A Look Back at 2005

It’s that time again—the turkey has been baked, the gifts have been unwrapped and we now turn our attentions to preparing for the new year.

Disaster seemed to plague the year in news for 2005. Abroad the efforts to liberate Iraq continued as American soldiers, including many of our friends and family, continued to head for the Middle East to fight for freedom.

The year began with clean-up efforts in Asia following the unprecedented tsunami that hit after Christmas killing more than 80,000.

In the Spring of the year Pope John Paul II died and the world speculated for weeks about who would replace him. We watched Lance Armstrong win his seventh consecutive Tour De France, Prince Charles wed Camilla, and the London bombings which reminded us of Ground Zero.

A little closer to home we witnessed Brian Nichols on the run in Atlanta, Jennifer Wilbanks on the run to New Mexico, and many Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims headed all over the U.S.
Politically the nation wasn’t short for news that could change the scope of our futures. The loss of Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist and retirement of Sandra O’Connor changed the face of the nation’s highest court.

The Terry Schiavo battle made us think more about our choices in life as it affects our death. Death is what it is and we’ve all experienced the pain of loss—the nation lost comedians in Johnny Carson and Richard Pryor; activists in Ossie Davis and Rosa Parks; royalty in Prince Rainier; brilliance in Johnny Cochran and Arthur Miller; integrity in Peter Jennings; and soul in Luther Vandross.

While national news provides us with great conversation pieces it’s local news that we really take to heart. What will you remember most about Jasper County news in 2005? Compare your list to the local headlines that appeared in The News.
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JANUARY
Joan bell was named the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year for 2005.

•Shortly after the tsunami hit Southeastern Asia, an ice storm was hitting Southeastern United States. Though the storm didn’t cause massive deaths, it did cause massive power outages.

•Monticello native and University of Georgia linebacker Odell Thurman decides to turn pro and forego his senior year.

•The Piedmont Academy debate team places first at state competition.

•A newly elected Jasper County Commission conducts its first meeting selecting Jack Bernard as chairman and Bob Yarbrough as vice-chairman.

•Joyce Wallace retires from Georgia-Pacific after 26 years of service to the company.

•The second meeting of the commission draws a record crowd and concludes after midnight.

FEBRUARY

FBLA youth, Chris Wall, advances to state competition for computer applications.

•Jasper County Tax Assessors begin process of setting new conservation guidelines.

•A court hearing to determine the service delivery strategy for the Alcovy Shores Water & Sewer Authority (ASWA) and the Jasper County Water & Sewer Authority (JCWSA) is held.

•Parrish Construction Group is awarded the construction contract for the new high school.

•Former Hurricane athlete Damian Tripp is named to the 2004-2005 All Region 7AA Basketball Squad.

•JCHS students assist in launching a new state website with Governor Sonny Perdue.

•JCHS skills USA students April Thomason and Shantavious Epps advance to state.

MARCH

Martha Digby of Monticello is named the Putnam County Star Teacher.

•Emma Watson celebrated her 99th birthday.

•Ted Dunagan publishes his first book, “The Yellow Watermelon.”

•The Hospital Funding Review Committee conducts its first meeting with a facilitator to review Jasper Memorial Hospital’s financial outlook.

•JCHS senior Wayland Couch is named Jasper County Star Student.

•Tax Assessors institute a new conservation policy.

•The 2005 Jasper County Leadership Program graduates 18.

•JCHS Literary Team places second in region.

APRIL

•Sage Edwards becomes Better Hometown Director.

•The city of Monticello and JCWSA partner on water issues for the county.

•Bernie Fontaine becomes county manager, again, under the new commission.

•The search for a new city manager begins.

•Country recording artist and Jasper County native Trisha Yearwood returns home to film a video for her upcoming album, Jasper County.

•Talks began to combine the local fire and emergency management services.

•The Lady Hurricane tennis team qualifies for state competition.

•Odell Thurman is drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round.

•Three Lady Canes qualify for state track competition.

•Jason Aldean earns a spot on the Billboard Country Chart. His father is local resident Barry Williams.

•City of Monticello gets another billing system.

•Piedmont Cougars make it to the state baseball playoffs.

MAY

Market on the Square in Monticello begins a seven month Saturday run.

•The county appeals the sales ratio figures.

• Rev. Jimmy Horton celebrates 24 years as pastor of Springfield Baptist Church.

•James Wright, District 1 commissioner-elect, passes away and thereby vacates the post he was elected to serve.

•The ASWA files an appeal to the April 7 ruling of Judge Hulane George regarding the service delivery area.

•JMH becomes the birthplace, despite not having a maternity ward, of William Jacob Dennis.

•Jasper County School Board purchases additional land for the new school at $7,500 an acre.

•Piedmont Academy Headmaster Johnny Smith retires after 16 years.

•JCWSA acquires three new members.

•Seventy-seven graduate from JCHS and 18 graduate from Piedmont.

JUNE

Jehan El-Jourbagy, a JCHS garduate, takes oath to become an attorney.

•JMH hires a new director of nursing, Nancy Taylor.

•Hugh King is hired as city manager.

•Trisha Yearwood becomes engaged to Garth Brooks.

•Monticello Presbyterian Church group attends mission in Mexico.

•Endangered bald eagle is seen in Jasper County.

JULY

Joan Bell becomes Adult Education Director at Griffin Tech.

•Bernie Fontaine resigns as county manager.
Leonard Myers becomes temporary manager.

•The JMH heli-pad is constructed.

•Fourth of July car crash injures many and kills one.

AUGUST

Attorney Fred Bright is re-elected as District Attorney for the Ocmulgee Court Circuit.

•Sarah Smith celebrates 99 years.

•Cell phones are prohibited at JCHS.

•Chris Anderson is named Jasper County Planning Director.

•Odell Thurman begins Bengal training camp.

•Twenty-three new public school teachers begin work.

•Economic Development Authority receives $50,000 grant from USDA.

•Hurricanes Katrina and Rita cause increased gas prices everywhere.

SEPTEMBER

Special election results place Carl Pennamon back on the commission. He defeated Joseph McMichael to replace James Wright in District 1.

•School board agrees a new school construction budget of $13.3 million.

•Hot air balloon rides debut on the Square.

•Gas prices exceed $3 per gallon.

•Dr. Richard Sobel becomes ER director at JMH.

•Dr. Miriam Jordan retires from JCHS after 30 years of service.

•Probate Judge Kathy Tyler dies.

•Funderburg Park developments hit yet another a snag.

OCTOBER

Odell Thurman earns his first NFL sack and touchdown as a rookie with the Bengals.

•JCHS held a groundbreaking at the new high school site.

•Dept. of Transportation Commissioner Harold Linnekohl visits Jasper County and promises to match SPLOST funds, if passed, for road development.

•City of Monticello and JCWSA apply for a $500,000 USDA emergency grant for water services.

•Australian cyclist travels across America with a stop in Monticello.

NOVEMBER

New county manager Greg Williams takes office.
•Linda Mock is elected Probate Judge during a special election that also gives victory to the SPLOST referendum.

•Local veterans are honored.

•Varsity football Cougars become state play-off eligible.

•Assessor chairman James Harrell and vice-chairman Gerald Bramblett resign from the board.

•Kerri Norris is named Deer Festival Queen during the annual Deer Festival.

•Georgia-Pacific comes under new ownership.

•Commission cuts funding to several departments.

•Maggie Potter resigns as Chamber of Commerce executive director.

DECEMBER

Dept. of Transportation begins bridge construction on Hwy. 16 at Butts/Jasper County line.

•Camera in JCHS bathroom sparks national media attention.

•Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks wed in Oklahoma.

•City of Monticello receives $500,000 grant from Congress for the streetscape project.

•Brady McMichael wins the annual drawing for Peach Bowl tickets.

•Commissioners seek a monthly pay increase.