Philomath Public Works Director Beau Vencill still is hospitalized near the Portland area and receiving treatment for a May car crash and fire.

The popular public official, who has worked for the city for 26 years, remains confined to his bed with paralysis and loss of vision, said Randy Kugler, city manager.

"He has made progress," Kugler said. "He's been able to be off the ventilator for longer periods of time. That's the goal, to get him to breathe on his own."

Once that happens, Vencill could be brought home, or to a facility closer to Philomath.

Despite Vencill's health problems, he often is very alert.

"He's able to communicate with his family," Kugler said. Medical staff must get him off the ventilator and insert a voice box device, "but his family can carry on conversations with him," Kugler added.

Vencill planned to retire in July, but he never turned in his resignation.

Shortly before midnight May 19, he and his wife, Sally Vencill, were severely injured when their pickup struck a power pole off Highway 99W south of Corvallis. The vehicle caught fire.

Both of them suffered burns. Sally Vencill returned home this summer.

Though Vencill was unable to work, he had accrued months of vacation and sick time, and that allowed him to retain his position through the end of the year, even as he was hospitalized.

Joan Swanson, city finance director, said Vencill is expected to retire at the end of January.

Kugler said a new public works director may be picked out by March of April.

Top headlines of 2008

There was plenty of controversy and tragedy in Philomath and rural Benton County this year. Here are some other important headlines from 2008.

The strange case of the stolen election sign - The night of Oct. 26, a McCain-Palin election sign was stolen from a Philomath yard. The property owner had a video camera set up to catch any culprit, and the suspect identified by police is the daughter of a Philomath School Board member. The case still is making its way through the juvenile justice system.

Bicyclist killed in crash with log truck - Ed Bomber was on a training bicycle ride south of Philomath on Oct. 2 when he apparently slid under the wheels of a log truck. The Corvallis resident's death sparked a community-wide conversation on bike safety and traffic in the countryside.

Woman loses arms in farm accident - Bellfountain resident Shelley Durrant was digging fence posts with a tractor-mounted auger on Oct. 3 when her clothing got caught in the machinery. She ended up losing both arms in the accident, but she's trying to maintain a positive attitude. Durrant, who returned home in mid-December, said she's looking forward to getting a prosthetic arm so she can hug her family.

Gobble, gobble, gobble - Turkeys made a nuisance of themselves in Philomath in late summer and early fall, tearing up landscaping and damaging roofs at the west end of town. Residents complained to the city, which responded by passing an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife. And Philomath also got a permit and killed 10 of the wild birds.

Alpine school sold to beekeeping couple - The old Alpine Elementary School closed because of budget cuts in 2003, and the building had become a drain on the Monroe School District's finances. In September, the district sold the building to a local couple who own a honey production company and pollination service. The Alpine Community Center will be able to continue to run its preschool, lending library and toddler gym at the facility, however.