The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for Feb. 19, 2024

USS Franklin D. Roosevelt

18 YEARS AGO
FEB. 16, 2006

Rhonda Chandler of BankTrust bank in Monroeville presents at $100 U.S. Savings Bond to Frisco City High School sixth-grader Martha Andrews, winner of the 2006 Monroe County Spelling Bee. Other winners were Monroeville Junior High School seventh-grader Falon White, runner-up; Excel School eighth-grader Nicholas Wiggins, third place; and Frisco City eighth-grader Britney Lett, fourth place.

Champs – Excel wins area: In one of the biggest games in recent memory for Excel’s basketball program, Excel’s varsity boys whipped area rival, Red Level, 63-57, Monday night in Excel to win the 2A Area 2 championship.
High-flying senior Terrell Coker, a 6-foot-2 center, led the Panthers over Red Level with a team-best 18 points. Adrian Stallworth, just a freshman, followed closely with 14 points. Senior guard Chris Crosby also finished the night in double figures, collecting 10 points that included a field goal and two clutch free throws in the final 52 seconds of play that sealed the win.
(Other players on Excel’s team that season included DeArco Anderson, Marcus Anderson, Steven Brown, Jonathan Kirkland, Travis Millender, Justin Ridgeway, Josh Ward and Larry Wiggins.)

Miss Monroe County: The Miss Monroe County Beauty Pageant was held Saturday at Nettles Auditorium on the campus of Alabama Southern Community College. Miss Jacquelyn Whidbee, 18, took home the crown. Whidbee is the daughter of Jack Whidbee and Cynthia Whidbee of Frisco City. Over 90 contestants ranging in age from birth to 18 turned out in the competition.

43 YEARS AGO
FEB. 19, 1981

Bed stolen: A four-poster tester bed of solid mahogany (Empire style, built around 1820) was stolen early last week from the Vanity Fair Hunting Club, “La Rouge,” at Perdue Hill, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. Monroe County Sheriff Lenwood Sager said Agee Broughton, owner of the home leased by Vanity Fair, is offering a $500 reward to anyone who contacts the sheriff’s department with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who stole the bed.

Monroe Academy Volunteers win first-round state action: Senior guard Keith Jones poured in 27 points Tuesday night as the Monroe Academy Volunteers shot past the stubborn Catherine Academy Colts, 70-50, in a first-round Alabama Private School Association state tournament game in Monroeville.
Kim Stacey, a junior forward, hit repeatedly from the corner and followed Jones in scoring with 22 points for the 25-2 Volunteers.
(Other players on MA’s team that season included Craig Cave, Jeff Gandy, Joey Langham, Blake Masingill, Tracey McPherson, Mark Nettles and Rickey Sanchez. Brad Moore was MA’s head coach.)

New C of C officers are installed in banquet: Members of the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce were challenged to meet the problems of the 1980s with hard work and strong leadership during their annual banquet Monday. The banquet at Vanity Fair Community House included the installation of the Chamber’s first woman president, real-estate broker Anne Farish, and other officers for 1981, plus new directors.

68 YEARS AGO
FEB. 16, 1956

Miss Lottie Powell was named queen of the annual “Beauty Revue” at Excel High School last Saturday night. Miss Powell, a senior at the Excel school, is the daughter of Mrs. Louise Powell. Second-place winner of the revue was Miss Gail Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Brown of Excel, and third place winner was Miss Carlie Ann Stacey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Stacey of Excel. The revue was sponsored by the school’s Beta Club. Judges were Arthur Nichols, Ed Lee and Mrs. Ralph Lazenby, all of Monroeville.

The Excel High School Panther five received top seeding from among 17 First District Class A basketball teams Saturday in preparation for the annual tournament to be held in the T.R. Miller gymnasium in Brewton on Feb. 22-25. They are Carol Stacey, forward; Jack Matchett, forward; Johnny Tomlinson, guard; Max Green, guard; Cecil Stacey, center; and Coach William Brandon.

W.T. Smith, Airman Apprentice, U.S. Navy, husband of Mrs. Nina Vee Smith of Bigger St., and son of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Smith of Rt. 2, Frisco City, has been home on leave after successfully competing his “Boot Training” at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, Calif. He will report to the Fleet Air Training Center, Naval Air Station, San Diego, Calif., for a six-week course of instruction prior to reporting to his ultimate duty station, the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, an attack carrier of the Midway Class.

93 YEARS AGO
FEB. 19, 1931

The Installation Of Sewer Is Completed: The installation of the sewer system for the town of Monroeville by the Hornbuckle Contracting Co. of Atlanta, has been completed and many are now availing themselves of the opportunity of “hooking on.” The contract was let to that company last fall for a bid of considerably less than the council had thought the work could be done. Work on the system was promptly begun and carried on rapidly despite adverse weather conditions.

Thompson Bakery Has Installed New Machinery: The Thompson Bakery has recently installed a motor driven kneading machine or dough break. This machine is not only a great labor saver but makes bread whiter and gives a finer texture than the old method. The installation of this new machine puts the bakery in the class with those in large cities.

Mass Meeting at Coley-Blacksher On March 4: There will be a mass meeting and barbecue at the Coley-Blacksher School for boys at Vocation on March 4. Senator James J. Davis of Pennsylvania, founder of the Loyal Order of Moose, is expected to be present. The meeting will be held for the purpose of acquainting the people with the work of the Moose Order and their offer to take over the Coley-Blacksher School.

Monroe High Band Plays For Mardi Gras in Mobile: The Monroe County High School Band, resplendent in the new uniforms of blue and white, left early Monday morning for Mobile to play during the last two days of Mardi Gras. The boys took part in the parades along with the bands from Auburn, the University of Alabama and Murphy High School.

118 YEARS AGO
FEB. 15, 1906

The foreclosure sale of the Conoly property on Tuesday attracted quite a crowd to town of persons whose lands were involved in one way or another. The entire property was bid in for the Union Naval Store Co. for $15,000.

PINEVILLE: The cows coming in from the pasture two miles distant in the middle of the afternoon last Monday, an unfailing sign of approaching bad weather, caused busy housekeepers to have a supply of wood and kindling stored away and to make other preparations for snow, sleet and rain. Tuesday was bitterly cold and, sure enough, late in the afternoon the rain and sleet commenced, continued all night and the next morning with icicles pendant from the eaves, the rain was freezing as it fell.

DEATH BY CREMATION – An Old Man Burned to Death at Tunnel Springs Monday Night – Mr. Colin Falkenberry, an aged citizen of Tunnel Springs, came to his death in a tragic manner on Monday night. Mr. Falkenberry, who was upward of 90 years old, occupied a room apart from the dwelling but within the yard of his son, and it was his custom to arise from his bed at various hours of the night, kindle a fire and sit by it until he became drowsy. On Monday night, the family was awakened at a late hour to discover the little house occupied by the old gentleman in flames and the roof falling in. The building was so far consumed that it was impossible to enter the building or rescue the body of the unfortunate man, and it was only by the most heroic efforts of neighbors who were attracted to the scene that the son’s dwelling was saved from destruction.