A year marked with triumph and tragedy, of new beginnings and fond farewells, of unity and conflict, 2017 was littered with unforgettable moments in the history of Niles.

Before we flip the calendar to yet another New Year, our newsroom will be taking a look back at the seminal events of the past 12 months, as we count down the 10 stories of the year, as determined by our staff. We will recap several stories per day over the next several issues, culminating in our top story of 2017 Friday.

Although 2017 brought lots of positive news to Niles and Buchanan, the city of Four Flags experienced a variety of tragedies and emergencies throughout the year, including an unexpected tornado, two homicides and a carbon monoxide tragedy.

5. Tornado blows through southwest Michigan

A mid-winter weather fluke shook the Niles area in February — literally and figuratively — leaving hundreds of residents without power, and some without homes, for several days.

On Feb. 28, three category EF-1 tornados hit Niles, Dowagiac and Vandalia, with peak winds reaching up to 105 miles per hour in Niles and Dowagiac. Hail measured an inch in diameter, and gusts of rain pelted the area for more than an hour.

The Niles tornado touched down near Eastside Connections School that evening, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service. While tornados are somewhat common in the Midwest, the weather pattern typically surfaces in spring and fall, and rarely occurs in the winter.

Due to the timing of the storm, those left without power were forced to lodge in hotels and nearby communities, unable to heat homes in the cold temperatures.

Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities were reported as a result of the storm.

4. Niles woman killed in alleged suicide pact

On July 24, James Parker Huffman, 52, of Niles, walked into the Niles police station and confessed to a dispatcher that he had his girlfriend, Angela Glara Cluver, 52.

Police found Cluver’s body inside the couple’s home at 996 S. 14th St., though her corpse was initially in such a state of decomposition that police were unable to identify it.

Huffman was arraigned two days later on a charge of open murder.

Throughout the investigation, Huffman told officers that he and Cluver had committed to a suicide pact, but that he had to assist the woman in dying. Throughout preliminary trials, the court learned that Huffman alleges he attempted to kill himself several times throughout the weekend Cluver died, but was unsuccessful.

Cluver’s attorney, Scott Sanford, has raised the possibility of an assisted suicide defense, asserting that Huffman is guilty of assisted suicide rather than murder.

Huffman’s trial is set to begin Jan. 24 in Berrien County Trial Court.

3. Woman murdered in Niles Township

Just a few weeks later, another woman was found dead in Niles Township, this time the result of multiple gunshot wounds.

Police were called to 1429 Lawndale Ave. on Sunday, Aug. 13, after receiving a call that a woman had been shot and killed during a breaking and entering incident.

The caller, John Lewis, alleged that two African American males were in the home when he and his wife, Carla Lewis, returned home. John Lewis told police the men had shot and killed his wife. Police began a search for a dark colored 2008 Mazda CX9 Wagon SUV, and spent several hours searching for the suspects.

When police arrived at the home, they found a secret door ajar in the laundry room that had been made to look like a bookshelf. Inside the 7- by 9-foot room where seven marijuana plants were growing, the police found John and Carla.

John was arrested that evening on charges of incompliance with the medical marijuana laws.

The Niles Township man has been a vocal advocate for legalizing marijuana and recruiting medical marijuana dispensaries, often holding signs outside city council meetings expressing his interest in the issue. John also owned multiple marijuana-related businesses, including Sevenleaves Compassion Club in Belle Plaza.

An autopsy determined that Carla had been shot five times, and led police to believe that John’s story about the breaking and entering had been false, and that John had actually killed his wife. John was arraigned on charges of first-degree pre-meditated murder on Aug. 16.

Through further investigation, an anonymous source told police that she had been having an affair with John, and that he had asked for help killing his wife.

Another man, Justin Hicks, reported that John asked him to retrieve ammunition from Sevenleaves and place it in his vehicle.

On Sept. 26, Judge Donna Howard ruled that there was probable cause that John was a suspect in his wife’s murder. Lewis has pleaded not guilty to the crimes.

A jury trial is scheduled from Jan. 9 to 19 in Berrien County Trial Court.

2. Child dies in carbon monoxide accident

On April 1, 13-year-old Bryan Douglas-Watts, of Niles, succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning while visiting the pool at Quality Inn & Suites in Niles.

A total of 13 people — 12 children and a housekeeper — were injured by a carbon monoxide leak that resulted from a malfunctioning pool heater that emitted more than 800 parts per million of carbon monoxide inside the building.

The hotel was evacuated after victims were found in the first floor pool area with difficulty breathing. Six children were hospitalized, but Watts died before making it to the hospital.

A Grand Rapids attorney representing the family of Douglas-Watts has filed a lawsuit against the Quality Inn & Suites.

The hotel did not have a carbon monoxide detector, which public safety officials say would have prevented the tragedy. At the time of the incident, no laws required lodging facilities to have carbon monoxide detectors, but bills were presented by State Representative Dave Pagel and Sen. Steve Bieda in the wake of the incident to require carbon monoxide detectors in all hotels, motels and resorts, regardless of the age of the building.

The story made national news, and many states have since proposed similar legislation to prevent the incident from recurring.