Prince George, B.C.- News organizations nationwide ( including 250News.com) have been providing you with their opinions on what the top news stories were in 2013.  Here at 250,  we chose  Christy Clark’s  Liberal re-election  and the Northern Gateway Pipeline as the two stories which  impacted the province the most over  2013 ( and  in years to come).  Locally, it was City Hall that  topped our  thoughts, as  it has been an interesting year with  boosted fees,  proposed property sales, and  the CUPE  negotiations.

Reality is, the top stories of the year are those that  were read the most.

At 250News, we know how many IP addresses accessed any particular story. So, here  are the top stories of 2013, as  nominated by   you, because these are the ten stories that were viewed by folks at thousands of  IP addresses. They are listed here from  lowest of the ten to the highest :

#10. End of a standoff:  This story was the close of an event  in the Quinn- Dezell area of the City in April which had police cordon off a neighbourhood as they attempted to arrest a wanted man.  The incident forced  many of the neighbours from their homes as a safety measure.

#9.CUPE Serves Strike Notice.  For the first time in its history with the City of Prince George, GUPE Locals 399 and 1048  served strike notice.  They had a one day action  in early December.  The  union members have been without a contract since   Dec. 31, 2012.

#8. Truck  Slams into Home:  A driver of a pick up truck missed the curve on Ospika Boulevard in the wee hours of the morning. His vehicle  jumped the curb, ploughed through a small park,  smashed through a fence,  hit the  deck on the  back of a house, and  careened into a bedroom.  An occupant in the home  escaped  injury  because moments before the crash  had gotten out of bed to go to the bathroom. (photo  at left)

#7 McBride Restaurant Burns to the Ground:  A fire in the kitchen area of the restaurant  whipped through the popular  restaurant,  leaving it a charred  heap on the  north side of highway 16 east.  ( see photo  at right)

#6 Tragic Ending to Report of a Shot Being Fired.  Last  Saturday, the University Hospital of Northern B.C. was  put into lockdown mode when there was a report of a shot being fired outside the building.  Police arrived  on scene, and, tragically,  found a 66 year old man who had taken his own life.

#5 and #4 . Firefighters accused in Theft  probe.  There were two  installments in this story.  The first, was when 250 News broke the story that  a stolen property  ring had been busted and it was believed at least one, possibly two  Prince George Fire Rescue  firefighters were alleged to be  involved. The second story  (which ranked number 4) included the City's official response to our story ( two days later) and  provided confirmation two people have been arrested in connection with what RCMP believe was a stolen property ring operating in Prince George, allegedly involving at least two Prince George firefighters.

#3 Double Fatal Closes Highway 16 West.  This tragic  crash occurred on November 29th, near the Isle Pierre Road turnoff.   A  mother and her teenaged son died  when their  suv  collided with a flatbed truck.

#2.  The second most read story over the past year was  that of the lockdown neighbourhood, when the  lockdown first took place.  ( see story #10 )It was one of the first times the RCMP’s new Tactical Armoured Vehicle was  so visible to the public.  The incident would end peacefully  and all residents who were ordered from their homes as a safety precaution, would be allowed to return.

And the number one story, the one read by more readers than any other single  article  over the past year?   You may be as  surprised as we were.  The number one, most read story was  the one about the  Prince George resident  who was  ordered to remove the sign on his property  which  asked drivers to  "Slow Down Kids Playing".  The resident had  obtained the sign from the BCAA.

In the letter to the resident, the City of Prince  George Transportation Engineering Department points out that the resident is in contravention of the bylaw “Please ensure prompt removal of this signage if you have participated in the installation or placement. This letter will be documented as a warning and further action will be taken if compliance is not met.”