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

Ellington Field in Texas.

30 YEARS AGO
APRIL 2, 1992

Tour nominees selected: Ten students from Monroe County have been nominated for the annual Southern Pine Electric Cooperative’s 1992 Youth Tour of Washington, D.C.
(Those nominees included Cherrie Jordan and Chad Lawrence of Excel High School, Kristy Hendrix and Derrick Crayton of Frisco City High School, Tyndel Wiggins and Anthony Scott House of J.U. Blacksher High School, Ashley Angelynn Hendrix and Chad Michael Sessions of Monroe Academy, and Allison Zara Kelly and John Gamble of Monroe County High School.)

MA takes two to continue win streak: Monroe Academy improved its 1992 baseball record to 6-2, downing Escambia and Crenshaw academies last week.
MA drilled Escambia’s Cougars 9-2 Tuesday of last week at MA then overcame a 2-0 deficit in Luverne Friday to pound Crenshaw 11-3.
(Top MA players in those games included Nick Ackerman, Coleman Clark, Shanandoah McLaurin, Johnny Pickens, Landry Sawyer, Brent Terry, Mitchell Turberville, Sam Ulmer and Tommy Weatherford. MA’s head coach was Gary Caldwell.)

Days Inn grand opening: The Monroeville Days Inn at the intersection of highways 21 and 84 held its grand opening Friday. In front of the motel just before the ribbon-cutting are Kevin Patel and Anil Patel, brothers-in-law and co-owners of the motel; Tommy Lee, president-elect of the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce, welcoming the new motel on behalf of the chamber; and Monroeville Mayor B.C. Hornady. The two-story Days Inn has a conference room and 46 rooms, including one with a jacuzzi tub, and a swimming pool is being constructed.

55 YEARS AGO
APRIL 6, 1967

Open House Set At New Motel: Opening this week in Monroeville is the new Waller Motel located on Highway 21 South.
Owned and operated by W.G. Waller, the motel will host open house Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Waller will be assisted in operating the motel by his wife and three daughters. The Waller family will be making their home in Monroeville and will come here from Conecuh County, where they have been living near Repton.

Frisco City Whippets Open Baseball Season With Wins: The Frisco City High Whippets picked up two wins, one against Beatrice and the other against Uriah, to put their record at 2-0 for the young baseball season. Winning pitcher in both contests was the Whippet’s Jim Kelly.
(Other top Frisco City players in those games included Mason Blackburn, Larry Norris and Kenneth Till. Pitcher Gary Lambert was named as J.U. Blacksher’s top player.)

Party Is Held At Norris Home: The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lavon Norris in Frisco City was the scene of a birthday party honoring Greg Norris, who celebrated his 11^th birthday anniversary. The party was held Saturday night, March 25. Guests enjoyed listening to records and playing games.
Attending were Susie Kelly, Renaei Hendrix, Sharon Stacey, Judy Sawyer, Dale Stacey, Gary Till, Ricky Eddins, Billy and Eddie Williams, and Kevin and Randall Norris.

80 YEARS AGO
APRIL 2, 1942

BEAT THE JAPS WITH SCRAPS: The Monroeville Boy Scouts are doing their part by collecting paper and metals for defense. They will come around and gather the paper, among the houses, every Friday afternoon. Save all the scrap paper, magazines, books and anything else that is paper.
This is the opportunity that every American citizen has been waiting for. You don’t have to be the man behind the gun to help win the war. You can get your lick at the Japs by giving us your paper and metals. We would appreciate your help in this worthy cause. – Monroeville Boy Scouts, Bruce Hood.

CADET RAY DAUPHIN TO RECEIVE WINGS: Ray Dauphin of Fountain, aviation cadet, in training at Ellington Field, Texas, Air Corps Advanced Flying School and the world’s largest multi-motor flying school, soon will receive his wings as a second lieutenant.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Dauphin of Fountain, and a student at the University of Alabama before he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.

A.C. Belcher Heads Chamber of Commerce: New directors for the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce were elected at a meeting held at the City Hall on Monday night and from those chosen the following were elected for the ensuing year: A.C. Belcher, president; L.L. Dees, first vice president; Wilbur Kelley, second vice president; and Claude Kelley, secretary-treasurer.
The Board of Directors is composed of A.C. Belcher, A.V. Culpepper, L.L. Dees, R.L. Jones, Isadore Katz, Claude Kelley, Wilbur Kelley, George I. Nettles and W.H. Simmons.

130 YEARS AGO
APRIL 7, 1892

ARRESTED FOR ARSON: Cora Andrews was arrested and brought to Monroeville Monday, charged with burning the residence of Mr. W.H. Betts at Burnt Corn three years ago. Preliminary examination was had before the Judge of the Probate court Tuesday and the accused committed without bail. The case was worked up by John Clark, a detective of the Cheatham Bureau.

Prof. Claude Hardy had a narrow escape from finding a watery grave in Flat Creek near Buena Vista during the recent overflow. A number of young men went down to view the big water, and it being a pleasant day, concluded to try the virtue of a bath. Mr. Hardy attempted to wade and suddenly found himself beyond his depth in a whirlpool. His companions, seeing his danger, went to his assistance and rescued him as he sank the third time. When dry ground was reached, Mr. Hardy was in an unconscious condition.

A Masonic Conference or Association of the several Masonic Lodges in Monroe County will be held in Monroeville on Mon., April 19. Mr. A.M. Scott, District Grand Lecturer, is expected to be present.

County court was in session Monday. Only two cases were tried, viz: Jake Parker, disturbing public worship, fined $20 and cost; John Wiggins, larceny, fined $50 and costs and imprisoned 24 hours.

The late high water caused a break in the dam of Messrs. Hatter & Son’s mill, which will necessitate the suspension of their business for a few weeks, while repairs are being made.

152 YEARS AGO
APRIL 2, 1870

BROKE JAIL: On Wednesday night last, Clark Jones, the preacher, who killed another Jones who was not a preacher, but a freed man like unto himself, escaped from jail by filing out a square near the bottom of the iron cage and picking a hole through the wall, under the north window of the jail. Caesar Fleming, who killed a man in Wilcox County last year, and was brought here for trial at the last term of the Circuit Court, made his escape at the same time.

RECAPTURED: Yesterday evening about four o’clock, Messrs. W. Shell and Geo. C. Nettles, aided by a very dignified looking old man by the name of Thos. Odom, delivered to the custody of Sheriff Simmons, Clark Jones, one of the two who made their escape from jail on Wednesday night last.

Our young friend Dr. F.S. Daily, after having enjoyed the advantages of Dr. J.S. Jenkins, as preceptor, and the thorough teachings of the University of Kentucky, makes a tender of his professional services to people who have known him from childhood. This is as it should be, and merits success, which is sure to follow if you encourage him to the extent of merit.

COUNTY COURT: This court met on Wednesday with Hon. J.W. Leslie presiding. Only two attorneys in attendance – Col. Robt. G. Scott Jr. and J.F. McCorvey. We remained some time to see if anything would turn up to provoke eloquence from those gentlemen’s legal ability, but no case of such a character presented itself, and such disposed of, and we hope all hands are making good use of time by corn planting.

Rev. G.W. Boggs will commence a series of meetings at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday night, the 3^rd inst.