By Betsy Finklea
2011 is quickly coming to a close. Let’s review the first six months of the year:

JANUARY

* JANUARY 4: Dillon man charged with shooting ex-girlfriend at local clothing store…City of Dillon gets good audit report…Dillon City Council passes first reading of water/sewer tap fee amendment…Ordinances prohibiting flyers on motor vehicles, regarding homeowners performing work on primary residences and on prohibited signs pass second readings at Dillon City Council meeting.
* JANUARY 6: Investiture ceremony held for new probate judge Teresa Campbell…Donnie Grimsley sworn in as new coroner…Jay’shawn Ty’miere Brown is the first baby of the new year.
* JANUARY 11: New Dillon County Councilman Joe Johnson and returning county councilmen Andrew “Deboy” Graves and Harold Moody take oath of office…Archie Scott selected as council chairman…Carley Wiggins named Dillon County Citizen of the Year…Kevin Thomas to serve as new Dillon County Chamber of Commerce chairman.
* JANUARY 13: Snow blankets county for second time in less than a month…Criterion Club celebrating 65 years in the community.
* JANUARY 18: Man found dead on Red Fox Court…Councilman Macio Williamson apologizes at court hearing…Beverly Sandifer recognized as American Heart Association Volunteer of the Year…David Cottingham receives Palmetto Patriot Award…South Carolina’s first female governor, Nikki Haley, inaugurated.
* JANUARY 20: Murder victim identified as 38-year-old Ricky Herndon from Blythewood…Food Lion unveils remodeled store…Council chairman Archie Scott is optimistic about year ahead…Pyerian Baptist Church burns note nearly nine years early.
* JANUARY 25: Murder victim’s car found in Marlboro County…Candlelight vigil to be held for Brandon “Peanut” Graves, who has been missing since January 30, 2010…Mount Calvary Baptist Church’s Wild Game Banquet to be held.
* JANUARY 27: Perdue opens $700,000 wellness center; Governor Haley cuts ribbon…RockTenn acquires Smurfit-Stone…Economic Development Director says he is working on the plan…Debbie Locklair recognized as Ambassador for Economic Development… Herald Office Solutions showing support for National Guard members.

FEBRUARY

* FEBRUARY 1: County proclaims Black History Month…Better Health Series being held in Dillon.
* FEBRUARY 3: 56-year-old LaMarr Carter dies after being struck by vehicle…Bills for Councilman Williamson’s court case received…Herald, Sheriff’s Office working together on outstanding warrants…NETC expansion moving along…Three local schools earn Palmetto Silver Awards.
* FEBRUARY 8: Operation Rolling Dillon nets 31 arrests…Court-appointed investigator, Roland H. Windham, Jr., is in Dillon County…Rev. Lonnie Alford retires after 30 years of educating young minds.
* FEBRUARY 10: County Board of Education votes to consolidate Lake View with Dillon District Two…Piggly Wiggly celebrating grand opening…Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt visits Dillon County.
* FEBRUARY 15: Pyerian Baptist Church group heads back to Haiti for celebration…Economic Developer meets with NESA and Secretary of Commerce…First African-American deputy, Earlia Ray Vanderhall, passes away.
* FEBRUARY 17: Burglary suspects sentenced…Work ongoing on sewer line issue near East Elementary School… Construction moving along on NETC’s campus expansion…Station Nine’s firefighter of the Year (Alex Merritt) and first responder of the year (Terry Weichel) recognized…Trevor Gilchrist of Lake View makes drum major at USC.
* FEBRUARY 22: Dogs kill 66-year-old Sirlinda Hayes of Dillon…Superintendent Ray Rogers answers questions about consolidation.
* FEBRUARY 24: 23-year-old Cameron Tobias Davis of Dillon dies after being shot at 50/50 Lounge…Three people shot at Newtown Pool and Game…Highway Patrol seeking information on fatal wreck that killed Edith L. Jones Marshall, age 44, of Hamer.

MARCH
* MARCH 1: Dillon High School educator, Beth R. Hinson, named State Teacher of the Year finalist…School districts two and three bring farm to school through lunch program…Vicki Kirby receives Francis Marion School of Education Veteran Educator Award…NAACP branch holds Freedom Fund banquet.
* MARCH 3: Three arrested in murder case of Cameron Tobias Davis…County School Board chairman Richard Schafer speaks to Dillon board about consolidation…Amtrak had more boarding/alightings in Dillon in 2010 compared to 2009….County receives donation for Oak Grove Industrial Park…New Dillon County Animal Shelter opens.
* MARCH 8: Serious wreck occurs in Latta…Dillon Christian School headmaster, John R. Davis, resigns…United Way Kicks off campaign…The late Paul Chapman honored with SCFCA Distinguished Coach Award.
* MARCH 10: Two more suspects arrested in Cameron Tobias Davis murder case…Benedict College group spends part of spring break working at East Elementary School.
* MARCH 15: Florida man killed on interstate…DCS students in Costa Rica for week-long mission trip…Lake View High School students give pennies for patients.
* MARCH 17: Latta Town Council passes resolutions to put hospitality and accommodations taxes in force…Child Development Center holds annual St. Patrick’s Day parade…Dillon County One Stop closing…Dog bites elderly woman.
*MARCH 22: County Council Chairman Archie Scott elected to S.C. Association of Counties board…Home of Kenneth “Bunny” Scott family on Bermuda Road burns…City of Dillon Wellness Center celebrating fourth anniversary.
*MARCH 24: Fire destroys mobile home of Betty Hayes in Riverdale…Dillon Historic School Advocacy (DHSA) group drops effort to restore J.V. Martin auditorium; group plans to remain intact.
*MARCH 29: Citizens call for an elected school board…Census shows slight growth in Dillon County…Rotary hosts visitors from India.
*MARCH 31: Armed robbery occurs at local convenience store…Man wanted in North Carolina apprehended after police chase.

APRIL
*APRIL 5: Former Latta High band director, Tyler Hutto, charged with criminal sexual conduct-second degree…Read Across America celebrated…Citizens reminded that selected jurors must report for duty…Coastal District Garden Club meeting held in Latta.
APRIL 7: James Washington and Connie Manning win Dillon City Council seats…Group returns from mission trip to Haiti…Dillon couple splitting $200,000 lottery prize…Ex-LHS Band Director’s teaching license suspended.
*APRIL 12: Rogers brothers get 12 years for burglary…$200,000 Palmetto Cash 5 lottery winner claims prize…Olivia Harrell Public Speaking Contest held.
*APRIL 14: Groundbreaking ceremonies to be held for schools…March For Babies Ambassador Family shares their story…Latta High School receives Palmetto Gold Award.
*APRIL 19: Tornado strikes in Little Rock…Groundbreaking ceremonies held for school projects…Latta Springfest held.
*APRIL 21: Goody’s to replace Peebles in Dillon…Teresa Sapp receives 2011 Palmetto Gold Award…Eagle spotted in Hamer area.
*APRIL 26: Florida man killed in I-95 wreck…Queen For A Day held at Lake View Elementary School…First Steps legislative luncheon held…Jermaine Kerry Heyward serving as library’s technical services manager…Fallen soldier’s family visits students at South Elementary.
*APRIL 28: Interstate 73 comments sought…National Day of Prayer to be observed…Economic development summit held in Lake View.

MAY
*MAY 3: Annual report of federal veteran dollars released…Ceremony pays tribute to soldiers in war on terrorism, acknowledges death of bin Laden…Jewell Carmichael inducted into Conway High School Educational Foundation Hall of Fame…Celebrate Main Street is success.
*MAY 5: County in process of redistricting…Whittaker Head Start Center wins gardening grant…Pee Dee Baptist Association Disaster Relief Team cleaning up in Little Rock after tornado.
*MAY 10: Former LHS band director Tyler Hutto back in court…Lake View High School International Club named county Adopt-A-Highway winner…”Stamp Out Hunger” food drive planned.
*MAY 12: Dillon First Baptist Church sanctuary renovated…several roads temporarily closed for railroad crossing work…James Stephens III bringing scholarship gala to Dillon…Latta Police Department participating in safetypup program.
*MAY 17: Body found in water on State Line Road…VA Rural Health team coming to Dillon..Law enforcement says bath salts have made appearance in Dillon County.
*MAY 19: Three failed motions table county procurement policy change…Sheriff Major Hulon gives update to community…Goody’s grand opening held.
*MAY 24: County School Board updated on construction projects…Nurses of Year announced…Relay For Life held…St. Louis Catholic Church adding parish hall…Law Enforcement Week observed…Portion of movie filmed at South of the Border…Fire Station One renovation project approved.
*MAY 26: Judge says he is drawing a line with county council, remands contempt case back to magistrate…Salley Huggins McIntyre elected as first female family court judge in Fourth Circuit…Portion of report from Roland Windham published.
*MAY 31: Public hearing held on county redistricting…Late deputies Carroll J. Taylor and John C. Williamson inducted into S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame…100 Deadly Days of Summer begins…Xzavier Williams is J.V. Martin’s Reader of the Year.

JUNE
*JUNE 2: Annual Memorial Day Service held at Veterans Square…”A Tribute To Our Flag” held in Floyd Dale…SLED conducting preliminary inquiry into arrest of former chief deputy…Dillon County Animal Shelter in operation.
*JUNE 7: More charges added in former Latta High band director’s case…Two local mayors join others from across state to meet with governor…Archie Hunt identified as victim found in water on State Line Road…Missing boater on McLaurin Lake, Johnny Hayes, age 64 of Dillon, found deceased after search.
*JUNE 9: Court expert’s bill to county totals more than $39,000….Young people learning at community garden.
*JUNE 14: 130+ indictments disposed of during criminal court…FSA County committee nominations begin.
*JUNE 16: State DMV Director Kevin A. Shivedo visits Dillon office…Former church youth worker, Gregory Hill, arrested…Brain tumor survivor, Cliff McBride, is a living testimony.
*JUNE 21: Soft drink driver robbed at grocery store…JVM is among 20 schools leaving statewide collaborative for showing improvement in student achievement…Eight-year-old called “hero” after saving friend from dog attack.
*JUNE 23: Dillon County’s unemployment rate rises…Dillon District One and Two Boards hold final meetings before consolidation.
*JUNE 28: Charge dropped on former chief deputy…Four arrested in home invasion; one suspect leads law enforcement on 13-hour manhunt…35-year-old Christopher Eagle killed after being struck be vehicle on Hwy. 301…Dillon County Council authorities payment of court expert’s bill…County approves final budget reading.
*JUNE 30: Missing woman, Georgia Bethea Billings, reported in Dillon…Budgets presented at County Board of Education meeting…Motion to support I-73 resolution dies due to lack of second.