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2008 NEWS REVIEW: January to June
JANUARY
Wakefield toddler Oscar Knowles – who almost died seven times on the operating table during treatment for a rare heart condition – began 2008 in happy and healthy style. "We have a feeling that 2008 is going to be the best year of our lives," said dad, Mick.
The YEP's campaign to save Leeds half-marathon gathered pace. Readers contacted the paper in droves after Leeds City Council scrapped the 22-year-old race. The council quickly reversed its decision.
More than 150 people attended the funeral of Archie-Lee Hirst, the 13-month-old mauled to death by his grandparents' Rottweiler dog at their Wakefield home.
A nation weeped as Coronation Street battleaxe Vera Duckworth – played by Leeds's Liz Dawn – died. Liz quickly began to drum up support for the YEP's Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal through her own charity, the Liz Dawn Cancer Appeal.
Geordie football fans were whipped into a frenzy by Messiah Kevin Keegan's third coming to St James's Park... but it would all end in tears.
Disgraced Tory MP Derek Conway announced he would stand down at the next General Election after it was revealed he had misused public funds by paying thousands in a salary and bonuses to his full time student son.
Acclaimed actor Heath Ledger dies of a medication overdose.
An asteroid measured at 250-metres across passes within 334,000 miles of Earth... a relatively small distance in outer space terms.
FEBRUARY
Nine-year-old schoolgirl Shannon Matthews is first reported missing in Dewsbury. Hundreds of police officers and local residents launch a huge search and publicity campaign to bring her home.
Leeds Dolly Parton fan Diane Duffin was evicted from her home in Armley after playing her heroine's songs around the clock. She marked her last day in the property with an impromptu chorus of Dolly's classic Nine to Five.
Leeds Rhinos lift the World Club Challenge title, beating Melbourne Storm 11-4 at Elland Road.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy marries singer and former supermodel Carla Bruni at the lyse Palace.
England is hit by its biggest earthquake in nearly 25 years, measuring 5.2 on Richter scale. Structural damage was reported in several parts of the country including Leeds.
Ipswich serial killer Steve Wright is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of five women.
MARCH
Shannon Matthews is found by police officers at a flat in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr. The flat's tenant, Michael Donovan, an uncle of Shannon's then stepfather, is arrested and quickly charged with her abduction.
Jason Rae, husband of Leeds's multi-award winning musician Corrine Bailey Rae, is found dead at a flat in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Nurse Colin Norris, who had worked at both Leeds General Infirmary and St James's Hospital, is convicted of murdering four patients.
A lifelong Leeds United fan celebrated winning the pools by making his first trip to Elland Road. Isle of Man resident Stephen Connolly, 44, scooped 15,625 from just a 1 stake.
Oscar-winning British director Anthony Minghella and science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke both die.
Denman romps home in horse racing's blue-riband event, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The huge chaser destroyed cup holder and hot favourite Kauto Star on his way to victory.
An exploding star halfway across the visible universe becomes the farthest known object ever visible to the naked eye.
l Presidential elections are held in Zimbabwe amid rampant inflation, famine and oppression of opposition supporters.
APRIL
Shannon Matthew's mother, Karen, is arrested in connection with her daughter's disappearance. She is later charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.
Matthews's partner, Craig Meehan, is arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.
Wakefield Pagans Kevin and Julie Holroyd tie the knot in spectacular gothic style... arriving for their big day in a hearse complete with coffin.
Big-hearted Leeds rockers The Pigeon Detectives interrupt their busy schedule to play a Leeds Cockpit charity gig for long-term fan Brad Hodgson, who suffered serious injuries in a road accident.
The jury in the 10m inquest into the death of Princess Diana returns an unlawful killing verdict. The jurors lay the blame for the crash with chauffeur Henri Paul and paparrazzi chasing the princess.
Channel Island Sark dismantles its feudal system, with the British Crown Dependency's first ever elections scheduled for December.
MAY
Kaiser Chiefs play a triumphant sell out gig to 30,000 fans at Leeds United's Elland Road stadium.
Leeds United lose the League One play-off final, Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers running out 1-0 winners at Wembley.
Infamous prisoner Charles Bronson, held at Wakefield Prison, lost his bid to be freed and learned he is likely to spend at least another decade behind bars.
Leeds's bin men and women went on strike over a dispute about changes to their pay system.
More than 133,000 Burmese people are killed by Cyclone Nargis, the deadliest natural disaster since the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.
JUNE
Ten thousand people run through Leeds's streets in the first Run for All event, set up in memory of heroine Jane Tomlinson.
Hundreds mourn in Leeds as popular anti-violence campaigner Pat Regan is found stabbed to death at her home. Her grandson is later charged with her murder.
West Yorkshire born killer and armed robber Donald Neilson – aka The Black Panther – is told he will die behind bars.
Residents were up in arms after council workers started cutting the grass at 3am.
Blues guitarist Bo Diddley dies.
Yorkshire Tory MP David Davis stuns politics by resigning his seat – and triggering a by-election – to lead a debate over the future of British freedoms.
President Robert Mugabe is reelected with 85.5 per cent of the vote in the second round of the controversial Zimbabwean presidential election. Some opposition supporters claim they were intimidated into voting for Mugabe.
Spain's footballers win Euro 2008, beating Germany 1-0.
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- Castleford RSPB Fairburn Ings: High wire act Swallows’ summer parade
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Friday 25 May 2012
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