As the countdown continues on the Niles Daily Star’s list of the top 10 stories of the year, readers are offered a look back on some challenges faced, but also some exciting new opportunities that make evident the growth of our communities.
Stories were selected based on several factors, including newsworthiness, reader interest and community impact.
Continuing the countdown are stories seven through five:

7. Residents protest environmental waste plant
Earth Smart Environmental Solutions secured a special land-use permit for a medical waste treatment facility at 1400 Third St. from the Niles Township Planning Commission Sept. 13.
The Florida based waste treatment and storage facility company appealed to the township three times before securing the permit, due to what was a large amount of residential concern mostly for having waste treatment in such close proximity to neighborhoods near Third Street and the Brandywine Creek.
Co-owners David Hux and Kevin Forney made the argument that the process was clean, safe and beneficial to the environment.
Commissioners voted 5-2 in support of the permit.
Earth Smart Environmental Solutions bought the 23,000-square-foot building in the spring of 2015.
6. Storm causes widespread damage in Niles Township
A powerful storm referred to by many as “the worst in recent Niles history” wreaked havoc in Niles Township this summer, causing a myriad of problems ranging from lost power to lost homes.
Rainfall was so heavy on June 20 that residents in the Franklin Woods mobile community waded through water that was knee-deep following the storm.
High-speed winds caused trees to fall into several homes in the Fulkerson Park neighborhood between Brandywine and Merritt Elementary schools, in some cases completely destroying the structures.
More than 31,000 people were left without power — some for up to two weeks — and residents of destroyed homes were forced to find shelter elsewhere.
Despite the severity of the storm and the structural damages that stemmed from it, no injuries or fatalities were reported relating to it.

5. Buchanan Promise unveiled
In much happier news this summer, students residing in the Buchanan school district were given great news when the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation announced that a longtime Buchanan resident made an investment in future generations.
Walter “Wally” Schirmer Jr., the son of Walter E. Schirmer Sr., the former president of Clark Equipment, gifted a permanent endowment to the foundation designed to help pay for advanced education for Buchanan graduates who reside in the district.
Thanks to the endowment, students who attend Buchanan schools from kindergarten or first grade through graduation will receive a $10,000 scholarship, similar to programs like the Kalamazoo Promise. Students who attend school and live in the district for a minimum of four years will receive up to 70 percent of the scholarship.
Since the announcement, students, staff and community members have expressed excitement regarding the opportunity to invest in the next generation of Buchanan leaders. District leaders hope the endowment will not only help increase enrollment, but also entice homeowners to plant their roots within the school district.
More information can be found at BuchananPromise.com.

By Ambrosia Neldon and Kelsey Hammon