2012: A year in review, part 4

November

While it was an average Thursday afternoon for many, the folks working with the 15th District Drug Task Force, it was a rather busy. More than 20 names were indicted during the Oct. 22 Grand Jury, and this roundup included the 15th District Drug Task Force, Trousdale County Sheriff's Department, Smith County Sheriff's Department and Carthage Police Department.

The Trousdale County Grand Jury convened on Oct. 17 and indicted two on the grounds of attempted first degree murder. Brandi Lee, 20, and Devin McAlister, 19, both of Bethpage, each were indicted for one count attempted first degree murder, one count aggravated robbery and one count possession of Schedule II Cocaine, less than .5 grams with intent to sell or deliver.

The State Department of Education released its annual Report Card. The Report Card shows Tennessee becoming one of the fastest improving states for raising student achievement in reading and math while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of the Trousdale County School district.

With more than 18 million families going hungry in the United States, The First Baptist Church of Hartsville and several other organizations came together to help feed Trousdale's hungry. "First Baptist Church donated $2,500 to bring in a truck from Second Harvest that had $2,000 worth of food, plus a lot of donated food from grocery stores like Publix, Kroger and places like that…" said volunteer Jennifer Edwards.

Survive and advance, we hear that said quite often when it comes to post season play. That statement can be used to describe Trousdale County's 20-19 first round playoff win over Jackson County.

Veteran's Day may have been Nov. 11, in Trousdale, our veterans were honored with several programs during the week, which included the annual luncheon provided by Trousdale Bank & Trust, an assembly at Trousdale County Elementary School and an Antique Car, Truck, Tractor and Bike Show.

With the 2012 election results done and accounted for, this election can be added to Trousdale history books. For the first time in it's history, Trousdale voted Republican in every race. "We are traditionally a Democrat county…it says a lot about how people are feeling right now," Trousdale County Election Commission Chairman Sherry Baxley said. "[It shows] The frustration that is going across the country." Trousdale went with the state to choose Republican candidate Mitt Romney with 55 percent of the vote. Romney received 1,612 votes to President Barack Obama's 1,240 votes. Other winners included: Incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Corker and Rep. Diane Black.

Thanks to redistricting early this year, Trousdale voters voted in new districts for the Tennessee State Senate and House of Representatives. Ferrell Haile carried Trousdale with 1,383 votes, defeating Maria Brewer, who received 975 votes for the Tennessee Senate District 40. In the State House District 18 race, Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver won with 1,492 over Sarah Marie Smith's 1,252 votes.

Trousdale citizens also approved all Charter Amendments, which went into effect in 2012.

Wilson Bank & Trust Community Financial Centers has joined an area-wide penny drive to assist Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, and Trousdale Bank & Trust will be collecting change for donations over the next few months.

The White House has nothing on Trousdale's Christmas tree as the locally grown tree was brought through the streets of Hartsville by black Persian horses Tuesday. The horses wearing their jingle bells, jingle-jangled all the way down Highway 25 to the lot between McDonalds and Trousdale Bank & Trust with the help of their drivers Paul and Natalie Knudsen, to personally deliver Trousdale's third annual Christmas tree.

December

He is making a list and checking it twice. He is gonna find out who is naughty or nice…and Santa made the rounds in Hartsville to double check his list and visit with local children of all ages.

The beginning of December was a busy one for Trousdale County on the hardwood as its teams had three nights of action. Trousdale County played at home against Mt. Juliet Christian and won both games.

Local artist, Frank Lindsey, has a unique distinction. He is one of 95 artists across the state to each create an ornament for the Christmas tree in the Tennessee Governor’s mansion!

Whether it be Christmas lights, a parade, a little shopping or a combination of them all, Trousdale welcomed the Christmas season with open arms with several events.

The reason for the season may be Christ, but to a small boy or girl, it's also the magic of the holidays. The visions of Santa granting Christmas wishes, and making, even for the briefest of moments, the world a happy place. But for some of Trousdale's families this isn't the reality.

The reasons being numerous, families struggle to put even the basics together everyday, and the thought of Christmas can cause down-right panic.

With the help of loyal volunteers every year, Christmas for Kids helps give area families a Christmas they might not have had otherwise.

For many Dec. 7 is the day of remembrance for those injured when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and forcing the United States to enter World War II, but in Hartsville, it is a different remembrance. Dec. 7, 1862, marks the Battle of Hartsville.

Communities across the United States in 2012 have come together to remember and honor the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War, and Hartsville joined those in remembrance.

The wind might have been chilly, but the weather couldn't dampen the spirits of the rescue squad and Sheriff's Department officers that donated their time over the weekend to raise toys and donations for Trousdale children.

The group gathered lots of toys and $1,535 in donations during their toy drive in front of Foodland.

Serving Hartsville through her sweet personality and dedication as the face of The Vidette for 11 years, Marie Allmon passed away Sunday at Riverview Regional Medical Center in Carthage.

Either you knew her sweet, adventurous side or her feisty side, Allmon will be best remember for her dedication to her family, Hartsville and the paper she helped mold.

It was the biggest year in donations in toys, monetary and clothing that Christmas for Kids has seen in years, and it was all thanks to the giving spirit of folks in Trousdale and surrounding counties.

Hoping to promote healthier schools, TSBA partnered with the State Department of Education’s Office of Coordinated School Health to offer a Tennessee’s Healthier Schools Challenge award program.

57 school systems across the state successfully completed the challenge, and Trousdale received bronze for its participation with the challenge.

Hartsville residents will have the chance to step into a bygone era with the introduction of a new Living History Museum. Chamber of Commerce Director Natalie Knudsen said that some caring local residents "adopted" a 1930s log cabin and there is an effort to restore it to period accurate furnishings to allow residents a glimpse of life in the Great Depression.