A look back
By By Dr. Bill Stewart
April 8, 1960-The first Morgan County political rally of the current election year was held tonight at Lacey’s Spring. The moderator of the debate was Price Bryant, who is running without opposition for reelection as Morgan County tax collector. Porter Lee Hanes, a candidate for tax assessor, noted that this was his first time “ever to appear as a candidate for any office.”
He asked people to vote for him “because I need the job.” Seven more rallies are scheduled before primary day.
April 8, 1960-Baby Susan Lyle Martin was dismissed from Decatur General Hospital today.
April 8, 1960-The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached 628.10 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange today.
April 8, 1960-Morgan County singers in attendance at the recent meeting of the Lawrence County Singing Convention at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church included Mr. and Mrs. Bud Reed, Acie Hightower, Grady Parker, Plumer Oden, Cullie Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Miller and Arthur Lee.
April 8, 1960-Hartselle smokers were startled by testimony reported today from an expert witness in a case against Liggett &Myers Tobacco Co. He stated flatly that smoking causes lung cancer in many instances.
April 9, 1960-Several loyal local Crimson Tide fans were in Tuscaloosa tonight for the annual intra-squad game designed to show what talent Coach Bear Bryant will have available for the upcoming fall football season.
April 10, 1960-The Morgan County Singing Convention met today at Union Hill Free Will Baptist Church, three miles east of Falkville. This was the 196th session of the convention of which Bud Reid is president.
April 10, 1960-Mrs. Hal Long hosted the April meeting of Falkville’s Cotaco Club. Mrs. Joe Summerford gave the devotional. Mrs. Sherman Powell was a visitor at the meeting.
April 10, 1960-A 500-gallon still was located and demolished by a combined force of Morgan County sheriff’s deputies and ABC agents this morning. The site of the still was near Cotaco Creek. The moonshiners had all vanished by the time the revenuers arrived.
April 11, 1960-Hartselle area farmers are currently preparing their land for cotton planting (which will probably begin in earnest next week).
April 11, 1960-The Mount Tabor to Gum Springs Road is currently being rocked, according to County Road Commissioner Clyde Maples. The Danville Road is being patched.
April 12, 1960-The MCHS FHA chapter hosted a countywide clothing contest today. Martha Cornhill, president of the MCHS chapter of FHA, was the emcee.
April 12, 1960-Clyde McEntire of Decatur was injured in a wreck north of here on U.S. 31 this morning. His ‘56 Chevy turned over when he lost control of the car.
April 13, 1960-Hartselle city offices as well as those of the county and state were closed today in observance of Thomas Jefferson’s birthday. Citizens Bank is also closed.
April 13, 1960-Mrs. Gertrude Turney passed away tonight at her home here. Funeral services will be Friday afternoon at 2 at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Smith officiating. She was a member of First Christian Church.
Survivors include a son, Gilbert S. Turney.
April 14, 1960-Hartselle State Rep. Bob Gilchrist spoke to the American Association of University Women in Decatur tonight on the topic, “The Current Education Crisis in Alabama.”
April 14, 1960-Hartselle native and U.S. Senator John Sparkman says that President Eisenhower’s Agriculture Secretary, Ezra Taft Benson, is leading the American farmer into bankruptcy.
