MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1997

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – A Williamson County grand jury has indicted the Barnes & Noble bookstore chain on charges its Brentwood store distributed obscene material harmful to minors. The indictment unsealed Friday accused the New York-based company of displaying three books that violate Tennessee’s obscenity law: The Last Day of Summer and Radiant Identities, both by photographer Jock Sturges, and The Age of Innocence by photographer David Hamilton.

50 years ago — 1972

ATLANTA – As a gesture of Thanksgiving holiday spirit, Mayor Sam Massell offered 43 inmates of the city prison farm release before their sentences were up, but a number of the prisoners rejected the reprieve. “Some of them

just absolutely refused to go,” prison director J.D. Hudson said. Officials indicated part of the reason could have been the turkey dinner planned for inmates.

75 years ago — 1947

WASHINGTON – Rep. John Mcdowell (R-PA.) predicted Sunday that the House membership will approve contempt citations against 10 top-flight Hollywood writers and directors Monday by an “overwhelming majority.” The movie personalities were cited by the Unamerican Activities Committee during its recent Communism-in-hollywood investigations when they refused to answer yes or no to the question whether they are or ever have been Communists. The House acts on the citations Monday.

100 years ago — 1922

Washington advices received in Memphis yesterday are to the effect that the cotton council of the United States Department of Agriculture has formulated a definite policy with regard to every phase of the cotton industry and will make this policy known in all its details at a conference of the cotton states commission to be held in Memphis. Hon. Henry C. Wallace, secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, together with a number of government experts, will attend the conference in Memphis.

125 years ago — 1897

J.G. Tate of Lincoln, Neb., the supreme past master workman of the A.O.U.W. of the United States, will be in Memphis on Dec. 17, and will be entertained by the local lodges with a concert and a banquet.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILES Nov. 24, 2016: Levi O'neill, 12, starts his run in a turkey costume at the Memphis Turkey Trot 4 Miler and Turkey Leg Relay at the Memphis Botanic Garden on Thanksgiving morning. There were 2,602 participants, with 2,306 finishers in the event that benefited the March of Dimes.