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2008: The stories that defined the year
  
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By VANESA BRASHIER and ALEX WUKMAN
Oh, 2008, it’s with mixed feelings that we bid you adieu. We’re both sad and glad to see you go. This past year brought big stories, from the Olympics to a brushfire war in Georgia, through the economy to terror attacks in India; everything seemed to be in play.
Then Hurricane Ike hit and for many people in the area, the world changed. And almost as soon as the community had recovered from that storm, another descended on us — elections.
Longtime incumbents were unseated in results that shocked many courthouse watchers. The upsets left candidates shaking their heads and some officials worried about the changes.
The following are the top 10 stories, in the opinion of the editorial department, for 2008:
1. “Ike not a Rita redux," Sept. 17, 2008
Southeast Texas was plunged into darkness this past September as one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent memory hit the area. The lack of power resulted in gas shortages, which caused delays in food and supply deliveries.
Fortunately, with Hurricane Rita so recent, many residents were prepared for the shortages and power failures.
Entergy and Sam Houston EC worked quickly to restore power days ahead of schedule.
Even now, many residents are still in the recovery stage of the hurricane as they wait for insurance adjusters to make their assessments and for contractors to have time to make repairs.
2. “There’s a new sheriff in town. Now what?," Nov. 12, 2008
Not everyone expected the office of sheriff in Liberty County would go to a Republican, but it did and many people are wondering what’s next.
For a long time now, people in the north end of Liberty County have not felt a part of county politics. That was until the election of Henry Patterson as the next Liberty County sheriff. Patterson, who is currently the assistant chief at Cleveland Police Department, will be sworn into office at 10 a.m. on Jan. 2 in the 75th District Courtroom in the Liberty County Courthouse.
While the loss of Patterson at the police department will be tremendous, most feel it is an important gain for Cleveland.
“For a while now, we have needed to improve our relationships with the sheriff’s office and district attorney’s office, and the next chief [for Cleveland Police Department] will have the ability to work with someone from Cleveland, who understands Cleveland,” said Cleveland City Manager Philip Cook.
3. “Massive sinkhole threatens Daisetta," May 14, 2008
When a massive sinkhole developed in Daisetta, threatening the town’s high school and main road, the Advocate was on the scene reporting the news as it happened.
Tree snapped and power lines sagged as the ground beneath them began to give way. The crater consumed a tractor, tanks and other equipment as it continued to grow.
County commissioners declared the sinkhole a disaster area, hoping to get federal and state funding, but so far, no remediation has been done to the sinkhole.
DeLoach Vacuum Services, initially cited for overfilling injection wells to the underground salt dome storage system where the sinkhole began, has now been cleared from blame by the Texas Railroad Commission.
The giant cavity is said to have stopped growing, but not before becoming the size of three football fields. Now filled with water and sludge, it reportedly has become the home of an alligator.
4. “Zoning ordinance passes," May 14, 2008
It was thought that zoning would bring people in Cleveland out to the polls in high numbers, but in the end only 522 voters felt strongly enough about the ordinance to cast a vote.
Support for zoning won out over those opposed to it, 343 to 179 respectively.
The city now is working to refine the zoning ordinance and has appointed a commission to work with citizens on their zoning concerns.
5. “Teacher arrested for prostitution," Aug. 20, 2008
No other story in 2008 got as much interest as the arrest of former Cleveland ISD teacher, Laurie Anne Lewis, who subsequently resigned her position at CISD as a drama teacher.
The day the story broke on the Cleveland Advocate website it received over 8,000 web hits and had a long life both on the web and in print afterward.
Lewis was arrested by Houston vice cops on Aug. 12 in downtown Houston in an undercover sting operation.
6. “City sued by former dispatcher," Dec. 10, 2008
Claiming that race was a factor in her termination, former Cleveland Police Department Head Dispatcher Sonya “Tammy” Scott filed a lawsuit against the City of Cleveland, several officials and the Cleveland Advocate. A total of 10 defendants were named in the suit.
Among other things, the seven counts in the lawsuit claim that Scott was wrongfully discharged, discriminated against, defamed, libeled, suffered the intentional infliction of emotional distress and was the victim of a civil conspiracy.
7. Senior citizens center opens, Aug. 27, 2008
When the Cleveland Senior Citizens Organization moved to its new location on Peach Street, it was the fulfillment of decades-long dream. In fact, many of the people who were a part of the initial fund-raising efforts are now no longer around to enjoy the center.
The beautiful new facility, under the direction of Maxine Morris, is not only a gathering place for senior citizens in the area, but has become a meeting site for groups such as the Rotary Club and the Lions Club.
The building also has enough space to grow along with the city.
8. Chamber moving into civic center, Dec. 17, 2008
In what has been described as a “sweetheart deal,” the Cleveland City Council voted Dec. 9 to lease approximately 429 square feet in the Cleveland Civic Center to the Greater Cleveland of Commerce at a price of $1 per square foot. The chamber will be renting what is described as the ticket office and the conference room.
Additionally the chamber will rent a small meeting room for monthly board meetings, which would cost $150 per month. However, the $573 cost will be offset by the chamber providing a receptionist at the civic center.
According to the lease agreement, the chamber will provide a receptionist for 20 hours a week in lieu of a large portion of the rent. This would reduce the amount that the chamber will pay from $573 per month to $49.
The chamber is expected to move into the civic center during the first week of January.
9. “TxDOT: Trans-Texas Corridor to use existing highways," June 18, 2008
In a move that took many by surprise, the Texas Department of Transportation announced June 11 that, in the words of TxDOT executive director Amadeo Saenz, “it had narrowed the study area for TTC I-69.”
In a conference call with reporters, Saenz said that as the proposal moves forward TxDOT “is going to be considering only existing highway” and “any area that is not along an existing highway will not be considered.”
This announcement came after mounting protests and outcry from residents who felt that they had been betrayed by TxDOT. In Huntsville, the anger was so overwhelming that over a thousand residents arrived to a TTC public hearing with tractors to protest what they saw as an unethical and immoral land grab.
However, what was lost in the arguments regarding the proposed footprint or the inclusion of utilities and rail right-of-ways was the fact that the construction will be market-based. Market-based construction for state roads means that rich counties like Dallas and Travis may be the only places that get a road that was designed to promote to promote economic development in rural Texas. And poor counties that can’t afford the upkeep of freeways on their own get nothing.
10. “Paving the way for the future," Aug. 20, 2008
The hot, dry weather of the summer of 2008 gave crews working for the Texas Department of Transportation a chance to make progress on the SH 105 bypass around Cleveland.
The relief route, which is costing the state $50 million, is being constructed in two portions. The first portion runs from FM 1010 (Plum Grove Road) to US 59. It will eventually be linked to the east side of SH 105. The second portion runs east of FM 1010 to SH 321 on the south side of Cleveland.
Despite budget shortfalls in the state, the funding for the project is secure and the bypass is expected to be complete by 2012.
Honorable mentions, in no particular order:
1. “Juvenile facility owner to withdraw application, " Aug. 10, 2008
When a controversial idea for a 14-bed residential treatment facility met the combustible Tarkington Prairie , it sparked a fire. In a week, area residents were able to start a petition drive, gather approximately 1,000 signatures and have that petition placed on the Liberty County Commissioners Court agenda.
The public outcry over the opening of the proposed facility led Rosalyn Ruffin Barboza, the proposed facility’s director, to withdraw her application for a license from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), formerly Children’s Protective Services.
2. “Tarkington man found guilty of wife’s murder," Sept. 3, 2008
It took jurors just a little more than two hours to find Rodney Cameron Strickland , 52, guilty for the murder of his wife, Mary Bazzoon Strickland , who was shot to death at her CR 2187 home in Tarkington on Jan. 17, 2007.
Barbara McFarland, who witnessed the shooting death of her mother and was also shot in the ordeal, testified for the state. In her testimony, she said, “I felt helpless. I wanted to help but I couldn’t.”
3. “SNAP back after private donor funds program," Dec. 17, 2008
After it was learned that the City of Cleveland had failed to find funding for a spay/neuter program for pets of income-challenged residents, a private donor came forward to fund the project for another year.
4. “Dreams taking shape," Oct. 1, 2008
Members of the Cleveland Economic Development Corporation and other interested parties attended a dinner in Houston where it was formally announced that the Southeast Texas Biomedical Research Institute (SETBRI) would be locating in Cleveland.
Led by founder Dr. Glover O.L. Johnson, SETBRI is expected to have six five-story buildings and house a medical research institute, a medical education and teaching complex, and an outpatient clinic.
Editor’s note: Advocate Editor Vanesa Brashier and Reporter Alex Wukman contributed these articles.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR SELECTIONS
Below this article is a space for comments. Feel free to let us know if you agree or disagree with our choices for the Top 10. You may also send e-mail to vbrashier@hcnonline.com.
Then Hurricane Ike hit and for many people in the area, the world changed. And almost as soon as the community had recovered from that storm, another descended on us — elections.
Longtime incumbents were unseated in results that shocked many courthouse watchers. The upsets left candidates shaking their heads and some officials worried about the changes.
The following are the top 10 stories, in the opinion of the editorial department, for 2008:
1. “Ike not a Rita redux," Sept. 17, 2008
Southeast Texas was plunged into darkness this past September as one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent memory hit the area. The lack of power resulted in gas shortages, which caused delays in food and supply deliveries.
Fortunately, with Hurricane Rita so recent, many residents were prepared for the shortages and power failures.
Entergy and Sam Houston EC worked quickly to restore power days ahead of schedule.
Even now, many residents are still in the recovery stage of the hurricane as they wait for insurance adjusters to make their assessments and for contractors to have time to make repairs.
2. “There’s a new sheriff in town. Now what?," Nov. 12, 2008
Not everyone expected the office of sheriff in Liberty County would go to a Republican, but it did and many people are wondering what’s next.
For a long time now, people in the north end of Liberty County have not felt a part of county politics. That was until the election of Henry Patterson as the next Liberty County sheriff. Patterson, who is currently the assistant chief at Cleveland Police Department, will be sworn into office at 10 a.m. on Jan. 2 in the 75th District Courtroom in the Liberty County Courthouse.
While the loss of Patterson at the police department will be tremendous, most feel it is an important gain for Cleveland.
“For a while now, we have needed to improve our relationships with the sheriff’s office and district attorney’s office, and the next chief [for Cleveland Police Department] will have the ability to work with someone from Cleveland, who understands Cleveland,” said Cleveland City Manager Philip Cook.
3. “Massive sinkhole threatens Daisetta," May 14, 2008
When a massive sinkhole developed in Daisetta, threatening the town’s high school and main road, the Advocate was on the scene reporting the news as it happened.
Tree snapped and power lines sagged as the ground beneath them began to give way. The crater consumed a tractor, tanks and other equipment as it continued to grow.
County commissioners declared the sinkhole a disaster area, hoping to get federal and state funding, but so far, no remediation has been done to the sinkhole.
DeLoach Vacuum Services, initially cited for overfilling injection wells to the underground salt dome storage system where the sinkhole began, has now been cleared from blame by the Texas Railroad Commission.
The giant cavity is said to have stopped growing, but not before becoming the size of three football fields. Now filled with water and sludge, it reportedly has become the home of an alligator.
4. “Zoning ordinance passes," May 14, 2008
It was thought that zoning would bring people in Cleveland out to the polls in high numbers, but in the end only 522 voters felt strongly enough about the ordinance to cast a vote.
Support for zoning won out over those opposed to it, 343 to 179 respectively.
The city now is working to refine the zoning ordinance and has appointed a commission to work with citizens on their zoning concerns.
5. “Teacher arrested for prostitution," Aug. 20, 2008
No other story in 2008 got as much interest as the arrest of former Cleveland ISD teacher, Laurie Anne Lewis, who subsequently resigned her position at CISD as a drama teacher.
The day the story broke on the Cleveland Advocate website it received over 8,000 web hits and had a long life both on the web and in print afterward.
Lewis was arrested by Houston vice cops on Aug. 12 in downtown Houston in an undercover sting operation.
6. “City sued by former dispatcher," Dec. 10, 2008
Claiming that race was a factor in her termination, former Cleveland Police Department Head Dispatcher Sonya “Tammy” Scott filed a lawsuit against the City of Cleveland, several officials and the Cleveland Advocate. A total of 10 defendants were named in the suit.
Among other things, the seven counts in the lawsuit claim that Scott was wrongfully discharged, discriminated against, defamed, libeled, suffered the intentional infliction of emotional distress and was the victim of a civil conspiracy.
7. Senior citizens center opens, Aug. 27, 2008
When the Cleveland Senior Citizens Organization moved to its new location on Peach Street, it was the fulfillment of decades-long dream. In fact, many of the people who were a part of the initial fund-raising efforts are now no longer around to enjoy the center.
The beautiful new facility, under the direction of Maxine Morris, is not only a gathering place for senior citizens in the area, but has become a meeting site for groups such as the Rotary Club and the Lions Club.
The building also has enough space to grow along with the city.
8. Chamber moving into civic center, Dec. 17, 2008
In what has been described as a “sweetheart deal,” the Cleveland City Council voted Dec. 9 to lease approximately 429 square feet in the Cleveland Civic Center to the Greater Cleveland of Commerce at a price of $1 per square foot. The chamber will be renting what is described as the ticket office and the conference room.
Additionally the chamber will rent a small meeting room for monthly board meetings, which would cost $150 per month. However, the $573 cost will be offset by the chamber providing a receptionist at the civic center.
According to the lease agreement, the chamber will provide a receptionist for 20 hours a week in lieu of a large portion of the rent. This would reduce the amount that the chamber will pay from $573 per month to $49.
The chamber is expected to move into the civic center during the first week of January.
9. “TxDOT: Trans-Texas Corridor to use existing highways," June 18, 2008
In a move that took many by surprise, the Texas Department of Transportation announced June 11 that, in the words of TxDOT executive director Amadeo Saenz, “it had narrowed the study area for TTC I-69.”
In a conference call with reporters, Saenz said that as the proposal moves forward TxDOT “is going to be considering only existing highway” and “any area that is not along an existing highway will not be considered.”
This announcement came after mounting protests and outcry from residents who felt that they had been betrayed by TxDOT. In Huntsville, the anger was so overwhelming that over a thousand residents arrived to a TTC public hearing with tractors to protest what they saw as an unethical and immoral land grab.
However, what was lost in the arguments regarding the proposed footprint or the inclusion of utilities and rail right-of-ways was the fact that the construction will be market-based. Market-based construction for state roads means that rich counties like Dallas and Travis may be the only places that get a road that was designed to promote to promote economic development in rural Texas. And poor counties that can’t afford the upkeep of freeways on their own get nothing.
10. “Paving the way for the future," Aug. 20, 2008
The hot, dry weather of the summer of 2008 gave crews working for the Texas Department of Transportation a chance to make progress on the SH 105 bypass around Cleveland.
The relief route, which is costing the state $50 million, is being constructed in two portions. The first portion runs from FM 1010 (Plum Grove Road) to US 59. It will eventually be linked to the east side of SH 105. The second portion runs east of FM 1010 to SH 321 on the south side of Cleveland.
Despite budget shortfalls in the state, the funding for the project is secure and the bypass is expected to be complete by 2012.
Honorable mentions, in no particular order:
1. “Juvenile facility owner to withdraw application, " Aug. 10, 2008
When a controversial idea for a 14-bed residential treatment facility met the combustible Tarkington Prairie , it sparked a fire. In a week, area residents were able to start a petition drive, gather approximately 1,000 signatures and have that petition placed on the Liberty County Commissioners Court agenda.
The public outcry over the opening of the proposed facility led Rosalyn Ruffin Barboza, the proposed facility’s director, to withdraw her application for a license from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), formerly Children’s Protective Services.
2. “Tarkington man found guilty of wife’s murder," Sept. 3, 2008
It took jurors just a little more than two hours to find Rodney Cameron Strickland , 52, guilty for the murder of his wife, Mary Bazzoon Strickland , who was shot to death at her CR 2187 home in Tarkington on Jan. 17, 2007.
Barbara McFarland, who witnessed the shooting death of her mother and was also shot in the ordeal, testified for the state. In her testimony, she said, “I felt helpless. I wanted to help but I couldn’t.”
3. “SNAP back after private donor funds program," Dec. 17, 2008
After it was learned that the City of Cleveland had failed to find funding for a spay/neuter program for pets of income-challenged residents, a private donor came forward to fund the project for another year.
4. “Dreams taking shape," Oct. 1, 2008
Members of the Cleveland Economic Development Corporation and other interested parties attended a dinner in Houston where it was formally announced that the Southeast Texas Biomedical Research Institute (SETBRI) would be locating in Cleveland.
Led by founder Dr. Glover O.L. Johnson, SETBRI is expected to have six five-story buildings and house a medical research institute, a medical education and teaching complex, and an outpatient clinic.
Editor’s note: Advocate Editor Vanesa Brashier and Reporter Alex Wukman contributed these articles.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR SELECTIONS
Below this article is a space for comments. Feel free to let us know if you agree or disagree with our choices for the Top 10. You may also send e-mail to vbrashier@hcnonline.com.
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