Valiant Petroleum announced Refugio was its choice for a new plant. The Corpus Christi-based company pledged to hire at least 100 people by the end of 2009 during its announcement in December.

Company representatives Jeff Soward, Alan Evans and Roy Basaldua told county officials that the number of employees could reach double that number.

Hiring has begun through the WorkForce office in Refugio. Frank Hosey, employment counselor at Workforce Solutions, has already process more than 100 applications in the largest job increase in Refugio County in decades.

Exelon Energy also announced its intention to build a nuclear power plant in the McFaddin area. Should the plant be built, Refugio ISD stands to gain tax revenues from the plant.

Refugio Memorial Hospital administrators also announced the facility will construct a new physical therapy center with an adjoining wellness center plus a 20 by 40 foot indoor swimming pool.

The facility is expected to be completed by the end of May.

This year, both Refugio and Woodsboro ISD completed multi-million dollar construction on its campuses.

Refugio went to a two-campus system and Woodsboro built new facilities as well.

Deputy sheriffs arrested 15 suspected drug dealers on undercover sting dubbed Operation Surrender. The Grand Jury indicted the suspects, some on multiple charges.

January

• The Refugio Presbyterian Church celebrated its centennial.

• Fire from a service line destroys the Ron and Kenda Nelson home on Empresario in Refugio.

• Neighbors pull Bo Avery and his children from their blazing house.

• Grass fire destroys 700-plus acres near Blanconia.

• Austwell announces plan for growth.

February

• El Copano is named to Texas Most Endangered Places list.

• John Robert Freudiger, 18, dies in traffic fatality.

• Maxine Reilly retires as museum curator.

• Gerald Morgan named chamber citizen of the year.

• Edward Quinn Love is honored at A-TISD on his 90th birthday.

• I-69 Trans Texas Corridor draws strong opposition from county residents during a hearing.

March

• Sean Garcia wins fourth grand championship steer.

• Rod Bernal is appointed to unexpired commissioner’s Pct. 4 seat.

• JoBeth Whitlow is appointed to a three-year term on the National Hospice and Palliative Care Regulatory Committee.

April

• Pioneer decendent Daniel Hawes “Danny” Braman Jr. is laid to rest.

• Tivoli child attacked by family pit bull dogs.

• Pit bull dog attacks child in Woodsboro.

• Pit bull rips arm of Tivoli man requiring multiple stitches.

May

• Construction begins on Refugio High School’s sports multi-purpose building.

• Three Tivoli girls chased by pit bull dog.

• Megan Carter of WHS, and Angie Herron and Lyndsay Markert, compete in state track meet.

• In the only three contested local races, Ron Nelson was elected to the Refugio City Council; Bob Cramer, WISD board; and Andy Rocha, RISD board.

• Fallen World War II soldier Rex Pitzer was honored on Memorial Day.

• Refugio adopts tax incentives for growth.

• Nancy Miller retires as Woodsboro Elementary principal.

June

• WHS graduates celebrate 75th year of daisy-chain tradition.

• County farmers enjoy bountiful harvest.

July

• Historical Society celebrates museum’s 25th anniversary.

• County communities celebrate July 4th with contests, games.

• Sean Finnessey selected as Woodsboro Elementary Principal.

• 103-year-old railroad trestle bridge across Mission River is scrapped.

• Students, scientists study eco-system diversity at Fennessey Ranch, a NERR site.

• O’Connor group challenges Exelon Nuclear Power Plant.

• Woodsboro hikes fees for partial payment of utility bills.

• Burglars crash pickup through Bayside Grocery.

August

• Local athlete Mallory Adams earns fifth college conference championship ring.

• Woodsboro council says no to proposed rate hike.

• Socha Brown and Carolyn Epps go to South Africa on missionary trip.

• Commissioners pledge more money to fledgling Austwell Fire Department.

• Memorial Hospital officials broke ground on the new physical therapy and wellness center which will include an indoor swimming pool.

September

• Woodsboro celebrates Dr. Jimmy Arnold’s 30th anniversary as pastor of First Baptist Church.

• Woodsboro council squelches utility rate hike again.

• Mandatory evacuations ordered as Ike barrells toward the county.

• Officer Robert Bolcik seized $95,000 of suspected drug money.

• Museum hosts Joseph Galloway’ for a book signing of “We are Soldiers Still.”

• Gate marker installed at Mission-Aransas NERR site on Fennessey Ranch.

October

• Refugio teacher Tom Jaggard is awarded the Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award.

• Former Refugio resident Kathleen Clendennen Telge, 42, was believed to be murdered in Corpus Christi.

• Rash of vandalism under investigation in Bayside.

• O’Connor family still waiting for the Texas Supreme Court to rule on civil action against Exxon.

• Just under 700 people participate in the annual health fair at Memorial Hospital.

• Former Refugian Willie Gipson inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame.

• Bobcats are ranked No. 1 in the state by the Associated Press.

• Mayor Pro Tem Mustafa Curtess is appointed as mayor of Austwell.

November

• Robert Bolcik topples one-term Sheriff Earl Petropoulos by 2,004 to 1,249 votes and will be sworn in as the new county sheriff at midnight, Jan. 1.

• Pamela Willis is hired as the new family practitioner at Refugio Memorial Hospital.

• Woodsboro Eagles win playoff berth.

• Refugio Bobcats are district champions.

• Hundreds of residents participate in the annual Joe Barber Memorial Relay for Life.

• Sheriff’s department deputies arrest 15 suspected drug dealers in Operation Surrender.

December

• County earmarks $100,000 for economic development.

• Moya’s Cafe celebrates 70th anniversary.

• The Bobcats end its season at the 2A Division II Region IV finals with a loss to the Blanco Panthers in San Antonio.