From the files of the Polk County News ...

In 1932, Alfred E. Smith said he would accept the Democratic Presidential nomination if it is offered but would make no preconvention campaign ... The Young Democrats of Polk County met to get organized ... The Reliance Gospel singers motored to Chattanooga to sing on WDOD ... The state’s first shipment of imported quail arrived for the restocking of fields in every county ...   The Farm Bureau was organized with John Williams, president; H.A. Crox, vice president; and Beecher Lawson, secretary and treasurer.

In 1942, school busses began carrying flagmen to help children getting on and off. This came in the wake of the death of a 7-year-old just after getting off a school bus in front of his home ... State law regulating the employment of women in workshop set a maximum hours at 57 in any one week and 10.5 in any one day ... The Nazis were retreating from the Russian campaign.

In 1952, ousted Sheriff John Edwards was waiting word on whether he would be restored by the State Supreme Court ... Rep. Albert Gore announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator ... There were 24 local students attending UTK.

In 1962, Republicans voted to endorse the Good Government League ticket ... Carmel Gibson was elected Republican chairman. The oldest Republican member attending the convention was former Judge J.T. Nicholson, age 94 ... On the Star Honor Roll at CBHS: Sharon Bell, W.L. Bice, Marlene Cash, Shearlene Hamby, Phyllis Hughes ... W.T. “Bill” Elrod, died at age 82 ... Jimmy Rogers placed third in the public speaking contest of the Cherokee District of FFA.

In 1972, the state required immediate improvements to the Benton water supply springs ... A parent-teacher association was organized at Benton Elementary ... Claude Hicks was named president of the Polk County Shrine Club ... Billie McDonald and Linda Adams were named Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow ... Food prices: sirloin steak, $1.19/lb.; pork chops, 49¢; eggs, 3 doz./$1.

In 1992, the schools sold its central office, the old Ocoee School, to Shiloh Baptist for $125,000 ... Toddy White was named chairman of the negotiating committee ... Joe Guthrie with the Southeast Tennessee Development District said the community was close to getting the Olympics on the Ocoee ... CBHS was the victim of vandalism ... Ducktown planned to annex around 90-100 acres ... Teachers endorsed Deborah Williams for School Superintendent.

In 2002, the School Board approved seeking bids for a new gym floor at Copper Basin High School … A school system audit confirmed what Dr. Bill Wade had been saying – the system thought it had lots of money but there was actually a deficit … A new federal law brought accountability to education … Joey Hatcher received the American Chemical Society Southeast Regional Award in high school chemistry teaching … Grant funds were helping the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association with planning and marketing … Benton continued study the idea of zoning … Curtis Biggs announced his candidacy for Sheriff.