A farmer tries to move hay bales to avoid further fire damage on his farm during a brush fire early in '06. (Staff photo by Eric Bradshaw)


Newsmakers
A glance back at the top 10 stories of the year

Stacy Barnes

As we enter into 2007, it’s a good time to take a look at some of the city’s top news over the past year.

10. Council redefines resident memberships

In the wake of falling revenues over an 18-month period, Council members voted in November to grant resident status to Town Center members living within the Mustang School District. The decision was made because memberships at Town Center declined sharply after a 55-percent non-resident rate hike took affect in June ’05, costing the city thousands of dollars.

9. Fires

The largest local wildfire in recent history occurred on this date in 2005, destroying six homes and burning several acres of property. The New Year began with a statewide burn ban in effect and the state of Oklahoma receiving an emergency disaster declaration. Drought conditions throughout 2006 brought fire danger to the forefront of people’s minds and saw several fires within the city.

8. Where Are They Now? Series

This series of stories highlights former Mustang residents and graduates to let locals see what they are up to today. It has met with a lot of popularity and will continue on into 2007, so if you know someone who would be good for a story, let us know.

7. Rape stories

This year saw two of Mustang’s youth charged with rape and one charged with rape and forcible sodomy. All three boys were originally charged as adults although two of them are minors. In one case, the rape charge was dropped, and the accused is scheduled to go to trial on the forcible sodomy charge Feb. 5, 2007. Another case was sent down to juvenile court and the third defendant is still awaiting a preliminary hearing on Feb. 14, 2007.

6. Voters nix bond issue

Just this month voters had the opportunity to weigh in on whether or not they wanted to fund a multi-million dollar sports complex, fire fighting equipment and street repairs through general obligation bonds. The bond issue was in the news throughout the year, but in the end voters defeated all the measures except the one for fire fighting equipment on Dec. 12.

5. Fireworks controversy

This year perhaps more than in years past, people were vocal on both sides of the fireworks issue. For weeks people wrote letters to the editor, called us and addressed City Council in an attempt to get others to see their side. City Council and city staff vowed to work on a solution that would allow residents to continue their Fourth of July tradition, but somehow control the chaos and debris.

4. We are the champions

This was a great year for Mustang sports as several locals won top team and individual honors. Winners include the ’05-‘06 Lady Broncos Basketball team, MHS cheerleaders, Boy’s cross country team, and three-time state champion runner Kevin Schwab. The ’06-’07 Mustang Broncos football team also made it to the quarterfinals of the state play-offs, and the ’06-’07 Lady Broncos softball team made the final four in their play-off games.

3. Landrith wins!

That was the headline in February when Mayor Jeff Landrith beat incumbent Chad McDowell and candidate Harry Weatherford in a heated race for the city’s number one position. Landrith captured 55.2 percent of the vote to McDowell’s 37.5 percent and Weatherford’s 7.3 percent. He made headlines again this month when he resigned his position as MIS Director with the Board of Oklahoma County Commissioners.

2. Highway 152 officially open

In October a 2.3 mile section of Highway 152 that connects Mustang with Oklahoma City was completed. Gary Ridley, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, said the new road will open up the city to more progress.

“The main street of Mustang now ties into the whole world,” Ridley said. “You can go from Mustang to anywhere in the U.S. on a four-lane highway. You’re going to see some major changes.”

1. Threats at school

Throughout the year there have been several threatening notes, calls and evacuations at various Mustang schools, causing them to be on heightened alert through most of the school year. In May two Mustang Middle School students were arrested on felony charges related to a planned school bombing.

Honorable Mention: Mustang News employee admits to theft

A Mustang News employee stole 20 papers from a Mustang Times news rack in front of the local Post Office.

After the police were called, he returned the papers with payment and apologized for the incident. He was driving a publisher's vehicle when he took the papers.