Sunday, March 4, 2018

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

Grave of PFC William C. McKinley.

19 YEARS AGO
MARCH, 4, 1999

For the first time in its nine-year history, all 2,100 tickets of “To Kill a Mockingbird” were sold in one day.
“It’s just unbelievable that we sold them all on Monday,” Kathy McCoy, director of the Monroe County Heritage Museums, said.
Because of the large response, McCoy said, the cast will make a decision this week on whether to add performances.
McCoy attributed quick ticket sales to the eight performances to word-of-mouth advertising, a recent story in Southern Living magazine and the national publicity the cast received on its trip to England last September.

Excel evened its record to 1-1 Friday in Bratt, Fla., when the Panthers dealt Northview a 9-6 loss.
Excel broke the game wide open with a five-run rally in the fourth inning to take a 6-0 lead.
Keith McKinley delivered the big blow in the inning, belting a two-out, three-run triple with the bases loaded.
(Other standout Excel players in that game were Al Black, Josh Black, Tyler Dawson, Josh Deese, Jamie Duke, Jason McLelland, Jared McPhaul, Justin Mixon and Nathan Mixon.)

Monroe County cattleman Wayne Thames was elected president-elect of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association at the association’s annual convention Feb. 19 in Montgomery. He owns and runs a 500-head commercial cow-calf program. He has served as president of the Monroe County Cattlemen’s association and a three-year term as regional vice president.

44 YEARS AGO
MARCH 7, 1974

Patrice W. Stewart has joined the staff of The Monroe Journal as an associate editor.
She comes to Monroeville from Atlanta, Ga., where until recently she was editor of The Citizen, a newspaper for employees of Georgia Power Co.
A native of Cartersville, Ga., the new associate editor holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and is a member of Sigma Delta Chi, Society of Professional Journalists.
She has been editor of The North Bartow News, a weekly newspaper in Adairsville, Ga., and a feature writer for The Atlanta Journal.
She is married to Steve Stewart, editor of The Monroe Journal.

Kenneth Rankins, 6-foot-4 forward at Monroe County High School, signed a basketball scholarship Tuesday afternoon at Patrick Henry State Junior College. A three-year starter for Coach Jerry Thomas’ Tigers, Rankins averaged 19 points per game and pulled down 15 rebounds in the 1973-74 season. Looking on are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hannibal Blackman of Monroeville; Coach Eddie Dutton of PHJC and Jerry Thomas of Monroe County High.

Monroe County growth is evidenced by the beginning of operations and by ground preparations of these two projects in the county: Harrigan Lumber Co.’s sawmill on Rose Drive in Monroeville and Southtown Plaza, a new shopping center being developed on the Highway 21 Bypass in Monroeville. Monday was the first day the $4-million-plus sawmill cut a large volume of trees into lumber. Sawmill officials hope the mill will be in full operation by mid-March.

69 YEARS AGO
MARCH 3, 1949

Remains Of Soldier To Arrive Monday: The remains of Pfc. William C. McKinley, who was killed in action in Italy in January 1944, are scheduled to arrive at Fountain late Monday afternoon preparatory to reburial in this country, Army authorities have notified his relatives.
The parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.P. McKinley of Fountain, have not yet announced funeral plans.

Miss Nelle Harper Lee, who is spending several weeks in New York City, spent the past week in Boston.

Basketball Tourney Slated At Goodway: A basketball tournament for all junior high school and senior high school “B” teams of the county will be held at the Goodway School tomorrow (Friday) night beginning at seven o’clock.
S.B. Newman, school principal, said all schools in the county have been invited to participate.

The award of 10 basketball letters for the 1948-49 season and scoring records of individual players on the Monroe County High School basketball team were announced Wednesday by Coach LaVaughn Hanks.
Receiving varsity letters for their cage play during the season just ended were Tommy Durden, Brent Metts, Kenneth Hundley, Bill Thompson, Felix Nicholas, Jack Simpson, George Klepac, Leroy Thompson, Bennett Pierson and Hurtis Tomlinson.
In the individual scoring department, Coach Hanks’ report showed that Brent Metts, forward, outdistanced all other members of the team with 131 points during the season while Kenneth Hundley, center, was second with 108 points.

94 YEARS AGO
MARCH 6, 1924

BUILDING LOTS FOR SALE: The entire Block Northwest of Public Square, known as the John Fore Corner, containing six acres, divided into eight lots. Will sell entire block or single lots. AN IDEAL HOTEL PROPOSITION. – At Probate Office, M. Mc. Fountain.

The M&R railroad handled the heaviest traffic into Monroeville last month in its history, there being 34 full car shipments of incoming freight besides many mixed cars of local freight. A number of cars of lumber and timber were out during the same period. Heavy deliveries were also made at Excel, Jones Mill and intermediate points.

Dr. W.E. Hinds of the Extension Service, Auburn, addressed a large number of farmers at the courthouse on Wednesday of last week on the subject of boll weevil control. Dr. Hinds is a recognized authority on the subject and it will be well for cotton growers to follow the methods recommended. A representative of the Soil Improvement Association, Atlanta, was also present and addressed the meeting on the subject of fertilizers.

All boys in Monroe County are invited to meet at the courthouse Sat., March 8, at 3 p.m. for the purpose of organizing a Boy Scout Troop. Several Boy Scout leaders will be here from Mobile to talk on Boy Scout organizations. Boys from the age of 12 to 18 are eligible.

Bishop C.M. Beckwith of the Episcopal church will preach at the Monroeville Presbyterian church at 11 o’clock a.m. Sun., March 9.

140 YEARS AGO
MARCH 5, 1878

Mr. Thomas P. Sowell Killed – Claiborne was the scene of one of those tragic occurrences, Sunday evening, the 24th ult., that shrouds a community in gloom and sorrow, and causes the law-abiding and god-fearing to stop, reflect and exclaim, “What are we coming to!” Thomas Sowell, in the prime of life, just entering upon a career which could have been made useful to his fellow man, with a beautiful young wife endowed with those graces of mind and heart and person that are sure to make home happy and attractive, and several lovely little children solely dependent on him for support, was shot down by Robert P. Henderson, without a knowledge, probably, that he was so soon to render an account unto Him who notes even the fall of a sparrow.

Messrs. Cohn & Elkan, two enterprising Jews, have opened a large store at Claiborne, and every indication points to a revival of trade at that place.

Burnt Corn – A Union Church has recently been erected in the neighborhood of Mr. C.M. Betts and styled Fairfield. We are always glad to hear of the erection of a church as they lend to the improvement of a community, both religiously and morally.

HON. MURDOCK McCORVEY: It was not the intention of The Journal to let pass without further notice the death of this honored citizen of Monroe. The brief announcement of his death (on Feb. 10, 1878), although it had been expected for months, cast a mantel of gloom not only over the community – a county he had long served in many capacities, in all of which he acquitted himself with honor to himself and to the people.

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