Editor’s Note: This year, the final year of the decade, has been filled with interesting stories.

These are several stories that stood out to the news staff.

Elkin loses a hero

Army Capt. Mark Garner, of the 82nd Airborne Division and former resident of Elkin, was killed in Afghanistan on July 6 when a roadside bomb exploded underneath the vehicle in which he was riding.

Garner and wife Nickala Myers Garner had been living in Germany where Garner was stationed in 2008.

Both were residents of Elkin and State Road and Garner was a 1997 Elkin High School graduate.

Garner was buried on July 18 in Hollywood Cemetery following a procession throughout Elkin, where hundreds of yellow ribbons adorned the pathway.

His loss was felt throughout the entire area.

Vaughan-Bassett

The largest wooden adult bedroom manufacturer in the United States, Elkin furniture factory, Vaughan-Bassett, closed its doors in February, forcing its 400 employees to find jobs elsewhere.

An unnamed consultant for the company was quoted as saying they simply ran out of things to do and had to close because of economic constraints.

In May, it was rumored that the plant would re-open and 150 jobs would be available, but the rumor was quickly debunked by Vaughan-Bassett President and CEO, Wyatt Bassett.

Bassett also said the Elkin facility is still being maintained in the "mothball status," stating "It would take substantial improvement in the overall economy" for the plant to be re-opened.

The furniture company re-opened a portion of its Elkin plant In September and now employs approximately 50 at its factory and distribution center.

Elkin High School demolition

Preparation for demolition of the old Elkin High School building began in June.

The building was constructed in 1938, and anything that could be salvaged, like flooring, wainscoting and more, was removed for future use.

The building was supposed to be demolished in the later part of the 2009-10 school year, but unexpected funding became available mid-year speeding up the project.

Hodges license revoked

Following a complaint on March 6, 2008, an investigation was performed into the pre-need business dealings of Tim Hodges, Funeral director, and his license was revoked, forcing a change of ownership.

The findings of North Carolina Funeral Services included Hodges and Greene, manager of the funeral home, failed to file the preneed contracts within the time required by law, failed to deposit the funds properly and failed to file an accurate accounting of its preneed funeral contracts on its annual reports from 1999 - 2007.

"I did not intentionally mean to hurt anyone or do anything wrong," Hodges said.

Hodges Funeral Home became Elkin Funeral Services and is now owned and operated by Beth Hodges, Tim Hodges’ wife

December snowfall

Lots of snow fell on Dec. 19 and 20, almost a foot, and put the area's holiday preparations on hold for a little while.

Children and adults alike had fun sledding and playing in the white stuff, while local businesses were hurt by late snow removal.

Fibrowatt controversy continues

The continuing process of bringing a Fibrowatt plant to Surry County has remained a point of controversy throughout the Tri-County area.

The proposed facility that will burn chicken waste and byproducts for energy has been hotly debated by members of the community, most prominently, the Citzens Alliance for a Clean, Healthy Economy. Dozens of doctors have also spoken out against the health hazards they believe are associated with the plant.

One of the more interesting subplots to the Fibrowatt controversy occurred at the Pumpkin Festival in Elkin when CACHE members were threatened with arrest if they did not remove stickers on clothing promoting their organization and protesting the proposed Fibrowatt plant.

Busy year at HCMH

This has been an exceptionally busy year for Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital. The hospital unveiled its state-of-the-art Regional Cancer Center in October as part of a massive project to improve the facility. In November, the hospital held a grand opening of its new $50 million medical addition that included a patient tower, emergency department, rehabilitation department, cardiology department, oncology department, sheltered entrance with a parking deck and heliopad. This summer, CEO Stephen Pennington stepped down to accept a similar position at a hospital in Alabama and Stuart Poston served as interim CEO until the hiring of David Loving in December.

Civic leader dies while in Florida

Prominent Elkin resident Johnsie Hudspeth died suddenly while vacationing in South Florida in November. Hudspeth was the owner of Century 21 Hudspeth Properties and served a variety of civic roles throughout the community, including president of the Yadkin Valley Rotary Club.

Cockerham lawsuit settled

A lawsuit between the mother of a murdered teenage girl and the Jonesville Police Department and officers Scott Vestal and Timothy Lee Gwyn was settled in July.

Vernetta Cockerham's daughter Candice, was killed by her stepfather in the early hours Nov. 19, 2002.

In Cockerham's lawsuit, she claimed the Jonesville Police Department did not enforce protective orders placed on Ellerbee.

She claimed that the department was aware her estranged husband had threatened to kill her and her children.

According to a statement from the town of Jonesville, "the officers named in the suit did nothing wrong...the resolution of this case admits no wrongdoing on the part of the town nor its officers."

Terms of the settlement were not released.