By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
As we review the top stories of 2021, one thing is clear, bad news sells.
Seven of our top stories involved a death, and the three that didn’t involved a major accident, a substitute teacher being arrested for possession of child pornography and a massive truck and motorcycle accident that closed US Highway 90 for half the day.
The Top 10 list is easy to research. Two clicks of buttons and the list is laid out in front of us, from the most popular with 13,218 reads, to several stories with fewer than 200 reads.
The most surprising thing about the list is there were no stories about the influx of Haitian refugees in the Top 10, or barely the Top 25. Karen Gleason’s story, “Under the Bridge, a sea of humanity,” was the first story with more than 3,000 views from the 15,000 Haitian visitors. NEWS — Under the bridge: A sea of humanity – 830Times
- The most read story of 2021 involved the motorcycle and 18-wheeler accident at Sycamore Creek Bridge in September. Five motorcyclists were out for a Sunday ride and were waiting to be forwarded through the construction zone at the bridge when the truck plowed through them. Luckily, this crash didn’t involve a fatality but several members of the motorcycle crew were flown to San Antonio for higher-level medical care. 13,218 people read this story. NEWS — Horrific crash closes US Highway 90 – 830Times
- It was a spectacular explosion at the Laughlin gate, when a Union Pacific locomotive collided with a fuel truck on the track. Once again, it was miraculous no one was killed but the Laughlin employees who were waiting in line will never forget the explosion and towering fireball. UPDATED NEWS — Train hits fuel truck at Laughlin gate – 830Times
- A local substitute teacher was taken into federal custody for possessing child pornography. Oscar Barrera Jr., was taken into custody by federal agents and later released with tight restrictions on $30,000 bond. NEWS — Former substitute teacher charged with child porn possession – 830Times
4 & 9. The story involving a Venezeluan man jumping from the US Highway 277/Dr. Fermin Calderon Boulevard overpass took two spots on the Top 10 most read stories list. When Jesus Rivas Romero fell from a local overpass, 830 Times senior writer Karen Gleason was able to piece together much about his last 24 hours and his interactions with Border Patrol, Val Verde Regional Medical Center staff and Del Rio Police Department.
4th NEWS — Police investigate death in fall from bridge – 830Times
9th NEWS — Man who fell from overpass had been treated at hospital, arrested – 830Times
5 & 10. The Val Verde County Sheriff’s office received a call in the early morning hours about a body at the San Felipe Cemetery. Within days, the Val Verde County Sheriff’s office had three people in custody for the murder of 27-year-old Sandra De La Cruz.
5 — Body of murdered woman discovered in San Felipe Cemetery Sunday morning – 830Times
10 — https://830times.com/three-arrested-in-ongoing-murder-investigation/
- US Highway 90 was home to another horrible accident in December that sent nine people to the hospital. Michael Anthony Martinez, the 21-year-old driver of a Chevy Tahoe, found himself the target of a number of charges including endangerment of child/imminent danger, a state jail felony; and reckless driving, a Class B misdemeanor.
NEWS — Criminal charges to be pursued against one driver in 3-vehicle accident – 830Times
- A revered Laughlin instructor pilot, Maj. Ryan Mudry, was killed in a private aircraft accident in mid-July. The private plane that Mudry, Laughlin’s Field Grade Officer of the Year for 2020, meaning he was selected at the top major, lieutenant colonel and colonel in the 47th Flying Training Wing, was piloting crashed in a remote ranch about 27 miles northwest of Del Rio. He was the only person onboard.
NEWS — Laughlin instructor killed in crash – 830Times
- It took a jury two hours to find Freddy Villanueva guilty in the murder of Manuel Sanchez. A judge sentenced him to 40 years in prison. Villanueva was the fourth person sentenced in Sanchez’s death.
NEWS — Villanueva sentenced to 40 years after guilty verdict – 830Times
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Contact the author at joelalangton@gmail.com
