By Jamie Jones
Hope, tragedy and change met in a powerful convergence in 2008.
Stories such as climbing (and later declining) gasoline prices, a steep downturn in the housing industry, a worsening economy and the persisting war in Iraq dominated the national consciousness. Whitfield and Murray counties shared those headlines, but experienced stories all their own.
Here are the top local news events of 2008, as selected by The Daily Citizen staff, in no particular order:
The bombing
What appeared to be a nondescript Friday in October soon saw a shocking tragedy that rocked Dalton — both literally and figuratively.
On Oct. 17 just before 10 a.m., Whitfield County resident Lloyd Cantrell launched a suicide attack on the McCamy, Phillips, Tuggle and Fordham law firm on Crawford Street as the climax of a land dispute between Cantrell and his son. Cantrell rammed his SUV into the building and, as a Dalton police officer responded to a 911 call, detonated a bomb at the back of the building. He died at the scene. Four people were injured, including attorney Jim Phillips, who suffered serious burns.
The bombing unnerved nearby residents, many of whom were evacuated. Students across the street at City Park School were bused away. One witness described the blast as “the most horrible sound I have ever heard.”
The law firm relocated to City Hall but late in the year an attorney said the firm plans to return to its former offices. The windows of the historic two-story home that housed the firm are still boarded. Phillips, who spent several weeks in an Augusta burn unit, is recovering at home.
Tunnel Hill loses a son
The continuing war in Iraq hit the hearts of Whitfield County residents again.
Lance Cpl. Michael Gluff, a U.S. Marine from Tunnel Hill and a 2005 graduate of Northwest Whitfield High School, was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq on Jan. 19. The 20-year-old was laid to rest in Chattanooga National Cemetery and was buried with full military honors. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart for the injuries he received in combat. He was the third local soldier to die in the war.
The community showered Gluff’s funeral procession with thanks, support and hope during its crawl from Love Funeral Home in Dalton to Chattanooga. Hundreds of people lined the streets, some with hand-drawn signs and others with American flags, to show respect to the fallen Marine. The procession snaked its way through Tunnel Hill, where Gluff grew up.
Carpet industry creeps along
A national recession. The subprime lending crisis and corresponding credit squeeze. Soaring unemployment that hit double digits locally. Rising oil prices. Declining demand for carpet. Consumers’ changing preference in what they put on their floor.
It was a perfect storm that battered the once steady floorcovering industry, leading to layoffs, cutbacks in production hours and a general uneasiness about the future of the Carpet Capital of the World.
The world’s three largest floorcovering companies — Dalton-based Beaulieu of America and Shaw Industries and Calhoun-based Mohawk Industries — weren’t immune as they cut thousands of jobs. Mohawk Industries laid off more than 1,000 workers in Georgia and South Carolina this year. Shaw Industries cut several hundred jobs, most recently saying it would eliminate 125 positions at a Calhoun rug plant. The company also announced plans to cut 3 percent of its North Georgia work force, which could amount to between 450 and 480. The Dixie Group also cut its work force significantly this year.
Despite the grim news, industry leaders are hopeful for a turnaround in 2009.
Penn-(y)-ington pinching?
David Pennington ran for mayor of Dalton with the promise of cutting taxes, which he said were among the highest in the state. He delivered in his first year in office but also stirred up controversy.
The City Council planned to trim its 2009 budget by $5 million from 2008. The council dropped garbage pickup to once a week and offered early retirement to about two dozen public works employees. The council also cut four jobs in the parks and recreation budget.
Dalton voters did their part to cut taxes as well. In November, they approved a referendum to do away with the 1 mill property tax dedicated to recreation. They also OK’d a freeport exemption, which council members approved for certain manufactured and warehoused products at 20 percent beginning in 2010. Once in place, it is expected to cost the city some $250,000 in tax revenue.
Some residents voiced concern the cuts could have a detrimental affect on the city and quality of life.
Ch-ch-changes
Change was a watchword on the national political scene, and it is an appropriate word to describe some of the key elected and appointed positions in local government. Here are some of the major changes that happened throughout the year:
• Brian Anderson: The former chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners did not run for re-election and was named the president and CEO of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce. Anderson followed George Woodward, who resigned citing personal reasons.
• Mike Babb: After a four-year absence as chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners, Babb will return to the post next year. Babb was commission chairman for eight years. He was unopposed in the November election. Also, former commissioner Harold Brooker replaces Leo Whaley, who decided not to seek re-election.
• Roger Crossen: The longtime director of the Whitfield County Recreation Department resigned under pressure from county administrator Bob McLeod in July. George Page, from North Carolina, took over as the county parks and recreation director in November.
• Barry Gober: The Dalton Fire Department chief since March 2000 retired in November amid frustration over a lack of funding for the department. He had been with the department for more than 30 years. Deputy chief Bruce Satterfield, another veteran of the department, was named interim chief. The city has not selected the next chief.
• Dan Peeples: Peeples won a three-way race over former city chief probation officer Bill Morgan and former educator Jim Anderson. Peeples fills the unexpired term of former mayor Lindsey Metcalf, who stepped down earlier this year.
• Orval Porter: The Dalton Public Schools superintendent since July 2003 said in September he would retire after more than 30 years in education. The board of education named Jim Hawkins, superintendent of the Killeen (Texas) Independent School District, the system’s next superintendent. He begins work on Jan. 5. Porter will stay on as “superintendent emeritus” until June 30.
• Butch Sanders: The veteran city of Dalton employee left his post as city administrator abruptly in July, citing personal reasons. The city has not hired a replacement.
• Rick Tanner: The executive director of the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center resigned in March but declined to say why. Tanner later attempted to run for chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners but his qualification was disallowed. The trade center will be operated by Global Spectrum, a Philadelphia-based arena-management firm, in January. The company has not hired an executive director.
• Ann Walters: Walters, Whitfield county’s 911 director since 1999, resigned in March. County officials would not say why Walters resigned. Jeffrey Putnam, the county’s emergency management director, was named interim 911 director. In June, 911 and emergency management were merged with Putnam named director.
• Jim Welch: The Murray County sole commissioner lasted only one four-year term. He was defeated by former Eton mayor Greg Hogan in the Democratic primary. David Ridley, former Murray fire department and emergency management chief, beat Hogan in the November election to become Murray’s next sole commissioner.
