A Look Back, March 20, 2009

50 years ago
(March 19, 1959)

Buried loot found

Junius McKenzie called The Bank of Hartsville Friday, checking up on legal aspects of some newfound loot.

Then on Saturday morning, he visited the law offices of Floyd and Craig, making further investigation as to what could be done.
McKenzie had problems.

He had found over a million dollars!

There were nine $100,000 bills, nine $10,000 bills, a number of $100 bills, and on down the line. Nothing, however, was less than a $10 bill.

Where did he find it? Well, Mr. McKenzie, a well-driller by trade, who lives about two miles from the city limits, out Carolina Avenue, was digging a hole in which he might bury a hog (one that had choked to death). Down about four feet deep he came across a small steel box.
And inside the box was the money. Over one million dollars of it.

His only problem - and the reason he was checking with the Bank of Hartsville and Floyd and Craig - was, what could he do with it?
You see, it was all Confederate money.

Mr. McKenzie currently is checking with museums, as to its value as a showpiece, collector's item, etc.

Students win music awards

The HHS girls sextet, in competition at the Eastern District Music Festival in Bennettsville Tuesday won a "1" rating for their ability to make like songbirds.

The sextet, composed of Lucia Lewis, Mike Powell, Brenda Poole, Martha White, Ray Richey and Simone Barrett, will be eligible to compete in the State Festival, which will be held in Rock Hill April 15-16.

Mrs. Erskin Wimberly is director of the sextet.

And, of 25 band members who journeyed to Bennettsville Tuesday, director R. Grady Brown said that nine of them will be eligible to participate in the coming State Festival.

They are Billy Cook, cornet solo; Simon Suggs, cornet solo; Carole Easterling, flute solo; Woody Goodson, trombone solo; Emerson Byrd, Jimmy Gregory and Marion Watkins, clarinet trio.

14 elected to J.H.S.

Fourteen new members of the National Junior Honor Society at Harts-ville High School were inducted last Thursday morning at an impressive assembly program.

This makes a total of 27 members at the junior high school who are members of the National Junior Honor Society.

New inductees included two ninth-graders and 12 eighth-grade students.

The new members are Betsy Felkel, Ray Sowell, Jimmy Proctor, David Redden, Larry Wyont, Carole Easterling, Rebecca Goodson, Iva Jane Blackwell, Janice Newsome, Cheri Newsome, Mary Woods, Mary Brown, Barnie Wallace and Payton Warren.

Other members of the society include Lu Edwards, Betty Baynes, Cheryl Beattie, Mark Stewart, Elmore Cassidy, Jennie Sims, Joyce Howle, Barbara Ann Goodson, Margaret Reagan, Betty Galloway, Bill Sturm, Bill Elliottt and Ellis Parsons.

In the candlelight ceremony, four members spoke on the qualifications of membership in the National Junior Honor Society. Bill Elliott spoke on scholarship, Betty Galloway spoke on leadership, Margaret Reagn talked of service, and Elmore Cassidy told of character.

Mrs. Ruth Eidson is sponsor of the National Junior Honor Society. Bill Bowers is co-sponsor of the group.

Births: William Laverne Huggins Jr., 2/27; Phyliss Arlene Flynn, 3/11; Phyllis Segars Cook, 2/20; Brenda Ann King, 3/5; Wayne Franklin Leo Blackmon, 3/6; Charles Curtis Winburn, 3/15; and David Eugene Bell Jr., 3/15.

Engaged: Joyce Alicia Tyner to Henry Warren Hinsch and Nancy Faye Grantham to James H. Burch.

Wed: Mrs. Margaret Johnson Arrants to Senator James Pierce Mozingo III, 3/4; and Julia Roswitha Heinze to Dean A. Edwards, 2/17.

25 years ago
(March 14, 19, 1984)

Bandit hits again Friday

An armed bandit hit on the west side of Hartsville Friday night, eluded police and struck again within a half hour on the east side of town.

The victim, 55, was in stable condition in Byerly Hospital Saturday after the bandit, trying to get into his Gandy Drive home, shot him about 8:30 Friday night.

Hartsville Police Chief Fred Ritch said the victim was lying on his bed watching television when he heard the screen being ripped from a bedroom window.

The bandit then lowered a small handgun toward the victim and told the victim not to move and said he wanted his money. At that point, the victim got up out of the bed and was shot twice, once in each leg, Ritch said.

The injured resident succeeded in keeping the intruder out by throwing things at him through the torn window screen.

Ritch said police were there in minutes and saw a shadow moving through the back yards, but never got close enough to get a good look. One officer, his gun drawn, did not shoot, unsure of the identity of his target, and in fear of hitting an innocent person in the area.

Later, on the 800 block of East Home Avenue, a bandit walked up behind a man out watering flowers and stuck a gun to his head.

At that point he took the victim inside of the residence and told him to turn the lights out.

"He took him into the bedroom area and made him lie on the floor," Ritch said. Then the bandit took the man's wallet and left.

Foxes nip SJ

Last week's Lions Club-Red Fox Invitational Baseball Tournament was afflicted with a number of problems.

The weather did not cooperate. Afternoon temperatures unsuitable for baseball kept many fans away and affected the play somewhat.

The schedule of games had to be altered because of the state basketball tournament.

And one of the teams decided not to show up for the final day of play.

Most of the games were not close. The closest were the first game on day one, and the tourney championship, the best of them all.

Hartsville outlasted Darlington St. John's 2-1 Saturday evening to win the first tourney championship trophy.

McBee, the fifth-place finisher, took home the Sportsmanship Award.

Hartsville catcher Steve Parker was voted Most Valuable Player. In his three tourney games, Parker was six of eight at the plate for a .756 batting average. He had an on-base percentage of .728, a slugging average of .875 and a fielding average of 1.000. Parker drove in three RBIs during the event, and was three for three in the St. John's tilt with the game's only RBI.

Births: Donna Michell Blackwell, 2/18; Amy Marie Holley, 2/23; Ashley Anne Gedris, 2/29; Jace Merritt Jones, 2/22.
53rd wedding anniversary: Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Capers

Engaged: Sara Theresa Joseph to Christopher James Daniels, 5/19 and Juanita McFadden to James Allen Thomas.

Wed: Carol Renee Best to Lawrence Jennings Holland, 3/10; Rebecca Gail Clanton to Rodney Alan Corbin, 3/5; Susan Rhea Pierce to Andrew Joseph Johnson, 3/10; Patricia Lynne Bell to Tom Eugene Keys, 2/18; and Lera Beth Allen to Ron Matthews, 2/27.