10 Most Read Articles on Lowell’s First Look in 2017

It’s been a busy year for us here at Lowell’s First Look. We’ve published hundreds of articles, and it’s interesting to see which ones resonate most with readers. The nice thing about publishing online is that we can see exactly how many people are reading each article. (Don’t worry — all the data is anonymous. We can’t see who is reading articles, just the number of article views).

We’ve run the numbers, and the following articles were the most read on Lowell’s First Look in 2017.

Honorable Mention: Could the City of Lowell miss its opportunity to be part of the Fred Meijer Trail Network?

We’ll start with an honorable mention because this article was sooooo close to making the top ten. It’s also timely because the Fred Meijer River Valley Rail Trails just received a significant grant so if the city wants to get in on the the trail, the time is now or never.

10. Stories of Perseverance: Kim Stephens

 

Each year, Pink Arrow Pride shares stories of perseverance from community members who are on a cancer journey. All these stories have been popular, and two landed in the top ten. First up is the inspirational story from Kim Stephens.

9. Sneak Peek at Big Boiler Eats

Big Boiler Brewing Growlers

People were really excited about the opening of Big Boiler Brewing, and our exclusive sneak peek at their menu was the ninth most read article of the year.

8. Family Owned Boutique Winery opens in Lowell

Janet Lawrence at Henry’s Heritage Winery

For those who prefer wine to beer, there is a boutique winery in town. Folks were interested to learn more, and our article on Henry’s Heritage Winery was a hit.

7. Press Release: Senator Dave Hildenbrand secures $1 million grant from the state of Michigan to help rebuild the Lowell Showboat

The Showboat is a Lowell icon, and stories about it proved to be among the best-read and most-shared pieces we published in 2017. In the number seven spot is this press release from Senator Dave Hildenbrand announcing some major money had been awarded to replace the aging boat.

6. Statement from City Manager Mike Burns Regarding the Showboat

There was also controversy about the Showboat name, and plenty of people clicked on this article to read why City Manager Mike Burns took down the boat’s nameplate.

5. Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts 2017 Schedule

The City of Lowell is hopping on Thursday nights thanks to the Sizzlin’ Summer Concert Series. This article, detailing last year’s summer line-up, was our fifth most popular story in 2017.

4. Press Release from Barry County Regarding Chief Bukala

The Lowell Police Chief landed in some hot water about unauthorized use of the the state’s LEIN computer system. The popular chief was placed on leave while the Barry County prosecutor investigated, and people read this press release to learn the details. By the end of the year, the case would be resolved, and Chief Bukala returned to his post.

3. A Sweet Opening

Beer and wine aren’t the only beverages worth reading about. People love their coffee too, and our article on the opening of Sweet Seasons was the third most read story of the year.

2. Stories of Perseverance: Anna Walz

Anna Walz’s story of perseverance struck a chord with many people, and it was the second most read article on Lowell’s First Look for 2017.

1. COMING SOON…BIG BOILER BREWING

It was one of the most-anticipated business openings in 2017 and that helped make our story about Big Boiler Brewing our most read article for the year. It wasn’t just the most read; it was the most read by a mile. The story had more than double the views of the second place finisher.

What was your favorite Lowell’s First Look story for 2017? Tell us in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

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