A look back – Aug. 4
August 4, 1961—John F. Thompson, the Hartselle American Legion post, installed new officers tonight. Lloyd Logan is commander for the third consecutive year. Others serving in leadership positions are E. H. Phillips, Loyd Tapscott, Pete McCutcheon, W. P. Maxwell, Millard O’Bar, J.C. Johnson, Harvey Pickens,Joe Sandlin, R. B. Ryan, Merrill Doss, and James Lang.
August 4, 1961—Melvin Smith was fatally injured in a car wreck near Eva this morning. Mr. Smith was thrown from his ’56 Ford when it struck another Ford being driven by a man from Chattanooga in the Gum Pond community.
August 4, 1961—Mayor pro tem John D. Long presided over Hartselle recorder’s court this week. The usual cases dominated the proceedings—VPL, public drunkenness, reckless driving, no drivers license, and running red lights.
August 4, 1961—Coach Carl Penn of Priceville has been selected as coach of the north all-star team for the game scheduled for August 10 in Tuscaloosa.
August 4, 1961—Nancy Sims of Falkville was selected tonight to represent the Hartselle Jaycees in the Miss Guntersville Lake beauty pageant. Runners-up were Gail King, Janice Patterson, and Carolyn Stewart.
August 5, 1961—Catherine Ann Dunaway and Billy Sims were married this afternoon at First Methodist Church by Rev. S. Edward Paulk. Nuptial music was performed by Mrs. Coy Stephenson and Mrs. Ike Groover.
August 5, 1961—Hartselle Mayor Grady Long and family have returned from Ridgecrest, N.C., where they participated in Sunday school week at the Baptist assembly facility.
August 5, 1961—A singing was held tonight at Salem Methodist Church on Barkley Bridge Road. Special guests were writers of gospel songs appearing in the new Vaughan, Stamps-Baxter, and Stamps books.
August 5, 1961—Funeral services were held in Crystal Springs, Miss., this afternoon for Mrs. Mary S. Block, mother of Hartselle’s beloved Dr. W. H. Block. She had resided in Memphis and is also survived by two other sons.
August 6, 1961—Rev. Connor R. Lundy, pastor of the First Christian Church, began preaching a revival at the Cedar Plains Christian Church today.
August 7, 1961—The Morgan County Foxhunters’ association began its yearly bench show and field trials at the group’s clubhouse near Cole Spring east of Falkville tonight.
August 8, 1961—Members of the Hartselle city council are all agreed that water rates should be raised and are urging the utility board to take this step. The rate for a minimum of 2,500 gallons monthly would remain the same, $2.25. Prior to 1955 the minimum water bill was $1.50. The council also voted to give all police officers a $25 per month raise starting on their next payday.
August 9, 1961—W. A. Whetstone, vocational teacher at Morgan County Training School, led a meeting of farmers at the Tennessee Valley substation at Belle Mina today.
August 9, 1961—A seven-foot bull snake was discovered and killed on the farm of Morgan County Sheriff Knox McRae today.
August 10, 1961—J. C. Pettey, MCHS principal, is in Colorado Springs today on a site visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Other area school leaders making the trip included County Superintendent Lester Wooten, Danville High Principal Milton Holmes, and Priceville High Principal Herman Myers.
August 10, 1961—A resident of Hartselle Rural Route 4 was arrested today and is now in the Morgan County jail, charged with bigamy and adultery. The women the man married consecutively without a divorce are sisters.
August 10, 1961—President Kennedy announced today that border patrolmen were being assigned to some flights to try to curb the current wave of Cuba-related hijacking incidents.
August 10, 1961—Today was missionary day at the Hartselle camp meeting. The principal missionary in attendance at camp is Alice Patterson who currently ministers in Kenya. Robert F. Blackburn of Parkersburg, W. Va., is working with young people at the tabernacle this year. Sherman Powell is president of the camp meeting association.
