Top Stories of 2008 on Salem-News.com

A roundup of our most visited stories in 2008.

Images from the year's top stories on Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - 2008 has been an interesting year, to say the least. The United States elected a new President, and we saw a number of tragic, amazing and sometimes amusing stories, unfold.

There are many ways to gauge our most visited stories of 2008. In the literal sense, nothing beats a top ten list. We assembled our top ten stories from each month to give our viewers an interesting and candid look at what gets the big page views at Salem-News.com. Some of the figures are what you would expect, but some probably are not.

The statistics seem to point to politics, military events and drug laws as our visitors' prime areas of interest.

Our top stories of the year are measured by how frequently they were visited. The top stories of 2008 were:

#1: 74583 visits: Pin-Up Girl Works for Ill and Wounded Veterans

#2: 64879 visits: Marijuana Legalization Tops List of Questions for Obama in Online Poll

#3: 39898 visits: Arlington Cemetery Makes Historic Exception for World War I Veteran

The numbers cited for these stories reflect a visit count from the time the story was published.

In these top ten rankings, there are other criteria that I left out for the sake of simplicity. Other highly visited links on Salem-News.com include our Cryptograms games by our Web Designer Matt Lintz, our photo section, particularly one image of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, our most visited photo section is the Photos from Afghanistan gallery. That block of our photo section has seen more than 30,000 visitors since it was initially published.

While some names appear repeatedly, it is important to note that a number of articles by Henry Ruark and Dr. Phil Leveque also placed very high in our rankings. Our original cartoon series Reverend Benny & Mister Sid's At Your Service and Nota Bene have significant visits month to month. In the end the list of top stories are very competitive within themselves. We are extremely proud of our writers and appreciate their long hours.

Each story published on Salem-News.com has the ability to rank in more than one month. Surprisingly, some stories making the top cut for the month were actually published the year before. In some cases they are two years old and still drawing major visits.

January:

#1 MySpace Photos of Oregon Mayor Causing Stir in Arlington by Tim King

#2 Move to Impeach Cheney Gains Support in Congress by Tim King

#3 Body Found Near Chicago River Could be Stacy Peterson by Tim King

#4 Remains in Chicago Not Those of Stacy Peterson by Tim King

#5 NOAA Rates Thursday's Tornado in Washington as an EF-1 by Tim King

#6 Obama vs O'Reilly: Round One by Tim King

#7 Three Walk Away from Plane Crash South of Chemult Salem-News.com report

#8 Michigan Cop Busted in Marijuana Brownie Overdose Call to 911 Avoids Charges 2007 report by Tim King

#9 Virtual Vigilantes Hold the Watch Over MySpace Teen's Suicide Tragedy by Tim King

#10 Republican Sex Scandals Dwarf Those of Democrats by Tim King

February:

#1 Pin-Up Girl Works for Ill and Wounded Veterans Salem-News.com report

#2 MySpace Photos of Oregon Mayor Causing Stir in Arlington

#3 New Online Mapping Tool Shows Drivers Speedtrap Locations by Tim King

#4 Missing California Teenager Recovered Safe in Southern Oregon Salem-News.com report

#5 Missing Female Student from California Subject of FBI Search by Tim King

#6 Arlington Mayor Gets Recalled, Turns to Ebay by Tim King

#7 Suns Acquire Shaquille O’Neal from Heat Salem-News.com Sports report

#8 Oregon Bikini Barista Picked for Cast of Big Brother 9 Salem-News.com report

#9 Black Eyed Peas and Obama say 'Yes We Can' Salem-News.com report

#10 WSU Researchers Study Fate of an Ancient American Southwest Civilization Salem-News.com report

March:

#1 ATM Photo Shows Suspect in Eve Carson Murder by Kevin Hays

#2 MySpace Photos of Oregon Mayor Causing Stir in Arlington

#3 Time to Spring Ahead: Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday Salem-News.com report

#4 Patrick Swayze Reportedly Near Death from Cancer Salem-News.com report

#5 1 in 4 Teen Girls Infected With Sexually Transmitted Diseases Salem-News.com report

#6 Oregon State Grad Named 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year 2007 Salem-News.com report

#7 Manmade Flood Hits Grand Canyon Today Salem-News.com report

#8 7 Days Later: Manhunt for Eve Carson's Killer(s) Continues by Kevin Hays

#9 New Surveillance Photos Released in Eve Carson Murder by Kevin Hays

#10 Republican Sex Scandals Dwarf Those of Democrats by Tim King

April:

#1 Arlington Cemetery Makes Historic Exception for World War I Veteran Salem-News.com report

#2 Miley Cyrus Semi-Nude Photo Takes Internet by Storm Salem-News.com report

#3 Teens Arrested Over Beating Posted on MySpace, YouTube Salem-News.com report

#4 Danica Patrick Drives Into Indy Car History Salem-News.com Sports report

#5 Suns Acquire Shaquille O’Neal from Heat Salem-News.com Sports report

#6 MySpace Photos of Oregon Mayor Causing Stir in Arlington

#7 Michigan Cop Busted in Marijuana Brownie Overdose Call to 911 Avoids Charges

#8 Strange Fish Found on Beach Near Seaside 2006 Salem-News.com report

#9 Police in Oregon Say Man was a 'Serial-Type' Killer of Wildlife Salem-News.com report

#10 2008 Budget Slashes 300 Million in Student Aid Salem-News.com report

May:

#1 Miley Cyrus Semi-Nude Photo Takes Internet by Storm

#2 New Federal Report on Marijuana Use is Misleading, Groups Say by Tim King

#3 Obama Supporters Rock Downtown Portland, Oregon by Kevin Hays

#4 2008 Budget Slashes 300 Million in Student Aid

#5 Mothers Day is Sunday - Don't Forget Your Mom Salem-News.com report

#6 $70 Billion a Year for Drug Laws While Predators Remain Free by Erin Hildebrandt

#7 Earthquake in China Leaves Thousands Dead, Some Buried by Tim King

#8 TOPOFF 4 Exercise Begins in Portland Salem-News.com report

#9 Big Brown Wins Kentucky Derby - Eight Belles Euthanized Salem-News.com Sports report

#10 Michigan Cop Busted in Marijuana Brownie Overdose Call to 911 Avoids Charges 2007 Salem-News.com report

June:

#1 Kucinich Reads Impeachment Articles Against Bush on House Floor by Tim King

#2 Miley Cyrus Semi-Nude Photo Takes Internet by Storm

#3 California Wildfires in the State's Wine Country Ignited by Lightning by Tim King

#4 Vietnamese Government Confirms UFO Explosion Salem-News.com report

#5 Kucinich Website Crippled Under Suspicious Circumstances Following Introduction of Impeachment Articles Salem-News.com report

#6 Four Wheel Electric Car Revolutionizes Economical Driving by Tim King

#7 Oregon Couple Laid to Rest After Tragic Motorcycle Crash by Tim King

#8 Salem, Keizer Chambers of Commerce Sign Up For Drug-Free Workplace Initiative Salem-News.com report

#9 Carter Reveals Israel's Possession of 150 Nuclear Weapons by Tim King

#10 Republican Sex Scandals Dwarf Those of Democrats

July:

#1 Miley Cyrus Semi-Nude Photo Takes Internet by Storm

#2 Police Arrest Nude Sunbather for Assaulting Man at Rooster Rock Salem-News.com report

#3 Salem, Keizer Chambers of Commerce Sign Up For Drug-Free Workplace Initiative

#4 Breakthrough Discovered in Medical Marijuana Cancer Treatment by Tim King

#5 Fires Flare as Smoke Spreads From California Wildfires to Oregon and Nevada by Tim King

#6 Family Of Robbery Suspect Blames Retired Marine for Fatal Shooting by Tim King

#7 New Law Would Legalize Marijuana in Oregon by Tim King

#8 Michigan Cop Busted in Marijuana Brownie Overdose Call to 911 Avoids Charges

#9 Oregon State Grad Named 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year

#10 Missing Daughter Shows up in Internet Porn, Family Uses YouTube to Find Her by Tim King

August:

#1 Salem, Keizer Chambers of Commerce Sign Up For Drug-Free Workplace Initiative

#2 Breakthrough Discovered in Medical Marijuana Cancer Treatment

#3 Is the Bush Administration Using Blackwater Mercenaries in the DEA? by Tim King

#4 Oregon State Grad Named 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year 2007 Salem-News.com article

#5 Michigan Cop Busted in Marijuana Brownie Overdose Call to 911 Avoids Charges

#6 Republican Sex Scandals Dwarf Those of Democrats

#7 Michele Obama's Van Crashes Into Motorcycle During Iowa Campaign by Tim King

#8 Strange Fish Found on Beach Near Seaside

#9 Woman Arrested During Raids in Salem, Aumsville Salem-News.com report

#10 Miley Cyrus Semi-Nude Photo Takes Internet by Storm

September:

#1 2008 Budget Slashes 300 Million in Student Aid

#2 Breakthrough Discovered in Medical Marijuana Cancer Treatment

#3 Salem, Keizer Chambers of Commerce Sign Up For Drug-Free Workplace Initiative

#4 New Law Would Legalize Marijuana in Oregon

#5 Sex: Men, Women and Pussy Wussies by Dr. Phillip Leveque

#6 Waterboarding: Policy of a Cruel and Unusual President 2007 report by Tim King

#7 Oregon State Grad Named 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year 2007 Salem-News.com article

#8 Michigan Cop Busted in Marijuana Brownie Overdose Call to 911 Avoids Charges 2007 Salem-News.com report

#9 Peter Pan, Great Value Peanut Butter Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination Salem-News.com 2007 Salem-News.com report

#10 Pin-Up Girl Works for Ill and Wounded Veterans

September:

#1 Arlington Cemetery Makes Historic Exception for World War I Veteran

#2 2008 Budget Slashes 300 Million in Student Aid

#3 Breakthrough Discovered in Medical Marijuana Cancer Treatment

#4 Salem, Keizer Chambers of Commerce Sign Up For Drug-Free Workplace Initiative

#5 Pin-Up Girl Works for Ill and Wounded Veterans

#6 US Drug Czar Mis-Used Marijuana Statistics as Scare Tactics While Arrests Soar, Reports Reveal by Bonnie King

#7 Peter Pan, Great Value Peanut Butter Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination Salem-News.com report

#8 Waterboarding: Policy of a Cruel and Unusual President

#9 Oregon State Grad Named 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year

#10 Michigan Cop Busted in Marijuana Brownie Overdose Call to 911 Avoids Charges

October:

#1 Arlington Cemetery Makes Historic Exception for World War I Veteran

#2 2008 Budget Slashes 300 Million in Student Aid

#3 Breakthrough Discovered in Medical Marijuana Cancer Treatment

#4 Salem, Keizer Chambers of Commerce Sign Up For Drug-Free Workplace Initiative

#5 Pin-Up Girl Works for Ill and Wounded Veterans

#6 US Drug Czar Mis-Used Marijuana Statistics as Scare Tactics While Arrests Soar, Reports Reveal

#7 Peter Pan, Great Value Peanut Butter Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination

#8 Breakthrough Discovered in Medical Marijuana Cancer Treatment

#9 Michele Obama's Van Crashes Into Motorcycle During Iowa Campaign

#10 2008 Budget Slashes 300 Million in Student Aid

November:

#1 Breakthrough Discovered in Medical Marijuana Cancer Treatment

#2 Michele Obama's Van Crashes Into Motorcycle During Iowa Campaign

#3 2008 Budget Slashes 300 Million in Student Aid Salem-News.com report

#4 Pin-Up Girl Works for Ill and Wounded Veterans

#5 Peter Pan, Great Value Peanut Butter Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination

#6 Medical Marijuana: Where Does It Come From? by Dr. Phillip Leveque

#7 Oregon State Grad Named 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year

#8 US Drug Czar Mis-Used Marijuana Statistics as Scare Tactics While Arrests Soar, Reports Reveal

#9 Oregon Courts Have No Right to Force Circumcision

#10 Medical Marijuana Medical Conditions 2007 report by Dr. Phil Leveque

#1 Marijuana Legalization Tops List of Questions for Obama in Online Poll by Tim King

#2 Marijuana Legalization: Retired Seattle Police Chief Says Obama Should Listen to Voters by Norm Stamper

#3 Breakthrough Discovered in Medical Marijuana Cancer Treatment

#4 Pin-Up Girl Works for Ill and Wounded Veterans

#5 Oregon Closures and Delays Due to Winter Weather System Salem-News.com report

#6 Willamette National Forest Christmas Tree Permits Now Available 2007 Salem-News.com report

#7 Ancient Marijuana Stash Discovered in Chinese Tomb by Tim King

#8 2008 Budget Slashes 300 Million in Student Aid Salem-News.com report

#9 Oregon State Grad Named 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year Salem-News.com report

#10 Miley Cyrus Semi-Nude Photo Takes Internet by Storm