Top Stories of 2011 in Rohnert Park

Insurance giant State Farm announced in late 2010 that the 300,000 square-foot hub located in Rohnert Park's city center would be shut down. Residents, area and elected officials reacted. A rash of employees said the closure sparked one of the — some relocated their families to Bakersfield, some were not offered jobs, some decided to stay. Meanwhile, State Farm is . Mayor Jake Mackenzie — and adds that there is companies showing interest. Stay tuned for more in 2012.

The longstanding market situated in the north end of town, just off of Golf Course Drive, closed its doors at the end of February. Residents grew concerned as the shelves grew empty. . Workers were shocked — most of whom were notified the morning of the closure . Though Oliver's rejected an invite to open up there, in the shopping center, which is currently peppered with .

When Kaitlyn Dunaway, who is now 19 and has been , hit and killed and her mother Ling as they left Sunrise Park last December, this town of 40,000 became a centerpiece for a larger conversation. State legislatures, city officials, the National Transportation Safety Board and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood have all awakened to what some are calling a growing epidemic on America's streets: distracted driving.

The city has become a sort of ground zero for the economic crisis that's hit the United States since 2008. here, and meanwhile it's been more than 10 years since any homes were built in Rohnert Park. Yet despite the , economists, elected officials and others familiar with the city's economy see a city that's changing and growing.

Thanks to Mickey Zeldes, the Animal Shelter supervisor, who has been writing for Patch since we launched Dec. 7, 2010. She has kept readers aware of what's going on at the shelter, pointed us to discounted pet services and offered brilliant insight into a world we might not otherwise get to see. One of the most popular columns on the site this year was one Zeldes did about .

This case is ongoing. Most recently, the officials said they are investigating whether or not the killing of 19-year-old Kevin Craft was self defense. Craft was shot and found dead in the early morning hours of April 22 in the parking lot of Best Western Inn on Redwood Drive in Rohnert Park. Shortly after the shooting, Rohnert Park police , but Berry Adams, 32, for the shooting death of "Ziggy," faces charges for pimping and carrying a firearm, but not for the murder of the 20-year-old. of what Craft's friends have to say about him.

that there's currently a gaming contract being negotiated between the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria and the state. Following that story, the community spoke out. Our poll got 971 votes, nearly 50 comments and got people talking. We're working on an upcoming series on the economic impact of the casino should it move forward. In the interim, . .

. It has 390 Facebook recommends, and it's make people tell us what they think. after the first of the year. .

The served as the first City Hall, fire station, it's been home to NOAH and the Boy's and Girls Club. , the city tore the building down in May, from citizens and a Rohnert Park historian.