Look Back . . . to an investigation of organized floggings and beatings, 1949

July 3, 1949, in The Star: Law enforcement officials in Clay County, amidst the news of more warning notes and alleged floggings, said late yesterday [Saturday] that “everything possible” is being done to combat mob violence in that area. No arrests have been made so far, but investigators have been busy since Thursday gathering evidence and testimony. A man named Bankhead Bates, director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, has personally taken charge of the investigation into reports of violence made earlier in the week by two Methodist ministers in Ashland. One of those ministers, who lives in nearby Millerville, reported that he had found a “whipping ground” and evidence thereof some six miles southwest of Ashland. The violently racist white element has been stirred up recently because of federal civil rights legislation before Congress and a recently signed state law forbidding masks and hoods to conceal identities in public.

July 3, 1999, in The Star: A group of Wellborn Elementary School students had a great time recently on their spring trip to Washington D.C. to visit historical sites. Youngsters who made the journey were Malorie Gardner, Lara Harris, Courtney Hanson, Amanda Harris, Cody Patterson, Grant O’Kelley, Matthew Turley, Josh Nelson, Ross Brown, De’warte Elston, Gwen Carter, Brody Thomas, Justin Turner, Chase Harris, Chris Davison, Amanda Tally, Kanyndra Jackson, Emily Nix, Kelli Winn, Wesley Haynes, Thomas Waits and Dustin Ford.