Welcome Mason is shown with his invitation (inset) to the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama, which he received on January 13, 2009. He and his wife, Rubye, were also invited to the inaugurations of President Jimmy Carter and President Bill Clinton. JANUARY 1 — Students at LCMS help those in need through “Project Care”...The 146th Annual Emancipation Proclamation Observance takes place at Ebenezer Baptist Church...Students at LCMS and LCHS offer advice to President-Elect Barack Obama.

JANUARY 8 — The City of Lincolnton awards two contracts for sewerage system improvements... The newly-constructed gymnasium at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex is named after Walker Norman.

JANUARY 15 — Wade Johnson, chairman of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners (BOC), paints a bleak picture of the county’s financial future; the commission combines the Public Works and the Planning and Zoning departments...Several Red Devils are recognized by the media for their accomplishments on the gridiron...Amanda Scott is crowned “Miss Augusta”...Welcome and Rubye Mason receive their third invitation to a presidential inauguration...Strong winds take their toll on the county.

JANUARY 22 — LCES and LCMS are designated as “Distinguished Title I Schools”...Rev. J. Ronzell Maness is the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance; Sadie and Willie Harris receive the “Outstanding Citizenship Award”...Six churches celebrate the spirit of community service on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day...Daravious Cullars is presented with the Daughters of the American Revolution’s (DAR) “Good Citizen Award”...Lincoln County native Denise Williams returns home to sign copies of her new book.

JANUARY 29 — Chairman Johnson reports on the state of the county’s finances...A career fair is held at LCHS...Lindy Byrd is named the “Citizen of the Year” by the Lincoln County Historical Society...Two local churches host showings of the movie “Fireproof”...The Lincoln County Development Authority offers businesses the opportunity to meet with representatives of two state economic development agencies...Local schools celebrate “Thank Your Mentor Day.”

FEBRUARY 5 –- The Lincoln County Board of Education (BOE) holds its annual planning session...Singer John Berry is the special guest at the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Banquet; community service awards are presented to deserving individuals...Amanda Scott is named the STAR Student at LCHS, and Kathy Thomas, the STAR Teacher.

FEBRUARY 12 – The county amends its budget to reflect cuts in equipment and salaries...Dorcas Jane Rogers is indicted on charges of theft by taking and fraud...LCHS Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) students make an impressive presentation to the BOE...A civil lawsuit filed against Sheriff Gerald Lawson by Ernie Guthrie is dismissed by the United States District Court...A crowd turns out in support of a county employee at a called BOC meeting...Natasia Harris is crowned the 2009 Lincoln Young Miss...The city agrees to allow the extension service to operate a farmers’ market during the summer...Elijah Clark State Park will host a program honoring General Clark.

FEBRUARY 19 – The BOC gives control of the E-911 center to the sheriff’s office...The newspaper criticizes the BOC’s actions...Ernie Doss resigns as the county’s public safety director...Ashley Asbell is crowned Miss LCMS, and Rex Bandy, Mr. LCMS...Kimberley Scott of WJBF NewsA huge crowd attended a meeting held February 17, 2009, at the Lincoln County Courthouse to plead with legislative representatives to enact new laws governing the United States Army Corps of Engineers and its management of Clark’s Hill Lake. Channel 6 is scheduled to speak at the Lincoln County NAACP Banquet...Members of the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) chapter at LCHS compete at the region level.

FEBRUARY 26 – Individuals from Lincoln and four other counties gather to plead with legislative representatives to enact new laws governing the United States Army Corps of Engineers and its management of Clark’s Hill Lake...LCHS is designated as an AP (Advanced Placement) Honor School...Vandals damage the pavilion at the Lincoln County Historical Park...A “Vocabulary Parade” is held at LCES.

MARCH 5 – The city discusses rising lake levels...The county receives close to six inches of rain in two days...The corps halts all outflows for nearly 48 hours...C.J. Goldman exhibits the grand champion steer at the Washington Area Steer & Heifer Show; Justin Ashmore captures first-place honors in Twelfth-Grade Showmanship... Alana Burke, executive director of the development authority, is the guest of honor at a retirement reception... Exchange students at LCHS discuss life at home and abroad.

MARCH 12 – Personnel cuts save the BOE $400,000...Dalton Tankersley exhibits the grand champion Simmental steer at the 2009 Georgia Junior National Livestock Show; Bentley Beggs walks away with three first-place finishes in class...A kickoff is held for the Silver Lining Foundation, established in honor of Emma Smith...Loco VFD receives a $65,268 grant for needed equipment...Kashade Andrews and Donnell Harris are honored during the African-American High School Scholar Recognition Program held at ASU.

MARCH 19 – With a spike in SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) revenues and help from the community, the BOC will be able to open the pool this summer; Chairman Johnson announces that the county’s shortfall of close to $321,000 has been drastically reduced...The LCHS Literary Team wins the region title...Congressman Paul Broun discusses the lake, transportation, and the Stimulus Package during a visit to Lincolnton...The community mourns the loss of former county commissioner Allen Goldman...A historical marker is placed at the site of the Lincolnton Colored School...The 25th Annual M.A.D. (Music, Art, and Drama) Night is set for March 23 at LCMS and LCHS.

MARCH 26 – LCHS students surpass both the state and CSRA RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency) averages on six out of seven End-of-Course Tests (EOCT)...The LCHS Literary Team captures the state Class A championship...Art students at LCHS bring a vintage Coca- Cola sign back to life.

APRIL 2 – Members of the Twilight Improvement Association, Inc. (TIA) petition the BOE to aggressively recruit and retain African- American personnel; Howie Gunby is hired as assistant principal at LCMS...First Assembly of God is set to present a passion play for the community...Lincoln County ACS (American Cancer Society) Relay for Life teams will hold a joint fund-raiser on April 4...Congressman Broun meets with corps officials to discuss the Savannah River Basin...FBLA members compete at the state level, with Taylor Dukes advancing to the nationals...The schedule for Community Holy Week Services is announced.

APRIL 9 – Over $4 million in A historic marker was unveiled on March 14, 2009, at the site of the Lincolnton Colored School, formerly known as the First Baptist Elementary School. Pictured are: (l-r) Ficklen Guin, assistant superintendent for transportation and nutrition for the Lincoln County School System, and alumni James Williams, Welcome Mason, Ernestine Faust, and Mamie Lois Tate. ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds is designated to pave the portion of Highway 378 that runs from Lincolnton to Washington...The Mulberry Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church will host its annual ecumenical service on Good Friday...A city worker is assaulted at the water treatment plant...One of the best kept secrets in the county is the Family Y’s Camp Lakeside...The annual county-wide clean-up day is scheduled for April 18...F & M Bank makes a generous donation in support of LCHS’s AP Program...Due to recent rains, the lake rises 7.3 feet in one month...LCMS will hold its second annual athletic awards night.

APRIL 16 – The BOC looks at leasing Cherokee Park from the corps...Rainfall drives lake levels within five feet of full pool...The LCHS Boys Tennis Team prepares for its fifth consecutive trip to the state playoffs...The Lewis Family, Jeff and Sheri Easter, and the Easter Brothers will hold a benefit concert to raise funds to convert the Lewis Family Homeplace into a museum...The chamber of commerce announces plans to spotlight local cooks and businesses in a community cookbook...LCHS students take part in the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) State Leadership Conference; Miranda Banks is invited to attend the national convention.

APRIL 23 – The BOE recognizes the literary team and system-level winners of the Young Georgia Authors’ Writing Competition...The community is invited to view the prom decorations at LCHS...The Lincoln County Cancer Survivor Banquet is held at Lincolnton UMC; Relay for Life gets underway Friday...The Graves Mountain Rock Swap & Dig is set for April 24- 26...The chamber of commerce and the Lincoln County Arts Council will host Southern Gospel Night at the park.

APRIL 30 – Fans flock to the park for the final Lewis Family Homecoming & Bluegrass Festival...The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office charges a local man with conspiracy to commit murder...Citizens are invited to gather at the Lincoln County Courthouse to observe the 58th Annual “National Day of Prayer”...The LCHS Musical Theatre Class will present “Seussical the Musical” May 7- 9...The LCHS Boys Tennis Team makes it to the “Sweet 16” in the state playoffs.

MAY 7 – Local governments and businesses can benefit from some extra help, courtesy of the ARRA and the East Central Georgia Workforce Investment program...Jarius Wynn is drafted by the Green Bay Packers...Xao Thao pleads guilty in federal court to possessing unauthorized credit card numbers and aggravated identity theft...LCHS Varsity Baseball Coach Billy Beale is recognized for his 450th win...More than $35,000 is raised for the fight against cancer at the Lincoln County ACS Relay for Life.

MAY 14 – The county is one of only 40 school districts in the state where 100 percent of the teachers are designated as “highly qualified”...Krishna Patel and Kayla Lyons are named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the LCHS Class of 2009 at academic honors night...Lincoln County Family Connection will offer summer camp at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex...John Ludwig, Jr. is taken into custody after a warrant is issued for his arrest on murder charges...The historical society will publish recipes from legendary cooks...The chamber and the arts council host a “Shag Extravaganza.”

MAY 21 – The county receives a grant for the purchase of a new ambulance...An academic reception is held to honor sixth and seventh-graders at LCMS...LCHS athletes are recognized at the school’s annual awards ceremony...Vehicular homicide charges are filed against Michael Johnson...The Lincoln County Library hosts a panel exhibition from the Morris Museum of Art.

MAY 28 – The first-ever Clark Hill Outdoor Expo is set for Saturday at the American Legion Fairgrounds...Graduation exercises for the LCHS Class of 2009 are held at Buddy Bufford Field...Eighth-grade students at LCMS take part in a promotion ceremony...LCMS/LCHS musicians are recognized at the annual band awards ceremony...The fifth-grade class at LCES participates in graduation exercises.

JUNE 4 – Increased lake levels give the city’s water department breathing room for the summer...Residents are encouraged to greetStraight-line winds, associated with thunderstorms, moved through Lincoln County on June 18, 2009. The winds uprooted trees, which downed power lines, while lightning struck both lines and transformers. Georgia Power and REA customers were without power for several hours. BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia) riders at the Lincolnton Clubhouse...Chelsey Broom is named the best in the state among eleventh-graders in the Young Georgia Authors’ Writing Competition, while Morgan Reese wins firstplace honors at the district level in the Twelfth-Grade Division...A fund is set up to benefit Tyler Epps, who was injured in an automobile accident...The school system reports on the fifth and eighth-grade writing assessments...Construction on the new high school is in full swing.

JUNE 11 – The BOE rejects the proposed budget, requesting additional cuts...Jim Aycock retires from Georgia Power; he is succeeded by David Kelly...A former chief jailer is charged with theft by taking government funds...Ashley Banks takes over the reins of the development authority...Kyle Giella helps organize a fishing team at GSU...Young friends treat library benefactor John Cullars McCrimmon, 83, to a birthday party.

JUNE 18 – The BOC names Danny Smith as the new EMA director; the county’s proposed budget shows a decrease; the EPD lifts outdoor watering restrictions...Paula Alexander wins her first tournament on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour (WBT)...Amanda Scott will compete for the title of Miss Georgia...A celebration of “Blues and Barbecue” is set to take place at the historical park.

JUNE 25 – Taxes could increase by .75 mills for the BOE’s Debt Service Fund...Straight-line winds topple trees throughout county...Registration is underway for Upward Flag Football at First Assembly of God...The newest addition to the historical park is a 75-year-old turpentine still...The T.J. & Friends Cancer Foundation, Inc. will host its Third Annual Ride Against Cancer...JoAnn Smith retires after driving 80 miles a day for 50 years...The BOC votes to withdraw the Charleston Bay subdivision’s original plat.