CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - 2009: The Year In Review
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by Meghan McDermott - bio | email
TYLER (KYTX) - On this final day of 2009, we take a look back at ten of the most interesting stories that impacted your life. CBS 19's Meghan McDermott brings us the year in review.
2009 got off to a rough start for one Tyler family. On January 24, 11 year old Julissa Rodriguez went missing. Police discovered that Rodriguez left home with 23 year old Enrique Vasquez. She was found a week later, staying with relatives in Mexico.
On January 25, tragedy struck the Kilgore Fire Department. Kyle Perkins of Kilgore and Cory Galloway of Grand Saline died during a training exercise at Kilgore College.
A block of Spring Avenue in downtown Tyler still shows scars from February 2. That day, flames ripped through a section of office buildings.
2009 was a big year in politics. In Smith County, the "Taxed Enough Already" or TEA party movement gained strength with its goal of teaching people their meaning of freedom and limited government.
After a tied-vote in May, a second election in November gave the city of Winona the right to sell alcohol for off-premise consumption. Winona is the only city in Smith County that can sell alcohol.
On September 23, John Tyler High School teacher Todd Henry was stabbed to death by a student. Byron Truvia is still in the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center, charged with Henry's death.
On August 20, 32 year old Donnie Ray Westbrook broke out of police custody after being convicted of stabbing a man to death. Henderson County law enforcement captured Westbrook the following afternoon. He was later sentenced to life in prison.
The concern of the H1N1 flu virus continues to this day. For much of the year, details of the virus and availability of a vaccine captivated the attention of East Texans.
In October, news came of the death of legendary Judge William Wayne Justice. He was 89 years old.
And, just two days before Christmas, nine tornadoes touched down in East Texas.
As we bid adieu to 2009, we look forward with great anticipation to 2010.
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