New Year’s Day 2020 is being greeted by most people with the hope that the new leaf turned over is better than the one that is now history. Perhaps the extreme divisiveness rampant in our society will lessen and there will be a greater emphasis on the things that unite Americans and somewhat less on those that split them into warring political factions.  

• Jan. 1, 1990—Between today and the end of the decade – and the 20th century – Morgan County and the six adjacent counties will account for more than one-fifth of the total Alabama population growth.  This is the consensus opinion of demographers at the state’s leading universities. 
• Jan. 1, 2005—In the year just ended, more capital was invested and more jobs were created in Morgan County than in any of the other 66 counties of the state. 

• Jan. 1, 2005—At the beginning of this New Year, Hartselle’s biggest employers are (approximate number of workers in parentheses): Copeland Corporation (750), Hartselle City Schools (390), Walmart (300), Cerro Wire (270), Baker Industries (250) and Hartselle Medical Center (190).  All but the schools are operating with three shifts. 
• Jan. 1, 2010—Folks, including some from Hartselle who are into this type of entertainment, were still partying in the wee hours of this morning at Full House Karaoke in Cullman. 
• January 1, 2011—Those in attendance say they were richly blessed by the 11th annual watch night service at New Center Baptist Church.  Featured singers were the Fellowship Quartet. 
• Jan. 1, 2011—Many local kids not into football bowl games were enjoying Funland Skate Castle in Decatur today. 
• Jan. 1, 2012—Even though violence continued at fierce levels in hot spots like Egypt, Libya, and Syria, most Americans were thankful that one arch-terrorist had been taken out—Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan May 2, 2011, and his body was buried at sea the same day. 

• Jan. 1, 2013—Some devout Catholics here as elsewhere observed the Mass of the Gelasian Sacramentary on this New Year’s Day.  This Mass has historically been observed one week following Christmas.  It is one of the six feasts of obligation. 
• Jan. 1, 2014—Last night’s New Year’s Eve celebrations found many Hartselle folks hosting or guesting at parties, trying out new goody recipes and making New Year’s resolutions – among them not to eat so much. 
• Dec. 23, 2015—The Hartselle City Council declined to give a local church permission to shoot off fireworks on New Year’s Eve. 
• Dec. 31, 2016—Life Church, at both its Hartselle and Cullman locations, had a New Year’s Eve Ball Drop.  Church spokesmen said Life Church was “the most exciting place to be in Alabama on New Year’s.” 
• Dec. 31, 2016—For those wanting to go out of town to celebrate New Year’s Eve, Goat Island, located on John H. Cooper Drive in Cullman, had a big party with live music from the group Round 2.  Prime rib for dinner was provided by Freddie Day Catering. 

• Dec. 31, 2016—Another Cullman New Year’s Eve party was hosted by the local Elks chapter.  They called it Putting on the Glitz. The Birmingham band Outshine played for dancing beginning at 8 p.m. 
• Dec. 31, 2017—The Hartselle First Assembly of God church for several days has been telling website surfers that, “The best way to start your New Year’s Eve is in worship.”  Many people agreed. 
• Dec. 31, 2018—The Hartselle City Schools Drama Booster Club held its first New Year’s Eve Gala tonight, using the theme New Year’s Eve in NYC!  The family-friendly event featured dinner, a show, music and a non-alcoholic toast at midnight. The event was put on at The Venue in downtown Hartselle and was catered by The Warehouse.