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

21 YEARS AGO
OCT. 14, 1999

Lights, camera, action: Visitors to Peterman may be having their people get with other people to do lunch. A film crew is in the small Monroe County community shooting a western titled “Mi Amigo.” The film is written, produced and directed by Milton Brown of Mobile. In addition to local actors and extras, the film includes well-known talent such as country/Tejano/pop entertainer Freddy Fender. Fender plays a singing bartender.

J.F. Shields’ Panthers got a career effort from junior fullback Corey Johnson Friday to claim its first area football championship since 1996.
Johnson piled up 250 yards rushing on 30 carries in Red Level to spark the 26-9 win over the Red Level Tigers in a penalty-riddled battle. On defense, the Panthers were led by Theagus Nettles’ 17 tackles.
(Other standout Shields players in that game included Cedric Marshall, Cory Stallworth and Michael Stallworth. Melvin Pete was head coach at Shields that season.)

Final delivery: Elray Copeland of Whatley delivered his first letter more than 30 years ago. The career letter carrier retired after 31 years and two months on the job. During his career, he worked at Gosport, where he ran the store and post office, Millry, Grove Hill and Monroeville. Though his last day at work was Tuesday, Copeland won’t officially retire until his annual leave runs out, Oct. 22.

Monroeville Mayor Anne Farish joined Monroeville Kiwanis Club president Ross Davidson and the Mockingbird Court to open the annual Kiwanis-Monroe County Fair. The fair will run through Saturday at the Monroe County Coliseum.

46 YEARS AGO
OCT. 10, 1974

New Excel pastor: The Rev. Kenneth Hester, new pastor of Excel Church of the Nazarene, is shown with his family: wife Linda and sons Kevin, 9, Keith, 11, and Kent, 12. The Hesters moved to Excel from Perry, Ga., where he was pastor of Perry First Church of the Nazarene.

Vols outclass Evangel: The Monroe Academy Volunteers rolled on to their sixth consecutive victory of the 1974 season last Saturday night with a 77-8 victory over outclassed Evangel Christian Academy of Mobile.
The Vols scored almost every time they had the ball, and it seemed that they could have scored much more had it not been for heavy substitution by Coach Mac Champion.
The Vols let up in the second half of play after taking a 65-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.
The game gave the huge Monroe Academy crowd a look at the future as Coach Champion sent the first offensive and defensive teams to the dressing rooms with five minutes to go in the half.
(Standout MA players in that game included Alan Jaye, Chuck Lambert, Jimmy Lambert, Hudson Lazenby, Keith Pugh, James Sales, Ricky Stinson and Melvin Wilson.)

Stewart gets award: Frank M. Stewart of Vredenburgh, one of 11 winners of the Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Achievement Awards, accepts his award from Mrs. George C. Wallace at the recent annual meeting of the federation. Stewart received the Forest Conservationist of the Year Award.

70 YEARS AGO
OCT. 13, 1949

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and Misses Alice and Nelle Lee were recent guests of their sister, Mrs. Hershel Conner of Eufaula. They were called to Graceville, Fla. to the funeral of Mr. Lee’s sister. Miss Nelle Lee returned to New York by plane last Sunday.

Excel High ‘Slips And Slides’ To 6-0 Victory Over McKenzie On Wet Field: Playing in a virtual “sea of mud” after a downpour had drenched the field just prior to the game, Excel High slipped and skidded its way to a 6-0 win over McKenzie High at the Monroeville athletic field Saturday night.
Both teams found footing slippery and especially was it difficult for the backs to cut back. Once on their way, they were forced to continue in a straight line.
(Top Excel players in that game included Curtis Jordan, Nelson Moseley, Tobin Myrick and Gerald Skipper.)

Pfc. Robert K. Ryland of the U.S. Air Force has arrived at Eilson Field, Fairbanks, Alaska, where he is stationed as a crew member of the “Frigid Midget” B-29. Pfc. Ryland is the son of Mrs. Gladys Ryland of Monroeville.

Large Lot In Monroeville Is Bought By Stallworth: B.H. Stallworth Sr. of Monroeville, Wednesday morning purchased the vacant lot reaching from the Lindsey building to the corner of the block on the north side of the square for an undisclosed sum. The lot was purchased from Hugh Dickson, former owner. According to the new owner, the land will be subdivided into lots and sold for business or residential building. The land involved in the transaction has a street frontage of 214 feet and is 200 feet deep.

96 YEARS AGO
OCT. 9, 1924

WOODMEN OF THE WORLD UNVEILING: Unveiling ceremonies will be conducted in the Mt. Pisgah cemetery, Jones Mill, on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 19, at three o’clock at which time the monument erected to the memory of the late Len Hicks will be unveiled. Members of the Society will be in attendance from the camps at Belleville, Evergreen, Castleberry, Lenox, Excel, Bermuda, Jones Mill and Repton. The public is cordially invited to be present.

MONROE WILL BE WELL REPRESENTED AT REUNION: The following ladies have been appointed to represent George W. Foster Camp No. 104 at the State Reunion of Confederate Veterans at Mobile on Oct. 22-23: Mrs. J.W. Rutherford, chaperone; Miss Marion McDuffie, sponsor; Misses Maibeth Crook, Fannie Lane Emmons, Bessie Lee Marriott and Lillie Mae Crook, maids. – F.S. Dailey, Commander; J.L. Marshall, Adjutant.

Prof. J.J. Binford, principal of the Excel Schools, was here Monday. He reports a fine enrollment in each department and school work progressing satisfactorily.

Mr. Thomas Forbes of Selma, representative of the International Harvester Co., was here this week on business.

Prof. J.A. York, who submitted to an operation for appendicitis at the Turbeville sanitarium, Century, returned home Sunday and his many friends are glad to know he is on the road to recovery.

Mr. J.D. Roquemore, a prominent lawyer of Montgomery, was in attendance upon the circuit court the first of the week.

120 YEARS AGO
OCT. 11, 1900

Materials are being placed on the ground for the erection of a commodious school building at Kempville.

H.E. Hudson has opened a store at Monroe, making the third mercantile house doing business at that place.

Drs. F.S. Dailey of Kempville and J.W. Rutherford of Franklin were here Wednesday to attend the meeting of the County Medical Society.

Mr. Miller Rutherford dropped in Tuesday and renewed his subscription to The Journal for the 25^th consecutive year. May his shadow never grow smaller.

Mr. W.S. Bowden, who operates a gin at Jones Mill, met with a painful accident last Thursday. While attempting to regulate the gin, his sleeve was caught in the saws and his right arm so badly lacerated as to necessitate amputation. Drs. Busey and Bizzelle attended him and the operation was successfully performed. Although suffering severely from the double shock of the injury and operation, our latest information is that Mr. Bowden’s condition is improving.

The double daily mail service between Monroeville and the railroad station began Monday and the patrons of the local post office are much pleased with the improvement. Daily papers are now received regularly on the day of publication and the dispatch of other matter greatly facilitated.

Following light rains the latter part of last week, there was a drop of several degrees in temperature Sunday, and for several days the weather has been quite fall-like, making fires and overcoats decidedly comfortable.