Kansas.com’s most-popular stories and photos of 2012

A mysterious photo found at a garage sale. A tornado hitting Wichita. A 92-year-old woman who wouldn’t let go of her purse. And a dog trapped in floodwaters. These were among the most-viewed stories on Kansas.com in 2012.

Also popular: photos of the destruction caused by the April storms. Galleries of those pictures took four of the top five positions for the year. The only other gallery to crack the Top 5 was photos of the rescue of Taz, the 6-year-old dog trapped under a ledge as water rose.

Here are the most popular stories, photos and databases of 2012.

Most-popular stories

1. Wichita boy’s garage-sale buy holds a treasure for his family

A 13-year-old buys an old Polaroid camera at a garage sale. Inside, a photo that leaves his family in disbelief.

2. 2-year-old falls out of moving car; mother notices after getting home

Wichita police said the boy was riding in the back seat of his mother’s car when he unbuckled his seat belt, opened the back door and fell out. His 22-year-old mother didn’t notice he was gone until she arrived at her home, more than 1 1/2 miles away.

3. Tornadoes rake Wichita area, causing significant damage

A tornado sweeps through south Wichita, causing significant damage but no major injuries. Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems take a direct hit, as do the Oaklawn neighborhood and a mobile home park.

4. Lion is no longer a main course at dinner

A Wichita restaurant that was planning a one-night-only, exotic dinner decides to remove lion meat from the menu after animal-rights and social-action groups protest.

5. Kansas delegates head to N.C. for Democratic convention

A comment by a Democratic National Convention delegate from Wichita likening Republican justification of voter ID to Hitler’s “Big Lie” strategy sparks outrage.

6. Man who tries to rob 92-year-old woman suffers skull fracture

She wouldn’t let go of her purse and she could scream for help. Police said the 135-pound robber fractured his skull apparently as he wrestled with others who heard the woman’s screams and came running.

7. Hawker requests GAO review of Air Force deal

Hawker Beechcraft requests the Government Accountability Office review the Air Force’s move to exclude it from the bidding process for a Light Air Support aircraft.

8. Brett Harris out at B98-FM radio

After 22 years as part of the Brett and Tracy Morning Show, the radio host is shown the door.

9. Wichita fire crews stage dramatic rescue to save trapped dog in creek

The rescue of Taz the dog from floodwaters encompassed despair, scuba gear, tears of grief, concrete saws, tears of joy, sledge hammers, about 20 of Wichita’s most highly trained heavy rescue firefighters, eight fire trucks, goodness knows how many tax dollars, and two news conferences.

10. Obese Wichita woman dies after being left on floor for days — or weeks

Wichita police said a “morbidly obese” woman was so heavy that when she fell off her couch family members left her on the floor for days — perhaps even weeks — before calling 911. The 54-year-old woman later died at Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis, a police report states.