From the files of the Polk County News ...

In 1938, the town was thrown into some little excitement when a bed spread man came into Benton and as he passed through town it was discovered that a trailer loaded with bed spreads was on fire ... The Mammoth Marine Hippodrome, on a specially constructed railroad car over 100 feet long, was to stop in Cleveland for one day, with exhibits such as a living mermaid and a 68-ton sea monster ... A Philco Farm Radio was on sale for $38 less batteries.

In 1948, the county received a total of $249,871.05 in school funds from the state ... Estes Kefauver was running for U.S. Senate.

In 1958, Buford Ellington, candidates for governor, was in Benton ... Chest x-ray clinics were scheduled ... Food prices: fryers, whole, 59¢; cobbler potatoes, 10 lb. bag, 25¢; pullet eggs, 39¢/doz. ... Mrs. George Davis was named chairman of the newly organized Polk County Farm bureau Women’s Club.

In 1968, Benton won the 4-H softball championship ... There was some restructuring of schools, with grades 1-4 to attend Conasauga and grades 5-8 at Old fort ... The Polk County Retired Teachers Association was formed with Isham P. Lyle as president and Mrs. Dolly Taylor as vice-president ... More than 200 attended the annual Rogers reunion ... Food prices: fryers, 27¢/lb.; bacon, 49¢/lb.; eggs, 3 doz./$1.

In 1978, the Democrats swept all countywide races: Whitey Ramsey, Sheriff; W.I. (Buster) Davis, County Clerk; Sula Jenkins, Circuit Court Clerk; J.E.. Firestone, Trustee; G.W. Wilson, Register of Deeds; Frank Hammons, General Sessions Judge. The race for Sheriff was decided by absentee votes, as was Edsel Deal’s School board victory over Jack Standridge ... Food prices: chuck roast, 99¢/lb.; bacon, $1.19/lb.; corn, 10¢/ear.

In 1988, 911 service became available in West Polk ... The Forest Service announced a change in attitude and willingness to work more closely with communities ... The Chamber of Commerce approved creation of an Economic Development Council ... The unemployment rate was improving, going from 13.1% in May to 12.3% in June ... A county road map was almost ready for distribution .. The building that formerly housed McCaysville Auto Parts was being renovated by Brenda Ryder for a soda shoppe.

In 1998, the Planning Commission reviewed a proposed golf resort in the Copper Basin … Time was running out for a final commitment for the Ocoee sewer project … The Congressional delegation asked the Federal Highway Administration to review the Hwy. 411 plan, asking that the proposed bypass around the Nancy Ward gravesite be dropped … The county commission was set to vote on new regulations for mobile home parks and campgrounds … Sonic was nearly ready to open in Benton.