Looking back over the past year, it is hard to believe that soon we will ringing in 2010. To recap on the past year, here are some of the events that took place in 2009 in Tyler County.

In January, Precision, Inc. in Sistersville laid off over 20 of their 50 some employees. The plant temporarily shut its doors on Dec. 31, 2008. They specialize in heavy fabrication and machining of components for aluminum smelters and other production facilities.

Prosecuting Attorney Luke Furbee made his debut on Jan. 8 in Judge Mark A. Karl’s court, representing eight criminal cases on his first day.

The Tyler County Commission held their first meeting of the year on Jan. 13. Charles “Pork” Smith was elected as President, John Stender, Vice-President, and Robert Wable as Commissioner.

The Sistersville City Council appointed Dave Howell as Police Chief and Sistersville General Hospital welcomed Dr. Joseph Darrow, Jr. to the staff.

In February, the Board of Education voted down the suggestion to rename a Tyler County school after the former governor and Tyler County native Cecil Underwood.

Icy roads caused a multi-vehicle accident sending a Sistersville resident to Morgantown’s Ruby Memorial.

The Tyler County Board of Education approved the changes to their mission statement, core belief statements, core achievement goals and objectives for the 2009-2014 five year strategic plan.

A 33 star American Flag created for the Sistersville Blues, formed at the start of the Civil War, was donated to the Tyler County Museum for display and the town of Sistersville gets ‘ON TRAC” which is a program for Organization, Training, Revitalization and Capacity and was created by Main Street West Virginia to help communities boost economic growth with evaluation, education and networking resources.

In March, Dr. Ramon Fagundo of Sistersville General Hospital delivered a baby in the hospital’s Emergency Room. This was SGH’s first birth in 19 years.

William M. Baker was named the 2009 Citizen of the Year in the Middlebourne Area by the Middlebourne RoadRunners Club and SistersFest celebrated their tenth year with a “hippie” theme and over 200 in attendance.

Rebecca Ferrebee was recognized as a History Hero by the State of West Virginia for her work with the Tyler County Museum.

April was recognized as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in the state of West Virginia. Tyler County’s Victim Advocate Joni McCrobie and Prosecuting Attorney Luke Furbee joined forces to combat sexual violence in Tyler County.

Work began on the belltower at the Tyler County Courthouse.

In May, concerned citizens in Paden City showed their support to keep Paden City High School open and the Tyler Consolidated High School Athletic Boosters began work on the football field installing a sprinkler system.

A string of fires on Pike Street in Sistersville raised suspicions and the purposed idea of an animal shelter in Tyler County was also shot down after two residents withdrew their offers.

Also, Shaun Meckley, veterinary, officially opened his doors to his new facility on Rt. 180.

A fourth fire in the Sistersville area in June was deemed suspicious and ruled as arson and the council in Sistersville decided to table an ordinance restricting the placement of mobile homes in the city limits.

Jonay Corley was offically named Editor of the Tyler Star News and Jeff Casteel was honored by the alumni association for the Distingquished award.

Former Delegate James Willison of Sistersville was appointed to the Forest Management Commerce and the Joint Committee on Government Operation by Gov. Joe Manchin in Jul of 2009.

Jeff Sprouse, owner of Sprouse Windows in Paden City, announced the decision to move the facility to New Martinsville. Marcie Uhl of Vienna, W.Va. was crowned the 2009 Oil and Gas Festival Queen and Artist Randy Harter finished the first of many of the murals to be painted on buildings in Sistersville.

In August, the 47th Annual Tyler County Fair featured Randy Houser and Chuck Wicks as musical entertainment and a victim was air lifted to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown after an ATV that she was a passenger on hit the back of a parked truck.

The City of Sistersville waged war against the growing feral cat population by hiring Renay Dawson, owner of AAA Animal Control Services.

Sgt. Michael Webber with the U.S. Army was welcomed home by the town of Middlebourne after serving a year in Iraq and the schools in Tyler County were improved due to grant money received.

Jan Kirk was chosen as the Tyler County Service Personnel of the Year in September and was presented a plaque by the members of the Board of Education.

The Town of Middlebourne hosted Hillbilly days with music, food and fun and the town of Sistersville hosted the annual Oil and Gas festivities.

Routine repairs spark a water line break in downtown Sisterville.

In the latter part of September, Sistersville hosted the Marble Fest.

The Tyler County Fairgrounds hosted the 26th annual Middle Island Harvest Festival and Jim Bowen set a new record with his 1,188 pound pumpkin.

The Tyler Consolidated Marching Band brought home first place in the Spencer Black Walnut Festival in October.

Nicole Stinesspring, senior from Tyler Consolidated High School, was crowned as the 2009 Homecoming Queen.

Don Nehlen, former West Virginia University head football coach and Bob Pruett, former head coach of Marshall University came to Paden City to speak onhalf of saving the Paden City High School and the Tyler County Board of Education members voted to purchase a new scoreboard for the football field.

A deer was the cause of an auto accident and injuries to two men, sending one to Sistersville General Hospital and the other one to Ruby Memorial in Morgantown.

In November, Eileen Smittle from Paden City was recognized for her dedicated service to the City of Paden City and the Sistersville Volunteer Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire in the parking lot at Dairy Queen.

Veterans day ceremonies took place in Sistersville and Tyler Consolidated schools close their doors for three days due to the flu outbreak.

Frances Wright Weekley a regent with the Daughters of the American Revolution rallied to have Lt. Jack Sterling Arnett’s remains to be buried in the plot beside his parents in Friendly Cemetery.

December was marked by the placement of two benches to honor the WW II in the European and Pacific theater of war also known as the Greatest Generation at the Tyler County Courthouse in Middlebourne.

Santa Claus visited Sistersville in the annual parade and the problems of the Carriage House in Sistersville continued to raise concerns among the members of City Council.

Snow fell on the ground the third week of December to the amazement of those dreaming of a ‘White Christmas’.