Chad Smith

After my first full year as a reporter at The Record, I’ve put together a list of my most interesting stories of the past 365 days.

For each month, I’ve selected my “best” article (based on only my obviously misguided judgment). On the police beat, there is an endless influx of weird — people, crimes, situations, mug shots — so I’ve also picked the most bizarre story for each month. Some months were better than others.

Enjoy.

Note: All articles published in The St. Augustine Record.

January
Best: Watching from afar, Obama’s inauguration hits home (Jan. 21)
Bizarre: Veteran pleads guilty to lying about Purple Hearts (Jan. 31)

February
Best: Media pour into missing girl’s small town (Feb. 13)
Bizarre: Man, daughter charged with incest had child together (Feb. 12)

March
Best: Sign of the times: Finding work in the recession (March 5)
Bizarre: Christian song sparks lawsuit against school (March 22)

April
Best: Miss. murder suspect killed by police at rest area (April 19)
Bizarre: After fleeing state, Palatka fugitives caught — in Palatka (April 19)

May
Best: A nation remembers, but families can’t forget (May 25)
Bizarre: Man shoots, kills wife to end her suffering (May 6)

June
Best: Local teen survives 70-foot fall from N.C. waterfall (June 28)
Bizarre: Father charged in death of 1-year-old left in car (June 27)

July
Best: A baby is dead, but does someone have to pay? (July 5)
Bizarre: Iraq war vet sentenced in road rage incident (July 31)

August
Best: Accused in sex case kills self before surprising verdict: not guilty (Aug. 28)
Bizarre: Missing girl’s dad accused of putting beheaded rat in in-laws’ mailbox (Aug. 13)

September
Best: Man fatally shot by cops had toy gun (Sept. 13)
Bizarre: Kidnapping victim charged with making it up to get ransom (Sept. 17)

October
Best: Man leaves hospital, jumps from bridge (Oct. 25)
Bizarre: Local family with ties to ‘Balloon Boy’ not surprised at ‘stunt’ (Oct. 16)

November
Best: Farm workers picket Publix over tomatoes (Nov. 24)
Bizarre: Suspect dies after 2-story fall during burglary (Nov. 11)

December
Best: Families of suspect, victim respond to sex case with fisticuffs (Dec. 11)
Bizarre: Man, 37, found having sex with girl, 15, under bridge (Dec. 9)