525,600 Minutes: Measuring a Year in Macomb (2011)

With only a few hours left in 2011, now is as good a time as any to look back on how the year has changed the people and landscape of Macomb Township.

It was a year for anniversaries to be sure. , and the nation remembered , and .

Within our community, warmed our hearts, issues in and enraged us and the saddened us.

While it would be impossible to list each and every newsworthy event of the past year – Patch published more than 2,300 articles in 2011 – we've done our best to compile those stories that best tell the ups, downs and just plain interesting tales of our community in the past year.

Happy New Year!

Stories That Got Us Talking

In November, Macomb County voters were to supplement the cost of special education programs in the county's public school districts. . However, among Macomb Township voters.

following a pedestrian accident on 21 Mile Road, prompted residents across Macomb to and this concern was heightened when the township voted to remove crossing guards from Ebeling and Beck elementary schools.

to education led to  and in all districts, while legislative changes to the K-12 curriculum saw school districts struggling to keep test scores high (amid ) and costs low (as the transition to the

, if not full support, in Macomb Township and feelings were mixed on the township's move to .

Stories That Shocked Us

We were stunned and saddened by the in August at the Selfridge Air Show and horrified by the brutality of a stabbing and home invasion on Fairchild Road in February. The following the victim's death in September.

Fortunately, 2011 as a whole brought relatively little crime and no fatal house fires to the township. However, a combination of driver error, weather, texting and alcohol use resulted in several deaths along the areas roadways.

An elderly , while after being struck by a vehicle while crossing 21 Mile Road in March. Recent graduates from and , as well as and a also died in traffic accidents.

Tales of Change

When the numbers finally came in, Macomb Township saw 57.7 percent growth over the past decade, boosting its population to 79,580 residents.

In terms of business, the township welcomed new franchises like White Castle, and , as well as new storefront's such as Jersey Girlz and Businesses like expanded their frontage or built new facilities entirely, as in the case of . These openings and expansions have meant several dozen new jobs in the township.

Tax exemptions to businesses looking to expand operations and increase employment in the area have also lead to increased manufacturing in Macomb – and .

Sports Championships (School and Community)

Team

Individual

A Year in Photos

• Valentine's Day –
• St. Patrick’s Day –
• Easter –
• Fourth of July –
• Labor Day –
• 10th Anniversary of Sept. 11 – ,
• Halloween – ,
• Thanksgiving –
• Christmas –

Editor’s Antics

When words cease to have meaning ... use video. Here is photographic proof that there was never a dull moment for Macomb Patch Editor Jenny Whalen in 2011.

On to 2012!

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