2011 Year in review part 2
In a year full of change, progress and disaster, Madison has still held on strong.
A massive snowstorm covered the area at the beginning of the year. Ground broke on a new shopping center in March. Tornadoes swept the area in April. School officials began to retire in May and the mayor announced he wasn’t running for re-election in October.
Here’s a look back at the stories that made 2011.
July
Memon indicted for murder by grand jury
Hammad Memon, the 15-year-old boy accused of shooting and killing Discovery Middle School classmate Todd Brown Feb. 5 was indicted for murder by a Madison County grand jury.
The reason we decided to pursue the murder charge is because we felt like the act was intentional and according to the law, his age allowed us to pursue the charge,” said Assistant District Attorney Tim Gann.
Groundbreaking on firehouse
The City of Madison broke ground for the new Fire Station No. 2 July 18.
The firefighters of Fire Station No. 2 have been housed in a trailer for the past four years since the old firehouse was deemed unlivable because of mold. The old building was originally built in the 1920s.
Bob Jones students score high on ACT
Bob Jones students are perfection, at least when it comes to their ACT scores.
The 2011 graduating class and 2012 rising seniors scored high on the ACT.
In the class of 2011, 115 seniors scored a 30 and above, three scored a 35, and 11 scored a 34, with senior Katherine Boyer scoring a perfect 36.
In the rising senior class, three students scored a perfect 36, three scored a 35 and 13 scored a 34. Eighty-five students scored a 30 or above.
Sen. Holtzclaw speaks at luncheon
Senator Bill Holtzclaw was the guest speaker at the Madison Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon. The topic was how to enable business opportunities in Alabama.
“First of all, I realize the importance of what you do. You are the small business owners,” Holtzclaw said. “I recognize the importance of having a relationship with you.”
He said only businesses, not the government, can grow the economy.
Man arrested on more than 100 counts of sexual abuse
Huntsville Police officers have arrested a Harvest man on more than 90 counts of sexual abuse.
Noraddin Alzoqari has 104 counts total pending against him, including 55 counts of sexual abuse to a child, 44 counts of sex with a child under 12, three sodomy charges and two counts of enticing a child for immoral purposes.
August
Bob Jones seniors receive more than $30 million in scholarship offers
Seniors from Bob Jones high School saw major dollars signs this year as the class accepted $11, 893,208 in scholarships.
In all, the class was offered $30.8 million, which covers 53 percent of the 2011 graduating class.
But, the big number Bob Jones principal Robby Parker said needs all the attention is the $11.8 million accepted.
School employees honored
Of those teachers, Kelly DesRochers, Title 1 intervention teacher at Madison Elementary School was named Elementary Teacher of the Year; Kristi Combs, language arts teacher at Liberty Middle School was named Secondary Teacher of the Year; and Lisa Parkes, clerical aide at Bob Jones High School was named Staff Member of the Year.
870 new students enrolled this year
When classes began in Madison City Schools Monday, Aug. 8, there was an overall increase of 870 new students, with 600 students registered in kindergarten for the 2011-12 school year and an additional 270 students new to the community.
Last school, year 8,650 students enrolled in the local school system with 8,920 students registered for the new year.
First wall of new Target goes up
The first wall of the new Target store went up with the help of Madison Mayor Paul Finley.
Officials from Target even flew in from Minnesota for the ceremony.
The new store in Madison is the corporation’s latest prototype.
September
Police detail hit-and-run suspect capture
Police found Pamela Sanders, the woman charged with the hit-and-run death of 20-year-old Rebecca Carter in less than 24 hours.
The investigation team pieced together headlight parts found at the scene and were able to determine Sanders’ exact vehicle type.
Shooting suspect arrested, charged with attempted murder
A woman was arrested on two charges of attempted murder.
33-year-old Shikesha Latrice Morris was arrested for shooting 29-year-old Deidre Readus of Huntsville and 31-year-old Quincy Jordan of Madison.
Madison officer recalls 9/11 mission
For Det. Marcus Adams the decision was easy. When word came down that volunteers were needed to go to New York following the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, he didn’t even have to stop and think about it.
BJHS Hall of Fame names released
The names of the 2011 inductees for the Bob Jones High School Hall of Fame have been released.
The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding alumni of BJHS who have maintained a high standard of excellence and made a significant contribution in their fields of endeavor, or persons who are not alumni, but have made a significant contribution to BJHS in the form of leadership, service.
Service honorees are: Yvonne Espy and Melissa Hughey. The Alumni are: Tina Nickey, Kimberly Caudle Lewis, Jenny Enyinda Erlingsson, Ram Bhat, Benjamin Ward and Michael Porten.
Chamber fills vacant position with Cabrera
The Madison Chamber of Commerce has hired Tessy L. Cabrera as the new manager of investor relations.
Cabrera’s responsibilities include inviting the business and professional community to join the Madison Chamber of Commerce in promoting Madison.
BJHS breaks record with semifinalists
Bob Jones High School has 19 National Merit Semifinalists for 2011, the highest number in the school’s history.
Students must score in the 99 percentile on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
Madison Chamber hires new executive director
The Madison Chamber of Commerce has selected Susie Masotti as its new executive director.
Masotti comes to the Chamber with extensive experience in corporate event planning, project management and fundraising experience most recently as Vice President of the Nashville Predators, where she was member of a 15-person start-up team that created the Nashville Predators organization in 1997.
October
Street Festival a ‘success’
The Madison Street Festival kicked off Saturday.
With more than 100 artists and craftsmen that lined the streets, the Festival was a great place to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces.
Non-profit groups and civic clubs use the festival as a fundraising outlet. It’s a great opportunity to not only learn about local organizations but to support their efforts.
MARF in ‘dire’ need of money
The Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (MARF) is in desperate need of financial help.
According to the foundation’s President and Founder, Micki Bennett, MARF needs $25,000 to pay veterinarian bills. Bennett said MARF’s bills average $6,000 to $8,000 per month.
Family restaurant celebrates 26 years
Twenty-six years to the day, Madison’s famous hole-in-the-wall, Jackson’s Family Restaurant, closed.
Friday, Sept. 30, was Vernon and Peggy Jackson’s last day before retirement as owners of the small empire they built over years of hard work and familial support.
Emmy’s No Mo Chemo celebrates girl’s progress
A novel idea helped celebrate six-year-old Emmy Harrison’s milestone in battling cancer.
Her parents, Matt and Rebecca Harrison, hosted “Emmy’s No Mo Chemo Celebration” (no more chemotherapy) to honor their daughter.
BJHS softball team gets new scoreboard
It was a good night to be a Patriot: the softball team and its coaches had been working for years to show what they’re made of, but their equipment and facilities had not.
Now, they will start the new season with a brand new, state-of-the-art, wireless, LED-lit scoreboard, thanks to four Madison County legislators.
November
Woman starts cleaning ministry for wounded soldiers
When Helen Pirl, owner of Helen’s Cleaning Service, decided she wanted to give back to local military veterans, she had no idea where to start.
After throwing ideas back and forth, it finally hit her. She decided to do what she does best… clean.
Pirl is offering two to three hours of cleaning once a month, free of charge, for those who have been injured while in battle.
Teacher wins ‘Education Oscar’
Bob Jones High School engineering teacher Jeremy Raper received the National Educator Award presented by the Milken Family Foundation.
The announcement came during the 25 annual coast-to-coast tour to reward top educators with more than $1.3 million in cash awards. Raper never expected the award or the $25,000 check presented with the prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, the “Education Oscar.”
Trulock announces bid for mayor
Troy Trulock announced Tuesday, Nov. 15 that he will seek the office of Mayor of Madison in the upcoming 2012 city election.
Trulock, 47, serves as president/CEO of TDK Aerospace.
Madison school earns national honor for hunger fight
Discovery Middle School recently received a National School of Distinction status from the Schools Fight Hunger program. Fewer than 2,000 schools nationwide earned this level of distinction in the 2010-2011 school year.
December
Cyber security lays foundation
Students at Bob Jones High School are intrigued about the world of cyber security, a career that some hope to have as a full-time career.
CyberPatriot is the premier national high school defense competition designed to give students hand-on exposure to the foundations of cyber security.
4 arrested on trafficking charges, held on $1 million bail
The Madison/Morgan County HIDTA Drug Task Force (STAC Team) arrested four people in Madison on trafficking marijuana.
Stephanie Porter, 25; Charles Lee Jr., 24; Eric Lee, 23; and Corey McDonald, all of Madison, were arrested Friday, Dec. 9.
Local 4-year-old donates locks for love
Many little girls often dream of long, pretty hair.
Four-year-old Maddie Hicks wants to help other girls make that dream come true.
Man stabbed in argument over football
A man was stabbed in the back by an acquaintance in the back just before 3 a.m. Wednesday morning at the Mapco gas station in Harvest at Highway 53/Jeff Road after the two got into an argument over Alabama football, according to deputies.
