Kirkland Reporter’s top 10 most-read stories of 2013

A young teen missing, prostitution at Motel 6 and other stories sexual in nature were among the most-read headlines this year, but two heart-warming, community oriented stories made the cut as well.

By Raechel Dawson • December 31, 2013 2:36 pm
Juanita High School students showed their support for the school’s security guard that the Lake Washington School District dismissed following an incident with a female student.The students held a walk-out at the school on May 23; however
Juanita High School students showed their support for the school’s security guard that the Lake Washington School District dismissed following an incident with a female student.The students held a walk-out at the school on May 23; however

A young teen missing, prostitution at Motel 6 and other stories sexual in nature were among the most-read headlines this year, but two heart-warming, community oriented stories made the cut as well.

Here are the top 10 most-read stories of 2013, according to Google Analytics:

1. Comedian Drew Carey shares challenging past at Friends of Youth Luncheon, by Matt Phelps, March 25, 2010.

Thanks to social media, this 2010 story took off again when someone shared the link on Reddit.com. Comic and actor Drew Carey spoke at a local Friends of Youth luncheon to explain how a charity, such as Friends of Youth, might have helped him as a teenager. After Carey’s father died at a young age, he found himself suicidal before he became homeless at one point in Las Vegas.

2. Police arrest four men patronizing prostitutes at Kirkland’s Motel 6, execute Backpage.com search warrant, by Raechel Dawson, Aug. 5, 2013.

This prostitution sting article has held the title of top-trending stories among western Washington Sound Publishing newspapers since August. One summer night, Kirkland police arrested four ‘johns’ at Motel 6 after discovering suspected prostitutes, who advertised on Backpage.com, were staying at the Kirkland location.

3. Kirkland parents searching for missing teen girl, by Raechel Dawson, Oct. 18, 2013.

A 14-year-old Kirkland girl ran away from home and was missing for a little more than 24 hours. Her parents notified Kirkland police and put a call out to the community by posting flyers with her photo. The teen was eventually found at another Kirkland home. Her parents were “overwhelmed and extremely thankful to the friends and extended community who reached out with words of encouragement and support” during their crisis.

4. Lake Washington High School senior with special needs voted homecoming king, by Carrie Rodriguez, Nov. 6, 2013.

Tre Walker, 18, won the title of homecoming king after Lake Washington High School students gave him an 89 percent vote. Walker has a rare syndrome in which he was born with a missing part of his 10th chromosome. Walker’s family was ecstatic the school community was able to come together and support their son, so much that other nominees urged their peers to vote for the Kang.

5. LWHS softball coach will not be reprimanded for texting student, LWSD investigation concludes, by Matt Phelps, June 7, 2012.

This 2012 story resurfaced on HuffingtonPost.com when Troy Hennum, the former Lake Washington High School softball head coach, resigned after being accused of sending Roosevelt High School student athletes to find attractive women for him on his behalf. Previously, Hennum was exonerated from the Lake Washington School District after being accused of texting a girl on his team and asking her if she wanted to meet up while at an overnight tournament.

6. Bothell boy killed on I-405 in Kirkland, hit by multiple vehicles, by Raechel Dawson, Aug. 19, 2013.

After falling to his death on a local freeway overpass, Lukas Defiesta, 16, was struck several times by early-morning drivers. Washington State Patrol put out a call for witnesses to come forward who may have seen the teen fall. It was not immediately apparent if the boy had died from suicide or if his death was accidental.

7. Kirkland man pleads guilty to having sex with 15-year-old prostitute, by Raechel Dawson, Aug. 29, 2013.

Jordan Church Lind, 49, pleaded guilty to having sex with a then-15-year-old prostitute at his Kirkland condo. The teen, who was being held at a juvenile detention center, told Seattle police of the encounters at the Kirkland man’s home. When police went to arrest him, they found a 20-year-old former prostitute in his presence.

8. Juanita High School students protest security guard’s controversial dismissal, by Raechel Dawson, May 24, 2013.

Former Juanita High School security guard Jeff Lewis left the school after an investigation was launched that accused him of harming a female student. Lewis took a teenage girl to the main office as she continued to resist him after she disobeyed his request to stop sitting on cafeteria tables. Ultimately, Lewis was dismissed and could not talk about the details of the situation, but more than 500 students defended him by protesting and signing a petition to bring the former Staff Star back.

9. Kirkland convicted child rapist charged with attempting to rape girlfriend’s daughter, by Matt Phelps, July 13, 2012.

The story of how Ryan D. Firoved, a convicted child rapist who was charged with attempting to rape his girlfriend’s daughter resurfaced from 2012 after he was sentenced on Nov. 26 to 10 years for the crime. Firoved had told his then-girlfriend about his encounters and, in working with police, she became involved in a sting that got Firoved to admit to his crimes, including his wishes to have sex with his girlfriend’s young daughter.

10. Car plows into Kirkland restaurant, by Carrie Rodriguez, Nov. 4, 2013.

The Mediterranean Kitchen in Totem Lake was damaged after a car drove through the restaurant. It was unclear what caused the accident or if anyone was injured at the time of the incident.