While we've only been up and running in Hackettstown for a quarter of the year, we've had plenty of stories that have resonated with readers. Below is a list of our top 12 most read stories since we launched on Sept. 27.

Click on the headline to read the full post. James Bayliss was just a passenger in a car being driven by his friend in 2009 when his life changed forever. Police stopped the car and frisked Bayliss as they searched for home invasion perpetrators in the area. What resulted was a physical assault by state troopers on the then-21-year-old. He and his family are still looking for answers more than three years later.

M&M Store–First of its Kind–Set for Hackettstown The M&M corporation, a Hackettstown staple since 1958, branched out this year and introduced a "pop-up" store on Main Street for two weeks, which drew huge attention from around the area. Floods of M&M fans flocked to the area to indulge in all things M&M at the retail location. 8 Pets Rescued From Lafayette St. Fire An apartment fire ripped through two units of a four-apartment building on Lafayette Street this fall, displacing two families. Fortunately, at the time of the blaze, no one was home except the family's pets, which were all saved and unharmed.

Outages Drop as JCP&L Adds More Manpower One of the biggest ongoing stories of the year was the pre-, during, and post-Hurricane Sandy chaos that took place in New Jersey. Hackettstown was without power anywhere from 48 hours to 10 days, and the schools were closed for a full week due to the storm's impact. For full coverage on Hurricane Sandy, go here. Chris Connors of Belvidere, formerly of Mt. Olive, died in a car crash on a dangerous section of Rt. 46 in Budd Lake in October, with two others being hospitalized as a result of the crash. The roadway was closed for hours to clear up the debris. Connors is survived by his wife and four children.

Medical Center Partnership Has Three Bidders Earlier this year Hackettstown Regional Medical Center announced it would be searching for a partner to help continue the ongoing medical coverage to the area. In December, three bidders were announced to have come forward. A decision has yet to be made in who will be the winning bidder.

Bear Killed With Bow and Arrow in Hackettstown A black bear was shot and killed by bow and arrow on Baldwin Street this fall when a resident illegally targeted the bruin, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The female bear weighed 266 pounds. Charges have been pressed against the shooter.

A major scare at Hackettstown High School gripped the community on the morning of March 26, as an alleged gunman called police and said he was wandering the woods near the school and was prepared to take action. The threat, in the end, came away as unfounded, but widened the eyes of many in the area. Dead Body Pulled From River in Hackettstown The year kicked off on a somber note, as authorities pulled the dead body of 55-year-old Candido Bonilla of Hackettstown from the Musconetcong River on January 3. Employees of Greenway Flowers on the Washington Township side of the river observed the body that morning and called police.