2011 Year in Review
By SHARON KIESEL
The past year has brought lots of changes for everyone, no matter where we live. There have been a multitude of floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, world-wide. That’s just in the climate. Other changes have occurred in the way we live as everyone copes with the economic situation here and around the globe. Locally, we’ve all had to deal with rising prices, flooding in the Spring, then log, hot and dry summer and everything in between. Still, there have been some good highlights as well as interesting ones, within the Adrian community. As we look back on 2011, do you remember?
January 13 - The new clinic on Main Street nears completion. The expected opening is the end of the month to the first of February. The first big snow of the season dumps nearly 5 inches of the white stuff. Area schools have been closed three days in most districts.
January 20 - A memorial tribute in Butler was held during the wrestling tournament, in memory of the late Ronnie Hough, of Adrian, for his commitment to the Bates County youth wrestling program. The Blackhawk wrestlers placed second in the Butler and the Warsaw Tournaments.
February 3 - Snow once again blankets the area, February 1, causing area schools to close yet again… to the joy of students. The Lady Blackhawks take second at the 81st Annual Archie Tournament.
February 17 - The Adrian Wrestling Team heads for the State competition. The State SWAT team responds to rural Adrian to take into custody a woman who had holed up in the residence after allegedly pulling a gun on her estranged husband and another man.
February 24 - Liz Wood and Kody Cook area named as the 2011 Adrian High School’s Courtwarming Queen and King.
March 10 - The Open House for the new health clinic is well attended by community. The Bates County Industries have a new drop off point for recycling newspapers and magazines. The trailer is setting next to the plastics recycling trailer in the Yoss Thriftway parking lot. The Blackhawk Boys named District Champion runner-up. The Lady Blackhawks are Conference Champions.
March 24 - Adrian Chamber of Commerce names Adrian High School Head Coach, George Bruto as the Person of the Year. The Chamber also celebrated their 10th anniversary. Beta Sigma Phi names Lila Gunn as the Woman of the Year. Adrian Third Grade boys win at the Lakeland Basketball Tournament.
*Read this week's issue of The Adrian Journal for more January - March, 2011 highlights.
Right: Heavy snowfall in January (and February) caused three days of school closings for most districts.
Middle: Seven Adrian wrestlers head to the State.
Far right: In March, the Adrian Chamber of Commerce honored George Bruto as Person of the Year.