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

USS Boxer (CV-21)

18 YEARS AGO
OCT. 14, 2004

Beatrice Town Council fills two vacant seats: The Beatrice Town Council filled two empty council seats and approved the nominations of seven individuals to the town’s new industrial development board during a meeting Monday of last week at Beatrice Town Hall.
Elizabeth Moseman and Annie Shelton will replace councilmen Lee Philen and Joe Black, respectively. The council also approved the nominations of the following individuals to the town’s newly formed industrial development board: Jess Martin, Johnny Moseman, Lee Philen, Jimmie Spann, David Steele, Sonny Stuckey and Jocelyn Thames.

Vols hold off Warriors: MOBILE – After being picked on for most of the season, Monroe Academy’s defense showed up big here Friday to spark a 14-7 win over Cottage Hill. Senior linebacker Maxwell Jones paced MA’s defense with 12 tackles, including eight solos. MA, getting 175 yards rushing from senior Bonner Williams and 155 yards rushing from senior Sage Smith, more than doubled Cottage Hill’s ground game total of 149 yards to key the win.
(Other top MA players in that game included Trent Dawson, Justin Harris, Stephen Jaye and Josh Lowery. Joe Nettles was head coach.)

Excel to get senior center: Excel senior citizens will soon have a place to call their own, thanks to a $200,000 grant from the state that will allow the town to build a new senior citizen activity center. State Rep. Greg Albritton and Alabama-Tombigbee Regional Commission Assistant Executive Director Frank Dobson presented the grant to the town during a meeting of the Town Council Monday night in Excel.

43 YEARS AGO
OCT. 11, 1979

Police chief, clerk hired: The Excel Town Council Monday hired a new police chief and a new town clerk. Dick Roynon was hired during the council’s regular meeting as the town’s only policeman, succeeding Billy Gene Harrison, and Pat Robinson was hired to succeed Carolyn Melton as clerk.
Roynon resigned as Frisco City police lieutenant to accept the Excel job. Mrs. Robinson, who had been working as clerk since mid-September, was officially hired at $250 per month for the half-time job.

Frisco crushes Lyeffion 37-0: Homecoming at Frisco City High School proved to be successful as the Whippets, playing in front of one of the largest home crowds of the year, crushed Lyeffion 37-0 in a big area win.
On offense, Jerome Dudley rushed 14 times for 73 yards, and Charles McGinnis had eight rushes for 44 yards. Defensively, Jeff Kilpatrick led the way with six tackles and four assists.
(Other top Frisco City players in that game included Thomas Agee, Bryan Baggett, Mike Blanton, Steve Calhoun, Bill King, Darrell Lambert, Curtis Lee and Timmy McKinley. Ronnie Propst was head coach.)

Frisco council appoints Mrs. Starr to vacant seat: Two months after the seat became vacant, Frisco City has a new Town Council member – a woman.
Mrs. Albert Starr was sworn in Monday night to fill Place 4 on the council, replacing Claude Wilkerson, who resigned Aug. 15 because of his health.
Mrs. Starr and her family have lived in Frisco City for 12 years. She drives a county school bus and her husband, Albert, drives a truck for Frisco Manufacturing Co.

68 YEARS AGO
OCT. 14, 1954

Monroe Is Included In State Drought Disaster Counties: Monroe is one of three more Alabama counties added Tuesday to those to receive federal aid as a drought disaster area.
News of the inclusion of Monroe County was received by The Journal Tuesday night via telephone from the Mobile office of Congressman Frank W. Boykin.
Congressman Boykin had just been advised by Department of Agriculture officials that Monroe, along with Clarke and Choctaw counties, was added to the list of 41 Alabama counties to receive aid.

Excel, Baker Tie Friday Tussle, 7-7: In a closely-played tussle on the Excel High gridiron last Friday night, the Excel Panthers battled to a 7-7 decision with a visiting Baker High eleven from Mobile.
Excel’s initial marker came in the early minutes of the second frame, following a sustained drive of around 60 yards. An end-around maneuver by end Gerald Stacey took the pigskin to the three from where quarterback Sonny Baas plunged to pay dirt on a sneak play. Right half Charles Lowery racked up the extra point on a “quickie play.”

Mitchell B. Jay, seaman, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Jay of Route 1, Box 123A, Frisco City, is scheduled to return here Oct. 11 aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Boxer, which is completing an eight-month cruise to the Far East. The Boxer was one of the Navy’s most active carriers during the Korean conflict. She completed four combat tours besides one record breaking run to the Far East with men and material.

93 YEARS AGO
OCT. 10, 1929

MCHS Tigers Win The First Game Of Season: The Monroe County High Tigers began the football season with a decisive victory over Castleberry last Friday afternoon, the score being 21-13. Castleberry put up a good fight, and it looked as if they might gain the advantage with their pass work, but the Tigers fought back and remembered the thorough training to which Coach Brown is subjecting them, and victory was theirs.

Leo Taylor of Mexia recently captured a large rattlesnake. It was about 4-1/2 feet long, five inches in diameter and had 19 rattles and a button.

M. Katz Dry Goods Store will be closed Mon., Oct. 14, on account of the Jewish holiday, but will be open for business Tuesday morning.

Mr. C.H. Mason, a prosperous farmer of Uriah, was a visitor to Monroeville the first of the week.

Miss Tiny Faulk has returned after a two-week visit to Jacksonville, Fla.

Messrs. House and Lambert of Uriah were confined to the infirmary here last week but have now returned to their homes.

The Mattress Factory is now located in the building formerly occupied by the Happy Feed Company.

Dr. Frye Gaillard of Perdue Hill; Dr. John Dailey of Tunnel Springs and Mr. B.S. Stallworth of Beatrice attended the meeting of the Board of Revenue Tuesday.

118 YEARS AGO
OCT. 12, 1904

R.E. Barnes, Esq., of Eliska is rendering efficient assistance to the clerk of the circuit court during this term.

Col. Nick Stallworth came over from Evergreen Monday on professional business. Col. Stallworth has but recently returned from several months sojourn at Las Vegas, New Mexico. His hosts of friends will be glad to learn that his health is greatly improved.

Dr. T.M. McMillan returned Sunday from St. Louis where he completed a special course in Electro-Theraputics. Dr. McMillan will shortly open an office equipped with up-to-date electrical appliance for the treatment of chronic disorders.

Dr. C.E. Bizzelle and Mr. Jno. W. Fore went to Camden Thursday to be present at the reorganization of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at that place.

Mr. G.B. Barnett returned home Thursday from a visit to Birmingham and other points, accompanied by his charming bride. Mr. Barnett was united in marriage with Miss Annie Lee Moore at Wetumpka on the morning of Oct. 5. A cordial welcome is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Barnett by all our people who wish for them a long, prosperous and happy wedded life.

Messrs. J.T. Hall and A.T. Adison, two of Excel’s industrious and prosperous farmers, favored The Journal with a call Monday and enrolled their names among our expanding band of readers. They report the bulk of the cotton crop picked in their neighborhood. Sugar cane and potatoes promise better yields than for the last two years.