The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for July 14, 2020

U.S. Senator Jeremiah Denton

21 YEARS AGO

JULY 8, 1999

The Maxwell-Johnson House, located at 120 South Main St., Evergreen, has recently been added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Local weather reporter Harry Ellis reported .15 inches of rain on July 4, 1999. Total rainfall for the month of June 1999 was 10.13 inches. He reported a high of 93 on July 1, 1999 and a low of 70 on July 4, 1999.

Funeral services held for C.T. Ivey: Charles Thaddeus Ivey, 93, of Evergreen died Sat., July 3, 1999 in an Evergreen hospital. Mr. Ivey was born Sept. 29, 1905 to William Burnett Ivey and Julia Daughdrill Ivey. He was named for his two grandfathers, Charles Ivey of Conecuh County and Thaddeus Daughdrill of Marion.

Mr. Ivey attended the public schools in Evergreen and was a graduate of Howard College, now Samford University. Mr. Ivey was an automobile dealer and tree farmer in Evergreen most of his life. He was very active in civic affairs and was a deacon at the Evergreen Baptist Church.

On Saturday morning, June 19, eight members of Bower Memorial Baptist Church joined in with 63 others in the Bethlehem Association in Monroe County on a week’s mission trip to Monticello, Ky. to help build a new church for the Steubenville Baptist Church.

The eight people who went on the mission trip to Monticello, Ky. from Bower were Warren and Lottie Johnston, Rodger and Laura Carroll, Travis Cobb, Betty Powell and Geraldine and Hughie Denton.

36 YEARS AGO

JULY 12, 1984

Local weather reporter Earl Windham reported 1.11 inches of rain on July 7, 1984. He reported a high of 94 on July 7, 1984 and a low of 66 on July 2, 1984.

Pat Poole romped to an easy victory in Tuesday’s voting for mayor in Evergreen. Poole had wide margins in all five council districts as he piled up 945 votes to easily defeat Mayor Lee Smith and W.B. Epperson.

U.S. Senator Jeremiah Denton of Mobile will hold a town meeting in Evergreen on Monday afternoon at 4:15 o’clock. The meeting will be held in the main courtroom of the County Courthouse.

Brooklyn O.E.S. Chapter elects officers 1984-85: Brooklyn Chapter 470 has elected officers for the 1984-1985 year. They are as follows: Worthy Matron, Marjorie Findley; Worthy Patron, Joe Findley; Associate Matron, Faye Owens; Associate Patron, Lamar Owens; Conductress, Vivian Lassiter; Associate Conductress, Wanda Andrews; Secretary, Eleanor Cary; Treasurer, Eva Walters; Organist, Adele Amos; Chaplain, Elsie Rabren; Marshal, Dudley Lassiter; Adah, Louise McLendon; Ruth, Juanita Ralls; Esther, Lillian Ramsey; Martha, Carolyn Feagin; Electa, Callie Mae Murphy; Warder, Horace Murphy; and Sentinel, Monroe Ramsey.

There will be an installation of these officers at the Brooklyn Lodge on Sat., July 14, at 7:30 p.m. Friends are invited to come.

51 YEARS AGO

JULY 10, 1969

U.S. Army, Vietnam – Army Private First Class Charles L. Johnson Jr., 20, whose parents live on Rt. 1, Evergreen, was assigned June 4 to the 1st Logistical Command in Vietnam.

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Kendall Jr. of Evergreen, Ala., announce the marriage of their daughter, Zilda Lee to Carl Joseph Christopher, April 25, 1969 in Ankara, Turkey.

The couple has been employed with the Overseas Dependent School of the United States Department of Defense for the past three years.

Highway directors, whether male or female, seem to run in the county. Miss Sandra Owens of 108 Crestline Drive, Evergreen, Ala., during recent Girls State activities, was appointed Highway Director for the one-day event, at the Alabama Highway Department. Highway Director, Bob Kendall Jr., gave the temporary director a run-down of her duties, in the presence of her two assistants, Miss Marie Hubbard, Rt. 1, Box 33, Eastaboga, Ala. and Sherry Magill of 948 Gillespie St., Prattville.

Pvt-1 Gregory L. Salter of Repton, Rt. E, a member of 1670th Trans Co., Alabama Army National Guard in Evergreen, will report for six-month active training at Ft. Jackson, S.C., July 14, 1969.

The economy of Conecuh County is strengthening at the halfway mark of 1969, judging from the semi-annual statements of condition published this week by the county’s three banks.

66 YEARS AGO

JULY 8, 1954

Camp Gordon, Ga. – Pvt. Gerald E. Baggett of Rt. 1, Repton, Ala. will graduate this week from the Radio Teletypewriter Repair course, one of the many courses offered at the Southeastern Signal School, Camp Gordon, Ga.

It was announced this week by H.G. Pate, Superintendent of Education, that Mrs. Jeretta T. Newton has been employed to replace Miss Kayron Campbell as Supervisor of Instruction in Conecuh County Schools. Miss Campbell has accepted a position in the Butler County school system in a capacity similar to her work in Conecuh County.

The fight to keep the Evergreen airways communication station in operation moved a step nearer success last week. A telegram from Senator Lister Hill informs The Courant that the joint Senate-House Conference Committee has approved the restoring of funds for the continued operation of the Evergreen and Anniston Communications Stations.

A Conecuh County father and his son lost their lives in a tragic drowning in the waters near Fort Morgan early Saturday morning. It was the only accident over the holiday weekend for this county although over the state a number of people were killed in traffic accidents and drowned.

THE WEATHER: No precipitation was reported during the first two days of the period, but scattered to widely scattered showers, mostly in the southern counties occurred everyday thereafter.

Last week: Evergreen Airport, high 102, low 66. The state high, 106 (Eufaula, Greenville), low 54 (Fayette). Report by the Weather Bureau, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.

81 YEARS AGO

JULY 13, 1939

Announcement is being made in this issue that Johnson Bakery will open for business Saturday with a full line of bakery delicacies. The new concern bought the equipment of the Evergreen Bakery and will operate in the same building.

On Fri., July 7, children and relatives of John Cunningham Sr., joined in celebrating his 90th birthday with a barbecue at the Country Club.

Mr. Cunningham was born in Monroe County, but moved with his family to Evergreen about 50 years ago.

A pilgrimage was made recently by his family to the old home where he was born near Tunnel Springs, Ala. Immediately after the Civil War, he went to Mobile, where he entered Spring Hill College, of which he is the oldest living alumnus.

Perry Hudson of McKenzie, while swimming in Pigeon Creek above Davis Dam last Friday afternoon, got too close to the dam and was carried over, striking on the rocks below the dam with such force that he was instantly killed.

Friends are sorry to learn that D. Blackwell had the misfortune to have his right arm broken above the wrist on Sunday when a mule kicked him.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for July 13, 2020

36 YEARS AGO

JULY 12, 1984

These are the members of the Evergreen Little League All-Stars: Richard Melton, Keith Richardson, Broderick Gross, Bryan Garrett, Ryan Burt, Mickey Jones and Michael Floyd; Kevin Townson, Jamie Deason, Greg Stanton, Jamie Shipp, Scott Jones, Richard Byrd and Kenny Meeks, and Coaches Willie Byrd and Earnest Boykin.

51 YEARS AGO

JULY 10, 1969

Joe Brown successfully defended his championship in the Evergreen Golf Club’s annual club tournament, limited to members, held July 4. Joe had to get by two extra hole matches with Brown Boykin and Henry Kinzer to enter the finals where he defeated Bill Kitchens.

Results by flights listing winner, runner-up and consolation winner follow:

Championship, Joe Brown, Bill Kitchens and Brown Boykin.

First Flight, Joe Nix, Benny Crum, Charles Lambert.

Second Flight, Randy Moorer, Bonnie King, Bob Smiley.

Third Flight, Eddie Thornley, Johnny Thornley, James Ansley.

Fourth Flight, Quinton Buras, Danny Petrey, Buddy Coleman.

66 YEARS AGO

JULY 8, 1954

A city softball league is in the process of organizing according to Recreation Director Bill Parsons. The league will probably have six teams and games will be played at night. The league is sponsored by the City Recreation Department and games will be played in Brooks Stadium.

Coach Parsons states that so far five organizations have agreed to sponsor teams. Alma Martin Post 50 of the American Legion, Evergreen Junior Chamber of Commerce, Evergreen Equipment Co., The Spotlite and Southern Coach Manufacturing Co., Inc. have all agreed to enter teams.

A handicap tournament has been planned by the Evergreen Golf Club it is announced today by newly elected President C.T. Ivey. Mr. Ivey succeeded L.W. Price Jr. as head of the local golfer’s organization. Mr. Price had served as president for several years.

To qualify for the tournament players should turn in their entry fee and post the score they usually shoot by noon, Monday, July 19, to any member of the tournament committee or at The Courant office. Committee members are Herman Bolden, G.L. Wilkinson, Bill Gibbons, J.H. Robison, P.L. Pace and Bob Bozeman. This committee will set handicaps from the scores turned in.

81 YEARS AGO

JULY 13, 1939

The local baseball team will meet the team from Atmore at Gantt Field next Sunday afternoon at 3:30. All baseball fans are urged to be on hand for what promises to be one of the best games of the season. Evergreen goes to Atmore for two games this (Thursday) afternoon.

The locals staged a comeback in the game with Brewton here last Sunday afternoon by the one-sided score of 11 to 1.

Old newspaper excerpts from The Monroe Journal newspaper of Monroe County, Alabama

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions

12 YEARS AGO

JULY 11, 2008

Sessions makes brief stop in Beatrice: About 75 people greeted U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Mobile) when he made a brief visit to Beatrice Tues., July 1, at the Hardee Pavilion.

The Monroe County native who grew up in Hybart said it was nice to come home to visit with people he knew and grew up with.

“My father graduated from Beatrice High School,” Sessions said.

All-county teams named: A pair of 30-win coaches have been named The Journal’s coaches of the year and MCHS’s Austin Bohannon and Excel’s Alycia Baggett have been named players of the year.

Monroe Academy baseball coach Mitchell Turberville and Excel softball coach Charlotte Wiggins both led their respective teams to 31 wins this past season and have been named coach of the year in their respective sports.

Bohannon, a senior catcher, was named player of the year in baseball, and Baggett was named player of the year in softball.

New Rotary Club officers: At the June 25 meeting of the Monroeville Rotary Club, new officers were installed for the 2008-09 Rotary year. Outgoing President Ronnie Trahan passed the gavel to incoming President Mitch Dees. Dees is a resident of the Franklin community and is a project manager with Gate Precast in Monroeville. Other officers installed were Vice President/President-elect Ricky Powell, Secretary Pat Madden, Treasurer Bill Rogers, President Nominee Girdielene Snyder and board members-at-large Joe McFaull and J.T. Johnston.

37 YEARS AGO

JULY 14, 1983

Restoration to continue on Perdue Hill building: The first phase of restoring the Perdue Hill Masonic Hall has been completed and some parts of the second phase have begun, but sponsors are waiting for a fundraising effort this fall before continuing.

The first phase involved repairing the building’s foundation and reroofing it, which (Perdue Hill-Claiborne Historic Preservation Foundation Treasurer Nancy Boroughs) said was completed in the spring.

Because some money was left over from the first phase, members decided to go into the second phase and replace the building’s 36 windows, she said.

The South Monroe Little League all-stars began play in the District 5, Area 2 tournament Monday in Jackson with a 9-2 loss to Sweet Water. South Monroe is scheduled to play again tonight (Thursday) at 6 against either East Brewton or Monroeville. The players and coaches are Jimmy Anderson, Keith Bailey, Lance Booker, Robbie Cumbie, J.B. Gulsby, Ronnie Hollinger, Chris Ikner, Joel Lambert, Jeremy Manning, Coach Bert Alderman, Johnathan Nelson, Brian Taylor, Coach Phil Bowen, John Taylor, Brad Ueberroth, Keith Wesley and Coach Ray Chavers.

Firm has new owner, location: Rick Blair of Monroeville has purchased Jackson Cleaners from Miles Jackson and since Monday the business has been operating from its new location at 1031 South Alabama Ave., across from Deas Building Supply.

Blair, formerly a supervisor with Temple-Eastex in Monroeville, will be assisted by Jackson for a time. A Tuscaloosa native, Blair graduated from Brewer State Junior College and attended the University of Alabama, studying business administration.

62 YEARS AGO

JULY 10, 1958

Scout Troop Now At Florida Camp: Ten members of Monroeville’s Boy Scout Troop No. 24 are attending camp, July 6-12, at Camp Robbins, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

They are Preston Barnett, Julian Katz, David Mims, Bobby Knapp, Ray Owens, Billy Turberville, Neal Wade, Jimmy Wade, Jimmy Wible, John Williams and Sam Williams.

Adult leader is William Nettles. Karl M. Lazenby and John L. Jones recently accepted the positions of Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmaster, respectively, for the local troop.

Miss Alice Lee, A.C. Lee and Mrs. C.F. McKinley spent last week at Lake Junaluska, N.C.

MASONIC CONFERENCE AT URIAH TODAY: The annual meeting of the Monroe County Masonic Conference is scheduled today (Thursday) beginning at 9 a.m. at the Blacksher Lodge, Uriah.

Physicians Report Two Cases of Typhoid In Monroe County: At least two cases of typhoid fever have been reported by Monroe County physicians during the last several weeks.

Dr. Rayford Smith Jr., Monroeville, confirmed a case around three weeks ago with laboratory tests proving conclusively that the patient, a man, had typhoid, he stated.

Dr. B.L. Hanks, Frisco City, reported Tuesday he had a positive case diagnosed on a woman patient.

The most recent typhoid case listed in (county health) department files was July 2, 1956.

87 YEARS AGO

JULY 13, 1933

Five Prisoners Break Jail Early Tuesday: Five prisoners escaped from the Monroeville jail sometime between one o’clock and daybreak on Tuesday morning. Some of the prisoners were left out in the ring for the night, and they removed a small bolt and the grate from a heater and broke the lock off the main cell. All prisoners were turned into the ring and might have escaped had it not been for the fact that Deputy Hubbard was notified and he prevented seven from gaining liberty.

Mrs. Lucian Jones and George Thomas Jones returned Friday after spending several weeks with Georgia and Florida relatives.

Local Man Will Handle International Machinery: Mr. B.H. Stallworth is renovating his brick building next door to the jail and will put in a complete line of International Harvester machinery and parts. He will also handle International trucks.

NEW COACHES ON SELMA-FLOMATON L&N RAILROAD: Regular main line coaches are being run on the Selma-Flomaton branch of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad now. These new coaches are much better ventilated than those formerly used, are cleaner and the upholstery nicer than that on the cars which are used on the small branch lines ordinarily. This new style car will add to the convenience of the Selma to Flomaton travelers.

137 YEARS AGO

JULY 9, 1883

The many friends of E.R. Morrisette, Esq., will rejoice to learn that he has at last extricated himself from the dreary surroundings of a bachelor’s life and has been wedded to Miss Ida Marshall, one of the fairest daughters of old Monroe. May their pathway on the journey of life be strewn with the choicest of earthly blessings. – Wilcox News

When the announcement of the marriage of Mr. E.R. Morrisette to one of Monroe’s fairest and most accomplished daughters appeared in The Journal, the editor was absent, or he would then have taken occasion to congratulate his old friend on his exceeding good fortune in securing the brightest star in Monroe’s diadem.

While Monroe is jealous of her fair daughters, nevertheless, if they must be given up, she is proud to transfer their tender care and keeping to the hands of one so worthy as Robertson Morrisette.

We unite with The News in wishing the couple a pleasant journey through life.

All Ex-Confederate Soldiers entitled to benefits of the appropriation for their relief made by the last legislature, must file their applications with the probate judge of their respective counties by the 23^rd of August next. Blank applications can be had by applying to the probate judge.

To the Citizens of Peach Tree and Vicinity: On or about the first of July, I will visit your community, for the purpose of repairing and adjusting all kinds of fine watches, clocks and jewelry, of every description; will remain there four to six weeks and return to Camden (headquarters) in the fall. All work guaranteed to give satisfaction. Hunt up your work and have it ready for me, and I will do it at reduced rates. Very respectfully, Charles Roberts.

Singleton tells of teenage watermelon patch raiding misadventures

1933 B Model Ford

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Memories of a watermelon patch raid” was originally published in the June 20, 1996 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

During the years of my teenage life, I wasn’t all bad. I admit that I was guilty of many times being a part of a watermelon patch raid or swiping a few fresh ripe peaches from the orchard of a grouchy old man who lived in the farming community where I grew up. But, as I look back, it seems that this kind of behavior was expected from the youth of those times. On several occasions, I overheard my father and other men laughing and telling about certain events which were set up to try to frighten the living daylights out of my older brothers and some of their friends when they would raid a watermelon patch or a peach or apple orchard.

Always, if visitors or relatives from the city came to the farm communities during the time of year when the melons were ripe, a raid was always organized so as to frighten the living daylights out of the city slickers. Many times, it was always proper to show one’s courage to the country girls, to carry them on a watermelon patch raid on the night of a date. This is a story of one of those not so organized raids.

It was during the summer after I completed the eleventh grade in high school. A friend of mine managed to borrow his brother’s 1933 B Model Ford for a night on the town. Since there wasn’t a town nearby, other than Sweet Water, that we could have a night on, we decided to just carry out dates on a tour of the area. Hardly had the night gotten underway, when someone mentioned, “Why not raid someone’s watermelon patch?” Since my father’s death, we had discontinued any type of farming. My dear mother and I had moved from the farm to the town of Sweet Water. I had become a city boy of sorts; and city boys didn’t have watermelon patches. We couldn’t go to my friend’s family patch since he was afraid that he would be seen and he might have the car taken from him.

The dark-haired young lady I was dating excitingly suggested we visit her father’s watermelon patch. She assured us she knew a way to get to the patch without being seen. Hearing her talk, left no reason that she didn’t know the trail to the patch and that she was very familiar with the area. She assured us once again that she had grown up on this farm and she knew the lay of the land by heart.

Parking the old Ford at the spot where my date instructed us to do so, we crossed the narrow country road and headed across a large field that lay on the side of a sloping hill. There was a full moon above, but the heavy clouds which floated around the moon caused it to disappear behind the clouds at times, causing total darkness. After losing our way several times, we finally came upon the watermelon patch belonging to the father of my date.

As the heavy clouds slowly moved across the face of the full moon we eased along the melon rows seeking out a couple of good juicy watermelons. After “thumping” about half the melons in the patch, we selected the two we thought would best suit our taste for a sweet juicy watermelon eating on a creek bank not too far from where we had parked out vehicle. Now all we had to do was return to the old Ford and load up and head to this favorite parking place. As we slowly made our way down a narrow path in the direction we thought would lead us to the narrow country road where the B Model had been left, the heavy clouds completely covered the face of the full moon.

Within minutes, the night had become very dark. As we slowly moved along the faint path, it seemed to me that this wasn’t the path we had traveled on our way to the melon patch. I confronted my date about the path not being familiar. She assured me in no uncertain terms that we were on the right path. She reminded me in a firm voice that she had grown up on this farm; she certainly knew where she was going. Shouldering my watermelon, I said no more and followed the young lady down the hill with my friend and his date coming along behind.

All at once, the full moon broke from behind the heavy clouds. To our amazement, we were just a few short steps from the wooden fence surrounding the family barnyard. Whispering among ourselves, we tried to decide what the next course of action would be. My date, who seemed to know everything, suggested that we slip through the barnyard and out to the road that was not too far from where we were standing. I knew that we couldn’t retrace the path we had taken down the hill, because it had grown dark, once again and we needed to get to the dirt road somehow quickly as possible.

Slowly we opened the barnyard gate and eased into the enclosed area. All at once, a young mule that was in the barnyard began to snort loudly and race around the barn. Fearing we might be run over by the frightened mules, we raced for the other gate that we had been told was on the other side of the barnyard. To make matters worse, a small calf lay on the ground there in the darkness. Trying to reach the safety of the gate without dropping my watermelon, I stepped up on the back of the calf, not knowing it was there. This was when all heck broke loose; I fell broadside in the barnyard filth, losing my watermelon. The frightened mule continued to snort loudly and race wildly around the barn. My date’s father (I was to learn later) came out of the house with nothing on but his nightshirt and began to fire his shotgun up into the air. This really caused the raiding party to hook up and get up the road to where we had left the car.

As we finally regained our breath, all wanted to know what had happened to the watermelon that I was carrying. When I told them that I had dropped it when I fell over the sleeping calf, everyone seemed to get mad. They couldn’t understand why I didn’t hold on to the watermelon. Nothing was mentioned about my buddy missing his melon in all the excitement. Needless to say, there was no watermelon cutting that night there on the creek bank.

As usual, my darling mother was awake when I arrived home that night. As I tried to slip in the house without her seeing me, she turned on the light. There I stood in my new shark skin pants, dirty and filthy from falling over the sleeping calf. Her words were: “Lord, son, what in the world has happened?” I replied to her that she could go on back to bed; if I told her what had happened, she would not believe it anyway.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Documentary about 'Bigfoot Capital of Alabama' has been well received, garnered many viewers since release

Director Brandon Maughon reported earlier this week that his newly released documentary, “The Town That Loved Bigfoot,” has been well received and has garnered a lot of attention from viewers.

Released on June 9 by ZapruderFlix, “The Town That Loved Bigfoot” is described as a “down-home documentary that chronicles the struggles of a sleepy town in Alabama as it's sparked back to life by embracing local lore and learning to love Bigfoot. It covers the town's history, it's many Sasquatch sightings and how it became the Bigfoot Capital of Alabama.”

Maughon, a native of Monroe County, who now lives in New Orleans, said earlier this week that the movie “has been very well received so far. We’ve gotten a lot of great comments from people that have reached out on social media.”

Maughon visited Evergreen in February and March to conduct interviews for the film, shoot footage for the movie and to attend the Bigfoot Calling Contest at this year’s Collard Green Festival.

“The documentary has been a lot of fun to put together,” Maughon said. “It’s been fun to come back to Alabama and talk to a few people I hadn’t talked to or seen in a long time. All the subject interviews went better than I could have ever expected.

Brandon Maughon

“I was only planning on driving over from New Orleans once to film all my interviews and b-roll, but once I found out there was a Bigfoot Calling competition at the Collard Green Festival, I knew I had to come back to shoot the following weekend. There was no way I was going to miss that.”

The 1-hour and 13-minute-long movie can be viewed online on Amazon Prime and for free on Tubi TV. Conecuh County residents who watch the film will see a lot of familiar faces in the movie, including Evergreen Mayor Pete Wolff, Evergreen City Councilman Luther Upton, Evergreen dentist Mike Cartwright, local Bigfoot expert Ashley McPhaul, local Bigfoot Calling Champion Tony Kyles, local Bigfoot witnesses Wesley and Virgil Acreman, and Evergreen Courant Managing Editor Lee Peacock. Others appearing in the film are Bigfoot witness Glenda Bush, WPPG 101.1 FM radio personality Terry Dailey, Bigfoot Calling contestant Mary Katelyn Riley and Bobby Hamilton with the Gulf Coast Bigfoot Research Organization (GCBRO).

In addition to his directing duties, Maughon also served as a producer and film editor on the movie. J. Horton also served as a producer and film editor. Veronica Ley served as associate producer, and Sean A. Reid served as coordinating producer.

Maughon has been involved in the film industry for years, but “The Town That Loved Bigfoot” was his first documentary. Now that he has one documentary under his belt, he’s moving on to even more.

“It’s been a great overall experience,” he said. “I’m starting pre-production on my next documentary now. I’m starting to get my rhythm. Looking forward to releasing more documentaries in the near future.”

For more information and updates about “The Town That Loved Bigfoot,” visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thetownthatlovedbigfoot.

Just how many caves are there in Wilcox County, Alabama?

Eastern Pipistrelle Bat

I read an interesting article the other day about a man named John Ackerman, who is known as the “Cave Kingpin.” Ackerman has spent millions of dollars buying up all of the known caves in Minnesota, and he is believed to be the largest cave owner in the United States. His main goal is to collect and map these caves in an effort to preserve them for future generations.

The article also mentioned the National Speleological Society, which is the preeminent caving organization in the United States. When it comes to caves, Alabama has some of the most impressive caves in the United States. In fact, the National Speleological Society is actually headquartered in Huntsville.

According to the Alabama Cave Survey, there are more than 4,200 documented caves in Alabama, which is why the state is considered such a “hotspot” for caves. About two-thirds of the state’s caves are located in Northeast Alabama. These caves include some of the state’s best known caves – Russell Cave National Monument, Cathedral Caverns, DeSoto Caverns and others.

Wilcox County is located in the state’s Coastal Plain, which contains the fewest number of caves in the state. That’s not to say that Wilcox County doesn’t have its fair share of caves. The county just doesn’t have as many caves as you will find north of Birmingham in places like Madison, Morgan and Jackson counties.

Perhaps the two best known caves in Wilcox County are Stone’s Cave and Mt. Moriah Cave, which have both been heavily studied by wildlife biologists and conservationists over the years because they are known to house different species of bats. Both of these caves shelter a type of bat called the Eastern Pipistrelle. Also known as the “tricolored bat,” these small bats are major carriers of rabies and can live up to 15 years.

Mt. Moriah Cave is also of interest to scientists because of the unique crickets that live in this cave. These crickets, known as slender-legged camel crickets, are a type of cave cricket that usually spends its daylight hours a short distance inside the cave’s entrance. At night, they come out of the cave to eat whatever is available for them in the surrounding woods.

I’ve always had an interest in caves because they often served as shelters for generations of prehistoric Indians. A good example of this type of cave in our neck of the woods is the large cave at Midway, which is just over in Monroe County, about seven miles south of the Wilcox County line. Another good example is Sander’s Cave in Conecuh County, which also served as a hideout for Joseph Thompson Hare’s gang of outlaws in the early 1800s.

Over the years, I’ve explored a few caves with friends and while I’ve seen a few bats and snakes, as far as I can remember, I’ve never encountered a cave cricket. Those of you who have explored caves will know that this is a potentially dangerous activity. You should never enter a cave alone or without a knowledgeable guide.

In the end, let me hear from you if you have any information you’d like to share about caves in Wilcox County, especially Mt. Moriah Cave and Stone’s Cave. Caves such as these are a natural wonder, and it’s important to document such things for future generations. Also, if you’ve got a good cave you’d like to show me, please let me know because I’m always up for a good field trip.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for July 7, 2020

Congressman Bobby Bright

11 YEARS AGO

JULY 2, 2009

Congressman Bobby Bright (D-Montgomery) was the keynote speaker during Tuesday night’s annual Rotary Club banquet at Bolden-Cardwell Hall in Evergreen. Pictured seated are outgoing Rotary Club president Marc Williams and his wife, Sharon. Evergreen dentist Dr. Douglas O’Connor took over the reigns as club president during the banquet.

No decision yet in election lawsuit case: The first part of this week came and went without a decision in the ongoing lawsuit over Evergreen’s disputed mayoral election.

Since a hearing on June 5 and as of yesterday (Wednesday) morning, no decision had been handed down in the case, according to officials in the Conecuh County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

During a hearing on June 5 in Evergreen, Judge Edward McDermott instructed attorneys in the case to submit to him a lists of voters being challenged and their reasons for challenging those voters before June 19.

Detroit man shot, killed: Evergreen police are calling on the public for help in trying to solve a case in which a Detroit man was gunned down Monday night in an Evergreen mobile home.

According to Evergreen Police Detective Sean Klaetsch, officers were called to a mobile home on Jerusalem Church Road in Evergreen around 10:30 p.m. Monday and found Rudy Wiggins, 74, of Detroit dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Wiggins, a Vietnam veteran, who was visiting relatives in Evergreen, was shot multiple times with a handgun.

36 YEARS AGO

JULY 6, 1984

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported 0.20 inches of rain on June 29. He reported a high of 93 degrees on June 24 and a low of 62 degrees on June 26.

Repton creates municipal court: A municipal court was created at a special meeting of the Repton City Council on June 25. The council appointed David Steele as judge.

The council also employed two new policemen, Randy Shue and Robert Taylor. Speed limits will be enforced, the council and police department announced. In case of an emergency need of police, call 911.

The council also established the Repton Public Library Board and appointed these members: Mrs. Marcus Straughn, Mrs. Keith Graham, Mrs. Dora Augustin, Mrs. John Davison and David Johnson.

Voters in Conecuh County’s three incorporated towns will elect city officials in municipal elections Tuesday. Voters in Evergreen will elect members of the council by districts for the first time. Running for mayor in Evergreen are W.B. Epperson, Pat Poole and Lee F. Smith.

(Candidates for city council included John D. Hagood, Jimmy Johnson, Aubrey D. Padgett, William “Bill” Durant, Jones B. Sasser, T.L. Sims, John E. Smith, Pete Wolff III, Larry W. Fluker, Alex Johnson, Hugh J. Bradford Sr., John “Fat” Claiborne, Patricia L. Dailey and Betty Bowers Rigsby.)

61 YEARS AGO

JULY 2, 1959

Dickey Bozeman Buys Thomasville Times: Sale of The Thomasville Times to Clyde Dickey Bozeman is announced today by Earl L. Tucker, editor and publisher. Bozeman took over the Clarke County weekly at close of business Tuesday.

Bozeman is the son of R. Gaston Bozeman Sr. of Evergreen, editor and publisher of The Courant from 1926 to 1957, and now serving the paper in an advisory capacity. He joins his brother, Bob, in the weekly editing and publishing field.

Castleberry Man Bitten By Monster Rattlesnake: Frank Pate, good citizen living near Castleberry, is reported to be about fully recovered from the effects of a rattlesnake bite which he suffered Sat., June 27, while working about his farm. Mr. Pate’s quick thinking and action in taking his pocket knife and gashing the affected leg, causing it to bleed, no doubt saved his life. He was brought to the Conecuh County Hospital for treatment but was able to go home Monday.

“Mr. Pate saw the snake after it had bitten him but did not kill it as he was too busy trying to save his own life. Two of his neighbors, A.J. Smith and Pete Singleton, later found the snake and killed it. It measured 5-1/2 feet in length, weighed 12 pounds and had 11 rattles. They brought it to Evergreen, where it attracted a large crowd of curious spectators for several hours.

86 YEARS AGO

JULY 5, 1934

Misses Hazel Crawford and Kate McConaughy have returned from a visit to the World’s Fair in Chicago. Miss Crawford is visiting her aunt, Mrs. M.B. Binion.

Sgt. Hobson Lewis, Corp. Orman Bower, Privates Ted Bates, John Salter, Robert Quarles and Otis Pierce returned Sunday from Birmingham, where they have been stationed in connection with the miners strike for the past two months.

Messrs. C.P. Deming and Jim Hartzog are leaving Sunday to attend the Ford Dealers Convention at Detroit, Mich. and the World’s Fair.

Evergreen Eligible For P.O. Building: A news dispatch from Washington dated June 30 states that Evergreen along with 10 other Alabama cities and towns has been placed on the eligible list for a new post office building. According to the Washington story, $65,000,000 is now available under the deficiency appropriation bill for the construction of post offices throughout the country.

The post office and treasurer departments were authorized by the bill to choose from the specified list which cities should have new buildings. List of cities given: Anniston, $210,000; Gadsden, $85,000; Fairfield, $84,000; Atmore, $65,000; Brewton, $68,000; Evergreen, $65,000; Fort Payne, $68,000; Guntersville, $63,000; Opp, $63,000; Roanoke, $65,000 and Scottsboro, $65,000.

136 YEARS AGO

THE CONECUH-ESCAMBIA STAR

JULY 3, 1884

Reliable information has just reached us of a serious difficulty that occurred between Dave Bowers and Eb. Riley at Andalusia last Saturday, the 28^th ultimo, in which Bowers shot Riley with a pistol, the ball taking effect a little below the corner of the mouth and passing out just below the ear, slightly fracturing one of the jaw teeth; otherwise only inflicting a flesh wound. The difficulty arose about an account of $250 Bowers claimed against Riley and to enforce the payment Bowers had locked up a suit of Riley’s clothes, when the trouble commenced. Bowers made his escape.

This will certainly be long remembered as the rainy summer.

The pulpit of the Evergreen Methodist church was occupied last Sunday by Rev. J.S. Frazer.

Rev. B.H. Crumpton preached at Castleberry last Sunday while Rev. B.F. Riley occupied the Baptist pulpit in Evergreen.

Rev. B.F. Riley will lecture under the auspices of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union at the Baptist church on Thursday night, the 3^rd inst.

Last Sunday several from Evergreen went out to Belleville to hear that eminent Presbyterian divine, Rev. J.C. Duncan. Mr. D. is very popular in this section. He is now making an effort to build a Presbyterian church in this place, and we hope he will succeed.

Last Friday Mrs. G.R. Farnham very kindly remembered her Sabbath school class by inviting those composing it to attend an ice cream supper given at her residence. The occasion was a delightful one, and was thoroughly enjoyed by those present.