50 years ago: Mayor Fred Steele, aided by Wm. A. Fox and Curtis Miller turned the first shovel of dirt for the start of the construction of the Housing  Authority of Greenville, as Jim Rice of WSFA-TV draws a bead on the shovel with his movie camera . . . Planter’s Mercantile modernizes its wrapping counter and check-out. Charge pads and a new modern cash register are also at hand . . . Science Fair winners are Cheryl Hendrick and Richie Hartley, winners in the senior division and Anita Cavanaugh and Stirling Hamilton Jr., junior division winners . . . the registration booth at the Science Fair was operated by Carolyn Berryhill, Marilyn Gingles and Diane Johnson . . . hostesses for the February meeting of the Greenville Garden Club were Mrs. R.G. Hendrick, Mrs. G.C. Steindorff and Mrs. H.E. Jernigan, pictured with the day’s prize-winning camellia arrangements and several of the specimen blooms which were exhibited . . . In Pigeon Creek News, Mrs. Annie Laura Wilkerson and daughter, Mrs. Jackson Webb, of Mobile, spent Thursday with Mrs. Wilkerson’s sister, Mrs. Griel Stuart, and Mr. Stuart.

25 years ago: Greenville Police Chief Lonzo Ingram passes the test on the new Intoxilyzer 5000, recently placed in service by the Greenville PD to help combat drunk drivers . . . Miss Sandy Stone was crowned Miss Greenville High School Saturday night at the Ritz Theatre. First runner-up was Miss Stephanie Young . . . the colder days of winter have returned to Greenville with a few snowflakes falling on Tuesday as temperatures didn’t climb above freezing . . .  Rotary Club President Calvin Poole presents a check to Linda Daniel, Service Unit Chair for the Greenville Girl Scouts with Scouts Michelle Phelps and Mary Susan Jones looking on . . . Stephen Snow and Alesia Williams of Fort Dale-South Butler Academy, along with Janet Bender, were recently selected All-Tournament Players in the APSA District Play-Offs . . . Wayne Corley and his son, Chris, caught this 110-pound blue catfish from the Alabama River recently . . . officers for the Butler County Cattlemen’s Association for the coming year are Harry Poole, vice-president; James McClure, president and Charles Rogers, secretary-treasurer . . . gubernatorial candidate George McMillan was in Greenville Tuesday for a Dutch-treat luncheon at the Holiday Inn. He was introduced by Richard Hartley, chairman of the Butler County Democratic Executive Committee. Charles Newton and Jimmy Gardner have bene named Butler County Coordinators by McMillan . . .

10 years ago: Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon proclaimed Feb. 5 through Feb. 9 School Counseling Week. On hand for the signing of the proclamation were counselors Joanne Schrantz, Amy Boswell, Betty McQueen, Jean Lockley, Pat McNaughton and Chandra McNaughton. Jackie Abrams, Janice Daves and Margaret West were not able to attend the signing . . . Lady Tigers Amanda Dunklin, Sophia Ruffin, Jessica Crenshaw, Shakita Smith and SaRhonda Hawkins will lead the Greenville High team’s attempts to keep its home game record intact when they face Monroe County . . . Erin Moran of TV’s “Happy Days” fame will star in the touring production of “They’re Playing Our Song” at the Ritz on February 15 . . . the Greenville Happy Store presented $500 to Principal John Black of Greenville High School as part of the Exxon-Mobil Education Alliance . . . the American Heart Association is holding its first Cardiac Arrest in Butler County. Parole Board member Jill Stallworth said the event combines fun with fundraising . . .