For this week and next week’s paper, staff members took a few hours to look back through 2011’s front pages and choose the stories that affected Shelby County and its citizens the most.

We do this every year, and every year it amazes us to see just how much has happened in our county and the different ways in which the county has grown and changed.

We saw proof of our county’s growth — literally — as the U.S. Census confirmed a major Shelby County population boom over the past 10 years.

Our county now has almost 200,000 citizens, and we’re sure to break that plateau soon. As it currently stands, Shelby County is the fifth-largest county in the state.

To serve that continued astronomical growth, Shelby County Schools is planning to open several new schools, beginning with a Calera middle school, Chelsea elementary school and Helena high school.

Also, Alabaster chose to make a change by forming its own school district to serve the city’s growth.

All of these events and changes will only serve to better educate our children and attract even more people to our county.

As Shelby County continues to grow and lead the state through its people, the staff of the Reporter will be here, covering everything as it happens.

We look forward to 2012 and to all the breaking news and front pages we’ll bring you next year.

The We Say is the opinion of the Shelby County Reporter editorial board.