In a week where the focus turned toward the final primary of the national political season, there was plenty of other local news to keep readers busy.
Whether it was the Hot Springs mayor being indicted, track and field domination or a girl using her hard-earned baby-sitting money to save the life of a canine friend, the news just came coming.
Top Five Stories of the Week
Hot Springs' squabbles between its political players and developers have become relatively common place at www.rapidcityjournal.com, but this week's development certainly elevated the level of discontent in the Southern Hills city.
Allegations and counter-allegations between Mayor Carl Oberlitner and States Attorney Lance Russell certainly provided the drama, but the only thing this story resolves is that the ongoing feud over the city's golf course expansion will continue to make headlines.
2. Wharton defends $700K in administrative raises since '04
With the Rapid City Area School District facing budget peril, the focus on hundreds of thousands of dollars in pay raises for school administrators has grown more intense.
On Sunday, superintendent of schools Peter Wharton defended the practice, which brought out the Rapid Repliers en masse.
3. Obama to appear in Rapid City area
The story wasn't big, the news was. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama's announcement he was returning to South Dakota brought big hopes that the candidate would make a swing west of the Missouri.
The Journal Editorial Board made their case. And by week's end, the candidate indeed noted he would be making a stop in Rapid City.
The two events most likely are not related.
Mystery surrounds the discovery of a body in Sioux Falls along the Big Sioux River. As of today, still now word on potential ID.
5. Pactola release irks marina owner
A classic tale in the West: Who gets the water? Is it development? Is it aggies? Is it lake recreation enthusiasts? Or how about downstream anglers?
The owner of a marina on Pactola Reservoir didn't mind wading into the age old controversy, decrying an increase of water releases at the man-made lake.
Top Five Videos of the Week
1. Clinton speaks in Rapid City
Hillary Clinton's first "official" visit to Rapid City brought out huge crowds at Memorial Park in a midweek swing through the Black HIlls. The Hills is getting their fill of the Clinton family as the candidate promised "A Clinton A Day" in South Dakota until Tuesday's election.
2. Raw Video: Tornado Rips Through Kansas
It's been a bad week for tornadoes, and it doesn't seem to be letting up with reports of twisters in South Dakota and neighboring Nebraska last night.
3. Passenger Train Collides With Garbage Truck
Dramatic footage of a train-truck collision.
The story of the Rapid City girl who saved the life of a badly-injured dog by using her baby-stitting money to pay for the operation to save his life captured the hearts of many a Journal reader.
Clips for the finale of the high school track footage as Rapid City Stevens girls team tied a national record with their 13th consecutive state title.
Rapid Replies of the Week
On the story about administrative salaries in the Rapid City Area School District:
The Truth is Out on 05/25/2008 11:00:36 said:
"Thank you Journal for printing all those admin salaries today. Now we know why aides, programs, and positions are being cut. Get rid of all the elementary libraries to give Wharton and his crew big pay raises? What a crock! Now we know where the money goes! It goes to administrators! I predict a taxpayer revolt like in 1994! No more property taxes for schools! The district just wastes the money anyhow! And get rid of Wharton!"
beating a dead horse on 05/25/2008 10:51:00 said:
"Why does the RCJ keep beating a dead horse? If you fired every administrator in the disrict (which appears to be the desired course of action) you still would have a budget shortfall. Get a clue, the problem is NOT with administrative salaries. Do administrators make more money, yep, they do. Are they highly educated? yep, they are. Are there highly educated teachers in the district making alot less money, yep, there are. Now that we've cleared that up, can we move on to responsible journalism and find real solutions to the budget crunch? I personally would start with getting a new school board in place, they are the ones that authorized all the administrative and teacher raises in the first place. Also, a new governor that understands the importance of funding education wouldn't be a bad priority either. Thank you"
Poll of the Week
Which has been the lamest American Idol?
Jordin Sparks
5 percent
David Cook
6 percent
Ruben Studdard
18 percent
Taylor Hicks
45 percent
Fantasia
26 percent
All I have to say is I couldn't agree more.
Editor's pick
2008 South Dakota State Track Meet
The three man team of reporters Jim Holland and Padraic Duffy and photographer Seth McConnell weren't competing at last weekend's South Dakota State Track Meet, but they kicked tail nonetheless.
It didn't hurt they had some compelling stories to cover, including Rapid City Stevens 13th consecutive title in the AA Girls competition, Rapid City Cobblers sophomore Jasymne King individual brilliance and the Pierre boys third consecutive Boys AA championship.
With Holland and Duffy providing stories and help on the video and McConnell capturing all things visual - slideshows, photo galleries and video - their coverage was comprehensive.
