Gallery: Photos from top stories of 2012

AP Photo/The Dominion-Post, Ron Rittenhouse

A lone parked car is draped with snow covered branches south of Morgantown from a snowfall on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. West Virginia's death toll climbed to at least six and hundreds of thousands remained without power Wednesday, Oct. 31, from the wet, heavy snow that Superstorm Sandy dumped on the mountains, snapping trees, pulling down power lines and collapsing homes.

AP Photo/James Crisp

Michael Eads, left, and Brian Shreve walk past Hurricane Middle School in Hurricane, W.Va., on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. The city of Hurricane was covered in snow from the western edge of Superstorm Sandy. The National Weather Service said a foot and more of snow was reported in lower elevations of West Virginia, where most towns and roads are. High elevations in the mountains were getting more than two feet, and a blizzard warning for more than a dozen counties was in effect until Wednesday afternoon.

Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch

John Beaver assesses damage on a tree on 11th Avenue in Huntington after high winds and torrential rain ripped through the Tri-State on Friday, June 29, 2012.

Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch

A downed tree blocks 11th Avenue in Huntington after high winds and torrential rain ripped through the Tri-State on Friday, June 29, 2012.

Curtis Johnson/The Herald-Dispatch

Snow covers only a small portion of the devastation on Monday, March 5, 2012, just a few days after a confirmed tornado damaged homes, trees and other property in Kiahsville, W.Va., a small, unincorporated town in southern Wayne County.

Curtis Johnson/The Herald-Dispatch

Snow covers only a small portion of the devastation on Monday, March 5, 2012, just a few days after a confirmed tornado damaged homes, trees and other property in Kiahsville, W.Va., a small, unincorporated town in southern Wayne County.

Bill Rosenberger/ The Herald-Dispatch

Several homes in Dunlow, W.Va., suffered extensive structural damage during Friday's storm, in which a tornado touched down in several areas of southern Wayne County.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Jesse Blevins, 25, of Huntington is escorted from the Cabell County Courthouse on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, after a jury convicted him on charges of voluntary manslaughter and concealing a deceased human body.

AP Photo/Craig Cunningham

Two neighbors comfort each other in the aftermath of a house fire on Saturday, March 24, 2012 in Charleston, W.Va. A fire tore through a two-story home that had no functioning smoke detectors, killing eight family members, including six children, Charleston Mayor Danny Jones said. Charleston Assistant Fire Chief Bob Sharp said the fire seems to have started in the middle of the home's main level. The cause is under investigation.

AP Photo/Craig Cunningham

Charleston mayor Danny Jones, right, describes the fire on Arlington Street on Charleston's West side as the worst fire since the 1940's on Saturday, March 24, 2012 in Charleston, W.Va. A fire tore through the two-story home that had no functioning smoke detectors, killing eight family members, including six children, Jones said. Charleston Assistant Fire Chief Bob Sharp said the fire seems to have started in the middle of the home's main level. The cause is under investigation.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Marshall president Stephen Kopp, left, and Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine interm dean Robert Nerhood, right, congratulate Joseph Shapiro after being named dean of the school of medicine on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at the Erma Ora Byrd Clinical Center in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Cabell County Circuit Judge Paul T. Farrell speaks to students and their family members during a special truancy meeting in his courtroom on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Huntington.

Curtis Johnson/The Herald-Dispatch

Rhamel Hatcher stands with defense attorney Dennis Kelley on Thursday, April 26, 2012, at his sentencing hearing in Cabell Circuit Court. Hatcher received the maximum, one-year jail sentence for his role in the beating death of Jeremy Scott Cook.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Jeffery and Patricia Hoops address the crowd after they were announced as major contributors to the creation of the Hoops Family Children's Hospital on Friday, May 11, 2012, at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington. The Hoops family donated the $3 million lead gift for the project and for which the children�s hospital will be named.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

David Graley, Julia Bobersky, Brent Marsteller, Colin Marsteller, Meredith Bobersky, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Elana Marsteller, Rep. Nick Rahall II, and Jeffery Hoops participate in the groundbreaking for the Hoops Family Children's Hospital on Friday, May 11, 2012, at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Clinton Douglas Skeens returns to the court room for sentencing after being convicted for first-degree murder on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Wayne. A jury convicted Clinton Douglas Skeens of first-degree murder in the Dec. 31, 2010, killing of retired Wayne High School football coach and guidance counselor Jess �Scott� Jarrell.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Construction continues on the new Fort Gay PreK -8 school on Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Fort Gay.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Dogs and their owners enter the gates after the grand opening of Huntington's Petsafe Dog Park on Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Ritter Park in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Demolition continues on the Veterans Memorial Field House on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, in Huntington.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

A ribbon cutting ceremony is conducted for the new St. Mary's ER and Medical Campus on Sunday, July 8, 2012, in Ironton.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Rich Blankenship, Les Boggs, D.R. Gossett, Mike Sellards and Sister Mary Grace Barile cut the ribbon for the new St. Mary's ER and Medical Campus on Sunday, July 8, 2012, in Ironton.

Curtis Johnson / The Herald-Dispatch

Defense attorney Kerry Nessel, left, stands next to his client Cieasha Brown during a pretrial hearing Tuesday, July 17, 2012, in Cabell Circuit Court.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

A ceremony was held to formally dedicate the new 5th Avenue bridge in Guyandotte as the Lt. Ronnie D. Ferrell Memorial Bridge on Thursday, July 19, 2012, in Huntington.

Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch

A tour of Mountwest Community and Technical College's new building is held during a monthly board meeting on Friday, July 20, 2012, on MCTC's new campus in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

The Huntington Housing Authority is applying for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to demolish Northcott Court and replace it with smaller complexes and other housing in the surrounding area.

Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch

Mountwest Community and Technical College hosts a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for their new campus on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, on 5th Street Road in Huntington.

Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch

Grant Lim, left, and Timothy Marsingill share a laugh as Marshall University holds a ribbon cutting for their School of Pharmacy on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, at the VA Medical Center Med Education building.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Bobby Shaffer tests the compaction of the ground as construction continues on the new Huntington East Middle School on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, in Huntington.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Shannon Tolle, center, spreads mortar on a block as he works on building the corridor wall for the new Huntington East Middle School on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Construction continues on the Hal Greer Boulevard widening project on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Marshall University opened a new parking garage.

Photo Courtesy of West Virginia State Police

Cpl. Marshall Lee Bailey was killed in the line of duty.

Courtesy of the West Virginia State Police

Trooper Eric Michael Workman was killed in the line of duty.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

The Improved Order of Redmen, Mohawk Tribe No. 11, in partnership with area police agencies hosted a boot-drive style fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Redmen Bingo Hall in Huntington. Funds raised will benefit the families of West Virginia State Police Cpl. Marshall Bailey and Trooper Eric Workman as well as Roane County Deputy John Westfall and tow truck driver William �Frank� Massey.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

A dilapidated home is demolished in the 1800 block of 12th Avenue in Huntington's Fairfield neighborhood on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012, in Huntington. The National Guard is demolishing dozens of dilapidated homes in Huntington as part of a project by local, state and federal government to revitalize the city.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Commissioners Anne Yon, Nancy Cartmill, and Bob Bailey unveil the sign for the new Cabell Coounty EMS station during a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, in Barboursville.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Workers from the West Virginia Division of Highways and members of the National Guard clean up the site of a demolished dilapidated home in the 1400 block of 11th Avenue on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, in Huntington.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Ritter Park was named one of 10 Great Places in America: Public Spaces by the American Planning Association.

Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch

Democrat Steve Williams sits with his wife, Mary Williams, and friends as they wait for election returns on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at his home in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for a section of the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH) on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at at Harveytown Park.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for a section of the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH) on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at at Harveytown Park.

Toril Lavender/ For The Herald-Dispatch

Ashley Johnson takes a dog out for a walk at The Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter Wednesday, November 28, 2012.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Rob Tassen of R. B. Tassen Construction Inc. operates an excavator to tear down the former All-In-One store located in Huntington's Fairfield neighborhood on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, in Huntington.

The Associated Press

This image provided by the West Virginia State Police shows a fireball erupting across Interstate 77 from a gas line explosion Tuesday, Dec, 11, 2012, in Sissonville, W.Va. At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly damaged section of Interstate 77 was shut down in both directions near Sissonville after a natural gas explosion triggered an hour-long inferno that officials say spanned about a quarter-mile.