News Flashback from The Evergreen Courant for March 12, 2012

EIGHT YEARS AGO
MARCH 11, 2004

“Mrs. Willene J. Whatley has qualified as a candidate for reelection to the Conecuh County Board of Education, District 1. She is currently serving her third term as a member of the board.”

“Local attorney Bob McMillan announced his candidacy for the position of District Attorney for the 35th Judicial Circuit.”

“The Evergreen-Conecuh County Chamber of Commerce annual membership banquet will be held on Thurs., April 1, 2004 at 6 p.m. in the Hillcrest High School cafetorium.
“Ralph Stacy, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, will be the guest speaker at the banquet.”

“Snack Wave, a new convenience store owned by Debbie and Mitch Haubert, held its grand opening and ribbon-cutting last Saturday morning at 10 a.m. A large crowd was on hand to enjoy the festivities. Cutting the ribbon are Chamber President Sharron McCreary and Debbie and Mitch Haubert.”

“Frank H. King, age 83, of Pensacola, Fla. passed away Wed., March 3, 2004. Mr. King, a native of Evergreen, was an U.S. Navy veteran and a Pearl Harbor survivor. He served in the Navy 20 years and later retired from Civil Service as a Data Processor at NAS Pensacola. Burial with military honors was held in Barrancas National Cemetery, Oak Lawn Funeral Home directing.”

23 YEARS AGO
MARCH 9, 1989

“Dr. Robbins is Hillcrest High’s first principal: At its last regular meeting, the Conecuh County Board of Education selected Dr. W.C. Robbins as principal for the new Hillcrest High School.
“Dr. Robbins received his doctorate from the University of Alabama. His post-graduate work was completed at the East Texas State University and his graduate work at the University of Alabama.”

“Harry Ellis reports three nice showers, .12 of an inch March 1; .97 on March 2; and .62 on March 5. He also reports total rainfall for February was 1.89 inches.”

“The Sandcut Volunteer Fire Department elected the following officers for 1989: Fire Chief, Bobby Edgar; Assistant Fire Chief, Robert Barnett; President, James B. Brown Jr.; Vice President, Lawrence Raines; Secretary, Kathie Dunsford; Treasurer, Tammy Stanford; Board of Directors, Ralph Green, Bobby Reeves, James Barnett, Randy Bradford and Aubrey Cater; Fundraising chairman, Willa Mae Green; Fundraising committee, Mae Brown, Tammy Stanford, Lenora Edgar, Bessie Ruth Barnett, Anne Raines, Marilyn Vonderau and Melody Wilcox.”

“Judge Robert E.L. Key retired as chairman of the board of the First Alabama Bank, Conecuh County, on Feb. 28. Judge Key’s service to the local bank commenced on Feb. 18, 1955 as a founding director of the Conecuh County Bank. He has served as local board chairman since 1987. The bank presented Judge Key with his portrait which will hang in the bank’s board room commemorating his years of service to the bank and Conecuh County.”

38 YEARS AGO
MARCH 14, 1974

“State Troopers will begin enforcing Alabama’s newly adopted 55 miles per hour speed law within the next week, in compliance with the federal mandate signed into law by Congress Jan. 2, State Public Safety Director, Col. E.C. Dothard, said today. Dothard pointed out that the reduced speed law was necessary in order to comply with the federal regulations, so that the state could continue to receive federal highway funds.”

“A.V. ‘Shorty’ Culpepper, retired Monroe County Extension Chairman, will be the featured speaker at the Annual Meeting of the Federal Land Bank Association of Monroeville to be held March 14 at 10 a.m. in the Housing Authority Civic Meeting Center on Drewry Road in Monroeville.”

“The Conecuh County CowBelles held their annual Beef Cook-Off at the courthouse on March 9. Rachel Ellis won third place; Susan Johnston won second place and Vicki Pope won first place. Judges for the contest were Mrs. Johnnie White of Brewton, Mrs. Sue Jernigan and Mrs. Wanda Padgett of Evergreen. Miss Pope will represent Conecuh County at the state finals in Montgomery on April 20 with her preparation of Marinated Bump Steak.”

“Bonnie Smith and Lee F. Smith of Evergreen have participated in the Ninth Annual Southeastern Airport Management Seminar held recently at Auburn University.”

68 YEARS AGO
MARCH 9, 1944

“At the First Baptist Church Sunday morning at 11 o’clock a beautiful bronze plaque will be unveiled to the memory of the late Dr. J.G. Dickinson, the former Pastor of the church.”

“Fire of unknown origin which broke out in a large cotton shed on the farm of W.K. Horton Monday night completely destroyed the building and 600 bales of cotton. The blaze was discovered about midnight and had gained such headway that it was impossible to put it out. The fire department here was called and the alarm was sounded about midnight. However, the department did not go out there because of having trouble with the fire truck.
“It is reported that Mr. Horton carried no insurance and his loss was more than $60,000.”

“CASTLEBERRY: A banquet was sponsored by the Masons and their wives to entertain visitors and a few friends Saturday night at the Home Ec. Department.”

“A series of wind and electrical storms swept Alabama Monday, leaving in their wake today at least five dead, more than two score injured and damage estimated in excess of $250,000.”

“Under the leadership of H.D. Weathers, the War Fund Chairman, the Red Cross Drive will get under way Monday to raise $5,800 in Conecuh County.”

Daily Weather Observations for Mon., March 12, 2012

Temp: 63.5 degrees F (17.5 degrees C)

Rainfall (past 24 hours): 0.0 inches.

Humidity: 85 percent (Humid)

Conditions: Mostly Cloudy.

Winds: 4.0 mph out of the East-Northeast. (Light Breeze)

Barometric Pressure: 29.75 inHg.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.0 inches

Month to Date Rainfall: 1.8 inches

Year to Date Rainfall: 14.2 inches

Local Weather Alerts: Local pollen alert in effect.

NOTE: 82nd day of Winter. ecurity light still on.

And Remember - "When grass is dry at morning light, look for rain before the night."

Readings taken at 0700 hrs Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily, just west of the Monroe-Conecuh County line, near Excel, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.42834°N Lon 87.30131°W. Elevation: 400 feet above sea level.

Clive Cussler's 'The Jungle' appears on paperback best-sellers list

It’s Sunday, so that means that it’s time for my weekly review of this week’s Publishers Weekly Best-Seller List. According to the list, there are no new books at the top of the four major best-sellers lists this week.

"Lone Wolf" by Jodi Picoult remained the No. 1 book on the hardcover fiction best-sellers list.

"American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History" by Chris Kyle, Jim DeFelice and Scott McEwen remained the top book on the hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list.

"The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larsson remained the top book on the mass market paperback best-sellers list and on the trade paperbacks best-sellers list.

There are four books on this week’s hardcover fiction best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. They (along with their place on the list) include "Victims" by Jonathan Kellerman (2), "Cinnamon Roll Murder" by Joanne Fluke (8), "Trail of the Spellmans: Document Number 5" by Lisa Lutz (14) and "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett (15).

There are six books on this week’s hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. They include "The Blood Sugar Solution" by Mark Hyman, M.D. (2), "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg (4), "Becoming China's Bitch" by Peter D. Kiernan (7), "Wishes Fulfilled" by Wayne W. Dyer (8), "Let It Go" by T.D. Jakes (10) and "Bringing Up Bebe" by Pamela Druckerman (14).

There are eight books on this week’s mass market paperbacks best-sellers list that weren’t on that list last week. They include "Redwood Bend" by Robyn Carr (2), "The Jungle" by Clive Cussler with Jack Du Brul (3), "The Sixth Man" by David Baldacci (4), "Portrait of a Spy" by Daniel Silva (7), "The Darkest Seduction" by Gena Showalter (9), "Deadly Sins" by Lora Leigh (10), "Timeless" by Gail Carriger (12) and "Love You More" by Lisa Gardner (14).

There are three books on this week’s trade paperbacks best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. They include "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks (5), "Moonwalking with Einstein" by Joshua Foer (12), "Rainshadow Road" by Lisa Kleypas (14) and "The Descendants" by Kaui Hart Hemmings (15).

As a reminder, I’m posting these lists each Sunday because they, as a whole, represent a great, contemporary recommended reading list. These lists are initially released each week on Thursday, and if you’re interested in reading them then, visit Publishers Weekly’s Web site at www.publishersweekly.com. Below you’ll find all four of this week’s best-seller lists.

HARDCOVER FICTION
1. "Lone Wolf" by Jodi Picoult
2. "Victims" by Jonathan Kellerman
3. "Kill Shot" by Vince Flynn
4. "Celebrity in Death" by J.D. Robb
5. "Private Games" by James Patterson, Mark Sullivan
6. "The Wolf Gift" by Anne Rice
7. "Defending Jacob" by William Landay
8. "Cinnamon Roll Murder" by Joanne Fluke
9. "A Perfect Blood" by Kim Harrison
10. "I've Got Your Number" by Sophie Kinsella
11. "11/22/63" by Stephen King
12. "A Dance with Dragons" by George R.R. Martin
13. "Death Comes to Pemberley" by P.D. James
14. "Trail of the Spellmans: Document Number 5" by Lisa Lutz
15. "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett

HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. "American Sniper" by Chris Kyle, Jim DeFelice and Scott McEwen
2. "The Blood Sugar Solution" by Mark Hyman, M.D.
3. "Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
4. "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg
5. "The End of Illness' by David Agus
6. "Steve Jobs: A Biography" by Walter Isaacson
7. "Becoming China's Bitch" by Peter D. Kiernan
8. "Wishes Fulfilled" by Wayne W. Dyer
9. "Indivisible" by James Robison and Jay W. Richards
10. "Let It Go" by T.D. Jakes
11. "The World of Downtown Abbey" by Jessica Fellowes
12. "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand
13. "Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America" by Mark R. Levin
14. "Bringing Up Bebe" by Pamela Druckerman
15. "The 17 Day Diet" by Dr. Mike Moreno

MASS MARKET PAPERBACKS
1. "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larsson
2. "Redwood Bend" by Robyn Carr
3. "The Jungle" by Clive Cussler with Jack Du Brul
4. "The Sixth Man" by David Baldacci
5. "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks
6. "44 Charles Street" by Danielle Steel
7. "Portrait of a Spy" by Daniel Silva
8. "The Girl Who Played with Fire" by Stieg Larsson
9. "The Darkest Seduction" by Gena Showalter
10. "Deadly Sins" by Lora Leigh
11. "Against All Enemies" by Tom Clancy with Peter Telep
12. "Timeless" by Gail Carriger
13. "Tom Clancy Presents: Act of Valor" by Dick Couch and George Galdorisi
14. "Love You More" by Lisa Gardner
15. "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

TRADE PAPERBACKS
1. "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larsson
2. "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
3. "The Vow" by Kim & Krickitt Carpenter with Dana Wilkerson
4. "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo, Sonja Burpo, Colton Burpo and Lynn Vincent
5. "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks
6. "The Tiger's Wife: A Novel" by Tea Obreht
7. "Bossypants" by Tina Fey
8. "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson
9. "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer
10. "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
11. "Kill Me If You Can" by James Patterson, Marshall Karp
12. "Moonwalking with Einstein" by Joshua Foer
13. "Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey" by The Countess of Carnarvon
14. "Rainshadow Road" by Lisa Kleypas
15. "The Descendants" by Kaui Hart Hemmings

In the end, let me know if you’ve had a chance to read any of these books. What did you think about them? Which would you recommend? Let us know in the comments section below.

Daily Weather Observations for Sun., March 11, 2012

Temp: 54.0 degrees F (12.2 degrees C)

Rainfall (past 24 hours): 0.0 inches.

Humidity: 70 percent (Normal)

Conditions: Mostly Cloudy.

Winds: 1.5 mph out of the East-Northeast. (Light Air)

Barometric Pressure: 29.80 inHg.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.5 inches

Month to Date Rainfall: 1.8 inches

Year to Date Rainfall: 14.2 inches

Local Weather Alerts: Local pollen alert in effect.

NOTE: 81st day of Winter. Youth Turkey Hunt in Alabama today. Daylight Saving Time Begins. Two deer visible in the front yard near the road. Security light still on. Moon still up.

And Remember - "A ring around the sun or moon, means rain or snow coming soon."

Readings taken at 0700 hrs Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily, just west of the Monroe-Conecuh County line, near Excel, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.42834°N Lon 87.30131°W. Elevation: 400 feet above sea level.

Which 2011 movies were the best in science fiction, fantasy and horror?

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films recently announced the nominations for the 38th Annual Saturn Awards. First awarded in 1972, the Saturn Awards are given annually to recognize the most outstanding works in science fiction, fantasy and horror.

Saturn Awards are given in dozens of categories that span works in film, television, DVD and stage from the previous calendar year. The categories that I always keep an eye on are Best Science Fiction Film, Best Fantasy Film, Best Horror/Thriller Film, Best Action/Adventure Film, Best International Film, Best Animated Film, Best Network Television Series and Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series.

The nominees for Best Science Fiction Film were:
1. The Adjustment Bureau
2. Captain America: The First Avenger
3. Limitless
4. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
5. Super 8
6. X-Men: First Class

Nominees for Best Fantasy Film included:
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2. Hugo
3. Immortals
4. Midnight in Paris
5. The Muppets
6. Thor

The nominees for Best Horror/Thriller Film were:
1. Contagion
2. The Devil’s Double
3. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
4. The Grey
5. Take Shelter
6. The Thing

Nominees for Best Action/Adventure Film included:
1. Fast Five
2. The Lincoln Lawyer
3. Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol
4. Red Tails
5. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
6. War Horse

The nominees for Best Animated Film were:
1. The Adventures of Tintin
2. Cars 2
3. Kung Fu Panda 2
4. Puss in Boots
5. Rango
6. Rio

The nominees for Best International Film included:
1. Attack the Block
2. The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch
3. Melancholia
4. Point Blank
5. The Skin I Live In
6. Troll Hunter

Nominees for Best Network Television Series were:
1. Fringe
2. A Gifted Man
3. Grimm
4. Once Upon a Time
5. Supernatural
6. Terra Nova

The nominees for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series were:
1. American Horror Story
2. Breaking Bad
3. The Closer
4. Dexter
5. The Killing
6. Leverage
7. True Blood

We’ll have to wait a few months to find out who will win because the winners won’t be announced until June 20.

Which of the movies mentioned above have you had a chance to watch? Which did you like or dislike? Which would you recommend and why? Which do you think will win top honors in the categories mentioned above? Let us know in the comments section below.

Here’s how I would fill out a ballot if I had the chance to vote:
1. Best Science Fiction Film – Super 8
2. Best Fantasy Film – Thor
3. Best Horror/Thriller Film – The Thing
4. Best Action/Adventure Film – Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
5. Best Animated Film – Rango
6. Best International Film – The Skin I Live In
7. Best Network Television Series – Fringe
8. Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series – Breaking Bad

To see the nominees in other categories, as well as a complete list of past winners in all categories, visit the Official Saturn Awards website at www.saturnawards.org.

Daily Weather Observations for Sat., March 10, 2012

Temp: 46.9 degrees F (8.3 degrees C)

Rainfall (past 24 hours): 0.1 inches.

Humidity: 65 percent (Normal)

Conditions: Clear with a few trace clouds. Jet contrails also visible.

Winds: 1.7 mph out of the North. (Light Air)

Barometric Pressure: 29.83 inHg.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.5 inches

Month to Date Rainfall: 1.8 inches

Year to Date Rainfall: 14.2 inches

Local Weather Alerts: Local pollen alert in effect.

NOTE: 80th day of Winter. Youth Turkey Hunt in Alabama today.

And Remember - "If clouds move against the wind, rain will follow."

Readings taken at 0700 hrs Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily, just west of the Monroe-Conecuh County line, near Excel, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.42834°N Lon 87.30131°W. Elevation: 400 feet above sea level

Adventure classic 'Annapurna' details first ascent of an 8,000-meter peak

I recently finished reading a really cool, older book called “Annapurna: First Conquest of an 8,000-meter Peak” by French mountaineer, Maurice Herzog.

First published in 1952 by E.P. Dutton & Co., this book details a 1950 mountaineering expedition led by Herzog that aimed to become the first to successfully summit an 8,000-meter peak. (Eight thousand meters is just a few feet shy of five miles.)

The book takes its title from the name of the mountain Herzog and company chose to climb. Located in the Himalayas of Nepal, Annapurna is 26,545 feet tall and is the tenth highest mountain in the world. It’s generally considered to be one of the most dangerous mountains in the world to climb. Despite poor maps, no supplemental oxygen and bad weather, Herzog and his partner Louis Lachenal reached the peak on June 3, 1950.

Herzog and Lachenal nearly died on their way back down the mountain. They lost several pieces of essential equipment, suffered frostbite and snow blindness and survived an avalanche. In fact, Herzog, who is still alive today at the ripe old age of 93, lost most of his fingers on the way down the mountain and had to dictate the book to an assistant for publication.

Herzog’s book became a huge bestseller and most sources consider it to be the most influential mountaineering book ever written. According to the New York Times, the book had sold over 11 million copies as of 2000.

I lucked up and found a 1953 hardback edition of the book at Macomb Mall in Monroeville, Ala. It cost me $3. I believe that the volume I have is the Book-of-the-Month Club edition of the book, but I’m not sure because the original, paper jacket is missing. The original hard covers are still in intact and are in fine shape.

“Annapurna” was translated from the original French version by Nea Morin and Janet Adam Smith. Maps and photographs in the book were by Marcel Ichac, who served as the expedition’s official photographer. The book also contains an introduction by British mountaineer Eric Shipton.

I enjoyed “Annapurna” for a number of reasons. It was interesting to read how Herzog and his colleagues planned for the expedition, dealt with the natives in Nepal and explored the Himalayas. The book also provides us with a fine example of physical and mental toughness as well as what people are capable of when they are resolved not to fail.

I’ve wanted to read “Annapurna” ever since National Geographic listed it as No. 5 on its “100 Best Adventure Books” list, which was released in May 2004. Since then, I’ve seen the book included on a number of recommended reading lists. When The Art of Manliness website released its “Essential Adventure Library: 50 Nonfiction Adventure Books” list, they listed “Annapurna” at No. 31. “Annapurna” is also one of 13 books in the Easton Press’ “Greatest Adventure Books of All Time” series.

In the end, how many of you have had the chance to read this book? What did you think about it? Did you like it or dislike it? Why? Do you know of any other mountaineering or adventure titles that you’d recommend? Let us know in the comments section below.