6. Favre rallies Packers

When the Packers headed into training camp in July, a lot of people figured that their quarterback was in the twilight of his career and the team would be lucky to win six or seven of its 16 regular-season games.

They couldn't have been more wrong.

After a two-year span in which he threw more interceptions (47) than touchdowns (38), Brett Favre showed he had enough gas in the tank to lead his team to unexpected heights, complete his personal rewrite of the NFL record book and make a case for his fourth MVP trophy.

Surrounded by a young supporting cast in his 17th season, Favre became the NFL's career leader in passing yards, touchdown passes and victories by a starting quarterback. And, he's on pace to exceed his personal record for passing yards in a season (4,458).

The Packers clinched the NFC North Division and are considered a strong candidate to advance to the NFC Championship Game and possibly the Super Bowl.

7. MPD hires new chief

In November, Milwaukee appointed former Springfield, Mass. top cop Edward Flynn police chief for a four-year term and the expectations for Flynn run high in a city tainted by segregation and violence. Flynn has got his work cut out for him, but he's apparently worked magic in other cities, so let's hope he's got a cheesehead-wearing rabbit that he can pull from his hat after he's sworn in at City Hall on Jan. 7.

8. Intermodal Station opens

When the crumbling Amtrak station on St. Paul Avenue reopened in autumn as the bright and shiny new intermodal station, it brought Milwaukee's train and bus connections together in one sharp new location. The stark white revamp replaces two abysmal reception points for visitors -- the other was the former Greyhound station -- and sets the stage for further links between Milwaukee and points beyond. It ought to help bring Milwaukee into the 20th century (no, you read that correctly) in terms of transportation connections. We'll see.

9. Ald. Michael McGee goes to jail

During Memorial Day weekend, Milwaukee Ald. Michael McGee was arrested on charges of making threats and taking bribes. McGee, who is still in jail, faces 12 state charges, as well as a nine-count federal indictment alleging extortion, bribery and trying to avoid reporting requirements for a major cash transaction. McGee says he is a "political prisoner" and denies making threats from jail. Meanwhile, he continues to serve as alderman for the sixth district from prison and is planning on running for re-election again in 2008.

10. The Bronze Fonz face-off

It's the debate that left the local art world divided. Visit Milwaukee announced in September that it had already raised $50,000 of the $85,000 needed to erect a life-sized bronzed statue of Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli from the show "Happy Days," which was set in Milwaukee in the '50s. (Will he wear a blue shirt?)

Visit Milwaukee said it plans to unveil the TV icon tribute in 2008 along the Riverwalk, between Wisconsin Avenue and Michigan Street, despite a local gallery owner and Milwaukee Art Museum director David Gordon expressing opposition to the kind of stereotype it would perpetuate for the city. And as we venture into the new year, the public art -- and public image -- debate continues.