2008 a year of change and progress

Change and progress were the name of the game in 2008 in Trumann.

Voters approved extending a sales tax for water and sewer upgrades; the city began doing its part to help the environment with a new recycling program; and the 2008 election brought some new faces to serve on the city council.

Two Trumann mainstays -- Wood Ford and First Baptist Church -- celebrated milestones, while the annual Christmas Parade drew record participation and rave reviews from residents.

The year 2008 also saw its share of sadness and tragedy.

Students and educators mourned the loss of a popular physical education teacher at Cedar Park Elementary School; Truman Fire Department said good bye to one of its own; and residents were stunned when a plant security guard was gunned down.

A slowing national economy also caught up to Trumann when one of the city's biggest employers laid of most of its work force and ceased production.

The Trumann Democrat takes a look back at the top stories which made news in 2008.

1. Voters approve water, sewer bond

Despite low turnout, voters in September approved extending a one cent sales tax and restructuring a bond to pay for needed water, sewer and street repairs. Money from the tax will be used to fund $870,000 for sewer improvements, $870,000 for street repairs and $575,000 for water improvements. First up for the city is to replace the water curtains. The curtains are 15 years old and torn in several places and are allowing water to pass through the lagoons and holding ponds faster than the time required to purify the waste.

2. Baldwin Piano lays off workers, ceases production

Baldwin Piano in December announced that they were laying off 41 of its 55 employees and shutting down production at the Trumann manufacturing facility. Baldwin has been building pianos in Trumann for over 30 years and at one time employed as many as 100 workers who turned out about 500 grand pianos a year, half of which were custom made. The company had previously laid off 34 employees in February 2008 in a decision to concentrate solely on manufacturing the company's line of custom made pianos which sell on average for $60,000

3. Plant security guard killed in shooting

Residents awoke to the news of a shooting death of a security guard at Columbia Forest Products in the early morning hours of May 12. Bruce Pennington, 61, was arrested by Trumann Police for allegedly shooting Dorman Cooper, 26, of Marked Tree to death. Pennington, who worked as an engineer at the plant, pulled up near the guard shack in his pick-up around 4:30 a.m. and allegedly fired two shots at close range into the doorway with a 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistol. Pennington returned to his vehicle and drove to the Trumann Police department and turned himself in. The shooting was captured on a security camera. Authorities have not given a motive for the shooting, but Cooper's sister told a Memphis TV station in May that her brother admitted he was dating an older man at work who had a family but was bisexual. Cooper's MySpace page at the time of the shooting said that he was gay. The murder trial was scheduled to get underway this month.

4. Trumann fireman killed after forcing way into wrong home

A Trumann firefighter was shot and killed when he apparently went to the wrong home and tried to force his way inside while attempting to locate his wife. Policed found Todd Short, 34, lying near the threshold of the residence at 220 Cypress Drive dead from a shotgun blast to the chest. Short had been drinking during the night and quarreled with his wife. A family friend took her to his residence a few houses down at 244 Cypress. Short went looking for his wife and mistakenly went to the wrong home where he was confronted by the homeowner who tried to bar him from entering the home. The shooting was ruled a justifiable homicide. Short was described by friends and colleagues as a dedicated firefighter who loved to hunt, race cars and was fun to be around.

5. Wood Ford celebrates 50 years in Trumann

October marked the 50th anniversary of Wood Ford. The late Joe Wood and wife Melba opened the dealership in Trumann on Oct. 10, 1958 with a small inventory and a staff of 12. The business has been a fixture on Hwy. 463 ever since and has received many Distinguished Achievement Awards from Ford Motor Company as well as several Top 20 awards. Today, the dealership has 20 employees, many of which have worked there for over 30 years. Wood Ford has sold over 50,000 vehicles since it opened and averages about 77 vehicles per month. The dealership is run by the couple's son, Barry Wood, but Melba still remains an active part of the business.

6. Cedar Elementary mourns death of beloved PE teacher

Students at Cedar park Elementary School paid tribute to Bobbie Deann Shoemaker in October after the popular physical education teacher was struck and killed by a car in Jonesboro while out jogging. Shoemaker, 44, taught P.E. at the school was 12 years. Students set up a memorial signature wall and decorated the halls and windows of the school with cards and pictures to show their love. Colleagues remembered Shoemaker as a great friend and teacher who will be deeply missed.

7. Hunter wins district judge's seat, Trumann council races decided

Poinsett County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ron Hunter defeated incumbent Steve Inboden in the non-partisan district court judge seat race. In the hotly contested race Hunter polled 4,522 votes to Inboden's 3,214. In other local races, several newcomers will take their place on the Trumann City Council. Bonnie Winkles defeated Carmack Johnson for the Ward 1, Position 1 seat; Edward "Shorty" Hargrove survived a close challenge to retain the Ward 2, Position 2 seat; Floyd "Sunny" Moon won the Ward 3, Position 1 seat; the Ward 3, Position 2 seat went to Carl A. Wilson who defeated Roy L. Kilgore; Don Cole was elected alderman of the Ward 4 Position 1 seat; James Evans won the Ward 4, Position 2 seat; James Baker was returned to the Ward 5, Position 1 seat; and Letha Owens won the Ward 5, Position 2.

8. Recycling facility opens

Trumann officially opened its new recycling center with a ribbon cutting in October. The facility is located at 183 Oak Street and accepts cardboard, newspaper and magazines, phone books, paperback books and other paper products for recycling. The facility was built with a $50,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.

9. First Baptist Church celebrates 100 years

One of the city's largest houses of worship celebrated its centennial in July. Aided by First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, early congregants assembled in 1908 to form the church. The church had 25 members in 1910 and was originally called The Missionary Baptist Church of Trumann but eventually became First Baptist Church in 1922.

10. Pregnancy Care Center opens

Pregnant teenagers in Trumann got some much needed help in June with the opening of the Pregnancy Care Center in June. The center, located at 912 West Speedway, offers free pregnancy tests and counseling for clients about the different options available to them including parenting classes, adoption resources and abortion facts. The center is a faith-based non-profit organization founded to provide emotional, spiritual and practical support and alternatives. The center's services are available to all women, not just teenagers. Founder Shannon Bruner said the center fills a big need in Trumann and Poinsett County. In 2004, 29 girls in Trumann aged 10-19 gave birth. Arkansas department of Health statistics show that there were 838 abortions for girls aged 15-19 in 2007.

11. Trumann schools score well on benchmark assessments

Trumann students scored at or above state averages in several areas on the state benchmark exams. Students scored 19.8 for math on the ACT scores, 21.0 for English and compiled a 20.7 composite score. The scores matched the state average in English (21.0) and were close to the state averages in math (20.7) and the state composite score 20.8. Other areas were above state averages. Cedar Park Elementary made Adequate Yearly Progress in all areas except literacy for students with disabilities, while Central Elementary School made AYP in all areas of testing in all groups. Trumann students scored 64 percent proficient in third grade literacy which was even with the state average. In fourth grade math, students scored 77 percent which beat the state average of 75 percent. Seventh grade math scores also exceeded state averages. Students scored 65 percent proficient compared to the state average of 62 percent. In literacy, Trumann seventh graders are 60 percent proficient compared to 58 percent for the state. In geometry, 64 percent of seventh graders are proficient compared to the state average of 60 percent.

12. American Legion begins repairs on Boy Scout Hut

In September, American Legion Post 42, area residents and former Boy Scouts began repairing the Old Boy Scout Hut on the corner of Maple and Poinsett Streets. The hut, which had fallen in to disrepair over the last several years, was built for the Scouts in the 1940s by Singer Company and was used for meetings and various projects. Volunteers put a new roof on the structure and plans are underway to completely renovate it. The work is being paid for through donations.

13. Sonic re-opens

After an absence of nearly three months, Trumann finally got its Sonic back in December. Owners tore the old building down and the former Woody's Print Shop next door to make way for a new design which features 24 drive-in stalls, walk up ordering stations and a drive thru. Cars were already lined up for the 6 a.m. opening and by the end of the day the restaurant had already filled 1,500 orders.

14. American Legion builds Walk of Honor

The American Legion in July began selling memorial bricks to all living veterans and family members of veterans who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard, as well as active duty veterans, Reserves or National Guard. The bricks will be placed along the Walk of Honor at the Trumann American Legion Memorial Park at the corner of Highway 463 and Main Street.

15. Fire damages rooms at new high school

In December, a fire in the new Trumann High School damaged two classrooms and left investigators searching for clues as to the cause. The fire was discovered by workmen returning to the job site the next day and gutted a wall separating two classrooms and damaged the ceiling. School officials initially suspected arson but further investigation revealed the cause to have been electrical.

16. City begins tearing down old buildings

The city began making headway in its effort to tear down old and dilapidated buildings. The city has condemned and torn down about seven houses. Houses at 513 Harrison, 701 Edgerton, 221 Diamont, 412 Carlson, 516 Lewis and 627 Monroe have all been demolished. The city also has a court judgment against Jay Parnell, who owns the old City Café building on 142 North Ozark, to tear down the building which has been an eyesore and safety concern for a number of years. The city condemned the building in 2000.

17. Council turns down RV park suggestion

In March, the Trumann city council put the damper on an idea by Mayor Sheila Walters to build an RV park at the Trumann Sports Complex. Walters said the project would be a good way to raise additional funds for the city. Residents living along Pecan grove expressed concerns about how the project would affect their property values. Walters had wanted the city to apply for $30,000 in matching grants to build the facility.

18. ASU theater majors stage 'A Christmas Carol'

A production of Charles Dicken's 'A Christmas Carol' drew over 200 residents. The play was staged by Arkansas State University theater majors Jared Weston and Donnie Walters, son of Mayor Sheila Walters. The cast of 14 was made up entirely of local residents. Weston and Walters said they were impressed by the talent in Trumann and plan to ask the Trumann Fine Arts Council if they can stage another production in the near future.

19. Parks and Rec director, committee at odds over choice of baseball league

The choice of which youth baseball league to participate in became snarled in politics in November and December. Members of the Parks and Recreation Board recommended the city stay with USSSA or U-Trip, but according to the city's parks director Cecilia Parker, the program lost money and needs to go back to Little League. Former Parks and Rec board member Jay Paul Woods told the city council that UTRIP saved the city money and is favored by the majority of the kids. Woods said baseball made money and that the reason the revenue was down was due to rainy weather which cancelled the preseason, fewer sponsorships, and a lack of softball tournaments at the Sports Complex. Parker contends UTRIP plays fewer games and that there aren't as many teams or tournament options as Little League. The Parks and Recreation board failed to turn in a budget to the city in November. The city asked the board to stay within the amount the program brought in which was less than in past years.

20. Christmas parade draws rave reviews

Mayor Sheila Walter's phone didn't stop ringing the day after the Christmas Parade. Calls to City Hall were overwhelmingly positive with most residents saying this year's Christmas parade was the best in years. Walters took over the planning of the parade this year from the Ministerial Alliance and gave it a makeover which included a Trumann themed Christmas Village. Over 50 businesses built mini facades of their stores which residents were able to tour in the Old Community House.