2021 was a year to remember for many here in Tampa Bay. Spectrum Bay News 9 is taking a look back at 10 of the most popular news stories online.
1. Family denied on board Carnival Cruise ship over negative COVID test (November 27, 2021)
A Bay Area family who had planned on spending Thanksgiving holiday aboard a cruise ship had to find alternate plans when they were denied access on board.
For Erica, Brett Gheesling and their two kids, a vacation in sunny Belize and surrounding countries is something they planned on for months.
“We just wanted to go out and go on a cruise for the week," Brett said. "Kind of try to put everything behind you from everything’s been going on obviously so we decided to go on a 7-day cruise, Carnival, family out.”
When it was time to leave, they said they were denied access on board.
2. Upside Down American Flags Flying in a Polk County Neighborhood (January 19, 2021)
Some residents in an Auburndale community are upset, after several homeowners flew the American flag upside down near their homes.
The positioning of the flags was apparently done in response to the results of the presidential election being certified for President-elect Joe Biden.
Flying the American flag upside down is considered by many, including those who have served our country in uniform, to be disrespectful.
The U.S. Defense Department says the flag should only be flown upside down “to convey a sign of distress or great danger.”
3. Florida Man Who Ran On Field During Super Bowl LV Identified, Charged (February 8, 2021)
The man who ran onto the Raymond James Stadium turf during Sunday night's Super Bowl has been identified and charged.
Yuri Andrade, 31, of Boca Raton, was charged by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office with trespassing.
He was released on $500 cash bond.
The incident happened with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter of the game, won by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-9, over the Kansas City Chiefs.
4. Homeward bound: Afghan boy en route to the U.S. where a Florida family waits to adopt him (August 26, 2021)
A week after waiting to hear if the boy they hope to adopt would make it onto a plane out of Afghanistan, a Florida couple has learned he was on his way to the U.S. as of Thursday afternoon.
"I don't think it's necessarily easy to describe the feeling, but yeah — I'm very excited and getting more and more anxious," said Dr. Bahaudin Mujtaba.
Mujtaba, a professor with Nova Southeastern University, and his wife have been trying to adopt Noman, 10, for five years.
According to Mujtaba, Noman was able to board a military flight late last week out of the airport in Kabul to Qatar. From there, he and the people he's traveling with were transported to Germany. While he knew Noman was out of harm's way, Mujtaba said he sometimes wouldn't be able to get in touch with the boy for more than a day at a time. Phones would die with no way of recharging, and Noman and his party were left without WiFi for three days while staying at a base in Germany.
5. Vaccinated Health Worker Tests Positive for COVID in "Breakthrough" Case (March 18, 2021)
What are being called "breakthrough" cases of COVID-19 are popping up across the U.S. They're people who test positive 14 days or more after receiving their last dose of the vaccine.
“It still is shocking that I’m positive. I have no symptoms," home health worker Hanna Rewerts said.
The 27-year-old's vaccination card shows she received her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 12. She said she found out she was positive on March 18 from one of the routine tests she takes weekly for work. Believing it might be a false positive, Rewerts said she took a rapid test, which also came back positive.
She said her mother and two other family members – all fully vaccinated – also tested positive this week. They are experiencing symptoms.
6. 11-year-old boy in Ronnie O'Neal case: 'I saw my dad holding a shotgun and my mom screaming' (June 16, 2021)
An 11-year-old boy, the son of Ronnie O'Neal and Kenyatta Barron, took the stand Wednesday in the trial of his father.
Ronnie O'Neal is accused of killing Baron, their 9-year-old daughter, and attempting to kill the then 8-year-old boy, who survived the March 18, 2018 attack in the family’s Riverview home.
He was the only witness to his mother's and sister's murders. The attack left him stabbed and severely burned.
The boy testified with a golden retriever by his side.
“He (Ronnie O’Neal) went in the garage,” the boy said. “I followed him. He put me on the ground. He had his foot on top of me. He was lighting a match, and he threw it down.”
With his arms crossed, the boy also said, “I saw my dad holding a shotgun and my mom screaming.”
7. Growing evidence shows certain medications could compromise COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (July 30, 2021)
More than 56 percent of Americans 12 years old and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the CDC. However, the vaccine may not be as effective for some taking certain medications that suppress the immune system.
“It’s a little frustrating, I’m a little disappointed that it happened,” said Rosita Bailey, who said she and her entire household tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Bailey, 51, who resides in Clermont, Fla., said she has been taking many precautions, but always knew it was possible she could still be infected after being vaccinated in the spring.
“They say your immune system weakens because you’re taking all of these different medications, and on top of it all I have rheumatoid arthritis,” Bailey explained. "I’m feeling a lot better than I did three days ago, I still have to take it easy.”
8. Riverview remembers a smiling man known for handing out water (May 24, 2021)
Drivers and passersby say coming to the intersection of Bloomingdale Avenue and Providence Road in Riverview was always the highlight of their day.
That's where they would always have a positive encounter with Cory Cobb — a smiling man known for handing out water to anyone who needed a drink.
Now, instead of his smiling face greeting them — they're met by a memorial to him.
9. Ronnie O'Neal gets three life sentences plus 60 years (July 23, 2021)
A Hillsborough County judge has upheld a life sentence for convicted murderer Ronnie O'Neal, saying it's the worst case she has ever seen.
O'Neal, convicted of brutally killing his girlfriend Kenyatta Barron and their daughter Ron'Niveya on March 28, 2018, was formally sentenced on Friday.
Our newsgathering partner, the Tampa Bay Times, reports that O'Neal has received three consecutive life sentences and an additional 60 years.
In June this year, a jury recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole for O'Neal.
The family of Barron and Ron'Niveya were given a chance to speak during the sentencing.
10. Polk Sheriff: 'Shooting rampage' in Lakeland left 4 dead, including a baby (September 5, 2021)
In a "bizarre occurrence," four people were killed, including a baby, during a "shooting rampage" in Lakeland early Sunday morning.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the suspect shot at two different homes along North Socrum Loop Road, killing four and injuring an 11-year-old girl. The girl, who was shot multiple times, is being treated at Tampa General, according to authorities. She's expected to survive.
The suspect also shot the family's dog.