More news this week from Jimmy Beck’s nostalgic ESCOHI folder of 1942 and 1943.

Owned by the Atmore Historical Society and assembled by the late Byard Swift, this folder contained a multitude of stories and events of that era.

Staff members of that high school newspaper those years were Johnnie Shirley, Sara Lesenby, Martha Sowell, Louisa Malone, Herbert Nall, Robert Maxwell, Juanita Watford, Margaret Rogers, Robert Bennett, Claude Swift, Florence Earle, Maurice Lowery, Winton Lowery, Nell Sue Wachob, Lawrence Dickenson, Bonnie Jean Dewey, Ruth Goldsmith, Edith Thompson, Dorothy Bryars, Nina Kate Temple, Drunetta Little, Elinor Crawford, Billy Davis, Gayle Aston, Robert Lewis, Betty Beasley and Marjorie Woodward.

One of the highlights of those publications was a column “I DO BELIEVE,” which featured the “ins” — the things that students found popular at the time.

Some members of the football team were H.J. Smith, John Bachelor, Ben Maxwell, Edward Sims, S. White, E. Bryars, B. Davis, G. Ward, S. Hixon, J. Forte and J. Robinson.

Neatly laid out on the back page were pen and pencil sketched commercial ads paid for by Steele Market, Escambia Drug Store, Elite Barbershop, Atmore Shoe Hospital and the Strand Theater.

There was an ECHS Hit Parade of popular songs of the time. Heading the list were “White Christmas,” “Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition,” and “There’s a Star Bangled Banner Waving Somewhere.”

I’ll have some more from this nostalgic folder in the future.

How about that annual “World’s Longest Yard Sale” drawing near? I have already heard of a couple of area folks who are making plans to attend this event and will barter or sell merchandise to these unique avid followers.

It begins (or ends) in Gadsden, Alabama and runs 690 miles along U.S. Highway 127 to Addison, Michigan. It takes place the first weekend of August, marking the 28th consecutive year of its existence. Not only does this huge sale attract customers from the USA, but folks travel here from all over the world. One of the outdoor TV networks capitalizes on the fact it draws thousands of viewers. A million varieties of items and goods are predicted to be on display over this length trek.

Another well-known yard sale took place this past weekend. It was “Alabama’s Widest Yard Sale.” Staged on U.S. Highway 80 from Phenix City at the Georgia state across the entire state to Cuba, Alabama near the Mississippi state line, it drew thousands of participants not only from our state but from all of our surrounding states.

Artworks, antiques, collectibles, wood crafts and fresh produce were items drawing the most interest, according to a sale spokesperson. The sale was instigated by the Alabama Rural Development office and its director Ron Sparks. Sparks said the sale was an effort to promote more tourism in the state.

Perhaps some of you were there. If so, I am sure you found a huge market to sell your wares.

Those waiting on Alabama tax refund checks may have to wait a few weeks longer. This is according to the Alabama Department of Revenue. It has been learned that a number of these taxpayers must complete an “ID Confirmation Quiz.” I’m not sure exactly what this is, but paperwork is being sent out to explain it in more detail. No refunds will be processed until the quiz is completed and submitted, according to an AOL.com news article issued on April 16.

More next week.

You can email Lowell McGill at exam@frontiernet.net.