Top 10 for 2019

The Lawrence County Record begins the start of every new year with a review of the previous year’s top stories. Last year’s top stories were:
6. Mt’neers have perfect season – The Mt. Vernon Mt’neers won nine consecutive victories to end the regular 2019 football season undefeated; the first time the team had done so since 2006. However, the team’s extended season would end earlier than they liked when they suffered their first and only defeat at the hands of the Seneca Indians in the district semifinals on Nov. 8.
 
7. Doty Trash Service becomes sole trash service provider for Mt. Vernon residents – The Mt. Vernon Board of Aldermen voted to approve a contract with Doty Trash Service which gave Doty exclusive rights to provide solid waste disposal services to Mt. Vernon residents, starting in January of 2020; the contract with Doty will remain in force for three years, with options to renew it for two one-year periods afterwards.
 
8. Silgan leaves Mt. Vernon – Silgan Containers Corporation ceased operations at their Mt. Vernon location on Oct. 4. The plant, which was first owned by Carnation and then Nestle before Silgan took over, produced metal cans for 81 years, employing thousands during its history in Mt. Vernon. While many employees were offered positions at another location out of state, most chose to remain in Mt. Vernon.
 
9. Lawrence County has first grand jury “in living memory” – A grand jury, consisting of 12 Lawrence County residents, was convened this year at the Lawrence County Justice Center. Don Trotter, prosecuting attorney, said it was probably the first grand jury ever held in Lawrence County, stating “nobody in living memory can remember one.” The grand jury is held to speed up a backlog of cases; the identities of the jurors and the times they meet are confidential.
 
10. 911 sales tax passes in election – Lawrence County residents voted to pass a half-cent sales tax during the April election to help fund 911 services for the county. The sales tax replaced a landline tariff which was formerly used to fund the services; revenue from the tariff dwindled as more people abandoned landlines in favor of cellphones.