Top stories of the year

By By staff
1. Council votes one-cent sales tax to pay for new high school
A long awaited and much talked about funding source for a new high school became a reality on Nov. 10 as the city council voted unanimously to raise the city’s sales tax by one penny, effective Jan. 1, 2010. The move followed the rejection of a 7.5 mill property tax increase in a referendum in 2008 and approval of a $21.1 million low-interest loan through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The tax increase means retail merchants will be collecting nine cents instead of eight cents on the dollar for merchandise purchased in their stores. This is the same amount collected in Decatur. Proceeds from the additional tax, which are estimated at $1.6 million the first year, plus a $300,000 a year commitment from the school district, will be used to meet the debt service on a 30-year, $40.5 million school bond.
Subsequently, the school system’s property on Bethel Road was chosen over a proposed site on the east side of I-65 as the location for the new school. Design of the project is expected to get under way early next year.
2. Ground broken for new business park
A ground breaking for the new Morgan Business Park was conducted in October following the purchase of approximately 166 acres of prime commercial property at the I-65 and Thompson Road interchange in South Hartselle. The project is being funded by a 16.1 million bond issue authorized by the Morgan County Economic Development Cooperative District. Partners in the job-growth venture are governing entities of the county’s eight municipalities and the Morgan County Commission. Debt service on the bond issue will be shared by the partners using a pre-determined portion of their TVA payments in lieu of taxes. The park will target primarily small to medium industries and businesses desiring interstate access.
3. Spring storms cause heavy property damage
Three separate storm systems brandishing wind gusts up to 100 mph caused major damage to trees, homes and electric infrastructure in Hartselle in April and June. The worst of these occurred on June 15 when 70 mph winds uprooted many trees, damaged several homes and knocked out power for as long as three days in some sections of the city.
While reports of property damage were widespread, there were no reported injuries.
On April 2, an EF-1 tornado struck a mobile home park in Lacey’s Spring causing heavy property damage and injuring one person. A couple of hours later a severe thunderstorm swept through Hartselle uprooting a big oak tree on Bethel Road and damaging a frame house. Heavy property damage from uprooted trees also occurred a week later as the result of a “gravity wave” with sustained 52 mph winds.
The Morgan County Emergency Management Agency reported 126 uprooted trees and 15 damaged homes, including the historic Pattillo Home on East Main Street.
4. Hartselle schools earn SACS/ AdvancedED certification
Hartselle School District achieved one of the highest landmarks in education in May when it qualified for AdvancED accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The achievement was announced by a five-member review team following a yearlong review process. The team found no violations of AdvancED standards and offered nine commendations in its report. The schools will be recognized at the next SACS annual meeting in April 2010. At that time a banner and plaque will be presented to commemorate the achievement. Dr. Nancy Horton, director of instruction, coordinated the accreditation review with the help of a district leadership team.
5. Council petitions legislature for a school board election
The city council voted four to one in June to request the Morgan County legislative delegation to sponsor a local bill authorizing an election to determine if a majority of voters prefer an elected school board to one that is appointed. The move was prompted by a petition signed by 788 voters.
A necessary step to put the question to a vote was made recently when a “bill to be entitled an act” was published for four consecutive weeks in the Hartselle Enquirer.
It will be introduced in the upcoming session in the legislature. If approved and signed into law, the matter would likely be voted on in the June 2010 Primary Election. In the event a change is made, school board members would be elected at the next municipal election in 2012.
6. HHS celebrates 100th anniversary
An observance saluting the 100th anniversary of Hartselle High School (formerly Morgan County High School) was conducted at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center on Sept. 14 as a part of the Hartselle Depot Days observance.
Sponsored by Hartselle Historical Society as a “Down Memory Lane” program, the event featured a wide assortment of school memorabilia, which was displayed by decade for public viewing. Included were old school annuals, newspaper clippings, photos, period costumes and other items of historic interest dating from the school’s first year in 1909. A program spotlighted the school’s early history and recognized current and former administrators and teachers.
7. Flash flood causes damage to stores, streets
An intense thunderstorm dumped more than seven inches of water on Hartselle and Morgan County Dec. 8 causing widespread flooding and property damage in low-lying areas. Several stores in the Central Business District were inundated with up to three feet of water and mud. They included Cahoots Restaurant, 36 &Main and Schofield’s Antiques &Collectibles. Flooding and wash outs also occurred on several streets. Highway 31 was closed for a short time due to flooding in the vicinity of the Hwy 31 and 36 intersection. Culverts washed out on Rice Road, Celia Drive and Katina Lane. Flooding was also widespread in other areas of the county and rapid responders were called on to rescue several stranded motorists.
8. State funding cutbacks hurt city schools
A substantial loss in state revenue due to 7.5 percent proration cut deeply into the amount of money Hartselle Schools had to budget for operational expenses in 2009-2010. The budget is based on state revenue totaling $17.7 million or about $1 million less than what was received in the prior fiscal year. Revenue budgets for classroom supplies fell from $400 to $100 per teacher unit and nothing was budgeted for professional development, technology and library enhancement. With a combined two-year proration rate of $18.5 percent, the school system will have used approximately one-half of its $6 million reserve to cover operational costs at the end of the current fiscal year.
9. Fire destroys $1.5 million home
A 20,000 square foot home, valued at $1.5 million and located at 2451 Breeding Drive in Hartselle, was destroyed by fire May 13 after it was struck by a bolt of lightning during a strong thunderstorm. Also lost were the home’s contents, including two classic cars parked in the basement and two cars parked in a ground level garage. The home was owned and occupied by Bruce and Liu Wiegmann. Mrs. Wiegmann and daughter, Victoria Dawn, five, were asleep in an upstairs bedroom when they were awakened by smoke and managed to escape without harm. Firefighters reported that the house was engulfed in smoke and flames when they arrived on the scene at mid-morning. It was insured and had been occupied for a year a half, according to the owner.
10. Local man dies in tornado
A storm cell producing 100 mph wind gusts, hail and heavy rain touched down North of Hartselle Sunday, April 19, killing one man, uprooting numerous trees and causing widespread property damage.
The storm claimed the life of Robert “Jay” Irvin, a 63-year- old Vietnam veteran. He was crushed inside of his mobile home on Bethel Road when two big trees in his front yard uprooted and fell on the roof.
His son, Robert Jason Irv-in, 23, was in the back room of the mobile home when the storm hit, but he was able to escape unhurt by kicking a hole in a wall. The storm was classed as an EF-1 tornado. It left a path of damage 200 to 300 feet wide from near Moulton in Lawrence County to Guntersville in Marshall County.