Look Back ... to opening night for the Anniston Rams, 1949

Apr. 15—April 15, 1949, in The Star: Bill Revels, a young righthander who pitched for Carrollton of the Georgia-Alabama League last year, will try to add his name to the list of early-season heroes here in Anniston tonight when manager Charlie Baron's Anniston Rams try for a double win over the Gadsden Chiefs starting at 8:15 p.m. The official opening of the 1949 Southeastern League season at Johnston Field will see the highly respected Rams battling for their triumph in the four-game series. It's hoped that an enthusiastic number of Ram supporters will be able to claim the second opening-day attendance trophy in two years. Also this date: Officials of Anniston Memorial Hospital, together with those representing hospitals in Talladega, Gadsden and Sylacauga, met here yesterday for the purpose of organizing a hospital council for this district.

April 15, 1999, in The Star: The Alabama Senate has sent the lottery to a statewide vote after two days of round-the-clock delays by the bill's opponents failed to kill it. The lottery passed the Senate 24-11 yesterday, with three votes to spare in the number needed to approve offering up the constitutional amendment to voters. The House passed the lottery amendment in March. Now Gov. Don Siegelman must set a date for the public to vote on the issue he based his campaign on last year. Also this date: According to a Spirit of Anniston newsletter published in today's edition, a photographic guide introduces the following new eateries to the downtown Anniston area: Coffeehouse Café, 919 Noble St.; Li'l Cajun Cookery, 15 W. 10th St.; The Daily Café, 1307 Noble St.; and Uncle Bob's Courthouse Café, 19 West 11th St. They join other recently established restaurants, namely, Le Mama's Noble Place and The New Annistonian.

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