Dec. 15, 1961 – People are talking about how good last night’s Christmas episode of “Hazel,” the TV situation comedy starring Shirley Booth was.

Dec. 15, 1961 – Hartselle students got out of class today for their Christmas vacations. They will return to school on Jan. 2, 1962.

Dec. 15, 1961 – “I Own a Stable,” a Christmas pageant was put on at Moss’ Chapel Methodist Church north of Hartselle tonight.

Dec. 15, 1961 – Funeral services were held at Hartselle First Methodist this afternoon for Lee Johnson who died at his home here Wednesday night. Revs. S. E. Paulk and Milton Hammon conducted the rites that also included Masonic ceremonies.

Dec. 16, 1961 – There is still a big need for people to buy and use Christmas Seals. The scourge of TB still accounts for more deaths attributable to communicable diseases than all of the other diseases combined in Alabama. The TB sanitarium at Flint is filled to capacity.

Dec. 16, 1961 – For people looking for really nice Christmas gifts for family members the top choice seems to be a Webcor audio reel-to-reel tape recorder.

Dec. 16, 1961 – Brown’s Grocery in the Massey community was robbed for the second time in as many weeks. This time thieves looted the store’s inventory of cigarettes and shotgun shells.

Dec. 16, 1961 – John Sobotka, son of Mr. and Mrs. Max Sobotka, is in Atlanta today interviewing with the committee that will select Rhodes Scholars for the southern region. The Sobotka family has had strong Hartselle ties for many years. (A few days later it was announced that John had been awarded one of the 32 Rhodes Scholarships that were given out this year in the entire country.)

Dec. 16, 1961 – Funeral services for Mrs. Cora Vest, 74, who lived on East Main Street, were conducted this afternoon at Moss’ Chapel. Rev. W. J. Alston officiated.

Dec. 16, 1961 – Linda Kay Shull, who resides with her parents at 500 Short St., was well enough to go home from Decatur General Hospital today.

Dec. 16, 1961 – Roger Maris, Yankee star who hit 61 home runs during the ’61 season, has been named “athlete of the year” by AP sportswriters.

Dec. 16, 1961 – The wife of this district’s state senator, Mrs. Robert (Kylie) Berryman, was hurt in a car wreck in Decatur tonight. Her injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

Dec. 17, 1961 – The most popular Christmas song this year may be Mel Torme’s re-release of “The Christmas Song” (commonly known as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”).

Dec. 17, 1961 – Gov. John Patterson has purchased the rural frame home in which he was born in the Goldville community in Tallapoosa County. (Former Gov. Patterson, now 90, and Mrs. Patterson still live in this home.)

Dec. 18, 1961 – Beginning tonight through Friday night local stores will be open until 8 each evening to accommodate Christmas shoppers.

Dec. 18, 1961 – Mrs. George Dutch died at the home of a sister in Gadsden today. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sobotka, a prominent Hartselle couple for many years. A brother, Max Sobotka, survives her.

Dec. 19, 1961 – John Harold Vest has been elected president of the Oak Ridge Community Club.

Dec. 19, 1961 – Due to the large number of federal employees working in Morgan County, the county school system has been appropriated nearly $50,000 to help ease classroom overcrowding.

Dec. 20, 1961 – “Never on Sunday,” a movie, which tells the story of Ilya, a Greek prostitute, and stars Melina Mercouri, is now showing at the Ranch Drive-in.

Dec. 20, 1961 – Newton Insurance Agency, located at 124 1/2 West Main, reports a successful business year.

Dec. 21, 1961 – Tide QB Pat Trammell and Auburn center Wayne Frazier are the highest ranked members of this year’s all-SEC scholastic football team.

Dec. 21, 1961 – The cost of living declined by one-tenth of one percent last month.