Editor's Note: This feature mines The McDowell Express archives from 1982.
Bear.jpg
In this installment of The McDowell Express in January 1982, 10-year-old Chris Smith, Montezuma, bagged an almost 200 pound black bear in North Cove behind Rom English’s house. Smith is the second cousin of Mrs. Rom English. He was hunting with his father when the dogs ran the bear down off Linville Mountain and treed it. The hunt happened around Thanksgiving 1981.
Church League.jpg
Church league basketball in McDowell County was just as competitive as youth sports. In January 1982, Greenlee Baptist Church were the Church League champions. (Center, front) Crystal Mace and Scott Mason. (Front, from left) Jeff Barnes, Renee Barnes, Darrell Sigmon, Steve Suttles, Jerry Sherman. (Middle, from left) Troy Elliott, Ray Greer, Tim Noblitt, Steve Simmons. (Back, from left) Ricky Mason, Mark Shuford, Jeff Ethridge, Mike Mace, Don Hollifield and Jimmy Willis.
Hotel James.jpg
On Jan. 7, 1982, the late afternoon sun highlighted the south wall of the old Hotel James in Marion. The photo was featured on the front page of The McDowell Express. Back then, the weekly paper coast 15 cents. Today, it is free.
Ice.jpg
Photographer Jock Lauterer captured this image for The McDowell Express newspaper in 1982 that captures dogwood buds encased in crystal after McDowell County recovered from an ice storm which caused a lot of power outages.
Rail Racing.jpg
In this photo from January 1982 in the Express, Steve Clontz, of Marion (right) and Billy Martin, of Nebo, find the age-old sport of rail-racing a good way to spend the last few hours of the Christmas holiday. Steve’s summer attire attests to the balmy weather McDowell enjoyed on New Year’s Day in 1982 following the gloomy ice storm on New Year’s Eve.
Skiis.jpg
Snow and ice blanketed McDowell County in 1982. Photographer Jock Lauterer captured many images of folks out enjoying, or braving, the wintry conditions. In this picture, Mary James, of Marion, solved her problem of getting around town by taking to her cross-country skiis.
Tournament.jpg
In January 1982, the results of the two Mountain Holiday Tournament titles were announced. The varsity men’s team claimed the title with a 53 to 44 defeat against Mitchell, while the Titanettes lost 50-39 to the Lady Cougars. In this photo from the tournament, ‘Poon’ Hausley gets ready to score. He was named the tournament’s MVP.
Tractor Trailer.jpg
On Jan. 18, 1972 two Miami truckers suffered leg injuries when this 1979 Ford tractor trailer hit a sand pile on Old Fort Mountain after losing its brakes, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol. The two men were treated and released from Marion General Hospital.
Train.jpg
On Jan. 11, 1982 The McDowell Express ran a feature story on Neita Lingerfelt, who was the first woman to become an engineer with Clinchfield Railroad. She was placed on the a 250,000 pound diesel engine called the Marion Shifter, and traveled up and down the McDowell line between the Clinchfield Depot on U.S. 70 East and loading points as Tri-County Block, Travenol, Glenwood Pulp Yard, H& B Lumber, Carolina Sweetner and American Thread.
