From the files of the Polk County News ...

In 1938, local students enrolled at UT were Starr Pannell, Willis Park, Roy Taylor, William Chancey, Marion Clarke, Marf Clayton, Jack Denman, Roy Epperson, Carroll Gilliam, Charles Higdon, Barbara Redwine, Bette Redwine, Edward Reedy, Jack Snow, Dickey Wagner, Lorraine Guinn, Thelma Guinn, Francis Lanning, Morlis Ladler, Marie Lowery, L.B. Mason, Wayne Rice and Richard Carter ... Nine of the rural schools were suspended for cotton picking ... Dr. J.E. Sarrell of Copperhill offered “the most modern optical office between Knoxville and Atlanta.”

In 1958, a meeting was planned to consider a trust fund for the Old Ocoee Cemetery ... A Community Improvement Club was organized in Ocoee with officers Tom Beckler, Frank Lowery, Herlien McCamey and Harvey Brancefield ...Charlotte Lewis placed in the blue award group at the 4-H Dress Revue in Chattanooga ... Food prices: potatoes, 99¢/50 lbs; Henny Pen Dog Food, 3/23¢ Newport peas, 9¢/can.

In 1968, the old Davis Upholstering building in Benton was purchased by a garment factory ... Wilma Jean Cochran was selected to appear in the Outstanding Personalities of the South ... Food prices: Newport peas, 10¢/can; potatoes, 59¢/20 lb. bag; round steak, 87¢/lb.

In 1978, it was announced that the county had received more than $1.4 million in revenue sharing funds since the program started in 1972 ... A loan of $470,000 was approved for renovation at Copper Basin hospital ... The Chilhowee CB Club won several trophies for service. Officers were Robert Hyde, David Evans, Karen Nelms and Launa Presswood.

In 1988, the county commission approved a wheel tax on first reading ... The School Board decided to spend some of the school land money to balance the budget ... The county commission approved borrowing the money for the county’s share of the Benton Station bridge replacement project ... The Copperhill council voted to demolish a building that had been condemned ... Sales tax in Copperhill was in a slump, falling below $14,000 for the past three months. A year earlier, the peak was $24,000.

In 1998, Occidental Petroleum was trying to stop the quitclaims of TCC land that had been abandoned, saying it was also considering  paying the taxes … Crystal Geyser was planning a major expansion at its water bottling plant … Ocoee River Days was being planned … Five counties, including Polk, were working on a program to help prepare students for the world of work … The Family Violence was working to help abused women.