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

John McDuffie

22 YEARS AGO
NOV. 2, 2000

Vanity Fair donates $75,000: Monroeville Area YMCA Building Fund representatives Hunter Lindblom and Haden Tirey accept a $75,000 contribution from Vanity Fair Intimates Monday. Presenting the donation are Vanity Fair representatives Corky Fountain, vice president of manufacturing, and Rod Hewitt, vice president of human resources. The donation helped increase the fund’s total to $900,000. The goal is to raise $1.8 million.

Frisco pounds Blacksher 61-14: In a battle of 1A Region 1 rivals, Frisco City High School’s Whippets defeated J.U. Blacksher High School’s Bulldogs 61-14 Saturday at Uriah.
Travoris Hill led Frisco’s rushers with 154 yards on eight carries. He also had a catch for 34 yards. Blacksher’s Jason Matheny had 115 yards on 35 carries.
(Other top Frisco players in that game included Dustin Black, Pete Bonner, Timothy Dailey, Tyson House, Rodney Kemp, Broderick Kyles, Norman Lee, Lequintin Robinson and Damien Tolliver. Top Blacksher players included Justin Coleman, Keddrick Parker, Brandon Peavy and Jessie Williams. Scott Blackmon was Frisco’s head coach, and Mark Chaney was Blacksher’s head coach.)

State Senator Pat Lindsey and State Rep. Jimmy Warren give J.U. Blacksher High School administrators $5,000 for school improvements. Funds for the improvements came out of the state’s Special Projects Funds, which is used exclusively for public education and libraries. Accepting the donations were Blacksher principal Keith Cardwell and assistant principal Pat Peavy.

47 YEARS AGO
NOV. 6, 1975

Ferry operation to begin soon: The State Highway Department Tuesday finished installing a guide cable for the Packer’s Bend ferry. The ferry has been placed in the Alabama River and may be put into operation by this time next week, Monroe County Commissioner Fonde Williams said.
Williams said the ferry’s engine would have to be adjusted and approaches to the ferry on both sides of the river would have to be graded and filled in with gravel before operations start.
The ferry is located at Davis Ferry near Franklin. It is on County Road 49, a little more than a mile north of heavily-traveled County Road 17.
The ferry will operate seven days a week, initially from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., said acting county engineer Allen Biggs.

The J.U. Blacksher High School Bulldogs ended their 1975 football season by blasting the Lyeffion Yellow Jackets 34-6 Saturday before Blacksher’s annual homecoming crowd.
Eight seniors played their last game for the Bulldogs. They were David Woods, Wayne Woods, Douglas Scott, Micky Wilkins, Ricky Wilkins, James Coleman, Leonard Ives and Robin House.
(Other top Blacksher players in that game included Ben Rhodes. Buddy Rhodes was Blacksher’s head coach.)

Fireman of the Year: Monroeville Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Everette receives a plaque from Fire Chief Wilbert Pickens recognizing him for being named “Fireman of the Year” by members of the volunteer fire department. Everette has been a member of the department for 15 years and an assistant chief for three years.

72 YEARS AGO
NOV. 2, 1950

Prominent County Native Succumbs: Federal Judge John McDuffie, 67, former United States congressman and a member of a prominent Monroe County family, died in a Mobile hospital early Wednesday morning.
Judge McDuffie had recently undergone a major operation in New Orleans, but had returned to his home in Mobile Saturday.
He is a native of River Ridge in this county. He was never defeated in a public election.

Whippets Fight Back, Tie Grove Hill 12-12 Friday: After being completely out-classed for two periods and trailing 12-0 at halftime, Frisco City came back with a bang in the final two periods last Friday night to tie Grove Hill at 12-12 in a thrilling contest at the Frisco athletic field.
The game marked Frisco’s annual homecoming tilt and was the last game of the season at home for the Whippets.
(Top Frisco players in that game included William Ed Baas, Ray Ikner, Keith King and Charles Pugh.)

Application Made For Radio Station: An application for a new standard radio station in Monroeville has been filed with the Federal Communications Commission by Bill Stewart and Jimmy Faulkner, publishers of The Journal, doing business as Monroe Broadcasting Co. The application is for 1230 kilocycles, 250 watts, unlimited time.

First County Journalism Class Begun At Uriah: The J.U. Blacksher High School at Uriah this year added a journalism class to its courses of study. This is the first such class to be held at any Monroe County school. As its principal project of the year, the class is publishing a semi-monthly school paper, the “Blacksher Hi-Lites.”

97 YEARS AGO
NOV. 5, 1925

FAITHFUL DOG GUARDS BODY OF HIS MASTER: Mr. Frank Murphy died quite suddenly in his field near Peterman on Thursday afternoon, aged 69. Mr. Murphy went to his field to gather corn. Shortly afterwards, a man passing the field saw him lying prone on the ground and his faithful dog standing guard over the lifeless body. The family was notified and Cary Murphy, son of the dead man, went to the scene. The dog, recognizing him as a member of the family, permitted the removal of the body.
Mr. Murphy was a well-known citizen of Peterman for many years and had numerous friends. Interment was made in the Rumbley cemetery Friday.

Dr. J.M. Shofner, president of the Coley-Blacksher Vocational School, was among Monroeville friends Wednesday. Dr. Shofner reported the school prosperous. Quite a number of scholarships have been recently donated to the school, thus opening the way to an education for indigent, but deserving, boys.

NOTICE: Middle aged man wants to correspond with and meet single lady that is matrimonially inclined between 22 and 30 years of age. I can give best of references. Address H.K., care of this paper.

Mr. R.G. Scott and son George of Eliska were among Monroeville friends Thursday. Mr. Scott is one of the most prosperous famers in South Monroe. Yields of both corn and cotton this season have been unusually good in spite of the drought.

122 YEARS AGO
NOV. 8, 1900

J.J. Nickerson brought to this office on Tuesday a piece of petrified bone which appears to be a section of the vertebra of some mammoth prehistoric animal or reptile, also a piece of petrified wood. Both specimens were found imbedded in solid limestone about seven feet below the surface, in a rock pit one-half mile west of town.

ADMITTED TO BAIL: The preliminary trial of Ben Abney for the killing of John L. Stallworth, took place at Beatrice on Saturday before Justice J.B. Harper. The State was represented by County Solicitor O.O. Bayles assisted by Hon. N. Stallworth of Evergreen, solicitor for the second judicial circuit, a relative of the deceased. Hon. Joseph N. Miller of Camden, appeared as counsel for the defendant. After a protracted and tedious hearing and able argument by counsel on both sides, the defendant was admitted to bail in the sum of $2,000 to await the action of the grand jury.

Master Blanchard Simmons places The Journal under obligations for two very fine stalks of sugar cane, one containing 24 matured joints and measuring nine feet in length. Master Blanchard gives promise of becoming a successful farmer should he chose that vocation.

Mr. E.B. Robbins of Ferris, Texas, who has been visiting relatives in Monroe the past two weeks, was in Monroeville Tuesday on his return to the Lone State state. Mr. Robbins emigrated to Texas some 19 years ago and this is the first visit he has made to his native home. His many friends are glad to know that time has dealt kindly with him.