The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Oct. 18, 2023

46 YEARS AGO
OCT. 20, 1977

Hospital may open about noon today: Evergreen and Conecuh County may have a hospital open again today.
Bill McKenzie, president of Evergreen Hospital, Inc., states that his corporation completed the purchase of the Conecuh County Hospital from the Conecuh County Hospital Association on Tuesday.
This morning, representatives from the Alabama Dept. of Public Health, Bureau of Licensure and Certification are here making a final inspection.
Barring some unforeseen problem coming up, McKenzie believes that the license will be issued and the hospital will open its doors at around noon today.
Facing seemingly insurmountable financial problems, the Conecuh County Hospital Association voted to close the hospital in May. Shortly after that, the association began negotiations with McKenzie, which were culminated Tuesday.

Mrs. Jo Ann Jones and Mrs. Mamie Lambert and Mrs. Correan Salter, directors of the Pilot Club of Evergreen, are in the office of attorney Wm. D. Melton signing the incorporation papers of the Pilot Club of Evergreen. The Pilots are a service club of business and professional women founded on ‘friendship and service.’

Last Friday was observed here as ‘Pilot Founders Day’ by proclamation by Mayor O.B. ‘Bert’ Tuggle. The mayor signed the document as Pilot Barbara C. Gantt witnessed.

61 YEARS AGO
OCT. 18, 1962

Accident Kills Two, Several Injured: Last Saturday night a one-car accident near the city limits of Evergreen, on Alabama 83, killed two persons and injured four others. A 1954 Mercury, driven by Edward R. Weekly of Satsuma, Ala., was the death car.
The driver was killed along with Willis Weekly, also of Satsuma.

Local Methodists Will Hear Orr On Layman’s Day: J. Herbert Orr, industrialist, churchman and civic leader of Opelika, will be the guest speaker this Sunday at the Evergreen Methodist Church. His talk will highlight the observance of Layman’s Day.
Orr is one of America’s pioneers in the field of magnetic recording tape.
Orr was founder and president of Orradio Industries, Inc., one of the first tape manufacturing plants in the nation. Since establishing this firm Orr has had an important part in the progress and development of the magnetic tape industry.

Early reports good on UF Fund drive: Conecuh County’s annual United Fund appeal moves into high gear this week completion of the industrial division canvass slated for Friday.
Tony Smith of Southern Coach & Body Co., chairman of the industrial division, states that the payroll deduction plan seems to be the most popular method of giving among those employed by local industries, although cash gifts are certainly in order if preferred by the individual.

76 YEARS AGO
OCT. 16, 1947

Bank Bandit Kills Self After Thrilling Chase: A masked bandit obtained $800 in a holdup of the Farmers Exchange Bank in McCullough Tuesday, then killed himself two hours later when he was cornered in a wooded area near Goodway, State Highway Patrolman Tom P. Melton (of Evergreen) reported.
Melton identified the robber as W.C. Ethredge, about 30, of Atmore and said Ethredge had lived in McCullough at one time.
According to information received from Patrolman Melton, the bandit rented a 1941 Chevrolet Coupe in Pensacola, Fla. early Tuesday morning and drove to McCullough arriving about 2 p.m. Mrs. Terry Prestwood was on duty in the bank and two or three depositors waiting when Ethredge entered. He ordered them to stand aside and took all the money in sight, about $800. He told them not to leave the bank until he made his getaway. Mrs. Prestwood notified her husband who gave chase in his own car.
The robber fired on Prestwood as soon as he came in sight, then stopped his car, fired three shots, one going through the windshield but failed to wound Prestwood, and continued his flight. When the cars passed the Atmore State Prison Farm, Deputy Warden Lias Lambert and Prison Guard Charlie Sizemore joined the chase along with two dog boys and bloodhounds.
Ethredge turned off Highway 11 onto a county road, abandoned his car and fled into the woods. The two dogs were released and the party continued the chase into the woods. The officers heard two shots and then found Ethredge dead with one shot in his left breast and one shot above his right ear. He was clutching a .38 caliber Smith-Wesson revolver in his right hand and money from the bank in his left.

91 YEARS AGO
OCT. 20, 1932

Citizens of Evergreen, Conecuh County and the entire surrounding section were saddened this week to learn of the sudden death of Edward Johnston McCreary, who died at 11 o’clock Monday night following a stroke of paralysis which came upon him about four o’clock Monday afternoon.
Mr. McCreary was one of Evergreen’s oldest and most highly respected citizens. He was born at Johnstonville in this county, Feb. 5, 1864, the son of the late John A. and Marcella J. McCreary. At an early age he removed with his parents to Evergreen where he has resided continuously since.

Conecuh Co. Gins 4,373 Bales By October 1st: The official ginners’ report shows that prior to Oct. 1, there were 4,373 bales of cotton ginned in Conecuh County. On the same date in 1931, Conecuh had ginned 7,407 bales.

Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Riley and family left Evergreen Saturday for Greensboro, where they will have charge of the Greensboro hotel. There many friends here will regret to learn of their removal.

The many friends of Miss Gussie Riley will regret to learn that she has been confined to her bed, suffering from an injury received Sunday when she was hooked by a cow.

106 YEARS AGO
OCT. 17, 1917

Castleberry: A carload of 25 fine horses from Colorado were unloaded here Sunday.

Save the Blown Down Timber: There is a vast quantity of timber throughout this section which was blown down by the recent hurricane, and unless persons who own it take prompt measures to utilize and get something out of it, much of it will go to decay. The Pensacola Excelsior Co. of Pensacola, Fla. writes The Courant requesting us to call attention of timber owners to the fact that practically all of this pine timber can be utilized by that concern if it is properly prepared for shipment before it begins to deteriorate. There are thousands of trees that can be turned into money which otherwise would be a total loss.

Send The Courant to the Soldier Boys: Send The Courant to your son or brother in the Army service. He wants the news from home and The Courant will serve as a letter. The dollar you spend in this way will be a pleasure and comfort to him and he will appreciate it as much as anything you could do for him.

G.R. Boulware returned on Saturday from the veterans reunion. He says Birmingham entertained the veterans royally – the best reunion he has attended in a long while.

President Pettis of the Fair Association has had two large signs stretched across the principal streets, advertising the County Fair. President Pettis is proving to be the right man in the right place. He believes in publicity.