(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

Every year, we look back at our work to see how well we fulfilled our mission to provide residents and readers accurate news and information you can’t get anywhere else. We gauge that in a number of ways but one of the most important is if readers are responding and last year, we had more readers than ever before.

We had almost 40 per cent more pages viewed from 2018 and readers are spending more time on site reading and viewing — so thank you! We hope to continue earning your trust in 2020 with stories like these.

The stories below are among our most popular from last year — and below that, from the Twenteens — but also some of our favourites. They are all either exclusive stories or stories you read here first.

TOP STORIES OF 2019

How Shuswap Lake RV owners learned their $50K investment bought them nothing

A classic story of buyer beware but with real consequences. After a lengthy court battle, the judge said it was obvious no one took legal advice before handing over their $50,000 investment to a now-bankrupt company.

Kamloops slo pitch team refused recognition for offensive team name

In a case of political correctness gone wrong, a Kamloops team was called out in an opinion piece by an Okanagan-Similkameen newspaper for having an offensive name. But they got it all wrong, one of the players says.

Chris Throssell says he was surprised to learn his beer league slo-pitch team name, the Kamloops Kamshine Savages, was written about in an Okanagan-Similkameen newspaper. The column says the team name was offensive but Throssell says the name was inspired by WWE legend Macho Man Randy Savage and was not intended to be derogatory.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Chris Throssell

Plans for new Costco and gas bar revealed

While it's possible Costco could still move to the Westside, we were first to get our hands on a development application that could have major implications for Kelowna.

Armstrong family living in trailer win multi million dollar home

Just a feel-good story about a family that could use a break, got one and couldn't be more grateful. 

Why the Okanagan Lake bridge has to float

We spent a lot of time this year trying to get even more local and locals might forget how unique the bridge — and local geology that demands a floating bridge — really is.

Okanagan Hobbit House offering visitors a peek inside middle earth

There's a hobbit house in the Okanagan. 'Nuff said. 

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/AIRBNB

Barriere couple face eviction by regional district for living in an RV

This turned out to be a touchy subject for many people. It isn't just about sky high house prices and rents or even homelessness but also about what people expect to be able to do on rural property. The uproar managed to get the decision overturned.

Baby recovering in hospital after a dog attack in Penticton

This story angered a lot of people — and plenty of it aimed at us. But we have no regrets in pursuing the story and trying to figure out what was done about it. 

New owners have big plans for Vernon’s Atlantis Waterslides

One of few waterslides left in the area is finally due for a multi-million-dollar upgrade, perhaps making it a destination once again. You read it here first. 

iN VIDEO: Man mistakenly arrested by Kamloops Mounties speaks out after incident caught on video

We couldn't leave this story with just the police version, so we tracked down the man at the centre of this to get his side. Aside from police mistakes, it also helped our understanding of the many forms of vigilantism and its consequences.

Waterway houseboats goes into receivership after lawsuit against province

We were first to tell you about this important story and broke many more important details as it played out. 

TOP STORIES FROM THE DECADE SO FAR

All right, so technically the end of the decade isn't for another year and technically we started publishing in 2012, but we're going to share some of our favourites stories nonetheless.

These stories represent some of our best work and our proudest moments and are all worth reading again.

A hockey moment this crowd won’t soon forget - 2014

A great story about a kid at a Vernon hockey tournament who defied his team to show true sportsmanship. Our most popular story ever. 

The heart-breaking reason this nine-year-old boy quit hockey - 2015

Another well-read hockey but for the opposite reasons. 

Local couple charged with lacing pills with fentanyl in West Kelowna warehouse - 2016 

Most of B.C. was just learning about fentanyl and the thousands of people it was killing across the province. But these two were well ahead of the curve.

Man in blue suit thanks firefighters - 2015

This story went truly viral across the country right before the election, no doubt due to Adam Proskiw's photo. 

A firefighter stands behind Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Christy Clark during a staged photo op in West Kelowna Thursday afternoon.

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

Kelowna teen died in mall bathroom after being turned away for drug treatment - 2017

Another tough story to report. Not only was it tragic to lose a 17-year-old West Kelowna girl, it also exposed serious issues in how and why kids are turned away from treatment. The story also came at the pique of the opioid crisis. 

Kamloops sheriff off the job after allegedly initiating relationship with underage girl - 2016

Johnston later pleaded guilty to breach of trust by a peace officer and sentenced to a one-year conditional sentence.

The free life — and lives — of Dag Aabye - 2017

One of our favourite stories, all time — and yours. Charlotte Helston's incredible tale of meeting this amazing man was later modelled for a successful documentary but this was the original. It's worth reading again. 

Dag checks out the latest Death Race brochure, which contains a picture of him.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

Vernon man followed intuition to find wife injured, freezing down 200-foot embankment after crash - 2017

Perhaps we shouldn't have included this story. At the time of this writing, Charlotte Helston got the fine details in what was truly an amazing story. Sadly, Caroline died a few weeks later of complications from the accident. 

Fort foot Fred found on farm - 2016

The old Bedrock City giant Fred Flintstone sign disappeared some site in 2000, until we managed to unearth him.

100 horses for sale following animal cruelty investigation

This story touched off years of investigations and community responses to help the animals.

How are we doing? If you've got a story you think we should do, or you want to give us some feedback, shoot us an email or call the editor at the number below. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email Marshall Jones or call 250-718-2724 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2020