2010 Year in Review: Part 2

In a year marked by continued progress, growth, YouTube videos and a white Christmas, it was a somber, shocking day in February that grasped the county’s attention, and hearts, as Discovery Middle School student Todd Brown was shot in killed in the school’s hallways.

JULY

Downtown Madison to be revitalized

A $305,000 renovation to the downtown area was approved Monday, July 12 at a city council meeting.

The Streetscape would include many improvements downtown such as a two-story shopping complex with office space available for rent.

Balch/Gillespie intersection to no longer be rezoned

Residents took to a city council meeting to try and stop the area of Balch and Gillespie road from being rezoned from a residential property to a commercial property. The efforts were fruitless. Developer Dr. John Wisda had plans to build in the area. But, Monday, July 12, Wisda withdrew his plans and canceled his zoning request.

The first wives club

Wives of Madison City council members and Mayor Paul Finley’s wife, Julie, hosted an event at 16 Main art gallery/studio for residents to have fun and socialize with one another.

Feed Your Palette was a fundraising event, held July 15. The event garnered $285, which paid for free art lessons that were given to two children.

Fatal shooting leads to new safety director

The fatal shooting at Liberty Middle School earlier in the year led the newly formed school Task Force to create the position of safety and communications director. More than 60 people applied for the position.

Dennis James, principal at Columbia Elementary School would eventually fill the position.

AUGUST

Madison uses rock quarry water for September

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management gr4anted Madison Utilities General Manager Ricky Pounders permission to use water from the rock quarry lake, located south of Interstate 565, for the month of September.

Pounders had been attempting to have use of the lake for a few years. The trial period cost around $13,000.

Columbia Elementary School gets new principal

Nelson Brown, who has been assistant principal at Columbia for three years, was named the school’s head principal at an Aug. 19 board meeting.

Dennis James, the school’s former principal left the position to become the new safety director for the system.

City bans texting while driving

Aug. 23 marked the end of an era. Madison City Council voted 4-to-1 to ban texting while driving a vehicle. On Sept. 20, texting and driving became a secondary offense.

The only person to dissent was District 4 member Tim Cowles. Cowles said the city has bigger cell phone problems than texting.

SEPTEMBER

Horizon Elementary receives grant

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded Horizon Elementary with a $3,000 Back-to-School grant.

The grant funded programs, equipment, materials or software for the school’s library and literacy program.

6-year-old ‘astronaut’ breaks world record

Six-year-old Michael Balance of Huntsville participated in zero-gravity training when he flew in a twin-engine plane that maneuvered so that he floated weightless in the cabin. Balance took the first step on his quest to launch into space when he became the youngest person in history to receive some astronaut training in Clearwater, Fla. He broke the existing world record for the youngest person to receive zero-gravity training and now he can apply for a Guinness World Record.

Liberty Middle gets new field house, colors

A new school year usually means new clothes for students, but athletes at Liberty Middle School got much more than that this year as they now have a new field house and a new color, trading in the Halloween orange for burnt orange and a new 3,750-square-foot field house, which opened its doors Monday, Aug. 30.

Teens injured in Labor Day shooting

Two teenagers were shot in what appeared to be an accidental shooting at approximately 2:40 p.m. on Labor Day, when a handgun went off in a vehicle, striking two of the occupants.

Three teens were riding in a vehicle on Wall Triana Highway when one of the teens in the front accidentally discharged the gun, striking himself on the hand and then the other teen riding in the front also in the hand. The teens pulled into a Burger King parking lot, where someone saw the injured teens and called 911.

City Schools system passes 2011 budget

The Madison City Schools Board of Education passed its 2011 budget Thursday, Sept. 9 by a vote of 5-0.

The budget projected approximately $88 million in revenue, with $115 million in expenditures.

Nearly $28 million of expenditures will go towards building the new high school. All of that money came from reserves from previous years. The general fund budget is approximately $69.8 million in revenues and $69 million in expenditures.

Wachovia bank robbed

Madison Police arrested a man who allegedly robbed the Wachovia Bank on Madison Blvd. at approximately 10:40 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10.

Officers identified the man as Stefan Chadwick Crawmer, 41.

Officers received a call from the bank stating a white male with a gun robbed a teller and fled in a vehicle with an undisclosed amount of cash. All available police officers immediately began searching for the suspect’s vehicle before it was located traveling north on Wall Triana Highway. After a brief pursuit, the suspect abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into the Silver Creek subdivision. Officers chased the man on foot for several hundred yards before apprehending him as he entered an open garage.

Items from the robbery and the suspect’s weapon were recovered at the scene.

Crawmer was charged with first-degree robbery and fleeing/attempting to elude police.

City’s website wins national award

MadisonAL.gov, the city’s website, was recognized as a 2010 Top Government Website Award recipient by online encyclopedia and reference resource Juggle.com for its e-government and communication initiatives.

This year’s recipients applied innovative web technology in order to provide citizens with greater access to government information and services.

MadisonAL.gov is one of several government portals embracing the commitment to e-government services and making it easier to find government information.

Bank robbed on Hughes Road

The Madison Police Department responded to the report of a robbery at Bancorp South Bank located at 41 Hughes Road. Police arrived at the Bank at approximately 11:10 a.m. and were told by witnesses that a black male wearing gloves and a hooded shirt entered the bank and demanded money. The suspect received an undisclosed amount of currency and fled the bank.

Police arrest man for trafficking cocaine

Madison Police and members of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit arrested a 39-year-old man at 126 Crescent Circle Friday, Sept. 17 on charges of trafficking cocaine.

Officers recovered approximately 1/3 of a kilo of cocaine, marijuana, digital scales, radio scanners and $7,000 in cash at the home of Victor Dunagan.

Street Festival celebrates 30th Anniversary

For the 30th year, the residents of Madison are taking it to the streets on the first Saturday in October.

This year’s festival was held Oct. 2 in historic downtown and it marked the 30th year of the city’s longest running tradition, with a parade, and the day featured musical acts, arts, crafts, a car show, a children’s zone, exhibits, vendors and more.

OCTOBER

Staged accident promotes safety

Bob Jones Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students hosted a mock tragedy on the high school campus this morning, Sept. 28, to let students know the consequences of unsafe driving practices.

The staged incident was showcased during the school’s homecoming week to get students’ attention and bring more awareness to the cause.

The scene depicted five seniors, all in the EMT Basic dual enrollment class at Bob Jones in a minivan after a crash into a pole.

Council passes $55.7 million budget

The Madison City Council unanimously approved the city’s $55.7 million 2010-2011 budget Sept. 27 during the final meeting of the fiscal year.

The general fund budget, which is $30.6 million and includes a 15 percent insurance rate hike, no cost of living adjustment and no performance step increase for city employees, is approximately $86,574 less than 2009-2010, but does not include tax increases, layoffs or reduction in city ser- vices.

Small business of the year

The Madison Chamber of Commerce held its annual Small Business Awards during the monthly luncheon Sept. 30 at the Holiday Inn.

Minuteman Press was named the Small Business of the Year, and Jonathan Dunwoody accepted the award.

Rocket City Sitters was named the Start Up of the Year, and owner Adrienne Stevens was also named as the chamber Ambassador of the Year. The chamber’s Leadership and Service Excellence Award went to Lori King-Taylor of Eagle Collision Center.

Patriot Academy burglarized, set on fire by 16-year-old

Patriot Academy was burglarized and set on fire Wednesday, Oct. 6, although the building did not suffer severe fire damage.

Madison Police responded to a call of a possible burglary and fire at Patriot Academy, the Madison City Schools system alternative school, at approximately 7:30 a.m., and upon arrival Madison police discovered that someone illegally entered the unoccupied building and removed miscellaneous items. The suspect then started a fire and fled. When officers arrived on scene, the fire was out, but the building did suffer some fire and smoke damage.

Approximately two hours later, police identified and located a possible suspect in the city, and as a result of the investigation, a 16-year- old Madison juvenile was arrested for second-degree arson, third- degree theft and third- degree burglary.

Police charge man with trafficking crack, cocaine

A Madison man was arrested Wednesday, Oct. 6 as part of a three- county “organized drug” investigation.

Vincent “Vinnie” Harrell, 38, was among five people arrested in Etowah, Jefferson and Madison counties as a result of a 14-month investigation.

Harrell has been charged with trafficking cocaine, trafficking crack cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm and felony probation violation.

Couple donates police Corvette

The Madison Police Department is riding in style as a local business donated a brand new red corvette to the force.

The donation was approved by the City Council during its regular meeting Monday, Oct. 11. The new vehicle will be used in the department’s community policing division.

Jeff and Nilmini Thompson, owners of Systems Products and Solutions, approached Mayor Paul Finley last month about giving something back to the community.

The Thompsons decided to purchase a corvette for the police department after being inspired by D.A.R.E. cars, and Police Chief Larry Muncey said the donation would make a huge impact in bringing law enforcement and the community together.

Madison Academy and Bob Jones clinch region championships

Goal No. 1 for the Madison Academy Mustangs: win the Class 3A, Region 8 championship.

Check.

The Mustangs clinched the region title Friday, Oct. 15 by shutting out the Geraldine Bulldogs, 38-0.

Bob Jones defeated the Red Raiders, 24-21, to clinch the Class 6A, Region 8 title.

Bancorp robbed… again

Two suspects were arrested following an armed robbery Monday, Oct. 25 at Bancorp South on Hughes Road at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Tavares Antwan Oliver, 32, of Huntsville and Anthony Shawn Clark, 22, of Huntsville were charged with first-degree robbery and are being held in the Madison County Jail on a $60,000 bond.

The robbery is the second in just more than a month at the Bancorp location, and the third in the city since Sept. 10.

Dog Park officially opens

The Mill Creek Greenway has gone to the dogs.

A ribbon cutting Thursday, Oct. 21, officially opened Madison’s first and much-anticipated dog park, located at the Greenway.

The 1.43-acre park is enclosed by a 4-foot tall chain link fence and features a 30,927 square-foot play area for dogs weighing 25 pounds or less, a 31,363 square-foot play area for dogs weighing more than 25 pounds and a 20-by-30-foot staging area for the dogs as they enter the park.

Playground makes dreams come true

Hand-in-Hand playground, located in Palmer Park, right off Palmer Road, officially opened Friday, Oct. 22, to the appreciation of many residents. The playground was specially made to accommodate children with various disabilities. The swing set has a guard to keep them from falling off and the ground is covered with a rubber surface to soften falls.

NOVEMBER

Holtzclaw, Republicans win

Madison City Council President Bill Holtzclaw has unseated incumbent Tom Butler for the State Senate No. 2 seat. As far as District 2 is concerned, Holtzclaw said he would improve what Butler has done.

Madison’s got talent

The Madison Talent Show was recently held at Madison City Schools stadium and dozens of entrants competed for the top prize.

There were two divisions in the competition — junior high and high school — and overall winners.

City unveils future Growth Plan

Hundreds of residents turned out to the brand new Hogan Family YMCA Nov. 4, as the city of Madison sponsored the first of three town hall meetings on the city’s Growth Plan.

The last comprehensive growth plan for the city was in 1995, and Mayor Paul Finley said it was time to have a new one. Since that last meeting, Madison has grown 41 percent from 2000-2010, and is projected to grow 12 percent in the next five years. Also, almost 60 percent of the homes in Madison have been built since 1990.

Overcash becomes new city council president

Tommy Overcash, the District 5 representative for the Madison City Council, was named as the new council president Monday, Nov. 8. Overcash replaces Bill Holtzclaw, who resigned Monday to assume his new role as the state senator for District 2.

Madison City Schools receiving surplus money

Lisa McMurray, finance director for MCS said that with a surplus in the fiscal year’s budget, each school would receive the leftover money to purchase money on school- related material and supplies.

The elementary schools will receive $12,000 each, the two middle schools, $15,000, while Bob Jones will receive $30,000.

Hamilton hangs on to oust Madison Academy

The Madison Academy Mustangs had unfinished business in quest to besting last year’s quarter-final run in the Class 3A playoffs, but the Hamilton Aggies were playing for an undefeated season Friday, taking an early lead and cruising to victory, 35-14.

The Aggies took advantage of seven Madison Academy turnovers, including five Joe Dobson interceptions, to advance to the semifinals.

Lou in a tutu

Madison Chamber of Commerce Investor Relations Manager Lou Galipeau recently lost a friendly bet when his team came in last place during the Chamber’s 7 For 700 membership drive.

Chamber Director Kate Gray, Membership Specialist Tabitha Ivey and Communications Coordinator Felecia McInnish had a good time with Lou’s Losers, while also adding 73 new members to the chamber.

DECEMBER

Chamber director resigns

Kate Gray, managing director for the Madison Chamber of Commerce, resigned from her position Tuesday, Nov. 30 at a chamber board meeting.

The news was announced publicly at the Dec. 2 Chamber luncheon.

Board President Tim Knox said Gray stepped down from the position to seek other ventures.

Knox will assume Gray’s position as acting director for the next few months and will be compensated for the position until a permanent director is found. He said he agreed to take the position with the mayor’s suggestion. Once a new director is found, Knox said he will not return as the board president.

Polar Express pulls through Madison Library

Madison Public Library recently held its 1st Pajama Christmas Party.

The party, which took place Tuesday Dec. 7 at the library, brought out families and children alike to sing holiday songs and read from the popular holiday book, “The Polar Express.”

High school ground breaking

Cold weather and gray      skies didn’t stop school officials, city dignitaries and citizens from coming out to the official groundbreaking of the new high school located of Burgreen Road, Thursday, Dec. 16. When the high school starts session, ninth grade will move to the two high schools. Fowler said the move would provide more room in the middle schools.

Bell runs the show

Jase Bell has run five half-marathons, four 10-mile races, has more than 60 medals, one national record and eight state records. And he isn’t old enough to drive.

Bell, an 11-year-old six-grader at Columbia Elementary School, has been competing in state and national level races since age 8.

He recently ran in the 11-12 year- old division of the Foot Locker South Regional race, finishing the 3,000- meter in 12:10 min.

Ondocsin named to Madison City Council

The Madison City Council will have a gender shift in 2011, as Ronica Ondocsin was named as the new District 7 representative during the Dec. 20 meeting.

Ondocsin replaces Bill Holtzclaw, who resigned last month to take on his new position as the State Senate District 2 representative.

Dark side of the moon

Skywatchers caught a once in a lifetime occurrence Tuesday morning when a total lunar eclipse coincided with the winter solstice. For almost three and a half hours, the moon passed through the phases of the eclipse. Because of the solstice, the moon appeared red near the time of its total eclipse. This is the first time a lunar eclipse and winter solstice have coincided in 372 years. It won’t happen again until 2094.

White Christmas

For the first time in many kids’ and adults’ lives, county residents awoke Christmas to nearly 3 inches of snow.