our local ESPN College Football Pick ‘Em contest wrapped up on Saturday night, and we had even more changes in the local contest standings.

Once the dust settled on Saturday night, Mark Cotten and Casey Grant were locked in a first-place tie. Clint Hyde and Blake Stringer were tied for third place. Jesse Jordan, Travis Presley and Brett Loftin were tied for fifth place.

Arthur Ingram III, Justin Chandler and Michael Bishop were tied for eighth place. Drew Skipper, Justin Mixon, Cody Thomas and myself were all tied for the No. 11 spot.

As the weeks go by, we’re starting to see more separation among the contestants. We’ve got 11 more weeks to go in the contest, and you can bet that there will be many more changes in the local standings. As always, if you didn’t do so hot this week, keep plugging along because it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Thurs., Sept. 19, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  0.20 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 13.80 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.45 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Apparitions, sobbing ghosts said to haunt the old Snow Hill community

Wilcox County's Snow Hill Institute

I was out riding around on Friday and eventually found myself driving down County Road 26 towards the old Snow Hill Institute. The sun was up high and bright, and the weather was as fine as it could be for this time of year. Not another moving vehicle was in sight as I eased down this quiet country road that connects State Highway 21 with the Ackerville community way up in the northeast corner of the county.

I eventually came to Edwards Drive, which took me down to the stately old school grounds, where I parked for a closer look at the historical marker in front of the main school building. According to that marker, the Snow Hill Institute was founded in 1893 by educator William James Edwards and planter R.O. Simpson. Snow Hill Institute, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, remained open for about 80 years before it closed in 1972.

As I stood there surveying the old school grounds, all was quiet, and I was reminded of the spooky tales I’d heard about the area around the Snow Hill Institute. One such tale involves a young coon hunter and his dogs who were hot on the trail of an elusive coon that led them through the deep woods near the old school campus. When the hunter and his dogs got to the tree that they thought the coon had climbed, the dogs turned and ran away as fast as they could.

Even though his dogs had fled, the hunter approached the tree, but stopped in his tracks when he spotted an “apparition” sitting in the branches, staring down at him. The hunter fled and to this day, many questions remain as to what he actually saw. All the versions of this tale that I’ve read or heard provide few details as to what the “apparition” actually looked like.

Eventually, I got back in my truck and continued down County Road 26 with an eye toward checking out what old maps call Institute Creek, which is the subject of an altogether different spooky tale. I didn’t have to travel far before I came to the creek, which was low and stagnant due to the dry summer weather. I pulled over, stepped out and stood there in the quiet, listening for the sounds of a crying student who supposedly drowned herself in the creek many years ago.

The best version of this story that I have found comes from a book called “Haunted Alabama Black Belt” by David Higdon and Brett Talley. According to that outstanding book, a girl came all the way from Boston to take advantage of the fine education offered at the Snow Hill Institute, but she became severely depressed by her inability to adjust to life in the Deep South. One day, the distraught girl walked to the creek near the school and drowned herself into its waters. “To this day, if you go down to the little creek beside the school, you can hear the sound of sobbing,” Higdon and Talley wrote.

During my brief visit to the Institute Creek bridge on Friday, I heard no one crying. All was quiet, perhaps too quiet. With that in mind, I got back in my truck and pointed it towards home.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more details about the stories above. Also, if you know any other spooky tales from the Snow Hill area (or anywhere else in Wilcox County), let me hear from you. Halloween is just around the corner, but there’s nothing that says that we have to wait until October to share a ghost story or two.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Wed., Sept. 18, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  0.20 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 13.80 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.45 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Sept. 17, 2019

24 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 21, 1995

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 0.63 inches of rain on Sept. 13, 0.27 inches on Sept. 14 and 0.22 inches on Sept. 17. He reported a high of 91 degrees on Sept. 11 and a low of 66 on Sept. 11.

New executive director is named for Economic Development, Chamber: James R. Clifton, a Georgia native, has been appointed Executive Director of the Conecuh County Economic Development Authority and the Evergreen-Conecuh Chamber of Commerce, respectively.

Mr. Clifton has over 20 years of experience in economic and community development, fundraising and marketing for communities and corporations in the Southeast and Midwest. He has an MBA in marketing and a BBA in finance from the University of Georgia. He attended the Montgomery Academy. He started his new position on Monday.

He is a member of Rotary International and the Economic Development Association of Alabama. He is past president of the University of Georgia Graduate Alumni Association.

Heritage Festival just a few weeks away: Plans are progressing for Conecuh County’s 15^th Annual Heritage Festival to be held Sat., Oct. 21, in downtown Evergreen, according to Veronica Lambert, Chairperson of the Conecuh Heritage Festival Committee.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. The winners of the 1995 Miss Heritage Pageant will be presented at this time.

49 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 17, 1970

Enrollment drops in county schools: According to figures released in the office of the Superintendent of Education this week, public school enrollment has reached a total of 3,767 children. The changed pattern of school groupings has caused some delay in enrollment. It is expected that all children attending public schools will be enrolled by the end of this week.

The Flxible Co. merges Tuesday with Rohr Corporation: Final papers were signed in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, merging The Flxible Co. of Loudonville, Ohio with the Rohr Corp. of Chula Vista, Calif. Flxible is the parent company of Flxible Southern Co. of Evergreen. Under terms of the agreement, Flxible will retain its present name, location and management and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Rohr.

This sign marks the site on the corner of Rural Street and Williams Avenue where Conecuh Baptists hope to soon begin construction of a home and office for the association missionary. Ed Everage, who now fills the post, reports that over half the funds needed to start construction has been pledged. Still nearly $4,000 must be raised.

Exciting air show will be held here Sunday afternoon: An exciting air show will be held here Sunday afternoon at Middleton Field on Highway 84 West. The show which has drawn large crowds in the past is sponsored by the Conecuh County Aero Club and begins at 2 p.m. Gates open at 12 noon and admission will be $2 per car (all passengers must be inside the car and truck cab.)

74 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 20, 1945

Former Johnstonville Man Passes At Seattle, Washington: Leroy A. Johnston Jr., 53, died in a hospital in Seattle, Wash., Sept. 11, 1945 after a brief illness.

He was born and reared in the Johnstonville community and was a World War I veteran.

The funeral was held from the Greenlake funeral home Saturday afternoon, Sept. 15. The Masonic order performed the last rites.

Claims Two “Firsts” – On the USS Alaska in the Pacific – Leroy Maxon Bell, seaman second class, USNR, Route 1, Repton, Ala., can claim two “firsts” along with other members of this ship’s crew.

The Alaska was the first of a new class of fighting vessels – the battle cruiser – and she took part in the first raid on Tokyo, in February, this year.

The 3,000-ton vessel has taken part in most of the Pacific Naval actions since that time. She is credited with shooting down a twin-engine suicide plane headed for a large carrier nearby during a strike on the Ryukyus.

Her length of more than 800 feet is exceeded only by the Iowa Class battleships and the Issex Class carriers.

Conecuh Farms Show Big Decrease Since 1935: The number of farms in the County of Conecuh, State of Alabama, as shown by the preliminary count of returns of the 1945 Census of Agriculture was 2,542, as compared with 3,246 in 1940, and 3,795 in 1935. This was announced today by Norman G. Guy, supervisor for the 1945 farm census in the Sixth Alabama Census District at Montgomery, Alabama.

99 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 15, 1920

The Agricultural School opened Monday with a good attendance and with prospects bright for a successful year. About 150 students were enrolled on the first day and with others to come in during the next few days, this year bids fair to establish a new high water mark in attendance. A speech by Prof. Chappelle, principal, brought the opening exercises to a close and courses of study were mapped out and preparations made for what, from all appearances, is to be a most successful year’s work.

The Conecuh County High School began its session on Tuesday of last week. About 85 students were enrolled on the first day and others to come in later will swell the total. Prof. Sellers Stough is beginning his second year as principal and with a splendid faculty to cooperate is expecting a most successful year for the school.

REPTON MAN KILLED IN SHOOTING AFFAIR SATURDAY: Lee Gaston, Lesley Morris and Ernest Roberson, the three men charged with the murder of J.C. McInnis of Repton Saturday night, were exonerated of blame for the murder as a result of the preliminary hearing in Repton yesterday. It was brought out at the hearing that McInnis resisted arrest and seriously cut Morris before the shooting occurred. The three men had been deputized to arrest McInnis for alleged drunkenness. The shooting took place on the platform of the Repton depot. McInnis was shot three times, thru the head, shoulder and stomach, and died almost instantly.

124 YEARS AGO

THE CONECUH RECORD

SEPT. 19, 1895

The Evergreen Courant made its appearance last week with the announcement of its regular publication after Oct. 1. It is published by Messrs. Marsh & Salter of Monroe County, both of whom will become permanent residents of our town. It bids fair to be a very bright and interesting sheet.

The decomposed body of the mail driver, who has been thought of as the robber of the Belleville mail several weeks ago, was found on Monday afternoon near the scene of the robbery. News arrived here on Monday of the discovery, and authority was given Mr. C.N. Newton, postmaster at Belleville, to hold an inquest. The results of their investigations have not reached here yet, but it is to be hoped that some clue to the guilty parties has been discovered and the murderers brought to justice.

THE CONECUH GUARDS: The Conecuh Guards held a large and enthusiastic meeting Tuesday night to decide upon the best plan to dispose of a handsome gold medal that had been presented by Pvt. William L. Beck, an enthusiastic member of the company. After several suggestions, it was decided to have a “knock out” drill, the medal to be given the best drilled man, after which a supper will be tendered their friends and invited guests to be interspersed with music, resolutions, etc. The entertainment will take place on Tuesday evening, Oct. 8, at Hotel Magnolia.

Dr. Carl Rubach, the faithful, efficient and popular operator of the depot, left on Monday for several days stay in Pensacola, to enjoy the balmy sea breezer.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Tues., Sept. 17, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  0.20 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 13.80 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.45 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Sept. 16, 2019

Wendell Hart

24 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 21, 1995

Warriors beat Bullock by score of 34 to 15: The Sparta Academy Warriors continued their winning ways Friday as they defeated the Bullock Memorial School Spartans 34 to 15. The game was played at Stuart-McGehee Field in Evergreen.

Michael Pate led the Warrior running attack with 201 yards on 22 carries. He also had one touchdown. Lyle Bell had 107 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown; Mike McIntyre, 29 yards on five carries; Brent Worrell, 26 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns; Chris Mitchell, one yard on one carry; and Lee Goodwin, -12 yards on one carry.

Senior Brent Worrell opened the scoring on a 19-yard run. Michael Pate added the points after on a run around end.

Junior Michael Pate then took off on a 62-yard romp to add six more points. The kick failed. Lyle Bell later took the ball in from four yards out for the Warriors third touchdown of the night. The run for two was no good. Worrell scored again on a one-yard run with Bell adding the two-point conversion. Larry Wright scored the Warriors’ last touchdown when he recovered a fumble in the end zone. The point after try again failed.

Hillcrest Players of the Week for the Monroe County game were Eugene Nevlous and Kelvin Rudolph. Nevlous had seven knockdowns, a reception for 17 yards and graded 1.69 on his blocking. Rudolph had seven solo tackles, six assists, one quarterback sack and two tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

49 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 17, 1970

Aggies play Tigers in Monroeville Friday night: Coach Wendell Hart’s Evergreen High Aggies will be going after their second win of the season when they meet the Monroe County High School Tigers in Vanity Fair Park Stadium in Monroeville tomorrow night. Kickoff between the ancient rivals will be at 7:30.

Coach Wayland Elliott’s Tigers are also unbeaten and have notched two victories in the young season. In addition to the normally keen rivalry between the teams, the Tigers also have a revenge motive to spur them on. The Aggies have held the upper hand in the past two meetings between the teams.

Band is working to go to Dora: Anxious to make the trip and support the Aggies when they play Dora High School in Dora (Walker County) on Friday night, Oct. 9, members of the Evergreen High School Band are working to raise the funds for the trip.

Saturday band members will hold a bake sale on West Front Street from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. That afternoon contributions will be solicited at downtown roadblocks from one to five o’clock.

Local fans are asked to support their band by participating in these events so that the road trip of over 200 miles may be made.

Lenox will stage rodeo, horse show Saturday evening: Spills, thrills and handsome horses will be featured in the big rodeo and horse show at the Lenox Arena this Saturday. The 20-event program gets underway at 5 p.m. Barbecue pork and chicken will be served starting at six o’clock.

74 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 20, 1945

“E” Club Holds Its First Meeting: The first meeting of the “E” Club of Evergreen High was called to order Sept. 3 by our new coach, Mr. Petty. At this time, the following business was transacted. Officers were elected: President, Jimmy Murphy; Vice President, George Hendricks; Secretary and Treasurer, R.E. Ivey; Cheerleaders, Louise Gilmore, Anne Cary Lee, Ann Burnett; Captain, James Carpenter; Manager, Dickey Bozeman; Assistant Manager, Bobby Carpenter, Billy Mudge Lee.

Each member of the “E” Club realizing that he has a job to do has agreed to lay aside pleasures for a more successful football year. It was unanimously agreed that all players must keep training. No smoking, no soft drinks, few sweets, plenty of sleep and plenty of exercise.

Thus far, we have had 26 boys out to practice. They are: Hendricks, center; Kelsoe, center; Millsap, guard; Johns, guard; Johnston, guard; Walker, guard; Andrews, guard; Brown, tackle; Salter, tackle; Robinson, tackle; Pope, tackle; Carpenter, B., tackle; Cunningham, tackle; Mosley, end; Tharpe, end; Pierce, end; Stanford, end; Nielsen, quarterback; Robinson, quarterback; Carpenter, J., halfback; Murphy, halfback; Davis, halfback; Snowden, halfback; Coker, halfback; Ivey, fullback; Ryan, fullback.

124 YEARS AGO

THE CONECUH RECORD

SEPT. 19, 1895

Mayor Farnham and ex-Mayor King spent the day at Long’s Shelter, enjoying a fishing excursion.

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

24 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 21, 1995

Greer’s to close here: A Monroeville grocery store will close its doors at the end of next week, after 33 years of operation.

The last day of business at Greer’s, 268 South Alabama Ave., will be Sept. 30. Manager Mary Steadman said she is sad to see the store close.

Nine people work in the store, including Mrs. Steadman, who has been there 20 years.

Blacksher snaps streak, wins 21-7: J.U. Blacksher High School presented new head coach John Williamson with his first victory Friday when the Bulldogs defeated McKenzie 21-7 at John Sawyer Memorial Field at Uriah.

In addition to being Williamson’s first win at the school, Blacksher’s victory ended a 12-game losing streak that began with a loss to Brantley in the 1993 state playoffs.

(Top Blacksher players in their 1995 win over McKenzie included Anthony Adams, Andy Brooks, Adrian Daniels, Tony Dean, Jeremy Henley, Morgan Middleton, Mitchell Murphy, Percy Nero, Tiran Nero, Anthony Peavy and Anthony Tucker.)

The Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce has selected 12 girls to serve on the 1995-1996 Mockingbird Court.

Selections were finalized Aug. 1 based on interviews with three out-of-county judges.

(Those 12 girls included Alison Black, Mary Elizabeth Burns, Leigh Ann Farish, Jessica Nixon, Laura Van Fleet, Ericka Dawson, Jennifer Howard, Emily Lindblom, Lindy Lomenick, Dana McNider, Jessica Stuckey and Lori Wasden.)

74 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 20, 1945

PURPLE HEART MEDAL TO WILLIAM McDONALD: Miami Beach, Fla. – Pfc. William E. McDonald, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. McDonald of Monroeville, has returned from service outside the continental United States and is now being processed through the Army Ground and Service Forces Redistribution Station in Miami Beach, where his next assignment will be determined.

Infantryman McDonald served six months as a rifleman in the European theater of operations.

While there, he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in action against the enemy and battle stars for two major campaigns.

James Monroe Black, 88, pioneer of the Scotland and Natchez communities, passed away at his home at Natchez on Sun., Sept. 9, following a long illness.

Mr. Black was born on April 25, 1857. On Dec. 9, 1883, he was married to Martha Elizabeth Davison. To this union were born 12 children.

Burial was in the Natchez cemetery.

Frank Lathram arrived in Monroeville last Tuesday and is with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Lathram. He has served 35 months overseas and has been honorably discharged from the Army.

Gilbert Ward has been discharged from the Army after serving four years. During the time he was in the service, he was stationed in India 30 months. He arrived home Monday and is with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ward on Monroeville Route.

99 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 21, 1920

Town Officers Elected: The city election for Mayor and Councilmen was held Monday and the following officers chosen for the ensuing two-year term: Mayor, James K. Kyser; Councilmen, E.R. Morrissette Jr., A.C. Lee, J.A. Lazenby, E.A. Thompson and I.B. Slaughter.

Sixty pupils were enrolled in the Excel school at the opening Monday. This number will in all probability be quadrupled later in the session.

Attention Camp G.W. Foster: Attend a meeting of your Camp on Sat., Sept. 25, at 2 p.m. Delegates to be appointed to represent the camp at the (Confederate soldiers) reunion at Houston, Texas, Oct. 6-10. – J.L. Marshall, Adjutant; D.J. Hatter, Commander.

Mr. J.U. Blacksher of Uriah was circulating among Monroeville friends Saturday.

Prof. W.L. Howard, principal of the Vocational school, Excel, was in the city yesterday.

TO FORM AMERICAN LEGION POST: A meeting is called of ex-service men in Monroe County who served in any branch of the Army or Navy during the World War, said meeting to be held at the Court House in Monroeville, Ala., Sat., Sept. 25, at 2:30 o’clock, for the purpose of organizing a post of the American Legion for Monroe County. We have secured a temporary charter from headquarters and other necessary information for the organization of our post, and, men, let’s come together, at the time and place above mentioned, organize and preserve the memories and incident of our association in the Great War! The ex-service men in almost every county of the state have or are organizing 100 percent strong.

124 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 19, 1895

Mr. Geo. Salter Jr. left on Tuesday for Evergreen, where he will be associated with Prof. J.F. Marsh in the publication of “The Courant,” Evergreen’s new paper.

The following note from Capt. Jas. D. Vick of the steamer Tinsie Moore is self-explanatory: Ed. Journal, please notify all shippers and the traveling public that we will pass down by Claiborne and vicinity on Wednesday instead of Thursday.

Masonic: Monroe Chapter No. 4 will hold a regular convocation at Perdue Hill, Ala., Oct. 3, 1895 at eight o’clock p.m. All Companions are requested to be present. – W.J. McCants, Sec’y.

The Monroeville Academy opened on last Monday with a very good enrollment. Prof. Powers feels greatly encouraged with the prospects.

The Perdue Hill High School opened on last Monday with a goodly number of students. Prof. J.N. Ivey and his accomplished assistant, Miss Lizzie Borroughs are very much encouraged by the prospects, and have entered upon their work with an aggressiveness that insures success.

The Antioch Baptist Association of the Primitive Faith and Order held its 56^th annual session with Salem church on the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th inst. As usual, the attendance was very large, especially on Sunday, the crown being estimated at near one thousand.

Rim Knob Locks with white porcelain knobs at 20 cents each. French Rat Traps, the best rat catchers known, $1. – Savage & Roberts.

149 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 17, 1870

LOST: Between Monroeville and Scotland, a cane with silver head, engraved R.L. Dabney to J.C. Stiles. The finder will be rewarded by leaving it with J.F. M’corvey at Monroeville or Dr. W.W. M’Millan, Scotland.

Whiskey by the quart, gallon or barrel! C.L. Clausell & Co. Powder, shot, lead and gun caps by Clausell & Co., Monroeville, Ala.

RELIGIOUS MEETING: A series of very interesting religious meetings have been in progress at the Baptist church in Monroeville, during the past week. The services were conducted by Rev. W.G. Curry of the Baptist church, assisted by Rev. Archie McFadyen of the Presbyterian church. Twelve persons were baptized yesterday by Mr. Curry, after which the meeting closed.

MARRIED – In Scotland, on the 14^th inst., by Rev. Archie McFadyen, Mr. Miller Davison of Texas to Miss Julia, daughter of A.S. McMillan, Esq. The fair bride will accept the thanks of our printers for a delicious cake, delivered by Mr. L.R. Wiggins, her obliging messenger.

F.S. Daily, Physician and Surgeon: Having located at his father’s residence, near Philadelphia Church, Monroe County, respectfully tenders his professional services to the people of that vicinity. Reasonable charges and prompt attention to calls.

MAPS – I am prepared to furnish Maps of Townships in this County, containing all the Sales of Lands up to September 1869 at $2.50 per Township. – J. Peebles, Monroeville.