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

Monroe Journal publisher Bill Stewart.

NINE YEARS AGO
JUNE 19, 2014

Chinese delegation tours city: The recruitment of Chinese industries continues in Monroe County as the SoZo Group recently visited with county and economic development officials to give members of a Chinese textile delegation a tour of the area.
“It’s always a positive step in the right direction when you get a chance to showcase Monroe County’s assets and versatility to international clientele for investment,” Monroe County Commission Chairman and Probate Judge Greg Norris said. “The management team from the Chinese delegation was very thorough in their observations of our county during their recent visit, and we look forward to hosting them again soon.”

Orioles win Major League championship: The Orioles captured first place in the Monroeville Little League’s Major League this season with an 8-4 record. Team members are Daryl McIntosh, Jarvis Locke, Waylan Smith, Nicholas Andrews, Ashiah Tolliver, Dashiah Tolliver, Dwywond Richardson, Jalon Lawson, Dorien Andrews, Kesean Quarrles, Christopher Booker, Michael Onwukeme and coaches Cedric Powell, Scottie Booker, Anward Andrews and David Lawson.

Hollinger takes vacant Repton seat: The Repton Council Monday night appointed a 38-year-old Repton native to fill the vacant seat left by Lois McMillian’s resignation last month. Tara Hollinger, the daughter of Eugene and Bernie Betts, was born and raised in Repton and teaches at W.S. Neal Elementary School in East Brewton. She was sworn into office at the start of the meeting.

34 YEARS AGO
JUNE 15, 1989

Wal-Mart plan approved: A Wal-Mart department store for Monroeville moved a step closer to reality Monday night when the Planning Commission okayed the shopping center site plan, which also contains space for a grocery store and three small shops.
Ron Bell of Consulting Engineering Services, Inc. of Montgomery said he expects site preparation to get under way by the end of July. Construction of the Wal-Mart building will be handled by Wal-Mart, but Bell believes it might be ready around February.

Dixie Youth all-stars: The Monroe County Dixie Youth Baseball League’s 10-year-old all-stars are scheduled to begin play in the District 4 double-elimination tournament July 6 in Thomasville. The members of the 1989 team include Beau Pipkins, Bush Upton, William Womack, Travis Black, Erik Hood, Craig Sigler, Justin Brown, Luke Hudson, Micha Lambert, Jeffrey Dunn, Charlie Martins, Jamie Hall, Travis Smith, Coach Edward Welch and Coach Westley Mixon.

Cost of a Journal to go up 5 cents: The suggested single-copy price of The Monroe Journal will go up by a nickel next week.
The increase to 50 cents is necessary because of expenses, said publisher Bill Stewart. These include the costs of ink, paper, writing, art, editing and printing. Many weekly newspapers have charged 50 cents a copy for several years.
“We resisted it as long as we could,” Stewart said. “We feel the newspaper is still a good buy – as low as or lower than most soft drinks and cups of coffee.”

59 YEARS AGO
JUNE 18, 1964

House Approves $1 Million For Claiborne: One million dollars for initial construction work on Claiborne Lock & Dam, and $6 million for continuation of construction at Millers Ferry Lock & Dam were included in $16,774,000 approved this week by the House Appropriations committee for planning and building water projects in Alabama.

Enlistees Depart For Marine Base: Two area Marines who enlisted in the Marine Corps 120-day delay enlistment plan were scheduled to depart for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., on June 17. Privates James C. Marshall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Marshall of 515 Jones Ave., Monroeville, and Bennie Ray Hoskins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Newton M. Hoskins of Rt. 1, Box 219, Monroeville, will received 12 weeks of recruit training at the famed South Carolina Marine base, followed by four weeks of training at Camp Lejeune, N.C. James is a member of the 1964 graduating class of Monroeville High School, and Bennie is a recent graduate of Excel High School.

Bankester Named Journal News Editor: Merrill Bankester, formerly assistant state editor of the Pensacola News-Journal, has joined the staff of the Monroe Journal as news editor. He assumed his duties Monday.
A native of Robertsdale, Mr. Bankester is a 1959 journalism graduate of the University of Alabama. Prior to joining the News-Journal in Pensacola about a year ago, he was associated with The Atmore Advance in Atmore and The Baldwin Times in Bay Minette. He and Mrs. Bankester, also a native of Robertsdale, and their two sons, Mike, 10, and Scott, 4, are residing on Perry Street in a new residence recently built by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Dunning.

84 YEARS AGO
JUNE 15, 1939

HUNDREDS TO BE HERE ON MILLS DAY: Monroeville is expecting a large gathering of people here on Monroe Mills Day next Wednesday, June 21, and the Chamber of Commerce is making preparations to make the day a pleasant and profitable one for the visitors. Many of our county people have never had an opportunity to see the Monroe Mills and the factory of the Wood Products Company in operation, and a trip through these plants alone, is really interesting and instructive. Parents who have children of school age should make every effort to bring them to Monroeville Wednesday.

HELP WITH THE CLEAN-UP WORK: The Monroeville Boy Scout Troops are spending a good portion of their time during the coming week in helping to clean up the town of all rubbish. Residents are asked to place all cans, bottles and other rubbish to be disposed of, in boxes and sacks, so it will be easy for the Scouts to pick it up and dispose of it. The hearty cooperation of every citizen of the town will make this clean-up campaign a success.

THE FRISCO CITY SUN: We extend fraternal greetings and a most cordial welcome to our new contemporary, The Frisco City Sun, just making its appearance as a weekly newspaper at our neighbor city of Frisco City.
We understand that its policy will be that of a booster for its city and Monroe County, and that it expects to support everything worth while designed to improve the condition of our people in this territory. Upon this assumption, we are pleased to welcome it as a valuable co-worker.

110 YEARS AGO
JUNE 19, 1913

Newly Elected Masonic Officers: Mizpah Lodge, No. 667, Manistee – W.R. Blackwell, Worshipful Master; J.W. Wilkinson, Senior Warden; J.F. Grimes, Junior Warden; W.M. Florey, Treasurer; Jno. T. Lambert, Secretary; J.J. Curry and S. Lee Hayle, Junior Deacons; D.S. Sykes, Tyler; W.J. Curry, Chaplain; B.F. Lambert and Robert Stacey, Stewards; T.E. Stacey, Marshal.

The Monroeville and Jones Mill baseball teams played a seven-inning game on the Jones Mill diamond Saturday afternoon, the score resulting in 15 to 8 in favor of Monroeville. The local team will probably play Finchburg at this place Saturday.

Mr. J.U. Blacksher of Maros was a business visitor to the county capital the first of the week.

Messrs. J.W. Deer of Franklin and John Bigger of Finchburg were among Monroeville friends the first of the week. Boll weevil has made its appearance in both neighborhoods.

A town with two official names is about as rare a circumstance as a town without any name whatever, but that is the situation as regards the coming metropolis of South Monroe. Its corporate name is Jones Mill, and in that name all municipal matters are transacted, but at Washington and for postal purposes, it will be known as “Roy,” a petition to that effect having been recently approved by the post office authorities. Until the next municipal election, this anomalous condition must continue.