It Happened in 1939...

 

The Russell County News, Thursday, January 5, 1939

 

New Weekly Paper Published in Columbia

 

  Highlights and Shadows, published by the Courier-Journal, in its issue for December, contained a picture of and the following story in regard to Mr. S.F. White:

  "A new Kentucky weekly, The Columbia Times, made its bow to the public Friday, December 2. It is a seven column eight-page newspaper issued each Friday morning. By the time the first issue came off the press, 487 subscriptions, all paid but eleven, had been listed, and they continue to come in satisfactorily.

  "A building is being remodeled for the Times' use. It will be modern in every sense of the word.

  "The editor, manager, publisher and janitor is S.F. White. He has no assistants other than Mrs. White. His apprenticeship began with the old Columbia Spectator, and Louisville shop jobs gave his considerable experience. Mr. White has edited dailies in Florida and North Carolina. and weeklies in Kentucky, including the Taylor County Star at Campbellsville for nine years. Besides being editor of the Russell County news, he also served as associate editor of the Hardin County Enterprise at Elizabethtown.

  "At the present time, The Times and Adair County News are the only papers published at Columbia. In the past, however, The Herald, Spectator, and Republican have been published there, all of which have been extinct for many years.

  "Mr. White is writing a column under the title 'Kentucky Homespun' for several Kentucky weeklies with an aggregate circulation of [tear in paper]0."

 


The Russell County News, Thursday, March 16, 1939

 

CYCLONE HITS ADJOINING COUNTIES SUNDAY: TWO PERSONS KILLED

 

  Last Sunday morning a cyclone passed through Casey County doing much damage. A number of houses and barns were torn up but no lives were lost so far as we can learn. This storm crossed Highway 35 [now U.S. 127] near Kidd's Store and our mail carrier, Mr. Joe Cape, barely missed its path.

  A toll of two lives in the storm of last Sunday in Adair County was reported. The dead were Mrs. Frank Brockman, 34, and her daughter, Noma, 2. They were crushed in the wreckage of the home of Mrs. Brockman's father-in-law, Mr. L.G. Brockman, of the Pine Cliff section of Adair county, ten miles from Columbia. The storm struck the two room house and lifted it from its foundation and carried it into the yard where it collapsed, trapping eight of the ten occupants for forty minutes before they were freed by neighbors. Mr. Brockman suffered possibly fatal injuries, and others in the building were also injured.

 


The Russell County News, Thursday, March 16, 1939

 

Fire In Columbia Courthouse

 

  Fire started in one of the upper rooms of the Columbia Court House one day last week which threatened the destruction of the building. The discovery was made just in time to stop it without much damage to the building...

 



The Russell County News, Thursday, April 27, 1939

 

Yarberry Announces For Commonwealth Attorney

 

  Major M. Rey Yarberry, whose announcement for Commonwealth's Attorney for the 29th Judicial District, subject to the action of the Republican primary, appears in this issue, is fitted by training and actual experience for the office he seeks.

  He was educated in the common schools of Adair county, the Columbia Christian College and the Columbian University, of Washington, D.C., the instructors in law at the latter being former Supreme Justices Harlan, Brewer, and Vandeventer. He was admitted to the practice of his profession in 1904.

  Major Yarberry was born in Adair county, and represented Adair and Cumberland Counties in the General Assembly of Kentucky, being the youngest member of that body and the only Republican on the Goebel-Taylor Contest Committee in 1900. The following year he was appointed a Record Clerk of the House of Representatives and entered the Secret Service of the Internal Revenue Department in 1907, serving until President Woodrow Wilson's administration. he also served as Chief of Detectives of Louisville, Ky., for six years.

  During these years Major Yarberry prepared and assisted in the prosecution of thousands of criminal cases in both Federal and State courts; practicing in 21 different states.

  It goes without saying that he is eminently qualified for the duties of Commonwealth's Attorney, and all those who have had the privilege of Major Yarberry's acquaintance unhesitatingly say that he will fill the position without fear or favor and will be a credit to the District and to his party.

  He solicits your vote and influence in the Republican primary on August 5.

 


 The Russell County News, Thursday, July 6, 1939

 

Heavy Rainfall in Adair County

 

  A heavy down pour of rain fell Monday between Columbia and Russell Creek. Many cars were parked along the highway with drowned motors. It was the hardest rain to fall in that section for many, many years.

   



                                                  

The Russell County News, Thursday, September 28, 1939

 

(reprinted from the Adair County News)

 

Coal Business Is Started Near Columbia

 

  Homer McKinley, of Campbellsville, has announced the opening of the McKinley Coal Co., on Highway  80 about a mile and three-quarters East of Columbia.

  The coal, he says, is machine mine and gravity loaded from three chutes near the highway. The business sells f.o.b. to either the consumer or truck men.

  The coal comes from a mine at Cumberland City, Clinton County, that has been in operation for the past three years. The coal is transported from the mine to the distribution point near Columbia, but all of the company's business is done f.o.b. Columbia.

 



The Russell County News, Thursday, September 28, 1939

 

(reprinted from the Columbia Times)

 

T.E. Waggener Buys C.R. Royce Farm

 

  Mr. T.E. Waggener was the purchaser of the farm of the late C.R. Royce at public auction Wednesday paying $10,100.

  This farm is located on Highway 206, two and one-half miles from Columbia, and is considered a splendid piece of property. The farm consists of 144 acres, well watered and in good condition. There is a nice two-story six room house dwelling large stock barn and other outbuildings.

  Mr. Waggener gets possession January 1.

  A coincidence in connection with the purchase of this farm by Mr. Waggener is that his mother, Miss Bettie Smith, before her marriage to Mr. Edward Waggener, lived on that farm with her parents. At one time Mrs. Waggener's father, Mr. Wyatt Smith, owned about 1,000 acres in that neighborhood.

 


The Russell County News, Thursday, October 5, 1939

 

(reprinted from the Adair County News)

 

Child Wounded When Gun Accidentally Discharges

 

  Ruel Stotts, 12, was seriously injured late Wednesday evening when accidentally shot by his grandfather, A.O. Stotts, at his home near Dirigo.

  Mr. Stotts was unloading a high powered rifle after having been hunting when the accident occurred.  The bullet passed through the child's arm and abdomen. He was treated by a local physician and then taken to the Community Hospital, in Glasgow, for treatment. It was thought that there was little chance for his recovery but late reports indicate that he is improving.