As what has been called a historic and memorable year comes to a close, we take a look back at the headlines that made news in our community.

Familiar face returns to Mercy Fairfield

Mercy Hospital Fairfield President and CEO Tom Urban returns to his post in March. He takes over — again — after the former president and CEO left to take a position down south.

Urban, who had led for six years Mercy Health Partners, said his goal is "to continue to support the good works and the good people that are already here."

Also, when asked how Mercy Fairfield will compete with healthcare organizations in neighboring West Chester and Liberty townships, he said, "The question is, really, how are they going to compete with us?"

Toys "R" Us cuts 68 jobs

Nearly 70 people lost their jobs when the Toys "R" Us distribution center in Fairfield closed in March.

A Jan. 4 letter from Toys "R" Us Regional Human Resources Director Joyce Davis to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services served notice of the layoffs and the facility's closing.

The closing of the 375 Distribution Center, was transitioned between March 7 and March 21, and layoffs of 68 people began during that 14-day period.

Fairfield Finance Director Mary Hopton said the impact on the city's income tax would be less than $50,000 annually.

FHS production of 'Phantom of the Opera' wows community

More than 6,000 tickets were sold for the April production of "Phantom of the Opera" at Fairfield High School. R&H Theatricals, a division of The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, selected Fairfield High School in June 2007 as one of six high school pilot productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "The Phantom of the Opera."

Students performed from the same script and score enacted on Broadway, in London's West End and on the American national tour, according to theater officials.

ABC network gives Akers home 'Extreme Makeover'

A bus carrying Ty Pennington of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" arrived with its entourage July 9 to build a new home for the Akers, a family in West Chester Twp. Daughters Brooke and Faith have spinal muscular atrophy and their brother, Christian, has Crohn's disease. Thousands joined Dixon Builders of Fairfield at the Manor Drive construction site as volunteers and spectators from around the country as the ABC show built a wheel-chair accessible home for the family. A screening with the Akers was conducted in October at Princeton Pike Church of God.

Fairfield Twp.'s assistant chief leaves for Iraq

Fairfield Twp. Police Assistant Police Chief Alan Laney left in July to help train local Iraqi police officers.

The 55-year-old left in June for a three-week training before heading to Iraq in July. As police adviser, Laney said he would work six 12-hour shifts a week. He applied for the job earlier this year at Dyncorp International, a U.S.-based private military contractor. His list of credentials include 32 years of law enforcement experience, helping organize the Butler County Regional SWAT and working as a certified state instructor for the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and a defensive driving instructor certified in various specialized areas.

After Hurricane Katrina, Laney also organized a crew of law enforcement personnel and headed to Mississippi to lend a hand.

Shooters in July homicides still wanted

The FPD will seemingly end the year without resolution to two homicide investigations.

On July 13, two Honduras natives were shot to death near a Fairfield night club. Marlon Aristides Enamoravo-Gomez, 21, and Evelvin O. Morales, 20, both originally from Honduras and believed to be Cincinnati residents, died after being shot near Casa Tequila in the 6700 block of Dixie Highway early Sunday, July 13, according to Butler County Coroner Dr. Richard Burkhardt.

Both men were shot in the head and the coroner ruled the deaths homicides. Morales died at the scene. Enamoravo-Gomez, who also went by "Juan Carlos," was taken to Mercy Hospital Fairfield, where he died.

Two weeks later, Cincinnati attorney Margaret Allen, of Fairfield, was killed. The 37-year-old's body was found in the woods at Cincinnati's Schmidt Field. Cincinnati police turned the investigation over to Fairfield because it is believed she was killed in the city — they just won't say where.

Allen was last seen July 24, three days before her body was found in a decomposed state. In September, Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said, "We believe we have a good handle on the scenario, but we're not really publicly discussing that at this time."

In the five months after both homicides, Fairfield police have yet to release any new information on either investigation.

Couple on Hero's Ride killed during windstorms

Stephanie and Tom Bobinger were killed during the Sept. 14 windstorms that brought hurricane-force winds to the region.

The Cincinnati couple was taking part in the annual Hero's Ride when a 100-foot American beech tree fell on them, killing them. The two were on the last motorcycle exiting Hueston Woods in Oxford, the turn around for the ride that honored three military men who died in the Iraq war.

Wind gusts were reported of upwards of 75 miles per hour.

The couple, the daughter and son-in-law of Fairfield Fire Chief Don Bennett and Marilyn Bennett, were both 29 and were buried Sept. 19. They are survived by many friends and family and their 6-month-old daughter, Abigail.

Schools lose funding in ballot failure

For the first time in 30 years, voters turned down a Permanent Improvement levy for Fairfield City Schools by more than 1,000 votes. The board decided to freeze spending from the current Permanent Improvement fund with $1.3 million remaining, to prioritize expenditures paid from that fund, and not to place a request on the February ballot.

"Based on this outcome, I think the message is clear," Morris said. "The community said don't invest in these things right now."

The five-year Permanent Improvement Levy would have brought in an estimated $14.4 million for various long-term capital assets such as text books, vehicle and building maintenance and technological investments.

Fairfield earns 'Excellent' from state

While Fairfield officials initially thought the district would receive a "Continuous Improvement" rating from the state, the addition of adequate yearly progress results showed the district's students improved by at least a grade level or more each year. It bumped the score back up to "Excellent."

Students also achieved 27 of the 30 standards. School officials said they will continue to strive to ensure all children achieve to their greatest potential.

Former Wonder Park worker sentenced for compelling prostitution

A Deerfield Twp. man and former employee of a Cincinnati Mills children's amusement center was sentenced to seven years in prison Dec. 8 for soliciting to film juveniles in sexual situations.

Armando Rivera, 34, of Nantucket Drive, was arrested in January on one count of compelling prostitution for soliciting juveniles who worked with him at Wonder Park at Cincinnati Mills for videos and pictures of themselves in sexual situations. Rivera was a shift supervisor at the indoor entertainment park, which is now closed.

He was indicted by a Butler County grand jury on seven counts of compelling prostitution, a third-degree felony in May.

Rivera entered a guilty plea to all counts on Sept. 26, according to court records.

Fairfield police began investigating Rivera in January when a juvenile told a Fairfield teacher about his experience with Rivera. A school resource officer was notified.

Nuxhall denied entry into baseball broadcasting Hall of Fame

In the first year following Joe Nuxhall's death, there were a number of tributes to the late Reds Hall of Fame pitcher.

Among the tributes, the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati Reds and Hamilton County honored the Hamilton native and long-time Fairfield resident.

Nuxhall also was denied twice for the Ford C. Frick Award, which honors excellence in baseball broadcasting. The 2008 winner was announced in February. The 2009 winner was announced in December. Nuxhall was the top online vote-getter in each of the last two attempts.