YEAR IN REVIEW: Looking back at 2012
Published 10:30 am Tuesday, January 1, 2013
November
Seven people seriously injured in wreck on 155
A two-vehicle wreck Nov. 23 on Highway 155 left seven people in critical condition.
No deaths were reported on the scene, but the victims’ current conditions were not known.
North Chilton Fire Department Chief Jason Scott said the wreck, which occurred at a curve in the road that has been the scene of many other serious crashes, was the worst he’s seen in his more than 20 years with the department.
“In my career there have been 20-plus wrecks there, and most of them have been very severe,” Scott said.
The vehicles crashed about 6:40 p.m. at the 3-mile marker, and the NCFD was on the scene for about hours, Scott said. Four emergency helicopters and six ambulances were brought in to transport victims to UAB Hospital and Children’s Hospital.
December
Late mayor’s wife named to council
Nicole Hilyer, wife of former Thorsby mayor Dearl Hilyer, was unanimously chosen Dec. 3 to fill the town’s open council seat.
The seat came open when then-councilmember Jean Nelson was chosen to serve as Thorsby’s mayor after Dearl Hilyer died on Oct. 16.
Dearl Hilyer had just been re-elected to his second term as mayor
Residents were allowed to submit applications for the position to be considered by the council. In addition to Nicole Hilyer, other applicants included Jerry Mack Bingham Jr., Willis Britt, Sandy Collins, Tim Henderson, Tara Jewell and Kathy Johnson. Britt and Jewell served on the council during its last session. Britt was defeated by current councilmember Randall Higgins, and Jewell vacated her seat to run against Dearl Hilyer.
After the council considered the applications, Higgins nominated Nicole Hilyer to fill the open seat. The nomination was seconded by Marvin Crumpton, and all councilmembers present voted in favor. Roger Marcus was absent from the Dec. 3 meeting at the Thorsby Annex.