70 years ago - July 20, 1950
• Former Sheriff H.L. Holden died of a heart attack at the age of 47.
• Sylva native John Parris published “The Cherokee Story,” a complete history of the Cherokee.
• Belk’s offered sandals, work shirts, rain hats and dress shirts for $1 each.
60 years ago - July 21,1960
• The parking rate in Sylva was set at 1 cent per 12 minutes.
• The 6-mile link of Blue Ridge Parkway road between Fork Ridge and Balsam Gap was scheduled to open.
• The 11-12 year old Little League tournament team from Sylva recorded an eye-popping batting average of .402 across its lineup.
50 years ago - July 23, 1970
• Mead Corporation officials were “checking all aspects of the matter” following reports that traces of mercury had been found in Scotts Creek.
• Jackson County Jaycees dumped 14 junked cars into a burial pit as part of their drive to remove the eyesores from the community.
• Sirloin steaks were on sale at the A&P for $1.23 a pound.
40 years ago - July 24, 1980
• The time/temperature sign at Jackson Savings and Loan notched 100 degrees for the first time since its installation.
• Unofficial Census numbers indicated a nearly 16 percent gain in Jackson County’s population since 1970.
• Sylva’s Little League Junior Division All-Stars defeated Waynesville 12-2 to advance to the finals of the losers’ bracket in the Western Area Tournament.
30 years ago - July 19, 1990
• Public hearings to discuss an enhanced 911 system were scheduled by county commissioners.
• Tony Baldwin, Western Carolina’s women’s head basketball coach for five years, resigned to accept a public school administrative position.
• The Smoky Mountain Dixie League Pre-Majors (15-16-year-olds) were set to open defense of their state championship against Kannapolis.
20 years ago - July 20, 2000
•The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian and Great Smoky MountainsNational Park were studying a land swap to allow space for a new Cherokee school.
• The N.C. General Assembly OK’d the creation of a “millennial campus” at Western Carolina University.
• Jackson County’s 9-10 year-old Little League All-Stars advanced to the District 5 championship game with a 3-1 win over East Asheville.
10 years ago - July 22, 2010
• Southwestern Community College was one of only 11 colleges to earn an exceptional rating in the 58-member N.C. Community College System.
• Dillsboro town board members were reviewing what was hoped to be the final lease for the Monteith House, which was expected to become the Appalachian Women’s Museum.
• To help offset the impact of budget cuts recently authorized by the N.C. General Assembly, Western Carolina University announced it would raise in-state undergraduate tuition and fees by 17.5 percent effective for the fall semester.
