KOWB’s Top 10 Stories of 2011

The year got off to a somber start with the death of Andrew Hammond. Authorities later came to the conclusion that his death was due to many contributing factors, including severe cold, alcohol and drugs that claimed a life at the very beginning of 2011.

One of the most popular comedies on television made a pit stop in Wyoming to film their season premiere and we were more than happy to have them! The Wyoming Tourism Board estimates that the state benefited in over $500,000 is publicity from the shows visit.

With such an inflated snowpack across Wyoming, flooding was to be expected, but no one could have anticipated the flash flood that ripped away a section of Snowy Range Road and claimed a mother and her three daughters while the family was evacuating their campsite. This loss to the Constantinides was felt deeply in Laramie, as the father, Dr. Alex, grew up here and still has family in the area.

This freak accident took everyone by surprise. As a semi-trailer was driving over the summit, it's drive shaft came lose and struck a vehicle that was in the process of passing, taking the Antoine Dean.

For the first time ever, the Nebraska Cornhuskers came to Laramie to meet the Wyoming Cowboys on the gridiron. This event was the biggest the Gem City has seen in a while and the arrival of fans for both teams actually doubled the population of Laramie.

After Casey Anthony was acquitted of killing her young daughter, it was a bad time to have any resemblance to the infamous mother. One such doppelganger was rammed by another vehicle, causing hers to flip, because someone thought she was "trying to hurt babies". It probably doesn't help that this innocent look-a-like happens to have a daughter named Caylee.

The largest loss of life in the history of SEAL Team Six occurred in August when insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter with a rocket propelled grenade in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 American service members.

While equine herpes was a very serious matter involving mandates from state veterinarians and horses being quarantined, there was one story that was flat out hilarious. Because of the fear of the disease spreading in Utah, some junior rodeo queens were forced to show their stuff with stick ponies. Yes, stick ponies.

I know, Tebowing is the new planking, but back when the NBA lockout first started, planking was all the rage. And a couple of bored players used their extra time to entertain us with pictures of some pretty unusual locations for planking.

There seemed to be natural disasters across the country this year and these photos of the flooding that took place in Mississippi were certainly captivating.