Looking back at Brundidge Banner
Published 3:00 am Thursday, July 9, 2015
![SUBMITTED PHOTO The July 10, 1985 edition of the Brundidge Banner featured events from James T. Ramage III winning the election for mayor to the peanut crops being infested with mold.](https://www.troymessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/07/0709lookingback.web_-300x170.jpg)
SUBMITTED PHOTO
The July 10, 1985 edition of the Brundidge Banner featured events from James T. Ramage III winning the election for mayor to the peanut crops being infested with mold.
A member of the Brundidge city government was overheard Tuesday saying that back years ago, those who read the Brundidge Banner while eating at the Village Restaurant in Brundidge didn’t have anything on their minds or anything in their stomachs.
Chip Wallace proved them wrong when he brandished The Brundidge Banner from Wednesday, July 10, 1985 at the Wednesday meeting of the Brundidge Rotary Club.
The 25-cent community newspaper could do little to bring kudos to the Village Restaurant, but it did provide tidbits of information for its readers to digest.
The “Brundidge Excuse,” as it was locally known, headlined the city election in which James T. Ramage III won his fourth term as mayor by defeating Charlie Harris 718 to 501.
Also, front-page news was the changing of hands at the local grocery store. Johnny Garrett bought the IGA store from Larry and Kathy Grant and began operating the store “immediately.”
The Brundidge Rotary Club inducted its officers for the year, and that was front-page news. Chip Wallace was inducted as immediate past president; Hank Strother, community service director; Ken Dickert, president and Cot Wallace, vice president.
Of interest to readers, a microwave course was offered as a home study course by the county extension office. Dwayne Nicholson participated in SEEK, a Troy State University program for proficient high school students who had completed their junior year.
Miss Alecia Curtis and Mr. Edward Glaize were united in marriage at the United Methodist Church in Glenwood.
Readers were alerted that the Alabama Poison Center had been receiving “summer related poisoning calls” for several weeks and that a home garden would reduce utility bills.
The Brundidge Nutrition senior citizens enjoyed a patriot program. Mrs. Gertrude French led the pledge to the American flag and Ida Mae Jones read the story of Francis Scott Key. French then led the group in singing “The Star Spangled Banner,” and everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch.
Gov. George C. Wallace’s editorial expressed his hope that the time would come when the court would be more enlightened on the matter of school prayer and religious freedom.
World War I veteran Allen Senn was pictured in the July 3 parade along with World War II veterans. Suzanne Compton led the parade on her horse.
White mold was threatening to damage the county’s peanut crops. Soybean producers were warned to be alert for stinkbug infestations, and homeowners were told to watch for lawn diseases and to avoid frequent light applications of water that could contribute to a shallow root system.
At the grocery store, mayonnaise was 99 cents a quart, bananas were 4 pounds for $1, ground beef was 99 cents a pound, Chilton County peaches were 2 lbs. for $1 and a 16 oz. can of Bush Best Baked Beans was 57 cents.
The Banner included a subscription coupon. Residents could get the community newspaper and something on their minds for $7 and only $5 if they were senior citizens.