Twenty years ago, a local man was charged with stealing more than $1,000 worth of robes, slips and other undergarments from Vanity Fair, where he was apparently employed.

The goods were discovered in the back of the man’s vehicle under some other things.

Miss Alabama, Leigh Sherer, visited the local elementary schools.

There was a photograph of a little girl getting a look at the “crown box.”

This reminded me of the time Miss America and Miss Alabama made a visit to Brewton. I was sent to cover the visit for the paper.

It was quite an experience. I remember the “crown box” and the chuckle I got out of seeing it held very carefully by our very own Sheriff Grover Smith. I guess he was the guard for the crown.

Another thing that was interesting to me was the number of men standing around who I commented looked for all the world like secret service. I wasn’t too far wrong.

Those guys were indeed there for the protection of the young ladies. It wasn’t something that this south Alabama girl was used to.

In sports 20 years ago, the Atmore Blue Devils were beat 38-7 by cross county rivals, the T.R. Miller Tigers.

The Northview Chiefs lost to Pine Forest Eagles, 26-15. Northview High School held its first homecoming at Ernest Ward’s football stadium.

Davisville, just south of Atmore, welcomed Piggly Wiggly to the area and the United Fund began its 40th year in the area. A lofty goal of $85,000 was set by the Atmore Area United Fund.

I thought we were through with hurricanes, but there was one more. In 1995, Atmore was getting prepared for another hurricane.

The community was keeping a watchful eye on Hurricane Opal. The storm was predicted to go across Dauphin Island and into Mobile Bay.

If it continued on that path, it would bring some bad weather into Atmore.

Actually, Opal came and went with some damage, but it could have been so much worse. There were a lot of problems with vehicles caused by the amount of rain water on the roads.

This storm stands out in my mind. At that time, my mother, who was an invalid, was living with me. She was going through a bad spell and the doctor wanted her in the hospital.

He said she would be safer there than most anywhere else, so she was taken by ambulance to the hospital in the pouring rain the night before the storm even hit.