A Look Back At 10 Big Local Stories from 2012
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: January 1, 2013
Here's a look at the ten big stories from 2012, in chronological order.
First up, a scary hostage situation and standoff lasting two hours at the City Bank on 82nd and Quaker on April 4th, 2012. 61 year old Tommy Beadles entered the bank with a pistol, and took two employees hostage. He let them go unharmed.
Next, on May 18th, bones were found in the 5800 of 24th St. They remains were later identified as the body of Roger Scott Dunn, a man who had been missing since 1991. Dunn's live in girlfriend, Leisha Hamilton, as well as Timothy James Smith were convicted of his murder back in 2007.
Changes came to City Council happened in the spring, as a new mayor and two new faces beside joined him. Latrelle Joy took over the seat for Dstrict 6, and Jim Gerlt took his place in District 4 after a run-off against incumbent Paul Beane.
Also ousted was incumbent Mayor Tom Martin, who was beaten by current Mayor Glen Robertson.
A murder for hire plot in Lubbock, when Dr. Joseph Sonnier was found dead in his home on July 11th. Lubbock Police later arrested Dr. Thomas Michael Dixon and David Neal Shephard for the murder. Police say Dr. Dixon hired Shepard to murder Dr. Sonnier and was paid 3 silver bars for it.
Then, a little later in July, a power outage on the 21st left most of Lubbock in the dark after a transformer blew in the early morning hours. The incident left thousand having to boil their water.
Come August, the Lake Alan Henry Water Project finally opened. It supplies Lubbock with 20% of it's water. The project was decades in the making, and helped bring Lubbock out of stage 2 water restrictions.
Lubbock made national headlines in August, after comments made by Lubbock County Judge Tom Head. Judge Head said if President Obama was re-elected, Lubbock would need to prepare for the invasion of UN Troops. Judge Head remains in office.
Two major events for Texas Tech coaching.
At the end of August, Head Basketball Coach Billy Gillispie was under fire for possible NCAA violations. He was then admitted to the hospital, and later the Mayo Clinic, to treat his blood pressure and stress. He then resigned on September 20th, leaving Chris Walker as the interim coach.
Then for Tech Basketball, head coach Tommy Tuberville resigned from his position unexpectedly on December 8th, to take a head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati.
His departure brought in new head coach, and former Red Raider, Kliff Kingsbury.
Finally, two major dust storms in Lubbock this year, one back on January 22nd. That dust storm caused power outages across the area. The other was just weeks ago, on December 19th. That storm caused a major accident on I-27, involving 23 cars, and leaving one dead.
First up, a scary hostage situation and standoff lasting two hours at the City Bank on 82nd and Quaker on April 4th, 2012. 61 year old Tommy Beadles entered the bank with a pistol, and took two employees hostage. He let them go unharmed.
Next, on May 18th, bones were found in the 5800 of 24th St. They remains were later identified as the body of Roger Scott Dunn, a man who had been missing since 1991. Dunn's live in girlfriend, Leisha Hamilton, as well as Timothy James Smith were convicted of his murder back in 2007.
Changes came to City Council happened in the spring, as a new mayor and two new faces beside joined him. Latrelle Joy took over the seat for Dstrict 6, and Jim Gerlt took his place in District 4 after a run-off against incumbent Paul Beane.
Also ousted was incumbent Mayor Tom Martin, who was beaten by current Mayor Glen Robertson.
A murder for hire plot in Lubbock, when Dr. Joseph Sonnier was found dead in his home on July 11th. Lubbock Police later arrested Dr. Thomas Michael Dixon and David Neal Shephard for the murder. Police say Dr. Dixon hired Shepard to murder Dr. Sonnier and was paid 3 silver bars for it.
Then, a little later in July, a power outage on the 21st left most of Lubbock in the dark after a transformer blew in the early morning hours. The incident left thousand having to boil their water.
Come August, the Lake Alan Henry Water Project finally opened. It supplies Lubbock with 20% of it's water. The project was decades in the making, and helped bring Lubbock out of stage 2 water restrictions.
Lubbock made national headlines in August, after comments made by Lubbock County Judge Tom Head. Judge Head said if President Obama was re-elected, Lubbock would need to prepare for the invasion of UN Troops. Judge Head remains in office.
Two major events for Texas Tech coaching.
At the end of August, Head Basketball Coach Billy Gillispie was under fire for possible NCAA violations. He was then admitted to the hospital, and later the Mayo Clinic, to treat his blood pressure and stress. He then resigned on September 20th, leaving Chris Walker as the interim coach.
Then for Tech Basketball, head coach Tommy Tuberville resigned from his position unexpectedly on December 8th, to take a head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati.
His departure brought in new head coach, and former Red Raider, Kliff Kingsbury.
Finally, two major dust storms in Lubbock this year, one back on January 22nd. That dust storm caused power outages across the area. The other was just weeks ago, on December 19th. That storm caused a major accident on I-27, involving 23 cars, and leaving one dead.
