The Citizen revisits some of the highlights of 2012

January
Ellen Warren became the first female chair of the Morgan County Board of Commissioners.
Madison Mayor Bruce Gilbert announced the close of his business, Madison Hardware and Supply.
An Eatonton man fled the scene of an East Jefferson Street accident.
A fire destroyed a Greensboro Road home.
The Morgan County NAACP celebrated the Emancipation Proclamation.
The Pluckhahns received the 2011 Neighbor of the Year award. 
Redeemer Academy and Gatewood Schools merged.
Alvin Richardson shared details about his boating adventure on Clarks Hill Lake.
Joe Hutcheson resigned as principal of Morgan County Middle School. Details as to why Hutcheson resigned were not disclosed.
A trench collapse trapped Southeast Grading employee Brandon Malcom until Morgan County Fire Station 4 could rescued him.
A 16-year-old male accused an 18-year-old male of threatening him and another 19-year-old male with a gun.
Levi Alliston, a 5-year-old sheep rider, competed in Las Vegas.
The Anaiah Rucker Foundation provided a wheelchair lift to a student in need.
Rodney Hopkins was found guilty of child molestation, statutory rape and ordered to serve 12 years.
The Morgan County African American Museum celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.
More than 50 farmers from Morgan, Greene, and Jasper counties fought a consolidation plan that would close the Morgan County Farm Service Agency office.
Apalachee Schoolhouse turned 100 years old.

February
A 76-year-old Rutledge woman died after she and her 79-year-old husband were struck in a crosswalk in downtown Madison.
After a year of searching for a new chief executive officer, the Morgan Memorial Hospital Authority Board voted to hire Ralph Castillo as CEO. 
The Morgan County School System hosted a strategic planning meeting that drew about 300 people.
A woman alleged that her supervisor kissed her. The supervisor denied allegations and said that he believed the woman was attempting to divert attention from the fact that he had written the complainant up for stealing.
JoAnn Clyde received a new house thanks to her seven children after her old house was damaged in a 2011 tornado.
Madisonian Betty Thomas, better known as “Mom Bee,” died at age 106.
Investigation launched into Morgan County Middle School Assistant Principal Kemberly Williams for making illegal copies of DVDs.
Bob Hughes was named Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce President.
On Jan. 31 Kelli Evette Thompson, 34, Bostwick, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault after she allegedly stabbed a man in the neck with a potato peeler.
After nearly 20 years, Morgan County Probate Judge Michael Bracewell announced he would not seek another term in office.
Morgan County Elementary School hosted a student-led technology demonstration night.
Morgan County students work together to learn how to tie a tie as part of the SUCCESS program.
On Feb. 5 a larceny complaint was filed at a Larkmartin Street location after a woman reported that a couple refused to return a puppy. A man said he would return the puppy when the woman produced $10,000, which he said covered the cost of boarding and training the puppy for the month.
Madison Baptist Church ordained Lindsey Ware Richardson, the first woman to be ordained to the ministry in the 177-year history of the church.
Members of the Morgan County High School Robotics Team participated in a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition.
Lady Bulldogs player Kiara Smith was crowned Morgan County High School’s valedictorian and Class President Laura Margaret Burbach earned the title of the 2012 salutatorian.
Jesse Triplett and Tom DuPree III made it big in Nashville with the up-and-coming group Throwing Gravity.

March
Madison City Council voted to end impact fees and to revisit them in two years.
Morgan County hired a new fire chief, Mark Melvin.
The Morgan County Library received “The Traveling Musicians” statue from Lenox Square in Atlanta.
Morgan County’s Big Kev’s BBQ combines the Armstrong’s family effort with entrepreneurial style, family-style.
Clearcutting was halted at Hard Labor Creek State Park until a comprehensive resource management plan could be completed. 
Morgan County Primary School second graders presented their annual “Hall of Famous Americans.”
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church bestowed the honor of Pastor Emeritus upon the Rev. Alfred W. Murray for his 34 years of service, from 1975-2009.
Eleven Morgan County non-profits received more than $30,000 from The Morgan Fund, a local fund of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta during its annual reception, “Celebration of Community.”
Andre Peterson, a student at Morgan County Middle School, was accepted into the People to People Ambassador Program, an educational travel provider founded by President Eisenhower in 1956.
Ronald Mastrogiovanni was found guilty of 11 counts of sexual exploitation of children. He was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison and five years on probation.
Morgan County High School Principal Dr. Mark Wilson resigned so he could become president of his own Educational Leadership Group.
Morgan County Middle School Assistant Principal Kemberly Williams resigned.
Three men with more than 100 combined arrests added to that tally when they were arrested and charged with burglary after an unsuccessful robbery attempt at the Madison Chevron on Eatonton Highway.

April
The Morgan County Board of Commissioners agreed to fund $15,000 for a study that could pave the way for the creation of a regional locally grown “food hub” in Morgan County.
Morgan County was ranked Georgia’s 10th healthiest county, according to a new study at the University of Wisconsin.
A Georgia Bill that outlines tighter eligibility requirements for the state’s Conservation Tax Credit Program could mean a loss in acres protected in Morgan County, according to Madison-Morgan Conservancy Director Christine McCauley.
The Morgan County School System projected a $4.8 million shortfall.
After a year-long investigation, a former Morgan County Department of Family and Children Services employee was arrested and charged with four counts of theft by taking. The employee allegedly stole $1,000 from DFCS coworkers.
The Uncle Remus Regional Library Board opted out of adopting an e-book system for its libraries in Morgan County and five neighboring counties after weighing the results of a 2011 study.
Global medical manufacturer Baxter International is set to bring 1,500-plus jobs to the area by the year 2018.
A proposed senior housing project received backlash at a Madison City Council meeting.
The Morgan County Board of Education voted unanimously to eliminate the payroll salary step that credits teachers who’ve taught for 25-plus years.

May
Morgan County Sheriff Robert Markley announced that he would seek a fourth term in office.
Two men were arrested shortly after a Shake Rag Road resident startled the pair apparently in the middle of a daylight robbery.
Nine participated in the Madison Artists Guild’s 5th Annual Plein Air Paint Out.
The Morgan County Board of Education cut 10 days from the Morgan County School System employees’ 2012-2013 work calendar.
The Morgan County Board of Commissioners signed off on a letter of support for the Joint Development Authority’s application for $13.7 million in OneGeorgia EDGE funding. The funds will be used for the construction of a training facility next door to Baxter International’s main infrastructure.
Seventy-nine percent of fifth graders passed the Grade 5 Writing test.
“Dr. Babs” Johnston shared her commitment to mentor Morgan County’s students.
Ocmulgee Judicial District Superior Court Judge John Lee Parrott resigned following an inquiry by the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission.
Lake Oconee Living magazine took home top honors at the 2012 Magazine Association of the Southeast GAMMA awards luncheon, receiving eight awards including the coveted Grand GAMMA, awarded to the magazine which the judges deem “the best of the best.”
For the fourth consecutive year Morgan County High School has been nationally ranked.
More than 500 motorcyclists participated in the 14th annual Ride for America. The bikes were bound for Madison from Loganville, many of them bearing veteran riders.

June
Morgan County sees a budget shortfall of $1.9 million due to an expenditure increase, a $623,000 revenue reduction and $1.13 million of the FY12 fund balance depleted.
Three years after the State of Georgia declared a ban on texting while driving, new technology aids in enforcing the law. A new device called Celllcontrol affectively restricts texting and other hands-on applications while driving.
Bobby Mackey published Helping Our Mothers Raise Our Brothers, a 30-page magazine with a focus on single parenting.
The Georgia State Patrol Post 8 evidence room was burglarized. The evidence consisted of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and prescription narcotics.
The Morgan County Board of Education voted unanimously to modify the 2012-2013 student calendar by eliminating two student days: Nov. 19 and 20.
Morgan County High School Principal Dr. Mark Wilson said goodbye to MCHS after nine years.

July
A Madison man was found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault, one count of possession of a firearm during a commission of a crime and four counts of obstruction of justice following a two-day trial before Morgan County Superior Court Judge William Prior.
Morgan County outperformed the state in every subjected and grade level on the latest administration of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT).
The replacement of a Brownwood Road bridge that runs above Big Indian Creek was postponed until September due to the discovery of two families of barn swallows living beneath the bridge.
Morgan County volunteer firefighters and members of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office located a deceased man after a nearly 10-hour search near the Mallard Ridge subdivision.
Madison native Jesse Triplett, a guitarist, played for Jay Leno and Morgan Freeman on the Tonight Show.
Madison native Kendall Sherwood continues her work as a script coordinator and writer’s assistant for TNT.

August
A large crowd gathered at the county Board of Elections and Registration office to watch election results come in. Charles Merritt defeated Terry Evans for the Probate Judge post.
Bobby Smith, University of Georgia’s agricultural extension agent for Morgan County, announced that he would leave his post to take a position with UGA as an agriculture and natural resources program development coordinator.
An eight-year veteran with the Madison Police Department was arrested and charged with one count of theft by taking after he allegedly took $900 in counterfeit bills from evidence storage in 2008.
Baxter International broke ground on its new building in Stanton Springs. Baxter will bring 1,500 jobs and a median salary of $60,000 when the city is fully operational in 2018.
Madison City Council voted 4-1 to return $56,922 to city businesses and residents who paid an impact fee between 2009 and early 2012, while the ordinance was in effect.
Sunday sales of beer, wine or other alcoholic drinks seven days a week went into effect mid-August.
A change in Georgia Health Insurance will cost regional libraries a combined additional $63,667 a year, according to Uncle Remus Regional Library System Sitting Director Steve Scahefer.
Andre Peterson, a freshman at Morgan County High School, traveled to Australia through the People to People Ambassador Program.
The Eatonton Road AT&T store was robbed of approximately $14,000 worth of cell phones and an undetermined amount of cash.
Morgan County High School students earned all-time high marks on Advancement Placement and International Baccalaureate exams.
The Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit’s Vicky Lynn takes a stand in local courtrooms on behalf of victims.
A group from Madison Baptist Church took a nine-day mission trip to Kwangju, South Korea.

September
The Madison Downtown Development Authority received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to remedy the lack of drainage on Burney, Mapp, and Pearl streets.
Marcia Brooks and Kittie Mayfield, natives of Morgan County and a mother and daughter pair, wrote a book on Madison for the Images of America series.
A man questioned by Morgan County deputies after they found him asleep in a car in a church parking lot was involved in a serious accident less than an hour later and charged with DUI.
At the end of January, Laruen Bell, a resident of Madison, will turn 21 years old and will cease to be a dependent of her parents in the eyes of the American government. She will likely be deported back to England while her mother, father and younger sister will still be here, over 4,000 miles away.
A Buckhead woman was arrested on 23 counts of theft by taking charges and seven counts of financial card fraud charges in the alleged theft of more than $40,000.
Morgan County received a Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant for $357,965.
Georgia climbed out of the bottom 10 states in the nation when it comes to the well-being of children.
Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp proposed an idea to make public access to the Georgia Archives in Morrow by appointment only.

October
The Madison Police Department’s “Operation Clean Sweep” swept up four men on marijuana possession with intent to distribute charges.
Allegations of sexual harassment dating back to 2010 were made against Morgan County Commissioner Mack Bohlen by a female county employee.
Sandy Sanford, 67, lost power to his “Breezy” airplane moments before it cleared the runway. The plane crashed, nose first, into the ground.
Madison Police Chief Travis Stapp resigned from his position. The resignation came on the heels of an audit that revealed management and morale issues.

November
Nearly 74 percent of Morgan County voters participated in November’s General Election.
Becky Astin was re-elected to her post of Morgan County Tax Commissioner with 58.81 percent of the vote, or 5,116 votes out of 8,699 total votes.
Erica Veasley won the Morgan County Board of Education District 1 seat with 64.11 percent of the vote, or 1,129 votes out of 1,761 total votes.
A man apparently dressed as a zombie was arrested and charged with speeding, failure to maintain lane, driving with a suspended license and DUI refusal after a Morgan County deputy stopped the man for allegedly driving 83 miles per hour in a 45 MPH zone.
Six years to the day he was reported missing, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office last Friday announced that bones found in the vicinity of Old Mill and Estes roads are that of Iraqi war veteran Jason Roark.
Morgan County Primary School teacher Stacy Chapman was named System-wide Teacher of the Year.
The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy fundraiser raised between $10,000 and $15,000.
Stipends for local elementary school teachers are taking the sting out of planning for and simultaneously putting into place the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards. They get about $150 for 10 hours of work, provided they document their time and have their work reviewed and approved by a consultant.
The Madison-Morgan County branch of the Boys & Girls Club of North Central Georgia raised $20,000 with their first Dancing with Madison’s Stars fundraiser.
Sixteen local “celebrities” competed against fifth graders in a TV-inspired fundraiser. The event raised over $3,000 for Partners in Education.

December
Dover Corporation, an $8 billion, Chicago-based corporation, announced that it purchased Anthony International for $600 million.
Education veteran Minnie Peek took the District 1 post at a Morgan County Board of Education meeting for the last time.
Morgan Memorial Hospital had a net income of $44,616 out of a total hospital revenue of $1.2 million for October. They had budgeted a negative $24,298 for that month.
More than 95 percent of 11th grade first-time test takers passed the GHSWT – focused on persuasive writing – last year, up from more than 93 percent in 2009.
The Morgan County Charter School System will not receive the much-anticipated Race to the Top-District grant. They requested more than $9.7 million to personalize learning by providing each student with their own individual laptop or iPad.
After 15 years, the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum will close permanently in January 2013.
Morgan Countians Lori Sheldon and Kevin Power saved a sea turtle during a trip to the Florida Keys this summer.