Violent crimes top Sault news in 2005

For the first time since SooToday.com began asking our readers to select a News Story of the Year four years ago, crimes of violence topped the news in 2005.

Voting yesterday and today from a shortlist of 20 news items selected for significance and clicks, almost 50 percent of you voted for two stories: the brutal handgun slaying of Kent State University student Sarah Positano (shown) on January 22, and the November 26 kidnapping of James Loney.

Interestingly, neither of these events happened in Sault Ste. Marie.

But both crimes were perpetrated on Saultites.

James Trimble is now on death row for killing Positano and two others in Ohio's Brimfield Township.

The fate of Jim Loney and three fellow members of Christian Peacemaker teams, still missing in Iraq, remains unknown.

How you voted in three previous years

In previous years, SooToday.com readers have given scant notice to violent crime in choosing the year's most newsworthy events.

In 2002, you chose the Rowswell/ Fratesi e-mail fiasco as the year's top story, followed by Algoma Steel's return to profitability.

The following year, you voted overwhelming for the August 14 power blackout, occurring on one of the hottest days of the year.

In 2004, the Algoma Steel turnaround and the death of Dr. Hui Lee in Toronto were judged most newsworthy.

The only other crime-related stories that attained top-ten status in 2002, 2003 and 2004 were the self-inflicted fatal shooting of Brian Grasley after an armed robbery on March 18, 2004 in Richard's Landing (ranked #5 that year), and the August 18, 2002 funeral of William Hulko, reputed head of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club chapter in Kingston, Ontario (voted #7).

In 2005, two additional crime stories achieved top-ten status: the old criminal charges brought against Sutherland Group employee Lee C. MacGyver in Florida (#9) and the release of convicted murderer and rapist William Mullins-Johnson on bail after an independent review by a pathologist concluded the crimes for which he was convicted never occurred (#10).

The following are SooToday.com's top news stories, as selected by our readers over the past four years.

Top news stories of 2005

Sarah Positano shot dead in Ohio 165 Vote(s) - 25.70%

Jim Loney kidnapped, accused of spying 151 Vote(s) - 23.52%

The boy who hated oatmeal 53 Vote(s) - 8.26%

Dr. Deluco loses his licence 47 Vote(s) - 7.32%

Arena deal is official 36 Vote(s) - 5.61%

Sault mourns Carmen Provenzano 29 Vote(s) - 4.52%

Premier announces hospital funding 22 Vote(s) - 3.43%

Miracle on St. George's Hill? - Did the big cross move? 18 Vote(s) - 2.80%

The double life of Sutherland Group's Lee C. MacGyver 18 Vote(s) - 2.80%

William Mullins-Johnson released on bail 14 Vote(s) - 2.18%

Gateway project gets City Council approval 14 Vote(s) - 2.18%

Searchmont rises from the ashes 12 Vote(s) - 1.87%

OMB throws out Pure Platinum application 11 Vote(s) - 1.71%

Michael Moore spotted at Galaxy Cinema 10 Vote(s) - 1.56%

Ted Nolan's return to hockey 10 Vote(s) - 1.56%

Journalism giant John Campbell dies 9 Vote(s) - 1.40%

Ground broken for truck route 9 Vote(s) - 1.40%

Ontario Saultite wins $3.9 million at Vegas Kewadin 5 Vote(s) - 0.78%

Big-name actors converge on Wawa 5 Vote(s) - 0.78%

Laird Township walloped by terrifying wind storm 4 Vote(s) - 0.62%

Top news stories of 2004

Algoma Steel turnaround 168 Vote(s) - 33.53%

Dr. Hui Lee dies in Toronto 113 Vote(s) - 22.55%

Jennifer does us proud at Olympic Games 45 Vote(s) - 8.98%

I-500's day of calamity began with first turn on first lap 32 Vote(s) - 6.39%

Man shot dead in Desbarats after Richard's Landing heist 22 Vote(s) - 4.39%

Injured Sault firefighter tailed by private eye 19 Vote(s) - 3.79%

A sad story about the Trunk Road accident 19 Vote(s) - 3.79%

Goulais River landslide 15 Vote(s) - 2.99%

Study finds racism in Sault retail and hospitality sectors 15 Vote(s) - 2.99%

What the new arena might look like 13 Vote(s) - 2.59%

Brascan makes the news 7 Vote(s) - 1.40%

Body identified as Batchewana's Gary Corbiere 7 Vote(s) - 1.40%

Troy Scotney charged with murder 6 Vote(s) - 1.20%

Sum 41 plays the Bondar tent 6 Vote(s) - 1.20%

Home Depot opening is a howling success 4 Vote(s) - 0.80%

Fire destroys home in Goulais River 3 Vote(s) - 0.60%

Internet service cut by Highway 17 crash 3 Vote(s) - 0.60%

Fiery crash on Highway 17 2 Vote(s) - 0.40%

The day that Michael and Catherine came to town 2 Vote(s) - 0.40%

Top news stories of 2003

August blackout 351 Vote(s) - 66.23%

Mekatina chopper crash 57 Vote(s) - 10.75%

Wal-Mart comes to town 33 Vote(s) - 6.23%

Orazietti elected MPP 18 Vote(s) - 3.40%

Lock City statue 17 Vote(s) - 3.21%

Eco-Challenge 14 Vote(s) - 2.64%

Rowswell wins 2nd term 11 Vote(s) - 2.08%

Goulais River landslide 8 Vote(s) - 1.51%

Metis court victory 8 Vote(s) - 1.51%

Stinger pen-gun 7 Vote(s) - 1.32%

Jobs for everyone 4 Vote(s) - 0.75%

Elliot Lake millionaire 2 Vote(s) - 0.38%

Top news stories of 2002

Rowswell/Fratesi E-mails 89 Vote(s) - 36.18%

Algoma Steel turns a profit 55 Vote(s) - 22.36%

Gateway moves ahead 32 Vote(s) - 13.01%

Searchmont gets new owner 19 Vote(s) - 7.72%

Romanow praises Group Health Centre 11 Vote(s) - 4.47%

Confirmation of hospital funding 11 Vote(s) - 4.47%

Hulko funeral/Outlaws busted 8 Vote(s) - 3.25%

Flesh-eating disease 6 Vote(s) - 2.44%

Skateboard park promised 5 Vote(s) - 2.03%

Domtar sawmill to close 5 Vote(s) - 2.03%

Ron Comeault plane crash 3 Vote(s) - 1.22%

Two councillors appointed 1 Vote(s) - 0.41%

Holiday shopping approved 1 Vote(s) - 0.41%

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