It's been a great year so far for dog trainer Sara Carson.
She captured the city's imagination with an incredible run during America's Got Talent, finishing in the top five of the popular TV show.
See: Top Five for Hero and Sara's incredible run on AGT.
Among other achievements, she signed a contract to Headline "The Unbelievables Show" in Reno, Nevada.
She's a finalist for Dog Trainer of the Year in the U.S. with results due Friday.
See: Carson finalist in Dog Trainer of the Year
And BayToday readers just voted her and her dog Hero "Newsmakers of the Year."
"Honestly, I feel just like I felt finding out I placed 5th on America’s Got Talent!!!, Sara told BayToday. "I’m over the moon!!! The amount of support is just unbelievable and I am just so thankful! "
On her Facebook page she wrote, "Hero and I have officially been named 2017 Newsmakers of the year in my hometown of North Bay, Ontario,Canada 
⭐️
What an honor! Thank you so much for the support!!!"
Sara was a runaway choice taking 46 per cent of the 2,765 votes cast.
A distant second was the Dionne sisters, Annette and Cecile. They were in the news for their part in the moving of their childhood home from Seymour and the bypass to the downtown next to the Discovery North Bay Museum. The ladies collected 567 votes, or 21 per cent of the total.
See: Dionne sisters react to museum decision
A distant third was Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli with 266 votes, or 10 per cent.
See all the results here.
