While 2008 is history, 2009 is yet to written

No doubt the biggest story nationally in 2009 was the election by the American people of the first African-American as President. Barack Obama’s election in November ended months of speculations, amid a nation in economic turmoil. The year 2008 saw, for Marion County residents, the usual parades and homecomings, home-goings, festivals and church and community events.

Locally, we may all differ on what was the biggest news in each of our individual lives, though usually births and deaths that touch us personally are foremost in our memories. I offer the following list and accompanying photographs as a way to recap the past year’s experiences. It will be interesting to see, in January 2010, what 2009 brings us. In January 2008, MarCo Rural Water opened the doors to its new offices on Sen. Gasque Road and the search began for a replacement to Frank Jones, who retired as the county’s economic development director.

The highlight of the month for many was the return home of deployed national guard soldiers from the county and surrounding areas. The families joined in a reunion in the Mullins armory in late January.
In February, the City of Marion was visited by state and federal officials to assess its Main Street program and long-time public servant James Armstrong, a Mullins council member died, forcing the city to have a special election.

Work on the creation of an overpass began at the deadly intersection of U.S. Highway 501 Bypass and State Road 41. In March, a thunderstorm spawned a tornado that touched down near the Marion-Dillon county line. It was the first of several “bad weather” events to strike the county.

In April, budget woes due to lower sales and property taxes being collected and higher fuel costs began causing the county’s municipalities to take cost saving measures and She Magazine’s publisher and others announced plans for the airing of local government news on the new cable channel in Dillon and Marion counties.

In May, Carolina AAC, LLC announced its plans to build in Marion County a plant that could employ 36 people full-time and bring a $17 million investment The company will produce “green” masonry materials for construction. The city of Marion celebrated its annual FoxTrot Festival.

In June, Mullins City Council added a new face to its council, as Terry Davis was sworn as the winner in a special city election and City Administrator George Hardwick said goodbye to friends at his retirement from service. Former County Administrator Pete Rogers was subsequently named city administrator.

Also in Mullins, a new apartment complex for senior citizens opened to accept residents.

In July, the Marion Rescue Squad received a grant to help them purchase a state-of-the-art rescue and firefighting vehicle and in August, Sellers was in the news when it closed its city’s offices as it ran out of money to operate.

In September, in addition to county officials responding to localized flooding from Tropical Storm Hannah as she blew through the region, Mullins-based SOPAKCO announced it was helping Texans recover from Hurricane Ike’s strike of that state’s gulf coast by shipping millions of meals to the state. Mullins celebrated his agricultural history and heritage with its annual Golden Leaf Festival.

In October, Marion County handed over the operation of its animal shelter to the animal rescue group Paws to the Rescue. Directer Jennifer Nall’s first day on the job was Oct. 1. Also, a candle light vigil was conducted in conjunction with the opening of a tribute to county law enforcement officers that is housed in the Marion County Museum in Marion.
November was a big month for change and announcements.

The City of Marion Police Department began enforcing the city’s newly-enacted curfew in an effort to curtail crime and two separate land owners visited the Marion County Planning Commission, seeking approval for new subdivisions. One, in the Zion Community, was approved while another was disapproved. Approved earlier this year, Senior Planner Levonne Powell said, are plans for a subdivision near Mullins.

The citizens of Mullins and Nichols elected new Mayors. Mullins’ Pam Lee was sworn in and Nichols’ Lawson Battle was sworn in this past Monday. (More on that in next week’s newspaper.)
Perhaps this is the year Nichols will get its outdoor recreation and wellness center. A $100,000 state grant, alongside matching money and a $150,000 federal grant is being used to revamp an existing recreation field on U.S. Highway 76. There will be a walking track, restrooms and a picnic area, along with other amenities.

Rodney Berry was named the Director of the Marion County Economic Development Commission, ending the search to fill that position and several new stores opened in a mall near the Wal-Mart Super Center at the U.S. Highway 501 and U.S. Highway 76 intersection, just in time for the holiday shopping season.

In December, the Marion County News Journal announced it would return to being a shopper after a two and half year run as a newspaper and Marion’s Wing and a Prayer Café closed after its two and half year run.