The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for Jan. 27, 2025

Nelle Harper Lee

FIVE YEARS AGO
JAN. 23, 2020

Stevens represents Monroe County at state: The Belle Lettres Service Organization proudly announces that Deztini Stevens, Distinguished Young Woman of Monroe County, was awarded $700 at the 2020 Alabama Distinguished Young Women program at Frazer Methodist Church in Montgomery last weekend.
She was selected with only four other representatives for the fitness category and with two other representatives for the Bruce Triftshauser Community Service Award.
She competed in the preliminary events on Friday and Saturday afternoon, and she was awarded for her fitness and community service excellence during the showcase on Saturday afternoon.

No. 5 Bulldogs 18-2: J.U. Blacksher’s varsity boys improved to 18-2 last week with wins on the road against Sweet Water and J.F. Shields and wins at home against W.S. Neal and A.L. Johnson.
Blacksher, ranked No. 5 as of last Thursday in the ASWA’s poll of Class 2A schools, upended Sweet Water 64-54 on Monday, downed Shields 57-42, routed Neal 61-40 Thursday and outscored Johnson 68-54 Friday.
(Top Blacksher players in those games included Deon Hill, JaDaniel Nettles, Josh Peavy, Dorien Quarles, K.D. Rabb, Jackson Reid and Jaiveyon Tucker.)

Busby elected president: Ben Busby of Repton was elected president of the Conecuh County Cattlemen’s Association during the organization’s annual membership banquet Saturday night at Repton Junior High School. Busby owns and operates Southern Farm & Supply in Monroeville.

30 YEARS AGO
JAN. 26, 1995

47-year Journal owner dies: Funeral services were held Monday for William Mathews “Bill” Stewart, owner of The Monroe Journal and radio station WMFC.
Mr. Stewart, 74, died Saturday in Monroe County Hospital from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
Mr. Stewart owned The Monroe Journal longer than any other individual since the newspaper’s founding in 1866. About a year ago, he exceeded the late Q. Salter, whose 46-year tenure ended in 1929.

MCHS upends Jackson, Frisco: Monroe County High School’s varsity boys picked up a pair of basketball victories last week, downing Jackson and Frisco City high schools.
Coach Jerome Sanders guided the resurging Tigers to a 76-57 pounding of 5A Area 3 rival Jackson Tuesday of last week in Monroeville. The Tigers improved their win-loss record to 7-11 Friday in Frisco City when they defeated the Whippets 52-46.
(Top MCHS players in those games included Ben Ard, Keith Fantroy, William Kidd, Kelvin Knight, Dwain Lett, Anthony Rankins, Julius Stallworth and Sammy Sims.)

Longtime bank site to close on the square: A familiar site for banking will close Tuesday at 2 p.m., but not without much deliberation by those who consider it a significant part of economic history. Monroe County Bank will close its downtown branch, located at Pineville Road and North Alabama Avenue on Courthouse Square. The downtown branch opened in 1925 as First National Bank of Monroeville.

55 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1970

Moonshine in Frisco City: Frisco City policeman Jim Bayles and Chief Pete Hawkins displays 13 gallons of ‘shine they said was confiscated from an old automobile near Mary Gardner High School. The Frisco City officers were assisted by Deputy Sheriff Lynwood Sager and State ABC Agent L.C. Crocker.

Excel Stops Atmore 70 To 53: Excel fans were overjoyed Saturday night in the PHJC Gym when the Panthers outscored the Atmore Blue Devils by 17 points in the final stanza of the preliminary hoe-down, bringing the Panthers’ season record to 10-2 as they won 70-53.
Excel played the Atmore blue-clad lads in the preliminary game ahead of the PHJC-George Wallace tilt and for three quarters the score was even, closing out the third quarter at 47-47. In the fourth quarter, the team rallied around big Eddie Hands and scored 23 points to the Blue Devils six, leading to the final, 70-53.
(Other top Excel players in that game included Jimmy Dawson, Arthur Hixon and Mike Ledkins.)

Moose Lodge Now Organized: James M. “Pat” Weaver, membership director of the Loyal Order of Moose, said that final preparations for installation of members of the new Monroeville Lodge 2108 are now complete with the date set for Sat., Jan. 31, at 5:30 p.m. at the Vanity Fair Community House. Moose State Director Harry G. Hurd will be in charge of installation ceremonies. Some 100 charter applicants will be present for the installation ceremonies with a dinner and dance to follow.

80 YEARS AGO
JAN. 17, 1946

Charles Sizemore Made Deputy Sheriff: Sheriff E.E. Nicholas has appointed Charles Sizemore of Uriah as his deputy to succeed W.B. Owens who left last week for induction into the armed forces.

Miss Nelle Lee of Huntingdon College, Montgomery, spent last weekend here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee.

SGT. C.M. MOHN INJURED IN ACTION: Sgt. C.M. Mohn suffered a leg wound during the recent German thrust on the Western Front and has been evacuated to a U.S. Hospital in England for recovery. He was serving in Co. B, 69^th Tank Battalion of General Patton’s Third Army.
Sgt. Mohn stated in a letter to friends that his leg wound is a bit more than a “scratch” and that he expects to be back in the game in about a month.

MONROEVILLE WINS FROM EXCEL QUINTET: Monroeville played their seventh basketball game Friday night. It was played at the Monroeville School Auditorium. The Monroeville boys played a very good game and defeated Excel by seven points.
Edward Riley, the captain of the team, made six points, the most made by one player. Jo Jo Jackson, guard, was taken out of the game because of a nose injury. “Bubber” Farish, center, made four points. W.C. Taylor, forward, made four points. Wilbur Manning made two points.

Sgt. John P. House, who was seriously injured in France, is reported to be improving in a hospital somewhere in France. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John P. House of Uriah.

105 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1920

The brick walls of the Beatrice Methodist Church have been completed and the building is now ready for the carpenters on the interior. The congregation hope at no distant date to worship in the new edifice, which will indeed be a credit alike to the town and to the loyalty of the faithful band that made it possible.

Mr. J.W. Brown of Excel was here Tuesday to aid his neighborhood in making a pull for a bigger and better school for his community.

There will be an oyster supper at the Hixon school house at Fountain on Friday night, Jan. 30, for the benefit of the school. Everybody invited.

Senator Riley Kelly of Excel was in the city Tuesday accompanying a delegation of his friends and neighbors who appeared before the County Board of Education in an effort to obtain improved educational advantages for their community.

Mr. S.B. Nettles of Tunnel Springs was a business visitor to Monroeville Thursday. Mr. Nettles has recently formed a partnership with his brother, Mr. Earl Nettles, and the new firm will conduct an expanded mercantile business.

Mr. W.R. McKinley, one of Jones Mill’s progressive merchants, was a recent business visitor to the county capital.

Quite a party of Monroeville music lovers went to Montgomery Saturday to hear Madame Galli Cuci, the celebrated singer. In the party were Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Purefoy, Mesdames A.B. Coxwell, M.R. Sowell and G.C. Dean and Misses Daughdrill and Wharton, and others. All are enthusiastic in praise of the noted artist.