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

USS Caiman

11 YEARS AGO
JULY 5, 2012

McKelvey named Clerk of Year: Toni McKelvey, clerk for the City of Monroeville, was recently recognized for 22 years of service and named Clerk of the Year by a committee of her peers.
Each year, the Alabama Association of Municipal Clerks and Administrators recognize one of its members as Clerk of the Year during the Summer Conference.
McKelvey was chosen from nominees from seven districts throughout the state.

DY all-stars win district: Monroeville clinched the Dixie Youth Baseball District 4 championship for 11- and 12-year-old all-stars Monday night at Veterans Park with a decisive 10-0 win over Grove Hill.
Trace Holder pitched the shutout to collect his second win in the three-team, double-elimination tournament. On offense, Monroeville was led by Griffin McKenzie, John Walker Horton and Cameron Hybart.
(Other top players on Monroeville’s team included Max Carter, Dalton Griffin, Lake Higdon, Dalton McKenzie, Micah Norris, Marcus Owens, Alex Sessions and Hunter Sessions.)

Jaye recognized as outstanding alumni: Peggy Jaye, public affairs manager for Georgia-Pacific’s Alabama River Cellulose facility at Claiborne, recently received Troy University’s Hall School of Journalism award for outstanding alumna in public relations.
Jaye served as public relations manager at Alabama River Pulp Co. for 21 years until the company was acquired by Georgia-Pacific in the summer of 2010 and she continues her involvement in internal and external communications with a strong emphasis in community relations and workforce development.

38 YEARS AGO
JULY 4, 1985

SouthWind is sold: Peterman native Cheryl Henderson and her husband, Wayne Henderson, purchased the SouthWind Restaurant in Monroeville from Ron Prater, effective Monday.
Mrs. Henderson said Tuesday the restaurant staff will remain the same, with Randy Prater as manager. Her husband, a Pensacola native who has been a geotechnical engineer in Atlanta, will now be working full-time at the restaurant.

The South Monroe Little League concluded its season Friday night and named this year’s all-stars at Grafton Coleman Field in Frisco City.
From the first-place Excel Angels, Mack Ross, Drexel Lambert, Raymond Jamieson, Steve Goodman and Bryan Luker were named to the all-star roster. Shawn Till, Jeff Luker and Doyle Baggett were named from the Frisco City Yankees. Danny Blackwell, Mike Dailey, Andy Booker, Todd Johnson and Susie Jackson were named from the Uriah BBs. Stoney Browning was named from the Excel Twins. The all-stars’ coach is John Ross, and the team manager is Tom Bradley.

Ag center going up: Workers use a crane Monday to hoist a prefabricated concrete panel into place as part of an outside wall of the Monroe County Agricultural Center, under construction near the north parking lot of Patrick Henry State Junior College. The building, being constructed for Monroe County, will house federal agricultural agencies. The county is constructing an access road that will enter Highway 21 south between the college and Lazenby Precast.

63 YEARS AGO
JULY 7, 1960

Seaman From County Serves On Submarine: Thomas C. Boothe, seaman, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil W. Boothe of Route 1, Monroeville, is serving aboard the submarine USS Caiman at San Diego, Calif. He received Silver Dolphins, the emblem of a qualified submariner May 16. Before entering the Navy in June 1958, Boothe graduated from Excel High School.

NEW COACH: Joe Sheldon Morris Jr., a native of Eutaw, will be coach at J.U. Blacksher High School, Uriah, 1960-61. He is a graduate of Greene County High School and Livingston State College. He received his LSC degree in physical education and social science, lettering in all major sports.

Miss Alice Lee and Miss Ida Shomo left Thursday for Junaluska, where they attended the annual Methodist Church camp.

RECEIVE COWBELLE AWARD: Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Hendrix are shown above with their new baby, born on Father’s Day in the Monroeville Hospital. The nine-pound, four-ounce son was the first child to be born on Father’s Day at the Monroeville Hospital and was the recipient of a sterling silver teething ring with sterling silver cowbells. The ring was presented by the Monroe County Cowbelle Association. The father was given the baby’s weight in steaks.

Masonic Conference Set At Frisco City: The annual Monroe County Masonic Conference is planned Thurs., July 14, at Frisco City Lodge No. 702, to begin at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at the Lodge and the program will continue until four o’clock in the afternoon. Informed Masons will be present to explain ritualistic work. All Masons are urged to attend and visitors will be welcomed.

88 YEARS AGO
JULY 4, 1935

Man Arrested For Franklin Robberies: Henry Varnum of Pensacola was arrested last week and lodged in the county jail in Monroeville in connection with a series of robberies of the A.H. Johnson Store at Franklin during the past several months.
Three times over a period of several months, Mr. Johnson has lost heavily as a result of robberies, each time a generous portion of his general merchandise stock disappearing. Each time the burglars escaped, apparently leaving no clues as to their identity.
Recently the sheriff’s department received a good lead in the case, which resulted in the arrest of Varnum, who is being held awaiting the fall term of circuit court, which will convene in October. Two other men are wanted in connection with the case, but so far they have escaped capture.

Dance at Masonic Hall, Perdue Hill, on Friday night, July 12, for benefit of PTA. Everybody cordially invited.

Burglars Enter Lee Motor Co. Office: An unknown intruder or intruders entered the Monroeville branch of Lee Motor Co. sometime over the weekend. The fact that unknown persons had gained entrance into the building sometime after the Saturday closing was discovered by Sam Pugh, manager, when he opened for business on Monday morning.
The would-be burglars gained entrance to the building through the rear of the repair shop and into the main office by removing a piece of woodwork near the ceiling. The cash register had been forced open, but Mr. Pugh stated that the register contained only a few coins.

113 YEARS AGO
JULY 7, 1910

Hon. John McDuffie is attending the camp of instruction for officers of the Alabama National Guard at Pickett Springs.\

Mr. Chas. R. Broughton left Monday to accept a position with the Baldwin County News, Bay Minette.

Mr. F.W. Rikard of Buena Vista is serving on the county jury this week. Crops are very good in his neighborhood, especially corn.

Mr. R.G. Scott of Mt. Pleasant accompanied by his son, George Scott, favored The Journal with a pleasant call while in the city Monday. Mr. Scott says crop prospects in his neighborhood were very promising until the rains set in. There is grave apprehension that the river will overflow the lowlands and do much injury.

The School Improvement Club wishes to most heartily thank Miss Willie Moore for the lovely entertainment of Monday evening. Her assistants, the Monroeville Orchestra and Mrs. Clifford Rankin of Brewton delighted the audience with their lovely strains of music.

Pension Board Meeting: Notice is hereby given that the County Board of Examiners of applications for pensions of Confederate soldiers will meet at Monroeville, Alabama on the fourth day of July, 1910 and from day to day until all such applications filed with the board in July shall be examined. – Thos. S. Wiggins and W.T. Bayles, M.D.

The next regular examination of teachers for Monroe County will be held at the courthouse in Monroeville July 18, 19 and 20. I will observe all the rules of the state board of examiners and abide strictly by them. – J.A. Barnes, County Superintendent.