The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for March 3, 2020

12 YEARS AGO
MARCH 6, 2008

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 0.65 inches of rain on Feb. 26. He reported a high of 77 degrees on March 2 and a low of 25 on Feb. 27. Total rainfall for the month of February 2008 was 6.97 inches.

Ivey speaks at Chamber banquet: Alabama State Treasurer Kay Ivey encouraged local Chamber members to take advantage of their opportunities during a speech made at the Evergreen-Conecuh County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Banquet and Meeting. The event was held last Thursday night at Hillcrest High School.

Ivey told the crowd of local business and civic leaders that membership in the Chamber of Commerce provides a number of opportunities and that they would do well to use those opportunities to improve the quality of life in Conecuh County.

Deputy has run-in with bear: Local law enforcement officers never know what they’ll see while on a routine patrol, and Conecuh County Sheriff’s Deputy Vinson Heath definitely saw something a little unexpected on Sunday night.

During a routine patrol along County Road 42, just before midnight on Sunday, Heath, who is also Castleberry’s police chief, spotted a large bear. Heath saw the bear just off the side of the highway in the Sepulga River Flats area near the Conecuh County line at Brooklyn.

The bear was “pretty good sized” and looked to weigh an “easy 200 pounds,” Heath said.

37 YEARS AGO

MARCH 3, 1983

Mrs. Stephens dies at 109: Mrs. Carrie Stephens, who at age 109 was probably Conecuh County’s eldest citizen, died Thurs., Feb. 24, in a Mobile hospital.

She was a resident of Rt. F, Evergreen, living across from New Hope Church, but had lived with relatives for several years due to her advanced age and failing health.

Mrs. Stephens was born Feb. 15, 1874 in Conecuh County to the late Mr. and Mrs. Willie Edwards.

Final rites for ‘Dunc’ Thigpen: Duncan J. Thigpen Sr., a charter member of the Alabama Highway Patrol, died Saturday of injuries received in a traffic accident. He was 83.

Mr. Thigpen died in a Montgomery hospital where he was taken after his car collided with a tractor-trailer rig Friday in Georgiana, a state trooper spokesman said.

Mr. Thigpen, known by intimates as “Dunc,” was one of the 75 original members of the Highway Patrol when it was founded Dec. 5, 1935, and rode a motorcycle. He lived in Evergreen for a number of years and was widely known in South Alabama.

The Lyeffion Fire Department has a fine new fire station building which was built with contributions, fundraising projects and dues (no tax money was involved). Scott Paper Co. leased the land to the fire department for 99 years for $10 per year, according to Chief Lois Reeves. The first station is adjacent to the Lyeffion voting site, 12 miles north of Evergreen on Highway 83.

62 YEARS AGO

MARCH 6, 1958

Two Men Killed Tuesday In Crash Near Evergreen: A Marine flight instructor and a Naval flight student were killed Tuesday afternoon in the crash of their T-28 trainer at the edge of Middleton Field five miles west of Evergreen.

The instructor was 1st Lt. David Bruce Mahorney, 25, Hartford City, Indiana. The student pilot was listed as Ensign Richard E. Cossitt, Atlanta.

The plane fell to earth at the west boundary of Middleton Field near the home of Len Mitchell about 1:15 p.m. According to bystanders, the plane had just left the runway flying north when apparently motor trouble caused it to plunge to the ground. The two men were killed instantly.

They were assigned to Whiting Field, a Pensacola Naval Air Station auxiliary at Milton, Fla.

Workmen began dismantling the old Conecuh County Jail building Monday after the demolition had been delayed two weeks by a temporary restraining order. The old jail has been replaced by a new one which along with the sheriff’s offices occupies the top floor of a new addition to the courthouse.

John Reid took the oath of office as a member of the (Evergreen city) council at Tuesday’s meeting. He was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of veteran Councilman O.B. Tuggle.)

Agriculture Commissioner A.W. Todd launches his all-out bid for the governorship of Alabama at Sulligent at 10 a.m. Thursday with 16 speeches scheduled from that time until the week ends with a rally at Evergreen Saturday night.

87 YEARS AGO

MARCH 2, 1933

Evergreen Girl Wins Praise For Part: Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 25 – Miss Harper Gantt of Evergreen was a member of the cast of “The Winter’s Tale” by William Shakespeare, presented by the department of speech of Women’s College here last week. Miss Gantt played the part of the Prince of Bohemie, and lent herself charmingly to the interpretation of this role. The presentation of “The Winter’s Tale” by the college group is said to be one of the most finished amateur performance witnessed by Montgomery audiences.

Shotgun Slayers Are Sought By Posse: Andalusia, Feb. 28 – Believing that the murder Sunday of Carl Hicks, former deputy sheriff, and his brother-in-law Marvin Longmier, was a reprisal by whisky distillers, a sheriff’s posse Tuesday was searching Covington County for the killers.

Hicks had a reputation for being one of the most vigilant liquor law enforcement officers in this section, and had made a large number of still seizures.

Bodies of Hicks and Longmier, their heads nearly torn off by shotgun charges fired at close range, were found Monday on the banks of the Yellow River, where they had gone Sunday on a fishing trip.

Physicians said the two men had been dead since Sunday morning. Their personal effects and auto were not disturbed, and there was no evidence of a struggle.

Residents nearby said they heard six shots fired Sunday morning.

112 YEARS AGO

MARCH 4, 1908

Attention Co. K: You are hereby commanded to meet at your armory next Monday night, March 9, at 7:30 o’clock promptly for monthly muster. Bring new members. – P.M. Bruner, Capt.; J.A. Rumbley, First Sgt.

A primary election will be held next Monday night in the armory of the Conecuh Guards for the purpose of selecting a 2^nd Lieutenant to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Lt. H.S. Hagood.

The new depot will soon be completed, and will be occupied within a few days, it is said. The public has very willingly been inconvenienced since the work began in order that better accommodations might be provided. The new station is all that the most exacting could desire.

NOTICE TO VETERANS: I earnestly urge every Confederate Veteran who has not already done so to see me as soon as possible and give me a statement of their service in the war in order that I may make my report to the Department of Archives and History as provided by law. – S.P. Dunn, Tax Assessor.

W.K. Horton was painfully injured on Monday morning by falling from a moving train. He had boarded the car looking for some young lady friends and as the train pulled out he attempted to get off, missed his footing and fell to the ground. One of the bones in his arm was fractured, and the limb bruised by the fall. He went to Mardi Gras, however, with some friends.

137 YEARS AGO

THE CONECUH-ESCAMBIA STAR

MARCH 1, 1883

Conecuh Guards – Attention! You are commanded to be present at the armory Monday evening, the fifth day of March, at 7:30 o’clock sharp. Business of importance, besides the question of uniform, will be up; and according to the Constitution and By-Laws adopted by the company, all members of the company who have been absent for three subsequent meetings, and do not attend at the meeting on the fifth of March, without a legal excuse, will be dropped from the roll of the company. By order of H.M. Rumbley, Capt., Conecuh Guards.

The town council seems determined that the streets of Evergreen shall be well-shaded. Our marshal continues to plant trees.

Senator Farnham and Representative Burnett are both back from Montgomery, looking healthy and robust.

The management of the Evergreen Hotel and Hotel Beale has been consolidated, Mr. W.G. Beale taking charge of both. This arrangement was made on the first instant. Most of Mr. Beale’s life has been spend in that business and with his tact, energy and experience, we are sure that he will make his new venture profitable.

Mr. W.C. Shaw, son of Dr. J.L. Shaw of Belleville, left Friday evening for Louisville, Ky. to attend the medical college of that city.