Summerville Patch Turns One Year Old

Summerville Patch launched June 20, 2011, and Wednesday it celebrates its first birthday as the town's only fully online news source.

Much of the tale from the last year has been in the realm of politics. Patch leapt onto the scene on the same day as Mayor Bill Collins' swearing in. It then continued coverage of the S.C. GOP presidential preferential primary. More recently, it hosted a and followed the state and county office GOP primary. .

But it hasn't been all politics.

The most popular story of 2012 was the story Patch broke first March 26: . One of the horses suffered extensive chemical burns.

Patch has continued to monitor Traveler and Whisper's progress toward health as the nonprofit LEARN cares for them, getting them fit enough for travel to Nelson's Texas home.

Patch was also the first to report , when he was in a one-car collision earlier this month, and the first to report that .

Among one of its more popular and regular stories is Patch's arrest reports — highlighting those arrested by Summerville Police and Dorchester County Sheriff's Office. These reports have included DUIs, simple possession of marijuana and much more. 

Here are the top 25 stories of 2012: 

4. "Poll: Who Won Monday's Debate?"
9. "Teacher Arrested on Charge of Soliciting Minor"
19. "Raising Cain: Citizens United Candidate Scores Votes"

What do you think of Patch? What can we do better to better serve Summerville? What do you want to see Patch do in the next year? Tell us in the comments!

Want to get us a little something for Patch's first birthday? Here's our wish list:

• Like us on Facebook. Share the link with your friends and ask them to like us too!
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• Sign up for our daily newsletter
• Become a blogger! Email lindsay.street@patch.com to find out how