MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
Actor Mark Harmon rescued two teenagers from a burning car, using a sledgehammer to break the windows before pulling the boys to safety. The car burst into flames Wednesday night after crashing through a fence and into a tree near Harmon’s home in Brentwood, California, said fire department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Harmon, who played a doctor on NBC’S “St. Elsewhere” from 1983 to 1986, rescued the teens before authorities arrived. The boys owe their lives to Harmon, Humphrey said. One of the teenagers was in critical condition. The other had less serious injuries, Humphrey said. 50 years ago — 1971
A New York firm that audited the records of Local 1733 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFL-CIO) found that the local paid almost $100,000 for vague or unexplained reasons over a two-year period. The firm, Buchbinder, Stein & Co., indicated that most of the money was disbursed by checks made out to “cash;” by checks which some union officials had signed without filling in the amount to be paid; by checks with uncertain signatures; and through loans on which few or only sketchy records could be found. One of the loans was $5,254.24 to Jesse Epps, ousted union leader, for closing costs on a house he bought in Memphis.
75 years ago — 1946
U.S. Sen. Kenneth Mckellar yesterday announced his candidacy for a sixth consecutive term in the Senate. At the same time, the senator thanked E.H. Crump for the Shelby organization leader’s promised support for reelection. Commenting on President Truman’s radio address Thursday night, Mckellar repeated a plea for labor and industry to “get together.” Mckellar was first elected to the Senate in 1916 and at present is president pro tem of that body.
100 years ago — 1921
COVINGTON, Ky. – Following sudden termination of the first sale of the season today of the loose-leaf tobacco market of Covington, about 400 growers held a meeting and unanimously passed a resolution to withdraw all 1920 tobacco from the market and to not raise a crop in 1921. Wild excite
ment prevailed when prices far below those anticipated by the farmers were posted soon after the opening of the market, and it was decided to suspend operations for the day. Sheriff Northcutt of Kenton County and several deputies went to the scene to preserve order at the warehouse where approximately 300,000 pounds of new crop tobacco were stored.