7 feel-good stories to help close 2017 on a positive note

The news can sometimes feel like it’s filled with crime, crashes, scandals and negativity.

Here are seven stories from 2017 that will make you feel better about how the year went.

The beloved baby hippo

Fiona the hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo became a national darling after her recovery from a premature birth and her star run on social media.

» NEED MORE ANIMAL HAPPINESS? 9 of the most amazing zoo celebrities in Ohio

The amazing Lakota East quadruplets

The Wade brothers of Liberty Township are quadruplet seniors who earned the nickname “Fantastic Four” by doing the extraordinary: All four just learned they have been accepted at top Ivy League universities of Yale, Harvard and others.

The Wades — Aaron, Zachary, Nigel and Nick —are drawing national media attention for their extraordinary feat. They were profiled in the Washington Post and spent most of Wednesday afternoon being followed by a national TV network news crew during their classes.

» MEET THE WADES: Lakota East quadruplet brothers all accepted to Ivy League colleges

The bus-driving superintendent

Newton Superintendent Pat McBride decided four years ago that he would take the matter into his own hands when their busing staff was limited. He earned his class B CDL license to become an unpaid substitute bus driver.

“It was pretty daunting to start to be honest. There was a lot of inspections and remembering all of the parts of the bus,” McBride said.

» WHY DO IT? Local school superintendent drives bus when subs can’t be found

Finding a home

A dog found malnourished and neglected in Fairborn in May was later rehabilitated and adopted.

Rosie the Boxer had been found in a kennel, left with no food or water. The dog is now doing much better, gaining weight and has been adopted by a family in Beavercreek.

» THE EMOTIONAL STORY: Abused Fairborn dog cared for and adopted

Credit: DONNA McKINNEY / STAFF

Credit: DONNA McKINNEY / STAFF

Officers make birthday special

Surprising Kettering residents Donna McKinney and her son, Logan Johnson -- who was celebrating his 10th birthday at Eastwood MetroPark in Dayton -- officers had them surrounded with cruisers, a SWAT vehicle, a ranger patrol boat and K9s.

Logan began attending a new school last year and hadn’t made many friends. Saving the day were officers from Kettering and Dayton police departments, a MetroPark ranger and SWAT officers who ate burgers and cake, played cornhole and gave him a birthday card, a tour of the police vehicles, and a ride on the patrol boat.

» A SPECIAL STORY: Officers make Kettering boy’s 10th birthday one to remember

A viral message

A video of an Kettering man consoling his daughter went viral with its positive message.

Randy Gaines of Kettering didn't know his wife, Deceena Gaines, was recording him at the time, but neither of them knew the video was going to reach over 3.2 million views by Monday afternoon.

» THE MESSAGE, AND THE MEANING: Father’s heart-warming talk with emotional 6-year-old daughter goes viral

An amazing tip

A Centerville waitress who served a Bloomin’ Onion to half of one of the nation’s most famous couples got the fattest tip of her life.

Waitress Mikayla Scott’s voice still beamed when she recounted how Chrissy Teigen, her daughter Luna and about four others were seated in her section at the Outback Steakhouse at 101 E. Alex Bell Road in Cross Pointe Shopping Center just before closing Friday, Oct. 27. The $1,000 tip was one of the area’s biggest stories of the year.

» MORE DETAILS: You won’t believe the tip Chrissy Teigen dropped on this Centerville waitress

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