The year that was: 2005 brings good times and bad to Switzerland County

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What a year it was.

It’s hard to believe that 2005 is over, but as the clock chimed midnight last Sunday morning, we will celebrated the beginning of 2006.

But 2006 doesn’t come without some thoughts of the year that we’ve all just completed — in many ways a historic one for this county.

The new county jail and expansion of the courthouse was completed and opened this year; and Switzerland County Elementary School earned the highest honor that a school is able to nationally.

We also lost some dear friends during the year, and we also made new ones as people moved into the county and became a part of our community.

Nationally we saw the devastation of Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, and even though Switzerland County is hundreds of miles removed, we saw our residents rally to help those in need.

We cheered the successes of our children in the classroom and on the athletic field, and we look forward to seeing them leave school behind and become the next generation of caring and compassionate members of our society.

But now it’s over with.

So here it is, our “Top 10 List” for each month of 2005. Many of the things you may remember; others you may wonder why they weren’t included. It just goes to show how many things go on in a small community such as this one — and we look forward to continuing to bring you, our readers, each and every one of them.