Eight October Story Lines You Loved: Shawn Johnson, Gabby Douglas, Allegedly Drunk Republican, Judicial Retention, Political Cash and More

First, a little ode to October from Carol Bishop Hipps’ In a Southern Garden: Twelve Months of Plants and Observations:

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter."

Kicked up with the leaves this October was this little storm – hardly mellow, but kind of messy – the day after the first presidential debate:

• Woman Tells Police Being a Republican Should Keep Her Out of Jail

Politics unusual?

Politics as usual?

You had a whole lot to say about this:

• Should Iowans Keep Justice Who Ruled for Same Sex Marriage? Iowa Patch Poll

Politics were impossible to escape. So was Shawn Johnson, who danced, danced, danced deeper into West Des Moines’ hearts. You loved this:

• Dancing With the Stars Results: Shawn Johnson Has Judges Squabbling

And this

• Dancing With the Stars Results: Did Shawn Johnson Get the Boot on Country Night?

And this

• Dancing with the Stars Results: Shawn Johnson Gets 'Best Dance Ever' Raves from Judges

And this:

• Dancing with the Stars Results: Shawn Johnson Scores Three Perfect 10s

And this:

• Dancing with the Stars Results: Did West Des Moines Native Shawn Johnson Survive?

You loved the coach who guided her to Olympic gold before she began her quickstep toward another glitter ball trophy:

Speaking of Gabby:

Love isn’t what you felt about this:

• IRS Files Liens to Recover $3.8 Million from West Des Moines HR Outsourcing Company
• Victims Coming Forward in Alleged $3.8 Million Payroll Fraud by West Des Moines Company

It was a sad month, too.

But we celebrated her spirit.

• State Senator Who Lost Breast Cancer Battle Showed Other Survivors How to Live
• Iowans Remember State Senator Pat Ward’s ‘Tenacious’ and ‘Exuberant’ Spirit