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THURSDAY, Dec. 31, 2009 75 CENTS

2009  THE YE AR IN REVIEW

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These are the stories that dominated the year*

Nine candidates battle to be Galesburg mayor

1. A record nine candidates battled it out at the polls in April’s Galesburg mayoral election, but
there was only one winner.
Sal Garza came out on top, defeating a field that included former alderman Rollie Paulsgrove, pilot Eric
Delawder, Knox College professor and author Marilyn Webb, former alderwoman Margaret Hall and former
mayor Bob Sheehan.
Despite the high number of candidates, the turnout for the election was low, with just 25 percent of registered voters
casting their ballots.
Garza replaced Gary Smith, who spent four years in the job and officially stepped down as mayor in May.
In the end, Garza won the mayoral election comfortably, with 1,671 votes, or 34 percent of the vote, compared to the
958 votes earned by Bob Sheehan who finished in the second spot.

Jobless rate hits 11.5% as economy plunges

2. Unemployment had been a problem in Galesburg since 2004 when Maytag and Butler
Manufacturing closed factories here. It took the worldwide recession, however, to send jobless
rates soaring to heights not seen here since the early 1980s.
Unemployment this year peaked at 11.5 percent in October. November saw a slight drop to 10.7 percent.
The December unemployment rate has not yet been released.
Although layoffs by BNSF Railway affected the unemployment rate, much of the reason for the rapid increase was
likely because of layoffs by Caterpillar. Business was booming before the onset of the recession and many former fac-
tory workers in this area no doubt were hired by Big Yellow and made the 45-mile, one-way commute to Peoria each
day. Peoria’s unemployment rate is now higher than Galesburg’s. But, with most of Galesburg’s manufacturing base
gone, what is bad for Peoria is bad for Galesburg.

City gets millions for railroad overpasses

3. The city of Galesburg was awarded $33.5 million from the state in July to build three railroad grade
separations, no small feat during a year when the state legislature wrestled with a ballooning deficit.
The money was augmented by a further $2.9 million from the federal government to help develop the
grade separations at East Main, West Main and North Seminary Street.
State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, campaigned vigorously in Springfield to bring funding for the projects to
Galesburg, and the city was aided in securing federal funds by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Congressman Phil Hare,
D-Rock Island. The projects will improve traffic in Galesburg, and are supported by BNSF, Galesburg’s biggest employ-
er, which will benefit from reduced maintenance and insurance costs when the grade separations are complete. In
addition, the grade separations will help with the city’s overall plan to develop railroad quiet zones, free from noisy
train whistles. Much-needed construction jobs also will be created.

H1N1 flu, vaccines come to Knox County

4. The worldwide H1N1 flu outbreak was a big topic this past fall. By mid-December, the Knox Coun-
ty Health Department received enough vaccine for its first unrestricted vaccination clinic.
Earlier, the department could only give FluMist and the injected vaccine to people included in certain
categories. As of the first week of December, the KCHD had given 5,250 vaccinations, FluMist and injected.
Lines at clinics in some small towns reminded people of waiting to receive the oral polio vaccine in the 1950s.
Absences at local schools peaked the week of Oct. 24 when 241 students — 7 percent — in Galesburg District 205
were absent.
The same week, 221 students — 21 percent — were gone because of influenza-like illness in Knoxville District 202.
By Nov. 27, 15 in Galesburg schools and two in Knoxville were out with flu symptoms.

County recorder arrested for stealing from Democrats

5. Knox County Recorder Paula Monzo was arrested in November and charged with stealing an esti-
mated $3,500 from the local Democratic Party.
Monzo is alleged to have taken the money while working as treasurer for the Democratic Party. She was
charged with theft of more than $300, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison. A prelimi-
nary hearing in the case has been set for Jan. 26, 2010. If convicted, Monzo would be forced to step down from her posi-
tion as county recorder. She was elected to that position in November 2008.
County officials quickly organized an audit of the county recorder’s office after Monzo’s arrest. No evidence of
any financial irregularities were discovered. Knox County Democratic Party Chairman Norm Winick told Galesburg
police he suspected Monzo was taking money from a party account. Monzo apparently had written checks to herself
and used an ATM card to make withdrawals.

*As voted on by newsroom personnel at The Register-Mail  MORE TOP 10 ON PAGE A12

Top sports stories Photographers picks Loved Ones Lost

Coach Evan Massey and the From the weather, to sports, to A list of people who
Galesburg Silver Streaks girls spot news and even nature shots, were on The Register-Mail
basketball team dominate the year The Register-Mail photographers obituary pages in 2009.
in local sports with three entries present their favorite pictures from COMING SATURDAY
on the top 10 list. the last year.
SPORTS, Page B1 COMING IN SUNDAY LIFESTYLES