Not to split hairs, but my nine-year career at The Salinas Californian covered eight full years and two half years, which leads me to this top ten list. I chose one favorite photo that I shot for the paper from each year I worked there.

02-13-11 — Tim Sawyer of Santa Cruz makes a turn Feb. 13 during the Central Coast Cycling Club mountain bike cross country races in the East Garrison area of the former Fort Ord.
 
 

03-23-10 — A suspect looks out from the back of a police cruiser Tuesday on Oregon Street after a shooting in which a child was killed in his home by a stray bullet. Five suspects were taken into custody on Oregon Street.
 
 

07-17-09 — Jake Pratt of Ellensburg, Washington, rides out of the chutes to a time of 14.7 seconds in the tie-down roping competition at Friday’s California Rodeo Salinas.
 
 

07-15-08 — Trevor John, 5, of Prunedale, winner of the Best-Dressed Cowboy award, takes aim before Tuesday’s Kiddie Kapers parade in Oldtown Salinas.
 
 

09-21-07 — Cody Vaughn does a chest pull Friday in Pacific Grove.
 
 

07-03-06 — Roman Schlick, of Gilroy, cheers for The Scorpions Monday night at the Salinas Sports Complex. Schlick has a Scorpions tattoo on his right arm, which he said he got in hopes of one day meeting the band and having them sign it — a dream he fulfilled before the concert Monday.
 
 

05-22-05 — Brittany Duyao accidentally runs over Amanda Volle after Volle fell just before the first turn during Sunday’s Golden State Nationals at the Manzanita Park BMX track in Prunedale. Both girls got up from the spill and rode away.
 
 

08-19-04 — Irmgard Wynn, 70, an member of the band the Alpine Echoes, shows off one of her accordions in her North Salinas home Thursday.
 
 

02-04-03 — Greenfield’s Carmen Salazar gets his face buried in ball during a first-half header in Tuesday’s game.
 
 

10-31-02 — Kala Robinson, 7, of Salinas, reacts while walking through the “Scary Corner” at Hartnell College’s Spooktacular Halloween Celebration Thursday night.