Year in review features tops stories of 2007

A Pet ice cream truck overturned near the 10-mile marker on Highway 79 Monday, January 22, 2007. According to a report issued by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, the driver ran off of the road and then overcorrected, which caused the truck to flip. He was transported to MCG where he was treated and released.

JANUARY 4 - Students at LCMS serve the community through "Project Care"...Pam Norman and Randy Smith, Teachers of the Year for 2007, are profiled...Tonya Burt and her father, the late Nolan Arrowood, are featured on the Discovery Channel for participating in "paired kidney exchange surgery."

JANUARY 11 - Underage drinking at an Augusta Highway residence leads to the arrest of three adults...The Lincoln County Friends of the Library (FOL) dedicates its keepsake calendar to John Cullars McCrimmon...Teachers of the Year Benton Willis and Bridgette Cliatt are profiled.

JANUARY 18 - The Lincoln County Board of Education (BOE) approves a SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) referendum to build a new school; the group also pays tribute to the LCHS football team for winning the state championship...A juvenile is charged with committing armed robbery at Farmers & Merchants Bank...Growth is the focus of Lincoln County Commission Chairman Walker Norman's "state of the county" address...The Lincolnton City Council approves its FY 2007 budget...Allison McGill receives the Kettle Creek Chapter of the DAR's "Good Citizen Award."

Truett Cathy (l), guest speaker at the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Banquet, congratulates A.H. Wengrow, one of the founders of Goldman & Wengrow, the chamber's "Business of the Year."

JANUARY 25 - The parents of a man, who committed suicide while incarcerated in the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Center, file a lawsuit against the county...Truett Cathy is the guest speaker at the Lincolnton Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce banquet; the chamber names Goldman & Wengrow "Business of the Year"...Rev. Frederick Favors is the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance; Dr. Alcye Hawes receives the "Outstanding Citizenship Award"...A Pet ice cream truck overturns on Highway 79...Paul Reviere is elected to serve as chair of the SACS' Accreditation and School Improvement Council.

FEBRUARY 1 - The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners (BOC) issues an ultimatum to Sheriff Gerald Lawson to turn over proceeds from the inmate telephone system for inclusion in the General Fund or face legal action...Jarius Wynn is awarded a scholarship to play football at UGA...Over 60 students attend the LCHS Career Fair.

FEBRUARY 8 - The BOE hears administrators' plans and goals for the new year...A Macon County man is indicted on two counts of stalking...The Hero Metal Furniture Company, based in Jiaxing City, China, decides to locate a distribution center here...Canadian Steve Fox makes Lincolnton a stop on his world tour...Jazmon Dukes and Donnell Harris participate in the UGA Honor Band Festival...The Lincoln County Development Authority receives a grant for business park improvements.

FEBRUARY 15 - The county hears the first reading of a new taxicab amendment...The BOE will adopt a policy to limit hot weather practices...Congressman Charlie Norwood passes away following a lengthy illness...The winners of the LCES Science and Engineering Fair are announced...A record number of LCHS athletes sign scholarship contracts...Rev. Melvin Adams, Jr. is set to speak at the annual Lincoln County NAACP Banquet.

FEBRUARY 22 - The county files a petition for declaratory judgment relief against the sheriff...Destiny Jones wins the system-level spelling bee...Nobie Dean and Buddy Hawes are the recipients of the Lincoln County Historical Society's "2006 Citizenship Award"...Anthony Chapel UMC will host its 31st Annual Wild Game Supper...Justin Norman & Family releases its first full-length gospel CD...Bond Turner is crowned Mr. LCMS...A wreath-laying ceremony is held at the gravesite of Gen. Elijah Clark, one of the heroes of the Battle of Kettle Creek.

MARCH 1 - Subdivisions and building permits reflect unprecedented growth in the county...Christopher Reid is named the STAR Student at LCHS and Mark Flowers, the STAR Teacher...LCMS/LCHS will host its 23rd Annual M.A.D. (Music, Art, and Drama) Night...Sarah Fonseca and Joel Dukes are chosen to participate in the District 10 Honor Band.

MARCH 8 - The city awards two contracts to replace or rehabilitate sewer lines in the Metasville Road area...Dalton Tankersley exhibits the grand champion steer at the Washington Area Steer & Heifer Show...Maverica "Samone" Andrews and Franklin "D.J." Jones are recognized by ASU as the top African-American students at LCHS...Savanna Barnett is crowned "Lincoln Young Miss"...Cindy Juhasz will travel to Australia and New Zealand with the People to People Student Ambassador Program...Chris Edwards edits an award-winning newspaper at Berry College.

MARCH 15 - The county adopts a monthly water availability fee...The Georgia Government Teen Advisory Board meets at The Lincoln Center...LCHS athletes are honored during Fall Sports Awards Night.

MARCH 22 - Two men from Wrens and a Lincolnton woman are charged in connection with an armed robbery that took place at Farmers & Merchants Bank; two of the individuals are further charged with a robbery that occurred at the night deposit box at Farmers State Bank...Members of the LCHS Debate Team win bids to national tournaments...The Terry Tankersley Memorial Trail Ride set for March 31 at Bussey Point...Alana Burke is elected chairman of the CSRA United Development Council...Alex Bryan earns a first-place ribbon at the CSRA RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency) Science Fair...Five students from LCHS place in the top 10 at the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) State Leadership Conference.

MARCH 29 - The SPLOST referendum passes; plans are underway for a new school...The LCHS Literary Team wins the Region 7-A title; the girls trio takes top honors at the state level...Community Holy Week Services will be held April 2-6...Mulberry C.M.E. is set to host an ecumenical Good Friday service...The LCHS Baseball Team is improving after a slow start...The state climatologist reports that the Georgia is entering a mild drought.

APRIL 5 - Attorneys for Sheriff Lawson file a response to the county's petition for declaratory judgment relief...High pollen levels create misery for allergy sufferers...The Lincoln County Health Department observes "National Public Health Week."

APRIL 12 - "Peachy Clean Day" will be held in the city and county April 21...The Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Department and the Lincoln County Public Works Department move into their new offices on Perryman Avenue...Fishing Creek Bait & Tackle and the Fishing Creek Camping & RV Park will host a fishing tournament to benefit the library...Lizzy Long's latest CD features Little Roy Lewis and Earl Scruggs.

APRIL 19 - Writing scores at LCMS are higher than those in the 12-county area served by CSRA RESA and the state as a whole...A civil lawsuit is filed against the sheriff by a local businessman...Brandon Barden, a former quarterback at LCHS, escapes harm in the Virginia Tech shootings...High winds blow the steeple off of St. Luke Baptist Church...The United States Army recognizes Coach Larry Campbell for his participation in the 2007 United States Army All-America Bowl.

APRIL 26 - A Dallas man gets a life sentence for aggravated child molestation...The LCHS Musical Theatre Department is set to present "Once Upon a Mattress" May 3-5...Tom Poland, author and Lincoln County native, will speak at the library...Bands at LCMS and LCHS will present their spring concert in the school auditorium...The "National Day of Prayer" will be observed during a special service on the front steps of the Lincoln County Courthouse...The chamber will host Southern Gospel Night at Elijah Clark State Park May 3...Tiffani Andrews speaks out about her fight against cancer.

MAY 3 - The 20th Annual Lewis Family Homecoming and Bluegrass Festival begins today at the park...The community mourns the loss of A.H. Wengrow, a downtown institution...A local merchant is robbed at knife point; the case remains under investigation...The Red Devil diamondmen prepare to wind up regular season play.

MAY 10 - The BOE reviews its preliminary budget for FY 2008; the group also recognizes the Girls Class A State Championship Trio...The Red Devils head to the state baseball playoffs for the fourth consecutive year...The Sixth Annual ACS (American Cancer Society) Relay for Life will be held May 11- 12 in memory of Mildred Brown; Brittany Dandron is slated to serve as the honorary chairman...New Level 2 water restrictions will remain in effect until further notice...The LCMS Choral Department is scheduled to present the musical "Annie, Jr." May 11-12 in the school auditorium.

MAY 17 - The county relaxes the standards for accessory buildings...Chris Reid is named the valedictorian for LCHS, and Courtney Janssen, the salutatorian, at Academic Honors Night...Middle school students are recognized at the 19th Annual Sixth and Seventh-Grade Academic Reception.

MAY 24 - The community raises over $37,500 at the ACS Relay for Life...Graduation exercises for the LCHS Class of 2007 are held at Buddy Bufford Field...Friends and family mourn the loss of Wallace Lewis, one of the founding members of the Lewis Family...A Memorial Day service is set for Monday at the courthouse...LCHS athletes are recognized at Winter and Spring Athletic Awards Night...Musicians are honored at the LCMS/LCHS Band Awards Ceremony.

MAY 31 - The historical society receives a grant to relocate the F.M. Hogan General Store to the historical park; a groundbreaking ceremony is held for the structure...Larry Campbell, head football coach at LCHS, is inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame...Former Red Devil Brandon Barden transfers from Virginia Tech to Vanderbilt...Eighthgrade students at LCMS take part in a promotion ceremony...Graduation exercises are held for the fifth-grade class at LCES...The library receives a Circuit Rider Archivist Consultation Grant.

JUNE 7 - The city considers adopting a "skateboarding ordinance"...Sheriff Lawson visits Israel as a member of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange delegation...Charles Owen & Company, Ltd., based in Wrexham, North Wales, will move its distribution center to the former FDB building...LCES boasts several district and state winners in the "Smokey Bear Poster Contest."

JUNE 14 - The BOE approves a tentative FY 2008 General Fund Budget and adopts changes to student handbooks...Voters will head to the polls Tuesday to elect a new congressman and a state senator...Coach Campbell receives the Dwight Keith Award from the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association...Three Lady Devils will play basketball at the college level...The county is awarded an Employee Wellness Incentive Grant...The historical society hosts "Family Fun Day" at the historical park.

JUNE 21 - The county hires a company to develop drawings for a new gymnasium and amends the alcoholic beverage ordinance...Bill Jackson wins the senate race; whereas, Jim Whitehead and Paul Broun will face each other in a runoff for the congressional seat...The library hosts the Morris Museum of Art Panel Exhibition...Micah Hollimon is named Lincoln County Little Mr., and Alexis Hohlwein, Little Miss...Michael Standiford assumes his duties as the new environmental health specialist for Lincoln County.

JUNE 28 - The BOE adopts the final FY 2008 General Fund Budget, anticipating no increase in the millage rate...The Lincoln County Department of Public Safety conducts a full-scale disaster drill...A fair, a concert, and other events will be held the week of July 4 to benefit American Legion Post 194...CSM Jesse Andrews and Sgt. Melissa Elam, both stationed in Iraq, are pictured with a copy of The Lincoln Journal...Lincoln County Little League is set to host the Junior League All-Star Tournament at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex...The Lincoln County Tax Assessor's Office moves to the "house" formerly occupied by the planning and zoning office and the public works department...At 101 years of age, Beulah Beard has seen it all.