Tuesday, August 18, 2015

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Aug. 18, 2015

19 YEARS AGO
AUG. 15, 1996

Local weather reporter Harry Ellis reported .23 inches of rain on Aug. 11. He reported a high of 91 degrees on Aug. 8 and a low of 69 on Aug. 9.

“A Covington, Ga. man was found dead Saturday afternoon approximately two miles west of the Mixonville community on County Road 106. He had died as the result of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Investigation revealed the man, Billy Joe Freeman, was wanted in connection with a homicide and aggravated battery in Newton County, Ga.”

“Public schools to begin Aug. 21: Conecuh County schools will begin Aug. 19-20 for teachers. Countywide In-Service will be at Hillcrest High School on Tues., Aug. 20, 1996 at 8 a.m. Students will report for school on Wed., Aug. 21, 1996 for a full day.”

“The Castleberry Town Council held their regular meeting for the month of August on Monday night. Present were Mayor Bill Seales and council members Betty Etheridge, Alton Henderson, Dewey Jackson, James Ball and city planner Lula Palmer. Council member Bill Moncrease was absent.”

“These electrical crews are hard at work upgrading another portion of the City of Evergreen’s electrical system from 4kv to 12kv. This will take some of the strain off the system and should help the system to be more trouble free.”

34 YEARS AGO
AUG. 20, 1981

Local weather reporter Earl Windham reported .56 inches of rain on Aug. 10, .04 inches on Aug. 13 and .12 inches on Aug. 16. He reported a high of 96 degrees on Aug. 16 and a low of 68 on Aug. 11.

“Council approves public defender: A resolution was passed to provide a public defender for defendants in city court by the Evergreen City Council at its meeting Tuesday night. An attorney would be appointed to represent indigent defendants, according to the resolution.”

“Sparta Academy begins 1981-82 school year Fri., Aug. 21.”

“Lawmen ‘harvested’ another good crop of marijuana Sunday morning about five miles from Evergreen. Taking part were ABC Agent George Grantt, Sheriff Edwin Booker, ABC Agent Bobby Davis, Evergreen police officers Johnny Blackmon and James Powell and Chief Deputy Sheriff Leroy Ferrell. The Sheriff said the 500 stalks… were from three to eight feet tall and had a street value of approximately $116,000 and wholesale value of about $60,000.”

“Mayor Lee F. Smith cuts the ribbon held by Howard Johnson to officially open Johnson Furniture & Salvage Co. as part of the large crowd present Friday morning watches. Johnson bought the stock of American Salvage and has added to the inventory. Johnson Furniture & Salvage Co. is in the building occupied by American Salvage for a number of years (old Ford building, corner of Rural and Jackson Streets, downtown Evergreen).

49 YEARS AGO
AUG. 18, 1966

“State’s first bale of cotton is ginned here: The first bale of cotton of the 1966 crop in the state of Alabama was ginned here last week at the Evergreen Gin Co. J.T. Ward, well-known farmer and agricultural leader, brought Alabama’s first bale to the gin on Aug. 9. This is the first time it is known that Conecuh County produced the first bale.
“Ward’s first bale weighed a net of 502 pounds and graded Middling 1-1/6 inch staple. It was auctioned off Friday afternoon at the Evergreen Gin, bringing a premium price of 79 cents per pound, a total of $396.35. Weil Brothers of Montgomery bought the cotton.”

“Train derails, kills one, two are injured: One man, thought to be a hobo, was killed when an L&N freight train derailed early Monday morning near Owassa. Later, two L&N workmen who were helping clear the debris were injured, neither critically.
“Over 30 cars of a long freight train were derailed and overturned about 7:30 Monday morning in a curve in the L&N tracks near Owassa. Damage was estimated to run very high.
“A man identified as George E. Weems, 49, of Piedmont was found dead in the wreckage. He was thought to have been a hobo riding on the freight train. It was reported that two other men were hitching a ride on the train, but no trace of them was found in the wreckage.
“Tuesday morning two men in the crew clearing the tracks were injured when a cable broke and struck them. One of the men suffered a fractured arm while the other, Paul Deason, was hit in the head and has a fractured skull.”

64 YEARS AGO
AUG. 16, 1951

“Sub-Station Blaze Monday Night Throws City In Darkness: One of the large transformers out at the sub-station two miles east of the city caught fire early Monday night and for a time the entire city was in darkness. The fire department was called out but because of no current, it was impossible to sound the fire siren, so the word had to be passed by telephone and word of mouth. The City Light and Water crew was also called out and the short in the transformer was soon found and the blaze extinguished.
“F.M. Wright, Supt. of Lights, informed The Courant Tuesday morning the transformer had been completely repaired and everything was back to normal.”

“Eighth District Meet American Legion Here Sunday, September 2: Alma Martin Post No. 50 of the American Legion will be host to the next meeting of the Eighth District of Alabama, according to Guy Mason, who is commander of the local post. The meeting will be held at the Community House, Sun., Sept. 2, beginning at 2 p.m.”

“Contract For Steam Power Plant To Be Let At An Early Date: Andalusia, Ala., Aug. 13 – Contracts for construction work on the new 15,000 KW steam electric power generating plant to be built by Alabama Electric Cooperative at Gantt in Covington County, will be awarded within six weeks.
“That announcement was made this week, following a meeting of the Alabama Electric Cooperative board of directors.”

79 YEARS AGO
AUG. 20, 1936

“The new Conecuh County High school building, designed by Dittmar and Roberts of Montgomery and Mobile, and built by Henry I. Flynn, contractor of Montgomery, started Feb. 11, was finished Aug. 15, final inspection Aug. 19.
“Mr. Marvin Hanks, the County Superintendent of Education, served as county supervisor of the building. Total cost was $48,500.
“The first and second grades will be taught in the two rooms which were salvaged from the old school building, these are on the same campus with the dormitory, and the new building is just across the road.”

“Evergreen Theatre – The Home of Good Pictures – “13 HOURS BY AIR” with Fred MacMurray, Joan Bennett, A Paramount Picture  -Sunday, Monday, Aug. 23-24. Matinee Sunday 1:30 p.m. Continuous to 6 p.m. – Sunday night 8:30 – Bargain Matinee Monday 3 p.m. – 2 Adults 35 cents; Regular Admission 10-25 cents.”

“Three Mill School Tax Issue Before Voters: The proposition of whether or not the present three mill district school tax will be re-levied in what is known as District Two, composing approximately two thirds of the county, will come before voters of that district Fri., Aug. 28. Under the present levy, this tax expires with this tax year and unless it is re-levied at this election, will not be collected after this year.

“Considerable interest is being manifested in the election by those who are interested in retaining the tax for the schools.”

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