This has been a busy news year, with stories ranging from winter storms and plane crashes to fires and students with guns.<br />
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The editors at AccessNorthGa.com decided to compile a list of the most read stories of 2014. These stories, in effect, were chosen by our readers. They are ranked by the number of unique visitors who read each story.<br />
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<b>No. 10: Blue Cross Blue Shield Georgia issues run out notice for NGHS</b>, August 20, read by 16,025 visitors<br />
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Northeast Georgia Health Systems announced in October that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia has issued a run-out notice. That meant the health system would no longer be part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia network as of March 1, 2015. But by the end of September, the two groups had reached a multiyear agreement to extend the contract.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=278532">Read this story.</a><br />
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<b>No. 9: Atheist group threatens lawsuit against Chestatee HS for football prayer</b>, August 12, read by 17,598<br />
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In August, the American Humanist Association threatened legal action against Hall County schools because, the group alleged, coaches and others were leading athletes in prayer in violation of the First Amendment. The school system ultimately refused to back down, saying it hadn't violated anyone's religious freedoms. Later in the year, the group followed through on its vow and suited Chestatee High and the Hall County schools system. The case has not yet been heard.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=278190">Read this story.</a><br />
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<b>No. 8: Fire heavily damages Clarkesville Square</b>, March 6, read by 18,577<br />
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An overnight fire in March destroyed a large part of the east side of the historic Clarkesville Square. The fire broke out about 11 p.m. at Sweet Breads restaurant, but quickly spread to other buildings.<br />
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Officials from eight nearby fire departments helped battle the fire.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=272027">Read this story.</a><br />
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<b>No. 7: One person dead, second person injured in Gainesville plane crash</b>, October 16, read by 19,000<br />
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In October, a plane crashed while trying to land at Lee Gilmer Airport. Although the investigation is still ongoing by the National Transportation Safety Board, it appears the plane suffered mechanical problems on takeoff. The pilot attempted to return to the airport, but the plane crashed on Palmour Drive.<br />
The pilot, Lawrence Youhanaian, 74, of Gainesville, died at the scene. His passenger, Kelly Chandler, 50, suffered serious burns in the crash and died a few weeks later.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=280810">Read this story.</a><br />
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<b>No. 6: Injured Hall Co. firefighters stable after ladder truck collapse</b>, July 22, read by 20,298<br />
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A ladder truck accident at the county's training center in July seriously injured three firefighters. The accident involved a mechanical failure of the ladder truck.<br />
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Two subsequent investigations into the accident found no wrongdoing on the part of Hall County firefighters, and the truck's manufacturer, Sutphen Corporation, agree to buy the truck back from the county for more than $500,000<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=277402">Read this story.</a><br />
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<b>No. 5: Child burned by distraction device during raid</b>, May 29, read by 21,928<br />
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A 2-year-old was severely burned in Habersham County during a drug raid in May.<br />
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The child was burned when narcotics agents, assisted by members of the Habersham Special Response Team, used a distraction device as they entered a home at 182 Lakeview Heights Circle outside Cornelia.<br />
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Habersham Sheriff Joey Terrell said agents followed standard procedure prior to obtaining a no-knock search warrant and planning the raid. No drugs were found.<br />
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A grand jury in Habersham County met for six days to review evidence before deciding not to indict anyone in the case.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=275516">Read this story.</a><br />
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<b>No. 4: Winter storm warning extended into Thursday afternoon</b>, February 13, read by 27,790<br />
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A lot of readers paid attention when the National Weather Service extended a winter storm warning for our area, thanks to a system that brought snow and ice to Northeast Georgia.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=270959">Read this story.</a><br />
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<b>No. 3: GSP releases identity of man killed in 365 wreck</b>, September 9, read by 28,889<br />
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Accidents involving fatalities are always highly read stories, and this story about a man killed in a head-on wreck on Ga. 365 near Cornelia is no exception.<br />
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Darrell Grogan, 25, died of injuries suffered in the four-vehicle wreck. Ten others were transported to area hospitals.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=279336">Read this story.</a><br />
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<b>No. 2: Student with gun prompts lock down at White County High School</b>, April 30, read by 35,508<br />
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No one was hurt in April when a female student brought a gun to White County High School, threatening to commit suicide. School officials placed the school on lock down when two students alerted administrators that the armed girl was in a stall in a restroom. <br />
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White County School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson said two teachers and a school counselor immediately went to the restroom to talk with the girl. He said they talked with the girl for nearly two hours. The lockdown ended at 10:45 a.m.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=274368">Read this story.</a><br />
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<b>And the No.1 most read story of 2014: GSP releases more details on wreck that killed 5</b>, June 30, read by 79,335<br />
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The sad story of a traffic accident on Athens Highway that killed five people, including three children, was the most read story on AccessNorthGa.com in 2014.<br />
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The accident happened when a northbound green Ford Explorer crossed the raised median and collided head-on with a southbound tractor-trailer.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=276640">Read this story.</a>
