Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Ronnie Elder of Bethany won the cellular phone, the grand prize given during P.E.C.’s grand opening in Sullivan. A barbecue grill was won by Jeannie Belton of Bement, and a smoker grill was won by Bernice Obrecht of Sullivan. Numerous other gifts were awarded during the hourly drawings including clock radios, jackets, coolers, mugs, hats and key chains.

Melvin Newlin of Lovington will retire December 31 from A.B. Seals, Inc. in Sullivan. Since 1968, Newlin has worked primarily as supervisor of the shipping and receiving department for the manufacturer of sealants for porous metal castings and vacuum/pressure impregnation equipment. He joined the company after having worked at Brown Shoe factory, which had previously been located in the building for 21 years. Only briefly, he said, did he ever work outside the brick building on S. Hamilton Street, and that was when the shoe company was moved to the site of the now-defunct Tubular plant.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.