The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for Jan. 15, 2024

Cynthia Tucker

13 YEARS AGO
JAN. 20, 2011

Chapman sworn in: District Judge Dawn Hare swore in District Attorney Tommy Chapman Tuesday morning at a ceremony in Evergreen. On hand for the swearing in were his wife, Patsy, and son, Scott. Chapman ran for re-election unopposed last November.

Watson named top player: Monroe Academy senior Buchanan Watson is the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Defensive Lineman of the Year for schools that compete in the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA).
Watson, a 6-2, 200-pound offensive center and defensive tackle, received the award Wednesday of last week in Birmingham during the ASWA’s annual awards banquet.
Also recognized as ASWA all-stars were MA senior running back Sam Vermilyea, sophomore place-kicker Craig Bryan and junior cornerback Gabe Dees.

Garrett wins ‘Be Your Best Self’ scholarship: Kendall Garrett, a senior from J.U. Blacksher, represented Monroe County this past weekend in Montgomery at Alabama’s Distinguished Young Woman of the Year Program, formally known as Junior Miss.
Garrett received a $200 scholarship for her “Be Your Best Self” essay. She is the daughter of Eugene and Kelly Garrett from Uriah.

New members welcomed: The Monroeville Junior Woman’s Club welcomed eight new members during their first meeting of the year on Jan. 11. New members are Brittany Mattox, Amanda Brantley, Melissa Wasden, Samantha Ramsey, Dalana Brooks, Katie Waters, Jessica Kilgore and Angela Lambeth.

38 YEARS AGO
JAN. 16, 1986

Doe with antlers: William A. “Bill” Miller Jr. of Monroeville thought this 157-pound deer was a buck when he shot it with a 30-06 rifle about 4 p.m. Jan. 8 in Wilcox County near Oak Hill. It had small antlers – a button on the right side and a spike on the left – and it “behaved like a buck,” Miller said. But it turned out to be a doe. Female deer don’t usually have antlers. Miller said one of the first people to whom he showed the unusual doe was Conservation Officer Randy Acton. Acton said it was the first antlered doe he had seen personally, though “I’ve heard of them and seen pictures.” It is legal to kill a doe that has antlers visible above the hairline, Acton said.

2 Monroeville banks merge: The First National Bank of Monroeville was merged Monday in The Monroe County Bank, culminating a close affiliation that dated back almost half a century. The First National Bank no longer exists, but The Monroe County Bank is now larger, has three locations and will be able to serve customers better, said John B. Barnett Jr., who was board chairman and chief executive officer of both banks and holds the same positions with the merged bank.

Ms. Tucker named associate editor: Monroeville native Cynthia Tucker has been named associate editor of The Atlanta Constitution. She has been editorial associate and columnist for The Atlanta Journal since 1982. The daughter of Mrs. John A. Tucker of Monroeville and the late Mr. Tucker, she joined the news staff of The Atlanta Journal in 1976 after graduating from Auburn University.

63 YEARS AGO
JAN. 19, 1961

Thieves Take $471 At Beatrice School: After breaking through four doors, a burglar or burglars came away from Beatrice High School, Beatrice, $471 richer, following a Monday night entry.
The culprits removed the total in cash from a safe in a record room and the principal’s desk, but threw $250 in checks in a trash can.
Marvin Gwin, school principal, said the intruders apparently gained entrance into the building through the back door of the auditorium.

Monroe County’s champion basketball team is from J.U. Blacksher High School, Uriah. Winners of last year’s crown in the county and Pine Belt Conference, the Bulldogs defeated Monroeville, 42-38, in the finals in Frisco City Saturday night. (Members of the team were James Jay, Doug Norris, Jerry Thomas, Burl Woods, Ronnie Ikner, Franklin Sager, Gerald Johnson, William Turk and Dickie Solomon.)

School For Firemen Slated For County: A fireman school for members of all Monroe County fire departments will be sponsored here under auspices of the Monroe County Board of Education.
The school is slated in cooperation with the State Trade and Industrial Education Department.
Classes will be taught by Capt. Murphy, instructor of the State Department, Tuscaloosa.
The five-day school begins Mon., Jan. 23, to continue through Fri., Jan. 27. Classes will be conducted daily from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Monroeville City Hall.

88 YEARS AGO
JAN. 16, 1936

County Streams Stocked With Bream: Game Warden C.V. Hines superintended the distribution of a large quantity of bream in streams and lakes in Monroe County on Monday. These bream were brought here from the hatchery at Marion. Sixteen hundred were placed in Limestone about three miles north of Monroeville. Twelve hundred were placed in creeks and lakes near Finchburg and 600 were deposited in lakes near the hunting club below Claiborne.

Excel Football Boys Are Given Banquet: The Excel High School FHA, under the supervision of Miss Katherine Bilbro, honored the football team with a banquet which was greatly enjoyed.
The following boys earned letters for service rendered in the past season: Captain Burnie Coleman, Tommie Grantham, Millard Cole, L.C. Wright, Grady Greene, Luke Reed, Hunter Skipper, Robert Bouler, Robert Murphy, Edwin Johnson, Bill Williamson, Louie Jenkins, Brent Sessions, Teal Grantham, Rupert McCall, John Skipper, Francis Mason and Manager Artice Skipper.
The season was considered fair as Excel won three games, lost four and tied two.

Monroe County Man Cited On U.S. Liquor Charge: Duncan Snider, residing near Fountain, was arraigned in Evergreen before U.S. Commissioner R.F. Irwin and held to the federal grand jury under $500 bond on a liquor charge. Snider was arrested by Sheriff J.P. Farish after 10 gallons of liquor were allegedly found buried in the garage at his home. The man was taken to Evergreen for arraignment before the United States Commissioner by John C. Barlow of Mobile, federal alcoholic investigator, who destroyed the liquor.

113 YEARS AGO
JAN. 19, 1911

An epidemic of smallpox is reported in the vicinity of Maros, in the southern part of this county. More than 50 cases of a mild type have developed. What are considered ample precautions have been taken by the health authorities to confine the disease to the infected neighborhood.

Mr. Clinton C. Brantley was shot and fatally injured in attempting to arrest a desperate man at McWilliams on the line of Monroe and Wilcox counties last Monday morning. The man, Henry Sanders, alias Henry Lewis, was wanted in Wilcox County for murder and other crimes, and a heavy reward was offered for his arrest. Young Brantley located Sanders and with his brother attempted to arrest him. Sanders drew a pistol and shot Brantley through the right breast and made his escape. The wounded man was taken to Selma for surgical aid but died a few hours after his arrival.

Judge W.G. McCorvey returned Tuesday from Montgomery where he spent several days during the organization of the legislature and witnessing the inauguration of Governor O’Neal.

Thomas McKenzie, the well known graduate optician, who has been in Monroeville for several weeks, will spend next week in Beatrice.

Mr. J.I. Bizzelle has been reappointed Jury Commissioner for Monroe County for the long term, he having drawn the short term upon his appointment two years ago.

Mr. John T. Bradford of Portland was a visitor to the capital city of Monroe last week. He stated that the injuries sustained by Mr. George Tuthill, upon whom an attempt at assassination was made about 10 days ago, were not as serious as reported. Several arrests have been made of men suspected of being implicated in the crime.