70 years ago - June 29,1950
• Willis Smith defeated U.S. Sen. Frank Graham in a second Democratic primary by 20,000 votes. Graham took Jackson County by 107 votes.
• The Sylva Plowboys, playing their first WNC Industrial League night game, dropped a 14-0 decision to the Berkeley Spinners. Berkeley took control of first place in the league while Sylva dropped to fifth.
• Rex Benton, Ben Dillard, Lard Cunningham and Veo Rhodes were Sylva’s representatives in the WNC Industrial League All-Star game played at McCormick Field in Asheville.
60 years ago - June 23, 1960
• A second primary was scheduled to decide the Democratic Party’s nominee for governor in a race between Terry Sanford and Beverly Lake.
• A tract of land was leased to the town of Sylva by the Mead Corporation for $1 to serve as a recreation park “for the Negro families of the area.”
• “Unto These Hills” was set to open for its 11th season.
50 years ago - June 25,1970
• The third annual All-Night Gospel Singing was set for the Sylva-Webster High School stadium, with a large turnout anticipated.
• A 41-acre tract of land was secured by the Town of Sylva for a new sanitary landfill.
• A powerful thunderstorm downed trees and caused widespread power outages across the county.
40 years ago - June 26, 1980
• Jackson County adopted a budget of $10.1 million.
• The county school board voiced unanimous disappointment with the county budget, saying promised education funding increases were not delivered.
• Some 600 people attended graduation ceremonies at Southwestern Technical College.
30 years ago - June 28,1990
• Western Carolina University Theatre professor Stephen Ayers landed a part in the NASCAR-themed movie “Days of Thunder,” starring Tom Cruise.
• Franz Whitmire was named principal of Smoky Mountain High School.
• The Herald carried an article featuring complaints from locals – mainly WCU students – who were unable to pick up “The Simpsons” over the airwaves.
20 years ago - June 29, 2000
• Jackson County school leaders approved plans for the addition of vocational classrooms at Smoky Mountain High School.
• Jim Yoder was named women’s basketball coach at Blue Ridge School.
• Vic Chandler won the Late Model Division race at Smoky Mountain Raceway.
10 years ago - June 24, 2010
• Following four months of budget-related work sessions and difficult economic times, commissioners unanimously passed a $59.5 million budget during their June 21 meeting.
• County officials put a multi-year year legal battle behind them when they voted to settle all pending lawsuits with Duke Energy.
• As of June 1, the county had spent a total of $550,269.97 in legal fees in its fight against Duke Energy over the removal of the Dillsboro Dam.
• The Jackson County swim team won its first meet of the season against Murphy by a score of 586 to 359. Jackson County placed first in 13 of 16 relay events.
