From the files of the Polk County News ...

In 1942, L.H. Park was appointed agent of licensing for sellers of explosives ... Classes were scheduled to train people for war radio work ... Congress was concerned about what to do with the thousands of Japanese on the West Coast even though many were born in America. The Army was given complete jurisdiction regarding whether to apply martial law to them ... Farmers were advised that a record pig crop could help the U.S. defeat the Axis.

In 1952, the Defense Production Authority issued a certificate of necessity to the Bowater Paper Company, paving the way for construction of the new plant ... J.E. Lewis died at age 67 ... Uncle Tom Green died at age 90 after living in the same house his entire life. His grandfather settled on the farm in the 1830s ... Children’s dressy sandals were on sale for $2.98.

In 1962, the local ASC office was flooded by Benton Creek after several days of hard rain ... A fallout shelter survey was made to determine which buildings would furnish protection in the event of nuclear attack ... Hubert Wilson completed recruit training with the Marines ... Melba Davis was chosen as a Methodist Youth Fellowship delegate to the United Nations Seminar.

In 1972, Benton Manufacturing was awarded a contract to manufacture flying jackets for the Defense Department ... The Chamber of Commerce scheduled its first banquet ... Homer Garren announced his candidacy for Assessor ... Benton Mayor Clyde Stephens talked about the progress in the past two years, with a city hall, water office, jail and police facilities for the first time and a water bond resolution approved ... Matt Witt was running for Sheriff ... The Census Bureau reported there were 341 farms in the county.

In 1992, opposition was voiced to the idea of a motel tax in the county ... Whitewater rafting outfitters asked the commission to rescind its decision to increase the amusement tax to 10% ... The Clerk of Courts asked for help in collecting unpaid fines, which totaled $94,000 ... A wheel tax was up for referendum ... There were concerns about state cuts to education, which would force an increase at the local level.

In 2002, County Clerk Angie Sanford was the only current officeholder with no opposition in the Primary election … A Smithsonian exhibit commemorating life on the home front during World War II was to be on display at the Benton Municipal Building … The county commission approved a one-time allocation of $60,000 from the fund balance to make needed improvements to the county’s youth sports facilities … TDOT was planning improvements to Hwy. 64 in Bradley County … Juvenile Judge Bill Baliles suggested moving Juvenile Court duties from the Clerk of Court’s office to Chancery Court.