Dec. 22, 1961—The highlight on TV tonight was a wonderful Christmas edition of the Bell Telephone Hour hosted by Jane Wyatt of “Father Knows Best” fame. One of the best features of the program was the Lennon Sisters from the Lawrence Welk Show singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Another was when Jane read the classic “Letter to Virginia.”

Dec. 22, 1961—Ernest and Sally Maddox celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary today. They have one daughter, Sherry.

Dec. 22, 1961—Several local Tide fans are making their plans to go to New Orleans for the Bama-Arkansas matchup on New Year’s. Coach Bryant’s charges began a Christmas holiday today, but they will resume pregame preparations in Biloxi on Dec. 26.

Dec. 22, 1961—President Kennedy returned home today following a meeting with British Prime Minister Harold McMillan in Bermuda. This will be a stressful Christmas for the first family because doctors have told the president that the prospects of his father recovering from a recent stroke aren’t good.

Dec. 22, 1961—The Ranch Drive-in Theatre is currently offering its patrons a holiday-timed double feature—although neither film has anything to do with Christmas.

Dec. 22, 1961—Hartselle fans have enjoyed going to Birmingham Barons baseball games since the team started 60 years ago. Next season, however, there will be no Birmingham team. City leaders don’t want integrated sports so they are giving up the franchise.

Dec. 23, 1961–Christmas home decorations contest or no contest Hartselle homes have still been decorated as beautifully as ever this year for the benefit of passers by.

Dece. 23, 1961 To accommodate the last minute Christmas rush, the general delivery window at the post office remained open this (Saturday) afternoon

Dec. 23, 1961—Hartselle State Rep. Bob Gilchrist announced today that he will be a candidate for the Alabama Senate in the May Democratic primary. He has previously served two terms in the House. The Gilchrist family belongs to the Hartselle Methodist Church and he teaches a Sunday school class there. It had been rumored that Rep. Gilchrist might run for attorney general, but he has decided against it.

Dec. 24, 1961—Christmas Eve was a sad one in the Joe Morrow family. Mrs. Morrow passed away at University Hospital in Birmingham early this morning. The Morrows reside on Frost Street in Crestline.

Dec. 24, 1961—A Christmas pageant, “The Light of Men,” was presented at the Falkville Methodist Church late this afternoon.