By: Summer Kelley, Staff Reporter

Upon looking back at headlines and stories, 2009 has been a difficult year in Dade County as it has been throughout the country with several hardships related to problems with the nation’s economy.  There have been a few bright spots, too, and as you look back over the year you see a county, and its’ people, steadily moving forward despite the current difficulties.

2009 began on a couple of high notes with a new ambulance service for Dade County.  The three counties serviced by Hutcheson for many years had been told at the end of 2008 that they would need to find a new way to provide EMS for their county before January 1 of 2009.  In the end, Dade settled on Lifeguard out of Chattanooga as an EMS provider for the county.  Lifeguard employees were ready for a smooth transition as ambulance care changed hands at midnight on December 31, 2008. 

Fire service for the City of Trenton underwent a change at the beginning of 2009 when the city hired another full-time fireman, giving the city two full-time firemen – Chief Jerry Kyzer and one additional employee.

Other changes in Dade County at the start of 2009 included the induction of County Executive Ted Rumley into office and the placement of David Swader and Ronnie Goff as two new board members on the Dade County Board of Education.

Bus route changes were made by the Dade County school system resulting in some confusion and delays during the first bus run, but delays were ironed out and the school system’s buses began operating as smoothly as ever with two fewer buses.

Another change in Dade County during the first half of 2009, was hotly disputed as the Dade County Tax Assessor’s Board found itself with two vacancies. One vacancy was due to issues with recertification for Brenda McKaig. A judge ruled McKaig was not in compliance with state training guidelines and McKaig was replaced. 

Weather caused several problems in both halves of 2009. During the first half of 2009, icy road conditions shut down schools in early February, while in April a tornado hit Dekalb County, Alabama on the Dade County line. Just a few days later, Dade County suffered extensive damage from what was later determined to be a “wake low”, bringing hail and high, damaging wind gusts.

Publicity is brought to Dade County through Toni Poulos, founder of Free Cakes for Kids who is nominated for the Greater Chattanooga Area’s Red Cross Hometown Heroes Award.  Dade Health and Rehabilitation, a local nursing home, receives honors for customer service, staff and client satisfaction.  The nursing home is also changed over to an employee-owned facility, although management will remain the same.

Dade Middle School’s Project Synergy brought attention to Dade County for its pairing of the new Volkswagen Company in Chattanooga with student projects encouraging students to think outside the box, but in the real world.  Project Synergy developers and Dade Middle teachers Matt Jelley and Thomas Randolph present the first Project Synergy with students in March. Later in May, several students, their projects and the school is recognized at a Chattanooga banquet and they are able to meet the president of Volkswagen America.  Project Synergy continues receiving recognition from around the state with educators and community leaders.

The economy hits two local developments: Sequatchie Pointe and The Preserve.  Sequatchie Pointe developer, J.J. Detweiler eventually seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June. Management of the Rising Fawn development, The Preserve, is taken over by CW Craig Associates from the Southern Group.  The name, The Preserve, is changed to Wild Moon Ranch and Resort. Landowners from both developments find themselves minus promised land improvements and several are unable to keep current on the taxes and/or payments for their property.

The economy hits local residents hard, but so do power bills in the first half of the year. Many Georgia Power customers demand answers from Dade County Commissioners and Georgia Power who attributes the rise in part to unusually cold weather and to two rate increases.

The bad economy also hits the Dade County school system hard as it loses close to half a million dollars in state funding with further cuts on the way.  While the school system finds itself in bad position, its financial state is shored up by a decent sized general fund balance that will help cover any shortages for the next school year without any major cutbacks.

The school system faces a difficult end of the 2008-2009 school year as Dade County High School assistant principal Donna Thornton’s contract is not renewed amid much protest starting a series of investigations into the system and board of education.

On the public safety side, H1N1 causes a scare throughout the U.S. and the Dade County Health Department holds a meeting with public officials and community leaders to provide the facts about the swine flu.  Those attending the meeting also discuss procedures and implementation of plans to cover a serious outbreak.

The county is horrified by an explosion that demolishes a house in the Piney neighborhood and sends an adult and three children to burn units.  One child dies a few days later while the community continues to pray for the survivors.

The first half of the year ends with the good news of the New Home Community Center and its 35 years of music and friends, as well as 70 years of service to the Lord for Woodlawn Baptist Church.

Watch for “2009 in Review: Part II” in next week’s edition of the Dade County Sentinel.