2016 was full of ups and downs in the local area. Here's a look at the good and the bad our community went through
Shortly after taking office, Governor Matt Bevin visited Hopkinsville Community College
Plans were officially unveiled for the building and fundraising was done most of 2016
In February, with snow on the ground, the city officially started work on the citizen lobbied skatepark
Jeff Taylor won the special election in March over Walker Thomas, but Thomas came back in the November General Election to win a full term
Three tornadoes touched down in north Christian County damaging numerous homes, barns, and outbuildings
The Police Department officially moved into the newly renovated Lackey Municipal Building in April
James Comer won the Republican ticket in the May Primary and the full seat in the November General, as well as the chance to fill the remainder of Ed Whitfield's term. Whitfield resigned early Sept 6.
A ribbon cutting was held in May for the center which will offer technical classes to high school students for college or certificate credit and will also offer night classes for adults
During her presidential run, Hilary Clinton made a stop in Hopkinsville in May
In May, Jennie Stuart Medical Center announced a partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Center
The Skatepark officially opened to boarders in June
Following the passing of TC Freeman, Fort Campbell honored her memory by renaming Gate 4 (the main gate) in her honor
July 6, all four fire stations responded to the fire at the Postell Building
Firefighters were on the scene for nearly 12 hours, while two other fires were fought in the city
In the following days, streets were closed for safety
The building was eventually demolished after part of it collapsed on Youngs Hardware and caused damage to the building
A groundbreaking was held in July for the new Visitors Center at the Trail of Tears Park
Approved plans for the structure
July brought record rainfall, the likes of which the area had not seen in 100 years. It caused damage to hundreds of businesses and homes
Several residents in Elkton were cleaning up the debris and damage in the days that followed
Then at the end of July more rain caused flooding in north Todd County
Fox Company, 5-101st Aviation Regiment was inactivated in August
Four young men entered guilty pleas ending an almost two-year ordeal that reached every member of the community
In August, the 2015-2016 Leadership Class unveiled its Class Project and the benches were placed throughout the community
9 Community Celebrities joined trained dancers on the stage of the Alhambra for the first time to entertain a sold out crowd
Each dancer had a cheering section
Hours of practices went into each performance
Though they didn't take themselves too seriously
The event raised $65,000 for Sanctuary and the Arts Council
By the end of the night, they had volunteers for the 2nd Annual event
The jury found Ed Carter and Frank Black not guilty of murder after charges were dismissed against Leslie Duncan. This left the 22 year old double murder unsolved
The former 101st Screaming Eagle and Dancing With The Stars Champion spoke at the Angels of the Battlefield Dinner honoring Fort Campbell's Combat Medics
Grimes stopped at HCC to speak with students about the importance of registering to vote and then exercising that right
Half of the schools in the district scored either proficient or distinguished and the district itself was ranked proficient
A jury found Travis Orten guilty of Reckless Homicide and 4th Degree Assault in connection to a July 4, 2015 fatal accident
For the first time in the school's history
The new store on Canton Pike opened in November
Officials lifted shovels of dirt in November as part of the groundbreaking
The Heritage Bank Candy Cane Express won People's Choice in the first night parade in over half a century
AND if you missed it, you missed the Soapbox Derby floats, which carried our champions