The top 10 local news stories of 2016: #2 and #1

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

#2: An ugly national political race spills over into Decorah.  Can't we all just get along?  In 2016, more often than not, the answer to that question was "no."

While the national campaign for president got all the headlines, there was plenty of fighting going on in little old Decorah, too.  In July, local Republicans complained that local Democrats damaged the Republican Party's display at the county fair.  At Nordic Fest, it was the Democrats who were complaining after a "Hillary for Prison" float somehow found its way into the parade.  (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2016/07/14161.html)  That touched off a round of angry Letters to the Editor.

In September, it was local Republicans who were angry--this time, about a "Trump for President" yard sign that got defaced to read "Rump for President."  Republicans accused Democrats of doing the vandalizing, but two Luther College students eventually were charged in the case and pleaded "guilty."  Also late in September, police were called to local Democratic Party headquarters after a complaint that a local man was acting in a threatening manner.  http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2016/10/14725.html

All these disputes led one Letter to the Editor writer to chide both sides for "their childish behavior."  But that was 2016 for you.

#1:  Crime returns to Winneshiek County.

In October, Sheriff's deputies were called to a mobile home in Freeport by a report of a double shooting.  Two bodies were found at the location.  (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2016/10/14831.html)

Then in November, deputies were called to a different location in Freeport with a report of a fight and stabbing.  (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2016/11/15141.html)

That's the kind of year 2016 was--a year when "Scary Clowns" in Decorah were not the scariest events.  Let's hope 2017 is better!