Dimon Kendrick-Holmes: My top stories of 2015

Today begins stories-of-the-year week here at the Ledger-Enquirer.

Maybe you have a theory about why we do this: People like looking back on the year's stories and debating if we got the list right? All the newsmakers are on vacation and there's less news to report? Many of our reporters are on vacation and so there are fewer people to report the news?

Well, yes, yes and yes.

So while we're at it, let me give you my favorite stories of the year. You probably won't find any of them in any of our year-end lists.

First, the hands-down winner was Stephanie Pedersen's story about the single mother who called Columbus police to discipline her 10-year-old son.

There's so much to like here. First, the boy's teacher, Sasha Smith of St. Marys Road Magnet Academy, actually made a home visit after he was misbehaving in school.

When the boy responded by being disrespectful to his teacher, his mother, Chiquita Hill, actually said this: "If you don't care, this is what I'm going to do: I'm going to call the police."

And so she did.

When the police officers arrived, they responded like Sheriff Andy Taylor would have. They spoke sternly, they gently put him in handcuffs, and they stowed him in the squad car, turned on the lights and acted like they were driving away.

Lesson learned.

When released, the kid sprinted down the hill and gave his mother a huge hug.

"I was trying to get a point across to my son: If you want to be disrespectful and you want to be rude, this is what happens when bad people do bad things," Hill said afterward. "There are consequences for everything."

She also said this: "I wanted to get him while he's still young and impressionable."

OK, maybe it wasn't textbook parenting. But it was a mother who understands that for her, as for all of us who are parents, time is running out. Those little kids will be adults before we know it.

Bravo, Mom.

I also liked Kyle Nazario's story about 1st Lt. James R. Lamoreaux, who received the Soldier's Medal for saving two boys from drowning in the Chattahoochee.

Lamoreaux and his wife were visiting the RiverWalk for the first time when they saw two boys, ages 9 and 15, struggling in the current just south of the CutBait rapid.

The young officer is a former lifeguard, but even so it's dangerous to jump into the river without a life vest. (In fact, it's illegal, at least if you're not trying to save somebody.)

He was so honed in on his mission that he didn't even remove his cellphone, which would be ruined. Later, he denied being a hero and actually said, "I despise the usage of that word in reference to me because I know there are numerous actions that soldiers have done that have gone unnoticed."

I especially enjoyed reading the words of his commander, who praised Lamoreaux but was also careful to note that he was

a "better-than-average young officer."

Where's this kid from? Lake Wobegon? Besides, he may be saving lives and winning medals, but he's still a lieutenant.

Finally, I enjoyed Larry Gierer's story about Monique Gunnels, who retired from the Columbus Symphony Orchestra after playing the flute there for 50 years.

She started when she was 13, and at the time felt like she was "pretty hot stuff." The thrill never wore off.

She found something she loved and, even while maintaining a 28-year teaching career and raising a family, she just kept on doing it and having a blast.

May we all be so lucky.

Happy New Year.

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes, executive editor, dkholmes@ledger-enquirer.com.

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 9:37 PM with the headline "Dimon Kendrick-Holmes: My top stories of 2015 ."