It took a school bus to transport some 30 people arrested in the September 3 raid of “The Boom Boom Room.” July 2, 2009 – Fireworks Friday to kick off Fourth of July weekend. . . . Deandre Stewart charged in accidental shooting of teammate during Athens basketball tourney. . . . W-W Chamber of Commerce Small Business Breakfasts to help local small businesses grow, thrive. . . . Registration beginning soon for third annual Miss Wilkes Pageant set for September 26. . . . Chamber members hear of stimulus help for businesses. . . . Two city councilmen announce their runs for November election.

July 9, 2009 – Long-time W-WPS principal takes helm as superintendent of county’s schools. . . . Wilkes census committee is taking first steps to ensure a complete count of residents. . . . New officers take the helm of Rotary Club. . . . Property tax collections nearly normal despite delays caused by revaluations. . . . Disposition of old school complex is topic of Board of Education workshop. . . . State championship tourney begins Saturday for Washington-Wilkes Little League Senior Girls Softball Team.

Kristin Lukich Miss Wilkes County July 16, 2009 – Tax Assessors office needs help to meet goals of data entry. . . . Firefighters save Rayle home. . . . Disposition of old school complex moves forward with plans for sale. . . . Public awareness is goal of 2010 Census committee.

. . Little Theater to perform Dixie Swim Club at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse. . . . You can help your neighbors in traveling the Road to Recovery.

July 23, 2009 – City hears new Country Inn and Suites proposal for hotel at Pope Center site.. . . All Wilkes schools, whole system attain Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) first time on record. . . . County School Superintendent, Board of Education members inspect new school complex. . . . Back-to-school time in Washington-Wilkes means tax-free savings, local giveaways, and one last blast. . . . Volunteers needed for Road to Recovery training. . . . Car rolls into lake at Holliday Park.

July 30, 2009 – Budget cuts force 3-day furlough for Wilkes teachers. .

. Local small-business people seek stimulus money info from SBA. . . . Back-to-school time means tax-free savings, giveaways. . . . Community forum to tell of assistance for Wilkes citizens. . . . First United Methodist Church to celebrate 100 years with Bishop’s visit. . . . Tiger Band sweats out summer band camp.

August 6, 2009 – New school year starts Friday; first time at new complex. . . . School property declared surplus, will be advertised for sale or lease. . . . Georgia Trust’s Fall Ramble plans return to tour Washington-Wilkes. . . . Cheney Bunch is packing goodies for Marines. . . . Resident Bishop’s visit will highlight century of worship at First United Methodist Church. . . . Former Sheriff Gary Rogers dies after extended illness. . . . Wilkes schools gain four new teachers.

August 13, 2009 – Qualifying dates set August 31-September 4 for Washington’s city council elections. . . . Early entries coming in for the 3rd Annual Miss Wilkes Pageant set for Saturday, September 26. . . . Traffic improving at new school site but caution still urged. . . . Parking available behind Wills Memorial Hospital during construction. . . . Skeet Willingham’s new novel is out.

August 20, 2009 – Wilkes Board of Education revises rules on searching bags for off-campus trips. . . . Commissioners take only 14 minutes but still get all county business done. . . . Kevin Shelton killed in tragic ATV crash Saturday afternoon. . . . Wills Memorial Hospital Lab is awarded bi-annual creditation. . . . Washington’s F&M Bank opens new branch in Columbia County. . . . Melanie Hart concert Saturday on The Square.

August 27, 2009 – Tigers open at Banks County Friday. . . . Rental of school facilities considered in Wilkes Board of Education workshop. . . . Power outage set for downtown Sunday morning. . . . W-WCHS parents can now check students’ grades and attendance online. . . . Qualifying starts Monday morning for November city council election. . . . BRAG riders choose Washington as their favorite stop of 2009 ride. . . . Fall is packed with family events from Rayle Ramble to Tignall Fest. . . . Music video shot at Washington Presbyterian Church.

September 3, 2009 – Washington’s Anthony Forest Products earns national ‘safest company’ awards. . . . Public hearing set to consider grant to bring factory jobs here. . . . Children’s Playhouse opens next week. . . . Rusher Street showing sure signs of redevelopment work. . . . Despite high number of school absentees, no H1N1 flu cases confirmed yet in Wilkes.

September 10, 2009 – Raid catches Boom Boom Room’s illegal activity by surprise; 30 persons arrested. . . . Liberty Street home saved Friday morning by quick, expert Washington firefighters. . . . Reese J. Booker Park in Whitehall gets new basketball courts. . . . Cruise-In set for Saturday on The Square. . . . Rarely seen homes to be featured in Georgia Trust Ramble September 18 in Washington-Wilkes.

September 17, 2009 – Tax bills won’t go by end of year; sale of W-W airport still uncertain. . . . Georgia Trust’s Fall Ramble returns for a fourth visit to Washington- Wilkes Friday. . . . Wilkes Board of Education opens one bid to dispose of old school property. . . . Miss Wilkes County pageant entry deadthe line is Friday. . . . Washington loses stimulus funding to rebuild, repair city’s water plants. . . . Tigers play best game to date, beat Redskins 29-14.

September 24, 2009 – Board of Education okays next steps in disposal of old high school property. . . . Georgia Trust Ramble brings fourth visit to historic homes to see “treasure in our state.” . . . Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival promises a “return to the good old days.” . . . Predawn crash with logging truck Friday takes life of Toccoa man. . . . Volunteer firefighters train to upgrade rural fire protection.

October 1, 2009 – Kristin Lukich crowned Miss Wilkes County. . . . Hearing set for city property acquisitions to pave the way for all-new Rusher Street. . . . Senior Center to be named for Rev. Roy L. Burns. . . . ‘Pump and Dump’ contains big Tyrone hay barn fire Monday night. . . . Urban Redevelopment Authority appointed for city; will take over business development around Pope Center. . . . Pipeline goes under roads, not through.

October 8, 2009 – Robert Toombs House historic site opens under local control, thanks to agreement. . . . Saturday’s Mule Day will see two new mule events. . . . Memorial service set for today for Kiwanis leader J. Carlton Norris. . . . Gracen Ware was crowned Homecoming Queen for W-WCHS. . . . Senior center renamed for founding leader; ‘the work Rev. Burns has done is speaking’.

October 15, 2009 – Reassessment, data entry sure to delay Wilkes County tax bills past new year. . . . Councilman gets health insurance after mayor breaks a 3-3 split vote. . . . Mule Day festival big success with more mules, more locals. . . . Archaeologist set to present program on first Georgia people. . . . Lady Tigers win region championship, advance to round two in softball playoffs.

October 22, 2009 – Recent heavy rain reveals leaks in roof of new W-W school gym. . . . High school’s Jennifer Atkinson is Wilkes County’s new Teacher of the Year. . . . Three Rayle men killed in accident in Oglethorpe County early Thursday morning. . . . Washington City Council votes to turn over four properties to court for condemnation proceedings.

October 29, 2009 – Five vie for District One council seats; Eaton is unopposed; election Tuesday. . . . Wilkes County and municipalities agree on Service Delivery Strategy document. . . . Dr. Lester Johnston honored as “Provider of the Year.” . . . H1N1 flu vaccines will arrive soon, to be given out by strict guidelines. . . . Leadership changes at North Alexander School Association; fund established.

November 5, 2009 – Fall ArtFest, Tignall Festival set for this weekend. . . . Swine flu vaccines now available in Wilkes; health department sets clinic today. . . .Charles Jackson elected head of city’s new urban authority. . . . Wilkes Census gets grant to promote 2010 count. . . . Tiger Girls claim region Cross Country championship. . . . Veterans Day services scheduled on The Square.

November 12, 2009 – U.S. Census to hire hundreds in Wilkes County with testing set Saturday, city council hears. . . . Weeks before Christmas are packed with events, parades, and shopping in the snow. . . . University of Georgia graduate students develop concepts for look or county, city entrance corridors. . . . Opportunities to help folks abound in Wilkes County during holiday season.

November 19, 2009 – Wilkes County will petition court to collect 2009 taxes prior to new digest’s approval. . . . Board of Education to join county in petition for interim 2009 tax collection. . . . Coats, hats, gloves to be given out at God’s Marketplace Friday.. . . . Shop at home at Christmas Candlelight Shopping Tuesday. . . . City Council retreat hears status reports on ongoing city projects, 2010 city budget. . . . Complete count committee needs volunteers.

November 26, 2009 – City’s new Urban Redevelopment Authority gets up to speed on two assigned projects. . . . Reserve seats now for Legislative Breakfast set for Thursday, December 3, at the Pope Center. . . . Snowy weekend shopping in Washington next month is the ‘buzz all over Georgia.’ . . . Students to get new coloring book focusing on historical downtown. . . . Tickets available for Ty Herndon benefit concert for Calli Nickels. . . .More testing set for local census jobs at Mary Willis Library.

December 3, 2009 – Unemployment rate 12 percent in Wilkes but new benefit claims may have peaked. . . . Tickets available for W-W Chamber of Commerce annual dinner December 10. . . . Candlelight Shopping brings of shoppers to downtown Washington.

December 10, 2009 – Christmas tour highlights weekend of Activities. . . . Low demand, increased supplies make H1N1 vaccine available to all in Wilkes County. . . . Last week’s rare winter storm brings tornado alarm, high winds bring minor damage to trees, power lines. . . . Annual breakfast hears doom and gloom: ‘It hasn’t been this bad since the Thirties’ . . . Washington council set to approve $18 million city budget on Monday.

December 17, 2009 – Washington- Wilkes Comprehensive High School is again named a ‘best school’ for readying students for college work. . . . Washington City Council approves budget, applauds departing District 1 councilman. . . . Marines bring toys for tots for local children. . . . Salvation Army needs more donations. . . . County commissioners take only nine minutes to tend to regular business, appointments. . . . Buddy Lindsey receives the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year award. . . . Christmas Tour and dinner brings crowds to Washington.

December 24, 2009 – Wilkes County babies celebrating their first Christmas featured on two pages. . . .Fitzpatrick Hotel’s new owner ‘redoing everything’ and has new marketing plan. . . . Guardian Center frustrations continue; Congressional help may be key to plan. . . . Christmas Tour visitors get hot soup on a cold day at Woman’s Club. . . . Beta Sigma Phi donates $4,000 to Wills Memorial Hospital.

December 31, 2009 – Board of Education concerned with leaky roofs, tax collections. . . .Relay for Life 2010 kickoff planned. . . .Senior citizens remembered at Christmas time with “Shoeboxes of Love.”