The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for Oct. 2, 2023

Hank Williams

26 YEARS AGO
OCT. 2, 1997

Clements, Walker join Journal staff: This week The Monroe Journal welcomes a former staff member in a new role and a new member to its news staff.
Michael Clements, former Journal reporter, is returning as managing editor. Clements is returning to Monroe County after 10 months as a county reporter for The Panama City (Fla.) News Herald.
Greg Walker starts work this week as The Journal’s newest staff writer. Walker comes to Monroe County from Demopolis, where he began his newspaper career while still a student at Demopolis High School.

Excel’s Panthers pound Marengo: In the scheduled heavyweight battle at Panther Stadium in Excel Friday, it quickly became a one-round affair as Excel High School made short work of Marengo High School, winning, 43-14.
Trevor Ledkins paced Excel’s running backs, collecting 139 yards on 28 rushes. Ledkins and Alvin Brown led the Excel defense from their linebacker positions. Both seniors had 12 tackles each.
(Other top Excel players in that game included Shannon Brooks, Alvin Brown, Chris Champion, Torey Houston, Jason McLelland, Jonathan McMillian, Tyrone Preyear, Joe Simmons and Kervin Thomas. Al Bowen was Excel’s head coach.)

Lee named hospital’s Employee of the Year: Angela Lee, supervisor for the Nutrition Services Department at Monroe County Hospital, was recently named Employee of the Year for the Circle of Excellence program at a reception in her honor at the hospital. She received the MCH logo etched pyramid award, a check for $100, a lapel pin and a reserved parking space for one year.

51 YEARS AGO
OCT. 5, 1972

New city officials take over duties: Newly elected officials in the five incorporated municipalities of the county took over their duties officially Monday. They will serve for four years.
The new officials include the following:
Monroeville: Dr. W.H. “Jack” Hines, mayor; B.C. Hornady, Johnny Johnson, Robbins Williams, Johnny Snyder and Kenneth Fairly, councilmen.
Frisco City: Jeffie Jones, mayor; W.P. Albritton, James E. Wilson, James McKinley, Gilbert Norris and Miss Susan B. Phillips, councilmen.
Excel: Coy Stacey, mayor; Fred Kinsey, Quinton Mixon, Lemuel Hancock, George Melton and Robert Lee, councilmen.
Beatrice: Tommy Black, mayor; Francis Stallworth, Conrad Wall, Billy Martin, R.C. Philen and James Black, councilmen.
Vredenburgh: Lee Thomas, mayor; Frank Stewart, C.O. Letcher, Grady Dunn, Clarence Duckworth and Rufus Dees.

Whippets upset Blacksher: The J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs saw their four-game winning streak and state rating go down the drain last Friday night, Sept. 29, as the Frisco City Whippets traveled to Uriah with upset on their minds. The Whippets scored six points in the first half and added 20 in the final half to down the Bulldogs, 26-0.
(Top FCHS players in that game included Tommy Bailey, Ronnie Browning, Elbert Coleman, Jerry Kilpatrick, Al Lambert, Eddie Martin, Dale Stacey and Ronald Watts. Top Blacksher players in that game included Sylvester Cox and Mitchell Norris. Wilfred Hultz was Frisco’s head coach.)

76 YEARS AGO
OCT. 2, 1947

Frisco Theatre – Frisco City – Thurs., Oct. 2 – On Our Stage HANK WILLIAMS and His Radio Gang – One hour of music and fun. Hank Williams has written several songs which are on Radio and Records, among them being “Move It Over” which was fourth on Hill Billy Hit Parade.

The Monroeville football team showed its superiority over W.S. Neal of East Brewton last Friday night to emerge victorious to the tune of 18 to 0. The game was played under the new lights and the new grandstand was in use. But even with the new seats available, a standing crowd was present to see their favorites score three touchdowns on passes.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wiggins announce the birth of a daughter, Wanda Dianne, on Thurs., Sept. 25, at Carter’s Hospital in Repton.

Two Local Concerns Burglarized Wednesday: Thieves broke into the local Jitney-Jungle Store and the Monroeville Bus Station Wednesday night, obtaining between $70 and $80 in cash from the two concerns.
E.S. Gardner, proprietor of the Jitney-Jungle, said a preliminary checkup indicated only $6 or $7 was missing from his cash register, while representatives of the bus concern reported the burglars obtained about $70 cash from their station. No merchandise was discovered missing at either place.
Entrance to the Jitney-Jungle was gained by breaking the front window glass, while the bus station was entered through a side window.

101 YEARS AGO
OCT. 5, 1922

Mr. A.C. Lee’s dwelling is being remodeled and enlarged.

Miss Ferrol Mae Baggett has charge of the music class of the Excel High School for this session.

M. Katz store was closed throughout the day Monday in observance of Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement.

Mr. J.S. Burns and family are comfortably domiciled in their handsome new home in Monvil Park residence section.

Mr. R.B. Brown of Lower Peachtree was a business visitor to Monroeville Saturday. Mr. Brown is a veteran steamboat pilot who guided watercraft on the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers for many years.

Mr. R.G. Scott of Eliska was a business visitor to the county capital Tuesday. Mr. Scott is an old newspaper man, having served his apprenticeship in the “art preservative” in the office of The Wilcox Vindicator, published by his father at Camden in the stormy days of Reconstruction.

Among the noteworthy improvements in prospect for Monroeville in the near future is an electric lighting plant of sufficient capacity to supply lights for the entire town and power for numerous industrial enterprises. It is understood that negotiations are practically complete for the installation of the plant at an early date.

The Monroe County Teachers Institute was held in the auditorium of the Monroe County High School on Monday with approximately 115 teachers in attendance. An interesting program was carried out and the session proved a profitable occasion.

139 YEARS AGO
OCT. 2, 1884

A dastardly attempt was made last Friday night to assassinate Mr. Warren Broughton, foreman of The Journal composing room. Mr. Broughton was returning home from a young lady’s house, whom he had accompanied from church, when two shots were fired at him and so close to his face as to almost blind him with the smoke of the explosion. He happened to have his kerchief out at the time, wiping the perspiration from his face, it being a warm evening, when the first shot was fired, and it was so close and so unexpected, he threw up his hands and hollered, when the second shot was fired, the ball penetrating and burning the kerchief he held in his hand. The man that could be so fiendish and hell-born as to waylay and attempt the life of a human being in such a manner ought to meet with a severer fate that is provided for by law. We never dreamed that this community contained a man so mean and infamous. Suspicions rest upon certain parties but no arrests have yet been made.

Prof. G.L. Graham of Lowndes County has come to Monroeville, we are pleased to state, to locate. He has been made principal of the Monroeville Academy and opened Tuesday with a good number of pupils. Prof. G. comes to our community highly recommended as a gentleman and a scholar, and we hope to see the Monroeville Academy flourish under his charge.

Miss Bessie O. Willison of Mobile, who has been the guest of C.L. Scott for several weeks, returned to Claiborne Saturday, where she will be the guest of Mrs. M.G. Strode, Mrs. Judge Gibbons and other friends, before returning to her home in the Gulf City.