The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Sept. 13, 2022

17 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 8, 2005

Volunteers were busy accepting donations of nonperishable foods Tuesday afternoon in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot to be delivered Wednesday to the people along the gulf coast near Mobile. The food will be given to the Gulf Coast Food Bank for distribution to those in need. The people of Conecuh County have truly come to the aid of their neighbors in need after Hurricane Katrina devastated a large portion of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The local South Alabama Woodmen of the World has opened up their camp to evacuees in an effort to provide temporary housing.

A second group of New York Police Department officers headed to the New Orleans area to help with rescue efforts stopped at the Owassa Exit Tuesday afternoon for fuel and rest. The group consisted of over 70 vehicles and they will join another group that arrived in New Orleans on Sunday. This group had 88 officers, 11 sergeants, five lieutenants, one captain and one chief.

Notice to our subscribers: On Thurs., Sept. 1, The Courant received a notice that effective immediately the U.S. Postal Service had suspended the acceptance of all periodical and standard mail in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
This emergency action was taken as a result of severe facility damage, evacuations and other issues resulting from Hurricane Katrina.

32 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 13, 1990

Weatherman Harry Ellis reports .06 of an inch of rain on Sept. 9.

John Henry Johnson of Evergreen has been named the new manager of the Piggly Wiggly. Johnson has served as assistant manager of the local store for a number of years.

Wayne Padgett, Commander of Alma Martin Post 50 of the American Legion, presents a Certificate of Participation to Brent Salter, who represented Hillcrest High School at Boys State this summer. Looking on is Post Adjutant Howard Fore. The American Legion is the local sponsor of Boys State. After the presentation, Brent gave a short talk to the Legion on his experiences at Boys State.

Local ladies to be on WSFA TV-12: Ye Olde Railway Emporium will be featured on ’12-Talk’ on Wed., Sept. 19, on WSFA-TV, Channel 12, Montgomery. Mrs. Emily Brogden, County Agent-Coordinator, Mrs. Alva Quarles and Mrs. Mary Dent Worman will travel to Montgomery to help promote the Shop, the City of Evergreen and Conecuh County.

Plans are being announced for Conecuh Heritage Festival which will be centered in downtown Evergreen on Sat., Nov. 10.
As a major event in the celebration of Heritage Year in Conecuh, the Festival is being sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce with the cooperation of the citizens in all parts of Conecuh County. Many special attractions are being planned and a large crowd is expected for the gala event.

47 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 11, 1975

James M. (Bill) Pierce has resigned as administrator of the Conecuh County Hospital, effective Sept. 19, according to Jimmy Cook, chairman of the Executive Board.

Sp/4 F.E. Murphy completed the primary noncommissioned officers course for combat arms on Aug. 29 at Ft. Lewis Washington. He was awarded a trophy and a plaque for being the Distinguished Honor Graduate of Class I-76.
Murphy is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James T. Murphy of Evergreen and is with C Co., 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry (Rangers) at Ft. Lewis.

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Bledsoe announce the birth of a son, Steven Robert, weight eight pounds, nine ounces, on Aug. 9 at Monroe County Hospital.

Postmaster Gene Hyde today announced that effective Sept. 14, there will be a change in postal rates. First-class mail will be 10 cents for the first ounce and nine cents for each additional ounce.

Earl Windham reports rainfall of 1.5 inches Sept. 5 and .2 of an inch Sept. 7.

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Peacock celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sun., Aug. 31, at their home, 422 Bellview. Their only child, Mr. Jimmy Peacock, his wife and their four children helped to entertain the 129 friends and relatives who called during the hours. Miss Sandra Peacock, a granddaughter, registered the guests.

62 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 8, 1960

Pardon The Delay: Your Courant is reaching you a day late this week. Please do not blame your mailman as it is The Courant’s fault, not his.
Monday, an important part of the Linotype (type setting machine) broke putting the machine out of operation. Unable to contact anyone in the parts office due to the holiday, the editor and Herbert Harpe, Linotype operator, drove to Atlanta Monday night and returned to Evergreen with the part Tuesday afternoon.
Harpe got the machine back into operation late Tuesday afternoon. Rather than give you a ‘skeleton’ paper, it was necessary to delay publication to Thursday morning in order to get all of the type set.
We hope you missed your paper and we also hope we aren’t late again any time soon.

The largest paving program in the city’s history has just been completed here. Fourteen new streets were paved, additions to two old streets paved and 22 old streets were resurfaced. Total mileage for the new paving and resurfacing was over 15 miles.
New streets paved were: Newton Parkway, East and West Monte Sano, Williams, Beach, Stella Lane, Old Greenville Road, Oak, Spring, City School Drive, South Shipp, Reynolds, Old Owassa Road, Pierce and Cemetery and Martin.

77 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 13, 1945

Evergreen suffered a great loss, on last Friday in the passing of John Tom Gaillard, which occurred at his home on Bruner Avenue, after a few days illness. Mr. Gaillard was City Clerk, an office he filled most efficiently, always ready to help, listen and furnish help.
He was born in Camden, Sept. 15, 1878, and it was with no small degree of modesty, he always spoke with deep affection of his old home, Camden, Wilcox County.
His father was a graduate of law, from Yale, and his mother was Annie Caldwell, of distinguished South Carolina families.
He served as Cadet in the Spanish-American War and as First Lieutenant in World War I. It was a source of great regret that he could not serve in World War II.
Interment was in Magnolia Cemetery.

John Hunter Thornley, well known and popular young man of Evergreen, was elected by a unanimous vote of the City Council Monday as City Clerk of Evergreen to fill the vacancy caused by the death last week of J.T. Gaillard.

Fire, which apparently originated in the rear of Owens Grocery about 10 o’clock Sunday night, inflicted considerable damage before it was brought under control.

Fire of unknown origin which was discovered late Friday night, completely destroyed the new vocational building at Repton High School.

Cpl. E.S. Simmons, son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Simmons, arrived home Sunday night from the Pacific area, after having served there for 30 months. Cpl. Simmons was wounded on Okinawa.