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Top stories 2018

Online top stories, plus favorite stories from Times reporters

Times file photo Firefighters work on a blaze at Guernsey Scrap and Recycling in May.

The most read local news stories at mariettatimes.com this year:

1. “Fitness center shaping up in former store” was published on April 7 and had 19,447 views. It focused on plans to open the MOVement Fitness Center in the former Tractor Supply space in the Frontier Shopping Center.

2. “Special delivery in Caldwell; Mom delivers own twins” published on Nov. 19. It featured a Q&A with Dacia Pittman, who delivered her own babies en route to Marietta Memorial Hospital. The interview was viewed 15,005 times.

3. Published on Jan. 9, “A Guy in Trouble,” told the story of Trey Moats, who died of an overdose after friends did not get him medical help. His mother rented a billboard with Moats’ photo and the message “HIS LIFE MATTERED, No Excuse for not Calling 911 or taking someone to a hospital 3/10 of a mile could have saved Trey’s life.” The story was viewed 12,845 times.

4. “Social media comments spark lawsuit” was published Sept. 1 and had 10,454 views. The story told of a Morgan County judge and school superintendent who sued multiple members of the community for online comments made in the wake of an acquittal for their daughter in a vehicular homicide case. Two teens were killed in the 2016 crash. The story was viewed 10,454 times.

5. Following its publication on June 6, “Speed record in a tractor” was a piece on Marietta resident Dave Archer and his daughter, Kathy Schalitz, who spent a year modifying a 1961 Allis Chalmers D-19 ahead of the tractor setting a new land speed record for tractors at 108.5 mph. There were 9,375 views of the story.

6. Published on Oct. 12, “Belpre woman charged with stealing more than half a million dollars from church” focused on the case of Betty Lou Wheaton, charged with grand theft from Bethel Lighthouse Baptist Church in Warren Township. She had been the treasurer of the church for more than 40 years. The story was viewed 7,673 times.

7. “Marietta woman sentenced to prison for fatal crash” was published on Oct. 20. The story reviewed the plea and sentencing of Kaitlyn Barton, sentenced to three years in prison for a drunk driving crash that killed her passenger. The story was viewed 7,299 times.

8. On March 27, a review of Washington County grand jury indictments, “Two vehicular homicide indictments filed” drew 6,819 views. The story led with indictments for the driver of a UTV in Waterford and a driver that caused a crash on Interstate 77 that killed a couple. There were 6,819 views of the story.

9. “Valley Under Water,” published Feb. 19, provided details of an Ohio River crest above flood stage and the impacts around town. The story was viewed 6,772 times.

10. “Plans ahead for former Ormet site,” published Jan. 3. The story focused on development for a new natural gas-fueled power plant on the Monroe County property. It was viewed 6,512 times.

11. On Jan. 31, “Memorial CEO: 15 positions ultimately eliminated, other employees reassigned” was published and drew 5,869 views. The story featured an explanation from the Memorial Health System CEO, Scott Cantley regarding a staffing realignment that affected 100 jobs within the health system, the county’s largest employer.

12. “Podcast focuses on death of Marietta woman,” published on Aug. 15, told the story of a Parkersburg native who started a podcast exploring the death of Jaleyah Davis, killed on Interstate 77 in 2011. The death was ruled an accident, but family members have remained suspicious. The story had 5,737 views.

13. “Famous patient left lasting impact on doctor,” published on Feb. 9, had 5,038 views. It featured Joseph Mayo, MD, a cardiologist who established a Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Marietta Memorial Hospital in 1987. Shortly before that, he placed two stents in the heart of Mother Teresa.

14. “Tattoo tells his story,” published on March 17, was a story about veteran Kyle Hockenberry participating in a documentary called “World’s Most Dangerous Paper Route,” about the Stars and Stripes military newspaper. Hockenberry was featured in the newspaper after being wounded in 2011. The photo of him then prominently featured his tattoo, which read “For those I love, I will sacrifice.” The story drew 4,908 views.

15. Published on March 20, “Former Morgan County resident to shoot film in old hometown,” was about a Wright State film student poised to return to his hometown and use local residents to shoot a film. It had 4,895 views.

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