2024: The Year in Review, Part 2

London: So, 2024 had its fair share of ups and downs, right? It all kicked off in July when a motorcycle accident sadly took the life of Sherry Schenk. Just a few weeks later, Captain Ricky George from the London Fire Department was honored with the Medal of Valor for his bravery during a fire. He really went above and beyond to save his fellow firefighters.

Then, in a twist of local drama, Mayor Randall Weddle’s defamation lawsuit against Sherri Rudder-Smith got tossed out by the judge. Meanwhile, President Biden made headlines by dropping out of the 2024 race and backing Kamala Harris. Talk about a shake-up!

August brought some community spirit with a ceremony honoring the Sheppard family and local basketball champs. But it wasn’t all good news. A jury found Casey Preston Byrd guilty of murdering Sergeant Logan K. Medlock in a DUI crash. That was a tough pill to swallow for the community.

September was intense, too. The hunt for Joseph A. Couch, a suspect in a shooting, went on for days. It ended with the discovery of his body, which was a relief but also heartbreaking.

October had its moments, like the World Chicken Festival, which went on despite Hurricane Helene trying to rain on the parade. And then there was a tragic accident that took the life of a 3-year-old, which left everyone in shock.

As the year wrapped up in November, London voters showed their support for medical cannabis, and Donald Trump was elected president. The local basketball camp honoring Reed Sheppard was a bright spot, bringing kids together for some fun.

Finally, December saw the first Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award go to Jared Baker, and the community came out for the Christmas parade despite the cold. It was a year full of highs and lows, and it’s clear that London has a lot to reflect on as we move into 2025.