At least 11 fire departments responded to a fire at the Hunter Truck Center garage on April 16. No injuries were reported in the blaze.

While the COVID-19 pandemic kept its stronghold in top news for yet another year, a number of other stories also captured our readers' attention.

In reviewing the top stories viewed by readers on butlereagle.com, the numbers show stories of crimes, crashes, fires and other catastrophes were ones that were most-read.

On our social media pages, readers also showed an interest in videos and stories that related to the above topics, but also reacted, commented and shared stories about businesses, events and (strangely enough) animal encounters.

Below are the most-read stories from the website and Facebook.

1. UPDATE: Two dead, multiple injured school bus-tractor trailer crash on I-79In November, a teenage student and the driver of a school bus died in a crash involving a tractor-trailor on Interstate 79 in Muddy Creek township.The bus was transporting students from Lincoln Park Performing Arts School of Midland, Beaver County, according to state police.2. Missing horse from Penn Township found deadVal, a faithful 14-year-old haflinger horse that was reported missing in late July from a farm above Renfrew in Penn Township was found dead by its owner in August.Val was found at the bottom of a 20-foot ravine about an eighth-mile away from the pasture where she was last seen with eight other horses. The owner said he believed the horse was chased by coyotes.3. Man shot, killed by Butler Police officer identified; officer in surgeryA Butler police officer was stabbed in August while responding to a report of a male who was “jumping in and out of oncoming traffic.”The man was fatally shot in a struggle that ensued.The Butler city officer was later released from the hospital.

4. Fatal crash on 422 claims life of 9-year-old girlA 9-year-old girl died in a crash on Route 422 in Clearfield Township in May.5. Prospect man dies, son rescued from ocean by motherA Prospect man died Friday night while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean with his son, who was rescued by his mother.Jessica White of Prospect said she and her nephews were playing with water guns on the beach while on vacation in Ocean City, Md., just after 8 p.m. July 16 when her son Joshua, 7, who had entered the water with his father, Joshua, 33, began shouting to her for help.6. UPDATE: Woman dies in Route 308 head-on crash with garbage truckOne woman died in a head-on collision along Route 308 in October.7. Four-alarm fire draws county departmentsA four-alarm fire on Butler's Main Street in January drew departments from across the county.8. Man charged with beating pregnant girlfriend, killing unborn childAt the time of this headline, Damien M. Large was arraigned in March on charges of homicide of an unborn child and aggravated assault to an unborn child, among other charges in the alleged beating of the mother.9. Name of toddler killed in Knox Ave fire releasedIn one of the first headlines of 2021, police shared the name of the toddler who died in a fast-moving house fire.10. Firefighter struck by semitruck on I-80 Thursday morningA firefighter was struck by a semitruck on Interstate 80 in Venango County in April.The firefighter was working on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash that halted all lanes of traffic along a section of I-80 just across the border from Butler County.

Other Top Stories from Butler Eagle's website26. Fire damage at Hunter Truck could reach $1 millionA fire at Hunter Truck Center at 174 Oneida Valley Road resulted in possibly $1 million in damage, officials said in April.39. Roskovskis sentenced to federal prison for BHS embezzlement schemeTwo years after being charged, Stephanie and Scott Roskovski were both sentenced in June to federal prison for defrauding from Butler Health System of up to $1.3 million.43. Transit authority bus driver dies amid bus stoppageA bus driver with the Butler Transit Authority died in September following the authority's cancellation of bus routes due to most of its drivers being ill.

1. Demolition of West Wayne Street house briefly halts with cat on roofJust earlier this month, a demolition on Butler's West Wayne Street came to a pause when a cat was noticed on the roof.A video was posted to Butler Eagle's Facebook page showing the cat's rescue. The demolition then continued.2. Christian Bale Netflix movie filming in McConnells MillThe McConnells Mill Covered Bridge in Lawrence County closed in early December for filming as crews set up scenes for “The Pale Blue Eye,” a Netflix film starring Christian Bale.3. Wolf expects to let Pa. schools set masking rules in JanuaryGov. Tom Wolf announced plans to let Pennsylvania schools set their own masking rules in January.A decision from the state supreme court in December moved up this timeline.4. Animal encounter: Goat wanders in cityIn October, a goat was spotted running through the city of Butler.It was captured on video and shared with Butler Eagle readers.5. Pennsylvania Game Commission urges drivers to slow down, stay alert for deerA series of fall crashes led to a story about deer-related crashes.6. County buys armored carJust recently, the county commissioners approved using up to $331,750 in American Rescue Plan funds to buy a large Humvee-like tactical vehicle that will be outfitted and armored to provide optimum safety for the law enforcement officers who use it.7. Online auction company expanding to ButlerThe online auction company M@C Discount, also known as Merchandise at Cost Discount, is expanding to a new location at the Greater Butler Mart.8. State police hold news conference on I-79 crashIn this live video, state police offered an early update on the crash during which a teenage student and the driver of a school bus died on Interstate 79 in Muddy Creek township.9. 6-vehicle accident on I-79 blocks trafficIn October, police, paramedics and fire districts responded to a six-vehicle accident involving a Noga EMS vehicle and five other cars close to the Evans City on-ramp to southbound Interstate 79.10. Family Bowlaway granted zoning exceptionFamily Bowlaway is to lower its parking requirements from May to November and host activity for its normal hours closer to its property line.Visit www.butlereagle.com to view the full “Top 50” list from the website.

Butler City Police Officer Michael Sulerud is greeted by his fellow officers after being released from the hospital Sept. 1. Sulerud was stabbed multiple times while responding to an incident on Aug. 24. He shot and killed his attacker.