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

15 YEARS AGO
FEB. 23, 2006

‘Heavens Fall’ will premier March 13: A long anticipated wait for the premiere of the movie “Heavens Fall” that was filmed in and around Monroeville in 2004 will become a reality next month.
“Heavens Fall” is scheduled to be premiered March 13 at The Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas at 8 p.m. The theatre is located on 713 Congress Ave.

Excel’s baseball team, despite losing some outstanding players to graduation last season, has enough depth and experience to make it back to the 2A state playoffs.
Excel’s varsity opens its season Friday with the Panthers as the host team in an invitational tournament at Excel’s Murphy Park.
(Top players on Excel’s team that season included Khristian Agerton, Patrick Bowen, Brett Harris, Toby Hilton, Ryan Holder, Nathan Hooks, Josh House, Neil Hudson, Stephen Jaye, Shelby Jordan, Josh Mack, Morgan Murphy, Hunter Norris, Drew Pierce, Justin Ridgeway, Josh Waters and Justin Whatley. Robbie Carpenter was Excel’s head coach. Andy Lambert was assistant coach, and Josh Ward was scorekeeper.)

Scout Troop adopts street: Monroeville Mayor Anne Farish signed a resolution granting Boys Scouts of America Troop 24 permission to adopt a section of West Claiborne Street in Monroeville from the Downtown Square to the National Guard Armory. They chose this section as an opportunity to honor the men and women of the Alabama National Guard’s 778^th, who serve out of Fort Millsap. They have agreed to pick up trash along this section of the street. Members of the Scout Troop on hand for the signing were J.P. Owens, Walker Owens, Richard Martin and Cole Martin.

40 YEARS AGO
FEB. 26, 1981

Excel Police Chief Dick Roynon resigned last Thursday to accept the chief’s position in the Hurtsboro, Ala. Police Department.
Roynon was the town’s only policeman. At Hurtsboro, which is located near Phenix City and the Alabama-Georgia state line, Roynon will supervise four officers.

Defense is key to Vol season: Last year, Monroe Academy baseball coach Eddie Tyler knew that his pitching staff, being inexperienced for the most part, would be his team’s weak point.
This season, Tyler has a deep and experienced staff, but will have to replace his defense up the middle, including catcher, second base and shortstop as well as centerfield.
The Volunteers return 10 players from last season. They are David Carpenter, Greg Tatum, Tim Chunn, Joey Langham, Trip Hendrix, Todd Cruitt, John Wilman, Boyd Bradley, Craig Cave and Joey Pierson.

Chamber taps Burns for honor: George Burns, president and chairman of the board of Peoples Bank of Frisco City, was named Frisco City’s 1981 outstanding citizen by the Frisco City Chamber of Commerce last Thursday at its annual banquet.
Presenting the award was Elliott Hendrix, who reeled off a list of the 62-year-old recipient’s lifetime achievements.
The banquet also including the swearing in of new officers and directors for the chamber by Monroe County Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs. The 1981 chamber officers are Henry Parmer, president; Wallace Miller, first vice president; Alvin Smith, second vice president; Ronnie Ray, treasurer; and Carl King, secretary.

90 YEARS AGO
FEB. 26, 1931

Mr. J.W. Dean, one of the pioneers of the Mt. Pleasant community, died at his home Sat., Feb. 7, at the age of 77 years. He is survived by his widow and 10 children.

The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P.S. Jackson died at the family home at Peterman on Sunday morning. The body was laid to rest at the cemetery at Tunnel Springs on Sunday afternoon.

Mr. W.O. Burton of Ozark has accepted a position as baker for the Thompson Bakery. He has had experience in some of the best bakeries in the state and is capable of producing the highest quality products.

Mr. Ross Smith of Birmingham, State Manager of the Pan American Petroleum Co., accompanied by Messrs. H.D. Todd, D.E. Stanford and J.J. Jost were looking after business matters in Monroeville last week.

The ladies of the Episcopal Guild wish to thank all who contributed in making the play “Dollar Bill” such a success. We also wish to thank Professor York for the use of the high school auditorium.

Miss Ethel Thames attending Mardi Gras in Mobile last week.

Miss Josie Gaillard of Mobile spent the weekend with relatives in Perdue Hill and Monroeville.

Judge S.P. Dunn of Evergreen was a visitor to Monroeville last week.

115 YEARS AGO
FEB. 22, 1906

JONES MILL: Middleton Bros. have disposed of their old saw mill which was located one mile south of here and are now constructing a new one at Lufkin.
Sniders Crossing now has the prospects of having the first telegraph operator between Manistee and the Junction.

LUFKIN: Mr. Luther Lizenba’s horse became frightened in our little town last Saturday afternoon and ran about 100 yards and broke loose from the buggy and kept going.

The Journal had hoped to print in this issue a photograph of Mr. John McDuffie in connection with a complimentary reference to his candidacy for Representative, but is prevented by delay of the engravers.

Miss Jennie Faulk left Tuesday for St. Louis to purchase her spring goods of hats, millinery and ladies goods, which will be larger and better than ever.

PINEVILLE: The store of Mr. Julius Farish in Beatrice was burglarized last week.

The painters are putting the finishing touches on Mr. C.L. Hybart’s handsome new dwelling.

Miss Ethel Lazenby, the talented music teacher at Repton, was the guest of her sister, Mrs. J.B. Barnett, Wednesday.

Miss Eloise Rives, who has been with relatives in New York for several months past, is visiting her sister, Mrs. I.B. Slaughter. Miss Rives came from New York to Mobile by steamer and had a delightful voyage.

140 YEARS AGO
FEB. 28, 1881

Locals are scarce this week; not a single citizen has been drunk, suicided or got married since our last issue. Health is good, in fact, the doctors say that it is ruinously healthy, and our undertaker now daily walks up and down – “around the corner,” wringing his hands and uttering ejaculations of despair. “Wood out! Meat out! Too healthy; too d—d healthy!” But the common people seem to be pretty well satisfied at the situation, and we assure our disconsolate friends of the graveyard profession that it is hard to fix things to suit everybody.

Turnbull – A correspondent at Turnbull, writing under date Feb. 11, says that no copies of The Journal had reached that office in three weeks. Why this business? Will some postmaster rise and explain? The Turnbull package of Journals is fixed up correctly every week at this office and placed in the Monroeville office, and we are satisfied that they leave there OK. The fault lays elsewhere.

Married – At the residence of the bride’s mother, near Ireland, Ala., on the evening of the 3^rd inst. by James R. Betts, Esq., Mr. Emmet Salter to Miss Josephine Dessprouse, all of Conecuh County.

Glad Also – We are glad to learn from the Wilcox News that mail service will be resumed on the Alabama River, the steamer Ruth having contracted to perform the same. – Clarke County Democrat.

Died – On Monday last, at 10 o’clock a.m., little Willie, infant daughter of Henry P. and Georgia M. Watson. We deeply sympathize with the bereaved ones. – Wilcox Pacificator.

Singleton tells of a visit to an unknown Confederate soldier's grave in northeastern Monroe County

George Buster Singleton

(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 “Along the pathways of yesterday” was originally published in the Feb. 10, 2000 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Friday, the 4^th of February, was a beautiful day. The weather was a bit cool but was ideal for a day of wandering and looking over the countryside.

Slipping away from the honey-do list that my dear wife had left me, I mounted my motorcycle and headed into the hill country into the northeastern part of the county.

For reasons that I cannot explain, I found myself thinking about a place that I had not visited for quite some time. So I headed up into the area near the Monroe and Wilcox county line.

Reaching my destination, the thought came to me that it had been around 135 years since the dreaded Civil War had come to an end.

Looking down at the faded Confederate tombstone that lay in the tall grass and weeds before me, I knew that much of the hate and distrust of this time in our country’s history continues to exist, even to this day.

After all these years, we continue to find things to keep the fires of distrust burning. If we cannot find something from the past to build an argument about, we invent or create something.

But let us digress from the winds of evil and return to this forgotten place for a moment of speculation and thought.

Kneeling beside this lonely tomb, and with much effort, I read the faded inscription found there. Rising again to my feet, the faded words raced through my mind like a strong blowing wind.

Trying to visualize in my mind why this marker was here, I remembered again the words there on the faded slab of marble: the carved letters, “CSA” (Confederate States of America), and just below was the word, “Unknown.”

Here, the thought enters my mind as to the name of this unknown Rebel. Then, I began to wonder just why this forgotten grave was way out here away from a cemetery or an old home place.

As I have done many times before, I began to look around for some evidence of an old home place or a small burial ground. There was none. This caused the mystery once again to deepen.

Could this soldier have been trying to make his way back to his home, perhaps suffering from some type of serious wound that he received on some faraway battlefield?

Was he trying to return to a home and family who he hadn’t seen for three or four years? Perhaps, he was longing to see his children and wife he had left behind when he went off to war. Did death overtake him along a lonely path here under the tall pines before he reached his destination?

Did he travel alone or did he travel with someone who later returned and placed the marker over his final resting place? Was his name ever known or had it been forgotten?

As he made his way homeward, sick and wounded, did he fall prey to some of his hated enemy who struck the final blow that ended for all time the pain and suffering that racked his body?

Perhaps, the few who know the location of this lonely tomb of this Confederate soldier will never know the truth. I, myself, will return from time to time for a moment of silence and to perhaps pick a wild honeysuckle or a blossom from a beautiful mountain laurel and place it on the grave in remembrance of a time long past and the unknown Rebel who sleeps here – a soldier who thought he was doing the right thing when he kissed his loved ones goodbye and answered the call of the Confederacy.

Standing here under the tall pines that guarded the final resting place of this unknown Rebel, I wonder what thoughts may have passed through this unknown soldier’s mind the last minutes of his life.

Did he have any last words? Did he send a last message to his loved ones? And how far was he from the ones he loved when the hand of death touched his brow?

There are no answers to these questions. There is no need to make known the location of this final resting place. Only the few who know this location can share in the agony of his passing.

These few who know will return from time to time to reassure him that he is remembered and will not be forgotten. And, the wild honeysuckle or the blooms of the beautiful mountain laurel will give evidence of those who remember and care.

The tall pines will stand guard over this unknown grave and protect this special place from the snows of the winters and the heat of the summers until the bugle is sounded for that final roll call.

Yon marble minstrel’s
Voiceless stone
In deathless song shall tell,
When many a vanquished
Year hath flown,
The story of how you fell.

Nor wreck, nor change,
Nor winter’s blight,
Nor time’s remorseless doom,
Can dim one ray of holy light
That gilds your glorious tomb.

(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 also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. 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.)

Do ghosts and spirits still haunt the old Kelly Mill Mercantile Co. store in historic Dottelle, Alabama?

The old Kelly Mill Mercantile Co. store at Dottelle.

Monroe County’s old Dottelle community is located on U.S. Highway 84, about two and a half miles east of Excel. Dottelle first became the name of this place around 1900 when the now-defunct Manistee & Repton Railroad established a train station near the Kelly Mill Mercantile Co. Store. Sources say that the train station was named “Dottelle” after the name of the daughter of a Mr. Smith, who was secretary and bookkeeper for the Bear Creek Mill Co. at Manistee.

If you go to Dottelle today, little remains from its heyday as a bustling train stop except for the old Kelly Mill Mercantile Co. building. The store that you see there today on Dottelle Road was built in 1925 by Riley J.D. Kelly. My old friend Cecil Chandler bought the building in 2005 with an eye towards turning it into an old country store museum.

I found myself passing through Dottelle the other day and stopped for a few minutes to admire the work that Cecil has done restoring the old store. All was quiet except for the sound of the cold wind blowing through nearby pecan trees and the steady drone of vehicles passing down Highway 84. As I stood there, under the stone gray sky, the old store took on a shadowy, forlorn aspect, and I could not help but remember some of the spooky tales I’d heard about it over the years.

One such tale involves the store’s second floor, which was once used for storage and features a double window that can be opened to improve air circulation throughout the building. This double window has stout hinges and sturdy barrel bolts to lock it closed. It is not easily opened or closed.

One hot day, Cecil was working in the store and opened the window to cool things down. Later, he called it quits around five o’clock and went home only to wake in the middle of the night with the sudden realization that he’d left the large window wide open. The next morning, he drove over to the store only to find the window mysteriously closed. At first, he thought the wind had blown the window shut, but to his surprise, he found both barrel bolts locked tight from the inside.

He was the only person with a key to the building.

Years later, Cecil was working at the store with the late Winston Sessions and his wife, Margaret Ann. It began to get dark, and as they prepared to leave for the day, Margaret Ann said she distinctly heard someone walking in the back of the store. They were the only three people in the building and when Winston walked to the rear of the store to check things out, he stopped in his tracks and shouted for Cecil.

“I hesitated but walked his way,” Cecil said. “He said, ‘Get behind me.’ I didn’t know what to expect. Then I felt cold all over, and the hair on my arm was standing up.”

“Do you feel what I do?” Winston asked.

“Yes,” Cecil reluctantly confirmed as they walked a little farther. The cold spot eventually disappeared, but reoccurred about 10 steps later.

“This went on three times until we got enough and left,” Cecil said.

Over the years, witnesses have often heard disembodied footsteps inside the building, with the sounds often coming from the vacant second floor.

Several years ago, Cecil’s son-in-law was in the store’s back room when he clearly heard someone walking in the main part of the store. The son-in-law thought it was one of his coworkers, so he went to see what he wanted. No one was there.

His first thought was that someone was trying to have a little fun with him by scaring him. Thinking it was a practical joke, he looked everywhere only to discover that he was totally alone. He got what he’d come for and left.

In the end, Cecil noted that since the store’s original construction in 1925, hundreds – maybe thousands – of local people visited the store over the bygone years to conduct business. Many came just to visit with their neighbors and shoot the breeze. To Cecil’s way of thinking, if the store is haunted, the ghosts are no doubt at least a little pleased to see the store restored to its original condition.

Just how many Indian 'rock mounds' are there across the woodlands of Wilcox County, Alabama?

An example of a common Indian rock mound.

Going all the way back to an elementary school field trip to the Moundville Archaeological Park in Hale County, I’ve been fascinated by Indian mounds. The mounds at Moundville are classic examples of the large earthen mounds that were made by Indians across the Southeast. Most of these mounds are made out of packed clay and topsoil.

The other day, I was looking over a recent issue of “Stones & Bones,” the newsletter published by the Alabama Archaeological Society, and read a fascinating story by Jacksonville State University Professor Emeritus Harry Holstein. Holstein’s article was about “Memorial Stone Mounds,” a subject he devoted much of his long career to studying. His article included photos of some of the stone mounds he encountered over the years, and it was only then that I realized that I’d actually seen this type of thing in the woods before. I just didn’t know what I was looking at.

Holstein wrote that Indians would build these loose stone mounds for different reasons. They were either used as burial mounds or to memorialize a relative or an important tribal member. At other times, Indians built these mounds as a way to mark a border or to remember where a significant event occurred, for example, an important battle, a religious event or where someone important was killed or died.

Holstein noted that Indians in North America began constructing stone mounds in early prehistoric times, and stone structure sites can be found throughout Alabama and the Southeast. Often, these mounds would be built up over time as passing Indians would add stones to an already existing mound. In addition to stone mounds, Indians also built stone walls, stone prayer seats and other stone structures.

There is no doubt that Wilcox County is blessed with earthen Indian mounds. According to “Alabama Encyclopedia, Vol. I: Book of Facts,” there is a group of three Indian mounds four miles south of Furman and there’s another mound about three-fourths of a mile southwest of Webb’s Landing on the Alabama River. That book goes on to say that there is an “extensive mound” at Burford’s Crossing, about a half-mile south of Holly Ferry on the Alabama River.

Another Wilcox County mound can be found about three miles north of the mouth of Pine Barren Creek, on the south side, about 100 feet from the bank. This mound is four feet high and 100 feet in diameter. In addition, a group of four mounds can be found near Matthews Landing on the Alabama River.

But what about stone mounds? It’s well documented that Indians were living in what is now Wilcox County as far back as 9,000 B.C. (about 6,500 years before the Pyramids were built in Egypt), so they would have had ample time to build all sorts of structures, including stone mounds. With that said, the Wilcox County woods and countryside could be full of these undocumented stone mounds.

In the end, let me hear from you if you think you’ve ever run across one of these stone mounds while out walking in the woods. If you are like me, you may not have realized what you were looking at. Thanks to Holstein’s recent article, maybe more of these ancient sites will be documented in our neck of the woods.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Feb. 23, 2021

17 YEARS AGO
FEB. 26, 2004

Howell Heflin

Dr. James Lamar Jackson, a minister who worked with the Alabama Baptist State Convention, passed away Sun., Feb. 22, 2004 at his home in Evergreen. He was 86.

Barnes Family Medical Associates is pleased to announce that beginning March 1, Dr. Drew G. Freeman will begin seeing patients.
Dr. Freeman moved to Evergreen from Georgia where he completed his medical education.

Frankie Gibson, daughter of Robert and Lisa Gibson, won the AISA state spelling bee at Huntingdon College in Montgomery on Tues., Feb. 10, 2004. She is in the seventh grade at Sparta Academy.

Weatherman Harry Ellis reported that Evergreen received .02 inches of rain on Feb. 16.

Air Force Airman Justin D. Pemberton has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The Conecuh County Chapter of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association planted a tree in front of Evergreen Elementary School on Tues., Feb. 24, in celebration of Arbor Day. Evergreen Mayor Lomax Cassady, as well as members of Mrs. Kit Moss’s second grade class, were on hand for the tree planting ceremony. Don Stinson and Victor Howell represented the Conecuh chapter of the ATFA.

41 YEARS AGO
FEB. 28, 1980

Local weather reporter Earl Windham reported no rainfall in Evergreen between Feb. 18-24. He reported a high temperature of 81 degrees on Feb. 24 and a low of 24 on Feb. 18.

Chairman David L. Burt Jr. of the Conecuh County Commission recently conferred with U.S. Senator Howell Heflin and other Alabama congressional leaders in Washington concerning matters of importance to county residents, particularly pending water projects.

Jack Wainwright, president and chief executive of the First Alabama Bank of Conecuh County, has been appointed as the chairman in Conecuh County for presidential candidate George Bush.
A Reagan supporter in 1976, Wainwright will be coordinating Bush support in the county with the assistance of co-chairman David Hyde.

Cpl. Robert Grace, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hilary Grace Jr., Route 1, Castleberry, Ala., is participating with the 1st Infantry Division in Desert Warrior 80, a training exercise at Fort Irwin, Calif.

Heart Volunteers who were present at the recent reception held for them in Montgomery at the Governor’s Mansion are from left to right: Mrs. Nelda Bates, Mrs. Fob James, Mrs. Mary Tate, Vice President Conecuh Division, Mrs. Barbara Watson, President, Conecuh Division, and Ms. Mary Packard, Alabama Affiliate Field Director.

54 YEARS AGO
FEB. 23, 1967

Cope Funeral Home will be forced to cease operating its ambulance service effective March 1, Sam Cope said today. He said that impossibly high costs brought on by coverage under the wage and hour which started Feb. 1 made this move necessary.

The Spring Term of Circuit Court will be concluded here the week of March 13 with the trial of criminal cases. Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key will preside. District Attorney Ralph L. Jones of Monroeville and County Solicitor Henry J. Kinzer of Evergreen will prosecute for the state.
Twelve cases are set for trial on the docket, which runs through Thurs., March 16, according to Circuit Clerk Leon A. Salter.

The annual Miss Evergreen Pageant will be held on March 31, it is announced today by the Evergreen Band Boosters. The pageant is the one big money-raising project for the boosters each year with all funds realized being used in support of the Evergreen High Band.

The Conecuh County CowBelles and the Cattlemen held their annual banquet meeting on Jan. 31, 1967, at the Evergreen High School lunch room.
The following CowBelle officers were elected for 1967: Katie Sue Burt, President; Myrtle Robison, vice president; Louise Ptomey, treasurer; Marjorie Stacey, secretary.

70 YEARS AGO
FEB. 22, 1951

Chances are good that construction of the proposed Conecuh County hospital under the Hill-Burton Act may get underway this year or early in 1952. This statement was made this week by Clay H. Dean, Director of the hospital planning division of the State Department of Public Health in a letter to the Conecuh County Hospital Association.

Alma Martin Post No. 50 of the American Legion is being reorganized following a meeting at the courthouse Tuesday night. A number of interested veterans were at the meeting Tuesday night. Wallace Ward and Ed James were appointed as a membership committee and are now accepting dues and issuing membership cards.

The spring term of Conecuh County Circuit Court convened here Monday morning with Judge F.W. Hare presiding. The grand jury was organized with Hugh M. Brown as foreman and after an able charge by Judge Hare promptly began its investigations with the assistance of Circuit Solicitor A.H. Elliott and County Solicitor E.C. Page Jr.

Effective Mon., Feb. 19, J.R. Daughtry became local manager of the Piggly Wiggly, succeeding Mack Everage who had been here since this store was purchased by Euclid Cook of Andalusia last year. Mr. Everage has been transferred back to Andalusia as manager of the Piggly Wiggly store there.

91 YEARS AGO
FEB. 27, 1930

R.G. Bozeman, editor of The Evergreen Courant, announces that he has filed qualification papers with Secretary of State John W. Brandon and with the Chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee to become a candidate for the office of Representative in the legislature from Conecuh County. If his qualification papers are rejected by the Executive Committee, he states that he expects to be a candidate just the same. Bozeman was opposed to the Democratic Presidential nominee in the election of 1928.

Excavation began today on the site of the proposed telephone building located on Rural Street, just west of the Ellis Filling Station. The construction is being done by the Upchurch Construction Co. of Montgomery. The structure will be approximately 56 feet by 53 feet and will have a basement and one floor. It will be of concrete and brick with a select face brick front.

Mr. and Mrs. E.B. James spent Saturday and Sunday in Montgomery, where Mr. James attended the reunion of the famous Rainbow Division.

According to a telegram received Wednesday afternoon from Mayor J.L. Kelly, who with A.A. Williams is in Washington this week to present Evergreen’s bid for the location of the Veterans Hospital, this city’s chances are good. While nothing definite has occurred, it would seem from the tone of the telegram that the committee has reason for encouragement.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Feb. 22, 2021

World Champion Turkey Caller Eddie Salter.

24 YEARS AGO
FEB. 27, 1997

World Champion Turkey Caller Eddie Salter will be the featured speaker at an entertaining and informative dinner on Mon., March 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Bubba’s Barbecue. The cost is $15, which includes dinner. Tickets are available at the following locations: Vaughan Evergreen Medical Center, Home Center Plus and Brantley’s Tree Value Hardware. All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Butler County Motorsports Park will reopen for the 1997 racing season on Sat., March 1.
BCMP is South Alabama’s newest amateur stock car racing complex located six miles east of Greenville off Highway 10 on County Road 65. On the half-mile dirt oval, racers will compete in the hogg, hobby, novice, super-street, late model, pony and truck classes.
The track opened for its first season in June 1996. After breaking records last year, Tractor Director Jimmy Neese expects the new season to be even better.

37 YEARS AGO
FEB. 23, 1984

The Sparta Academy Warriors are shown with their state runner-up trophy as the No. 2 team in the Alabama Private School Association. The Warriors, coached by Headmaster Richard Brown, also won the District III championship. Kneeling are Tim Brantley, Jason Evers, Vince Watts, Al Etheridge, Connery Salter and Chad Grace, and standing from left, Thad Ellis, Russ Brown, Danny Reed, Jim Wagstaff, Britt McNeil and Mark Rigsby. Russ Brown and Al Etheridge were named to the All-State team.

The fish were biting! Mary Hawsey, Corine Holcombe and Wade Holcombe are shown with 75 pounds of catfish caught from Leonard Braxton’s pond.

The Conecuh County High School Tip Off Club will sponsor an Old Timer’s Basketball Tournament March 2 and 3 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Admission will be $1.
All graduates of CCHS and their spouses and parents are eligible to participate. There will be a $5 entry fee for each team. There will be two age groups for men: graduates to 35 years old and 35 and older. There will be two women’s teams. Drawing for the teams will be held Sat., Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. at the school gym.

49 YEARS AGO
FEB. 24, 1972

Coming - March 15, 16, 17, 18 – Coliseum – Montgomery – World Championship Rodeo – Starring in person at every performance Roy Rogers, Dale Evans – 8 p.m. Wed.-Sat. – Sat. Mat. 3 p.m. – 2 hours of Exciting Entertainment – Also Featuring the Songs and Music of the World Famous Sons of the Pioneers – 5 Big Performances – Order Tickets By Mail! Sponsored by Southeastern Livestock Exposition and Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.

E.L. McInnis is seeking election to a full term of office as Chairman of the Conecuh County Commission. He was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the late Guy N. Mason.
A native of Barbour County, McInnis came to Conecuh County as a young man as a teacher and coach and has lived most of his adult life here. He is familiarly known as ‘Coach’ by former students and others because of his many years service in athletics.
Coach is in an executive position with Flexible Southern Co. at the present time in addition to his duties as chairman. Coach and his wife, Sarah, a retired teacher, live on Bruner Avenue.

56 YEARS AGO
FEB. 25, 1965

County teams lose in meet: Both Conecuh County High School and Lyeffion High School were defeated by Frisco City in the Region 1, Area 1, Class A basketball tournament held in Frisco City last week. Castleberry was runner-up.
Lyeffion lost to Frisco in the semifinals Thursday night. The Jackets led through most of the first and second periods, but the Whippets hit a hot streak shortly before the half and built up a seven-point lead by intermission. The Jackets could never overcome the deficit in the second half.
The Blue Devils, seeded first in the meet, were edged by a hot-shooting Frisco team, 78-76, in the finals Friday night. It was a close one all the way, but the home court advantage got Frisco by the Blue Devils. Pine Hill downed Frisco in the finals Saturday night and will play in the state meet in Tuscaloosa this week.

Area cage meet underway here: The Region 1, Area 2, Class AA basketball tournament is underway here at the Evergreen High School’s Memorial Gymnasium, running through Friday night.
Last night, J.U. Blacksher of Uriah played Flomaton in the opening game with Evergreen meeting Georgiana in the final game. Tonight it will be the Uriah-Flomaton winner vs. top-seeded Monroeville at seven o’clock. The Georgiana-Evergreen winner will play second-seeded T.R. Miller of Brewton in the nightcap at 8:30.

69 YEARS AGO
FEB. 28, 1952

Aggies Blitz Lyeffion For 62 To 22 Victory: The Evergreen High Aggies had their best night of the season here last Thursday as they swamped Lyeffion’s Yellow Jackets, 62 to 22.
Shirley Frazier and Gwyn Daniels shared the scoring honors with 19 points each. William Stewart had seven; Pace Bozeman and Wayne (Dog) Douglas, six each; Gillis Morgan, four; and Sammy Robison, one.
David Eddins got 10 points to lead Lyeffion. Booker had six; Frank Burt, four; and Hilton Dees, two.

Win Hungry Aggies Win 3 In One Night From Greenville 5’s: Coach Wendell Hart’s victory-starved Evergreen High School cagers had a feast of victories Tuesday night in Memorial Gym, defeating Greenville’s Junior, ‘B’ and Varsity teams. The Aggie varsity wrapped up its fourth win in the last six starts by closing fast to win a 51-43 verdict from the Tigers.
Shirley Frazier paced the Aggie scorers with 21 points. Pace Bozeman led the team on rebounds, played a good floor game and scored 12 points in one of his top performances. Gillis Morgan swished in eight points, Gwyn Daniels and Ward Alexander Jr., two each.
Diamond topped the Greenville players with 12 points. Terrel had 10; Rainey, nine; Coker and Stabler, five each; and Riley, two.
In the preliminary attractions, the Aggie Bees won, 35-20, and the Juniors by 34-18.

91 YEARS AGO
FEB. 27, 1930

Kelley Brothers On All-District Team: The all-district team selected by the coaches of the schools participated in the district tournament at Foley last week shows the Evergreen Aggies with two places on the first team and one place on the second team. Elmer Kelley, Aggie center, won a place on the first team as center and his brother, Wilbur, tied with Beasley of Foley for one of the forward positions. Allen Johnson was selected as forward on the second team. The Aggies won more places on the two teams than any other organization.
First team: Shearer (Murphy), W. Kelley (Evergreen) and Beasley (Foley), forwards; E. Kelley (Evergreen), center; Hall (Bay Minette), Nihart (Bay Minette), guards.
Second team: Johnson (Evergreen), Gallagher (Foley), forwards; Wynne (Murphy), center; Blount (Murphy), Noeten (Robertsdale), guards.

Jay, Fla. To Play Georgiana Here: The fast Jay, Fla. High School will meet the undefeated Georgiana Athletic Club in Evergreen at 8:00 o’clock at the National Guard Armory. These two teams are supposed to be the best in their sections. Georgiana holds victories over Troy Normal, Dothan Athletic Club, Troy Town Team and many others. They are undefeated this season and have played a number of games, running up high scores in all games. Everyone knows what a good team Jay, Fla. has. If you saw the game between Jay and the Evergreen Aggies, you know what a good team they have. The Aggies defeated, 15-14. If you missed this game, ask someone who saw it. Anyway, the same team will be back in Evergreen Saturday night. Many have picked Jay to win over Georgiana. Make your plans to see this big game. Don’t forget, at the Armory, 8:00 o’clock in Evergreen – Georgiana Athletic Club v. Jay, Fla. Be there.

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

Thomas Franklin Lewis

13 YEARS AGO
FEB. 21, 2008

Former mayor dies: Monroeville and the surrounding area lost a friend Wednesday morning with the death of former mayor Windell Owens.
(Following World War II and graduation from law school), he opened his law practice in Monroeville and practiced law for 60 years until his retirement in August of last year.
Owens served as a councilman and later as mayor from 1968-72. He was the county attorney, served on the State Democratic Executive Committee and the State Bar Association.

Panthers advance to regional: J.F. Shields’ varsity boys posted a 49-36 win over Sweet Water Friday night in Beatrice to earn a sixth straight berth in the Class 1A South Region tournament.
Junior center Demetrius Finklea posted a double double to lead the Panthers in last Friday’s win over Sweet Water. He had 24 points and 12 rebounds.
(Other top players in that game were Demarcus Bonham, Rico Crosby, Steve Finklea, Cordero Fountain and Roderick Johnson. Jerome Sanders was Shields’ head coach.)

Lynch is the city’s new postmaster: Tom Lynch is counting on 13 years of service with the U.S. Postal Service and 25 years in the U.S. Marines to help him run the Monroeville Post Office efficiently.
Lynch, a native of Pardee, Wisc., was recently named postmaster of the Monroeville Post Office.
Lynch was a delivery supervisor in Winston-Salem, N.C. prior to moving to Monroeville two weeks ago.

39 YEARS AGO
FEB. 18, 1982

New water office opens: Monroeville water system manager Johnny Snyder shows water board secretary-treasurer Janice Andress and board member Dr. Jack Hines features of the company’s new building on West Claiborne Street. The new office building opened for business Monday and will be open an hour longer each day now. The new pre-cast concrete building contains a main office and lobby, manager’s office, secretary-treasurer’s office, extra office, board room and employee lounge.

Little League elects officers, directors: The Monroeville Little League elected officers and directors Tuesday night of last week.
Mike Kimbrel was named president, and Ray Owens was elected treasurer.
Board members include Johnny Ikner, Johnny Pleasant, Ray Owens, Bobby Marshall, Raymond Harrison, Willie Williams, Ronnie Daniels and Charles Black.

Commissary closes doors: The Vredenburgh Commissary closed its doors after business Saturday.
Vredenburgh Mayor Frank Stewart III, one of the co-owners of the commissary, said economics forced the closing of one of the area’s landmarks.
A group of Vredenburgh citizens bought the store in September 1980 and leased the building from the heirs of Lee Thomas, who owned the store for years with the late Sly Rutherford. The store was closed for a short time in 1980 before the group of men bought it so residents of the small town would have a place to buy gasoline and other necessities.
Since the Vredenburgh Mill closed about two years ago, the unemployment rate has soared in the area. 

63 YEARS AGO
FEB. 20, 1958

Pneumonia Ruling In Man’s Death: Death caused from pneumonia was the ruling by Nelson Grubbs, State Toxicologist from Mobile, here Monday in the death of Albert Bonner, 37-year-old furniture store employee, whose body was discovered Sunday afternoon. Monroe County Sheriff Charlie Sizemore stated Mr. Grubbs reached the decision following an autopsy here Monday. According to Mr. Grubbs’ report, the Sheriff declared, Bonner had been dead since some time Saturday night. His body was discovered around 2 p.m. Sunday in a lot of the Monroe County Livestock Market by Cleve Thomas, who lived in the vicinity.

A new road asphalting project is being planned in Monroe County, Probate Judge E.T. Millsap said Wednesday.
To cover approximately eight miles, the project will begin at the old Highway 84 east of Excel, continue past the Beulah Camp Ground, around to Hall’s Crossroads, and then westward by the residences of Seaborn and John Wright to intersect the Excel-Wildfork Road. The project will be conducted jointly by the state and county, Judge Millsap pointed out.

Kiwanis To See Film: Operation of the federal reserve banking system will be explained in a film at the Friday meeting of the Monroeville Kiwanis Club Friday at the Hi-Ho Restaurant.

Seven Monroe County men will be summoned to fill Selective Service quotas during the month of March, Miss Jewel Coxwell, clerk of the local draft board, said Wednesday. All of the men are to leave Monroeville March 3. They include one man for pre-induction physical examination, two for voluntary induction and four for regular induction.

88 YEARS AGO
FEB. 16, 1933

FIRE DESTROYS THE CASEY HOME AT EXCEL: The home of Mr. A.L. Casey of Excel, together with all household effects and clothing, was destroyed by fire last Friday night. The fire had gained such headway when it was discovered that the family barely escaped with their lives.

The new Slingshot Club of Frisco City met on Friday night of last week. The following officers were elected: President, Leighton McNeil; vice president, General Castillow; secretary-treasurer, H.B. Lee. This club has for its purpose the promoting of better sports among the men and boys of Frisco City. It is a pure, clean, outdoor sporting club and all men and boys who will are asked to join and share in real wholesome fun.

Miss Jennie Faulk is at the market this week selecting her Spring stock of millinery, coats, dresses and notions.

MCHS Band Will Play for Mardi Gras: The Monroe County High School Band has received an invitation from John D. Logan, chairman of the Mardi Gras arrangements committee, to play again this year for the Mardi Gras celebration. This is the third consecutive year that the local school band has received this honor. The boys are planning to make the trip. Mardi Gras will be celebrated in Mobile Feb. 24-28.

Mrs. B.M. Simmons sustained painful injuries last week when the hot water tank in her kitchen exploded during the cold snap.

113 YEARS AGO
FEB. 20, 1908

Asberry Wiggins, who has been a familiar figure on the streets of Monroeville for many years, is dead. While he was regarded as of unsound mind, he was harmless and useful in many ways to the citizens of the community. For many years he supplied the motive power which operated The Journal’s press.

Miss Jennie Faulk left a few days ago for the markets where she will spend several days selecting her stock of spring millinery.

The Journal is requested to announce that the Knights of Pythias will give an oyster supper at the residence of W.L. Middleton, Jones Mill, on Friday night, Feb. 27. Everybody invited.

We are requested to announce that there will be special exercises commemorating Washington’s birthday, held at the Institute, beginning promptly at 2:30 Friday afternoon, Feb. 21. The public is invited.

Prof. J.M. Sowell is at home for a brief vacation, having closed his school at Wallace.

MANISTEE: Mr. Eugene Parvin is assistant postmaster and railroad agent at this place at the present, but will be the real postmaster and agent in the near future. Mr. Parvin is a gentleman of high character and is always ready to serve the public.

PETERMAN: Quite a crowd met at the home of Mr. R.L. Lewis last Saturday to celebrate the 83^rd birthday of his father, Mr. Thos. F. Lewis. Mr. Lewis is supposed to be the oldest citizen of this community. We hope we may all live to meet Mr. Lewis on such an occasion again, it being a birth dinner and log rolling combined made a goodly number in all.

Singleton tells of family ties, regular trips to site of Battle of Shiloh

Albert Sidney Johnston

(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 “Return to Shiloh” was originally published in the Feb. 5, 1976 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Today, I will take leave from the happenings of our county to share with my readers a secret that I have kept within myself for a number of years. Each year as spring approaches, and the month of April draws near, this strange feeling comes over me.

Don’t expect to read within the next paragraphs that during the month of April I will turn into a werewolf, or mount up on the wings of an eagle and soar to great heights, over great distances. Because this is not the case.

During the War Between the States, my great-grandfather, William Singleton, cast his lot and fortunes with the Confederate army. It was during the last days of March 1862, under the command of General Albert Sidney Johnston, that he, along with 40,000 other troops, moved toward Corinth, Miss., in an effort to crush General Grant’s army before it could be reinforced.

On Sunday, the 6^th of April 1862, the two armies met head-on at a landing on the Tennessee River, known as Pittsburg Landing. The great battle later became known as the Battle of Shiloh, the name derived from a small log church that stood near the center of the battlefield.

Sometime during the two days of fighting, my great-grandfather was killed in the savage engagements that took place there on the bluffs overlooking the Tennessee.

As the Army of the South retreated back toward Corinth, the awesome task of burying the ones that had fallen in battle was undertaken by a small detail left behind by the Union Army.

The Confederate dead were buried in several large mass graves, or burial trenches. Each one contained more than 700 bodies of the men in grey. Somewhere among these who sleep in their crowded and desolate surroundings sleeps my kin, who I am told I favor. Here beneath the soil he tried to defend, he waits for the time when the final bugle will sound and the last roll call will take place.

So each year, for reasons I cannot explain, I get the feeling that I must go once again to Shiloh. And each time I walk across the fields where the bitter struggles raged, where brother fought brother, and father against son, I feel that somewhere in time, I too, was there. As I walk past the Hornet’s Nest and Bloody Pond, and the Peach Orchard, I feel that I am in familiar surroundings. And I feel relieved and am glad that I came here once more.

I know too, that regardless of the times in the past that I’ve been here, I will return again each chance I get to Shiloh, when the dogwoods bloom.

(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 also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. 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.)

This week marks three years since the disappearance of Abram Arthur Johnson in Conecuh County, Ala.

Abram Arthur Johnson

This week marks the three-year anniversary of the disappearance of a missing Baldwin County man whose vehicle was found abandoned in Conecuh County in February 2018.

According to officials with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), 60-year-old Abram Arthur Johnson was last seen on Feb. 20, 2018 when he left his residence in Fairhope. He never returned and remains missing to this day.

Three days after he was last seen – on Feb. 23, 2018 – Johnson’s vehicle was found abandoned near a powerline cut near Owassa in Conecuh County. Johnson was reported missing to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department on March 19, 2018, and ALEA officials issued a Missing Adult Alert regarding Johnson on May 1, 2018. ALEA’s search for Johnson remains active and ongoing.

ALEA officials described Johnson as being a white male with gray, partially white hair and brown eyes. He is 6-foot-3 and weighs about 204 pounds. Johnson would now be 63 years old.

In the years since his disappearance, Baldwin County Sheriff’s officials have reported that, after information regarding Johnson’s disappearance was published on social media and on Mobile-area television stations, the Sheriff’s Department received two different calls regarding Johnson’s whereabouts. Both callers said that they’d seen an individual matching Johnson’s description panhandling in the same general area in Baldwin County. Investigators have been unable to verify if that individual was in fact Johnson.

Anyone in the reading audience with information regarding the whereabouts of Johnson is asked to call the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office at 251-937-0202.

Johnson’s case is one of at least three active missing person’s cases with strong ties to Conecuh County. Officials are still investigating the disappearance of Shari Christine Saunders, 67, of Norfolk, Va., whose red 2010 Toyota Corolla was found abandoned on Aug. 12, 2018. Saunders was last seen alive on video surveillance footage at an Evergreen gas station on Aug. 5, 2018, and her car was found a week later on an unnamed road about three miles off the Range Road in southwestern Conecuh County. Her disappearance remained unsolved as of Tuesday afternoon.

Law enforcement officers are also still investigating the disappearance of 81-year-old woman, Earsie Lee Richardson, who lived in a brick house next door to the Nymph Fire Station. She was reported missing on June 20, 2020. Richardson was last seen wearing yellow pajama pants and a red and grey shirt in the area of Long View Road at Hamden Ridge. She too remained missing as of Tuesday afternoon.

Anyone with information about any of the disappearances mentioned above are asked to call the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Department at 578-1260.

Conecuh County's old Diadem community lies on ancient Indian path along Burnt Corn Creek

New Hope AME Zion Church

As many of you will remember, last Thursday was a wet and dreary day. Despite the wet weather, the urge to do some exploring hit me after lunch, so I climbed in my truck and struck off down the Loree Road towards Brantley Switch. At Brantley Switch, I turned north on County Road 15, and three miles later I pulled over at the New Hope AME Zion Church.

As I stood there admiring this stately, old brick church, small drops of water began to bead up on my black jacket as a fine mist of rain blew across the church yard, pushed by the warm afternoon winds. According to the church’s cornerstone, the building was erected in 1968. The Rev. S. Moore Jr. was the church’s pastor at that time.

While there, I spent a few minutes looking around the graveyard that’s just north of the church. Just eye-balling it, I’d say this grave yard contains at least 250 graves, maybe more. The oldest grave that I was able to find belonged to the Rev. Robert A. Green, who died in 1879.

This cemetery contains many old graves, many of which predate the founding of the nearby church. It was then that I remembered that old county maps show that this place was once called “Diadem.” Mentions of this old community can be found in many old Conecuh County newspapers, and the old Diadem community was once so heavily populated that it even had its own post office from 1892 to 1911.

No doubt many travelers passed this way in years gone by. The stretch of County Road 15 that runs from Burnt Corn, through Diadem and Brantley Switch, to Belleville is one of the oldest roads in Alabama. In fact, it was built along an old Indian path called the “Furrow Path,” an ancient path whose origins date far back into shrouded prehistory.

Burnt Corn Creek lies to the west of this place and runs parallel to County Road 15 all the way to where the road peters out at I-65. There is no telling how many old Indian village sites and burial mounds lie along this historic creek and former Indian trail. No doubt there is much to be discovered beneath the ground in these areas.

The rain strengthened, so I got back in my truck. As I sat there letting the heater warm up, I remember the time that I came to this community in February 2018 to meet Marcus Lee. On that day, Marcus, a lifelong hunter and outdoorsman, took me into the woods to show me where he and other relatives had had several strange encounters with several Bigfoot-type creatures. But that is a story for another day.

Those of you familiar with this area will know that there is also an historical marker located less than a mile north of the church and graveyard. This historical marker tells of the first school in Conecuh County, which was known as the “Student’s Retreat.” The land where the school was located was owned by John Green, who was also the school’s first teacher.

Eventually, I pointed my truck back towards Evergreen, and as I made my way back to the county seat, I could not help but think about all that I’d seen during my short field trip to the old Diadem community. If anyone in the reading audience knows any more about the history of this area, please let me hear from you. I’m especially interested in hearing about any old Indian sites – or sightings of strange creatures – from this historic corner of Conecuh County.

(Got a comment or question? E-mail Lee Peacock at courantnewsdesk@gmail.com.)

Wilcox County's Darlington community was named after prominent Washington, D.C. lawyer

Joseph J. Darlington

East of Camden, about halfway down the three-mile stretch of County Road 51 between State Highway 10 and State Highway 28, you’ll find yourself in the old Darlington community.

I was out riding around the other day, headed west on Highway 10 towards Camden, when I decided to cut north up County Road 51. I had not been that way in many years, so I took my time as I eased up the road towards Darlington. On this short drive, I encountered a couple of late season deer hunters, including a pair cruising along in a desert tan Humvee.

A few minutes later, I found myself in “downtown” Darlington, a place where you can see far and wide due to the lay of the land. A number of country homes and farms dot the landscape there as well as several sizeable ponds. All was quiet as I pulled out my trusty National Geographic map of the area and studied it from the cab of my truck.

On the map, I could see that Darlington lies between Little Wolf Creek and Prairie Creek, making this a prime location for ancient Indians as well as early pioneer farmers, two groups that would have made good use of the fresh water provided by both creeks. No doubt there are many old Indian village sites and burial mounds to be found in and around this area, and I would not be surprised to hear that plows have turned up a number of arrowheads and pieces of pottery over the years.

Years ago, Darlington was once so heavily populated that it even had its own post office. Old newspapers say that the post office was established in 1904, two miles north of Rosebud near the home of J.P. Miller. Joe Lambert Jr. was the first postmaster.

Interestingly, the post office (and community) takes its name from distinguished Washington, D.C. lawyer, Joseph J. Darlington, a native of Due West, South Carolina. Newspaper sources indicate that Darlington had “many college friends” in Wilcox County, and that the Darlington community was a “well named place.” The post office remained open until 1976, so some in the reading audience may well remember where it was once located.

Records reflect that Joseph J. Darlington attended Erskine College in South Carolina before attending law school at George Washington University. One is left to wonder who his Wilcox County friends were and where they attended school together.

If you ever find yourself in Washington, D.C., take a few minutes to visit Judiciary Park at the corner of 5^th Street and D Street. There you will find a gilded bronze statue known as the Darlington Memorial Fountain. Darlington was so highly respected and well thought of at the time of his death that his friends had the statue erected in his honor.

In the end, let me hear from you if you know any more about the history of the old Darlington community. I’m especially interested in hearing more about Joseph J. Darlington’s connections to Wilcox County’s residents. Also, let me hear from you if you know of any old Indian sites in the Darlington area.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Feb. 16, 2021

Tonea Stewart

13 YEARS AGO
FEB. 21, 2008

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 1.25 inches of rain on Feb. 12, 0.01 inches of rain on Feb. 16 and 1.00 inches of rain on Feb. 17. He reported a high of 74 degrees on Feb. 12 and a low of 24 degrees on Feb. 13.

Davis receives Reeves Award: The Conecuh County Volunteer Fire Control Association held its annual awards banquet Saturday night at Hillcrest High School, and bestowed the coveted Lois E. Reeves Memorial Award on Matthew Davis.
In addition to Davis’ award, four other firefighters were named lifetime members of the association. They included Davis, Victor Howell, Billy Mims and Clayton Cobb Sr.

Famed actress to speak at HHS: Evergreen will get a little taste of Hollywood next Wednesday when award-winning actress Tonea Stewart visits Hillcrest High School.
Stewart, best known for her recurring role as Aunt Etta on the TV series “In the Heat of the Night” and for her performance in the movie version of John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill,” will speak to Hillcrest students on Wednesday, beginning at 9:45 a.m. in the school cafetorium.
Stewart, a native of Greenwood, Miss., lives in Montgomery and works at Alabama State University, where she is Chair of the Theatre Arts Department.

Orange Beach names Repton ‘Sister City’ – The Repton Town Council unanimously approved a proposal Monday night that officially makes the Town of Repton and the City of Orange Beach “Sister Cities.”
Orange Beach City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Silvers told the council that this is the first time ever that Orange Beach has named sister city, and that Orange Beach city officials planned to approve the sister city agreement on Tuesday night.

44 YEARS AGO
FEB. 10, 1977

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windam reported 0.54 inches of rain on Feb. 10, 0.01 inches on Feb. 11 and 1.36 inches on Feb. 12. He reported a high of 73 on Feb. 10 and a low of 29 on Feb. 14.

Carol Kendrick is congratulated on her spelling accomplishments by Sparta Academy Headmaster Jack Miller. She won first place in the District III Spelling Bee held at Sparta and then won second place in the Alabama Private Schools Association State Spelling Bee held Feb. 4 at Huntingdon College, Montgomery. Carol is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kendrick.

Four area Junior Misses took time out from a busy Alabama Junior Miss Pageant schedule to pay a visit to Lt. Gov. George McMillan. The Junior Misses are Miss Escambia County, Connie Lynn of Brewton; Miss Butler County, Debra Arnsdorff of Greenville; Miss Conecuh County, Rebekah Williamson of Evergreen; and Miss Monroe County, Marsha King of Frisco City.

City Council okays hiring new policeman: The Evergreen City Council approved the employment of a new officer by the police department. Randall Hanks of Lenox is the new officer.

The Spring Term of Circuit Court, Conecuh County, will begin here Monday morning at nine o’clock with Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key presiding. After the formal opening of court, Judge Key will empanel the grand jury which will begin its deliberations with the assistance of District Attorney Ted Pearson of Monroeville and Assistant District Attorney David T. Hyde Jr. of Evergreen.

63 YEARS AGO
FEB. 20, 1958

Cold Weather Cools Conecuh County Folks: “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” These familiar words were spoken by Mark Twain many years ago, but the folks out at Uncle Sam’s weather station do something about it, they measure it.
According to the data gathered by the airport, Evergreen was blanketed by approximately two inches of snow last Wednesday night and generally speaking, it has been colder than an ice house during the past few days.
(The weather station recorded a high of 57 degrees on Fri., Feb. 14, and a low of 14 on Tues., Feb. 18.)

Starr Smith Speaks To Local Scouts’ Father-Son Banquet: Starr Smith, one of the state’s top program speakers, will make the principal address at the annual Father-Son banquet of Evergreen’s Troop 40, Boy Scouts of America, tonight at the City School lunchroom.
Mr. Smith, public relations director in Alabama for the Portland Cement Association, will speak on the “Super-Highways Come to Alabama.” He will be introduced by Knud Nielsen Jr.
Mr. Smith traveled widely as newspaperman and radio commentator prior to entering the public relations field. His travels took him to 15 foreign countries and all of the 48 states.
He formerly was a news reporter-commentator for National Broadcasting Co., correspondent for Newsweek Magazine, political writer for Mobile Press-Register and public relations officer on staff of General Eisenhower in Europe during World War II.

88 YEARS AGO
FEB. 16, 1933

W.L. McCREARY POSSESSES DIME COINED IN 1821: In the issue of Feb. 2, in the column “Today and Tomorrow,” written by Frank Parker Stockbridge, there was an item referring to old coins, mentioning several which were quite rare and very valuable. This item has caused considerable interest among a number of Courant readers who have collected old coins and a number of inquiries have been made at this office. These inquiries have revealed some interesting stories about old coins.
Among these perhaps the most interesting is hat of Mr. W.L. McCreary of Brooklyn, who was here Wednesday to show a dime coined in 1821, which makes it 112 years old. The most interesting thing in connection with this dime is the fact that Mr. McCreary found it on the plantation now owned by him and his family, which was formerly owned by an old-time slave owner settler. Mr. McCreary found the dime some four or five years ago in one of the old plantation roads. He said his mother previously found a half dollar on the place but it has passed out of their possession and he does not know what date it bore.
Mr. McCreary was interested to know whether the dime he now has is of unusual value and if so, where he might find a buyer.
In Mr. Stockbridge’s article referred to above, mention was made of the rarity of the Silver Dollar coined in 1904, the statement being made that there are only four or five of them known to be in existence. Mr. P.H. Ward was here this week and states that his son has one of these coins in his possession. He too would like to get in touch with persons or firms desiring to buy such a coin.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Feb. 15, 2021

13 YEARS AGO
FEB. 21, 2008

Sparta comes up short in OT: Four points.
That’s all that separated Sparta Academy’s varsity girls basketball team from a shot at the AISA Class AA state title after a heart-wrenching 48-44 overtime loss to Lowndes Academy last Thursday.
The loss to Lowndes came in the Final Four round of the state tournament, which was played at the Catherine Dixon Roland Arena at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.
Mallory Kendrick, a five-foot-nine junior, led Sparta with 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. BreAnna Pate followed with 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Morgan Harden recorded eight points, four rebounds, an assist and seven steals.
Erica Palmer finished the game with seven points, nine rebounds, an assist and a steal. Christin Booker collected three points and a rebound. Susan Ann Cook posted six rebounds and a steal.
(Other top Sparta players in that game included Hayden Armuelles, Camarena Godwin, Erica Palmer and Ashton Talbot.)

Jags close season against Aggies: Hillcrest High School’s varsity boys basketball team closed out its 2007-2008 season with a 61-59 loss against Jackson High School.
The loss cam during the sub-regional round of the Class 4A state playoffs Friday night in Evergreen.
Freshman DeAndre Lyons and Taft Lark, a junior, led Hillcrest with 18 points each. Sophomore Lawrence Bennett followed with 11 points for the Jags.
(Other top Hillcrest players in that game included Aaron Dees, Clarence Jackson, Cleveland Knight and Antonio Lewis.)

38 YEARS AGO
FEB. 18, 1982

Sparta teams eliminated at district meet: The Sparta Academy girls won their opening game, but were defeated in the second round in the Alabama Private Schools District III Basketball Tournament played at Fort Dale Academy in Greenville, Feb. 9-11. The boys varsity was eliminated in the first round by Fort Dale, 90-78.
Lynn Hyde was named to the all-tournament team and she and Cheri Johnson were named all-district. Chris Blatz was on the all-district team and Russ Brown on the all-tournament team, according to Sports Information Director Byron Warren Jr.
Sparta’s girls beat Monroe Academy, 41-28, in the opening round. Cheri Johnson and Lynn Hyde scored 10 points each; Tammy Booker, eight; Angie Stuckey, two; Jerolyn Dean, Sara Cope and Jan Coker, two each; and Tina Bybee, one.
Wilcox Academy, the ultimate district champions, beat Sparta’s girls, 58-21. Lynn Hyde had nine points; Angie Stuckey, four; Lisa Brown and Cheri Johnson, three each; and Tina Bybee, two.
Sparta’s boys varsity lost to Fort Dale in spite of having four players shoot inn double digits: Vance Watts, 20, Russ Brown, 16, Chris Blatz, 14, and Russ Raines, 12. Wes Brown had six, Scotty Grace and Britt McNeill, four each, and Joe McInvale, two.

Homecoming was observed Sat., Jan. 30, at Patrick Henry State Junior College as the Patriots defeated Enterprise State Junior College by a score of 63-57. Maids and the Queen were selected by the student body. The homecoming court are Regenia Henry of Jackson and Arthur Sharp of Peterman, Cheryl England and Linzey Coston of Thomasville, Queen Natholie Bentley of Monroeville and Desak Hicks of Grove Hill, Renee Martin and Dale Jones of Sweet Water, Gwyn Brown of Repton and Rusty Middleton of Monroeville, Deborah Horton of Monroeville and Ron Cumlander of Grove Hill.

63 YEARS AGO
FEB. 20, 1958

Hi-Lites of E.H.S. – Girls Basketball Tournament: After triple overtime, the fourth period girls’ physical education class, the Black Eagles, defeated the White Sox, fifth period class, 24-22.
The high scorer for the Black Eagles was Jean Brooks with 11 points. She was followed up by Nancy Watson with nine and Vivian Anderson with four.
Laurice Adams was high scorer for the White Sox with 11 points. Georgiana White had six, Jane Johnson had three and Carolyn Wilson had two.
At the half, the Black Eagles had 12 points, and the White Sox had nine points. The score was tied at 18 points at the end of the fourth quarter.
The $20.80 received from admission will be used to purchase new equipment for the physical education classes.

China Wins Invitation Tourney: China received the scare of its life Saturday night, Feb. 15, but retained enough composure to eke a 35-30 overtime victory over the Lime Hill Hawks, to climax a wild and wooly day and night of basketball.
The Lime Hill Hawks, coached by Leon Randolph, had been spoilers in the tournament before. They had to eliminate a tough CCTS Jr. High team to meet the China aggregation. Most of the players and coaches were of the opinion that the championship game would be played between CCTS and China. Lime Hill had something positive to say about this and promptly eliminated a favored CCTS team in the second round.

88 YEARS AGO
FEB. 16, 1933

Grove Hill To Play S.S.A.S. Loopers: Grove Hill High School will meet the S.S.A.S. basketball team at the local gym Friday night in a schedule game bearing on the conference standing of the two teams. The visitors have an enviable reputation on the basketball court and the local team is looking for a hard fight from the down-staters.
The Aggies lost an impromptu tussle to Miller High of Brewton last Saturday night, the game having been arranged after Springhill of Mobile had cancelled the game scheduled with that outfit. Springhill’s cancellation was made necessary because of the bad weather prevailing prior to game time, road conditions making the trip impractical for the Gulf City boys.

Local Baseball Team Is Being Organized: Plans for entering a club in one of the baseball leagues operating in contiguous territory are being considered by local enthusiasts, it has been learned. According to present plans, a club will be organized from strictly amateur local talent. An application has been filed for entry of the local club in the South Alabama League, but definite action on this application cannot be taken until it is established whether that league will operate with the same clubs as were members last season.
Local fans have been approached by representatives of other independent teams with a view to organization of a league embracing other towns in the territory adjacent to Evergreen.
While no promises have as yet been made, it is a certainty that the local club will be able to enter one of the leagues, if organization plans go through as proposed.
Loyce Hyde, at the L.D. King Store Co., is in charge of the local club’s affairs. Those interested in baseball for Evergreen this season should see Mr. Hyde.

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

36 YEARS AGO
FEB. 14, 1985

Cofield joins Journal staff: Larry Cofield, a native and lifelong resident of the Repton area, has been named a reporter for The Monroe Journal. He began working part-time in December and has been full-time since the first of January.
He served five years in the U.S. Army, including 19 months in the Vietnam War as a signal corps clerk and courier.

In state playoffs Tigers finish second: Monroe County High School’s girls basketball team’s outstanding season came to an end Saturday when it lost 72-42 to Hartselle in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s 5A state championship game in Birmingham.
The game, which saw sophomore Stephanie Richardson score 20 points to lead MCHS, was well out of the Tigers’ reach by halftime.
(Other top MCHS players in that game included Bridget Brown, Becky Hairelson, Barbara Lang, Carla McKenzie, Brenda Stallworth and Jennifer Stallworth.)

Library donation: Evergreen Mayor Pat Poole donates a copy of a book he recently published entitled “Sparta: 1821-1866” to Monroe County librarian Ann Pridgen. The book, which includes some Monroe County history, is a history of Sparta, the former Conecuh County seat until Evergreen was designated county seat in 1866. Poole, vice president of Poole Trucklines, said 96-year-old Lizzie Stallworth, who lives on Murder Creek in Conecuh County, inspired him to write the book. The book contains an interview with Mrs. Stallworth, as well as historical data and Civil War military history.

61 YEARS AGO
FEB. 11, 1960

Rescue Team Is Aim Of Meeting Tonight: A countywide “rescue team” will be organized at a meeting tonight (Thursday) in Frisco City. Formation of the voluntary organization is being backed by a number of Frisco City businesses and the State Highway Patrol in Monroe County. Its purpose will be to offer assistance in disasters, location of bodies in drownings, fires and other tragedies. Anyone interested in the proposed organization should contact George Burns or Claud Wilkerson, both of Frisco City.

Uriah, Seeded First In District, Will Seek Title For Second Year: The J.U. Blacksher High School basketball quintet of Uriah, last year’s First District Class A winner, was seeded first for this meet scheduled Feb. 24-27 at Frisco City High School, Frisco City.
Coaches in the district, meeting Saturday in Chatom, seeded Thomasville second, T.R. Miller High of Brewton third and Flomaton fourth.
(Other high school teams in the district tournament that year included Alba, Beatrice, Castleberry, Chatom, Coffeeville, Excel, Fairhope Organic, Fruitdale, Grand Bay, Leroy, Lyeffion, Millry and Monroe County High.)

Approximately 20 persons gathered at the Hi Ho Restaurant Wednesday at noon to make plans for the annual Boy Scout fund drive in Monroe County. E.G. Michaels of Monroeville, general chairman of the campaign, said this year’s effort will include the raising of funds for both the construction of a new 940-acre Boy Scout camp near DeFuniak Springs, Fla. and the regular operating budget of the Gulf Coast Council. Community chairmen in the campaign include the Rev. Q.T. Curtis, Monroeville; Wiley Long, Frisco City; and Rufus Garrett, Uriah.

86 YEARS AGO
FEB. 14, 1935

The home of Mr. J.R. Carter Sr. on the Drewry Road was damaged by fire on Monday night about 10:30 o’clock. The flames were under control before the fire had time to spread and the damage was confined to a small part of the house. The fire is thought to have started from a hot chimney.

Plans are being made to open baseball practice at Blacksher during the first or second week in February, if the weather permits. Twenty boys are expected to report for the first practice. Among those will be: Cardwell, Elihu Donald, Murphy, Milstead, Leon Lane, Van Durant, Black, Cecil Lane and Norman Durant, all of whom were regulars during the past season. Harris, Rabon, House, Mason, Emfinger and Leonard Donald are expected to give the regulars of the 1934 season a nip and tuck battle for the positions.

Carrie Belle Lambert is held in the local jail following an attempt to poison Mrs. Herman Eddins of Frisco City. The Lambert woman was cook in the Eddins home. Mrs. Eddins, whose occupation kept her from home during the early part of the day, was in the habit of returning shortly before noon and often drank a cup of coffee upon her arrival.
On Tuesday of last week, Mrs. Eddins returned at her usual hour and found that the cook had already made coffee. Lambert then served her a cup of that drink which contained a dose of poison. Mrs. Eddins is recovering from the effects of the illness brought on by the poison.

111 YEARS AGO
FEB. 10, 1910

Manistee Mill to Resume: A Pensacola special under date of Feb. 5 says that W.B. Runyan and C.R. Burgoyne of Pensacola have purchased the holdings of the Manistee Mill Co. of Manistee, this county, which was recently forced into bankruptcy.
The consideration was not named, but is said to amount to several hundred thousand dollars. The plant includes a large tract of timber land, large saw and planing mills and railroad property, including the Manistee & Repton Railroad. It is the intention of the new owners to spend considerable money in putting the plant in condition to begin operation within the next 40 days.

Dr. W.T. Bayles gives the cheering information that small pox has been practically stamped out in Monroeville and vicinity. All patients that have been under treatment have been discharged and the premises where they were confined thoroughly disinfected. More than 20 days have elapsed since the development of the last case and no further danger of an outbreak is apprehended unless the disease should be contracted elsewhere.

Prof. M.J. Watters and Miss Mary Lena Webb were married in the parlor at the Wiggins House, Monroeville, on Sat., Feb. 5, Rev. J.M. Gilmore officiating. Prof. Watters is the principal of the Jones Mill High School and Miss Webb a teacher in the institution.

Superintendent J.A. Barnes reports the Teachers Institute near Jones Mill on Friday and Saturday last one of the most successful held in many years, there being nearly 60 percent of the teachers present, which is far above the average.

136 YEARS AGO
FEB. 9, 1885

Claiborne – Mr. A.J. Grace, proprietor of the Upper Warehouse at Claiborne, we regret to learn had the serious misfortune a few days ago of losing two carloads of freight by the breaking of the rope which drew the car from the wharf to the warehouse. Mr. J.A. Fore of this place, together with several others, had some of their goods badly damaged.

The Jail – Mr. Hillary Hudson is progressing finely with the repairs on the jail and will shortly have it in a condition to insure the safekeeping of all prisoners who may be lodged therein, notwithstanding the vast amount of work to be done.

Improvements – We are pleased to see continued efforts made in the way of improvements at Monroeville. Nice plank fences are taking the place of old ones and our town will soon present a changed appearance.
The work done by Mr. E.M. Cousson on the Watson House, the church and other buildings in this place show him to be a master of his art. We expect he will continue to find employment in Monroeville.

To the Heirs of Ichabod Bell – If any of the heirs of Ichabod Bell, who was a non compos, will write to me at Camden, Ala., enclosing stamp, they may hear something to their advantage. – S.J. Cumming.

Mr. William Smith, Bells Landing’s popular young doctor, spent last Sabbath in Monroeville.

Rev. P.C. Morton, Presbyterian evangelist, left for Claiborne Saturday evening, to hold a meeting at that place.

George Singleton gives advice on how to cure boredom, find peace in nature

(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 “Finding peace of mind is easier than you think” was originally published in the Feb. 1, 2001 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

It’s surprising the number of people I come in contact with who tell me that they are bored and having trouble finding something to occupy their time.

They watch television from the early morning until the late hours of the evening. During this time, they witness several fairy stories in a world of make believe and never really witness anything that is enjoyable or that might bring a few moments of peace of mind.

I don’t watch television very much because I don’t put much faith in today’s fairy world. I don’t think that some freak can suggest to me that he has some kind of product that will make you stay younger, smell better, live longer or be happy living on an island all by yourself. And I don’t believe that I can acquire that macho look by using a certain brand of snuff, smoking a certain brand of cigarettes or drinking a certain brand of beer.

Of course, no one has asked me the secret to being happy, and probably won’t ever. But I do believe that I can tell them a thing or two about happiness, adventure and several other things that can and will keep them occupied.

Especially at this time of year when the glorious winter and fall colors have dotted the countryside. I could map out a trip across the hills to the north that will cause them to throw rocks at their televisions.

I could challenge them to investigate certain stories and legends around this area that would keep them awake and wild-eyed for many hours. These investigations would create more interest and excitement than 40 murders or stories of hidden loves among the rich and famous actors on the television screen.

I could tell them the location of one early Indian village site that would provide enough interest and excitement to last a person a whole month. I could suggest going to a certain hilltop, not too far away, where viewing an evening sunset would be remembered for years to come.

I could give directions to a small creek where they could stretch out in its cool waters on a hot summer day and never move again until the frost fell.

I heard these excuses every day of being old, tired, afraid, retired or just plain lazy. After all these years, I’m yet unable to understand people. I could devote all my time roaming the countryside, seeking and discovering the many things that await there.

I feel sorry for those individuals who don’t have the initiative to go forth and search for the unusual and strange happenings that are to be found around the countryside and places right here within our county.

Once the barriers mentioned above have been overcome, the cost of supplying themselves an excursion is almost next to nothing. A good pair of walking shoes, a cheap coffee pot, a box of matches and some coffee in a small plastic bag, and you are ready for almost anything.

If they really want to live up to their highest expectations, they should acquire a cheap sleeping bag and a large piece of sheet plastic.

Search out the high hills and find one where the winds of the evening whispers through the pine trees. Prepare to spend the night there on a layer of pine needles.

Wrap the plastic around you and your sleeping bag to keep out the chilly winds and heavy dew. Lay there in the solitude of the coming darkness and listen to the lullaby of the sighing winds through the tall pine trees.

Don’t be alarmed if a curious armadillo tries to get in the sleeping bag with you. He won’t hurt you. He’s just looking for an easy evening meal.

Listen to the sounds of the night for awhile before going to sleep. Try and identify each of the sounds before the sandman makes his rounds and you fall asleep. If, at any time, you feel that you are not the luckiest person in the world, remind yourself where you are and the feeling of peace that has come over you.

Remind yourself that you are not alone, because just a touch away, there is one who controls all things: the Creator of Heaven and Earth is just a breath’s distance.

Before sleep comes upon you, promise yourself that you will learn to identify all species of plants that grow in the forests of our southland. Learn to identify those that can be eaten. Be able to identify those that can help cure various illnesses, know which ones are harmful and those that can be beneficial to man.

The knowledge of being able to cope with nature brings on great satisfaction. You become more aggressive and more sure of yourself. The desire to explore and seek out the mysteries of your surroundings draws you ever onward.

(A word of warning: You might become a wandering vagabond as I have.)

As darkness covers the land and your eyelids grow heavy, remember that you are part of this universe. You have the right to be here, but you must also respect the rights of everything else. They, too, are part of the great plan.

Happiness and contentment is here for all who search for it. Don’t be found wanting.

As the coming spring slowly approaches on the horizon, remember the words of the Indian prophet, Black Elk:

“March is the moon of the changing seasons. This is the time to view the glorious spring colors as they come across the land and see the handiwork of the Great Spirit. Raise your arms to the heavens and let Him know that the beauty that He has created is forever appreciated.”

Some words of an old Indian prayer might say it better:

O Creator of all the universe,
Make me know Thy presence, as I feel
The bark of the birch tree and smell
The blooms of the wildflowers.
And let me linger under the tall pine trees,
While listening to the lullaby of the winds.

(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 also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. 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.)