1. Election: Central Texas gets new representative in state Legislature

Republican Ralph Sheffield, a local businessman, won two elections in November to become the first new District 55 state representative in nearly 18 years.

The District 55 race had two places to cast a vote on the November ballot: One, a special election to fill the spot through the end of the term after the resignation of state Rep. Dianne White Delisi; the second, the general election to choose a representative to begin serving in January.

Sheffield had two hard-fought campaigns during the year, defeating former Temple city councilwoman Martha Tyroch in a runoff following the March primary that pitted him against three candidates for the Republican nod.

In the November general election, he defeated Democrat Sam Murphey by 5,910 votes in the general election, and though Sheffield did not receive the required 50 percent of the vote required to win the special election, Murphey conceded that race. This year’s general election also brought out a record number of early voters, with 61,718, or 38 percent of the county’s 162,302 registered voters, casting ballots early.

2. Temple residents approve bonds for fire, parks department

Temple residents voted in favor of a $13.99 million bond election on May 10 this year.

The major part of the bond will include relocation and rebuilding of Central Station; a combined new Station 8, training facility and Emergency Operations Center in the northwest part of the city; and replacement of two existing engines. Voters numbered 1,408 for the bond election, which was passed 1,058 to 350.

Voters in the city of Temple also passed a $9.75 million parks bond. Although the election was held in November 2007, evidence of work has begun to show during much of 2008 with all projects bid out and funding dedicated for them.

In the coming new year, residents will see a $4.1 million family aquatics center, a $1.9 million indoor swimming pool, $1.6 million expansion of the Summit Fitness Center, $300,000 in improvements to Ferguson Park, $400,000 Lions Park lighted multi-use field, $600,000 in Miller Park improvements, a $475,000 West Temple spray park and $350,000 in Sammons Golf Links improvements.

3. Belton voters OK tax hike for BISD

Voters passed a 13-cent tax increase in October to support the Belton school district’s 2008-09 budget. A total of 1,290 voters went to the polls, with 869 for the increase and 421 against. During early voting, 817 ballots were cast.

The $61.9 million general fund budget will include a 4 percent increase in teacher salaries, approved by the board in July. The raises depended on the tax rate being approved by voters.

4. Cell phones in state prisons

In October, Richard Tabler, a death row inmate convicted out of Bell County, used a smuggled cell phone from inside his cell to contact a state senator and several reporters. The incident led to the arrest of Tabler’s mother and sister and brought about a lockdown of the entire Texas prison system.

Prison officials confiscated more than 100 cell phones, including 17 from death row.

Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, has demanded more accountability by prison officials and required that patdowns include all staff members at all prison facilities in Texas.

5. Fort Hood contributes $10.9 billion to Texas economy

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced in May that the nation’s largest military post was a significant contributor to the state’s booming economy.

“What’s good for Fort Hood is awfully good for the state of Texas,” Ms. Combs said.

Ms. Combs, who was joined by then-III Corps commander Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, said the $10.9 billion figure was significantly higher than the $6.1 billion estimate provided by the comptroller’s office in 2004.

The economic impact numbers include $4.4 billion in direct expenditures, which includes military and civilian payroll, contracts and purchases, and construction costs, she said.

When coupled with $6.5 billion in indirect impact numbers from Fort Hood’s spending, Ms. Combs estimated the total impact on the region’s economy to be $7.1 billion and $10.9 billion statewide.

6. New Leadership at Fort Hood

Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno gets fourth star, replaces Gen. David Petraeus

In July, III Corps Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno was chosen to succeed Gen. David Petraeus as the top commander for operations in Iraq.

Odierno expressed his gratitude to the Senate for his confirmation and his commitment to stay the course in Iraq.

“I am honored by today’s U.S. Senate confirmation vote. Iraq has undergone significant change in the last several months and we seek to build on the positive developments,” Odierno said at the time of the announcement. “We are also fully aware that continuing to move forward will entail a great deal of work.”

Last year, Petraeus helped to tame growing opposition to the Iraq war in Congress by providing measured assessments of progress and warning that an exodus of U.S. troops would result in chaos. In the meantime, he advocated a buildup of some 30,000 troops in Baghdad and other hotspots, which eventually proved vital in tamping down violence.

Odierno, as Petraeus’ deputy commander in Iraq, is credited with successfully managing the new strategy.

Lynch replaces Odierno at Fort Hood

In July, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno relinquished command of III Corps and Fort Hood to Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, who commanded the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq.

Lynch, whose wife, Sarah, is a Killeen native, said coming to III Corps was nothing short of a homecoming for him and his family.

“I have had 14 years at Fort Hood and my wife is from Killeen, so this is truly coming home to us,” Lynch said. “My kids both graduated from school in Harker Heights, so the very idea that we could come back and continue to serve our great nation, in time of war, it’s just a humbling experience for me.”

7. Jenna Bush has pre-wedding festivities in Salado

“It was the biggest thing in Salado since Sam Houston’s speech,” said one resident.

The town was agog that Jenna Bush, the president, the first lady and a host of luminaries came to Salado on Friday, May 10 for Jenna’s luncheon and wedding rehearsal dinner in advance of her marriage to Henry Hager the following morning in Crawford.

For a year before the events in Salado, the White House staff and first family kept the festivities as deep and dark a secret as a trip by the president to Iraq. Even owners of establishments that gave the parties were kept in the dark about the true identity of their client until two days before the events. It was then a Telegram reporter got a tip and scooped the world’s press.

The president arrived by motorcade that evening to the startled stares of about 30 residents who got last minute notice.

The Telegram’s headlines for the event read, “S-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h! Jenna Bush is the best/worst kept secret in Salado.”

8. Alcoa lays off employees, shutting down lines

Alcoa’s Rockdale Operations grabbed 2008 headlines with the shutdown of its six-potline aluminum smelter last November; marking the first time in 56 years that aluminum ingot was not being produced in Milam County.

Alcoa sued its long-time business partner, Luminant Power, and blamed the electric company for the shutdown in June of three potlines that resulted in the layoffs of 160 people.

On Sept. 30, Alcoa announced it was idling the remaining three potlines and would be laying off an additional 660.

In mid-December Alcoa announced it was closing its carbon plant at Rockdale, leaving only the atomizer plant, which makes aluminum powder, in operation.

The company’s employee roster has changed from 1,100 on Jan. 1, 2008, to about 88 at yearend. The process of laying off employees will continue through mid-March.

9. Hurricane Ike brings evacuees to Bell County

On Sept. 10, as Hurricane Ike was barreling through the Gulf of Mexico with the Texas coast in its path, evacuees began arriving at the Bell County Expo Center from Brazoria, our sister county.

A special needs shelter was opened in the old police station, where 106 evacuees were housed. General population shelters were opened at the Mayborn Center and First Baptist Church in Belton, and various other churches also opened their doors to evacuees.

During the evacuation, about 1,200 evacuees and 86 pets found shelter in Bell County.

Volunteers, city and county crews and emergency response personnel responded to the call for assistance, providing for the needs of evacuees.

Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 hurricane that packed 110 mph winds and a relentless storm surge, caused extensive damage to the Texas coast, particularly Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. The death toll hit 50 in nine states affected by the storm, but that number continues to climb on the Texas coast as more victims are found.

10. New school leaders

Battershell new TISD superintendent

The Temple school board ended its search for a district superintendent just 15 miles down the road in April when it hired Dr. Robin Battershell, previously the Salado Independent School District superintendent.

The school board made its decision with a 6-0 vote during a special meeting in April to name Battershell the lone finalist for the position. She started with the TISD on June 1.

Dr. Dana Marable had served in the interim superintendent position since September 2007.

The district received 42 applications for the superintendent position from as far away as Alaska. The final five were from various regions in Texas. The Texas Association of School Boards Executive Search Services conducted the superintendent search.

New head named at Temple College

In July, the Temple College Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Dr. Glenda Barron as the college’s new president.

Barron replaced Dr. Marc Nigliazzo, who began his role as president of TC in 1995. Nigliazzo left at the end of June after accepting a position at the University of New Mexico.

The decision to hire Barron came after public forums were held with five finalists in early July.

Barron had worked with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board since 1987.

Among his achievements during his tenure at TC, Nigliazzo was responsible for overseeing the creation of the Clinical Simulation Center and the Texas Bioscience Institute and model programs such as the Middle College and Early College High School to give high school students opportunities in higher education.

Salado ISD gets new superintendent

The Salado Independent School District in August hired William “Billy” Wiggins for the district’s vacant superintendent position.

Wiggins was superintendent of the Port Aransas School District, where he has served since July 2003. He also has served as a superintendent for the Sims ISD. He replaced Dr. Robin Battershell, who left Salado to become superintendent of the Temple Independent School District.

UMHB president announces retirement

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor President Dr. Jerry G. Bawcom announced in late August that he will be stepping down from his position at the end of this academic school year.

Bawcom was named the 18th president of UMHB on Feb. 1, 1991.

According to a press release provided by UMHB, the Executive Committee of the board of trustees unanimously passed a resolution to appoint Bawcom as chancellor after he informed them of his decision to step down.

As chancellor, Bawcom will continue serving UMHB through public relations, fundraising and other duties.