This Week in White County History, July 30-August 5

 1973

• As construction was completed on the new jail, the remaining empty hull of the previous jail was torn down by a local contractor who was paid $8,500 to demolish the stone structure.
• Homeowners were given a big reduction on their property taxes by Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen when a tax rate of $2.60 per $100 was voted at the meeting.
• Construction began on 50 new apartments in Cragrock. Five buildings of 10 apartments were planned.

1983

• Amanda Victoria “Queenie” Broyles was the guest of honor at the third Broyles family reunion. The event drew 166 people, which included 142 direct descendants of George Washington Broyles.
• Margaret England was elected president of the new Sparta-White County Improvement Council.

1993

• Doyle Volunteer firefighter Keith Graham returned home from Erlanger Hospital after being treated for burns caused by an explosion during a training exercise earlier in the month.
• BonDeCroft Elementary was “adopted” by Rogers Group who renovated the playground and donated office equipment to the school.
• White County received a $10,000 federal grant for the installation of 20 fire hydrants for rural fire protection.

2003

• Sparta-White County Rescue Squad put their new vehicle, Rescue One, into service.
• Alicia Selby, of Sparta, who was crowned Miss Tennessee Teen USA, prepared to travel to Palm Springs, California, to participate in the national Miss Teen USA pageant.
• A restored statue of Harvey S. Firestone was placed at the headwaters of the Caney Fork River overlooking Chestnut Mountain.

2013

• Kirk Young, Sparta fire chief, was elected to serve on the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association Board of Directors.
• James Guth, a 2008 graduate of White County High School, turned his love for sports into an occupation. The former WCHS baseball and football player worked for the Atlanta Hawks and moved on to the Wake Forest athletic department.
• White County School Board bid farewell to 12 retirees: Linda Baldwin, June Eller, Barbara Farley, Alberta Hickey, Robin Hickey, Sharon Kidd, Kay Maples, Thelma Price, Kay Rogers, Lisa Yoder, Dewey Young, and William Kerry Young.