Most viewed stories of 2018:

• Tying balloons to deer carcasses is apparently a thing
• The DiSalvos' Christmas lights are back this year after 2017 hiatus, by Billie Owens
• UPDATE: Suspect in Thruway standoff taken into custody, by Billie Owens
• The bar formerly known as Billy Goats will close its doors for the last time Tuesday night
• Fully involved structure fire at Stumblin' Inn, Elba
• Apparent accidental self-inflicted fatal shooting under investigation
• Group of Alexander parents express frustration at how school district is handling discipline, student safety
• Four-foot alligator found in vacant building on Lehigh Avenue
• Man shot and killed after pointing handgun at deputy outside Log Cabin Restaurant
• Man in custody after domestic incident on Washington Avenue, suspected of setting house fire, by Billie Owens

Here are the 10 stories I wrote during 2018 that I like the best:

• Five school districts in Genesee County restrict speech for board members
• BPD officer who shot robber in 1977 says 'don't let others second guess you'
• The Batavian tours the Buffalo Detention Facility
• Muckdogs hire minor league groundskeeper with major league dreams
• In 2018, Muckdogs fans have watched perhaps the most intriguing player in the NYPL
• Batavia undone by key injury and great opposing QB in state championship game
• Collins says he's innocent and he may have narrow path to beat insider trading case
• Driver accused in fatal hit-and-run reportedly tried to talk deputy into letting her go during earlier DWI stop
• Adoption of 'Norms' at Alexander Board of Education retreat may have violated state's Open Meetings Law
• In effort to fight burglaries, County reviewing new regulation scheme for businesses that sell used merchandise

From all of us at The Batavian, Happy New Year. Thank you, readers and sponsors, for your support of our effort to provide news coverage of our community. Billie and I are grateful for the opportunity and pleasure of living here and being able to do what we love, which is local community news.

These were the most read stories on The Batavian of 2017

• This weekend, Jason Lang lost his battle with drug addiction
• Pembroke math teacher dies in ATV accident
• Obituary: Brayden Robert Salvaterra
• Obituary: Brian D. West Jr.
• Woman from Batavia dies in rollover accident on Route 77, Alabama
• Brian West Jr., will be missed by Alexander community
• Blind School employee charged with endangering the welfare of children, by Billie Owens
• Child sex abuser found living with woman and her three kids, DA says, by Billie Owens
• Photos: Three serious injury accidents in Genesee County in one evening
• UPDATED: Teenager dies following rollover accident on West Bethany Road

Most viewed posts for 2015:

• 'I just got lucky': Byron man bags 500-pound black bear, by Ray Coniglio
• Person reportedly shot at residence in Town of Le Roy
• DEVELOPING: Feds raid residence on Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road
• Skunk loitering at front door of business on Liberty Street
• Driver in fatal accident in Bethany charged with manslaughter
• A father loses his best friend
• Batavia prom queen gives her crown to a special classmate, by Traci Turner​
• Victim of accident in Bethany succumbs to injuries
• Liberty Street resident accused of murdering infant

The bear story also became the most viewed story in the history of The Batavian.

We served up 9.4 million page views in 2015 across 5.86 million user sessions (site visits). 

Most viewed posts for January:

• Jacquetta Simmons sent to jail as defense plans appeal of restitution order
• Today's Poll: Do you hold a favorable or unfavorable view of Gov. Cuomo?
• Truck drivers assist deputy being dragged by suspect's car
• Investigators seek help in identifying woman who may have used stolen gift card
• Up to two feet of snow, dangerously cold air expected Monday and Tuesday
• Travel ban issued for Genesee County
• Child left in car in Batavia Downs' parking lot, by Billie Owens
• Pizza delivery driver says he was robbed at gunpoint on Jackson Street
• Sunoco on West Main robbed, suspect already in custody
• Sheriff tells SCOPE members that SAFE Act enforcement is a matter of officer discretion

In January we topped one million page views in a month for the first time.

Most viewed posts for February:

• Dog found malnourished showing signs of recovery, now in foster care
• Batavia couple were inseparable for 60 years, right to their final days
• Law and Order: Woman accused of mistreating pit bull
• Power out at Walmart, irate customer refuses to leave store, by Billie Owens
• Cat found on Thruway missing its owner
• Party broken up by Local Drug Task Force on Saturday in Le Roy
• Big fight in parking lot of Batavia's Original Pizzeria on East Main Street, by Billie Owens
• Burglary investigation leads to alleged drug stash discovery
• Package of meth allegedly shipped to address in Oakfield, Le Roy man arrested
• Former Marines in Batavia open personal defense training business

Here are the most viewed posts for August, 2013:

• Young man from Bergen killed in motorcycle accident in Le Roy, passenger seriously injured
• Mother seeks help in finding her missing son
• Town of Le Roy supervisor arrested following alleged incident with neighbor
• Sunday night fight on Harvester Avenue left local man critically injured
• Car versus motorcycle accident, serious injuries, on North Road, Le Roy, by Billie Owens
• Derek Sheldon remembered with tears, laughter and duck calls
• County star Jason Aldean at Darien Lake means, of course, lots of arrests
• Thirty-six people arrested or issued citations at John Mayer concert at Darien Lake
• Woman 'covered in blood' walking dog on Route 19, Le Roy, by Billie Owens
• Suspected flirt charged with drunken driving

It was another record traffic month for The Batavian. We had 130,475 unique visitors, 551,570 visits and 931,241 page views.

Most viewed posts for June:

• Molasses Hill closed, seized by state, by Howard Owens
• Stafford Carnival grounds flooded, no fun tonight, by Howard Owens
• A Day in the Life of a Teacher, by Gretchen DiFante
• Man says female is harassing his turtle, by Billie Owens
• Four Rochester men accused of $10K heist from AT&T store, by Howard Owens
• Police respond to hostage situation on Highland Park, by Billie Owens
• Basom man returns home to find burglars entering his house, by Billie Owens
• Kermit Arrington, much admired, dedicated to serving his community, has passed, by Howard Owens
• High speed chase of suspected stolen truck ends with three men in custody, by Howard Owens
• Driver reportedly seen stopping on Route 33 to hit a child, by Howard Owens

In June, there were 503,542 visits to the site and we served up 859,843 page views.

Yesterday, May 1, was The Batavian's fifth anniversary. Over the first five years of The Batavian, here are the 10 most viewed posts:

• Le Roy Legion hosting event to honor WWII vets
• State health officials discuss outbreak of tics in Le Roy, but say they can't share the cause
• Notorious woman allegedly trashes buffet at South Beach, by Billie Owens
• Brad Paisley fans get themselves arrested in droves during Darien Lake concert
• Sex in the City: Batavia 'adultery' case getting wider media attention
• Manhunt in progress near Townline and 63
• Teenage Bergen bow hunter takes down 17-point buck
• South Beach owner "was forced to close" restaurant, says sister-in-law, by Philip Anselmo
• Walmart greeter, age 70, seriously injured after allegedly being punched by 26-year-old woman
• Suzanne Corona accused of shoplifting from Batavia florist

Falling just outside of the top 10 was a post by Brian Hillabush, Christmas lights 12-13-08: DiSalvo's always best in show.

And to catch you up on the monthly most viewed posts ...

Most viewed posts for February:

• Darien man killed in early morning crash on Route 238
• Robber of Sally's appears to have executed a plan to avoid identification
• BREAKING: trash proposal fails on 7-2 vote
• Legislature poised to call for repeal of Cuomo's gun control law
• Tom Houseknecht asserts new trash plan an attempt to skirt property tax cap
• Attica man charged with DWI in Pembroke crashes vehicle in Darien a few hours later
• Possible suspect in Sally Beauty robbery hospitalized after arrest in Owego
• Alabama man accused of raping woman during argument
• Woman accused of stealing money from charity raising money for cancer patient
• Batavia Middle School student in trouble for packing a BB gun

Most viewed posts for March:

• The vote is final: The Wiss Hotel building will come down
• Law and Order: Man accused of installing illegal water line
• Oakfield Fire Department issues statement regarding water dispute with Village
• Judge tells bookies they will serve in a weekend-work program
• Law and Order: Mother accused of not being at home when children were dropped off by school bus
• Sheriff responds to allegation that investigator placed bets with bookie working in fire department
• Ken Mistler buys downtown theater with hope of keeping more entertainment dollars in Batavia
• Woman robbed in parking lot of Save-A-Lot in Batavia, by Billie Owens
• Two women get their hair done at salon, then stiff the stylists, by Billie Owens
• Caller says car parked across the street is harassment, by Billie Owens

Most viewed posts for April:

• Le Roy Legion hosting event to honor WWII vets
• Apparent blow-up between Corfu mayor and employees has village administration in jeopardy
• The story of a stolen thermometer and the police officer who made a gift of it
• Young 'inconsolable' woman resists arrest in Oakfield, is pepper-sprayed, by Billie Owens
• VP at GCC reportedly arrested in Rochester on public lewdness charge
• Trustee asks Corfu mayor to resign
• New pizza shop will have a familiar sounding name and familiar looking face
• Pero brothers entering trash business in Batavia
• Corfu sewer contractor reacts to anonymous letter threatening his business with the village
• Village of Corfu office remains closed this morning

April -- even with the ad server trouble -- set traffic records with 128,425 unique visitors, 512,095 visits and 852,965 page views.

The previous records were set the month before, with 108,490 unique visitors (the first time had more than 100K unique visitors), 493,303 visits and 834,797 page views.

On May 1, 2008, we received 125 visits to the site.

Top 15 most viewed posts for 2012:

• State health officials discuss outbreak of tics in Le Roy, but say they can't share the cause
• BREAKING: Jacquetta Simmons sentenced to five years in prison
• Teen killed in head-on crash on Route 33, woman seriously injured
• Angry mother confronts store employees she believes sold bath salts to her son
• Batavia woman's cause of death not yet known
• Four smoke shops on reservation raid by feds -- cigarettes, fake pot, bath salts seized
• Chris Collins wants to go to Washington to restore the American Dream
• Two people killed in Sunday morning accident
• Specialist questions scientific validity of Le Roy district's environmental reports
• DEA raids 420 Emporium in Batavia as part of nationwide assault on bath salt sales
• Attorney, young celebrity arrested in Pembroke on charges of DWI and prostitution
• Potentially dangerous synthetic drugs readily available in Genesee County
• Three members of Le Roy family jailed after scuffle with police
• Report: Cyberbullying at local high schools
• Woman accused of giving bath salts to minor allegedly said she thought it was OK

Look at how many of these stories The Batavian broke or brought you more information about than available in other news sources. The Batavian broke the story about Jacquetta Simmons at Walmart on Christmas Eve, 2011 and was in front of the competition as the story developed. The Batavian brought to light the local issues with bath salts and either broke stories or had stories the competition never even carried. The Batavian carried more in-depth stories that were widely read on the tic disorder issue in Le Roy. We work hard to bring you news about Genesee County. We ask that you support the effort by becoming a member of The Batavian Club.

In 2012, TheBatavian.com was visited 3.8 million times and we served up 5.5 million page views.

Top 10 most viewed stories for December:

• Teen killed in head-on crash on Route 33, woman seriously injured
• Person struck by vehicle in front of Batavia Downs, minor injuries, by Billie Owens
• BREAKING: Firefighters accused of bookmaking plead guilty to greatly reduced charge
• Car parked by St. Joseph's Cemetery reported to be a 'suspcious condition', by Billie Owens
• Jacquetta Simmons posts $50,000 bail
• Corfu teen dies in Orleans County crash Sunday night
• Weather related reports, Dec. 26
• Property between Lewiston and Main will be more than just a Tim Horton's
• Driver who died on Route 20 accident wasn't wearing a seat belt
• GCEDC board approves 2012 bonuses, raise for agency's CEO

Hard to believe I haven't done this since June, but here are the most viewed posts for each month of June, July, August, September and October.

June:

• Three members of Le Roy family jailed after scuffle with police
• People swimming in pond at Dewitt Recreation Area, Batavia, by Billie Owens
• Local business owner accused of impersonating cop to keep potential competitor out of town
• Photo: Plane refueling over Batavia
• Police unsure how man fell from seventh-floor window at 400 Towers
• Lawn mower driver said to be enjoying a brew near Maple and North, Le Roy, by Billie Owens
• At first concert of Darien Lake season, 24 arrests and 70 citations
• Today's Poll: Is racism still a problem in the U.S.?
• Photos: Johnny Bananas at City Slickers
• Driver of golf cart involved in fatal accident enters a guilty plea to negligent homicide

July:

• Angry mother confronts store employees she believes sold bath salts to her son
• DEA raids 420 Emporium in Batavia as part of nationwide assault on bath salt sales
• Woman accused of giving bath salts to minor allegedly said she thought it was OK
• Mother's grief has turned her into a crusader against bath salts
• Chris Collins wants to go to Washington to restore the American Dream
• Three people arrested after suspected marijuana field discovered unexpectedly
• Relatively speaking, a calm night at Darien Lake for Dave Matthews show
• 420 Emporium raided by multiple law enforcement agencies, by Billie Owens
• Small turn out, but lots of support for bath salt protest at 420 Emporium
• Broadbent: One Batavia family learning the hard way the damage bath salts can do

August:

• Attorney, young celebrity arrested in Pembroke on charges of DWI and prostitution
• Jacquetta Simmons takes the stand, tells her side of the story
• BREAKING: Jacquetta Simmons found guilty
• Witnesses punch holes in defense contention that Jacquetta Simmons hit victim accidentally
• Simmons' attorney vows appeal, cites jurors' pre-trial media exposure
• Boyfriend allegedly takes pregnant girlfriend's pack of smokes, by Billie Owens
• Metal spikes reportedly placed at the bottom of slides at Le Roy playground
• Defense argues Simmons' punch was unintentional attempt to break free of person holding her
• Business owned by Chad Zambito closed, assets up for auction to pay debt
• Fight inside Wendy's restaurant in Batavia, by Billie Owens

September:

• Pembroke woman, 53, arrested on child pornography charge
• Two men may be headed to Genesee County intent on robbing a farm
• Complaint: Children playing in the street!, by Billie Owens
• Today's Poll: Are 47 percent of the people in the U.S. takers, dependent on government?
• School bus and big rig collide on West Main Street Road, by Billie Owens
• Evicted tenants forgot the dogs, by Billie Owens
• Six-month jail term and probation given to teenage golf cart driver involved in fatal accident
• Ten arrests at KISS concert at Darien Lake
• Investigators unable to determine cause of death for Alyce Huntoon
• Pavilion mother faces second felony DWI charge under Leandra's Law

October:

• Head-on collision on Route 20 in Darien claims life of mother, seriously injures her daughter
• Byron-Bergen school district won't discuss apparent termination of artist who worked as counselor
• Court clerk in Corfu files harassment complaint against village justice
• Fatal accident reported in Oakfield, on Lockport Road
• Corfu trustee denies running afoul of closed session protocol
• No settlement from insurance company on Settler's sign
• Winning drug-free posters from local students (post from 2010)*
• Route 19 closed after suspected hand grenade found in trunk of a car
• Alleged drunken driver destroys Settler's Restaurant sign
• 'Wife Swap' celeb in media spotlight at court appearance on prostitution charge

*That post showing up from 2010 is rather odd. As near as I can tell, that post on The Batavian is a top-ranking search result for "drug free posters." I'm guessing October was the month for students to look for ideas for creating a poster for a drug-free poster contest.