The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for March 4, 2024

USS Dennis J. Buckley

22 YEARS AGO
MARCH 7, 2002

The Monroeville Planning Commission paved the way Monday night for Blockbuster Video to locate on South Alabama Avenue.
The commission approved site plans for a 9,000-square-foot structure to be erected between Kentucky Fried Chicken and McKissick Enterprises. Blockbuster and three other businesses would occupy the building.
Project developer Bill Hyatt said Blockbuster has signed a non-binding agreement for the property. “It’s not a done deal,” Hyatt said.

Excel School improved its record to 3-1 Friday when the Panthers’ baseball team defeated Monroe County High School 5-1 at Murphy Park in Excel.
Neal Jordan improved his pitching record to 2-0 with the complete-game performance. The 6-5 lanky right-hander scattered five hits, walked three and struck out four in the seven-inning contest.
(Other top Excel players in that game included Josh Black, Hunter Parden, Chase Reeves and Michael Whatley. Top MCHS players included pitcher Ben Busby. Robby Carpenter was Excel’s head coach.)

U.S. Rep. Sonny Callahan (R-Mobile) announced Monday that he plans to retire at the conclusion of his present term.
Callahan, 69, is currently serving his ninth straight term in the U.S. Congress and is chairman of the Appropriations Committee this term.
Callahan was first elected to office Nov. 6, 1984. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He attended the University of Alabama, Mobile, which is now the University of South Alabama.

47 YEARS AGO
MARCH 3, 1977

County 4-H’ers take top honors: Monroe County 4-H’ers took top honors in the annual Monroe County 4-H and area junior market steer shows at Monroe County Coliseum Monday and Tuesday.
The grand champion steer in both the county and area shows belonged to Don Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oneil Smith of Uriah. He showed a 1,300-pound Hereford Simmental cross steer.

The Frisco City Whippets, who have the best win-loss record of any school in the county, 24-3, won out 68-49 in a game against Monroe County High Friday night in the Monroe County Coliseum.
Randy Houston led the scoring for the Whippets with 19 points. Lynn Knight led the Tigers’ scoring with 14 points, and Tony Ziegler made 12 points.
(Other top Frisco City players included Blanchard Hunt, Larry Walden, Rayford Maye, Cassie King, Theodore Banks and Julius Lambert.)

Church to build recreation center: A construction program including a $390,000 recreation building was approved Sunday by First Baptist Church of Monroeville.
The recreation building, to be known as a “Christian family life center,” will be the first of its type in Monroe County. It heralds an expanded family-oriented ministry by the church, said Dr. Robert H. Jackson, pastor.
Construction of the building will begin as soon as financing can be secured. Jackson hopes this will take only a few months.
The building will contain about 20,000 square feet. It will be located behind the church’s educational building.

72 YEARS AGO
MARCH 6, 1952

Dr. T.E. Dennis Dies Suddenly: Dr. Thomas Edmond Dennis, 78, retired Monroeville physician, died suddenly Sunday at his residence at 12 o’clock.
Dr. Dennis was a Monroe County native. He was a graduate of Sewanee Medical School in 1906. During his lifetime, he taught medicine in the Philippine Islands for four years and practiced in Monroeville for 45 years.

Uriah Sailor Is In Cuban Hospital: Seaman Leslie L. Davis of Uriah is now hospitalized in the U.S. Navy Hospital, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Seaman Davis, the son of Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Davis, is serving aboard the USS D.J. Buckley, DDR.

Kiwanians To Hear Little League Panel: A discussion of Little League baseball in Monroeville and Monroe County will be presented to the Monroeville Kiwanis Club tomorrow (Friday) at its regular weekly luncheon meeting at the LaSalle Hotel. Guest speakers will be O.M. Howe, Curt Wideman and Joe Tucker. Johnson Lathram is in charge of the program.

WANTED URGENTLY: Men 17 to 35 years of age wanted. Two hours per week at Monroeville National Guard Battery. Starting pay for recruits is $1.25 per hour.

Atticus Mullins and Haygood Patterson of Montgomery were visitors to Monroeville on Friday.

The Rev. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and Mrs. J.F. Dusenberry spent last Wednesday in Mobile.

97 YEARS AGO
MARCH 3, 1927

UNVEILING SERVICE: On account of rain, the Woodmen of the World unveiling of the monument of the late Sov. W.W. Ellis of Uriah was postponed until Sun., March 6, 1927, at 3:30 p.m. All WOW camps are cordially invited to assist in this work and the public is invited to be present at this ceremony.

You are invited to attend the play “The Dust of the Earth” to be given at the school house at Tunnel Springs on March 11 at 8 p.m. Proceeds for benefit of the Parent-Teachers Association.

Dr. F.W. Brandon of Atlanta, secretary of the Hospital Board of the Southern Methodist church, occupied the pulpit at the Methodist church Sunday morning, delivering an able discourse.

Messrs. L.A. Brown, Bud Ward, M.T. Ward and R. Brown are in Mobile for the Mardi Gras season and will purchase spring goods while there.

Mr. J.O. Huxford, who recently established a plant for the manufacture of naval stores at Perry, Fla., spent a few days with his family here this week.

CITY LIBRARY OPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON MARCH 1: The committee in charge of the City Library are very happy to announced that the Library was opened to the public on Tuesday afternoon, March 1. It is the plan now to keep the Library open two afternoons a week, namely Tuesday and Saturday, from 3 to 5, and all persons who have a membership are entitled to draw books. The fee is only $1 per year per family and for this small sum every family in town and surrounding community should be enrolled and enjoy the privileges of good reading.

122 YEARS AGO
MARCH 6, 1902

Hunter’s Mill Damaged: The timber mill of Hunter, Benn & Co. at Nero sustained great damage from the heavy rains of last week, the main dam and wasteway being washed away by the torrents of water which swept down upon them. A large force of hands are at work repairing the injury and the mill will be in operation again in a few weeks.

Simpson’s Mill Broken: Mr. J.H. Simpson is among the many sufferers from last week’s rain, the dam of his water mill near Mexia having been swept away by the floods. Mr. Simpson’s mill was a great convenience for a large community, and it is presumed he will rebuild at once.

An Old Citizen Dead: Another landmark is removed in the death of Mr. John Davison, which occurred at Kempville on Feb. 18 at the advanced ate of 87 years.
Mr. Davison was a native of South Carolina, but removed with his parents to this county at an early age where he resided continuously for nearly 80 years.
He was an upright, conscientious Christian gentleman, a consistent member of the Baptist church and possessed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.

County Court: The county court docket was unusually light Monday and the matinee soon over. Only two cases were called by his honor, as follows: The State v. Ed. Clark, assault and battery; plea of guilty and fine $5 and costs. State v. same party, presenting gun, nol. pros.

Manistee: Rev. J.B. Kilpatrick failed to preach at Pleasant Hill Sunday evening owing to quarantine from small pox.