Editor’s note: We are taking a look back at 2017 and at some of the stories that captured the attention of our readers throughout the year. Let us know on Facebook and Twitter what stories in the Times-Enterprise got your attention this year.

1. Drug agent shoots, kills suspect

An agent with the Thomas County drug squad shot and killed a suspect on August 15 on Magnolia Street, leading to protests and demonstrations. Agents went to serve a warrant on Herbert “Pop” Gilbert. Agent Josh Smith shot and killed Gilbert during the incident. Smith was put on administrative leave during the investigation into the shooting. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to conduct the probe.

The shooting, which occurred during the afternoon, sparked several demonstrations and protests in the days and weeks following. The results of the GBI investigation will be turned over to the Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.

2. Protests, marchesfollow shooting deathof suspect

In the wake of the shooting death of suspect Herbert “Pop” Gilbert, some residents began marching and protesting, calling for justice, a look into the use of force guidelines and even the resignation of Sheriff Carlton Powell. Demonstrators gathered in front of the Thomas County Historic Courthouse and at the Jail-Justice Center. Protestors marched through downtown Thomasville and also marched from Magnolia Street, where the shooting occurred, to downtown.

Though protests and demonstrations were largely peaceful in nature, two men were arrested for making threats on social media against the law enforcement officer involved. Another man was arrested for throwing a cinder block into a police patrol car window in the hours following the shooting.

3. Thomasville wins region, finishes regular season undefeated

On their way to a region championship, the Thomasville High School Bulldogs football team completed its first perfect regular season since 1988. It was also the team’s first region title since 2007.

Along the way, crowds began to overflow Veterans Memorial Stadium, which got a new turf field just in time for the season. The Bulldogs, in coach Zach Grage’s second season, set numerous team and individual records and outscored their opponents by nearly 27 points per game, though they had to stage a dramatic rally from 20 points down to edge Brooks County 23-20 in the penultimate game of the regular season. The Bulldogs also trailed Fitzgerald by 11 points before storming back for a 38-28 win to win the region crown and reach 10-0.

Thomasville finished the season 12-1, falling 28-14 to eventual Class AA state runner-up Heard County.

4. Changes at the top

Longtime Thomasville City Manager Steve Sykes opted to resign in mid-December, not long after city engineer/assistant city manager Jerry Pionessa also announced he was leaving his post for another job.

Sykes, who had been with the city for 30 years, had been city manager and utilities superintendent for the last 13 years. He had told council of his desire to retire in a couple of years but submitted a letter of resignation in December. Earlier in 2017, a vote of no confidence in him failed to gain enough votes among council members.

In his decision to leave the city, Pionessa pointed to the city election results. Incumbents Max Beverly and Don Sims were ousted by David Hufstetler and Todd Mobley, respectively.

In Grady County, Carlos Tobar ended his tenure of four and a half years as county administrator to take the job as county manager for Baldwin County in Milledgeville.

5. New leadership on tap for school systems

Thomasville City Schools Superintendent Sabrina Boykins-Everett retired, and school board members tapped Dr. Laine Reichert as her replacement. Reichert was superintendent of Bacon County schools but had spent most of her career in Thomas County. She had been an administrator and assistant principal in the Thomas County Schools system and also had been a teacher and coach at Brookwood School.

Dr. Dusty Kornegay, superintendent of Thomas County Schools, announced in July he would retire at the end of the 2017-18 school year. A Thomas County native, Kornegay has led the county school system for six years. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams will succeed him after his retirement, which is effective June 1, 2018. Williams has been with the county school system for the last 10 years.

6. Not quite a total eclipse, but an event nonetheless

Those eclipse glasses came in handy for thousands of folks in Thomas County who stayed home and went outside to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse.

While Thomas County wasn’t in the path of the full effects of the eclipse as the moon passed in front of the sun, those who donned the glasses and went outdoors saw the eclipse’s progress. While a stretch of northern Georgia was plunged into darkness for a few minutes in the middle of the afternoon. southern Georgia got a dusky, hazy hue to the sky. But it also was the first eclipse to be visible in many years.

7. Shelter from the storms

Tropical Storm Irma left more than 7,000 customers without power at its peak and some people went days without power. But the damage to southwest Georgia was not as severe as in other parts of the state. The former Southwestern State Hospital was opened for patients from Georgia’s coast and their families, and Thomasville was again home to Florida residents getting out of the storm’s path.

A line of thunderstorms that swept through Grady and Thomas counties, and other parts of south Georgia, brought a great deal of damage to the area. Two separate storms damaged more than 50 homes and caused power outages in the area and prompted a response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

8. Makeover for Cherokee Lake

The City of Thomasville has been draining Cherokee Lake so that it can make repairs to the facility, especially to the dam and the walking trail. Trees that have been removed will be used in the middle of the lake for a fish habitat. The path on the park’s west side will be widened to connect to the community trail that will cross from Smith Avenue at Susie Way.

Draining of the lake began in mid-July and work on the park, a popular spot for walkers and joggers, is expected to start January 2.

9. Changes coming to city council

Voters in Thomasville’s municipal elections chose two new members to the city council. Business owner David Hufstetler unseated Max Beverly for the District 2 post, and former high school principal Todd Mobley defeated incumbent Don Sims in a runoff for the at-large post. Mobley had been the leading vote-getter in a three-way race but did not capture a majority of the votes in the November general election, necessitating the runoff.

Hufstetler and Mobley will be sworn in to their seats in January.

10. New direction for Central football

The Thomas County Board of Education voted unanimously in November to end Bill Shaver’s run as head coach of Thomas County Central High School’s football team. Shaver spent 10 years as head coach and 14 years as an assistant with the program prior to being named head coach.

His final team went 3-8, losing to Wayne County in the first round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs. Shaver amassed a record of 74-40 as Yellow Jackets head coach, leading the program to two region championships.

A search for his successor has been ongoing.