Top Stories of 2015: Lives Remembered, Toddler Missing then Found, Schools Honored

From tragedy to triumph, it was an eventful year in Hamilton and Wenham.

Wenham mourned the sudden and tragic loss of a beloved father and daughter, but came together to offer love and support to grieving family and friends.

Hamilton held its collective breath when a little girl went missing from her home and then rejoiced when she was found and safely returned to her parents.

Graduation services for Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School found a new home. Additionally, the towns’ schools continued to be recognized among the best in the state.

A couple of local police officers were injured while working a detail in Hamilton.10

So here they are -- the Top 10 most read articles in 2015 on Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

>>> Is there a story you expected to see here, but didn’t? Let us know in the comments.

• Wenham Father, Daughter Killed in Wisconsin Plane Crash -- Joe and Anna Trustey, much loved in the Wenham community and beyond, were killed during a college visit to the Midwest earlier this year. The community responded to the tragedy with an outpouring of love and support for the family.
• Former Babysitter Charged with Kidnapping Hamilton 2-Year-Old -- A 21-year-old was charged after Lyndon Albers went missing from her home in the middle of the night.
• Police Searching for Missing 2-Year-Old -- Lyndon Albers’ family saw her in the overnight hours, but when they awoke the next morning, she was missing. The toddler was later found safe and sound.
• How Far Does $100 Go in Massachusetts? -- This one was an interesting look at the value of $100 in Massachusetts and throughout the country.
• Toddler Reuniting with Parents, Investigation Ongoing: Police Chief -- Lydon Albers was found hours after she went missing from her home and was treated at the hospital before returning home.
• Donor Withdraws Enormous Pledge from Wenham College -- A major donor to Gordon College announced a change in his donation plans after a change in leadership at the school.
• Hundreds Attend Vigil for Wenham’s Joe, Ann Trustey -- The community came out with love and support and fond memories when a local family suffered a terrible tragedy this summer.
• School Committee Votes to Move Graduation Away from Gordon College -- After students raised concerns about Gordon College’s statements related to the LGBT community, the school committee voted to move the high school’s graduation ceremony off the college’s campus.
• Officers Injured in Police Detail Crash in Hamilton -- Two officers working a detail in Hamilton were struck and injured by a vehicle.
• Hamilton-Wenham High Ranked Among Best High Schools in the State -- Students in Hamilton-Wenham schools are getting an excellent education, according to recent polls.