Year in Review 2012

New Brockton mayor found guilty

In January, former New Brockton Mayor Lenwood Herron was found guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty after two hours of deliberation by a jury. Herron was given the maximum sentence of one year in the Coffee County Jail. Circuit Judge Thomas Head called the conditions of the former New Brockton Animal Shelter where five dogs were rescued “beyond deplorable” and “horrendous.” Head suspended the year sentence and instead, Herron was given two years on probation without the need to report to a probation officer. Herron was also ordered to serve 250 hours of community service at the SOS Animal Shelter, the area’s only no-kill shelter.

Controversial district line to stay

In February, Coffee County Commissioners voted to keep a district line drawn between District 5 and District 3 within the Tartan Pines subdivision. The line, as drawn, went directly over a Republican commission District 5 candidate Eugene Yager’s home. Yager brought attention to the line to determine which district he was able to run in during the election. The line was drawn according to an old map where a street once was, however it had since been demolished. It was later determined that Yager had a choice of which district he would like to run for office in.

Looking back five years later

In March, the city came together in a special memorial ceremony to honor the lives of eight children and a resident who died in 2007 when an EF-4 tornado hit Enterprise. Memorial services and ceremonies were hosted at Hillcrest Baptist Church, the newly constructed Enterprise High School and the memorial site where the former Enterprise High School once stood. Residents took time to remember the lives of Michael Bowen, Peter Dunn, A.J. Jackson, Ryan Mohler, Katie Strunk, Mikey Tompkins, Jamie Vidensek, Michelle Wilson and Edna Strickland.

County receives grant for tire center

In March, the Coffee County Commission received a $5.8 million grant to construct a tire-processing center at the county landfill. Then commission chairman Jim Thompson said the grant is the highest amount the county has ever received for a single project. Once completed, the new tire-processing center will be the first regional scrap tire processing center in the state.

Murder suspect in custody

After a two-day manhunt, then 19-year-old Dequincey Quinterio Wilder turned himself in to authorities for the murder of 22-year-old Raymond Wesley Boykin. Wilder was later indicted by the grand jury for Boykin’s murder. Wilder remains in the Coffee County Jail under a $1.5 million bond awaiting trial.

School rezoning approved

The Enterprise City School Board unanimously approved a motion approving the newly drawn school district lines. The school district lines hadn’t been re-drawn since 1994. With considerable population growth since then in areas of the city, re-drawing the school district lines is something Superintendent Dr. Aaron Milner said was necessary. The rezoning, which went into effect at the start of the 2012 school year, moved some students to different schools within the city.

Park Place opening brings jobs to community

In April, Enterprise saw the opening of a new shopping center at the corner of Boll Weevil Circle and Lee Street. The new shopping center, with its flagship store Publix, brought about 100 new jobs for the city. More growth and jobs are expected in the area with the center’s four out-parcel properties.

Area ranked top mircopolitan

In June, the Policom Corporation ranked the Enterprise-Ozark micropolitan area first in the state and 28th in the nation after several factors including growth in size and quality, types of jobs, and welfare and Medicaid statistics were considered.

BamaJam returns

After a year hiatus, the city of Enterprise and Wiregrass area welcomed back the June BamaJam music festival, this time under the leadership of a new executive producer.

Thousands of people returned to Enterprise for the three-day festival, hosted at BamaJam Farms. The event was organized through a collaborative effort and was an overall success. Severe weather caused the cancellation of a couple of main stage performances the first night, but cleared up before Eric Church and Tim McGraw and stayed clear for the remainder of the weekend.

Gilley, Spicer, Massey sentenced

On July 16, former Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley, former state Rep. Terry Spicer and former lobbyist Jarrod Massey were sentenced after pleading guilty to their involvement in a vote-buying scheme to pass pro-gambling legislation. After two trials, all defendants pleading not guilty were acquitted. Gilley was sentenced to 80 months, Spicer to 57 months and Massey to 65.

Christian Mission Women and Children’s Center opens

In August, the Enterprise Christian Mission opened the Women and Children’s Center, the first of its kind in Southeast Alabama. The 4,000 square-foot WCC on Geneva Highway is a non-profit, faith-based transitional living program that will serve women and children who are homeless or experiencing poverty for Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Pike and Houston counties. The center was made possible through community donations and volunteers.

Enterprise City Schools make AYP

Enterprise City Schools was pleased to announce in August that all of the 11 city schools made annual yearly progress requirements required by the No Child Left Behind Act. For the past five years, the school system has had at least one school not make AYP requirements. Superintendent Dr. Aaron Milner said he couldn’t put into words how pleased he was and applauded the efforts of teachers, administrators and support staff.

Nightclub shooting

Three people were killed in an Aug. 9 shooting at Teasers Show Club in Wicksburg on Highway 84. After a seven-hour manhunt, law enforcement arrested Ryan Clark Petersen, 23, of Enterprise. Petersen now faces four capital murder charges in Houston County.

Brendan Franco loses cancer battle

After a long-fought battle with lung, liver and brain cancer, 13-year-old Brendan Franco passed away in September. For more than a year leading up to his death, Franco’s courageous, inspirational spirit and desire to find a cure for childhood cancers had a big impact on the community. Through a foundation for the Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, work and donations are still being made to see that his wish comes true.

Enterprise welcomes post command

In 2012, Fort Rucker and the Wiregrass area said goodbye to former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield and welcomed the new post command led by Maj. Gen. Kevin Mangum. Enterprise officially welcomed Mangum and his staff during a reception at the Enterprise Civic Center Oct. 15.