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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jul 19, 1972
Page
2
The 1892 Morgan County Courthouse in Decatur, the first on this site after moving the county seat from Somerville, burned in the mid 1920s and was rebuilt on its foundation. The new courthouse will be erected one block south. Readers with old photos should submit them to the Looking Back Editor. Miss Modelle Davis provided this image.
Athens College Alabama A&M and the University of Alabama in Huntsville unveil a $1.5 million program guiding 340 low income children aged six weeks to six years across Limestone DeKalb Jackson Madison and Marshall counties. The venture funds 165 staff and centers in each county with a central office in Cost. The program is backed by a 1.1 million state grant and 431 666 from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Charles Uptain, 86, oldest member of the Decatur Amateur Radio Club, calls MARS three times daily and passes messages for local residents. He chats with people worldwide including Canada, Mexico, South America and England, using Army provided equipment to relay messages to the Third Army HQ in Atlanta.
A jury of twelve began hearing testimony on federal indictments charging 10 persons with conspiring to steal transport and sell 46 automobiles. Judge C W Allgood presided as 44 overt acts were alleged and six of the original 16 co defendants had pleaded guilty earlier with two already sentenced.
Athens officials announced a construction program to repave six streets Marion Lee Pat Wayne 7th and Frazier at an estimated cost near 95000. Property owners may protest August 14 before the city council. the Town Creek bridge project is funded by the city and a local developer.
The Limestone County Rural Development Committee discussed a possible new Chamber of Commerce building to house federal agencies with a $40,000 one story structure planned to start this month. Collins Supply Inc. is the Athens firm handling the project at Beaty and Market streets site, while a water system for Salem was also considered along with potential funding.
A fire traced to a Chamber of Commerce utility room destroyed the eight room Cullman building after five hours of blaze. Records in a fire proof desk survived. Fire chief called it the stubbornest fire in 20 years as fire officials struggled to enter. Chamber offices will move to city hall. personnel transfers to noon today.
Montgomery Alabama Citizens Committee on State Government urges voters to require yearly legislative sessions instead of meeting every two years. The group advocates continuous lawmaking and oversight, citing governance efficiency and timely policy response.
Two area residents were injured in separate Mooresville and Courtland crashes on Alabama 20 Tuesday. John E. Oliver, 43, of Decatur and Dorothy C. Marion, 56, of Florence were identified as injured. Willie Russell, 64, Mooresville, and Bryce Nelson, 61, Tuscaloosa, were involved in the two-vehicle Mooresville crash with no injuries. Marion and Nelson are drivers in the Courtland wreck.
The Decatur Daily urges residents to call the Crisis Call Center at 355-8000 for personal crises and possible poisoning. If unsure of the correct number, dial 0 and explain the emergency to the operator.
Uptain, W4BFM, built his own station and maintains three hours daily operation linking Vietnam messages to families in Decatur. From a 1914 Railways background to a Morse veteran, he has chatted with operators in all 50 states and 67 Alabama counties, even reaching a North Pole base once. His long career includes emergency work during 1963 tornadoes and decades of service with receivers and relays across regions.
A reader letter discusses a dubious vacation offer costing 15 dollars and asks about collecting old National Geographies. The response warns of high pressure sales linked to real estate firms and urges verifying travel, meetings, treasure chest contents, and rail costs before paying.
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