The “BHS Back in the Day” column will appear each week in The Broadcaster, featuring articles from past editions of the newspaper from 1940 to the 2000s. Have an idea for a column? Email Mrs. Heaslip at broadcaster@tcsnc.org

Playoffs may be the talk of Blue Devil sports right now, but in February 1963, the lead athletic contest featured in The Broadcaster was held between students and staff.

The Feb. 22, 1963 edition recapped the annual faculty vs. Monogram Club basketball game on the front page. “The crunch of bones and cries of pain issued forth plentifully” during the game, the article says.

The staff members beat the Monogram Club that year 26-14.

Another of the front-page articles detailed the much-anticipated Twerp season and Sweetheart Ball in March. “During Twerp Week, the girls will have the pleasure of making the social engagements and taking care of all the expenses which the boys usually meet,” the article says.

“For the benefit of the sophomores and others who don’t understand the meaning of Twerp season, here is a list of rules: Girls should 1) Open doors for helpless boys 2) Ask for dates, which includes; a) buying food, b) furnishing transportation c) calling for date at his own home d) doing all the other things boys SHOULD do. Boys should – Hang around and take advantage of the financial situation while they can.”

The edition also includes articles on the first-ever swimming team at Brevard High, a book review of “1984,” Gerald Fanning earning a full football scholarship to the University of South Carolina, and ads for McCrary Auto, Morris Pharmacy, Gray’s Barber Shop, Tankersley’s Florist, Brevard Jewelers and Bower’s.

The Sept. 27, 1977 paper also talks about students getting “whipped” – but in a different way.

“New corporal punishment procedures and regulations were passed by the Transylvania County School Board to be used in this school year,” an article states.

Students assigned a paddling “can now expect something of the following: The instrument of persuasion must be constructed of… ‘Soft wood or plant fiber, twenty four inches long.'” … “The number of sensational blows or licks are limited to a mere five. Before you meet the paddle, the teacher must explain why you are so lucky. If you agree, the teacher goes into action. If you disagree, you may have the chance to meet a bigger stick down at the office.

“If a lovable student has made the acquaintance of the paddle once during a day, the teacher is advised to spare the student until the morrow, due to risk of injury to the applicator’s hand or paddle.”

The paper polled students about Elvis Pressley, after the musician died the month before on Aug. 16, 1977. Said Coach Jim Johnson: “It was a tragic loss. I think it affected the female generation a bit more than the male generation. I enjoyed his music. I don’t think anyone will ever be as good as he was at performing that kind of music.”

This edition also featured rules for building Homecoming floats, a preview of The Gong Show by the Student Council and an examination of why clocks in the building all showed different times of day.

Its front page, however, was dedicated to The Broadcaster’s “Dream Team of the Decade,” comprised of grads from the classes of 1969 through 1976: Randy Salter, Tom Shipman, Van Ziegler, Brent Turner, Ronnie Banther, Joe Hunter, James Duckett, Mark Hooper, Steve Rogers, Ricky Salter and Mike Hall.

The Oct. 6, 1999 edition of The Broadcaster celebrated all things new – new staff, new tardy policy, new county businesses and the debut of the science wing, among others.

The science wing was constructed over the summer thanks to a bond referendum and opened in time for the 1999-2000 school year. An article by staff writer Christan Dicken says “state-of-the-art technology” was included in the wing, and it’s “obvious that it is newer than the rest of Brevard High School.”

The classrooms are larger with more counter space and, even better, the labs are equipped with “computer fixtures.” The most popular addition, however, was definitely heating and air conditioning.

New businesses in the Brevard area included the Holiday Inn Express, Jennings hardware store, a new Triangle Stop, Thyme Again Cafe and Neato Mosquito.

There were 13 new staff members, including Heidi Bullock, Allyson Whorley, Kim Drown, Anne Pittman, Tim Trantham and Shelia Zackry. A new tardy policy allowed students one “free” tardy per semester instead of every six weeks, “to teach students about punctuality.”

The paper also reviewed the food at Peppermill Cafe, the movie “The Blair Witch Project” and the Red Hot Chili Peppers CD “Californication.” A list of the 10 best things about school included “seeing friends” and “one year closer to graduating,” while the top 10 bad things was led by “getting less sleep,” “construction” and “doing homework.”

The newspaper also weighed in on the Columbine school shooting in Colorado five months before publication, saying the tragedies are far from over and asking “What will make the demented displays end?”

By Mrs. Heaslip