2010 Year in Review: Part 1

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.

The shocking story grabbed national attention, and tops the Record’s news for 2010.

Here’s a look back at the first six months that made 2010:

JANUARY

New high school underway

Plans got underway in the process of constructing a new high school, Madison’s second ever. The city refinanced its debt and secured federal loans to borrow enough for the school, budgeted at roughly $65 million. However, school leaders hope to save a few million on the school, which is expected to open in 2012.

Police get new software

Madison police officers signed an agreement with Intergraph to update from the original ILEADS in-car computer systems.

The upgrade limits the amount of paper work officers have to complete during stops.

Two killed in place crash

Two people were killed in a single plane crash off County Line Road, Jan. 18.

Dr. John J. White, a surgeon from Decatur, Ill. and Lisa Marie Mattix, from Spring Hill, Tenn. were on the way to Nashville when the plane crashed near the Ashbury subdivision. White was piloting the 1982 Beechcraft BE60.

Referendum draws citizen opposition

The Madison City Council’s decision to push for an ad valorem tax to provide money to build a second high school drew mixed reactions.

FEBRUARY

Discovery Middle School slaying

Hammad Memon, a ninth-grader at Discovery Middle School, shot 14-year-old ninth-grade student Todd T. Brown in the back of the head as he walked down the hallway, Feb. 5.

Memon was charged as an adult. If convicted as an adult, there will be no limit on the sentence and he would be placed with the adult prison population.

Memon was transferred to the psychiatric hospital in August after District Judge Lynn Sherrod ordered the teen to undergo a complete mental evaluation. Memon was placed in solitary confinement under suicide watch shortly after a July 2 ruling that he be tried as an adult.

Madison Municipal Complex gets new addition

With the spearheading of Larry Muncey, Madison’s police chief, the police station will soon see a new addition that will more than doubled the size of the original building. The 15,000 square-foot, two-story addition includes an upstairs training facility.

Schools see budget cut

The Madison City School board voted to scrape off $1 million from the 2009-2010 budget. The decision came after money was left in a 43-day reserve fund. The school system reportedly lost $7 million after going through two rounds of proration.

MARCH

Police recover counterfeit bills

Nicholas Pappas and Samuel Sawyer were arrested in Madison and charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument. During the arrest, officers discovered counterfeit currency, which the Secret Service said had been passed from California to Florida.

Teacher receives math and science honor

Cheryl Adams, a teacher at Liberty Middle School was one of four Alabama Presidential Finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The award recognized teachers who have made outstanding contributions in the classroom.

McFerran is woman of consequence

Sheila McFerran received the International Women’s Day “Women of Consequence” award. McFerran, of Madison, was one of only two people to be bestowed with the honor. She is president and CEO of HandsOn Greater Huntsville, formerly the Volunteer Center of Madison County.

School board pays $1.2 million for grading of new high school

At a meeting, Thursday, March 25, Madison City School Board voted to give Summit Earth Company a $1.2 million contract for grading work on the new high school. Twelve companies submitted bids and Summit’s was the lowest at $1,233,669.

Boy Scouts raises $5,000 for Mill Creek Elementary

Allen King, a 13-year-old Boy Scout who attends Liberty Middle School donated 5,112 books for and donated $5,000 to Mill Creek Elementary.

King collected the items as part of his Eagle Scout project.

APRIL

City council meetings can now be viewed via home video

April 12 marked the first time Madison residents were able to view city council meetings on television.

The meetings were televised on Knology Channel 42.

Man caught breaking into a car

Joshua Bevis, 25, was arrested by Madison police after being caught breaking into a car inside a garage.

When the car’s owner confronted Bevis, he sped away and crashed into a pole on Springfield Lane.

After being released from Huntsville Hospital, Bevis was arrested on burglary, theft of property charges and unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle.

Madison City School Task Force goes into action

The safety task force that was created to improve safety in the school system presented a report to the school board.

The force recommended adding school resources, locking school doors, adding additional cameras and verifying the identity of school visitors and text-to-protect safety line.

Two sought in meth lab explosion

A methamphetamine lab explosion in a local apartment complex, Wednesday, April 28, led offers on a haunt for two Madison residents, Gwendolyn McMeen and Jessie Pugh, who officers said resided in the unit.

Student named 2010 Achievement Scholar

Maria Dwyer, a senior at Bob Jones High School, was one of eight Alabama high school students named 2010 Achievement Scholars.

The scholars were chosen from more than 160,000 students who entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as high school juniors.

Mill Creek students go green

Students at Mill Creek Elementary School did their part in the “green” cause by releasing butterflies that they had raised in the classroom. The students also planted trees and plants for the new “green” playground at the school.

MAY

Baking for a cause

In December of 2009, 1-year-old Ehrren Gillespie was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Since then, he has gotten treatment at St. Jude Hospital in Memphis. The Madison community held a bake sale for Gillespie Saturday, May 15 at the Magnolia Springs Subdivision Club House.

Gillespie underwent chemotherapy and surgery to remove a portion of the tumor.

Business fundraiser helps Bob Jones team

The Stem and Stein in Madison held a wine and beer tasting to fundraiser to benefit the Bob Jones High School Destination ImagiNation Project Outreach team, Sunday May 16.

Man sends officers on wild police chase

Shaquan Hunter, 19, was taken into custody Monday, May 17 after leading police on a chase from Madison to Huntsville. It all started after police responded to a burglary call on Douglas Street in Madison and two men fled in a truck when officers arrived.

Bob Jones Students sign no texting while driving pledge

With the urging of AT&T representative Dave Hargrove, Bob Jones High School students signed a pledge to not text and drive.

Sheibleys chosen as family of the year

Robert and Jennifer Sheibley and their four children were selected as Madison’s 2010 Family of the Year.

They were among two other finalists. The family was honored with a certificate from Mayor Paul Finley.

JUNE

Madison City School System receives $100,000 from Madison County Schools

Madison City Schools received a $117,763 check from Madison County School. The check, sent by the town of Triana in the form of educational taxes, was accidentally sent to the County school system, but Madison City Finance Director Lisa McMurray caught the mistake.

Palmer Park goes green

Citizen requests to have a place to dispose of plastic were granted when Palmer Park launched a pilot program to place six blue recycle bins throughout the park.

Gazebo concert success

The Madison Arts Council’s Gazebo Concerts was held June 24 in historic downtown Madison.

Concerts were held through Aug. 26 and featured artists Jim Parker, Donny and Susan Grace and Mary Justice Lucas.