Here were the most viewed stories from 2023 at the Daily American website

SOMERSET ― The year 2023 was one of ups and downs for the readers of The Daily American. We took a look back at the year's worth of news digitally and checked out the top-viewed stories on the site this year. There were 3.37 million page views through Dec. 13.

The most viewed stories published by the Daily American through Dec. 14 were:

• Dairy Bar Restaurant changing hands, 4,649 views

• Boswell man sentenced for abandoning 2 dogs in crates, 4,518 views

• Opening of JB's Smoke N' Sweetz, 4,491 views

• Former 911 Director Brad Lavan charged, 4,008 views

• Daily American building changes hands, 3,528 views

• Former DA Jeff Thomas sentenced, 2,876 views

Dairy Bar Restaurant in Berlin changes hands

After 45 years of continuous ownership for one family, the Dairy Bar Restaurant in Berlin closed Oct. 20.

The well-known restaurant once known as Glessner's Dairy Bar at 3494 Berlin Plank Road served up daily specials, homemade desserts and soft-freeze ice cream. It reopened Nov. 1, as Coalfield's Diner under new ownership and a new menu.

Missi May operated the family business since 2002 and added on the large dining area in 2003. Bill and Barbara Glessner took over the already-established ice cream shop from Charlie Hoover in 1978. Before that, the Phennice family operated it. The McKinley family built the dairy bar in 1957.

More: Dairy Bar Restaurant in Berlin changes hands

The realty listing for the restaurant caught the attention of Jeff Miele, who owns Coalfield Mini-Mart on the other side of town. Miele grew up in Pittsburgh and lived and worked in New York City, owning a commercial sign company. Miele was working in the city Sept. 11, 2001, when he and a client watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center. It was then that Miele decided to get out of New York City and move closer to his parents near Central City.

"I saw a good business opportunity," Miele said. "My family has been in the restaurant business all their lives and we want to offer something unique for the Berlin community."

Miele provides daily specials, steaks on the menu, prime rib meals on Saturday nights, a big Italian day on Wednesdays and barbecue on Thursdays.

"This establishment is part of the fabric of the Berlin community and we plan on continuing the traditions of the Glessner family and adding some interesting new things as well," Miele said.

Boswell man sentenced

A 42-year-old man, who abandoned two dogs in cages without food and water for months in a Jenner Township house, resulting in their death, was sentenced March 31 to 60 months of probation.

After a plea agreement, Mark David Paxton pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, a third-degree felony Nov. 10, 2022.

More: Boswell man sentenced for abandoning two dogs in crates for months

"Mr. Paxton feels horrible about it," said Somerset attorney David Leake at his sentencing in March. He said Paxton was having a mental crisis stemming from being in the midst of a divorce. The dogs were kept in the marital residence at the time of the incident. Paxton went to the residence to get his mail and care for the dogs for some time prior according to a neighbor and then stopped a few months before the dogs were found.

Because of Paxton's depressive state he emotionally could not return to the house, Leake said. Paxton did not speak at his sentencing.

According to court documents, the dogs were found dead and still locked in their cages by Seth Deyulis, who entered the residence on Ralphton Road to change the locks on the doors for the bank on Oct. 18, 2022. He immediately called 911.

Paxton was required to wear an electronic monitor for six months as a restrictive condition of his probation and pay a $400 fine.

JB's Smoke N' Sweetz opens

In August, drive-through barbecue returned to Somerset with the opening of JB's Smoke N' Sweetz at 1830 N. Center Ave. Jennifer Ringler and Patrick Lee reopened the former JB's Roadhouse, offering the barbecued meats, sandwiches and meals that customers were already familiar with, while adding homemade dessert options to the menu.

JB's Smoke N' Sweetz is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday; a menu is available at the restaurant's Facebook page or by picking up a copy at the window during open hours. Custom-made cakes and other bakery items are also available by special order; call 814-445-8900 for more information.

More: Why are cars lining up along N. Center Avenue on weekends for barbecue?

According to its Facebook page, JB's Smoke N' Sweetz plans to offer food delivery within a five-mile radius of the restaurant, starting Jan. 5. Customers can call the number listed above during open hours to place an order for delivery.

Former 911 Director Lavan charged

On Sept. 1, acting Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar announced that Bradley K. Lavan, 30, of Somerset, was arrested earlier that day by the Somerset Borough Police Department and charged with 39 counts of sexual offenses against five children under 6 years of age. The offenses were alleged to have taken place over about two years at his former residence in Somerset and included making the young children perform sex acts on Lavan, as well as showing pornographic material to at least one child as a training tool for performing sexual acts.

The case against Lavan: Here's what we know about the charges against former 911 coordinator Brad Lavan

At a preliminary hearing held on Nov. 1, District Justice Kenneth Johnson determined there was sufficient evidence to bind all the charges against Lavan over to trial. At that time, a criminal trial was scheduled to take place in February.

Lavan's preliminary hearing: Former Somerset County 911 coordinator faces child sexual assault offenses at trial

Lavan was Somerset County's 911 director from May 2019 until March of this year, when he was placed on a leave of absence. At the time, the Somerset County Commissioners would not comment on why he was placed on a leave of absence because it was a personnel matter. Lavan's employment with Somerset County ended on April 21.

Daily American building sold

Gatehouse Media Pennsylvania Holdings Inc. sold the building at 334 W. Main Street in 2023 that formerly housed the Daily American newspaper property to Karruli LLC for $346,500. The deed was officially recorded in the Somerset County Recorder of Deeds office on Aug. 7. Leo Karruli of Karruli LLC, Palm Harbor, Fla., also owns the Johnstown Galleria.

More: Daily American's former office building has new owner

"My intention is not to take anybody away," Karruli said. "I'd like more businesses to come to Somerset. And I like the town. My intention is to rent the space."

The Somerset Daily Herald made its first appearance on July 1, 1929, under the leadership of Henry Baker Reiley, as the first daily newspaper in Somerset. It was eventually renamed as the Daily American and run as a family business – Somerset Newspapers Inc. The company was sold by Reiley's grandson David H. Reiley in 1997 to Schurz Communications Inc. of South Bend, Indiana. In January 2019, the paper was sold by Schurz Communications to GateHouse Media.

The Daily American continues covering Somerset County with editorial employees working remotely from their homes and circulation employees who deal with the print editions from leased space.

Former DA Jeff Thomas sentenced

Suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas II was sentenced to 24 to 84 months in state prison Aug. 17 by Senior Judge Timothy Creany in a sexual assault case.

On Sept. 18, 2021, Thomas had a sexual encounter with a female in her Windber home, which became the basis for being charged with sexual assault that included rape, which was later withdrawn by the state Attorney General's Office. During a jury trial in March, the victim testified Thomas punched her in the face and choked her at least twice during an unwanted sexual and physical assault that evening.

Thomas' sentencing: Suspended District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas sentenced to prison in sexual assault case

During the seven-day trial, several witnesses testified about seeing the bruises. The woman testified she received the bruises from Thomas the night of the incident. The defense witnesses testified to Thomas' good reputation and that he was known for working to get drug dealers of illegal products off the streets.

The jury returned with a mixed verdict: The jury found him not guilty of simple assault, aggravated indecent assault and simple assault–biting. The jury found him guilty of strangulation, committed in conjunction with sexual violence; criminal trespass; unlawful restraint; indecent assault–lack of consent; false imprisonment; and simple assault–striking.

Thomas was not assessed as a sexually violent predator by the Sexual Offender Assessment Board. Because of the conviction of indecent assault, however, he is considered a sexual offender by law and must register as such. He was ordered by the judge to pay $1,900 in fines, register as a sex offender for 15 years and be credited 157 days for time served.

Year in photos: If a picture is worth a thousand words, these are worth a few extra: 2023's best photos

Thomas was elected as the county's district attorney and began his stint in 2019. After the sexual assault charges in 2021, he was suspended from that position. Now, he is incarcerated and is appealing the jury's findings.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: The Daily American posts most viewed stories in 2023