The top 10 local news stories of 2016: #4 and #3

Alex Fazzino

(decorahnews.com is counting down the Top Ten Local News Stories of 2016):

#4: In February and March, Winneshiek County residents could watch something they hadn't seen in more than 20 years--a first degree murder trial.  41-year-old Alex Fazzino of Boone was charged with first degree murder in the death of his wife, Emily, on January 29th, 2012.  Her body was found in the bathtub of her home.
 
Prosecuting attorney Scott Brown told jurors that the evidence "keeps pointing back to Alex Fazzino."   But one doctor from the State Medical Examiner's Officer ruled the cause of death was "undetermined."  And defense attorney William Kutmus put forth a different theory--that Emily Fazzino suffered from an addiction to opiate painkillers, which led to her accidental drowning.

At 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 2nd, Judge Michael Moon read the unanimous "not guilty" verdict. http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2016/03/13082.html

#3: Winneshiek County had major flooding not once, but twice, during 2016.  The August 24th flooding did major damage to Freeport and Spillville.  http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2016/08/14359.html
Homes were inundated with water and the Dug Road Trail collapsed under all the runoff water.  More flooding struck on September 6th and again September 23rd.  It all added up to the wettest summer ever on record in Decorah.