Look Back ... to liquor down the drain, 1949

Oct. 18—Oct. 18, 1949, in The Star: Calhoun County Sheriff A. A. Pate says containers filled with approximately 7,000 gallons of illegal alcoholic beverages, all of it confiscated from automobiles over a period of several months, were smashed against the courthouse annex this morning. A number of local preachers happily watched as the contents spilled down the nearby drain. There was indeed a lot of liquor being destroyed — courthouse employees had to keep windows closed because the noxious fumes from "white lightning" distracted them from their work.

Oct. 18, 1999, in The Star: Bruno's Inc. is bankrupt, but it still managed to finalize purchase of three Gregerson's grocery stores in Anniston and Oxford. The Birmingham-based supermarket company switched the store's signs to FoodMax on the most recent Saturday night. Bruno's went into bankruptcy protection in February 1998, but bankruptcy courts can still approve business acquisitions in certain circumstances, such as if the move will put the afflicted company in a better position to regain financial health.

Assistant Metro Editor Bill Edwards: 256-236-1551. On Twitter