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

Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts

25 YEARS AGO
MAY 21, 1998

Church says farewell: The Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts and his wife Hilda were honored at a retirement reception at First United Methodist Church Sunday. Butts is retiring after 48 years in the ministry. He said he plans to settle in Monroeville and spend his time writing, speaking and visiting his family.

Moore joins ASCC program: Alabama Southern Community College basketball coach Rob Jenkins signed Mark Moore of Excel to a letter of intent Monday. Moore, a 1997 graduate of Excel High School, is transferring from Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss. Moore spent last season as a red-shirt freshman guard. He is the son of Excel High School basketball coach Brad Moore and Cindy Moore of Excel. Moore is following in the footsteps of his father, who played point guard at ASCC when the college was Patrick Henry State Junior College in the mid-70s.

Teacher-of-the-year: The Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) has named Monroe Academy teacher Paula Stacey the Secondary Teacher of the Year for Division II schools.
Stacey, an MA staff member since 1975, was presented the award at the State SGA Convention in Selma, May 6. Monroe Academy honored Stacey at their recent Honors’ Day celebration.
Stacey, a Judson College graduate, teaches English and Speech to sophomores, juniors and seniors at Monroe Academy. She stays busy sponsoring the Anchor Club, Beta Club, varsity cheerleaders, Orange-Aide Pep Club and the Senior Class.

50 YEARS AGO
MAY 17, 1973

Con artist said active in county: Chief Deputy Lenwood Sager of the sheriff’s department said Tuesday there have been reports of con artists in the county.
In one case reported to the sheriff’s department, Sager said an elderly lady in the south end of the county was conned out of a large sum of money by a man and woman who pretended to be with an oil company.
Sager urged all county residents to be aware of strangers who come to their homes, especially those saying they represent an oil or gas firm.
“Always ask for identification,” he stressed. “And notify the sheriff’s department if he seems suspicious.”

Countians named to all-star team: Three Monroe County High School baseball players and three members of the J.U. Blacksher team will travel to the annual East-West All-Star Baseball game scheduled for Sat., May 19, in Jackson.
Mike Cobb, Steve Coleman and Buddy Black were selected from the Tigers’ team while Jerry Ferrel, John Gregson and Howard Hilburn were chosen from the Bulldog squad.
The game will be played to benefit sight conservation in Alabama and will feature all-stars from Monroe and Clarke counties meeting all-stars from Washington and Choctaw. Three boys from the game will advance into the Sight Conservation All-Star game in Mobile Sat., May 26.

Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Jordan (nee Biddie Banks) of Dallas, Texas announce the birth of a son, whom they have named Christopher Bryant. The baby was born May 5 in Dallas and weighed four pounds, one ounce.

75 YEARS AGO
MAY 20, 1948

Frisco Army Officer Commands Troops At Kentucky Derby: Maj. T.J. Murphy of Frisco City, now stationed at the Armored School, Fort Knox, Ky., was honored with the command of 200 crack troops and band ordered to Churchill Downs to represent the U.S. Army in the colorful and traditional Derby Day ceremonies on May 1.
Annually, soldiers compete to participate in the Derby Day ceremonies and the Honor Guard is selected on a merit basis. Along with the honors, the troops enjoy the free hospitality of Churchill Downs and a choice seat in the presentation stand.

Locals Play Brewton; Frisco Tackles Jay: Monroeville’s new baseball team will be host to Brewton on the local field Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, while Frisco City, this county’s other entry in the Tri-County League, will journey to Jay, Fla., to take on the nine representing that city.
Ben Matthews is scheduled to pitch Sunday’s game for the locals while Robert Shoemaker will do the catching.

Drewry Road Paving Work To Begin: Actual paving of the five and a half miles from Monroeville to Drewry is expected to be inaugurated about May 25 and will necessitate the closing of the road for a brief period, Edwin C. Rodgers, county engineer, announced Wednesday.
He said only short stretches of the road will be closed at one time and that these will be blocked to traffic only for several-hour periods.
The next farm-to-market paving will take place on the road from Frisco City to Perdue Hill, the county engineer declared.

100 YEARS AGO
MAY 17, 1923

The dwelling of Mr. S.W. Westbrook caught fire about noon last Friday. The alarm was given by telephone and many hurried to the rescue in automobiles. The fire was soon extinguished, doing only slight damage.

The commencement exercises of the Monroeville City School are now in progress, the first program being presented Wednesday evening and the concluding program will be rendered this (Thursday) evening.

Mr. L.E. Foxworth had the misfortune to lose his dwelling and contents by fire at Beatrice Friday of last week. There was no insurance.

Mr. Lovett, store manager of the Blacksher Store Co., Uriah, was here Tuesday. Mr. Lovett said 20 cars of strawberries had been shipped from the Blacksher-Moulton farm this season, and possibly as many more could have been shipped but for the scarcity of pickers. Hundreds of crates of berries were lost because they could not be gathered at the proper time.

The stock of the Monroe Drug company has been purchased by Mr. Wilbur Simmons and associates and the business will be conducted hereafter under the name of the Simmons Drug Co.

Mr. Sam Williams, a prominent merchant, died quite suddenly at his home in Excel on Fri., May 11. The funeral took place at New Home cemetery Sunday afternoon.

I have recently opened my new hotel in Monroeville and earnestly solicit the patronage of the public generally. Rooms are large and comfortable and table will be supplied with the best the market affords. – Mrs. F.P. Jones

138 YEARS AGO
MAY 18, 1885

The Editor of this paper is quite sick, which will account for our many shortcomings in this week’s Journal.

The Monroeville jail has 10 inmates at present.

The Exposition party returned home Wednesday night.

Monroeville was represented by 13 persons at the Exposition on Alabama’s Day.

Judge and Mrs. J.W. Leslie are attending the Exposition at New Orleans.

Monroeville looked unusually dull last week.

The farmers are kept busy in their crops, taking advantage of the beautiful weather for putting them in the proper condition.

A good shower of rain would be of great advantage to oats.

Mr. John L. Stallworth of Pineville passed through town Thursday evening en route to Pensacola with a drove of sheep.

Rev. P.C. Morton preached a very eloquent, entertaining and instructive sermon at the Presbyterian church Friday night, inst.

The family of Col. T.C. McCorvey of Tuscaloosa is visiting the family of Dr. J.T. Packer at this place.

Col. D.L. Neville is out on the streets again after a few days’ illness.