POLPOURRI B4 OBITUARIES B6 WEATHER B10 REGION SECTION SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2009 THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS B GIRL’S SANTA LETTER INSPIRES OTHERS TO GIVE PRESENTS TO HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN, B2

WORTH NOTING THE DECADE IN REVIEW Beyond the headlines FAREWELLS AND WELCOMES of the 2000s WEST MILESTONES MARK PERSONAL LOSSES, PHYSICAL PROGRESS

ROSA PARKS CIRCLE IT IS (2001) Civil rights name game begins; The faces of the fallen: West Michigan’s war dead some say city chose wrong Parks — should be Lyman. Their names are forever etched among those whose courage came at MUSKEGON MISSIONARY, INFANT the highest cost. Thirty soldiers with West Michigan roots die in and DAUGHTER KILLED IN MISTAKEN SHOOTDOWN OVER PERU (2001) Afghanistan. The bloodiest years: 2005 to 2007, when 24 fell. The last to fall Memo to CIA: It’s a war on drugs. locally is the fi rst to be immortalized after an 18-year photo ban is lifted. The WEST NILE VIRUS KILLS FIVE, image of Cpl. Nicholas Roush’s casket at Dover Air Force Base galvanizes a DISABLES MORE (2002) Another reason to dislike community’s grief. Details on each, B4. mosquitoes.

HOEKSTRA REVERSES SELF, GOES FOR SEVENTH TERM (2002) Still way shy of ’s 13 terms. Medical makeover

TROOPER KEVIN MARSHALL, OF Chapman Robbins Reynolds Payne Blodgett Burri Derks Fester Brown Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile, with ROCKFORD, KILLED IN FREMONT nearly $1 billion in construction STANDOFF (2003) projects, becomes the core of an Fugitive somehow escapes, stays expanding health sciences industry on run for days, but is shot dead. that positions the region to benefit for decades to come. Among the projects: MARTIN LUTHER KING Spectrum Health’s Helen DeVos BOULEVARD IT’S NOT (2004) Children’s Hospital, Michigan State Admirers lose name game, round 2, Huhn Cardinal Carver R. Smith Yates Herrema Webber Bucklin Floyd University’s new medical school, the but will results in “MLK Way.” Van Andel Institute’s expansion. Saint Mary’s Health Care also expands, while VAN HOUTENS, OF HAMILTON, Metro Health Hospital builds anew in BRING HOME MICHIGAN’S FIRST Wyoming. SURVIVING SEXTUPLETS (2005) No Jon and Kate, but (with 2006 addition of one) they can relate. Samson Shilling Vollmer Stout Davis Singleton Gajdos Johnson Scheibner TEAM CRACKS 1979 SLAYING OF JANET CHANDLER (2006) Justice delayed, not denied.

DEVOS FALLS SHORT IN GUBERNATORIAL BID (2006) Loses on school vouchers, too. But later wins on home helipad. Lee C. Smith Roush

ID MIX-UP OF CRASH VICTIMS COMPOUNDS GRIEF (2006) Respect: An Army team carries Grief, hope and faith link a transfer case containing Cerak and VanRyn families. the remains of Cpl. Nicholas Roush on Aug. 17, 2009 at GRAND RAPIDS POLICE OFFICER Dover Air Force Base, Del. ROBERT KOZMINSKI SLAIN IN AMBUSH (2007) His name joins others on the Grand Rapids Police Memorial, honoring officers who died protecting others. Finally on the map OTTAWA VOTERS STRIKE DOWN After decades on the LAST COUNTY LIQUOR BAN (2008) drawing board, the South Bottoms up. Byron Center allows Beltline is a reality. Also liquor by the glass — but still never called M-6, the nearly A sad goodbye on Sunday. $700 million stretch of Grand Rapids says goodbye to one of freeway opens in phases its own, former President Gerald R. NOROVIRUS SICKENS 518 AT HOPE from 2001 to 2004. Sure, it Ford, after his Dec. 26, 2006, death at COLLEGE (2008) shortens the drive across age 93. Thousands visit his presidential One more time: Wash your hands. southern Kent County and museum, where he is buried, and line eastern Ottawa County, the procession route. The nation’s OBAMA CARRIES KENT COUNTY, giving east-west motorists only non-elected president, the Grand ENDING 44-YEAR DEMOCRATIC a straight shot south Rapids native restored dignity and PRESIDENTIAL DROUGHT (2008) of Grand Rapids. It also integrity in the White House, helping Yes, he did. spawns millions of dollars the nation recover from Watergate in development along the and the Vietnam War. SWINE FLU KILLS FIVE (2009) 20-mile freeway. No one seems sure what to make of name-changing H1N1. PETE HOEKSTRA ENTERS RACE Public projects Go Lakers! FOR GOVERNOR (2009) Finally ends run in Congress Construction cranes give shape to millions of dollars worth of new Grand Valley State University’s (see 2002 entry). facilities for taxpayers to enjoy — unless you’re paying a ticket, footprint grows, but without its long- or worse. Grand Rapids police have a new headquarters, while time chief. GVSU expands its Allendale AIMS HIGHER judges leave the old Hall of Justice for a new 13-story courthouse. Township campus and in downtown (2009) Gerald R. Ford International Airport gets a new name and Grand Rapids and Holland. Former By backing Michael Bouchard, undergoes renovations. But John Ball Zoo experiences growing President Arend D. Lubbers leaves in secretary of state takes herself out pains. Neighbors resist expansion into the park and voters nix 2001 after serving for 32 years. Five of running for governor. For now. retail magnate Fred Meijer’s $25 million offer to help relocate the years later, his successor, Mark Murray, zoo to Grand Rapids Township. turns the Lakers over to Thomas Haas.

WE REMEMBER WINNERS & LOSERS

William Abney (1926-2007), bishop, Lyman S. Parks (1917-2009), pastor David Smith, (1962-2007) Architect WINNER: Bill Hardiman of Kentwood LOSERS: Banks, investors and patients pastor at Bethel Pentecostal Church of First Community AME Church, first behind Grand Rapids Public Schools becomes the first black Republican of high-profile swindlers. Boat 45 years, founded charter school that black city commissioner and mayor. building and renovation projects. elected to the state Senate in 2003. broker Michael Vorce, dermatologist bears his name. Apparent heart attack. Robert Stokes, investment schemer Leontyne “Tina” Partee (1966-2007), LOSER: Justice. City High teacher Dan Broucek, $20 million Ponzi Kevin Britt (1944-2004), bishop of mother, mentor, dancer and defense Michael Smolenski, (1944-2009) Wayne Bentley notices a racial mastermind Jan Marcusse. Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese for attorney . Slain by estranged husband. judge, state Court of Appeals, Grand imbalance in Kent County juries when seven months. Rare brain disorder. Rapids District Court, Kent County reviewing data in 2003 with students. WINNER: Grand Rapids Police L. William Seidman (1921-2009), Circuit Court. Department, in gender bias and Pat Cook (1915-2008), philanthropist, founder of Grand Valley State WINNER: discrimination suit. wife of Import Motors founder Peter University, former FDIC chairman. Jay Van Andel (1924-2004), Amway “Pumpkin Cook. Corp. co-founder, philanthropist. head.” LOSER: Grand Rapids Police Richard VanderVeen (1922-2006), Betty Van Andel (1921-2004), wife of Deer gets Department, in federal job retaliation G.W. Haworth (1911-2006), founded Democrat succeeded former President Jay, arts supporter, philanthropist. head stuck suit brought by bias plaintiffs. office-furniture company that bears Gerald R. Ford in Congress. in plastic his name. Guy Vander Jagt (1931-2007), 13-term pumpkin WINNERS: Dancers, drinkers. Harold “Hal” Sawyer (1920-2003), congressman from Ottawa County. but survives Cornerstone University lifts Dirk Koning (1957-2005), founded Four-term congressman in late 2006 student dancing ban in 2004, faculty Community Media Center. 1970s-early ’80s, Kent County Violet “Vi” Wondergem (1932-2008), hunting season. Residents later find and staff teetotaling requirement in Complications of heart surgery. prosecutor. arts supporter, fundraiser. the bucket. 2009.