The first decade of the 21st Century ends this year. Because of that, the Eagle is publishing a look back at major events that occurred in the past 10 years. Each year will run in one day's edition. This is the fifth in this series and focuses on 2004.———The year rang in with Butler's first Ring in the Arts New Year's Eve party downtown.More than 3,000 people attended the inaugural event thanks to warm weather.———The weather became a major story that year.Hurricane Charley dumped heavy rain on Aug. 19. Then Hurricane Frances swept over the county Sept. 8, leaving 3 inches of rain.The real trouble came on Sept. 17 when Hurricane Ivan slammed the region with 7 inches of rain.In Harmony, flooding caused $7 million in damage. In Evans City, 11 homes and businesses were damaged. The Western Butler County Sewer Authority in Jackson Township had about $350,000 in damage.———Two visitors stopped in the county.When Gov. Ed Rendell visited in April, he delivered money for the Community Development Corporation of Butler County to pay for renovation of Pullman Park in Butler.Vice President Dick Cheney made a campaign stop in Clinton Township to help rally support for President George W. Bush.The two were up for re-election, which they won.———Butler Memorial Hospital continued with its plans to build a new hospital on the grounds of the VA Butler Healthcare in Butler Township.———The Butler County Airport planned to extend its runway by 800 feet after a battle with Penn Township for permits.———The Cranberry Connector was finished, linking Interstate 79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The final ramp opened June 22.The $44 million project was the largest the state Department of Transportation had done in the county.———In the educational community, Butler County Community College had to trim $200,000 from its budget and raised tuition to cover shortfalls from the state.Slippery Rock University chose Robert Smith as its new president. He had been interim president.And, in the South Butler School District, teachers approved a new contract after a bitter labor dispute.———The Butler County commissioners picked the new site for Butler County Prison.A downtown location just a block away from the then prison was chosen over county land at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.The $40 million plus prison was finally opened this past summer.