The Top 10 of 2012: Montgomery Patch's Most-Read Stories of the Year

For better or worse, the one thing about being an online news source is knowing exactly which stories hit a nerve with our readers and those that barely made a ripple.

It will probably come as no surprise that many of the best-read stories on Montgomery Patch were those that had to do with police and fire or local schools.

Don't worry — if you're disheartened by the fact that so many sad stories made the cut, check back for our roundup of our favorite feel-good stories of the year. We'll also have a roundups of editor's picks, top business stories, best blog posts and more, so stay tuned!

10.Updated: Gun Recovered After Montgomery Shooting; Officer Stable After Being Struck by Car Sgt. Adam Kuncl was injured while responding to a report of shots fired Saturday morning on Oakton Road; Kendall J. Collier, 18, of Oswego is charged with aggravated DUI in the incident. It's his fourth arrest since May.

9. Boy Dies After Being Pulled from Water at Jericho Lake Park Rescue divers pulled a 9-year-old boy from Jericho Lake in Montgomery on Sunday evening after he had been submerged for almost 45 minutes.

8. Driver in Tuesday Night Crash Seriously Injured Hospital officials won't confirm the condition of 16-year-old girl driving the minivan involved in Tuesday's crash with a semi truck on Orchard Road, but Montgomery police say she is in critical condition.

7. UPDATE: Firefighter Died of Attack From Her Own Dog Dawn Brown was home alone at the time of the attack. Here are more details.

6. UPDATE: Three Killed in Semi Truck Crash Near Oswego The Illinois State Police released preliminary details of a Monday afternoon crash on Rt. 126 between a car and a semi truck in which three people died.

5. Man Arrested With Semi-Automatic Rifle and Ammo Outside Oswego Walmart Mason K. Dunne, 21, of Pennsylvania was charged with two felony counts for weapons and one misdemeanor.

4. Driver in Tuesday Night Crash Dies Officials at the DuPage County Coroner's Office confirmed that Jennifer VanEtten, 16, of Big Rock, died at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

3. Three Injured in Crash on Orchard Road Three people were taken to the hospital - one by helicopter - when a minivan collided with a semi truck on Tuesday night at Orchard Road and Route 30.

2. Montgomery Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash on Route 30 Christopher Glover, 37, died early Tuesday morning from injuries he sustained in a Monday night crash between his motorcycle and a car on Route 30 at Prescott Drive, police said.

1. Oswego Boy Dies After Baseball Accident in Wheaton District 308 counselors available for students, adults.