DAYTONA BEACH -- Slowly, but surely, we're making headway with our top 100 local stories of 2012. We have 15 in the books with 85 to go, with our goal of having the countdown completed before the end of the month, which means we have to get cracking today and throughout the weekend. T
here were so many big stories in the year that was that we are excited to recap for you. The No. 1 story of the year may come as a surprise to some expecting a heavy dosage of politics in an election year. When the top story is unveiled, there will be very little debate as to why it got the nod.
We're also working on two major story lines on policing in Daytona Beach wrapped around top cop Michael Chitwood and the continuing scandal swirling around New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer and a network of insiders who continue to tap into taxpayer monies unabated.
Both public officials have benefitted from overpaid municipal administrators, along with a wall of silence from elected office holders and print media all too eager to get those CRA dollars.
We're methodically building our case on why Chitwwod and Barringer, leaving no stone unturned in providing comprehensive coverage of these stories that have impact countywide and beyond.
In the long run, the truth will win out. It always does.