Tuesday, May 5, 2009 | Page 3-B

heritage
THIS WEEK: IN YEARS GONE BY
By Mark. A. Stevens James S. Tipton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood Tipton of Route 1, Erwin, has returned to duty aboard the minesweeper, U.S.S. Leader, after spending leave in Erwin with his parents and wife, the former Sue Banner. Tipton just recently returned to the states from a nine-month tour of patrol duty in the MeKong Delta. Jury selection for Earl Hill Jr., accused slayer of Lowell Bailey, began April 29. Three hundred prospective jurors have been selected for possible service on the 12-person jury. Thirty Years Ago (1979) Unicoi County Memorial Hospital has launched its rst doctor-staffed emergency room service for weekends on a trial basis. Board Chairman Herman May said the hospital has hired four ER doctors who will rotate duty from noon Saturday until 6 p.m. Sunday each weekend. The new employed physicians are: (rst names unavailable) Dr. Hoffer, Dr. West, Dr. Hood and Dr. Hanscomb. Local doctors, on a rotating basis, will also be available, if needed. May noted that the venture is an expensive one and its success will be based on how collections are, as patients will be required to pay or make arrangements to pay at time of service. Judge Walter B. Garland, who retired April 30, was presented a plaque in recognition of his 19 years of ser-

Your Town in History

The new book, Then & Now: Unicoi County, available now at The Erwin Record.

J. Edgar Hoover congratulates Erwin native for work with FBI

Heres what was being reported this week in years past by The Erwin Record: Fifty Years Ago (1959) Everette H. Hensley of Erwin received a congratulatory handshake from FBI Director John Edgar Hoover after receiving an award for the outstanding manner in which Hensley discharged assignments in the technical division of the FBI. The Erwinite is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Hensley and husband of Lillie Mae King Hensley, who is also employed by the FBI. The Hensleys make their home at 207 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. Some of Unicois oldest men came together for a birthday celebration of B.D. McCurry, who celebrated his 93rd birthday April 27. McCurry wasnt the oldest in the bunch, though. He was joined by Columbus Bennett, who is 97. Also attending was W.T. Nichols, who at 87, was the young man in the bunch. Applications are being accepted for postmaster of the Flag Pond Post Ofce, which pays $2,539 per year, the civil service commission has announced. The opening is due to the retirement of Postmaster John F. Anderson. Applicants must actually reside within the territory supplied by the post ofce and be at least 18 years old on the closing date for acceptance of applications. Forty Years Ago (1969) Coach Charlie Bryant has been named Coach of the Year by fellow track coaches. Coach Bryant received the honor after his trackmen made a strong showing in a conference meet held last week at East Tennessee State University.

The Th T h Erwin E i R Record d5 50 0 years ago g t th this hi week ki in 1 19 1959 95 59 9

vice to Unicoi County. Judge Garland and his wife, Edith, attended a Appreciation Luncheon in his honor at The Elms Thursday. Twenty Years Ago (1989) Sonya Hampton, a 1987 Unicoi County High School graduate, is making a name for herself in college basketball. She plays for the King College Tornado, a team that has earned a national championship title for the past two years. Sonya is the daughter of Lewis and Patsy Hampton of Erwin. Coach Al Nida says Sonyas good defense and quickness earned her a spot in the starting lineup for the past two years. Rock Creek Elementary School has formed its rst Junior Beta Club. The club is associated with the National Beta Club, a service-leadership organization for high school students. Ofcers are: Jeremy Lemmon, president; Shane Hawkins, vice president; Danny Ayers, treasurer; Carrie Baxter, secretary; and Angie Wilcox, reporter. Ten Years Ago (1999) Stacie Harris is the new president of East Tennessee State Universitys Student Government Association, and the Unicoi Countian is hoping to spread the news about ETSU Pride. She hopes to drain the UT orange blood populace and make blue and gold the colors of choice. She is the daughter of William and Priscilla Harris, who make their home in the Limestone Cove community of Unicoi. They call him the Pancake King, and this Saturday Bill Steffey will reign again. The Erwin resident will don his apron and chefs hat May 8 and kick off the annual Kiwanis Hotcakes & Sausage Breakfast. Steffey, a self-proclaimed lover of cooking, will arrive at 6 a.m. to get things started. Hes so good at managing the kitchen that the annual fundraiser is often set around Steffeys schedule. Over the years, his fellow club members say, Steffey has whipped up nearly 25,000 hotcakes. Well, Steffey said with a laugh, Ive cooked a lot of pancakes. The Kiwanis Club has held the event for about 35 years, said longtime club member Gene Price.

THROUGH THE AGES: TILSON MOUNTAIN, 1960S

This weeks featured photograph for Through the Ages comes from Ken Murray. The photo shows Gene Tipton mowing hay with his mules on Tilson Mountain sometime in the 1960s. Mr. Tipton, a lifelong resident of Unicoi County died Nov. 16, 2006. If you have a photo from the past you would like to share with readers of The Erwin Record, e-mail it to Publisher Mark A. Stevens at mstevens@erwinrecord.net or mail it to The Erwin Record, PO Box 700, Erwin, TN 37650 or drop it by the newspapers ofce at 218 Gay St. in historic downtown Erwin.