2009 Year in Review

<p>By Jeremy A. CorleyManaging Editor
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<p>"Change" was the dominant buzzword for most of the nation throughout 2009, and Anna and Melissa were no different. 
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<p>From new mayors and businesses to Anna's new superintendent and Melissa's new fire chief, both towns plowed full speed ahead into the future. The following are a few of the highlights.
</p>

<p>January
</p>

<p>Kerrville Fire Marshal Perry Elliott was hired as Melissa's first full-time fire chief.
</p>

<p>Former Anna City Councilman David Crim was indicted on felony charges of theft by a public servant. The charges stemmed from Crim's time as president of the Community Development Corporation and involved a $9,400 check in his possession that was to be used toward bleachers at a local park. Crim later pleaded guilty to the charge and received probation.
</p>

<p>The Anna City Council approved the purchase of the former Independent Bank building on Powell Parkway. The building will be renovated to house the city's police department.
</p>

<p>Crow's Country Cafe opened in downtown Anna.
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<p>The Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce hosted its first awards banquet. Among the award winners were Anthony Geer and Buddy Hayes, who received lifetime achievement awards, and GACC President Stacy Driskell, who was named Citizen of the Year.
</p>

<p>God's Love Fellowship celebrated its second anniversary in Anna.
</p>

<p>Anna High School named Curren McMahon as its new head football coach. He succeeded Chris Dodd, who resigned two months earlier.
</p>

<p>An ice storm closed down local schools for a day.
</p>

<p>February
</p>

<p>A Collin County jury sentenced Raul Cortez, 28, to death by lethal injection in the 2004 murders of four people, including Matthew Self of Melissa. The guilty verdict was handed down days earlier on the birthday of Nancy Self, Matthew's mother.
</p>

<p>Anna schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Wardell announced he would leave Anna for the superintendent position at Jacksonville ISD. Wardell served as Anna's superintendent for eight years.
</p>

<p>Heather Cox of Anna delivered quadruplets in Plano.
</p>

<p>Joe K. Bryant Elementary School in Anna hosted the city's second annual Black History Month event.
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<p>Melissa illustrator Don Lewis published his first children's book, "The Dappy Huck".
</p>

<p>Anna police discovered 4 pounds of marijuana in a vehicle's trunk during a traffic stop.
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<p>The City of Melissa selected Pogue Construction to provide construction management services on the new City Hall project.
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<p>Jerry Audley of Anna headlined a show at Bill Bates Cowboy Ranch in Celina. His opening act was Rory Payne, an Anna High School teacher.
</p>

<p>The Anna Coyotes earned their first playoff berth as a Class 3A school.
</p>

<p>Melissa High School Principal Bobbi Taylor announced her resignation, effective at the end of the school year. Assistant Principal Charles Alderman was named as her successor.
</p>

<p>Dr. Anthony Vallarino opened Family Healthcare of Melissa.
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<p>Melissa quarterback Zach Williams signed a letter of intent to play football at West Point.
</p>

<p>The Melissa Lady Cardinals fell to eventual state champion Brock to end the most successful season in MHS history. Melissa beat Hooks for the bi-district title and topped Krum in the area round before falling to Brock.
</p>

<p>March
</p>

<p>Beekeeper Elizabeth James of Anna published her first children's book, "Ebenezer the Claustrophobic Bee: An Almost True Story".
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<p>Melissa High School sophomore Dylan Ward raised more than $24,000 to help fight cancer through the St. Baldrick's organization.
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<p>Anna ISD selected Larry Johnson to serve as the district's interim superintendent.
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<p>Mayor David Dorman filed an official complaint against Byron Harris of WFAA Channel 8. Harris reported two stories related to Melissa, one claiming the city had overstated its population numbers and another claiming a Dorman company made more than $600,000 in profit on land sold to the city for a water tower.
</p>

<p>The Anna City Council passed a smoking ban for public property and medical and transportation facilities.
</p>

<p>The City of Melissa was recognized for its annual budget by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.
</p>

<p>The movie "Maggie's Passage" started filming at the Flying T Ranch outside Westminster.
</p>

<p>April
</p>

<p>Martha McDowell hosted her annual Springtime on the Hill event on her family's farm between Anna and Melissa.
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<p>Melissa city leaders broke ground on the new Melissa Town Center.
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<p>Heidi-Marie Ferren of Melissa was crowned Miss USO 2009.
</p>

<p>The Melissa Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual awards banquet. The Business of the Year Award went to Scott and Tina Thomas, owners of Creative Touch and Scott's 5th Quarter Grill.
</p>

<p>The Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual Spring Golf Tournament.
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<p>Independent Bank opened its new office in Anna on West White Street.
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<p>The developers of the North Creek subdivision in Melissa donated about two acres of land for a new fire station as well as more than $1 million for construction on Throckmorton Road.
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<p>The Anna City Council adopted a strategic vision for the city.
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<p>The Anna school board eliminated bus service to the Tara Farms and Oak Hollow subdivisions.
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<p>Melissa High School named Seth Stinton as its new head football coach. Ronny Williams retained his position as athletic director.
</p>

<p>The Melissa girls golf team qualified for the state tournament.
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<p>The University Interscholastic League temporarily postponed all events due to an outbreak of the H1N1 virus.
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<p>A man robbed Love's Travel Stop in Anna at gunpoint.
</p>

<p>May
</p>

<p>Melissa schools Superintendent Jason Smith visited Australia to discuss Web 2.0 with several educational institutions.
</p>

<p>A Denison man was rescued west of Melissa after his vehicle was stuck in high water on County Road 279. He was unhurt.
</p>

<p>Growing Step by Step Christian Child Development Center opened in Anna.
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<p>Darren Driskell was elected mayor of Anna, defeating six-year incumbent Kenneth Pelham. Re-elected to the City Council were Mike Crist and Keith Green.
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<p>Reed Greer was elected mayor of Melissa, defeating 10-year incumbent David Dorman in an election with voter turnout topping 50 percent. Bill Farmer was elected to the City Council, and Sharon Weideman was re-elected. Melissa voters said no to local liquor sales for the third time in three years. 
</p>

<p>Melissa High School freshman Macie Seeker finished third at the state golf tournament, helping her team to fifth place.
</p>

<p>Sportron, an international network marketing company, opened an office in Melissa.
</p>

<p>Melissa Fire Department Capt. Ron Adams and an area woman were injured when the woman pulled her vehicle out in front of Adams' MFD brush truck, which was headed to an accident scene. Both were taken to area hospitals for their injuries.
</p>

<p>Karen Rose, a second-grade teacher at McKillop Elementary School in Melissa, was named Teacher of the Year by the Association of Texas Professional Educators.
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<p>Anna's Gabrielle Curiel and Melissa's Krista Kaetterhenry earned trips to the state track and field meet in Austin.
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<p>The sixth annual Melissa Open raised $60,000.
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<p>The Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce hosted the first Anna Glow Fest hot air balloon festival, which attracted about 10,000 visitors during a four-day weekend.
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<p>Anna ISD named Rhett Box as its new athletic director, replacing Kevin Harris.
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<p>Melissa High School announced Jacob Petersen as its Class of 2009 valedictorian. Alexandra Empie was the salutatorian.
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<p>Anna High School announced Taylor New as its Class of 2009 valedictorian. Ashley Griffin was the salutatorian.
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<p>Maria's Mexican Restaurant opened in Melissa.
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<p>A group of local women started Operation Hometown Heroes to support military families in Anna, Melissa, Van Alstyne and Howe.
</p>

<p>June
</p>

<p>The AHS Class of 2009 saw 96 graduates receive their diplomas at the Plano Centre.
</p>

<p>The MHS Class of 2009 saw 57 graduates receive their diplomas at McKinney Fellowship Bible Church.
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<p>Anna called a special election for Sept. 14 to fill a vacant City Council seat.
</p>

<p>The inaugural Country Ridge 5K and Kids' Fun Run benefited the Country Ridge subdivision and the Friends of the Melissa Public Library.
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<p>The Malt Shop marked 50 years in Anna with a car show.
</p>

<p>Larry Nickell was hired to be the new head girls basketball coach at Melissa High School, taking over for Claude Webb, who remained as girls athletics coordinator.
</p>

<p>Collin County Adventure Camp near Westminster hosted its annual Summer Community Day.
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<p>Anna ISD named Pam Luttrull as its new director of special education.
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<p>The Anna-Melissa Tribune was recognized by the Texas Press Association for the third consecutive year, earning third place for general excellence in its category in the 2009 TPA Better Newspaper Contest.
</p>

<p>July
</p>

<p>John Sledge of Melissa survived a plane crash near Midlothian during the July 4 weekend.
</p>

<p>The Anna-Melissa Tribune changed its publication day from Friday to Thursday. The Tribune had published on Fridays since its founding in 2002.
</p>

<p>Melissa celebrated the Fourth of July with thousands of visitors during  daylong event in Zadow Park. The city was presented with an American flag flown during hundreds of missions in Iraq.
</p>

<p>Anna celebrated Independence Day with a fireworks show at a full Coyote Stadium.
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<p>Iraq war veteran Gunnar Swanson started his 1,000-mile march from Dallas to Minnesota and made a first-day stop at the Collin County Adventure Camp near Westminster.
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<p>The Bridges Golf Course opened outside Gunter.
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<p>The Melissa Cardinals made a return trip to the state 7-on-7 tournament.
</p>

<p>Anna ISD named interim Superintendent Larry Johnson as the lone finalist for its superintendent position.
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<p>Kian Shelton, 11, of Anna and his friend, Josh Eyeington, donated their time to mow and landscape the yard of a neighbor who had been diagnosed with cancer.
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<p>A woman drove her car through the storefront of Dollar General in Anna. She suffered minor injuries, and no one inside the store was hurt.
</p>

<p>Caitlin Jones set a new school high jump record at the summer state track meet.
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<p>Nick Jelsma and his twin brother, Will, earned top spots on the Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search.
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<p>A body was discovered in the trunk of an abandoned vehicle in Melissa.
</p>

<p>August
</p>

<p>About 250 people showed up to the inaugural Total Health Fair at Rattan Elementary School in Anna.
</p>

<p>The Melissa City Council had its first joint meeting with the city's industrial and economic development boards.
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<p>AHS robotics coach Debra Arvin was named the winner of a Math Hero Award from MathMovesU, a national initiative from Raytheon Co. She received a $2,500 grant, and the Anna school district received a matching $2,500 grant.
</p>

<p>More than 500 volunteers put in about 5,000 service hours during First Baptist Church Melissa's annual Impact Week activities, culminating in the church's annual community expo.
</p>

<p>Anna ISD showed a 5.17 percent enrollment increase from the previous year.
</p>

<p>Melissa schools showed an enrollment increase of about 7.3 percent from 2008.
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<p>"Maggie's Passage", which was filmed in the spring on the Flying T Ranch near Westminster, premiered at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas.
</p>

<p>September
</p>

<p>Anna's varsity football team broke an 11-game losing streak with a 20-12 win over Tom Bean.
</p>

<p>Leslie Chapman and Darian Gipson-Jackson were named Anna's 2009 Homecoming Queen and King. 
</p>

<p>Melissa topped Anna in the annual Texas 5 Tussle on the gridiron, 28-0.
</p>

<p>Melissa chiropractor Dr. Marli White received her American citizenship.
</p>

<p>The Anna school board authorized a $25 million bond sale to fund the completion of the district's new $46.9 million high school.
</p>

<p>Melissa ISD increased its teacher pay scale with funds from the federal stimulus plan.
</p>

<p>MHS crowned Skyler Zadow as its 2009 Homecoming Queen.
</p>

<p>Leslie Luscombe's jalapeno jelly took top honors at the Fiery Food Challenge in Fort Worth. Luscombe owns Luscombe Farm Specialty Foods in Anna.
</p>

<p>October
</p>

<p>The North Creek subdivision in Melissa hosted the city's National Night Out activities.
</p>

<p>About 250 residents attended Anna's National Night Out activities in Slayter Creek Park.
</p>

<p>Melissa ISD recognized custodian Rex Tallent, who retired from the district after 30 years of service.
</p>

<p>Dr. Mark De Simone joined the Anna Dental practice of Dr. Jeffrey Ludlow.
</p>

<p>Melissa Police Chief Duane Smith narrowly avoided being struck by a suspect's vehicle during a multicounty chase that started in Van Alstyne and ended more than two hours later in rural Navarro County.
</p>

<p>CalHar Construction celebrated 10 years in Melissa. CalHar Drive, which leads to the company's front door, was the first concrete street in Melissa.
</p>

<p>The Melissa Education Foundation's annual Casino Night event raised about $20,000.
</p>

<p>A 46-year-old Trenton man was killed in a head-on collision on Texas 121 near F.M. 455.
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<p>Melissa ISD earned the state's top financial accountability rating.
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<p>The McKillop Elementary School PTO hosted its annual Fall Festival, raising about $17,000.
</p>

<p>Hundreds of residents attended Rattan Elementary School's annual Fall Festival.
</p>

<p>Melissa ISD hosted its fourth annual wellness event.
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<p>Anna dominated the district cross country meet for the second consecutive year as the Coyotes and Lady Coyotes won team titles.
</p>

<p>Anna's new post office opened on South Powell Parkway next to Sonic.
</p>

<p>The AHS robotics team took first place in its area competition and earned a second consecutive trip to the regional contest.
</p>

<p>November
</p>

<p>Anna hosted its second Glow Fest.
</p>

<p>Stacy Driskell, who founded the Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce, stepped down as president and joined the Board of Directors. She was replaced as president by Deana Mink.
</p>

<p>AHS runner Johnny Trevino qualified for the state cross country meet.
</p>

<p>Michelle Lynn Smith of Anna was sentenced to 210 years in prison for allowing her husband to repeatedly sexually abuse their preschool child.
</p>

<p>Elementary school students in Anna and Melissa put on programs to celebrate Veterans Day.
</p>

<p>The Melissa Lady Cardinals earned a bi-district volleyball championship before falling in the regional quarterfinals.
</p>

<p>U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall visited Anna for the presentation of a $99,900 Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) to the Anna Community Development Corporation to establish a revolving loan fund to support and expand local economic and employment opportunities.
</p>

<p>About 250 people turned out for the Collin County Adventure Camp's annual fall festival event.
</p>

<p>Melissa earned a bi-district football title before dropping a tight area contest.
</p>

<p>Melissa's varsity basketball teams played games at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
</p>

<p>A Princeton woman was in serious but stable condition after a four-wheeler accident in Anna. 
</p>

<p>December
</p>

<p>The Melissa Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the city's annual Christmas parade and its first holiday bazaar.
</p>

<p>Melissa seventh-grader Trace Greer and three of his friends raised money for the Children's Miracle Network with the second annual Race with Trace.
</p>

<p>Melissa's Heather Swanson organized a book drive in memory of her daughter, Shelby Sue, who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in December 2008.
</p>

<p>Hubert "Hoot" Jones took over as head coach of the varsity girls basketball team in Anna, replacing Michael Franks.
</p>

<p>Anna athletes were honored at their annual fall sports banquet.
</p>

<p>Former Anna coach Bradley Thompson was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child. The charge stemmed from incidents that allegedly took place on and off campus toward the end of the 2008-09 school year, Thompson's only year in Anna ISD. The reported victim was an AHS student.
</p>

<p>Hundreds of residents attended Anna's annual Christmas parade.
</p>

<p>Fires destroyed two homes in Melissa.
</p>

<p>McKillop Elementary School third-graders won first place in a national video contest, earning the school $30,000 in new video equipment.</p>