Beech Tree News Network

Certainly, 2015 has been an event-filled year. Some events will make history, and some may have changed how we think about our world. As the year’s end nears, some memorable 2015 events are listed below.

In our area of Kentucky, 2015 started with cold temperatures and some significant snowfalls. Overall, the temperatures this year were above normal. We are currently in a strong El Nino pattern which has provided us with an extremely warm December.

 - In February, marijuana use and the possession of up to two ounces of the drug became legal in Washington D.C. (http://www.grafwv.com/page/content.detail/id/506718/2015-in-Review--Poli...).

 - In June, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of same sex marriage, making it legal in all 50 states.

 - In July, NASA's New Horizon spacecraft completed its first-ever flyby of Pluto, giving researchers an up-close look at the planet.

 - Also in July, Cuba and the United States officially re-established diplomatic relations after 54 years.

 - In September, Pope Francis visited the United States. 

 - In December, SpaceX landed a Falcon 9 rocket, the first reusable rocket to successfully enter orbital space and return.

 - During 2015, demonstrators in several cities have protested police shootings of black men. The Black Lives Matter movement has focused on stopping alleged police brutality.

 - Regrettably, terrorism at home and abroad continued. Examples include the November attacks in Paris, France, and its northern suburb, Saint-Denis, as well as the December San Bernardino, California, attack.

 - As of December 2, 353 mass shootings have killed 462 people in 220 U.S. cities, and 1,317 people were wounded.  In the San Bernardino, California, mass shooting, a husband and wife couple killed 14 and wounded 22 (http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/US-crime-shooting-weapons/2015/12/12/id...).

 - In Morgantown, Highway 231 between Forbes’ Nursery and Garcia’s was improved by the addition of a new turning lane and sidewalks.

 - And, on a lighter note, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” became the biggest opening in movie history, bringing in an estimated $248 million in North America” (http://money.cnn.com/2015/12/20/media/star-wars-the-force-awakens-openin...).

According to Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV), “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” And, though the world is unpredictable, I am grateful for the Lord’s blessings through 2015 – a year soon to be history.