FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2006
Headlines chronicle year’s events

January 5, 2006 – Out-of-town shoppers have big impact on Downtown Christmas season sales.

. . Robert Toombs House gets new landscape. . . . Grass fire blocks Thomson Highway with smoke. . .

Drug arrests lead December law enforcement summary.

January 12, 2006 – Struggling local economy takes more hits. . . . Hexcel announces closing; jobs secure for three months. . . . Pliant Corporation parent’s bankruptcy won’t affect local operations. . . . Board of Education’s sale of property clears the way for two new businesses – KFC/Taco Bell. . . . New councilmen take office; Barry Fleming is new city attorney.

January 19, 2006 – Proposed pipeline would cut 300-ft. path

through county. . . . Radar installed in sheriff’s cars. . . . Fire heavily damages Lexington Road duplex. . . . ‘From the Heart’ Valentine benefit to feature singer Debbie McLeod.

January 26, 2006 – New billboards designed to bring traffic Downtown. . . . Training to begin for early response team. . . . Memory Lane Cruisers awards $2500 in Cruise-In funds to local groups.

February 2, 2006 – Amanda Brooke is STAR Student; names Amy Wheatley her STAR Teacher. . . . Three drug dealers out of business; police say more drug arrests coming. . . . Former Mayor of Washington Frank Thomas Jr. dies at his home.

February 9, 2006 – Workers back on job after weekend industrial fire at Wood Specialty. . . . Broad River Soil and Water Conservation named top district by Georgia conservation leadership. . . . Washington-Wilkes Historical Foundation donates $3,000 to the Friends of St. Patricks cemetery.

February 16, 2006 – City Council member charges disrespect over committee meetings. . . . Tiger girls advance as region runner-up in basketball. . . . Property owners, Wilkes officials to meet with Elba III pipeline officials Wednesday. . . . Hiring for 48 detention center jobs set for Tuesday.

February 23, 2006 – Landowners influence pipeline planning. . . . Payroll Development Authority sets technology session for meeting at library. . . . STAR Student and Teacher honored at Chamber of Commerce breakfast.

March 2, 2006 – Pipeline officials meet with landowners, leaders. . . . Saturday drill to simulate anthrax scenario; local agencies to gain emergency experience. . . . Dark days ahead for local McDonalds fans as the restaurant shuts down to rebuild. . .

Unlicensed dirty dancing gets raided by Washington police.

March 9, 2006 – Big-time dirt bike, ATV racing returns to Aonia Pass. . . . New Farmers Market to fill a local need for healthy eating, locally grown foods. . . . Ethan Armour shows the grand champion steer at the 52nd Annual Washington Area Steer and Heifer Show.

March 16, 2006 – Zoning variance will allow fine dining at

Lafayette Manor Inn. . . . County Commissioners unimpressed by pipeline figures. . . . Wilkes phone customers must dial 706 on every call by April 3.

March 23, 2006 – Bonnie Bounds wins GISA spelling championship. . . . Board of Education plans to dedicate press box to Billy Cofer, chooses school complex builders. . . . Tignall family escapes from fire after father survives year in Iraq. . . . Washington city leaders retreat to move forward on initiatives. . . .

Downtown. . . . Incumbents,

Fishing Creek Baptist Church

newcomer qualify for county seats

breaks ground for classrooms.

in July primary election. . . . Wilkes

March 30, 2006 – Everything’s

County to observe National Day of

blooming, so it must be time for the

Prayer. . . . Plans announced for new

home to give second chance to Tour (of Homes) . . . Dial 706 before

teens. . . . Amateur motorcrossers local calls starts Monday . . . Market

race at Aonia this weekend. . . . Day on The Square looking for local

Washington’s Hillary Lindsey is up folks, goodies. . . . Washington

for “Song of the Year” award. Kiwanis Club gets kudos,

May 4, 2006 – Hundreds set to ‘Distinguished Club’ at regionals. .

walk in Wilkes Relay for Life. . . . . . Mark Waters received the

Wilkes Pre-release Center Outstanding Leadership Award at

(minimum security prison) to open the Kiwanis Division 6 Rally.

April 6, 2006 – Perfect weather, Monday morning. . . . Newcomers

vie for District 3 County good advertising bring good Tour

Commissioners seat. . . . Optimist turnout. . . . Eleven arrested in

Club sponsors ‘Respect for Law Baltimore drug roundup; police say

Week.’ more arrests are expected soon. . . .

May 11, 2006 – Governor Sonny Public meeting set to examine

Perdue visits to open pre-release pipeline’s impact on

prison; 40+ new jobs created. . . . environmentally sensitive Broad

Council, mayor contend over River area. . . . Qualifying for local

Mayfest traffic, support. . . . Total elections set to run from April 24

of 122 arrests made during Mayfest to 28.

April 13, 2006 – City Council weekend held in Whitehall; drag

races, graduations, Mayfest bring votes to restrict Mayfest party;

heavy traffic, enforcement. . . . ‘people are afraid to come out of

Michael Horgan will run for House their houses.’ . . . Wilkes County 4-

seat held by Mickey Channell. . . . H honors members in 29th annual

Relay for Life nears fund-raising awards banquet. . . . Public to meet

goals; all-night walk raises nearly concerning Pipeline’s impact on

$35,000 for cancer. . . . environmentally sensitive Broad

Development officials look at River watershed. . . . Meeting set to

Wilkes industrial options. help plan for the Fourth of July

May 18, 2006 – 92 seniors to party. . . . Easter Sunday services

graduate from W-WCHS in scheduled all over the county.

April 20, 2006 – Tax ceremonies May 19. . . . Board of

Education gets good grad news; six Commissioner Hubbard reports

more seniors get to graduate with high tax collection rate; shares

class. . . .Lightning fire claims Red credit with her team, sheriff’s office.

Barn; sold apples and cider for . . . Landowners getting smart in

years. . . . City Council votes not to fight to block pipeline. . . . Board

rezone property behind Pope of Education unveils new schools

Community Center. . . . McDonald’s site plans. . . . Wilkes County’s

hopes to open next Thursday. Young Georgia Authors saluted. . .

May 25, 2006 – Casey Nickels, . Relay for Life teams all over

Amanda Brooke, valedictorian and Wilkes County are raising money

salutatorian, offer advice for new for the third annual relay on May 5.

W-WCHS graduates. . . . Bringing . . . Larry Wheeler to be featured

broadband to rural Georgia is goal artist at W-W Festival of Music and

of state funding program. . . . Visitor Art.

April 27, 2006 – Festival of center representatives to visit; will

‘sell’ Wilkes to millions. . . . Music and Art starts Friday McDonald’s reopens, normal life resumes. . . . David and Janie Cravens (McDonald’s) receive Rotary Community Service Award.

June 1, 2006 – County-wide property assessments jump, real estate ‘values have just gone up since,’ . . . Wilkes Board of Education considers gym floor fix, passes expenditures and sets summer schedule. . . . Visitor Centers representatives tour, shop, and dine to tell about Washington’s attraction. . . . U.S. Highway east crash injures one; ties up busy highway for four hours. . . . Sharon man dies from 20-foot fall Thursday morning.

June 8, 2006 – Jane Echols chosen as new nursing director at Wills Memorial Hospital. . . . News- Reporter.com brings in the business from all over as 20,000 readers browse ads. . . . Qualifying to open for Board of Education set for District 1 and 2. . . . Drugs hotline brings tips right to Chief. . . . Independent film to be filmed in Washington-Wilkes in 2007.

June 15, 2006 – 1,500 bikers will fill city when BRAG arrives Friday. . . . City recreation facilities bring words between city council members, mayor. . . . Nathaniel Cullars Jr. arrested on cocaine, other charges. . . . Qualifying will open June 26 for Board of Education seats. . . . French watercolorist paints Washington.

June 22, 2006 – Landowners join forces to move pipeline away from CSRA region. . . . Board of Education takes next steps toward new school groundbreaking. . . . BRAG (Bike Riders Across Georgia) brings thousands of visitors; riders brag about Wilkes reception. . . . August’s Wilkes Grand Jury to hear Cullars cocaine case. . . . Board of Education and Georgia DOT erect signs to Tiger Stadium.

June 29, 2006 – Independence Day celebration to feature parade, fireworks. . . . State watering restriction still in place despite rains, local cops must enforce it. . . . TV’s Alton Brown visits Washington-Wilkes, gets ‘Good Eats’ at Phil’s The Biscuit Place. Area bikers to ‘Support Your Local Sheriff: Ride for Gary’ . . . Early voting open for primary, advance voting begins July 10.

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