By Times staff
MONROE - The year 2010 was a tough one for the region and the nation. Stories of change and loss and progress filled our pages. As your local daily newspaper, we've done our level best to chronicle the ups, downs and in-betweens - here at home, across Wisconsin and beyond. Today and Friday - New Year's Eve - we take another look at some of the year's top headlines. First Banking Center closed, sold
First Banking Center locations in Monroe, Darlington, Shullsburg and Albany were closed by bank regulators and sold to First Bank Michigan on a Friday night in November. While the banks re-opened the next day under new ownership, with no disruption of service to local customers, their failure reflected a disturbing national trend: The Associated Press reported that as of Nov. 20, 149 banks had been closed in 2010, topping 2009's 12-month total of 140 financial institutions. The FDIC reports that nationally, the number of "problem" banks rose from 775 this summer to 829 by November, causing many analysts to warn more bank closures are imminent. The FDIC expects the cost of resolving failed banks at about $52 billion from 2010 through 2014, the AP reports. Record corn harvest
Farmers in Green and Lafayette counties saw a bumper corn crop this year, thanks largely to help from the skies above. Good weather throughout the growing season helped, as did a dry October, which allowed farmers to harvest their corn and store it with drying it - improving their bottom line. The dry conditions were in marked contrast to last year's abundance of moisture. Overall, farmers had high yields, good quality corn and good prices for their harvest, prompting Green County Ag Agent Mark Mayer to say: "I think it was the best year I've seen in 25 years." Orchid gets grant to retrain workers
While 2010 continued to offer an unpredictable economic landscape for many area businesses, Orchid International posted good news in late March, when it announced the company was getting a $100,000 grant to retrain 30 displaced workers. The plant is developing lightweight electric motors that General Motors will use in its 2013 sports utility vehicles. Orchid is also developing its own electric motor. The news was especially welcome in light of the firm's recent history here. When Orchid purchased the former Advance Transformer in 2004, the plant was scheduled to be closed. But Keith Cornacchia, director of Orchid's Laminations Group, said the grant and subsequent growth potential were a testament to the hard work and dedication of the 146 people employed at the Monroe plant. Clinic expansion underway
The Clinic broke ground mid-December 2009 on a major expansion project, expected to cost $85 million. The new northwest addition will add an estimated 210,000 square feet. The Clinic says the project will include a convenient day-surgery access with private exit; a covered emergency helicopter landing pad; an expanded family birth center with larger birthing suites; a new chapel with a roof-top meditation garden; and a new cafeteria with outside eating areas. Construction continued throughout 2010. According to the Clinic, workers poured 8,000 square feet of concrete over rebar; installed nearly 285,000 bricks and 1,133 piece of low-e glass; and planted nearly 1,000 perennials, trees and shrubs this year. The building is mostly enclosed, and now the Clinic will focus on finishing the interior by the end of 2011. 3 arrested after Orangeville bank robbery
A small-town bank robbery and the ensuing high-speed chase disrupted the calm of a summer morning last June. That's when the Orangeville Community bank was robbed at gunpoint. Employees and customers were locked in the bank vault while the three suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. They led police on a chase up to Monroe and over to Brodhead, at times reaching speeds of 100 mph. The suspects were able to elude police, but not for long: The three were ultimately apprehended just over the Rock County border near Brodhead - after crashing into a guard rail and attempting to flee on foot. No one was injured in the robbery attempt. Joseph D. Anderson, Monare Moore and Damarceo Paschol all face federal armed robbery charges in Rockford. Murder-suicide in Orangeville
The community of Orangeville was rocked by a murder-suicide on Easter Sunday. Annette Scott, 50, died of multiple gun shot wounds at an Orangeville residence. William J. Scott, 58, died as the result of a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head. A third victim, Rollin E. Dunham II, 53, was also injured in the shooting. Three children, approximately 8 to 10 years of age, were home at the time of the shooting but were unhurt. Area drug activity
Drug activity continued to keep law enforcement busy throughout 2010. Numerous individuals were arrested on drug-related charges in the area, but a few significant cases stood out: •Two people were arrested following an investigation of a marijuana growing operation Dec. 7 at W8507 Meadow Brook Road in Adams township. Blake L. Schneider, 56, and Jean C. Anderson, 60, were jailed pending court. They were arrested for manufacturing marijuana and possession with intent to deliver it. Agents seized 206 growing marijuana plants and 8,359 grams of processed marijuana. The marijuana plants were grown in rooms in the house's basement, as well as an exterior steel building. They remain free on $5,000 cash bonds. Their preliminary hearings are Jan. 14. •Three men arrested Aug. 23 in Monroe for allegedly selling cocaine to undercover officers. Fernando Garcia, 30; Jorge Flores Torres, 24; and Raul Rodriguez Almanza, 20, all of 2728 9th St., were arrested following a five-month investigation. The three men conspired to distribute cocaine from March to Aug. 23. Torres was charged with distributing cocaine; Almanza with three counts of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute; and Garcia with four counts of distributing cocaine. Their cases are still pending in Wisconsin criminal court. If convicted, they each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count. •A Gratiot couple was sentenced to nine months in jail with work release privileges May 12 in Lafayette County Circuit Court for manufacturing methamphetamine. Jeremy W. Herbst, 38, pleaded no contest to manufacturing methamphetamine, less than 3 grams, a class F felony; possession of methamphetamine waste, a class H felony; and possession of methamphetamine, a class I felony. He faced up to 22 years in prison and up to $45,000 in fines. Bobette E. Herbst, 39, pleaded no contest to manufacturing methamphetamine, less than 3 grams, a class F felony; and possession of methamphetamine, a class I felony. She faced up to 15 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. Bobette Herbst was arrested March 31 following a search at the couple's home, 5780 Main St., Gratiot. Jeremy Herbst turned himself in at the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department April 1. •A Brodhead teacher was charged in May on two felony counts and one misdemeanor charge of drug possession, including possession of heroin, oxycodone and hydrocodone, after a traffic stop near Footville. Katherine L. Mielke, 31, of Edgerton taught high school and eighth-grade Spanish and had been with the Brodhead district since 2004. After her arrest, she was suspended from teaching. Mielke entered a plea of no contest in Rock County Court earlier this month. She was fined $576.
MONROE - The year 2010 was a tough one for the region and the nation. Stories of change and loss and progress filled our pages. As your local daily newspaper, we've done our level best to chronicle the ups, downs and in-betweens - here at home, across Wisconsin and beyond. Today and Friday - New Year's Eve - we take another look at some of the year's top headlines. First Banking Center closed, sold
First Banking Center locations in Monroe, Darlington, Shullsburg and Albany were closed by bank regulators and sold to First Bank Michigan on a Friday night in November. While the banks re-opened the next day under new ownership, with no disruption of service to local customers, their failure reflected a disturbing national trend: The Associated Press reported that as of Nov. 20, 149 banks had been closed in 2010, topping 2009's 12-month total of 140 financial institutions. The FDIC reports that nationally, the number of "problem" banks rose from 775 this summer to 829 by November, causing many analysts to warn more bank closures are imminent. The FDIC expects the cost of resolving failed banks at about $52 billion from 2010 through 2014, the AP reports. Record corn harvest
Farmers in Green and Lafayette counties saw a bumper corn crop this year, thanks largely to help from the skies above. Good weather throughout the growing season helped, as did a dry October, which allowed farmers to harvest their corn and store it with drying it - improving their bottom line. The dry conditions were in marked contrast to last year's abundance of moisture. Overall, farmers had high yields, good quality corn and good prices for their harvest, prompting Green County Ag Agent Mark Mayer to say: "I think it was the best year I've seen in 25 years." Orchid gets grant to retrain workers
While 2010 continued to offer an unpredictable economic landscape for many area businesses, Orchid International posted good news in late March, when it announced the company was getting a $100,000 grant to retrain 30 displaced workers. The plant is developing lightweight electric motors that General Motors will use in its 2013 sports utility vehicles. Orchid is also developing its own electric motor. The news was especially welcome in light of the firm's recent history here. When Orchid purchased the former Advance Transformer in 2004, the plant was scheduled to be closed. But Keith Cornacchia, director of Orchid's Laminations Group, said the grant and subsequent growth potential were a testament to the hard work and dedication of the 146 people employed at the Monroe plant. Clinic expansion underway
The Clinic broke ground mid-December 2009 on a major expansion project, expected to cost $85 million. The new northwest addition will add an estimated 210,000 square feet. The Clinic says the project will include a convenient day-surgery access with private exit; a covered emergency helicopter landing pad; an expanded family birth center with larger birthing suites; a new chapel with a roof-top meditation garden; and a new cafeteria with outside eating areas. Construction continued throughout 2010. According to the Clinic, workers poured 8,000 square feet of concrete over rebar; installed nearly 285,000 bricks and 1,133 piece of low-e glass; and planted nearly 1,000 perennials, trees and shrubs this year. The building is mostly enclosed, and now the Clinic will focus on finishing the interior by the end of 2011. 3 arrested after Orangeville bank robbery
A small-town bank robbery and the ensuing high-speed chase disrupted the calm of a summer morning last June. That's when the Orangeville Community bank was robbed at gunpoint. Employees and customers were locked in the bank vault while the three suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. They led police on a chase up to Monroe and over to Brodhead, at times reaching speeds of 100 mph. The suspects were able to elude police, but not for long: The three were ultimately apprehended just over the Rock County border near Brodhead - after crashing into a guard rail and attempting to flee on foot. No one was injured in the robbery attempt. Joseph D. Anderson, Monare Moore and Damarceo Paschol all face federal armed robbery charges in Rockford. Murder-suicide in Orangeville
The community of Orangeville was rocked by a murder-suicide on Easter Sunday. Annette Scott, 50, died of multiple gun shot wounds at an Orangeville residence. William J. Scott, 58, died as the result of a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head. A third victim, Rollin E. Dunham II, 53, was also injured in the shooting. Three children, approximately 8 to 10 years of age, were home at the time of the shooting but were unhurt. Area drug activity
Drug activity continued to keep law enforcement busy throughout 2010. Numerous individuals were arrested on drug-related charges in the area, but a few significant cases stood out: •Two people were arrested following an investigation of a marijuana growing operation Dec. 7 at W8507 Meadow Brook Road in Adams township. Blake L. Schneider, 56, and Jean C. Anderson, 60, were jailed pending court. They were arrested for manufacturing marijuana and possession with intent to deliver it. Agents seized 206 growing marijuana plants and 8,359 grams of processed marijuana. The marijuana plants were grown in rooms in the house's basement, as well as an exterior steel building. They remain free on $5,000 cash bonds. Their preliminary hearings are Jan. 14. •Three men arrested Aug. 23 in Monroe for allegedly selling cocaine to undercover officers. Fernando Garcia, 30; Jorge Flores Torres, 24; and Raul Rodriguez Almanza, 20, all of 2728 9th St., were arrested following a five-month investigation. The three men conspired to distribute cocaine from March to Aug. 23. Torres was charged with distributing cocaine; Almanza with three counts of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute; and Garcia with four counts of distributing cocaine. Their cases are still pending in Wisconsin criminal court. If convicted, they each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count. •A Gratiot couple was sentenced to nine months in jail with work release privileges May 12 in Lafayette County Circuit Court for manufacturing methamphetamine. Jeremy W. Herbst, 38, pleaded no contest to manufacturing methamphetamine, less than 3 grams, a class F felony; possession of methamphetamine waste, a class H felony; and possession of methamphetamine, a class I felony. He faced up to 22 years in prison and up to $45,000 in fines. Bobette E. Herbst, 39, pleaded no contest to manufacturing methamphetamine, less than 3 grams, a class F felony; and possession of methamphetamine, a class I felony. She faced up to 15 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. Bobette Herbst was arrested March 31 following a search at the couple's home, 5780 Main St., Gratiot. Jeremy Herbst turned himself in at the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department April 1. •A Brodhead teacher was charged in May on two felony counts and one misdemeanor charge of drug possession, including possession of heroin, oxycodone and hydrocodone, after a traffic stop near Footville. Katherine L. Mielke, 31, of Edgerton taught high school and eighth-grade Spanish and had been with the Brodhead district since 2004. After her arrest, she was suspended from teaching. Mielke entered a plea of no contest in Rock County Court earlier this month. She was fined $576.