The year 2010 saw north Jefferson County work to inch its way out of the nation’s economic recession, with new businesses opening and other doors closing.

The area also saw its share of crime and crimes solved; and new public servants seated after this year’s elections.

The following are the highlights that The North Jefferson News printed from Jan. 2 through today.

Crime

On Jan. 23, the NJN printed a story about Dustin Blake Legrande, 20, of Bessemer, being accused of killing Chase Woods, 17, of Gardendale. Woods’ body was discovered in an abandoned strip mine off of Pumpkin Center Cut-Off Road near Quinton in Walker County, according to the Gardendale Police Department.

• April 10: The state raids and closes the Morris Youth Association bingo hall in Gardendale.

• April 24: The Morris Police Department discovers seven meth labs at a residence, arresting a 54-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman.

• May 1: Police are searching for a man wanted for attempted murder of a Morris police officer following a traffic stop at Town Market in Morris; Nov. 10, Edward Doe of Charlotte, N.C., is arrested for allegedly robbing a convenience store and shooting at the officer.

• May 12: David Ray Pinyan, formerly of Blount County, was indicated on 12 counts of allegedly violating provisions of the Alabama Securities Act. Blount County District Attorney Tommy Rountree said it was a “Blount County version of the Bernie Madoff Ponzie scheme.”

• May 15: The Gardendale Police Tactical Team and the Jefferson County SWAT team raided Wicks Automotive, arresting Randall Wicks and Charles Ricketts. The business was suspected to be part of a vehicle theft ring.

• June 23: The Gardendale Police Department is investigating the death of an 18-month-old child, Justin Keith Stockton. Oct. 27: The child’s parents, Jeffrey and Rebecca Stockton, were arrested on charges of manslaughter.

• July 10: An Indiana family is safe after its car was hijacked and stolen from the Shell service station on Walker Chapel Road in Fultondale.

• July 14: Jason Lesueur of Robinwood is arrested on two counts of attempted murder following a shooting on Lower Coalburg Road.

• July 17: Two juveniles are arrested by the Fultondale Police Department, ending a long spree of vehicle and house break-ins.

• July 21: The Fultondale Police Department arrests alleged sex offender Christopher Keith Terry, 18, who was wanted on charges of sodomy and rape. His alleged victim is a juvenile female.

• Aug. 7: Four Fultondale businesses raided for illegal “Vegas style” slot machines.

• Aug. 21: Gardendale and Fultondale police are investigating robberies at Chili’s Restaurant, O’Charley’s and AT&T Planet in Fultondale; and Chick-fil-A and Sonic Drive-in in Gardendale.

• Aug. 25: Shoney’s in Gardendale is robbed at gunpoint.

• Aug. 28: Nx Level Fitness employee Chad Bearden uses a gun to stop the theft of copper from the business’ air conditioning unit.

• Sept. 1: Fultondale police arrest two suspects in the above Gardendale and Fultondale robberies.

• Sept. 11: Christopher Pugh, 24, dies after an altercation with Charles Davidson, 52. Pugh allegedly was trying to steal gasoline at Davidson’s home and reportedly attacked Davidson with a knife when Davidson struck the suspect with a wooden pole. Pugh died later from his injuries.

• Sept. 29: Three people die in an apparent double murder and suicide in Pinson. The victims were Wendy McClendon Munoz, 32, and Joel Clayton, 34. The alleged shooter was Renato Mata, 49. All were from Birmingham.

• Nov. 24: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrest 10 people on drug charges and shut down three meth labs during an investigation of burglaries in Corner and surrounding areas.

Business

• May 26: Big Daddy’s Bar-B-Que in Warrior closes after a fire; Dec. 18: the restaurant opens after being renovated.

• July 7: Southeast Urgent Care clinic opens in Fultondale.

• July 14: IGA MarketPlace in Kimberly closes its doors.

• Nov. 10: There are small signs that the economy is beginning to recover in north Jefferson County

• Nov. 24: Three businesses are to open in Fultondale in upcoming weeks: TriGreen Equipment, Alatec Heating & Cooling LLC and Applebee’s.

Elections

• Feb. 24: Dr. Stan Cooke of Kimberly seeks Sen. Spencer Bachus’ seat in Congress.

• May 15: Governor candidates Roy Moore and Tim James visit Gardendale

• June 2: The primary election narrows the field for the upcoming general election on Nov. 2.

• July 7: Trafford residents will vote in the primary election at Trafford First Baptist Church. The town’s post office burned and is temporarily located in the community center, which is where Trafford residents usually vote.

• July 14: The primary election runoffs result in Dr. Robert Bentley as the Republican candidate for governor and Joe Knight as the Republican candidate for Jefferson County Commission district four.

• Oct. 16: The North Jefferson County Republican Club hosts a political forum for state, county and local candidates.

• Nov. 3: The Republican party sweeps the general election.

Government

• Jan. 2: Blount County leaders call for a boycott of Warrior businesses after the Warrior City Council votes to collect a 1.5 percent sales tax in parts of neighboring unincorporated Blount County.

• Jan. 13: The town of Hayden in Blount County opens its doors to businesses and individuals that want to annex into Hayden in order to avoid paying taxes to Warrior.

• Jan. 20: Gardendale passes a ban on pit bulls in the city limits, which sparks heated comments at the following city council meeting.

• Jan. 23: The Blount County district attorney files a lawsuit against the city of Warrior regarding the sales tax issue

• April 17. Residents show up in force to oppose a coal mine opening in Morris.

• May 29: The Morris City Council approves mining.

• July 24: The town of Hayden has annexed 538 pieces of property, petitioned by 420 landowners, by an act of the Alabama legislature, which was required because most of the property is not contiguous to Hayden.

• July 31: Warrior and Blount County settle their lawsuit, which was mostly rendered moot because all Blount County businesses except for one (Warrior Tire) had annexed into Hayden anyway.

• Oct. 6: Gardendale increases sales tax in the city by 1 percent, increasing taxes to 10 cents per dollar.

• Oct. 6: Sen. Scott Beason, R-17th, of Gardendale, aids the FBI in illegal gambling arrests.

Sports

• Jan. 20: The Gardendale High School Rockets win the Jefferson County wrestling championship.

• May 15: Mortimer Jordan High School is upset in the finals of the AHSAA class 5A state championship, falling two games short of winning a third straight state title.

• May 19: Corner places third in the AHSAA state championship class 4A finals.

• Sept. 4: GHS wide receiver Ja’Micheal Willis catches six touchdown passes thrown by Dallas Tidwell against Bessemer City, tying an AHSAA state record for most touchdown catches in a single game.

• Dec. 29: Fultondale sophomore quarterback Ardarius Steward and Corner senior punter Jordan Shipp are named to the 2010 Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State High School Football Team.

Community

• Jan. 16: Several local groups join efforts to help Haiti earthquake victims;

• Feb. 20: Haiti relief team members shares experience with Gardendale Rotary Club.

• Feb. 6: Gardendale-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church celebrates 150 years in existence. Events are planned all year for the anniversary.

• Feb. 17: The new Gardendale High School opens. The school was rebuilt on the same site from taxes collected countywide in 2005.

• Feb. 24: The Brookside Fire Department moves into a new fire station.

• May 5: A fire delays the opening of the new Gardendale First Baptist Church north campus.

• June 5: The Jefferson County School Board lays off 73 people.

• June 30: The Trafford post office burns; Aug. 21: A new, temporary post office is in place

• July 7: The Gulf Coast oil spill has effects in north Jefferson County.

• Aug. 11: More than 5,000 people attend the first Sunday service at the new Gardendale First Baptist Church north campus.

• Sept. 29: Officials cut the ribbon at the new Corner High School campus on Warrior-Jasper Road. The school was also built from 2005 tax funds.

• Oct. 16: An Alabama Department of Transportation project to widen Hwy. 160 could relocate 30 properties in Blount County.