Sunday, February 23, 2020

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


11 YEARS AGO

FEB. 26, 2009

Frisco City High to close doors: Melanie Ryals, superintendent of the Monroe County Public School System, said weeks ago that proration of state funds and the economic recession would force her and the Board of Education to make some tough decisions this year.
One of those tough decisions was announced last Thursday night during the board’s monthly meeting at the Resource Center in Monroeville when Ryals recommended Frisco City High School be closed at the end of the 2008-2009 school term.
She said closing the school and transferring the students to Monroeville area schools, Excel School and J.U. Blacksher School would save the system $1,127,268 annually.
Closing FCHS will directly affect 240 students, 18 teachers, one principal, one assistant principal, a secretary, two aids, one counselor, one librarian, one nurse, two custodians, three lunchroom workers and four bus drivers.

Lady Panthers to play for title: J.F. Shields’ Lady Panthers will play for the AHSAA Class 1A state championship Friday at 4 p.m. in Birmingham while the Panthers’ boys were eliminated from the Final Four Tuesday night.
Shields girls used a 20-9 second-quarter run to key the 50-37 win over Gaston Tuesday evening. Shields will play Hazlewood Friday.
The Lady Panthers, 30-0, were paced by sophomore guard Tyika Robinson, who scored 21 points. (Other players on Shields girls team that season included Mariah Jones, Latresha Lyons, April Montgomery, Kelsey Murphy, Japlesha Primm and Brandi Wiggins. Herbert Blackmon was the team’s head coach.)

36 YEARS AGO
FEB. 23, 1984

Leap year birthday: Leann Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Johnson of Monroeville, and Mark McKenzie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd McKenzie Jr. of Monroeville, look through 1972 issues of The Monroe Journal to find a picture taken 12 years ago for their first leap year birthday. By 1972, the four-year-olds had had only one birthday. Now 16 years old and sophomores at Monroe County High School, their birthdate will appear on the calendar again as they celebrate their fourth real birthday on Feb. 29.

Tigers prepare for jamboree: Coach Howard “Buzz” Busby has been busy the past two weeks gearing up his Monroe County High School Tiger football team for the spring football jamboree at Thomasville High March 9.
Of the 58 players currently being drilled at Tiger Stadium, seven are returning defensive starters, while Busby’s offense will be on the young and inexperienced side this season.
(Players going through spring drills at MCHS included Jerry Betts, Willie Carmichael, Lorenzo Johnson, Chuck Kidd, Anthony Morrissette, Steve Ramer, John Rawls, Robbie Rawls, Lonnie Richardson, Harold Tolson and Mark Williams.)

Hospital employee of year: Ola Bell Banks receives a certificate from Monroe County Hospital administrator Gene Sharpe and hospital board chairman Jackie Weatherford naming her the hospital’s employee of the year for 1983. The presentation was made Friday during the hospital’s annual employee of the year banquet at Vanity Fair Golf and Tennis Club.

61 YEARS AGO
FEB. 26, 1959

Sentences Listed In Pecan Burglaries: Sentences for 16 Monroeville youths, held in connection with theft of pecans from a local feed and seed store, were listed Wednesday by Carl M. Watson, Monroe County Deputy Sheriff, who headed the investigation.
The group reportedly took a total of $2,000 in pecans during the past several months from the Sam Williams Seed Store on Drewry Road. According to statements from the 16 youths, the pecans had been sold to other dealers in the area.

The J.U. Blacksher High School basketball quintet, after recently capturing the Pine Belt Conference championship, breezed through play at the annual First District Class A tournament at Brewton, downing T.R. Miller, 56-32, in the finals Saturday night.
Jackie Weatherford, forward on the Uriah squad, was chosen the tournament’s most valuable player and was named to the all-tourney team.
As winner in the district, Uriah is scheduled to enter state tournament play tonight (Thursday), meeting the winner of the fifth district at 9 p.m. in Tuscaloosa. (Jack Akins was Blacksher’s head coach that season.)

Lazenby Named To Head Hospital Board In County: Karl J. Lazenby of Monroeville was elected chairman of the Monroe County Hospital Board at a meeting of the group Tuesday night. The Hospital Board was appointed Feb. 9 by the County Commission. Duties of the board include planning for construction of a Hill-Burton Act hospital for Monroe County, to be located in Monroeville.

86 YEARS AGO
FEB. 22, 1934

Dixon Will Speak At Monroeville: Frank M. Dixon, candidate for Governor of Alabama, will speak to the voters of Monroe County at the courthouse in Monroeville at 10:30 Saturday morning, March 3. S.W. Hixon, well known merchant of Monroeville, has accepted the chairmanship of the Dixon-for-Governor campaign in Monroe County, and he states that a very thorough campaign for Dixon will be made in all sections of the county.

Death Claims Dr. George H. Harper: Dr. George H. Harper, for 14 years a resident and practicing physician of Monroeville, died shortly before seven o’clock Friday morning. He had practiced at several points in Monroe County before locating at Monroeville in 1920. He was a Mason and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

The FFA Chapter of the Frisco City High School sponsored an egg boiling on Friday night, Feb. 16. Twenty of the regular members took part in the event. Each boy furnished the eggs that he ate. After the boiling, all members enjoyed an hour telling jokes and stories. A mock trial was held and furnished amusement for everybody. Mr. Martin played the part of the plaintiff, and Hollis Greene the part of the defendant.

Bob Hubbird Enters Race For Sheriff: In today’s Journal will be found the announcement of C.D. (Bob) Hubbird as candidate for the office of Sheriff of Monroe County. Mr. Hubbird has been marshal and deputy in the north end of the county for the past several years. He is a veteran of the World War and a member of the Monroe County Post of the American Legion.

111 YEARS AGO
FEB. 25, 1909

Mumps has been epidemic in Monroeville for several weeks past.

MANISTEE: The Knights of Pythias gave an entertainment at the Masonic Hall last Friday night. Everyone present seemed to enjoy the occasion.

JAMES L. SMITH DEAD: Mr. James L. Smith died at his home near Monroe last Monday morning after an illness of nearly two months, aged 67 years. The interment too place at the Baptist cemetery on Tuesday with Masonic honors. The announcement of his death occasioned the keenest regret among his large circle of friends.
Mr. Smith was a good citizen, a devoted husband and father and true to the church and fraternities of which he was a member. He was a veteran of the Lost Cause, having served as a private in Co. C, 3rd Alabama Cavalry.
He filled the office of Tax Collector of the county in a most acceptable manner for two successive terms by election and an additional year under extension by the legislature.

F.W. Hare, Esq., spent a day or two in Mobile during the carnival.

Mr. C.M. Simmons continues to receive orders for cane syrup of his own manufacture. He has sold quite a lot in cans and it is of excellent quality.

Sheriff Fountain is on a business trip to Montgomery.

Miss Mattie Sessions of Chestnut, who has been teaching at Grimes school house near (Manistee), closed her school last Friday.

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