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

U.S. Navy destroyer, USS Power (DD-839)

20 YEARS AGO

MAY 11, 2000

Journal receives excellence award: For the second straight year, The Monroe Journal has been named the state’s best large weekly newspaper.

The Journal was the General Excellence winner, which is the most prestigious award for overall excellence in the 2000 Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. It picked up 18 other awards for news, advertising, sports writing and photography.

Lady Volunteers scare state champion Faith: Monroe Academy gave state champion Faith Academy its biggest challenge of the Alabama Independent School Association 3A state tournament Friday in Montgomery.

Faith’s Lady Rams rallied from a 10-3 deficit to defeat the Lady Volunteers 17-10 in the first-round game of the slow pitch tournament at Lagoon Park. Faith went on to… drill Meadowview Christian Academy 21-0 in the championship game Saturday.

(MA players that season included Kahla Atkins, Nicole Craft, Jennifer Johnson, Elizabeth Lane, Sara Lee, Monet Martorana, Jena Smith, Tiffany Stokes and Julie Stuckey. Don Smith was MA’s head coach.)

Newsweek features Frisco native: Frisco City native U.S. Marine Lt. Darrell Browning was recently featured in an issue of Newsweek that included a recap of the final days of Saigon in South Vietnam.

Browning flew five rescue missions to retrieve American diplomats, Vietnamese refugees and American soldiers from the roof of the American Embassy in Saigon.

He was awarded an air medal for his valor, and today he is the director of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Va.

45 YEARS AGO

MAY 8, 1975

Antique car display: J.T. Lee Jr. and Lonnie Watts of Frisco City stand beside Watts’ 1936 LaSalle, which is one of the antique cars to be displayed during Lee Motor Co.’s 50^th anniversary celebration today (Thursday), tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday. The car, which was one of only 25 made by General Motors that year, sold for $3,200 in 1936, and is now valued at $10,000. Watts bought the car eight years ago in New York.

Beatrice’s John Drew: John Drew, sensational rookie of basketball’s Atlanta Hawks and former star for Coach W.R. Averette’s J.F. Shields Panthers, will return to that Beatrice school Friday night to address the annual athletic banquet. Drew also was runner-up for rookie of the year honors and led the National Basketball Association in offensive rebounds.

PHJC Week proclaimed: Monroeville Mayor W.H. (Jack) Hines gives two officers of Patrick Henry State Junior College’s Alumni Association a copy of his proclamation, issued Saturday, making May 19-24 “Patrick Henry State Junior College Week” in the city. Receiving it are Reylon Stokes of Excel, secretary-treasurer of the association, and Bobby Dees of Franklin, president. Hines’ proclamation lauds Patrick Henry for its “continuing contributions to the educational, cultural and social enrichment of the six-county area which it serves.” The proclamation urges Monroeville citizens to participate in activities planned at the college during the week, including an open house as well as a public program at 1 p.m. May 23 which will include several state and local dignitaries.

70 YEARS AGO

MAY 11, 1950

Hendrix Succeeds Owens As Clerk Of City: L.L. Hendrix, clerk of the Monroe County Commission, has been named as city clerk to succeed Wendell Owens, who resigned. Mr. Hendrix assumed his new duties last week. Mr. Owens resigned to devote full time to his law practice.

MCHS Defeats Evergreen 8-6, Loses To Atmore – Tilts Are District Playoffs, Fowler Hurls Both Contests: Monroe County High edged Evergreen 8-6 last Wednesday, but lost to Atmore 12-1 last Friday in the playoff for the right to represent this district in the state tournament.

Both games were played at Monroeville. Woodrow Fowler hurled both tilts for Monroe County High.

(Other members of MCHS’s baseball team that season included Walter Andress, Bill Dailey, Melvin Dulaney, Walter Falkenberry, Wilbur Franklin Ellis, “Pink” Jackson, Bill Jaye, Karl Mims Lazenby, Bert McCullough, Bobby Moore, John Arthur Morgan, John Arthur Sirmon, Joe Stevens (bat boy) and Hurtis Tomlinson. Robert Riley was the team’s coach.)

Uriah Soldier Slates Returns To States: Daniel Riley, steward, third class, U.S. Navy, of Uriah is scheduled to arrive in Newport, Rhode Island May 23 after a four-month cruise in the Mediterranean as a crew member of the destroyer USS Power.

While in the Mediterranean, he was afforded an opportunity to visit many of the countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

95 YEARS AGO

MAY 14, 1925

The drought of more than four weeks duration was broken Sunday by gentle rains throughout the county. The timely visitation will be worth thousands of dollars to farmers and truckers.

All veterans and sons and daughters of Confederate veterans expecting to go to the reunion in Dallas, Texas can procure reduced rates by calling on Capt. J.L. Marshall, Adjutant of Camp Foster, Monroeville, Ala.

WANTED – To buy 15 to 25 young geese at a reasonable price. W.L. Middleton, Jones Mills, Ala.

LOST – In Monroeville, one automatic pistol. Please return to WM care The Journal.

There will be a musical recital at the High School auditorium Monday evening, May 18. A cordial invitation is extended to the public generally.

Rev. C.W. Northcutt of Selma, Superintendent of the Alabama Methodist Orphanage, is here to represent that excellent institution at the District Conference.

Mr. J.A. Kearley of Mobile spent the weekend with relatives at Peterman. Mr. Kearley is an old Monroe boy, but has resided in Mobile for 20 years past. He is prospering as a dairyman.

Representative W.R. Blackwell of Jones Mill was a visitor to the city Saturday. Mr. Blackwell was unable to attend the conference of good roads advocates in Montgomery, but expressed himself as in hearty sympathy with the policy of continuing the good work of road building throughout the state.

120 YEARS AGO

MAY 10, 1900

Mr. H.J. Coxwell of Perdue Hill was here Saturday. Mr. Coxwell grew the prize watermelon last year and expects to break the record this season.

Died, at his home at Repton, on Wednesday, May 9, 1900, after an illness of several weeks, Mr. Everett L. Martin, aged 72 years and five months. Mr. Martin was a successful businessman, a member of the Masonic fraternity and a good citizen. His remains were interred at the Methodist cemetery, Monroeville, on Thursday.

By order of Chancellor Commander, each member of Prairie Queen Lodge No. 167, Knights of Pythias, is requested to be at the Castle Hall on Friday night, May 11, 1900. – A.R. BOULWARE, K.P.&S.

A BIG LAND DEAL: The ownership of about 300,000 acres of timber lands, lying in the counties of Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe and Conecuh, in the southern part of Alabama, passed from M.A. Sullivan of (Pensacola) to General Russell A. Alger and associates of Michigan, during the latter part of last week.

The amount of money involved in this deal is approximately two million dollars. The importance attaching to the deal at this time and commercial prestige that will undoubtedly be given Pensacola is inestimable, not withstanding the distance of these lands from (Pensacola).

The lands are purchased with the view of establishing thereon a number of saw mills, the capacity of which, it is understood, will exceed any at present in operation anywhere in the South.