A Salt Lake free-lance writer was the grand prize winner of the Deseret News' second annual reader's choice Top 10 news stories contest.
Richard Menzies correctly identified nine of the Top 10 stories and ranked three of the articles exactly - including the first place gang story and stories about guns and hazing. Menzies will receive a $150 ZCMI Center gift certificate."I am just flabbergasted. It shows that there is such a thing as blind luck," said Menzies.
Menzies won an earlier year's Deseret News contest to match the top U.S. stories as chosen as Associated Press.
Second-place winners Jenny L. Black, Salt Lake City, and Marlene Norcross, Magna, both correctly identified nine of the Top 10 stories. Black correctly ranked two stories and Norcross ranked one.
Some 300 Deseret News readers participated in the balloting. The rankings of each ballot were factored together to arrive at the Top 10 stories.
Among those who entered were the six members of the Evans family in West Valley City. Three of the family members placed in the contest. Mother Yvonna Evans was among the 10 third-place winners along with son Richard. Another son, Mike, was among fourth-place finishers.
Father Leonard Evans, who didn't place, said he thought it would be fun for the whole family to fill out ballots.
"They should be excited," he said of the results.
The list of winners is as follows. The Deseret News will mail prizes. Grand Prize, Richard Menzies, Salt Lake City; Second Place, Jenny L. Black, Salt Lake City; Marlene Norcross, Magna.
Third Place, Robert L. Evans, West Valley City; Dawn DeSantos, West Jordan; Jay G. Burrup, West Valley City; Yvonna M. Evans, West Valley City; Richard Evans, West Valley City; Keith Beeston, Orem; Sean Foley, Orem; Mrs. R.P. Neeley, Millcreek; Brian Sokolowsky, West Valley City; Alice Atwood, Salt Lake City.
Fourth Place, Barbara M. Nelson, Salt Lake City; Mike Evans, West Valley City; J. Moyle Anderson, Salt Lake City; Julie Johnson, West Jordan; Paul Richins, Bountiful; Phillip Greenhalgh, Brigham City; Marian L. Hofheins, Salt Lake City; Grace Densley, Salt Lake City; Kerry Lin Hammond, Millcreek; Kathryn Anderson, Salt Lake City; Betty G. Walker, Salt Lake City; William Pratt, Bountiful; David P. Bradford, Orem; Margaret Ann Udy, Salt Lake City; Christine Nash, West Valley City.