Editor's Note: Between Dec. 27 and New Year's Eve, Solon Patch will count down the top five stories of 2011. We compiled this list in two ways: Feedback from our users and our own editorial judgment. Want to comment on our choices? Head down to the comments section!

Top Stories of the Year, No. 3: Deitrick Lawsuit

Our No. 3 story of the year comes straight out of City Hall.

When city council called a special meeting early on Dec. 8, city officials revealed a doozy of a story: Mayor Susan Drucker's former secretary Sally Deitrick was suing her and the city for wrongful termination.

The mayor says that Deitrick was fired for poor performance and being untrustworthy. Deitrick alleges that Drucker was out to get the city's older employees, and is suing based on allegations of age discrimination.

The story was one of our most popular of the year, and we'll be sure to keep covering it in 2012.

What's Next? The city has hired an outside law firm, Thompson Hine, to handle the case. This case is likely to drag on for a while, and the possibility of a settlement is always there. Solon Patch will be there

Read the Stories:

• Former Mayor's Secretary Sues City, Mayor For Wrongful Termination
• READ: Sally Deitrick's Termination Letter
• Deitrick Complaint Alleges Mayor Descriminated Against Secretary's Age
• Vice Mayor Explains Hiring Law Firm To Deal With Deitrick Lawsuit

Previous Top Stories:

• Top Stories of 2011, No. 5: Nestle Expansion
• Top Stories of 2011, No. 4: Rest In Peace