From the files of the Polk County News ...

In 1948, new officers of the Benton Lions were John Standridge, Dan Clemmer, Clyde Brown, G.L. Daugherty, M.W. Little, W.A. Lewis, H.C. Wilson and Ralph Painter ... The Republican State Executive Committee took control of the local Primary Election Board from A.R. (Buck) Arp. The state committee appointed G. Parks Hyatt, Walter Higdon, Dr. John Lillard, Warren Wattenbarger and Noah Merrill to the local Board.

In 1958, the Benton Elementary School graduated 51 students ... Chest x-ray clinics were scheduled at the Courthouse ... At the movies: “The Young Lions” with Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin ... Food prices: cantaloupes, 25¢; lard, 69¢/4-lb. ctn; whole hams, 55¢/lb.

In 1968, Benton’s new city fathers assumed office: E.H. Bramlett, Jasper Woody and Morris Maynor. Bramlett was named Mayor ... Receiving degrees at UT: Judy Campbell, Frieda Welch Dean, Phyllis Hughes, Virginia Lu Sharp ... Winners in the 4-H Dress Revue were Lisa Lively, Phylis Mantooth, and Cheryl Bishop.

In 1978, Homer Garren was the new Mayor of Benton ... Jake Butcher was scheduled to visit Polk County for a Democrat rally ... Graduates from Tennessee Tech were Alvin Lewis and Debra Lewis ... Graduates from UTK were Alice Grady, Linda Rule, James McSpadden, Barbara Ward, Judith Annand, and Kim Frady ... Gerald Hughes attended Boys State ... Margaret Lewis was the winner of the county dairy recipe contest.

In 1988, the county’s tax base had improved by almost $7 million ... The PCHS Academic Bowl Team was in national competition in New Orleans ... Copperhill asked the bankruptcy court to allow the city to reject its long-standing water contract with McCaysville since it was based on an agreement with Cities Service that never happened ... Superior Medical was set to move into the Copper Basin Industrial Park ... Remington Industries celebrated its opening in the Benton Industrial Park and was already planning an expansion.

In 1998, Billy Baliles was sworn in as Sessions/Juvenile judge … Grievances were filed over a teacher assignment and a policy requiring teachers to sign out when they leave the campus, which could only be for school business … The county commission wanted TDOT to explain why it had to build a bypass around the Nancy Ward gravesite as part of four-laning Hwy. 411 … Fees went up in the Cherokee National Forest, but the funds would be available for local projects.. The county commission questioned the practice of placing limits on the number of rafters on busy days on the Ocoee … Commissioners also questioned Trustee Cooper Rogers about rafting tax collections … Beth Harper placed second in her flight in a state golf tournament.