Madison County saw two county commission seats change in 2018. County leaders continued to pave the way for a power plant set to open in Colbert in 2019. And a long-awaited roundabout replaced the one red light in Danielsville.
These were among the many headlines in Madison County in 2018. Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of local news over the past 12 months:
JANUARY
•The Madison County Board of Education continued its search for a new superintendent. Twenty-seven educators applied for the post.
•A number of Madison County residents traveled across the country to attend the Rose Bowl in Anaheim, where the Georgia Bulldogs defeated Oklahoma, 54-48.
•Two men were sentenced to jail time for child molestation. Noah S. Shumate, of Cleveland, was sentenced by Judge Chris Phelps to serve five years of jail and 15 years of probation on a charge of child moles¬tation. Jonathan Courtland Pursley, no address listed, was sentenced by Judge Phelps to serve eight years in jail and 12 years of probation and to pay a $1,000 fine on a charge of child molestation.
•County school board members discussed the possibility of the state legislature passing another penny sales tax for school systems. (That was not approved during the 2018 legislative session).
•School officials talked about the high number of flu cases at county schools.
•The 14th annual Madison County MLK celebration was held at Shiloh Baptist Church in Carlton.
•The Madison County Industrial Development and Building Authority voted unanimous¬ly in January after a lengthy discussion to eliminate funding for White’s positions with the Chamber, industri¬al authority and water department manag¬er, effectively firing the man who led both groups since May 2002.
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