ST. LOUIS — A lot happens in St. Louis in a year.
Through it all, 5 On Your Side reporters have been there, covering the stories that matter most to our community. There have been highs and lows and everything in between.
As 2022 draws to a close, we asked our 5 On Your Side staff to look back on all of the stories they've covered this year and pick the one that stood out above the rest, whether it was inspiring, heartwarming, impactful, or just a lot of fun.
Here are our staff's favorite stories from this year.
Justina Coronel
"My favorite piece that I covered in 2022 was working on a story that happened 49 years ago (the 50th anniversary is this summer) for our 75th-anniversary special.
"Ozark Flight 809 was flying into St. Louis in the summer of 1973. It crashed. It was the deadliest crash in St. Louis history. No one was expected to survive, but six did. We were able to track down one of the survivors, Stu Sikes, who now lives in Chicago. So we made the trek. Speaking to a plane crash survivor is so rare and to hear his perspective was special. That’s one I’ll never forget."
Watch the full story here at the 13-minute mark of our 5 On Your Side 75th Anniversary Special.
Frank Cusumano
Justin Hardy was a senior last year at Washington University, and one of the team's best players. The summer before his senior season, he was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer. Hardy kept playing the sport he loved for as long as he could. While Frank Cusumano was covering his story, he captured an "unbelievable" dunk that was like something out of a Hollywood movie.
"This was a young man that was dying and was still hanging on to the sport that he desperately loved. And you throw that into the angle that he was an unbelievable kid, beloved by all, and you have one of the most compelling stories I've ever done in my 30 years," Cusumano said.
Senior night happened later in the season. Hardy was there, but couldn't play due to declining health. He sat on the bench until he was put in at the end of the game. It was a touching moment for everyone there.
"But nobody wanted to score on him. They just wanted to hug him. And after that game, they all did hug him. It was very very powerful. Shortly after that, he lost his battle with cancer. I'll always remember Justin Hardy," Cusumano said.
Rene Knott
Knott caught up with Kameron Saunders in December to talk about his professional dance career, and a recent encounter dancing with singer Lizzo at the BET Awards.
“It was magical,” Saunders said.
Saunders also recently starred in the movie "Spirited."
Tracy Hinson
"Definitely the Greek Festival. It was fun to be at the event and...my mom shadowed me as an intern! It was great to be back for the first time since COVID."
Malik Wilson
Nichol Stevenson, owner of House of Soul on Washington Avenue. Her business has been featured several times by Malik Wilson on Show Me St. Louis this year.
While fighting cancer for the second time, Stevenson has been a shining light in the community.
"Every time I see her, she's always smiling and having a good time. You know, a couple live shots that we've done, singing, cutting up.... every time I see her, it's always exciting, she's full of energy. This is why I choose her as a person of inspiration," Wilson said.
Monica Adams
In January, Adams told the story of a sanctuary in Jefferson County that offers hug therapy with cows that had been rescued from a slaughterhouse.
The Gentle Barn in Dittmer opened after the great escape of "The St. Louis Six" almost five years ago. It took months for the cows to trust, be fed cookies and allow someone to pet them and in turn become healers.
Mike Bush
In March, Bush told the story of Kyle Koehn, a 14-year-old boy who was severely injured in the Dec. 2021 tornadoes that ravaged more than 200 miles across four states. After all the vertebrae in his back were shattered, Koehn was paralyzed from the waist down. He was transported to Ranken-Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital for treatment. After weeks of treatment, Koehn walked out of Ranken-Jordan.
Travis Cummings
"This piece truly embodies community supporting community in St. Louis. While the story was shot in one room, it reflects multiple organizations coming together to provide our youth with the resources they need to do well and feel good as they embark on their career journeys. Our youth across the region have had it incredibly difficult this year, from losing their peers to senseless violence to the lasting impacts of the pandemic. From beginning to end, I was able to capture the boost of confidence this gesture gave them. While shooting the story, I also had the privilege of teaching a few young men how to tie a tie and sharing a little bit of advice about my career."
Alex Fees
"The Franklin County Honor Flights organization’s overnight mission to Washington D.C. is my favorite story. It was really moving to travel along with the veterans and their escorts and record their reactions to the memorials made in their honor.
"When they were young, these men and women had a special notion of “service,” and it was a pleasure to pay tribute to their service to our country.
"I recall when I was on location, I arranged for a preview story to air on Sunday morning on Today in St. Louis, and so many of them told me, 'Alex, did you know that story was on TV already?'
"These are not people seeking public recognition and their humility continues to be inspiring."
Rhyan Henson
"There's no better way to start your day than with a little fun on Friday morning.
"I never thought I could thoroughly enjoy a bounce house alone until this day. The morning dew had the entire bounce house soaked. It’s A LOT of cardio (even solo). At my expense, this turned into a great live report."
Mercedes Mackay
"My favorite story I covered this year was the Francis Howell high school soccer team helping out the custodians, amid staffing shortages. It was just a heartwarming story showing a group of high schoolers and their coach going out of their way to help their school. Meeting the coach and players involved, I could tell they loved helping out and it’s always good to see some kindness in our CRAZY world today."
Mark Maxwell
"Meeting young Will Capps was one of the highlights of my year in reporting.
"Will developed a rare and debilitating form of epilepsy and suffers from violent seizures. But even with his condition, he smiles, plays and hugs people around him like they’re his closest friends in the world.
"Despite the devastating diagnosis and all the constant care and attention it requires, Will’s mom Kayce navigated hurdles in her own schedule and managed to persuade lawmakers in Jefferson City to change the laws to prepare teachers to protect kids like Will across the state who may suffer from seizures in school.
"Her success at the statehouse was an inspiring reminder of the power of passionate advocacy, and offered hope that personal stories of perseverance can pierce the walls of partisan polarization and prod politicians to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable people among us."
Corey Miller
"It’s one of the most famous sports photos in St. Louis history… That just happens to be a mug shot of a rock legend. I’d always wanted to track down the story behind the Ozzy Osbourne Blues mug shot that has become folk legend in St. Louis, and had some fun doing just that this year."
Elyse Schoenig
"This little first grader does it all: she’s a dancer, singer, piano player and shares these same experiences with her two dancing/performing sisters. At just 6 years old she auditioned for and made the cast of the Nutcracker here in St. Louis this month.
"Her mom tells me it was a performance dream of her and her other sisters before the pandemic, an opportunity that was shut down for years. To this family, musical and theater performances are everything. Having their daughter take part makes this Christmas season one they’ll never forget.
"On top of all of this, little Sydney reminds me so much of myself. I was no Nutcracker dancer (wish I was that cool!), but at the age of 6 I too was a dancer/gymnast, singer, piano player, shared these same experiences with my two sisters — and I was a big dreamer. Sydney was a reminder to many to dream big always — and one of those moments where I wish I could tell my 6-year-old self, 'Look where you are now. I’m proud of you for dreaming big, too.'"
Anne Stegen
"My favorite story is not mine, but Michelle Li's story. On New Year's Day 2022, my desk neighbor, Michelle, was the anchor for that Saturday newscast. Michelle made a comment after a segment that she ate dumpling soup for New Year's prosperity, and "That’s what a lot of Korean people do.” A viewer called the newsroom, saying Michelle was being "very Asian," and said she should "keep her Korean to herself." I had the pleasure of amplifying the social media posts that gave Michelle support after those racist comments. Michelle created a movement that is ongoing."
Robert Townsend
"Here's a story that really warmed my heart this year. It aired back in April.
"Seventeen-year-old Mya Grimes was an honor roll student at Metro High School and track star in St. Louis. Last spring she researched and created a long list of colleges and universities she wanted to attend.
"Her hard work paid off on many levels. Mya submitted dozens of college applications around the country and she ultimately received more than $1 million in scholarship offers.
"The super-smart senior is now 18 and a freshman at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. She received a full-ride, four-year academic scholarship to JSU.
"Mya is studying business administration. In September, she competed against 14 other female freshmen students in a campus-wide competition and was named Miss Freshman! She also tells me she finished her fall semester with a 3.5 GPA and she’s on the Dean’s List. She was also named Division 1 Track and Field Athlete at JSU, having competed in the Long Jump and Triple Jump.
"Mya said she believes she won the coveted title, a crown, and now helps plan campus activities for other freshmen students thanks to her platform called P. U. S. H, which stands for Purpose Unity Service and Health."