Headlines gracing The Greenville Advocate during the first week of December 1977 included. topics ranging from traffic safety tips for the holiday season to a dramatic emergency airplane landing. News of interest also featured an upcoming performance at the Ritz and the rescue of an over-100-year-old reptile by workers at Piggly Wiggly.

Traffic Safety Emphasized for Christmas Season:

Greenville police and city officials urged residents to follow traffic laws carefully during the busy Christmas season. Police Chief Ray Moody highlighted changes designed to ease congestion, including the opening of Executive Parkway. He encouraged shoppers leaving East Gate Plaza to use the new road or Conecuh Street to reach downtown. Plans for a reworking of the by-pass and Highway 185 intersection were postponed until after the holidays. Police officers were stationed at key intersections as needed to manage traffic flow.

Killough and Eckley Perform at the Ritz Theatre:

Alabama native and singer-songwriter Rock Killough, alongside musician Dan Eckley, performed at the Ritz Theatre in Greenville on December 2. The concert, presented by GKN, drew fans to the historic venue. Advance tickets were sold at local outlets, including Electro Music, the Ritz Theatre box office, and WKXN Studio.

Piggly Wiggly Saves 125-Year-Old Snapping Turtle: A 125-year-old snapping turtle, caught by fishermen in York, found safety through an unusual rescue effort by Piggly Wiggly. After exchanging 85 pounds of T-bone steak for the turtle, the grocery store transported it to Geneva, where it was released in a nearby river. Before its release, the turtle briefly stayed in a Piggly Wiggly employee’s swimming pool, where it delighted onlookers with its massive size and surprisingly graceful swimming. Crowds in York and Geneva marveled at the reptile, with its football-sized head, 21-inch tail, and 3-inch claws. A Livingston University professor who examined the turtle, estimated its age and documented its history, including a long-healed skull fracture.

Aircraft Lands Safely in Hayfield After Engine Failure: A charter flight from New Orleans to Bessemer narrowly avoided tragedy near the Greenville airport when its engine failed mid-flight. Pilot Frances Bozeman skillfully glided the single-engine Cessna to a safe landing in a hayfield, narrowly clearing power lines and a gully. Her quick thinking and adherence to flight training prevented a catastrophe and likely saved lives. Though the plane sustained significant damage, Bozeman and the three passengers emerged with only minor injuries. Emergency responders and local residents rushed to assist, pulling a trapped passenger from the wreckage and transporting all aboard to Stabler Hospital.