Wow. It’s hard to believe that another year is just about over. Where in the world did 2010 go to?
During a lengthy meeting last week where staff members assembled to select the top 10 local stories of the year, I was reminded of the many headlines — both good and bad — that impacted folks in the two Virginias during the past year.
It took quite awhile for all of us to come to an agreement on the top 10 local stories, and I think some of us are perhaps still in disagreement over a few of the selections. In the end, it was difficult to come up with a list of just 10 stories during a year of contentious debate, upheaval, tragedy and triumph.
And don’t forget the snow. It was a year where it started snowing, and didn’t stop snowing until mid March. President Barack Obama called it the “snowmaggedon,” a term that quickly gained pop-culture status, and also gained news print traction among those of us in the news media. After all, how else do you describe nearly four months of non-stop snow, subzero temperatures and a general lack of sunshine.
Love it or hate it, the snow impacted just about everyone. And in case you haven’t looked outside lately, we are ending the year on the same note that we began with. Snow, snow and more snow. But at least it should start melting by this weekend with the long-awaited warm up that is in the forecast.
There were of course plenty of other big headlines throughout the year. The recession was finally declared over, but the financial storm continued for many across the region and the nation. Voters upset with the economy and the direction of our country got angry and cleaned house. Specifically the U.S. House of Representatives.
And even long-time and popular lawmakers who once seemed unbeatable, including Rick Boucher, were ousted. A lot of nonsensical decisions were made by Congress this past year, so it’s no surprise that folks got angry.
The tragic death of 29 miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine in neighboring Raleigh County, along with the passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd, also captured both local and national headlines. There were plenty of other big headlines throughout the year as well. The sale of Bluefield Regional Medical Center, the passage of the controversial health care reform bill, the state-line diesel spill that impacted quite a few ducks but thankfully didn’t spoil anyone’s drinking water, the completion of Norfolk Southern’s long-planned Heartland Corridor project, the departure of Bluefield’s Baby Birds after a 50-year stay in Nature’s Air-Conditioned City and the long-awaited opening of the federal prison in Welch. Those are just a few of the many headlines that immediately come to mind when you think about the year that was 2010 — and still is at least for another 48 hours.
I believe the year simply went by way too fast. The snow didn’t help matters. We longed for spring and summer — but the monster storms dragged on. When the warm weather finally got here, things went by pretty fast.
But it did finally get warm. Bluefield even reached a milestone — it’s 200th serving of free lemonade. That was almost fitting coming off of a winter of record-breaking snowfall in the city. And then the election started early, and went on forever. Soon we longed for November, just so we wouldn’t have to listen to those crazy campaign commercials. Monkeys on cocaine? Wind turbines in China? Apparently, it was a year where anybody could say anything, and some would take it as truth.
That’s kind of a scary thought for those of us in the newsroom who pride ourselves on checking, and then double checking, our facts. And did I mentioned wind turbines. Forget China. East River Mountain was the big topic of debate early in the year, and continues to be an interesting topic of discussion in the region.
If nothing else, 2010 will be remembered as a year where a lot of folks got angry. Hopefully, that anger is beginning to soothe. Perhaps, folks will be a little happier in 2011. The economy is after all improving. Folks are going back to work. Factories are making goods at an increased pace, and stores are restocking. And people of course are buying once again. Things are finally starting to look up.
But it is kind of scary to think that the year 2012 is now just about a year away. That’s alarming, and not just because of the whole Mayan calendar thing and the big end-of-the-world movie of the same title. The year 2012 will also bring an election and, after 2010, we really need a break from this whole election thing.
And we also could use a break from the snow. Let’s hope 2011 begins — as is currently predicted — on a much warmer note. And let’s hope the warmer air sticks around for a few days. We don’t need another snowmaggedon, or blizzapolis for that matter, anytime soon.
Charles Owens is the Daily Telegraph’s city editor. Contact him at cowens@bdtonline.com
Columns
December 29, 2010
2010: A year of snow, more snow, tragedy and a lot of voter anger
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