A Look Back At Waltham In 2017: Most Read Patch Stories

WALTHAM, MA — It was an intense year in Waltham. From back and forth over where to put the new high school ( Stigmatine v Fernald) pitting the mayor against some of the city council to weeks of alerts across the city about bomb threats at public buildings to the somewhat baffling news that a woman had taken up the annual tradition of stealing - a lot of - tomatoes from the local farm. Oh, and in case you blocked it out, there was major election this year in Waltham, too.

But no story was more followed than the news that a 80s TV star who had come to the city to perform at the Regal Music Theatre was arrested for allegedly groping a fellow cast member, without her permission during rehearsal. Though it came just before the Hollywood landslide of accusations, it highlighted Waltham is not immune from this dynamic. Court documents showed the director had talked to him several times about his behavior, which included him hanging out around the ladies dressing room. Police arrested him at the school and then a few weeks later he was charged again after an underage teen came forward with more allegations.

What follows is the top 10 list of most read stories this year on the Waltham Patch:

1. More Charges Against 'Dukes of Hazzard' Star. As we mentioned above, this story was a talker from Waltham to LA. Even TMZ was talking about Waltham.
2. Waltham Fire Chief On 10 Alarm Fire: 'We're Going To Be Here For A While': It was hard not to miss this one. The Cooper Street Fire was the talk of the town for weeks as fire and police officials asked for the public's help in finding any clues to who may have started the Cooper Street fire this summer. No one was injured, but the fancy new wood framed building and a number of cars nearby were wrecked. Fire officials ruled this an arson, but no word yet on whether they have any suspects. Watch for more on this in 2018.
3. Murder Suspect Began 'Wailing and Crying': As the details of this murder unfolded, we came to find out that some major parts of this took place in Waltham.
4. Waltham School Bus Rollover: 22 students on board, 10 Injured. This happened way back in January 2017.
5. Waltham Teen Told Police He Was Held Hostage Before Stabbing: According to court documents, the teen accused of murdering a woman on Adams Street said he was held hostage by her before he stabbed her.
6. Waltham Educator Steve Kanode Passes Away: Early in 2017 the news came that the beloved assistant principal of Stanley Elementary School died after a long battle with cancer.
7. Four men accused of selling heroin in Waltham Busted, Big Time: At a time when so many Waltham residents have been touched by opioid abuse or overdose, this was a talker. Four men were accused of distributing heroin in and around Waltham over the course of several months and then they sold drugs to an undercover investigator.
8. Waltham, Belmont School Bomb Threats. This started in July and seemed to increase each week: At one point there was a single day with more than 20 separate bomb threats lobbed at spots around the city. It wasn't until October that the Waltham Bomb Threat Suspect Arrested - For Cyberstalking.
9. Waltham School District Left Scrambling After Surprise News: The Waltham School Superintendent, School Committee and the mayor were taken by surprise by a plan to add 60 homeless families to the Home Suites Inn. The school officials only found out about the plan through a rumor - and only after the budget for the next school year had been finished.
10. Waltham's Dave Sandison Passes Away: 'He literally knew everybody' It was a solemn day when Dave passed. Everyone from the mayor to the police department and many a person in between had something nice to say about this guy.
11. And because we're not going to end 2017 on such a sad note, this was another popular story in 2017. The unlikely story of a tortoise named Steve "running" away from home and then being found and returned to his people THREE years later.

Do you agree with this? What do you think was Waltham's most important news story in 2017? Take a moment to comment here or on Facebook and let us know.

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