This week, the Times-Gazette will take a look back at 2006 by counting down the top ten news stories of the year as voted by a panel of T-G staffers. Today, we look at the 10th and ninth most newsworthy stories:

Several student workers wait their turn to use free Internet service at Argie Cooper Public Library. The group came from Romania, Turkey, Ghana, Poland and the Ukraine and stayed at motels, trailer parks and private homes around Shelbyville. (T-G file photo by Sherri Frame) [Click to enlarge]

10) European students spend months in Shelbyville as temporary workers; some run into financial trouble (18 points)

Wisconsin-based Lifestyle Staffing brought a number of European students to work in Shelbyville as part of a cultural exchange program over the summer. They were instantly recognizable by their red T-shirts and backpacks. Many were warmly received by their Shelbyville hosts, and learned much about U.S. culture.

Natalia Smyhore from the Ukraine told the Times-Gazette in September that she was amazed by yard sales, a custom never seen in her country, and savored the chance to buy up clothes at a bargain price without having to rely on new clothes or family hand-me-downs.

But there were misunderstandings as well, including travel arrangements and the cost of living in the U.S. Vasilie Zmau of Romania discovered that, while he was making much more working through Lifestyle at Sanford Corp. than he would have back home, he was also spending more, and needed to find additional work to make ends meet.

9) BCMC gets permission to build new hospital (32 points)

When Bedford County sold Bedford County Medical Center to Brentwood-based Community Health Systems in 2005, one of the conditions was that CHS would build a new facility for the hospital within five years. A new facility is considered essential for marketing the hospital to the public and for recruitment of new physicians.

In February 2006, local officials confirmed that a new site for the hospital had been chosen -- a lot in the Airport Industrial Park, at the corner of U.S. 231 and the access road serving Wal-Mart Distribution Center. Officials said the site was available, accessible and fit well with the growth in the northern half of the county, although some observers complained about having the hospital so far outside the center of town.

State regulators granted the hospital a license, called a "certificate of need," in late June, clearing the way for the new facility. CHS closed on purchase of the site in October. A formal groundbreaking ceremony is planned for spring 2007, although some minor earth-moving may begin sooner, hospital CEO William Macri said last month. The new $35 million facility, which is licensed for 60 beds, is expected to open in late summer 2008.

Top story suggestions were solicited from the T-G news staff. A ballot containing 29 story possibilities was circulated to 12 different T-G staffers, each of whom selected his or her top 10 choices. Ten points were awarded for a first place vote, nine for a second place vote and so on.

Original reporting by Clint Confehr and Sherri Frame contributed to this story.

WEDNESDAY: Remembering many who kept us free, and one who brought us together.