2008: the year in photos

By Al Everson and Jen Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITERS

posted Jan 1, 2009 - 9:53:31am

Every picture tells a story, often more than 1,000 words can tell. This is a collection of photos from 2008, one for each month. Some tell very serious stories. Some photos tell whimsical, but equally memorable, stories.

We expect more in 2009. In the meantime, visit The Beacon photo galleries.

1 — JANUARY

The First Amendment is alive and well in Downtown DeLand, as evidenced by the presence of evangelical Christians seeking to win converts at popular bars on Friday nights. Some merchants object to the proselytizing efforts, the church members’ distribution of religious tracts and conversations with passersby, but the Christians’ activities are protected by the Bill of Rights.

2 — FEBRUARY

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chipper Jones shows his skill on the diamond at Roger Gilmore Field in DeLand. The major-league star is a native West Volusian whose ambition and ability enabled him to fulfill what many youngsters dream about doing.

3 — MARCH

Chuck Balfe, a self-styled Internet minister who was convicted of abusing children and sentenced to prison, confers with his defense attorney, Jeffrey Dees, as they appear in court for a resentencing hearing. Because of an appeals-court decision, Balfe’s sentence was cut from 30 years in prison to 9.5 years, plus an additional year on probation.

4 — APRIL

Downtown DeLand becomes an urban-emergency training center for Volusia County firefighters. Fire and rescue personnel spent days scaling buildings and becoming accustomed to working with equipment needed to save lives in dire situations.

5 — MAY

The end of an era in public education comes, as the last class of Boston Avenue School in DeLand prepares for graduation. In front are Katherine McCormick, left, and Cedric Feaster, and, in back, Colisha Larsen, left, and Saul Ramirez. The school for children with special needs was one the Volusia County School Board opted to close to save money in a time of falling tax revenues.

6 — JUNE

Big-city crime becomes a reality show in West Volusia June 24, as authorities survey the aftermath of a crime spree that began in DeLand and ended in Orange City. Daniel Hendricks, 20, of Enterprise, carjacked several vehicles in his rampage and led police on a wild chase that included accidents. Hendricks was shot and killed by Orange City Police Sgt. Jason Sampsell in the Four Townes Shopping Center, as he attempted to steal another vehicle.

7 — JULY

In 1999, DeLand passed a sign ordinance requiring signs to meet more stringent regulations. The city gave out-of-compliance businesses a 10-year grace period, which expired May 2009. Won Lee Chinese Restaurant owner Seamus Poon asked commissioners to not make him take down the historic 1950s- style sign. Later in the year, the commission postponed enforcing the ordinance on the Won Lee sign and other nonconforming signs until 2013.

8 — AUGUST

The week of Aug. 17-24 was a long one when Tropical Storm Fay dumped 24 inches of water on Volusia County, flooding almost 200 homes in DeBary, and dozens of other homes around the county.

9 — SEPTEMBER

Oatie, beloved pet of Mark Shuttleworth and Anna Tomczak of Lake Helen, took the family Volvo for a spin at the West Volusia Regional Shopping Center Sept. 20, and crashed into a parked car. Oatie knocked his owners’ car into drive when Shuttleworth ran into Winn-Dixie to pick up a prescription. The investigating police officer issued no ticket, and, officially, Oatie still has a spotless driving record.

10 — OCTOBER

Reports of nefarious deeds, such as sign-stealing, were reported by both Republicans and Democrats during the election season of 2008. But, for the most part, campaigners were peaceful and filled with hope as elections neared. The campaigning ended Nov. 4, when Barack Obama became the nation’s president-elect.

11 — NOVEMBER

Sen. Barack Obama encourages everyone in West Volusia to vote during a surprise visit to DeLand. No, not really. That’s Sean Ngying, who looks an awful lot like Sen. Barack Obama, standing on a Downtown DeLand street corner on Election Day. Ngying is an intensive-reading teacher at Pine Ridge High School. President-elect Obama carried Volusia County and the State of Florida. He will be inaugurated Tuesday, Jan. 20. More than 75 percent of registered voters in Volusia County made it to the polls. Locally, several races were recounted, because the races were so close. Recount results: The winners were the winners.

12 — DECEMBER

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and other units responded early in the morning Dec. 17 to the scene of a man allegedly barricaded in his home on Kendra Avenue, in a DeLand neighborhood near North Boston and East Plymouth avenues. The SWAT team set up its operations on Lindley Boulevard nearby, and left at about 8:30 a.m., after the man peacefully surrendered. The standoff lasted about four hours.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

Comment on this article

Commenting is closed for this article.

If you would like to contribute a letter to the editor, please click here.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The DeLand-Deltona Beacon to read more stories by Al Everson and Jen Horton, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!