1. April 2 Storm
The strong line-force winds of April 2 left the west side of Washington looking like a war zone. Roofs off of homes, telephone poles severed, fires started and power outages for days left the West End in a mess.
Washington Mayor Dave Abel declared the city in a state of emergency from the line-force winds that Sunday night. “Washington has been lucky for years,” said Washington Police Chief Mike Healy on April 3. “We were hit hard all around but never here. I just thank God that nobody’s hurt. It was a long night last night, but it could have been worse.”
2. Time Zone Chaos
The continuing debate on what time zone the area should be on lands second on the Top 10 list. In January, the federal Department of Transportation approved the switch to Central Daylight Time for five counties including Martin and Daviess.
With public backlash about the move to Central, the five counties asked the DOT to switch back to Eastern in August. On Oct. 29, residents in Daviess and Martin counties switched their clocks ahead an hour for daylight-saving time.
A decision is expected from the DOT in early 2007.
3. Buggy Accident
On May 13, Edna Knepp was killed when the buggy she was riding in with her family was hit by a drunk driver.
Knepp’s five children and her husband were taken to hospitals in Evansville and Louisville, as well as Daviess Community Hospital.
The driver, Cameron Swartzentruber, 23, Odon, was coming from a graduation party when he hit the Knepp’s buggy. His blood-alcohol content tested at .24 percent.
He is currently awaiting trial, which has been scheduled for Jan. 24.
4. Bill Quilliam
Longtime Times-Herald humorist and columnist Bill Quilliam died on May 19. His weekly column, “Sharing Outdoors,” had appeared in the Times-Herald for almost 30 years. It was not the style but the man that made Quilliam a great storyteller.
“He was an amazing storyteller whose ‘aw shucks’ style was so very endearing. Heck, some people would read his ‘Sharing Outdoors’ column before they would read the obituaries, police report or Dear Abby. It seemed everyone wanted to know Bill,” former Times-Herald editor Greg Litherland said.
5. Glendale Mining
The Times-Herald broke the revelation on Sept. 30 that the state Department of Natural Resources, without public notification, allowed Black Beauty Inc. to test drill for coal at Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area.
After public outcry, the DNR scheduled a public meeting on Oct. 11. More than 400 people came to the meeting, mostly to voice their objections to potential mining. On Dec. 21, the DNR announced in a press release that although there are substantial coal reserves, it will not allow mining in Glendale because of the public’s opposition.
6. Omer and Rademacher into Halls of Fame
Two local coaches, former Washington boys basketball head coach Dave Omer and long-time Barr-Reeve baseball varsity coach Joe Rademacher, were nominated to their respective Halls of Fame in November.
Omer, a 40-year veteran of the hardwood, coached at Barr-Reeve and Washington, where he won a state championship in 2005.
Rademacher, who’s been coaching baseball at Barr-Reeve since 1977, has amassed 379 wins as a coach.
7. Martin County Clerk
From the moment John Hunt won a precinct committee election in November 2005, he has faced problems as Martin County Clerk. In January, he faced a lawsuit from Linda Nolan, who claimed Hunt’s election was rigged, and on June 7, he was arrested by Circuit Court Judge Joe Howell, who charged him with criminal contempt of court.
In May, Hunt lost a primary battle with Nolan, a former chief deputy clerk. Nolan would not win the general election in November when Shoals native Julie Fithian won by only 40 votes. Hunt will continue as clerk through 2007.
8. Crooks v. Arnold
The race for House District 63 between Dave Crooks and Ron Arnold was the only Daviess County contested race. Statewide, the struggle for the Indiana House leadership became a referendum on Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.
Arnold, the Republican, announced his candidacy on Jan. 31 and until election day had to struggle to raise funds and prove he would not follow Daniels’ lead.
Crooks, the Democrat and a Daniels critic, won easily in the general election.
The Indiana House was won by the Democrats for the first time in four years.
9. WJHS-WHS Renovation
After some debate in 2005, the Washington Community School Board voted on Jan. 5 to issue $19.5 million in bonds to renovate the junior and senior high schools.
Although area residents will pay more in property taxes to pay off those bonds, work started at the junior high on Nov. 20. The project should be completed for the 2008-2009 school year.
10. WHS, ND Win Boys Basketball Sectionals
In separate boys basketball sectionals in Washington and Loogootee, the host Hatchets and the North Daviess Cougars won their respective tournaments on the same night on March 4.
The Hatchets, beating conference rival Vincennes, and the Cougars, who beat county rival Barr-Reeve, celebrated that Saturday night. They both lost in the regional the following weekend.
