From the files of the Polk County News ...

In 1923, radio was putting en end to the isolated farm, with daily market news a possibility ... The Angel of Death sounded his dread alarm on the soul of G.W. Fetzer ... Citizens who earned more than $1,00 were reminded to file an income tax return ... Trousers were on sale for $1.50 to $6.50.

In 1933, Joseph McDowell was found dead under his overturned car on a curve on the Kimsey Highway ... Albert Lawson was shot and killed following an argument in Ocoee ... An attempt to assassinate President Roosevelt was made in Florida ... Landrum Bolling of Benton was editor of the Orange & White newspaper at UTK ... J.L. Williams of Copperhill was a contender for the university’s boxing championship. Others attending UTK were James Rice, Hoyle Duncan, Blanche Tallent, Frank Lowery, Leonard Higdon, J.P. McClary, Edward Goode, Albert Fowler, Howard Irwin, Bill Roach, M.e. Brown, Vernon Deering and C.R. Loy.

In 1953, the County Court posted a $500 reward in the 1951 ambush slaying of W. august Lewis, court chairman at the time .. The court was again deadlocked over the election of a chairman and school superintendent ... Anna Mae Woody led PCHS students n scholarship for the third period in a row with an average of 99.

In 1963, a special meeting of the Quarterly Court was called to take action to authorize school bonds.

In 1973, the proposed Peoples Bank was nearing 50% in local sale of stock ... Gerald Yates returned home from Vietnam; Paul Cross completed his second Vietnam tour ... Carla Webb was chosen for the DAR award ... The Drug Store was scheduled to open its doors.

In 1983, Congressman John Duncan was in the county to meet with constituents ... The federal government supported the state’s insistence that TVA obtain a water quality permit for the Ocoee ... Cindy Clayton was basketball Homecoming Queen ... The School Board agreed to fund the teachers’ dental program through an existing trust fund ... A book on the Kimsey family was published ... A dental screening program was set for the schools.

In 1993, violence was on the upswing in county schools ... The Dentville Bridge was offered to sale prior to the beginning of a replacement project ... Sewer rates were lowered in Benton ... Gold medalist Joe Jacobi visited the county to drum up interest in the Ocoee Olympics ... There was opposition to changing the name of Hwy. 64 to the Olympic Parkway .. The Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association had a booth at a travel show in Jackson to promote the area.

In 2003, support was shown for the reactivation of the rail line from Wetmore to Copperhill…the School Board presented an $8.9 million proposal to the County Commission for new buildings…R.E. Barclay, Jr. was named to the 4th Fractional Township Board, following the expiration of Carl (Sonny) Panter’s term…the Polk County Educators Association removed a member for refusal to pay dues…2 students were suspended from PCHS on drug charges…Benton began to rethink its rezoning plan…a Cleveland man was charged with dealing crack in Polk County.