Vermontville, NY, Dec 28, 2010 — As we make our way through this final week of the year, Brian Mann will be checking in with his five picks for the top stories of 2010.

There was plenty of tough news for the North Country, from rising unemployment rates to the struggles over state budget cuts.

But a bright spot for the region was the brilliant showing of this region's Olympic athletes at the Vancouver Winter games.

Brian Mann remembers the triumph of Bill Demong, who grew up in the Adirondacks.