Top stories of 2011: How you voted

Here are the top stories in various categories based on voting over the past few weeks at gazette.com. We've also included summaries of top stories on our ballot below this list.

TOP STORIES BASED ON READERS' VOTES

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

New strong mayor: Voters chose Steve Bach to be the city's first strong mayor after runoff against Richard Skorman.

LOCAL MILITARY

Iraq war ends: The last Fort Carson troops came home this fall, ending eight years of local involvement in Iraq. The post lost 257 soldiers in Iraq.

LOCAL EDUCATION

Budget cuts: Because of reduced state funds, schools made cuts for a third straight year, including teachers and programs, and raised fees for activities and buses. In November, Colorado voters refused to shore up spending.

LOCAL CRIME (3-way tie)

Douglas Bruce in court: Bruce went to trial in Denver in December on tax evasion charges relating to a nonprofit founded by Bruce. He was found guilty.

Homicide record: Colorado Springs topped its record number of homicides in 2011, with the 29th homicide on Dec. 2, and rose to 32 by the end of the year. Three homicide victims died in one night, July 27.

Tow-truck dragging death: Detra Dione Farries, of Colorado Springs, faces 11 charges in the Feb. 23 death of tow-truck driver Allen Lew Rose. When Rose attached Farries' car to a cable, Farries allegedly drove off, dragging Rose to his death.

LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES

Listeriosis outbreak: 30 people died nationwide in a listeriosis outbreak traced to cantaloupes grown near the Colorado-Kansas border, leading to the recall of Rocky Ford melons. The melons weren't grown in the Rocky Ford region.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Job market: The Colorado Springs unemployment rate soared to a record 10.2 percent in January, but brightened a bit over the year, with the rate down to 9.3 percent in September.

LOCAL SPORTS

USA Pro Cycling Challenge: The prologue for the inaugural race was held in Colorado Springs in August. The seven-day event event drew 130 riders from 17 teams and covered 508 miles. Statewide attendance was estimated at 1 million; the economic impact, at $83.5 million.

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT

Local restaurant week: Two dozen restaurants launch the first Pikes Peak region Restaurant Week in early March. The eateries saw a big boost in business as they discounted multicourse meals for two.

LOCAL OUTDOORS

Manitou Incline: Supporters of legally opening the region's most popular trail took great strides in 2011, with local governments agreeing to work together on managing the trail. An Incline friends group formed, and the trail is expected to legally open in 2012.

NATIONAL SPORTS

Tebow mania: Whether it is the craze of Tebowing or the debate about his ability to pass, it's hard to deny the results. The Broncos started the season 1-5 and now have have a chance at the playoffs.

NATIONAL NEWS

NASA: Agency retires the U.S. space shuttle fleet after three decades of flying.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Japan: Nation hit by devastating earthquake and tsunami; nuclear plant crippled.

SUMMARIES OF TOP STORIES IN 2011

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

New strong mayor: City voters chose Steve Bach to be the city’s first strong mayor after a runoff with Richard Skorman. By year’s end, Bach had put together a new City Hall team.

Oil and gas exploration: Ultra Resources bought the bulk of the Banning Lewis Ranch and won approval to drill three exploratory wells using fracking. Suspended by the county, production could begin in January. The city enacted a six-month ban on exploration in November.

The future of Memorial Health System: The City Council in January axed plans to turn the city hospital into an independent nonprofit and has accepted bids from five suitors to lease it. Voters must approve any change to Memorial’s governance.

Hooters investigation: The CBI launched an investigation of the Metro Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Division after an undercover sting and a video at a Hooters raised concerns about VNI’s undercover checks. The case against Hooters was dismissed.

SDS water pipeline: Utilities started major construction on the 62-mile pipeline to pump water from Pueblo Reservoir to Colorado Springs. The project will cost ratepayers $2.3 billion in its first phase.

New shooting range: El Paso County and Army officials agreed to build a supervised, public outdoor shooting range on Fort Carson property, expected to open in May or June.

New Citizens Service Center: El Paso County moved six offices, including the health department and motor vehicle department, to the new Citizens Service Center on West Garden of the Gods Road.

MILITARY

Defense spending: The Air Force announced in November it would cut 106 jobs in Colorado Springs. And under Congress’ deficit-reduction plan, the military faces a $600 billion cut over the next decade.

Fort Carson growth: The Army announced in March that it would spend $750 million to house a 2,800-soldier and 120-helicopter brigade, with the construction cash starting early in 2012.

Iraq war ends: The last Fort Carson troops came home in late fall, ending eight years of local involvement in Iraq. The post lost 257 soldiers in Iraq.

EDUCATION

Budget cuts: Because of reduced state funds, schools made cuts for a third straight year, including teachers and programs, and raised fees for activities and buses. In November, Colorado voters refused to shore up spending.

Ellicott School District 22: Two years of turmoil culminated in fall 2011 with a recall of two board members, the ousting of a third and a child-sex scandal involving former board member Stefanie Dickinson.

Falcon School District 49: The district was reorganized top to bottom, and divided into zones. It riled parents by first eliminating the transportation department and then bringing it back with fees for bus rides. Several administrators who were cut left with large contract buyouts.

COURTS

Gudino sentencing: Daniel Gudino was sentenced in April to five years in a juvenile prison after an El Paso County jury found that Gudino, then 14, tried to kill his mother, but deadlocked on whether he was conscious of killing his brother.

Lynch sentencing: Monique Lynch got 27 years in June for the death of 7-year-old Genesis Sims, found in the crawl space of a vacant duplex. The child’s father, Hanif Sims, is charged with first-degree murder and faces a Jan. 30 trial.

Jury award: An El Paso County jury awarded nearly $300,000 in August to the daughter of burglar Robert Johnson Fox, who was shot dead in 2009 while breaking into an auto lot. The three auto lot workers were not charged.

Douglas Bruce in court: Douglas Bruce was tried and convicted in December on tax evasion charges relating to a nonprofit founded by Bruce.

Police chief resignation: Colorado Springs Police Chief Richard Myers resigned in November after serving the police department for 4 1/2 years.

Tow-truck dragging death: Detra Dione Farries, of Colorado Springs, faces 11 charges in the Feb. 23 death of tow-truck driver Allen Lew Rose. When Rose attached Farries’ car to a cable, Farries allegedly drove off, dragging Rose to his death.

Homicide record: Colorado Springs topped its record number of homicides in 2011, with the 29th homicide on Dec. 2, and rising to 32 by year's end. Three homicide victims died in one night, July 27.

SOCIAL SERVICES

New partnership: UCCS and Peak Vista Community Health Centers announce they will build a 56,000-square-foot center consolidating the school’s aging and gerontological programs and opening in 2014.

Economic impact: A record number of county residents got food stamps, Medicaid and other assistance. A decade-high 13.5 percent of residents lived in poverty; and 19.1 percent of children. The El Pomar Foundation made its fourth emergency grant of $1 million since 2008 to help Coloradans.

Listeriosis outbreak: Thirty people died in a listeriosis outbreak traced to cantaloupes grown near the Colorado-Kansas border, leading to the recall of “Rocky Ford” melons. The melons weren’t grown in the Rocky Ford region. 

Nonprofit changes: Silver Key Senior Services, Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado, and The Arc of the Pikes Peak Region, got new chief executives. AgeWell Medical Associations broke ground on a new office to expand care services to people on Medicare; and Peak View Behaviorial Health got a new building that will quadruple its inpatient slots and reach children, adolescents and adults  as outpatients and inpatients.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Economic development: The Colorado Springs Regional Economic Development Corp. and the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce agreed to pursue unification. Mike Kazmierski resigned as CEO of the EDC in May.

Wal-Mart expansion: Wal-Mart announced in July that it will build a 210,000-square-foot corporate data center in northern Colorado Springs and its 10th supercenter in the area along with two smaller grocery stores.

Apartment boom: Nor’wood Development Group, with partner Western National Group of Irvine, Calif., announced plans to build three upscale apartment complexes in the Springs.  Several other complexes also are planned in the area.

Mall news: Owners of The Citadel handed the center over to a lender, and Chapel Hills was bought by a partnership of Coyote Management LP of suburban Dallas and New York-based Garrison Investment Group.

Corporations: Bal Seal Engineering announced plans to build a plant in northern Colorado Springs that would begin operation in 2013 and employ 250 within five years. High-tech manufacturer Xio is moving its Minnesota headquarters to the Springs, and Agilent Technologies is moving forward on an expansion at its northwest campus.

Job market: The Colorado Springs unemployment rate soared to a record 10.2 percent in January, but brightened a bit over the year, with the rate down to 9.3 percent in September.

Housing market: By the end of the year, single-family building permits in Colorado Springs ran ahead of the same period in 2010. Existing home sales gained traction. Average and median home prices saw year-over-year declines much of the year.

Broadmoor Hotel gets new owner: The Anschutz Corp. of Denver announced in September that it was buying the famed Broadmoor resort and its parent company, The Oklahoma Publishing Co., for an undisclosed amount.

LOCAL SPORTS

Hill Climb: Japan’s Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima set an overall record with a time of 9 minutes, 51.278 seconds, shattering the vaunted 10-minute mark, to win his sixth Unlimited division title at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

U.S. Women’s Open: The Broadmoor’s East Course hosted the tournament to huge crowds and the delight of organizers and merchants. South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu rallied to force a playoff, and beat Hee Kyung Seo on July 11.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge: The prologue of the inaugural race was held in Colorado Springs in August. The seven-day event drew 130 riders from 17 teams and covered 508 miles. Statewide attendance was estimated at 1 million; the economic impact, at $83.5 million.

Air Force stays put: Air Force turned back an offer to join the Big East Conference and decided to stay in the Mountain West, where it has been since 1999.  

Air Force football: Despite high expectations, the Falcons struggle to a 7-5 record including big losses to TCU and Notre Dame and home losses to San Diego State and Wyoming. The Falcons played in the Military Bowl on Dec. 28 and lost to Toledo.

Colorado College: The Tigers beat Wisconsin and Alaska-Anchorage to advance to the NCAA Tournament, where they knocked off powerhouse Boston College then fell to Michigan in the quarterfinals. CC is off to a high-scoring start this season.

Air Force hockey: The Falsons advanced to the NCAAs for the fourth time in five years by defeating Holy Cross and RIT before falling to top-seed Yale in overtime in the NCAA first round.  The Falcons have a strong start this season.

Cheyenne Mountain: Cheyenne Mountain won state championships in baseball and boys’ track, adding to collection of 4A titles from the 2010-11 school year that included titles in boys’ and girls’ tennis, volleyball, and boys’ and girls’ cross country. The seven titles was a best for the school. The girls’ volleyball team won its fourth straight state title in 2011.

Coronado: Coach Matt Brickell led Coronado to a 5A wrestling championship, giving the Cougars the first team title for a Colorado Springs school since Wasson in 1974.

Pine Creek: Pine Creek became the first local team in a decade to play for a football title at one of the state’s two biggest levels. The Eagles won by a combined score of 96-0 in the first three rounds then lost to Valor Christian in the 4A final, 66-10. Florence, however, won the 2A crown 34-0.

Denver Broncos: The Broncos rebounded after a 1-4 start behind a stingy defense and unorthodox quarterback Tim Tebow to be in the playoff hunt down the stretch.

Palmer hockey death: Sam Hesselberg’s death Dec. 18, 2010, was believed to have been due to an aneurysm, but in March, the senior’s family was informed that he died of a concussion likely suffered in a hockey game.

Basketball talent: Sierra’s 6-foot-8 Wesley Gordon and Lewis-Palmer’s 6-9 Josh Scott announced in March that they would accept scholarship offers from the University of Colorado.

4A Metro breaks up: The league dissolved in the fall, breaking what had grown into a 16-team league into a pair of eight-team conferences. Teams from the north and Cheyenne Mountain formed the Pikes Peak League, and teams from the south formed the 4A Metro League.

Coaching shakeups: Hall of Fame coach Dan McKiernan abruptly quit in May after the school and district could not guarantee job security. Then, days before the football season began, 3A power Vista Ridge dismissed Dean Huffman.

ENTERTAINMENT/CULTURE (coloradosprings.com)

Christo wins OK: The Bureau of Land Management gave its final approval on Nov. 7 to Christo’s “Over the River” project, a controversial plan to drape fabric over the Arkansas River.

Manitou chair project: Colorado Springs artist Sean O’Meallie collected about 700 chairs and lined them down the middle of Manitou Avenue on Oct. 9 for the region’s largest local art installation.

Local musician dies young: Blues musician John-Alex Mason died Oct. 19 at the age of 35.

Conservatory find new home: The Colorado Springs Conservatory left the Galileo School of Math and Science in September and moved to 415 S. Sahwatch Ave. The move ended a bold private/public partnership to expand the arts in schools.

Futureself has no future: On Nov. 11, the 10-year-old at-risk youth organization FutureSelf closed its doors. Officials blamed cuts in national arts funding and the recession.

Local restaurant week: Two dozen restaurants launch the first Pikes Peak region Restaurant Week in early March. The eateries saw a big boost in business as they discounted multicourse meals for two.

Navajo Hogan rises again: Johnny Nolan, owner of SouthSide Johnny’s, reopened the historic Navajo Hogan this summer as Johnny’s Navajo Hogan.

COLORADO OUTDOORS (outtherecolorado.com)

 Parks struggle: Parks agencies, decimated by budget cuts, closed facilities, cut programs and deferred maintenance. Advocates tried to get a tax measure on the ballot, but with little support among elected officials, scrapped the plan.

Manitou Incline: Supporters of legally opening the region’s most popular trail took great strides in 2011, with local governments agreeing to work together on managing it. An Incline friends group formed, and  the trail is expected to legally open in 2012.

NATIONAL SPORTS (submitted by AP)

Tebow mania: Whether it is the craze of “Tebowing” or the debate about his ability to pass, it’s hard to deny the results. The Broncos started the season 1-4 but rallied for a chance at the playoffs.

Corruption in college sports: Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was fired in a sex scandal that led to the indictment of former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Syracuse men’s basketball associate coach Bernie Fine was fired 10 days after allegations of child sexual assault. Jim Tressel resigned as the Ohio State football coach in May amid an NCAA investigation of rules violations during the 2010 season, which led to Ohio State self-vacating their 2010 season. Former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro reportedly provided thousands of dollars in illegal benefits to past and present Hurricanes players from 2002 to 2010, implicating 73 athletes.

Lockouts: The NFL and NBA locked out their players. The NFL worked out a labor agreement so the season started on time. The NBA canceled games and will play a reduced 66-game schedule that started on Christmas.

Death on the track: Dan Wheldon, the two-time and reigning Indy 500 Champion, died in a 15-car crash on the 11th lap of the Las Vegas Indy 300 on Oct. 17. He left behind a wife and two children.

Notable deaths: Raiders owner Al Davis died at 82 after six decades in professional football. Joe Frazier, the heavyweight boxer known for his three fights against Muhammad Ali, died after a short battle with liver cancer.

Hockey deaths: The deaths of three NHL enforcers highlighted the link between head trauma and mental illness. Former Nashville Predators forward Wade Belak hanged himself in a Toronto condo in August, former New York Ranger Derek Boogaard died from a drug overdose in May, and Winnipeg Jet Rick Rypien killed himself in August.

Collegiate conference realignment: The Big 10 had 12 teams, the Big 12 had 10 teams, Colorado plays in the Pac-12, and the Big East pursued Air Force, which decided to stay in the Mountain West

Who isn’t playing in the NFL: Peyton Manning and Brett Favre - the NFL’s two ironman quarterbacks - didn’t suit up in the 2011 season. Manning has a neck injury, and Favre has stayed retired.

NBA Finals: Dallas knocked off the two-time defending champion Lakers before beating Miami and LeBron James.

Lance Armstrong: On Feb. 16, Armstrong retires. In May, Tyler Hamilton told “60 Minutes” that he and some former members of the U.S. Postal Service team led by Armstrong used banned substances to gain an advantage in races that Armstrong won.

VCU makes Final Four: Virginia Commonwealth, who many experts felt shouldn’t have made the NCAA men’s basketball Tournament over Colorado, made a run to the Final Four.

World Cup: The U.S. women’s team reignited a national interest in soccer by beating Brazil.  The Americans lost in the title game to Japan, but American goalie Hope Solo became a household name.

Historic collapses: The Red Sox, Rays, Braves and Cardinals entered the 162nd game competing for two playoff spots, the AL and NL wild-card berths. The Braves blew a ninth inning lead to lose 4-3 to the Phillies in 13 innings, while the Cardinals cruised 8-0 to complete their late season tear, winning 23 of their final 31 games. Once trailing Atlanta by 10.5 games on Aug. 25, St. Louis improbably clinched a playoff spot and wound up winning the World Series. Boston -  which led Tampa Bay by nine games on Sept. 4 - seemed on the verge of staving off collapse, taking an early 3-2 lead over the Orioles while the Rays fell behind the Yankees 7-0. It was not to be. The Rays stormed back behind a pair of -- including a 12th inning walkoff -- to win 8-7.

NATIONAL NEWS

Hurricane Irene: Storm rakes eastern U.S., killed more than 40, caused billions in damage.

Penn State sex abuse scandal: Former assistant football coach charged; Joe Paterno fired.

Terrorism: Osama bin Laden killed in Pakistan by U.S. Navy SEALS.

Tornadoes: Series of outbreaks across Midwest and Southeastern U.S.

GOP presidential campaign: Several contenders rise and fall while Romney stays on track.

U.S. debt: Showdowns in Congress over debt ceiling and deficit reduction; U.S. bond rating lowered.

Technology: Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs died.

Michael Jackson: Performer's doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter in pop star's death.

Wildfires: Blazes across Texas destroyed more than 2,900 homes; Arizona and New Mexico also hit.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords: Congresswoman suffered severe brain injury in gunman's attack that killed six.

NYPD spying: Disclosures of vast surveillance of Muslim community by New York Police Department.

Weather: Surprise pre-Halloween snowstorm in Northeast; millions lose power.

Herman Cain: Republican suspended presidential campaign after allegations of sex harassment, extramarital affair.

Congress: Anthony Weiner resigned after sending sexually suggestive photo over Twitter.

The mob: Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger captured after 16 years on the run.

Same-sex marriage: New York became largest state to legalize same-sex marriage.

U.S. economy: Growth sputtered; jobless rate hovered near 9 percent.

Catholicism: Leader in Philadelphia accused of transferring priests who abused more victims.

Occupy Wall Street: Protest movement spread across U.S. and abroad.

U.S. military: Repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" enabled gays to serve openly.

Immigration law: Controversies arose after Alabama enacted toughest law in U.S.; Supreme Court agreed to hear Arizona case.

State politics: Showdowns in Wisconsin, Ohio over GOP efforts to rein in public service unions.

Air crash: Plane crashed into spectators at air races in Reno; 11 people killed.

Amanda Knox: Murder conviction of U.S. student Knox overturned by jurors in Italy.

Listeria outbreak: Listeria in cantaloupe blamed for the deaths of 30 people.

NASA: Agency retires the U.S. space shuttle fleet after three decades of flying.

WORLD NEWS

Japan: Nation hit by devastating earthquake and tsunami; nuclear plant crippled.

European Union fiscal crisis: Riots and strikes in Greece, fears debt problems will spread.

Arab Spring: Uprisings spread through region, toppled three longtime leaders.

Libya: Moammar Gadhafi killed after eight-month rebellion backed by NATO.

Egypt: Hosni Mubarak ousted as president after massive protests against his regime.

Syria: About 4,000 killed as Assad regime tries to crush opposition uprising.

Thailand: Flooding kills more than 560 people.

British phone hacking scandal: News of the World closed, numerous journalists arrested.

Iraq: Political uncertainty persisted as U.S. troops withdrew.

Royal wedding: Prince William marries Kate Middleton.

Pakistan: Friend or foe? Discord over U.S. attacks, Pakistan's ties to extremists.

IMF: Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn accused of sexual assault by hotel maid.

Italy: Silvio Berlusconi resigned as Italy's prime minister amid scandals and crises.

Iran: Nuclear program, assassination plot raised tension with Iran to new heights.

Mideast: Palestinians plotted new paths to statehood as talks with Israel founder.

Norway massacre: Right-wing extremist killed 77 in bombing and shooting onslaught.

Burma: New government vowed to phase out military rule; pro-democracy party rejoined politics.

Afghanistan: "Good War" turned bad, violence rose as U.S. plans withdrawal.

India: Anti-corruption protests attracted massive public support.

Somalia: Horn of Africa nation wracked by famine and warfare.

New Zealand: Earthquake killed 182, destroyed much of downtown in city of Christchurch.

Turkey: Earthquake killed more than 600.

Mexico drug war: Conflict grew more brutal: mass graves, gunfights spread to once-peaceful areas.

South Sudan: Nation became independent; conflicts with Sudan continued.

War crimes: Fugitive Bosnian Serb Ratko Mladic captured, faces genocide trial.

Russia: Vladimir Putin says he'll seek presidency again.