In a vote among newsroom staff at the News Tribune, the triple homicide in Holts Summit was clearly the top locally covered story of 2010.
The horrific killings not only left the community in shock, but it also initially left them in fear. Authorities mounted a large manhunt and warned anyone with negative interactions with the suspect, Joshua Maylee, to contact them. Some residents were temporarily relocated from their homes for their own safety.
Coming in at second place was a Jefferson City vote that, in another year, will ban smoking in restaurants and bars. It was a contentious issue, with opponents arguing that business owners should have the right to allow or ban smoking and let customers patronize the businesses they choose. Supporters stressed the health risks of secondhand smoke, saying customers and employees shouldn't have to put themselves at risk.
Our other top picks for local news weren't as clear, with more debate on the importance or lack of importance on various stories. Should the Bustamante and city trash/recycling stories be on the Top 10, since they were carryover stories from last year that weren't as significant? Should the story about the 16-year-old who jumped off the Missouri River Bridge rise to a higher level, especially since he was in the custody of juvenile authorities when he escaped and jumped? Also, the Dec. 17 homicide at the Jefferson Street McDonald's wasn't considered because it occurred too close to the deadline for this story.
This is our admittedly subjective list, but it's not the last word on the subject. We'd like to hear what you think the top local stories were from 2010. What should have been on the list? What should have been left off? E-mail us at gtritz@newstribune, and we'll share some of your responses on this page in next Sunday's paper.