MONROE COUNTY — The Monroe News’ readers like to read about food.
Of The Monroe News’ top most-viewed news and lifestyle stories of 2024, a number involved food, specifically ice cream, Christmas cookies and pizza.
The Monroe News’ most viewed news/lifestyle story of 2024 was July 19’s VOTE NOW: Where is Monroe County’s top spot for ice cream?
Readers declared Cups and Cones the winner. It received 36.7% of the vote. See all the ice cream poll results here.
Abram Wardell, 7, smiled as he was about to dig into his cup of vanilla ice cream with sprinkles at Cups and Cones Ice Cream Parlor off South Dixie in Monroe Township. In July, Monroe News readers voted Cups and Cones the best place to get ice cream.
Another popular story with Monroe News readers in 2024 was Aug. 16’s Who has the best pizza in Monroe County?. Decision 2024: Monroe County’s top spot for pizza pie is …, declared Royals Mollette in Monroe the pizza winner.
In 2024, thousands of Monroe News readers also read stories on crime, new businesses, local residents and November’s local election, including candidates’ responses to Monroe News questions and election results.
Marshella Chidester and her lawyer, Bill Colovos, sat before Judge Daniel White in Monroe County Circuit Court in December. Chidester’s trial was set for March 3-7.
Among the big news stories of 2024 was the April 20 crash at Newport’s Swan Creek Boat Club. Marshella Chidester, 66, drove her car into the club during a 3-year-old’s birthday party, killing siblings Zayn and Alanah Phillips. In July, Chidester pled not guilty to two counts of second degree murder, two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury. On Dec. 6, she was in court for a pre-trial hearing. Judge Daniel White of Monroe County Circuit Court set a trial date for March 3-7.
Here are some of 2024’s other bigger headlines in news and lifestyle stories:
January
Road rage in Raisinville Township
Bedford High School teacher Scott Earl dies
Boy rescued after falling through ice
The pond next to the Cabela’s store in Dundee is pictured Jan. 23, 2024, after a 12-year-old boy who had fallen through the ice was rescued.
Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools to stop using St. John campus
February
FEDCO investing millions in property
St. Patrick Catholic School is 175
Monroe Water Treatment Plant turns 100
March
Fire in downtown Monroe
Fuel leak in Ottawa Lake
Three local fire departments battled the fire at 49 S. Monroe St. in downtown Monroe for more than five hours in March.
April
Local residents view the total solar eclipse
Crash at Swan Creek Boat Club
May
Waterloo Elementary to close for a year
June
Former St. Mary Academy to be redeveloped
Fire at Michigan College of Beauty
A four-alarm fire broke out at the Michigan College of Beauty in July.
Sentencings in Boysville murder
Boy Scout leader Art Bomia dies
Previous Coverage: Monroe’s most-viewed news stories in 2023
July
Former MSNBC news anchor Brian Williams visits Luna Pier
August
Dundee celebrates bicentennial
Luna Pier bridge opens after nine months
The Luna Pier Road bridge reopened in August after months of construction.
September
Monroe County Library System turns 90
Programs added to Monroe County Community College’s Whitman Center
October
Groundbreaking at Monroe County Community College
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, center, was joined by legislators, employers, community members and MCCC trustees, staff, alumni and nursing students in October for the ceremonial groundbreaking for the construction of the new Welch Center for Health and Public Safety.
Mark Brant resigns after federal conviction
Mom and baby killed in crash on South Custer Road
Berlin Township buys ProMedica building
Berlin Township purchased the ProMedica Lab at 7825 N. Dixie Highway in October.
Funeral home director Darrell Bennett dies
Northern Lights seen in Monroe County
MDOT grant money money awarded for River Raisin Bridge
Hostage situation at Monroe County Intermediate School District
November
Renovations planned in 2025 for St. Mary’s Park
Monroe Public Schools considering elementary grade redistribution plan
December
Municipal Building and Community Center open in Frenchtown Township
The Frenchtown Township Municipal Building was completed in December after a year of construction.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visits Monroe to talk about funding for the River Raisin Bridge
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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke in Monroe in December about the River Raisin Bridge project.
Extensive renovations begin at Arthur Lesow Community Center and Navarre Branch Library
Darol Straub, retired Monroe High School physics teacher, dies
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County’s top headlines of 2024
Read the full article here
