Coverage You Counted On: Stories 15-11

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - It was a busy year and NewsChannel 15 was there for every moment.
We came up with the top 15 stories of 2010, and for the last a few weeks, you voted on wane.com for what story you thought should be number one.

Here's how your votes stacked the stories, starting with 15-11.

Number 15: Road to Fort Wayne

For the first time, Fort Wayne hosted the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals. A A scheduling conflict in Indianapolis had the committee searching for another venue. 

"Fort Wayne made us an offer we couldn't refuse," Thereisa Wynn, the assistant commissioner of IHSAA, said.

Five teams travelled to Fort Wayne to play in the finals on March 6 at the Memorial Coliseum. Three teams from Fort Wayne completed the final eight. 

Canterbury won the state title in Class 1-A and Concordia clinched the school's first girls basketball title in 3-A. Bishop Luers lost in the 2-A title game.

At first out-of-town fans weren't thrilled about the long road to Fort Wayne, but once they saw the city and the Coliseum, they gave rave reviews.

Not only were fans impressed, the IHSAA was too. The championship games will return to Fort Wayne in 2011.

Number 14: Hotel and The Harrison

After starting construction late in June 2009, the $20 million Courtyard by Marriott opened in downtown Fort Wayne on September 1.

But, in the hotel's backyard is still a big hole where The Harrison condo complex should be. They were supposed to be built more than a year ago.

"We feel as if enough time has gone on, that it's time for us to look at other choices and other options," Greg Leatherman, director of the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission, said.

In September, the commission sent a letter of default to the condo developer Barry Real Estate. Barry and Hardball Capital were given 90 days to completely finance the project. If they don't, the city can start looking for a new developer.

Then December 28, the Redevelopment Commission announced Barry is making progress. But the progress also involved a change of plans.

The four story building will now have apartments instead of condos with a price tag of $18 million instead of $14.5 million. There is also progress between Barry and area banks to finance the project.

That's why the Redevelopment Commission once again extended the commitment deadline 14 more days.

A meeting is scheduled for January 12. If Barry Real Estate meets the terms of the agreement by then, construction could begin as early as this spring.

Number 13: Going Once, Twice, Sold!

Dean Kruse and the Auburn Classic Car auction used to be synonymous, but Kruse is hit with millions of dollars of lawsuits. People are saying Kruse hasn't paid them. But, Kruse said he couldn't pay them because people weren't paying him. 

In May, the state took away Kruse Internationals' auctioneers license. Then in June, Canadian company Auctions America by RM bought the auction park and invested more than a million dollars worth of improvements.

The annual Labor Day weekend auction when on as planned. Auctions America said its first Auburn event was a success, but promised next year will be bigger and better.

Meanwhile, Kruse said he has some business opportunities brewing.

"Hopefully by maybe Spring we'll have some good things to announce," Dean Kruse said.

Number 12: Good-Bye Bayh

On February 15, Senator Evan Bayh threw a curve ball in the race for his seat in Congress. He announced he wouldn't seek reelection in November's election.

"There is much too much partisanship and not enough progress," Bayh said talking about Congress.

Bayh was completing his second term in the U.S. Senate . He'd served there since 1999. Before that, Bayh served two terms as Indiana's governor. He started his Indiana political career as Secretary of State in 1986.

Bayh's departure left the Democratic Party scrambling to find someone for the November ballot. Second-term Representative Brad Ellsworth got the nod.

Republicans blasted Ellsworth for not running in the primary, but the Democratic Party said they couldn't have a primary because Bayh announced his retirement too close to the filing deadline.

Five Republicans raced in the primary for a spot on the November ballot:  former seat holder Dan Coats, State Senator Marlin Stutzman, former congressman John Hostettler, a Wachovia Securities branch manager Don Bates Jr., and Richard Behney.

Coats easily won the primary election and a chance to take his old seat back.

Bayh donated $1 million to help the Democratic Party hold on to his seat. That money came from his campaign account, which had more than $12 million available. The money could either be used to help his party or saved for a future campaign. Some analysts thought Bayh might be saving most of the money for a 2012 run for Indiana governor. In December, Bayh said he hasn't ruled out running for office again, but said he won't run for anything in 2012.

In the November election, Coats beat Ellsworth and Libertarian Rebecca Sink Burris.

Coats also