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

USS Montauk (LSV-6)

26 YEARS AGO
AUG. 8, 1996

County’s unemployment rate highest in state: The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations reported Monroe County had the highest year-to-date unemployment rate in Alabama in May, and one of the top ten highest for 1995.
Preliminary figures show Monroe County with a year-to-date average of 16.1 percent unemployment. In 1995, the county reported 12.8 percent unemployment, the ninth highest in Alabama for the year.

110 golfers take part in benefit scramble: In one of the largest, if not the largest, golf tournaments ever held at the Vanity Fair Golf and Tennis Club in Monroeville, 110 golfers competed in a benefit scramble Saturday at the club’s course. The event was sponsored by the Monroe County Chapter of the University of Alabama Alumni Association.
First place was captured by the team of John Day, Rodney Pairrett, Wally Austin, Barry Outlaw and Weldon Anthony. (Other top golfers in the event included Steve Allen, Ricky Seymour, Jimmy Gardner, Ronnie Idland, Rodney Bush, Gary Dunn, Rodney Baker, Troy Wearren, Johnny House, John Bates, Leroy Ackerman, Diane Ackerman, George Thomas Jones, Matt Moorer and Martha Moorer.)

Completes basic: Pfc. Brad McKinley, son of Nettie and Sam McKinley of Uriah and Charlotte and Charlie Weeks of Theodore, has completed Marine Corps basic training at Parris Island, S.C. He reported to the school of infantry located at Camp LeJeune, N.C., Tues., Aug. 6. He is the grandson of Nell McKinley of Franklin and the late Oneal McKinley and Mary and Leroy Wiggins of Mobile. He is the great-grandson of Sybil and Lester Johnson of Goodway.

51 YEARS AGO
AUG. 12, 1971

Three boxcars of a 27-car freight train derailed in the Mexia community, about four miles southwest of Monroeville, around seven o’clock Friday morning. The derailment mangled the cars in zig-zag fashion and twisted track, splintering ties beneath other cars still on the rails. The train was bound from Magnolia, Ala. to Pensacola when the derailment occurred.

Cattle sale sets record: The Monroe County Feeder Calf Sale, held Wed., Aug. 4, set a record for the number of head sold, according to Wayne Thames, president of the sponsoring Monroe County Cattlemen’s Association.
Almost 1,300 head of cattle were sold, said Thames, noting that it was the largest number ever moved at a sale in Monroe County. The previous record at the Frisco City Farmers Cooperative was less than 1,000 head, Thames added.

Local guard unit completes training: Members of Co. C, 156^th Military Police Battalion, returned to Monroeville Sun., Aug. 1, after completing 15 days of annual field training at Fort McClellan.
The unit was under the command of 2^nd Lt. Joseph C. McCorquodale III and convoyed to Fort McClellan July 18. They took up temporary quarters on the post, where they performed military police and patrol duties in the areas of Fort McClellan and Anniston.
Members of the Monroeville unit took part in the retirement ceremonies of the U.S. Army’s first WAC General on Sat., July 31. Army Chief of Staff Gen. William Westmoreland was present for the retirement ceremonies.

76 YEARS AGO
AUG. 10, 1946

Man Burned To Death Here Friday: Dunk Little, an aged man, was burned to death Friday night when his house, located near the Monroe Oil Co. storage tanks, was razed by fire. The origin of the fire has not been learned.

Tornado Strikes Peterman Section: A tornado struck in the Peterman community early Sunday morning, causing one death and wrecked several homes.
The home of Mr. D.L. Downs was torn to pieces by the tornado, and Mr. Downs was so badly injured that he died early Monday morning.
Striking near the Down’s home, the wind tore out a path in a northerly direction, crossing the highway north of Peterman. A house on the east side of the highway, in which 10 people were living was reduced to splinters, and one of the occupants was injured.

Guy S. Scruggs is one of 200 high-point Navy veterans returning to the States aboard the U.S.S. Montauk. His wife, Mrs. Eleanor Scruggs, lives at Frisco City.

Mrs. Lucian Jones has returned after a visit with relatives at Avon-By-the-Sea, New Jersey. She was accompanied home by her mother-in-law, Mrs. George L. Hall, and her niece, Letitia Hall.

Jim Green has been discharged from the Army after serving 30 months with 18 months overseas duty to his credit. His decorations include the infantry badge, combat badge, air medal, purple heart and good conduct medal. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Green.

101 YEARS AGO
AUG. 11, 1921

OPENING EXCEL SCHOOLS: The Excel school and vocational school will open Sept. 12, 1921. A good and able faculty will be employed in these schools. The high school will be fully accredited so that when the students have finished this school, they will be able to enter college without further examination. G.M. Veazey is principal; W.L. Howard, vocational teacher; and Miss Brooks. One teacher yet to be supplied. Music and expression will be offered. The grammar school will open the first Monday in October. Five teachers have been employed in this school, thereby giving a good and efficient grammar school.

Prof. I.F. Simmons, principal of Beatrice High School, spent a few days with relatives and friends here the first of the week. He was accompanied by Mrs. Simmons.

BEATRICE: An unbroken drought since May 16, except for light showers, was ended by good rains Friday and Saturday.

Mr. H.H. Parrish, whose hand was severely burned some weeks ago while drawing some gasoline from his car, was in town last week. He has just returned from a hospital where he went for treatment. His friends will be glad to learn that his hand is greatly improved.

NEW HARDWARE STORE TO OPEN NEXT MONDAY: Mr. Wm. L. Moore of the Monroeville branch of the W.A. Ray Hardware Co., is now receiving his stock of merchandise, which is being opened up and arranged in the Sowell building recently fitted up for the purpose. Mr. Moore hopes to have everything in readiness for the formal opening of the store next Monday.

126 YEARS AGO
AUG. 11, 1896

Sheriff I.B. Slaughter was in the city yesterday.

Mr. Jas. K. Kyser, one of Burnt Corn’s leading merchants, was in town yesterday. Mr. Kyser informed us that the mail line from Repton to Bermuda will be extended to Burnt Corn shortly. This will prove a great convenience to the people of both communities.

Mr. N.G. Davis, one of Bell’s Landing’s most extensive farmers and merchants, was in town Monday. His report of crop conditions was not encouraging.

The official bonds of Messrs. C.W. McClure, County Superintendent of Education ($15,000); J.L. Smith, Tax Collector ($12,000); and J.F. Deer, County Treasurer ($33,400) have been filed and accepted. All the bonds are good and sufficient. That of Mr. Deer is the strongest kind ever filed in the county, representing an aggregate value of over $100,000.

PERDUE HILL: Prof. R.E. Gordon, principal of Perdue Hill High School, has been in town for several days, working for the interest of his school.

POPLAR SPRINGS: Rev. Mr. Ray of Canoe, Ala. preached to quite a large congregation at Poplar Springs church on the first Sabbath in this month. The church there is not large enough to accommodate all the people that attended services there, very frequently a number of people are compelled to remain outside.