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

Sonny Smith of Auburn University

17 YEARS AGO
JULY 20, 2006

Welch defeats Crenshaw in runoff: Monroe County Circuit Judge Sam Welch, R-Monroeville, crossed another hurdle in his pursuit of the Place 3 seat on the state court of criminal appeals Tuesday when he defeated Clay Crenshaw of Montgomery in the Republican runoff election.
Welch will run against Deborah Bell Paseur, D-Florence, in the November general election.
“I hope to become the first person from Monroe County to be elected to a statewide office since Arthur Bagby was elected governor in 1841,” Welch said.

JFS, Excel add new coaches: J.F. Shields and Excel high schools have hired new head coaches and assistant coaches.
Excel hired Andy Lambert as its head football and basketball coach and assistant football and baseball coach Jeff Cannon recently.
Shields Principal Marion McIntosh has announced that coaches William Randolph and Jordan Elbrecht have been hired at the school. Randolph has been named head football coach, and Elbrecht will serve as an assistant football coach and head baseball coach.

Excel to seek grant funding for trail: The Town of Excel set the wheels in motion last Monday night to pursue a multipurpose trail at the town’s park.
The proposed trail would be about 7/10 of a mile long and would be used for walking and bike riding.
“The trail will be a great addition to our community,” councilwoman Nancy Smith said. “I walk often in town and there really is nowhere to walk. It will also help improve the health of our citizens.”

42 YEARS AGO
JULY 16, 1981

McWilliams is Frisco’s new mayor: The Frisco City Town Council on Monday promoted Howard McWilliams from town councilman to mayor, filling the vacancy created when Jeffie Jones resigned last week.
Williams, who was mayor pro tempore (filling in when Jones was not available) and acted as mayor after the July 6 resignation, was appointed to the job by a unanimous vote. He will serve the rest of Jones’ term, which will expire in October 1984.
The council has not yet replaced McWilliams as a councilman. Jones, who was elected mayor in 1980 and served one previous term as mayor and four as a councilman, resigned on his physician’s advice.

Smith to conduct clinic: Sonny Smith will conduct a one-day basketball clinic at Patrick Henry State Junior College today (Thursday) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Smith is the head basketball coach at Auburn University. He came to Auburn from East Tennessee State University, where he was also head basketball coach. For further information, contact Coach Eddie Dutton at Patrick Henry.

Curenton is new pastor at Excel Baptist Church: After retiring from the ministry because of a health condition four years ago, the Rev. Earl Curenton of Andalusia has accepted the pastorate of Excel First Baptist Church. A native of Covington County, Curenton has been in the ministry for 35 years and has served pastorates at churches in Andalusia, Montgomery, Brantley and Hartford.

67 YEARS AGO
JULY 19, 1956

New Announcer Coming To Radio Station WMFC: Jim Aycock, announcer with Radio Station WMFC, Monroeville, has resigned to accept a position with a Selma radio station, Bill Stewart, partner in the Monroe Broadcasting Co., has stated.
Mr. Aycock, except for a short period of time, has been with the station since its initial operation beginning in 1952. He will be replaced on Aug. 4.
Replacing Mr. Aycock will be Bruce Shell of Brewton, formerly employed by WATM in Atmore and WEBJ in Brewton.

Monroeville Clipped By Camden, 9 To 8: The Monroeville baseball nine bowed to a neighboring Wilcox County team, 9-8, in Tuesday night’s game in Camden.
The locals racked up 12 hits out of 43 times at bat while the Camden aggregation made nine hits out of 43 times at bat.
Leading hitters for Monroeville were Austin Taylor, first baseman, and Cooper, catcher, both of whom got three hits for five times at bat.
Heading the Camden hitting list were McKelvey, shortstop and pitcher, and Holladay, centerfielder, both with two for five.

Greer Named Panelist At State Conference: H.G. Greer, Monroe County Superintendent of Education, is panelist this week at a statewide educational conference being held at Auburn. The meeting began Monday to continue through today (Thursday).
Miss Esther Murphy, county instructional supervisor, was recorder during the conference. Also attending were several principals of Monroe County schools.

92 YEARS AGO
JULY 16, 1931

Change in Date of Moose Meeting: Monroeville Lodge, Loyal Order of Moose, No. 1127, which was to have met at Uriah Fri., July 17, will meet at Uriah July 23. Illness of Supervisor E.K. DeWitt causes this change of date. Past officers of Mobile Lodge No. 321 will be present to assist in obligating a large class of candidates.

While surveying in a field near Monroeville Tuesday morning, Mr. T.A. Rumbley found a small cannon ball. The ball was one and one-half inch in diameter and weighed three-fourths of a pound. It was well preserved.

Vredenburgh Has $100,000 Loss By Fire Thursday Night: The Vredenburgh post office building, a filling station, the commissary of the Vredenburgh Saw Mill Co., the company’s offices and a warehouse were completely destroyed by fire late Thursday night. The loss is expected to reach above one hundred thousand dollars. It was partially covered by insurance.
It is thought that the fire originated in an electric refrigerating machine in the commissary. Flames quickly spread to the adjoining frame buildings and to the filling station across the street, before they could be gotten under control.

Winston Burns of Monroeville was awarded a bronze medal in a contest for the best essay in C.M.T. Camp at Fort Barrancas last week. Curtis Tatum of Pine Orchard and L.A. Landrum of Uriah received medals as members of the winning baseball team.

Mrs. A.C. Lee is spending this week in Montgomery.

Alvin Coxwell leaves this week for the University of Alabama, where he will attend summer school.

117 YEARS AGO
JULY 19, 1906

Capt. Luck Wainwright, the oldest river steamboatman in Alabama, died at Jackson last week.

The rainfall has been heavy in most parts of the county during the past week or 10 days, and there is already complaint in some sections of too much moisture.

JONES MILL AND SNIDER: Mr. Clay Hybart’s new house is nearing completion.

Mr. I.A. Weaver, who is pleasantly remembered by many Monroeville friends as principal of the Monroe Institute during the last session, is now editor of the Lineville Headlight, published at his hometown.

Sonnie Coker, the young man whose death sentence was recently commuted by the governor to life imprisonment, was taken in charge by an agent of the state convict department on Monday and removed to his destined place of employment.

PINEVILLE: Miss Gennie Burns has commenced teaching a school at Cuba, near Livingston.

MONDAY ITEMS: Mr. E.T. Blackburn is teaching a flourishing school near here.

WESLEY CHAPEL: Most of the farmers are behind with their work on account of so much rain but not so much rain but not so much as they have been.

Capt. C.M. Marriott was up from Homewood last week attending the commissioners court.