This week’s Times-Advocate is the annual issue in which we take a look back at the major headlines of the past year while also keeping an eye on current events.

As is always the case, there was no shortage of news in 2011. In many ways, 2011 was the year of the election, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper finally winning his long-coveted majority government and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty winning re-election, but losing his majority. We also said goodbye to longtime local Liberal MPPs Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce), Maria Van Bommel (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex) and John Wilkinson (Perth-Wellington), all of whom were defeated in the provincial election by Progressive Conservative candidates.

And while the municipal elections were held in the fall of 2010, it really wasn’t until 2011 when the new councils got their feet wet and got into the meat of local issues.

The much discussed and controversial proposed Grand Bend sewage treatment plant project was one of the top issues of the year for the municipalities of South Huron, Lambton Shores and Bluewater. The fate of the project remains undetermined as of the Times-Advocate’s early deadline this week, but it had nearly everything you would want in a local issue ? millions of dollars at stake, public opposition and disagreements among the three involved municipalities. We’re still waiting to see what will happen.

Wind turbines were another hot local topic and will continue to be so with major wind farms planned for the area. There is frustration from some opposed to the turbines about the province’s Green Energy Act and how it effectively wrestled authority away from municipal councils. There are also concerns about any potential health effects the turbines could have on humans, animals and real estate values.

The projects surge forward, however, with the provincial government determined to dot our landscape with the massive turbines.

School closures are another top local concern with trustees at the Avon Maitland District School Board deciding to close Usborne Central and Zurich Public schools and move the area’s Grade 7/8 students into South Huron District High School starting this September.

There is public sadness about the closure of two schools that have been such a big part of their respective communities for decades, mixed with trepidation and concern from some parents about Grade 7/8 students moving into the high school. Transition meetings continue as schools, staff, students and parents prepare for the changes to come.

The devastating Goderich tornado, which claimed the life of one man and ravaged the town’s historic square, was the local story that received the most attention and made news across the country, and in the United States. The area continues to rally around “Canada’s prettiest town,” and rebuilding efforts are well under way.

On the plus side, the inaugural Bach Music Festival of South Huron was a big success in July, drawing in performers from around the world and serving as a tourist draw to the area.  

These headlines and more can be found in the pages of this week’s T-A. We would like to take this moment to wish our readers and advertisers a happy new year and all the best in 2012.