SPANISH FORT, Ala. — It was a year of sadness, excitement and new beginnings in Spanish Fort. As a result, the Spanish Fort Sun has gathered together the Top 5 highlights and low-lights of the year. While a few didn’t make the top list they were given an honorable mention because they were definitely newsworthy. So here goes!

1. Bicyclists struck, killed. This was probably one of the most shocking stories of the year.

William Frederick Imle, 28, of Daphne and Archie Leroy Clemons, Jr., 46, of Spanish Fort were riding west on Bromley Road when they were struck and killed by a teen who was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado pick up truck.

The driver was 19-year-old Patrick Blake Young Ballard. A female passenger in his vehicle was also injured. What makes this so sensationalist is that in June 2005, Ballard was charged with manslaughter in the death of another bicyclist, Larry McDuff. However, the charges were dropped when McDuff’s family decided to forgive Ballard and not bring any charges against him. Ballard currently sits in jail with bond set at $300,000.

2. Spanish Fort High School senior wins 2008 Baldwin County Junior Miss. It was a year of firsts for Spanish Fort High School, and Kaylin Elizabeth Baker set the standard for students at the school. Baker won the title of Baldwin County Junior Miss. This was the first year a SFHS student could participate in the event. Baker won a $1,000 tuition scholarship, a two-year tuition scholarship to Faulkner State Community College and other assorted prizes. She will represent Baldwin county in the state pageant later this month. Baker was also chosen by her peers to win the “Spirit of Junior Miss Award.”The day after her win she said being a good role model as very important to her. “It makes me be my best self all the time.”

3. Bobby Wilson severely beaten at his business, passes away four months later. The quiet, harmonious living in this city came to an abrupt halt when beloved business owner Bobby Wilson was found unconscious and severely beaten inside his gas station. Four months later, Wilson is rushed to the hospital where officials announce he has passed away. Since August, residents have been rallying together in an effort to help police officials capture of the assailant by offering a reward, and the Baldwin County Violence Crimes Task Force was organized to assist in the investigation. While officials have remained mum on the case, they did name Leslie Eric Buzbee as a “person of interest” in the attack. On Nov. 20, Buzbee’s attorney John Beck filed a motion to suppress a search warrant for his client. Beck was quoted as saying “We felt the affidavit was grossly exaggerated and inaccurate.” Officials continue to investigate the attack and nobody else has been named a “person of interest.” Wilson is still re-cooperating from the attack, and a $35,000 reward from the “Friends of Bobby Wilson fund” is still be offered to help Wilson’s family and assist law enforcement in catching the assailant(s).

4. Five Rivers Alabama Delta Resource Center holds grand opening. It was a great day for the city, as well as residents in Baldwin and Mobile counties when the long-awaited Five Rivers Alabama Delta Resource Center held its grand opening April 13. The center was designed as a gateway to 235,000 acres of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, the second largest one in the United States. It was designed to promote natural resources and teach people how to be good stewards of the community. The facility includes classrooms that are fully equipped and designed to accommodate students and adults.

5. Bass Pro gets green light from city officials. After two years of negotiating, city officials pas city ordinance 413, which allowed construction for the anchor store to begin no later than March 31, 2007. The development will include about 600,000 square feet of retail space, as well as 19 acres of car dealership properties. A ‘roof raising’ ceremony was held Dec. 12, and at the celebration was Leroy Jordan, a University of Alabama football player, and Roger Stauback, executive director of The Stauback Company. At the ceremony, officials said Bass Pro Shop would open Aug. 15. Officials expressed their excitement with bringing the development — and the tax dollars which will follow — to a city with a booming population.

Although these stories didn’t make the Top 5, they were still worth giving an honorable mention to:

1. Lady Toros basketball team claims 5A Area 2 crown: The Lady Toros defeated Williamson 44-41 to claim the area title. This was the third year for the team to play.

2. BCBOE awards money to help fund stadium: For three years, the Spanish Fort High School football team has been playing its home games on other school’s turfs. At a recent school board meeting, members agreed to award$1.5 million to help fund the stadium. Over a period of 10 years the Spanish Fort zone would receive the funds.

3. City holds first Christmas parade: It has been a year of firsts for the city of Spanish Fort, and a Christmas parade was no exception to the list. On Dec. 1 residents gathered at the Eastern Shore Centre to watch school bands march and get a glimpse of Santa cruise along the parade route.

4. PJC signs two SFHS athletes: Leah Davis and Haley Forrester signed athletic scholarships with Pensacola Junior College. The two girls will join head coach Pete Pena and the women’s volleyball team. This was the first year SFHS athletes received athletic scholarships.