The 10 most clicked on stories posted to The Herald’s Facebook page in 2021.

The Herald’s Facebook page, followed by about 44,000 people, generates the most web traffic of our social media accounts. Turns out their interests differ quite a bit from our overall readership. None of our most-read stories made waves on the social network, and vice versa. Take a look at The Herald’s 10 most clicked-on articles by our Facebook followers in 2021 and let us know what you think.

10. Lake Stevens city employee gets protection order against boss (Nov. 12)

A city of Lake Stevens employee was granted a one-year protection order on Nov. 10 against his boss, Public Works Director Eric Durpos, as both are apparently under investigation for workplace behavior. The order bars Durpos from contacting or coming within 15 feet of public works crew member Mike Bredstrand or his family.

9. 3 miles by ferry, but these days a round trip can take 5 hours (Nov. 2)

Reporter Andrea Brown commuted on the “20-minute” sailing between Mukilteo and Clinton in October. With reduced ferry service due to crew shortages, she writes that travel time is a crap shoot. The Mukilteo-Clinton boat, which now runs every hour instead of every half hour, was 28 minutes behind schedule.

8. Come October, United Airlines will discontinue flights at Paine Field (July 19)

United Airlines announced plans to depart Everett. After two years at Paine Field, the carrier discontinued its flights Oct. 5. The company’s exit left Alaska Airlines as the sole commercial air carrier at the airport.

7. Marysville superintendent claimed a ‘hostile’ work environment (Oct. 29)

Embattled Marysville School District Superintendent Jason Thompson filed a complaint against the school board president and deputy superintendent on March 16, days before the district announced Thompson would be taking a medical leave of absence. He never returned. The board agreed to keep paying him until he retires this summer. A search is under way for a successor.

6. Parents and teachers call for Monroe superintendent’s firing (Dec. 15)

Students walked out of class at Monroe High School on Dec. 13 and families rallied on the street outside of the Monroe School District’s administration building. In the evening, they turned their attention to the five-member school board, demanding Superintendent Justin Blasko resign or be fired. They say the superintendent has failed to respond effectively to incidents of bullying and harassment of students. And they allege he’s created an unhealthy workplace where employees fear losing their jobs for speaking out. Blasko has since been put on administrative leave pending an investigation.

5. Rogue Snohomish barber keeps on running with scissors (Jan. 31)

Bob Martin, owner of The Stag Barber and Styling, is barbering and styling in violation of state law. He doesn’t have a state license to cut hair or to operate a business and owes the state $90,000 in fines. The rogue barber became a symbol of conservative resistance in May 2020 when he operated in open defiance of Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-home order which aimed to curb the spread of coronavirus.

4. Fans blow landfill’s methane away from Everett development (Jan. 4)

Just north of the blue and gray cookie-cutter homes and manicured sidewalks of the newly constructed Riverfront Development, remains of the old Everett landfill decay, releasing methane gas as they decompose. Today, the only clue to passersby of what lies below are two fans at either end of the property.

3. Monroe singer Benson Boone wins ‘American Idol’ golden ticket (Feb. 15)

It was Benson Boone’s 15 minutes of swoon. The 18-year-old singer from Monroe didn’t miss a beat during his audition on ABC’s season premiere of “American Idol.” The episode aired Feb. 14 and was recorded several months prior. All three judges — Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie — stood up and gave him a “Yes.” Boone advanced to the “Hollywood” round, but in March left the show.

2. Lake Stevens neighbors mourn 1,000s of trees at Costco site (Aug. 12)

The lush green backdrop residents on 93rd Drive SE once enjoyed has turned brown, hot and dusty. Costco construction is underway.

1. Is Benson Boone, 18, of Monroe the next ‘American Idol’ star? (Feb. 9)

The Herald wrote about Benson Boone the week prior to his “American Idol” debut. Boone said he didn’t know he could sing until he was a junior in high school. But at 18, he sang on stage in front of Katy Perry.