We take a look back at the top stories of the year.
Read more: Local, Top Stories of the Year, Headlines, News Stories, 2009
UPPER PENINSULA -- This year in the Upper Peninsula will go down in the history books for the destructive wildfires and the high profile court cases.
There's been several stories that have led our newscasts and we're taking a look back.
2009 will be known as the year fire tore through Ely Township in Marquette County.
Twenty one families lost their homes and all their belongings in the Black River Falls Wildfire on May 20.
At the same time, the Pinery Lake Fire near L'Anse destroyed a single trailer in its path. Thankfully, no one was killed in either fire.
In Hancock, an apartment fire killed four people on July 25. Ronald Kempainen was charged with starting the deadly fire. Kempainen has pled not guilty.
In May, Scott Johnson was sentenced to life in prison for killing three teens along the Menominee River in 2008.
In another case, James Dulak was found guilty on October 20 of murdering Mark Keller of Menominee Township. He'll be sentenced in January.
2009 was also the the year of embezzlement, whether it was the president of the Shingleton Recreational Club, the director of an Iron County funeral home, a church treasurer in Ontonagon, or two businessmen accused of fraud in the Hawks Ridge condominium development in Marquette.
The debate over a Russian cargo plane also made its way into a courtroom in Marquette. The plane, which carried five Ukrainians with expired visas, is still sitting at Sawyer Airport, waiting for someone to fly it away.
And the year ended with what is probably the most bizarre case of 2009. Two Marquette residents accused of blackmailing TV star John Stamos, allegedly demanding $680,000 from him.
That case will play out in court in 2010.
For a look back at even more top news stories of the year, check back Tuesday for the second part of this series.
