Forty years ago, in 1972, Atmore was getting ready for the kick-off of the 1973 United Fund Drive. The goal was to be $21,550 and the kick-off was to be held at Albert’s Restaurant.

Another fundraiser was being held at the Escambia County High School football game for drug abuse educational programs.  Hank Williams and his “Cheating Heart” band were to be part of the entertainment. Tickets were $2.50 and $1 for students. Now just imagine how much those tickets would be in today’s economy. So just count yourself lucky if you got the chance to be there for the entertainment.

Some Atmore men were arrested and charged with second degree burglary for robbing a service station on South Main Street.

Four Atmore men were to be included in the 1972 edition of Outstanding Young Men of Distinction. They were Ollie Strawbridge, William D. Hart, James Staff and E.M. King III.

A&P was selling chuck roast for 69 cents a pound and round steak for 99 cents a pound. Super 5&10 was getting ready for the Christmas season coming up. They had doll strollers for $5.39 and a Tom Thumb typewriter for $9.89.

A new mayor and city council were sworn in and took office. Oris E. Davis was the newly elected mayor.

An airplane crashed at the Atmore Airport when it was coming in for a landing. Apparently the wheels got tangled in some power lines and was flipped. The plane was coming into Atmore on its maiden flight home when the accident occurred. The pilot was okay but the plane was pretty smashed up.

Two men were picked up and charged with burglary. The police believed this arrest would clear up several robberies in Alabama and Florida.

A new wildcat oil well was set to drill near Canoe.

You know, I came to live in this area some 50 years ago and the small acreage where I live must have been one of the few that didn’t have oil on it. Some of us just can’t catch a break.