The 10 most-read Prior Lake stories of 2017

Prior Lake American

It's been quite the year for Prior Lake.

Crime, fish and remembering lives lost made the most-read stories of 2017, as determined by the number of online views for each story. These are the top 10, as determined by the readers of the Prior Lake American.

1. Prior Lake High School grad charged with rape

Donte Zemaitis-Thomas was charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct and false imprisonment in November for an alleged rape that took place in Mankato. Both charges are felonies in Blue Earth County Court. Zemaitis-Thomas graduated from Prior Lake High School in 2016.

2. Prior Lake woman among six charged in Bloomington murder

Prior Lake resident Briana Marie Martinson and five others were charged in Hennepin County District Court in May for the murder of Bloomington resident Corey Preston Elder. Martinson was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, and one count each of first-degree burglary and second-degree assault.

3. Fatal motorcycle crash Halloween night

A fatal motorcycle crash took place on Panama Avenue in Spring Lake Township on Halloween, close to 8 p.m. The motorcycle was attempting to pass another vehicle when it was struck by a vehicle headed the other way.

4. Prior Lake area native killed in snowmobile accident on Wisconsin lake

Todd Kane, 42, grew up in Prior Lake but lived in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Kane died in a snowmobile accident in January. Kane was remembered for being a "Broncos fan, car enthusiast, dog lover and Coors Light connoisseur" according to a post from his employer at the time of his death.

5. Prior Lake High School student suffers fatal aneurysm

Prior Lake High School senior Matthew Millenacker, 18, died of a cerebral aneurysm in April. Millenacker was remembered in his obituary as having an "upbeat disposition" and being a "fun-loving, kind person."

6. Celebrating Zach: benefit set for man's bereaved family

Zach Caruso of Savage died in March. A benefit and silent auction was held in April in Prior Lake to make sure his family was taken care of. Caruso died of angiosarcoma cancer just nine weeks and five days after his diagnosis.

7. Man who helped save Prior Lake homes from flood waters dies in boating accident

Bill Pearson, 69, died in a boating accident in Canada in August. Pearson had made sure his company donated literal tons of sand for protective sandbags during the flood of 2014 to protect Prior Lake homes.

8. Updated: Foster homes found for dogs

About 10 dogs found last-minute homes in November, sparing them from being euthanized. The dogs were Labrador, Collie and Golden Retriever mixes from a cruel background. Animal organizations across the state worked to find the dogs temporary homes in less than 24 hours.

9. Man gets 20 years for drive-by shootings in Scott County

Luke Mackenzie Campbell pleaded guilty in April for drive-by shooting incidents in Shakopee and Prior Lake. The shooting incident in Shakopee took place in March 2016, where a bus passenger was injured. Campbell also pleaded guilty in relation to a shooting near Mystic Lake Hotel Casino.

10. A record carp haul on Spring Lake

Commercial fisherman pulled in 34,000 pounds of carp in January. The haul was coordinated by the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District to reduce carp population in Spring and Prior lakes. Carp destroy vegetation essential to native fish.