New pool, old bridge among 2015 stories

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This bridge over railroad tracks along Peters Road in the town of Sharon, deemed unsafe by railroad and county officials, could remain closed for years because of disagreement over repairs among bridge owners, the county and town. Terry Mayer/file photo

After complaints from the Madison-based Freedom From Religion group, a Nativity scene in the city of Elkhorn was moved from a county-owned park to a new location last month outside St. Patrick Catholic Church, blocks away. Terry Mayer/file photo

The former Waal's department store in the village of Walworth came down as part of a possible reroute plan of U.S. Highway 14 by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Terry Mayer/ file photo

From high-profile court cases to a tornado touchdown, news events and features on people in Walworth County captured readers' attention in 2015. Here are some of the most-viewed online stories on WalworthCountyToday.com:

2015 top-read news stories:

Jan. 6. A bridge between U.S. Highway 14 and Wisconsin Highway 67 in the town of Sharon deemed unsafe could remain closed for years in a dispute over repairs and funding: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150106/failed_bridge_could_remain_closed_for_years

Jan.28. The father of the 14-year-old town of Sharon boy suspected of fatally shooting his 11-year-old friend in the head, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child (In March he was sentenced to a year's probation): https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150128/father_of_teen_shooting_suspect_charged

March 3. A bomb threat written in the bathroom at the Williams Bay High School caused students and staff to be evacuated: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150303/students_evacuated_at_williams_bay_after_bomb_threat

April 15. VIP Services in Elkhorn hosted a stop on the Green Bay Packers' Tailgate Tour, letting local fans meet and greet current and former players: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150415/elkhorn_is_stop_on_packers_caravan

Aug. 19. Utility and public works crews cleaned up storm damage ranging from damaged buildings to downed trees after the National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in the town of Lyons on Aug. 18: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150819/tornado_cleanup_in_lyons_lake_geneva

Aug. 20. The former Waal's Department Store on the square in the village of Walworth was demolished to make way for a Wisconsin Department of Transportation planned reroute of U.S. Highway 14 that's now in limbo: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150820/photos_the_waals_came_tumbling_down

Oct. 11. Elkhorn police believe two men found dead of gunshot wounds in a house in the city died in an apparent murder-suicide: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20151011/elkhorn_deaths_investigated_as_murder_suicide

Oct. 14. A Lake Geneva couple were sentenced to a year in jail after being found guilty of abusing their six adopted children from Russia and Guatemala: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20151014/lake_geneva_couple_in_child_abuse_case_receive_one_year_in_jail

Nov. 27: The Walworth County Drug Enforcement Unit members and local authorities said they discovered a small methamphetamine lab in the home of a 31-year-old Bloomfield man, who was charged with possessing and manufacturing meth: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20151211/bloomfield_man_facing_charges_in_meth_lab_case

Dec. 11: After a formal complaint last year from the Freedom From Religion Foundation over its location, Elkhorn's Nativity scene moved from the county-owned square to a local church, about a block away: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20151211/complaint_leads_to_new_site_for_elkhorn_nativity_scene

2015 top-read features:

Jan. 4. Walworth is working to keep its downtown alive despite a planned state transportation project that would cut into its village square and a number of vacant downtown storefronts: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150104/squaring_off_in_village_of_walworth

Jan. 15. A 144-year-old Delavan lumber business is sold, but keeps its local connection: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150115/longtime_delavan_lumberyard_sold_but_local_connection_remains

Feb. 18.A Delavan father and son turned the city's first Mexican grocery store into a thriving restaurant, while becoming a community anchor in the process: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150218/family_business_a_community_anchor

June 7. Their heyday was the 1950s, but drive-ins and car-hops can still be found in the area:  https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150607/drive_in_to_the_past_burgers_and_carhops

June 23. A newly renovated public pool opened at Sunset Park in Elkhorn, the end result of a referendum issue that seemed to divide city council members and residents: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150623/elkhorn_ready_to_dive_into_new_pool

Aug. 11. The death of a longtime Elkhorn farmer and Korean War veteran drew notice from the VetsRoll organization: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150811/funeral_thursday_for_long_time_elkhorn_farmer

Aug. 14. With its lighted boat parade and scenic backdrop, the 53-year-old Venetian Fest in Lake Geneva still brings in the crowds: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150814/venetian_fest_to_light_up_lake_geneva

Sept. 20.For the village of Williams Bay, downtown isn't just a place, but a state of mind: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150920/it_takes_a_village_to_make_downtown

Sept. 24. Elkhorn Area High School All-Sports Booster Club held its first Hall of Fame ceremony, honoring nine members, including athletes, coaches and a journalist: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150924/eahs_honors_hall_of_fame_inductees

Sept. 29. A Delavan couple who lost their daughter to suicide hosted the first Out of Darkness Walk in Walworth County in her memory to raise public awareness of suicide: https://walworthcountytoday.com/20150929/suicide_prevention_walk_aims_for_awareness

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