February was a short month, but some big stories meant thousands of people headed to Lowell’s First Look to read about the latest news. Our website was viewed 20,626 times last month, and our Facebook page reached 11,277 people.
Here’s a look at the most-read articles on Lowell’s First Look, based on website views, during February 2020.
5. Long Time LHS Athletic Administrative Assistant Retires
Betsy Maki has been a familiar face at Lowell High School ever since the current building opened more than 25 years ago. The longtime employee has been an integral part of the athletic department, tracking student-athlete eligibility and scheduling teams for facility use. However, Maki decided it was time to move on to other pursuits at the end of January, and our article about her retirement was the fifth most-read article on Lowell’s First Look in February.
4. Conflict on Fire Authority Board Leads Chair to Resign
Personal conflict between members of the Fire Authority Board finally boiled over after a training session that was intended to foster greater unity among members. The longtime chair, who had been on the board for more than a decade, quit his position, saying he’d finally had enough of what he describes as years of contentious meetings. Our story on the matter ruffled some feathers and was the fourth most-read article last month.
3. Whites Bridge Expected to Reopen in July
Nearly seven years ago, the historic Whites Bridge was destroyed by an arsonist. Since then, a committed group of volunteers has been working to create a new bridge that will continue the legacy of the original Whites Bridge. The Whites Bridge Historical Society made an announcement last week that the bridge should be ready for traffic by July. Published three days before the end of the month, this story garnered intense interest and quickly moved to the number three spot for February.
2. Big Boiler Brewing Hires Operations Director to Oversee Expanding Business
Sarah Schofield is well-known by regulars at Vitale’s in Ada, and now she’s bringing her expertise to Big Boiler Brewing in Lowell. Consistent quality and service and increased community involvement are two of her priorities in her new role as the restaurant’s operations director. Going forward, she expects to oversee other establishments being planned by the restaurant group that owns the brewery. The announcement of her new position in Lowell was the second most-read article of the month.
1. Mexican Restaurant Planned for Historic Downtown
There was no competition. This article on a Mexican restaurant planned for the former Serenity Club building on the Flat River was far and away the most read article of the month. The owners have big plans that include a wrap-around deck, a menu of street tacos and drinks and boutique hotel rooms on the second floor. There are still a few hurdles to clear, but if all goes as planned, the eatery is expected to be open for business next year.
Did your favorite article make the list? Which story did you like best last month? Tell us in the comments below or on our Facebook page.
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