The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Feb. 27, 2024

USS Iwo Jima

20 YEARS AGO

FEB. 26, 2004

Weather observer Harry Ellis reported .02 inches of rain on Feb. 16. He reported a high of 71 degrees on Feb. 20 and a low of 30 degrees on Feb. 17, Feb. 18 and Feb. 19.

The Conecuh County Chapter of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association planted a tree in front of Evergreen Elementary School on Tues., Feb. 24, in celebration of Arbor Day. Evergreen Mayor Lomax Cassady, as well as members of Mrs. Kit Moss’ second grade class, were on hand for the tree planting ceremony. Don Stinson and Victor Howell represented the Conecuh chapter of the ATFA. Also on Tuesday the ATFA gave away approximately 5,000 nursery grown tree seedlings in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot. The promotion of tree planting is one of the many projects sponsored by the Conecuh Chapter of the ATFA.

Frankie Gibson, daughter of Robert and Lisa Gibson, won the AISA State Spelling Bee at Huntingdon College in Montgomery on Tues., Feb. 10, 2004. She is in the seventh grade at Sparta Academy and a student of Mrs. Kathy Jernigan, who coordinated the Sparta Spelling Bee as well as the District Spelling Bee. Frankie competed in the seventh-grade local, district and finally state spelling bee.

Dr. James Lamar Jackson, a minister who worked with the Alabama Baptist State Convention, passed away Sun., Feb. 22, 2004 at his home in Evergreen. He was 86.

45 YEARS AGO

FEB. 22, 1979

Weather observer Earl Windham reported .08 inches of rain on Feb. 17 and .21 inches on Feb. 18. He reported a high of 77 degrees on Feb. 16 and a low of 28 on Feb. 12.

Marine Cpl. James D. Morrow, son of Lois H. Browder of Rt. 2, Box 260, McKenzie, Ala., recently departed for deployment in the Mediterranean Sea.

He is assigned to the 3^rd Battalion, Eighth Marines, based at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

His unit is embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, operating as a unit of the U.S. Sixth Fleet.

Palmer Smith is now serving as hospital pharmacist and purchasing agent for Evergreen Hospital, Inc. Smith graduated from Evergreen High School in 1958 where he was a popular student and athlete. A registered pharmacist, he graduated from Samford University, Birmingham, in 1963. He worked at the Conecuh Drug Co. here and then owned pharmacies in Montgomery for several years. Prior to accepting his recent position, he worked as a pharmacist with a Monroeville drug store. Smith and his wife, Jane, and their son, Eben, 10, live in the Fairview community and are members of the Evergreen Baptist Church. He is the son of Mrs. V.P. Smith and the late Mr. Smith of Route E, Evergreen.

Cynthia Rudolph won first place in the Birmingham Post-Herald Spelling Bee at Marshall Middle School and will compete in the County Spelling Bee in March.

70 YEARS AGO

FEB. 25, 1954

Unusual Exhibit Scheduled Here Next Monday and Tuesday: Marie O’Day’s Palace Car is coming Monday and Tuesday, March 1-2, to Evergreen.

On exhibit in the car will be some unusual attractions, including the mummified body of Marie O’Day.

The night club dancer and entertainer, according to the sponsors of the exhibit, was fatally stabbed by her husband and thrown into the Great Salt Lake inn Utah, where the body remained for 12 years.

After the body was recovered, the exhibitors say it was discovered that the hair was still growing in an apparently normal manner. The dancer’s husband is said to be still serving a life sentence in Utah for her murder.

O.E.S. Will Observe Master Mason Night: The local chapter of the Order of Eastern Star will observe Master Mason night Monday night, March 1, beginning at 7:30 at the Masonic Hall. All Master Masons and their wives are invited to attend and members of the O.E.S. may bring their husbands whether they are Masons or not.

A full night of entertainment has been provided including an old time fried chicken supper. All Masons and Eastern Stars are urged to participate.

Frank Chavers, a senior of Lyeffion High School, was recently selected Future Farmer of the Year. He cultivated 25 acres of land last year, entered an 800-pound Hereford Calf in the 1953 Fat Calf Show and he had a Gilt in the FFA Pig Chain.

95 YEARS AGO

FEB. 28, 1929

Confederate Veteran Dies At Age of 89: John J. Booker, well known and highly respected citizen of this county, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Joe Andrews, near Belleville, Feb. 16. Deceased was a native of Conecuh County, having been reared in what is known as the Lone Star community near Skinnerton. He was a veteran of the War Between the States and at the time of his death was 89 years old. Interment was made in Lone Star cemetery Sun., Feb. 17.

Four Guardsmen Prepare For Trip To Washington: Four picked men from Troop C, 55^th Machine Gun Squadron, Alabama National Guard, were making final preparations this week for their trip to Washington, D.C. to take part in the inaugural ceremonies for President-Elect Herbert Hoover.

The four who will make the trip are Frank Brantley, D.C. Brooks, Willie I. Cook and W. McLean Dreaden. They will leave Evergreen Saturday and return about Wednesday.

Confederate Soldiers Will Get Gravestones: Washington, Feb. 23 – The Confederate dead of the Civil War, after sleeping for six decades as rebels, were given official recognition today as American soldiers when the senate passed a house bill conferring governmental honors upon them.

The bill authorized the secretary of war to erect headstones over the “graves of soldiers who served in the Confederate army and who have been buried in national, city, town or village cemeteries or in any other places,” the war department also was instructed to preserve in its record “the name, rank, company, regiment and date of death of the soldiers and his state.” The bill now goes to the White House for the president’s signature.

120 YEARS AGO

FEB. 24, 1904

Belleville: The new Methodist minister, Mr. Breedlove, at his regular appointment, delivered an earnest and impressive sermon. Although the weather was threatening, there was a good crowd out.

J.A. Amerson of Gregville was here Monday circulating among the people in the interest of his candidacy for commissioner. Mr. Amerson tips the beam at 307 pounds and if he is elected will no doubt be one of the biggest commissioners in the state.

The recent improvements of the streets and sidewalks are appreciated by everybody. One can now cross the streets in rainy weather without wading through mud and water.

SUDDEN DEATH: Prominent Citizen Drops Dead While at Work: A.T. Thomas, a well known citizen of this county, dropped dead while at work in the saw mill of John Murphy near Herbert on Thursday last. Mr. Thomas, up to the time of his death, was apparently in good health, and was at his post in the saw mill performing his duties when suddenly he was seen to fall and expire in a short while. Apoplexy was supposed to have been the cause. He was a good citizen and was respected and esteemed by his neighbors and all who knew him.