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From the tragic death of one of Hayden's own in the war in Iraq to triumphs at state wrestling and track meets, the community experienced an array of emotions in 2003. What follows is a look back at 2003 and some of the events that will long be remembered in Hayden:

Hayden soldier killed in Iraq

Staff Sgt. Mark Lawton, a reservist with the 244th Engineer Battalion, was traveling with a small convoy of soldiers Aug. 29 near As Suaydat, Iraq, about 40 miles northeast of Baghdad. His convoy was ambushed, and Lawton died almost immediately when a bullet passed through the windshield of his vehicle, according to the Army.

Mourners filled the Routt County Fairgrounds Pavilion on Sept. 5 for Lawton's funeral.

Lawton was the sole fatality in the ambush; 14 soldiers survived.

Lawton left for Iraq on May 18. He was a Persian Gulf War veteran and volunteered to be deployed to Iraq. Lawton was 41 years old. He left behind a wife, Sherri, and two children, Dustin, 4, and Tanner, 1. He died two weeks before his fifth wedding anniversary.

During the funeral service, Lawton was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat and the Bronze Star "for his sacrifice in the liberation of Iraq." He was buried in the Hayden Cemetery.

Arguments over intersection

The value of land at the intersection of Breeze Basin Boulevard, Poplar Avenue and Third Street was a serious point of contention between the Hayden School District and the Hayden Town Board.

The Town Board argued the intersection needed to be realigned for the safety of children walking to and from school and traffic moving through the unconventional intersection. The School Board argued that it was not being offered a fair amount of money for the land.

Eventually, the School Board conceded to the town's final offer of $54,000 and about $30,000 in improvements that were completed on the land.

The Town Board agreed to incur the extra costs when it signed an intergovernmental agreement with the School Board on July 8, bringing the total project cost to almost $400,000.

"Any time when you're spending extra taxpayer money, there are issues," Trustee Joe Schminkey said. "But this is something that needed to be done, and that's the bottom line. You have to ask which is more important, $2,000 or $3,000 or public safety."

For the project, the town received an Energy Impact grant worth almost $240,000, with the stipulation that the realignment be completed by Nov. 30, which it was.

School implements drug tests

About 80 percent of Hayden High School students left campus on a daily basis for lunch last year, Principal Nick Schafer said. If those students want to keep that option, they now have to get their parents' permission -- and submit to random drug testing.

The Hayden Board of Education decided Aug. 20 to approve a policy requiring students who want to leave campus during lunch to sign a waiver authorizing the school to give them random drug tests at any time during the school year. Students who do not want to sign the waiver have to submit to a closed-campus policy.

The policy was developed by the high school's parent-teacher group -- the School Improvement Team -- as a result of findings that drug use, particularly marijuana, is widespread among school students.

Planning goes high-tech

On the verge of major growth, including a new sports complex, trail systems, and more than 2,000 acres of planned development in and around the town over the next 20 years, the town sought and received grants for about $138,000 from the Gates Family Foundation for planning purposes.

With this money, as stipulated in the grant agreement, the town has begun using new high-tech software called CommunityViz to conceptualize a master plan encapsulating a 3-mile radius around the town, including a planned 900-acre subdivision on the south side of town called Sunburst Ranch. Professional planners Winston and Associates and Tim Katers of Katers and Associates are aiding the town in the use of the software and other planning efforts.

Also, the town is using the grant money to produce a documentary to capture Hayden's past, present, and what its residents want in the future.

The nonprofit Orton Family Foundation is overseeing the 30-minute documentary under the guidance of professional video producer Darrin Fryer of Planet Productions in Steamboat Springs.

Town manager leaves

For five-and-a-half years, Rob Straebel served as Hayden's town manager. In October, Straebel accepted a position as village administrator for the Village of Taos Ski Valley, N.M. In his time in Hayden, he was instrumental in writing successful grant requests, helping facilitate a multi-million dollar water treatment plant improvement project and serving as Hayden's ambassador to the county, state and other local governments.

The Haven acquired by YVMC

Yampa Valley Medical Center reached an agreement with West Routt Rural Health Council Inc. to acquire The Haven, Routt County's only assisted living facility.

The hospital and West Routt Rural Health made the announcement Dec. 19. The deal was expected to be completed early next year.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

West Routt Rural Health, owner and operator of The Haven, and the medical center signed a letter of intent that will transfer ownership of the assisted living center to the medical center.

The Haven opened in July 1996. There are 13 residents; maximum occupancy at the facility is 20. Staff includes five full-time and 10 part-time employees.

"We believe this is a step forward and will secure the future of The Haven," said Mark Fischer, president of West Routt Rural Health. "We see this as a win-win situation for Yampa Valley Medical Center, The Haven, its residents and staff, and the entire community of Hayden and West Routt."

Medicinal marijuana

In mid-October, officers with GRAMNET, the Grand, Routt and Moffat County Narcotics Enforcement Team, obtained a warrant to search the home of 57-year-old Hayden resident Don Nord. Nord battles kidney cancer, diabetes, lung disease and is registered with the state's Medical Marijuana Registry as a legal user.

During the raid, GRAMNET officers found 2 ounces of marijuana and growing equipment. Under federal laws, Nord can't have the marijuana.

At a hearing in December, Routt County Judge James Garrecht ordered that the drugs and equipment be returned by Dec. 29. The decision may set a precedent, Garrecht said at the time.

Nord was given his bulbs, ballast, rolling papers and scale, but GRAMNET kept three marijuana plants, loose marijuana and smoking pipes, and officials said they likely will be destroyed.

Bruchez, Doolin place in state

As a senior, all Kelly Bruchez wanted from the season was the chance to compete for a state title.

Three consecutive victories at the state wrestling tournament in February provided the 152-pounder his opportunity to exit a champion and possibly hand Andy Nicodin his first loss of the season.

But as Bruchez admitted, he just wasn't the better wrestler in the finals. Nicodin, a senior from Hilltop Baptist, defeated Bruchez, 9-1.

"I was mentally and physically ready," Bruchez said. "He just beat me fundamentally. He's a good wrestler."

Nicodin wrestled to near perfection, allowing Bruchez little chance of escaping and an even smaller chance of taking him back down.

Placing fifth in the 130-pound division at the 2003 state high school wrestling tournament felt pretty good for Hayden sophomore Jake Doolin.

Schoeberl, Stark shine at track

Samantha Schoeberl finished seventh, meeting her goal of beating at least one of the finalists and almost matching her preliminary time of 13.25 seconds with 13.29 seconds in the state track finals in Pueblo.

"This was my last race forever," the senior said. "I'm glad I could finish this way."