At the end of every year, newspapers, magazines and networks look back at the year in review.

They pinpoint the highlights of the year, as well as the low points. The media says farewell to those who have passed on during the year and welcomes the new faces.

The Times-Union is no exception.

Staff writers chose the top 10 local stories of 1998. A list of 30 was compiled and narrowed down to 17, due to a couple of ties. Those 17 were then ranked by the staff writers and pared down to the top 10. Those stories, chosen in order, are:

1. Brandon Robinson - Robinson, 18, of 1815 Deer Trail, was initially charged with three counts of driving while intoxicated causing death. He was later charged with three counts of DWI causing death, three counts of reckless homicide and two counts of DWI causing serious bodily injury.

Robinson entered a plea of not guilty.

Robinson was found guilty Nov. 20, 1998, on five drunk driving offenses and acquitted of three reckless homicide charges. The jurors deliberated for nearly six hours.

Kosciusko Superior Court III Judge Joseph Sutton sentenced Robinson to 28 years in prison. The sentences were ordered served consecutively. With credit for good behavior, Robinson could serve half the sentence.

Aaron P. Hatfield, 17, and Tyler Bartley, 12, were in the car Robinson collided with and were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in Hatfield's vehicle, Heather Florey, 16, died later at KCH of internal injuries. Tiffany Bartley, 13, and infant Monica Hatfield were airlifted from KCH to Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Zimmer and Crystal Lake roads. According to witnesses, Robinson's pickup was headed north on Zimmer Road when it ran through the stop sign at the intersection of Crystal Lake Road. Hatfield was driving his car west on Crystal Lake Road when he stopped at the intersection and then started to turn south onto Zimmer Road.

2. Quorum Health Group buys KCH - The Kosciusko Community Hospital board of directors decided to sell KCH to Quorum Health Group Inc., based in Brentwood, Tenn. The proposed sale will be final Jan. 1.

Proceeds of the sale will be used to form a foundation promoting health care in Kosciusko County. All KCH employees will be offered the opportunity to retain their positions after the sale.

Quorum Health Group Inc., is a for-profit health organization which owns 20 hospitals and manages 240 throughout the United States.

3. Johnson & Johnson buys DePuy Inc. - The two companies announced July 21, 1998, Johnson & Johnson would acquire DePuy for $35 a share in a deal valued at $3.5 billion. Johnson & Johnson also entered into an agreement with Roche Holding AG to acquire 84-percent of the outstanding shares of DePuy.

Roche is a Swiss pharmaceuticals giant.

DePuy is one of four major orthopedic manufacturers in Warsaw and employs more than 800 people locally. Johnson & Johnson said DePuy will remain headquartered in Warsaw.

4. Cusick Deaths - Sherrie Cusick, Cromwell, was scheduled to begin her trial for the murder of her stepson Anthony Cusick on Nov. 23, 1998. It was rescheduled for the beginning of 1999. The younger Cusick died in a fire at the home of Richard and Sherrie Cusick while in Sherrie's care.

Anthony died about three months after his 4-year-old sister, Kaelie Cusick, died in a fall down the stairs at the Cusick residence. Both deaths were originally ruled accidental.

A grand jury investigation resulted in Sherrie being charged with murder in Anthony's death. No indictment was returned with regard to Kaelie's death.

Sherrie Cusick was charged with the death of Kaelie Nov. 23 after an investigation which included experts from two other states. The experts determined Kaelie did not suffer a broken neck, but died from a blunt force trauma to the back of the head.

Sherrie Cusick pleaded not guilty.

A civil lawsuit against both Richard and Sherrie Cusick is also pending and claims the couple are responsible for both children's deaths due to negligence. The case was filed in Kosciusko Superior Court I by Lisa Teders, the mother of the children.

5. Cross Death - Dr. Richard Cross, a prominent Warsaw physician, died June 17, 1998, when he was electrocuted in the waters of Winona Lake behind his home. Cross, 50, was in the water near a personal watercraft, apparently trying to start the craft with a battery charger. Electricity was flowing to the battery charger.

6. Butterfly blaze - The Butterfly and Warsaw Tool Supply were destroyed Sept. 27, 1998, in a $1 million fire that took out a quarter-block of Warsaw's downtown.

A Warsaw police officer on routine patrol noticed smoke coming from The Butterfly at the southeast corner of Lake and Market streets shortly before 5 a.m. and notified the fire department. Firefighters arrived minutes later. Eight departments, including Warsaw, Winona Lake, Atwood, Leesburg, Pierceton, Larwill, Burket and Syracuse, were fought the blaze.

A malfunction in a three-phase breaker panel in The Butterfly's mechanical room was determined the point of origin for the fire.

Owners of The Butterfly said they were hoping to rebuild downtown as soon as possible.

7. Three teens die in crash in Pierceton - Three teens were killed in a one-vehicle accident early Nov. 1, 1998. Pronounced dead at the scene were John C. G. Johnson, 19, Adam Bernicky, 18, and Joshua L. Hartline, 16. All three died from head injuries.

Police said alcohol was believed to be a factor in the accident.

8. Brethren church destroyed -ÊSmoke was spotted coming from the North Manchester Church of the Brethren at 2 a.m. Jan. 7, 1998. Area fire departments battled the blaze for three hours. The fire was blamed on an electrical malfunction.

9. New, improved library has lots to offer - The Warsaw Community Public Library tripled its size with a building project. The grand opening was held Sept. 13, 1998. Patrons were taking advantage of the new features months before. The adult section was expanded and more than 400 periodicals, newspapers and magazines are available.

10. Controversial roadside stand giving food away - Washington Township Trustee Rex Alley sought to prevent Phil Tom, an area farmer, from selling fresh food at the intersection Old 30 and Ind. 13. Tom, during the last weekend in operation, decided not to sell the produce, but to give it away Sept. 26, 1998. [[In-content Ad]]