This year’s most-read stories, according to regular readers of our websites
A year to remember
| 1 | Suicidal gunman dies in officer-involved shooting in Lehigh | June 21 | 
| 2 | Haunted by old abuse allegation, Marion police sergeant quits | Aug. 2 | 
| 3 | Groomsmen die in wreck south of Peabody a day before wedding | July 5 | 
| 4 | Drug arrests of 3 student assistants jolt Tabor College athletic department | Dec. 6 | 
| 5 | Ramona fire chief accused of arson | July 26 | 
| 6 | Teacher-student embrace causes controversy in Goessel | Nov. 15 | 
| 7 | Suspected Lehigh shooter leaves Marion police | Aug. 30 | 
| 8 | EMT called to own house, where wife lay dying in yard | June 21 | 
| 9 | Co-op worker found dead near elevator | Oct. 4 | 
| 10 | K-150 accident victim leaves behind a legacy of helping | Sept. 20 | 
| 11 | County picks 2 to hire after illegal meetings | July 19 | 
| 12 | Adoptive grandparent accused of 12 sex crimes | Feb. 15 | 
| 13 | Snafus repeatedly misdirect emergency crews | June 28 | 
| 14 | Hometown goes after county commission chairman | Jun 28 | 
| 15 | Abuse case takes 3 years; allegations include killing dog in front of child | Jul 12 | 
| 16 | Tempers flare as lake chief resigns | Jun 7 | 
| 17 | Man found dead at Cottonwood Point | Oct 18 | 
| 18 | Tabor football player suspected of robbery, battery in alley altercation | Nov 8 | 
| 19 | Pot bust snares four Tabor athletes, one other | May 10 | 
| 20 | Novak, Debesis clash over EMS | Aug 23 | 
| 21 | Marion man charged with indecent liberties with a child | Sep 6 | 
| 22 | 70-mile high-speed chase ends just in time, with deputy running out of gas | Jul 26 | 
| 23 | Miller gets 12 months on sex charges involving two teenage girls | May 3 | 
| 24 | Artist’s home burns in Aulne | Oct 18 | 
| 25 | Head-on collision kills Lincolnville man, Junction City woman | Feb 1 | 
| 26 | Commissioners called corrupt by former employee | Nov 1 | 
| 27 | Lalouette urged to quit commission | Jan. 4 | 
| 28 | Lake ‘extremely ignored,’ new super says | July 26 | 
| 29 | Masked intruders shatter Ramona couple’s morning | Jan. 4 | 
| 30 | Attorney will decide officer’s fate in Lehigh fatal shooting | Nov. 8 | 
| 31 | MacGregors temporarily closed for fire suppression system violations | Jun .7 | 
| 32 | Arson charged in Aulne house fire | Dec. 6 | 
| 33 | Officer-involved shooting investigation to take weeks | June 28 | 
| 34 | Vandals deface rainbow flag parking space at high school | Sept. 27 | 
| 35 | Marion High senior’s rainbow flag generates ire, support | Oct. 4 | 
| 36 | Cushenbery blasts commissioners over personnel practices | Aug. 9 | 
| 37 | Fire chief’s plea for radio help goes unanswered by county | Sept. 13 | 
| 38 | Rollover claims life of Peabody-Burns nutrition services director | March 1 | 
| 39 | Family ties and rural life bring St. Luke doctor back home | April 12 | 
| 40 | MacGregor’s restaurant in limbo; takeover rebuffed | July 5 | 
| 41 | Vacant 57 years, country school still inspires | May 31 | 
| 42 | Peabody stabbing remains a mystery as victim refuses to cooperate | Nov 22 | 
| 43 | Drivers extricated after triple-vehicle Hillsboro wreck on US-56 | Apr 26 | 
| 44 | Hillsboro man charged with indecent liberties with a child offense | Apr 12 | 
| 45 | Lake talk stirs up tempers at commission meeting | Dec 13 | 
| 46 | Men in ski masks enter Goessel home, duct-tape woman | Mar 15 | 
| 47 | Consultants nail commissioners for communication problems | Nov 29 | 
| 48 | Editorial: We’re being taken for a ride by EMS bureaucrats | Aug 23 | 
| 49 | Frantic late-night rollover search a hoax, suspect arrested | Mar 22 | 
| 50 | Violent Peabody intruder lacerated by broken glass, arrested | Mar 22 | 
| 51 | Officials quiet on LGBT flag at Marion High School | Oct 11 | 
| 52 | Fishing line, diapers, and beer cans all collected at reservoir clean-up | Apr 26 | 
| 53 | Lake resident takes issue with Dallke | Mar 29 | 
| 54 | Tempers flare between Dallke and Novak over lake and ethics | Mar 22 | 
| 55 | Outpouring of support keeps MacGregor’s restaurant alive | Jun 14 | 
| 56 | Another day, another Dollar General to be built in Peabody | Apr 5 | 
| 57 | Mysterious whiteboard makes mark on commission meeting | Sep 27 | 
| 58 | Suspect with multiple charges meanders into court system | Mar 22 | 
| 59 | Euthanized dog leads to cyber-bullying attack | Nov 29 | 
| 60 | Cindy’s Family Cafe in Marion closes permanently | Feb 1 | 
| 61 | USD 408 signs new superintendent | Feb 1 | 
| 62 | Bounty hunters too late to nab escapee in Hillsboro woman’s attic | Jul 5 | 
| 63 | County legal bills swelling | Jul 5 | 
| 64 | Hillsboro man charged for pornographic images | Aug 16 | 
| 65 | Editorial: An unhappy reader | Aug 2 | 
| 66 | Hard labor: Jail inmate released for childbirth | Oct 11 | 
| 67 | Kessler Kreations closure creates countywide impact | Feb 8 | 
| 68 | Violent Peabody repeat offender returns to jail | Apr 19 | 
| 69 | Cities want answers from county economic development corporation | Nov 29 | 
| 70 | Editorial: Live from Marion County, it’s fake news | Jul 26 | 
| 71 | County attorney runs toward a marathon | Aug 16 | 
| 72 | Taco’s totally tasty tacos sold from food truck | May 10 | 
| 73 | Most Marion sirens fail during tornado warning | Jun 28 | 
| 74 | Lake discussion at commission meeting gets contentious | May 10 | 
| 75 | Not yet cleared, officer in Lehigh shooting seems back on duty | Jul 19 | 
| 76 | Emergency management director ruffles feathers at meeting | Aug 9 | 
| 77 | Deputy tasers defiant Florence squatter | Jun 14 | 
| 78 | Fulfilling a 40-year promise to a now-deaceased mom, man graduates | May 24 | 
| 79 | New cancer peril emerges from lakes’ algae warnings | Jul 26 | 
| 80 | Chasing a cloud of orange and black by planting for butterflies at quarry | Jun 28 | 
| 81 | Property taxes go up despite plea from city economic directors | Aug 23 | 
| 82 | Fed up with it, bus driver Mulvenon trashes litterbug mentality | Feb 22 | 
| 83 | Slow-speed chase a real fish tale | May 31 | 
| 84 | Inmate sues over jail treatment | Oct 11 | 
| 85 | Wichita drug suspect tries to flee during jail induction | May 24 | 
| 86 | Storm doubles couple’s bad luck as falling tree demolishes car | Jun 21 | 
| 87 | Third time no charm for alleged serial truck thief thanks to trapper’s GPS | Jan 25 | 
| 88 | Cash stolen from county prosecutor’s office | Apr 26 | 
| 89 | UPDATED: Commissioners trim tax increase for ambulance | Aug 2 | 
| 90 | Concrete truck tumbles while rounding Main St. curve in Marion | Oct 4 | 
| 91 | Passersby warn occupants as fire destroys house on Indigo Rd. | Jan 11 | 
| 92 | Homer in game of life; Tribulations, chance lead to softball dream | Jul 5 | 
| 93 | Wait no more; MacGregor’s is here | May 24 | 
| 94 | Commissioners spar over EMS, budget | Aug 16 | 
| 95 | Editorial on spending stuns commissioners | Jul 12 | 
| 96 | Attorney general’s office looking into open meetings complaint | Dec 6 | 
| 97 | Dispatch errors during cardiac call prompt EMS changes | Nov 22 | 
| 98 | Cheers and jeers for new Marion High prom dress code | Apr 5 | 
| 99 | County counselor Robson targets political social media | Sep 13 | 
Last modified Dec. 29, 2017