It’s been another eventful and interesting year on Whidbey Island.

The people, places and animals of the island have kept the pages of the Whidbey News-Times and the South Whidbey Record filled with the good, the bad and the ugly.

Each year, we are astonished to see how the internet provides global reach to the news of Whidbey Island. People around the world are reading the stories about the unique way of life on our rural island. More people than ever are reading our stories, although the News-Times and The Record have not been immune from the contraction and economic problems facing newspapers across the nation.

Google analytics show that 900,000 unique visitors read News-Times stories online in 2024. A total of 3.5 million views of thousands of different stories were counted.

Similarly, nearly 600,000 unique visitors clicked on stories in The Record, with 1 million district views of stories.

It’s interesting to see which stories were the most read each year. While some people complain about the amount of “bad news” in newspapers, the analytics show that it’s the readers and not the reporters who have this focus. Far more inches of news stories were dedicated to “good news” features and general news — neither happy nor sad, just informative — than what could be categorized as bad news, whether it’s crime or tragedy or political strife.

With our feature stories and photos, we seek to tell the story of the community, from the return of an orca family to a business owner who still comes to work at 102 years old to a man who searches for Sasquatch to many unique events, plays, concerts and parades that bring people together. Because of the presence of a Navy base and a multitude of farms and wild lands, we have far more feature stories about veterans and animals than any of our sister publications.

It’s equally important for the community to know when tragedy strikes or people commit crimes or governmental figures make controversial decisions. It’s not about being sensational but accurately explaining the major events that touch, and invariably, change the lives of our neighbors. It’s about keeping a record. It’s about being a watchdog of powerful government figures, from cops and prosecutors to mayors and county commissioners and staff members. These are the most difficult stories to cover, but they are vital.

The biggest news on Whidbey Island this year was the crash of the EA-18G Growler aircraft that took the lives of two combat-decorated aviators, Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay “Miley” Evans and Lt. Serena “Dug” Wileman, both 31 and from California. News organizations from around the globe reported on the tragedy. Even the White House took notice.

These are the top ten, most-read stories in the News-Times:

1. Combat-decorated aviators found among Growler wreckage

2. In surprise move, Oak Harbor fire chief loses job

3. Movie filmed in Coupeville getting a sequel

4. Navy searches for crew after Growler crashes near Mount Rainier

5. Oak Harbor couple killed in motorcycle crash

6. Driver arrested following fatal crash

7. Coupeville teenager killed in rollover accident

8. Greenbank man accused of assault with gun, boulder

9. Suspect in Deception Pass shooting held on $500k bail

10. Suicide reignites bridge safety concerns

On South Whidbey, by far the most read story in The Record was about a senior prank gone wrong. More than 55,000 people read the story in just a few days. Here’s the list:

1. Families question senior prank

2. Clinton pizza business offers redemption

3. Langley police get alleged fleet-footed thief

4. Shoplifting turned into gunplay on South Whidbey

5. South Whidbey High School alumni establish new foundation

6. Water quality and supply a concern on Whidbey Island

7. South Whidbey remembers beloved coach

8. South Whidbey baseball heads to district playoffs

9. Coupeville ferry run is among state’s most challenging

10. Whidbey pickleball players have a lot to relish