Superintendent Duane Davis retired and was replaced by Jeff Cox, a former Alleghany resident.

Looking back on the news that made headlines in the year 2005

The year 2005 was marked by tragedies and change.

Two murders were reported, one of a former Alleghany man in Ashe County. Leads are still being sought on the murder of Timothy Dwayne Shatley. In Alleghany, Duane Edgar “Dewey” Brooks is charged with murdering his son, Benjamin Howard Hartman. Brooks’ trial is in March.

Meanwhile, three vehicle deaths were reported. A Burlington man died in a motorcycle wreck, while two Galax, Va. men were killed when the Lincoln in which they were riding was struck by a tractor-trailer. Robert Lee “Beak” Caudill died in a hunting accident.

A former Alleghany Deputy was set to face federal charges on Jan. 9, 2006. Ricky Lyall had been suspended from duty since April of 2004. Superintendent Duane Davis retired and was replaced by Jeff Cox, a former Alleghany resident.

Two major road projects were delayed here: the U.S. 21 widening and the U.S. 21 bypass. The following is a month-by-month rundown of the news of ‘05:

January

The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners approved a deal to move forward on the county administration building by a 4-1 vote with incoming Commissioner Ken Richardson voting against the project.

The Sparta Teapot Museum netted a $380,000 grant from the Golden LEAF (Long-term Economic Advancement Foundation) to help move it toward its proposed 2008 opening.

Sparta Det. Lt. Wayne Crouse was hurt when a patrol car driven by Det. Tim Bartlett experienced brake failure and struck the end of Mountain Top Quick Stop. Crouse was out of work for several weeks with a broken ankle.

Mitzi Biggins was named director of Alleghany Christians Associated for Relief and Emergency Services (CARES).

Virginia Foxx paid a listening visit to the county, a move that later helped prompt local merchants and leaders to start gathering. Alleghany County Schools hired Lidjea Andrews under a tobacco prevention grant.

An effort to build a therapeutic riding center in honor of Susan Billings continued to gain momentum.

Bruce Franklin Jerrett was paroled after serving 21 years for the murder of Dallas Parsons in Piney Creek.

The Alleghany County Fair won two first-place statewide awards, one for youth and another for being the most improved fair. The fair also earned an agricultural award.

Plans to re-open the former Smithey’s store were realized with a joint venture between Carollyn Shaw of Seasons and LeAnn Gambill of Olde Tyme General Store.

A joint water venture between Sparta and Independence, Va. cleared regulatory hurdles after approval by Attorney General Jerry Kilgore. The venture will supply water to both towns, but will be located in Virginia.

February

The home of Matthew and Kathy Martin was destroyed by fire.

Real estate sales continued a three-year upward trend. The Alleghany Board of Education heard support voiced for a new middle school as an answer to the school system’s space needs. The county approved an option on a piece of Main Street property, owned by the Blevins family, to help ‘square off’ existing school property.

Margaret Crouse was named a 2004 Main Street Champion. The SHARE Clinic netted a $25,000 grant to fund operations through the Alleghany Ministerium.

The library bookstore expanded its hours, starting to be open six days per week.

The Alleghany Heart Auction netted $5,414 in its first week on WCOK. The dropout rate was up slightly, with 2.48 percent of seventh through twelfth graders dropping out. March

Tommy Billings filed a lawsuit over the death of his wife, Susan Billings in late February. He named Terminal Trucking Company, Triple B Leasing Company, PACECO Inc. and truck driver Joseph Clarence Yancey III as defendants, along with Charles Eugene Isenhour Jr. and Mary B. Isenhour.

Donna Shumate was named county attorney.

The Alleghany Wellness Center celebrated its one-year anniversary. The school board eyed four options to ease school crowding, two of which included the former Sara Lee Knit Products building, which later ended up being put to industrial use by NAPCO Inc. Later in the month, public meetings on school plans were held at all three elementary schools.

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