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Hartselle Enquirer

A Look Back at the Christmas Season

By Bill Stewart

Dec. 1, 1961—All connected with it are saying last night’s Hartselle Christmas parade was a big success. The parade brought 4,000 people to the streets downtown, according to an estimate this morning by Gene Newman, who served as master of ceremonies. John Reynolds is chairman of the merchants committee of the Chamber of Commerce that was primarily responsible for putting on the parade.

Dec. 1, 1961—Gov. John Patterson is currently promoting Alabama among business leaders from around the nation. He tells them Alabama has one of the lowest tax rates in the U.S., one that clearly favors industry.
Dec. 1, 1961—Burning leaves got out of control this afternoon at the Milton Black home here, but the HFD was able to put the blaze out before it did any damage. Dec. 2, 1961—Funeral services were held this afternoon at the Hartselle Church of Christ for Mrs. Gladys Powell, 54, who died at her home here Thursday. In addition to her husband, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Pettit, survive her.
Dec. 2, 1961—Cuban Premier Fidel Castro finally declared today that “the world is on the road toward communism” and that is where he is taking his country.
Dec. 2, 1961—Unbeaten and untied Alabama beat Auburn 34-0 today and is now bound for the Sugar Bowl to play the Arkansas Razorbacks. Tide QB Pat Trammell’s 1,035 yards passing for the season eclipsed an old school record.
Dec. 3, 1961—The Army Ballistics Missile Agency and the Army Rocket and Guided Missile Agency at Redstone are going to be abolished and their functions consolidated into the Army Ordinance Missile Command. There will be a net loss of 650 jobs.
Dec. 3, 1961—Dianna Summerford, Hartselle 4, has been released from Baugh- Wiley-Smith Hospital in Decatur.
Dec. 4, 1961—Hartselle businesses are having to find other trucking companies to haul Christmas goods besides Bowman Transportation. The Teamsters have struck Bowman, and there has been gun violence in parts of north Alabama, although not here.
Dec. 4, 1961—James Tyler is now studying at Amarillo, Texas, tech school. Airman Tyler is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Price Tyler of Hartselle.
Dec. 5, 1961—Hartselle Mayor and Recorders Court Judge Grady Long convicted eight men of various alcohol-related offenses at city hall this morning. They were starting their Christmas celebrating a bit on the early side.

Dec. 5, 1961—Hartselle voters, along with voters throughout the state, were asked to decide the fate of 45 constitutional amendments today. Many apply only to one city or county. This is the largest number of amendments ever to be placed on the ballot.
Dec. 5, 1961—Moulton beat MCHS in basketball here tonight in a close 43-42 game. Storey was the Tigers’ leading scorer with 12 points.
Dec. 5, 1961—President Kennedy called Bama fans gathered at Foster Auditorium tonight to extend his congratulations to the Tide for being named the nation’s No. 1 football team.
Dec. 6, 1961—The federal government is going to allow Morgan County cotton farmers to plant 30,436 acres in 1962. This represents a decrease of 787 acres from this year’s authorization.
Dec. 7, 1961—The 20th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack was solemnly observed here and elsewhere around the nation today. Many Hartselle residents remember exactly when they first heard about Pearl Harbor.
Dec. 7, 1961—Hartselle collected about 60 percent of its goal in this year’s United Fund campaign. The target was $6,000; $3,632 has been given or pledged. Mayor Grady Long headed up the charity drive.
Dec. 7, 1961–Mrs. Ester Collum has received a commendation from the Morgan County Board of Education. She has driven a school bus for Falkville for more than two decades without a single accident.

Morgan County

20 under 40: Trey Chowning

Falkville

20 under 40: TJ Holmes

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20 under 40: Spencer Bell

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20 under 40: Shelby Keenum

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20 under 40: Rachel Howard

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20 under 40: Mary Virgina Halbrooks

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20 under 40: Maggie McKelvey

Decatur

20 under 40: Maegan Jones

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20 under 40: Lindsey Tapscott

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‘He lets us have sex’: More details emerge on Hartselle man accused of child exploitation 

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Hartselle church creates Easter-themed escape rooms 

Danville

Family tradition: State livestock show legacy spans generations

Editor's picks

Baseball for Beau: More than $8k raised for scholarship named after Hartselle child  

Falkville

20 under 40: Lela Weeks

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20 under 40: Kalleigh Thomas

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20 under 40: Jaime Hatcher

Hartselle

Veteran Hartselle firefighter charged with possessing child porn

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Cerrowire expansion named finalist in Business Alabama Awards  

At a Glance

Work begins on repairing two bridges over I-65 in Morgan County in coming weeks

At a Glance

Tickets for Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame banquet available

Falkville

Morgan County volunteers celebrated at annual fire department banquet 

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Man jailed for stealing car from jail after earlier release 

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Police: Hartselle man encouraged children to have sex inside his apartment

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20 under 40: Chris Rigoni

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