From the files of the Polk County News ...

In 1923, Tennessee Power Company was making plans for new water power developments, with a view to building two or three more power plants along the Ocoee River in addition to Parksville and Caney Creek ... Jackson Stinnett died at age 71 ... Eighteen stills had been seized in the county since sheriff Gregory took office last fall ... A 12-day singing school was being held ... Fordson tractors were on sale for $350.

In 1933, members of the Benton Ocoee Baptist church celebrate the payment of the next to the last of the notes held against the church .. A dedication was planned for the bandstand at the L&N Depot in Etowah ... Freshman class officers were Marie Lowery, Ruby bush, Ben Lawson, Emily Hawkins ... The Beauty club studied different girls and advised them of ways in which they might improve their appearance.

In 1953, Polk countians purchased a total of $206,993.75 worth of U.s. Savings Bonds in 1952 ... The Benton water system was becoming a reality ... A representative from the Soil Conservation Service met with local farmers to see if they were interested in the agency having an office in Polk County.

In 1963, A resolution was introduced in the House to designed Hwy. 64 between Cleveland and Ducktown as the Old Copper Road ... Molly Rose died at age 79 ... Fred Bryson was on duty in Korea ... Officers of the Blue ridge Lodge 67 F&AM were Roy Beavers, Dan Underwood, E.L. White, John R. Chancey, W.M. smith, Dan Mull, L.J. Sarrell, Jimmy Hopkins, Hoyt Ballew, L. Roy Stewart and James Walden ... Food prices: t-bone steak, 69¢/lb.; grapefruit, 5¢ each; ice cream, 59¢/half gallon.

In 1973, the Benton Jaycees and Benton Lions were participating in a womanless women’s basketball game ... The county planned to wage war on the hundreds of abandoned and junk cars scattered around ... Carla Webb was named Betty Crocker Homemaker of tomorrow ... Winners in the Turtletown 4-H public speaking contest were Kenton Kimsey, Douglas White, Shannon Panter and Cheryl Loudermilk ... On the honor roll at Tennessee Wesleyan: Rebecca Postelle, Mary Annette Payne and Joan Moses.

In 1983, Gov. Alexander unveiled an ambitious plan to upgrade teacher salaries statewide ... More than 100 teachers filed grievances over budget cuts ... A town meeting was called to discuss issues of concern in Benton,

In 1993, communities were planning events for the Ocoee Doubleheader ... Copperhill was studying the possibility of treating landfill runoff from McMinn County ... Work was winding down on a flood lawsuit against TVA ... Sears announced  that it was shutting down its catalog stores ... Rookie legislator Richard Fisher headed for his first session in Nashville.

In 2003, the School Board recommended a new Copper Basin High School be built…a traffic stop in Copperhill turned dangerous when an Officer was dragged down the road while holding onto the fleeing suspect’s speeding car…Traffic increased along the roads in Polk County…a the State Parks service announced it would build a new office at the Gee Creek campground…Larry Condon was named the Executive Director of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce…