It was a rough week for it being Thanksgiving week.

It began with the absolutely horrific and tragic story of a Box Elder family who lost one child and had another critically injured in an early morning blaze that left them homeless and mourning.

And then there was the man found dead out near Sheridan Lake and the subsequent arrest of a Rapid City man for his murder.

And there was the news that police believe a woman found dead outside her home earlier this month was likely murdered.

This is a lot of dark, big city type news for a place like Rapid City.

At the every least, there were some bright spots among the week's top news. The top video of the week is that of Ali Nowotny and her courageous battle against a brain tumor that failed to deter her from competing in - and with her teammates, winning - at the state cheer and dance tournament.

And, of course, the Rush geared up for its much anticipated inaugural game at the new civic center annex.

Here's a quick look at the week that was.

Top Five Stories

1. One child killed, another critically injured in Box Elder fire

The tragic death of Brandy Siers' 10-year-old Brianna in an early morning fire in Box Elder has brought an outpouring of condolences and community support. But the loss is almost too hard to imagine.

Meanwhile, Siers is in Denver with her 5-year-old son, Desmond, who suffered burns over a quarter of his body and, although improving, remains in critical condition at a children's hospital there.

It is only Siers' own words that reflect a tragedy of such an event when she spoke to reporter Mary Garrigan in a subsequent story.

"We don't have a vehicle, we don't have a house. My kids don't have a home to go home to," a distraught Siers said by telephone from Denver. "But I would sleep in a cardboard box under a bridge for the rest of my life if I could have my baby back."

2. Rapid City authorities investigating another suspicious death

When the news of another suspicious death moved Tuesday morning, the questions began to only grow: What is going on out there?

The body of a Redfield man was found near Sheridan Lake on Monday morning.

This is big news in these parts, and with it being the second suspicious death announced in a less than week, many were understandably concerned. But within days, police announced they had made an arrest in the shooting.

3. Rapid City man among those pardoned by President Bush

Kirk Cordes would like to put his federal felony record in connection with Lacey Act violations while running a commercial West River deer-hunting operation in the 1990s.

President Bush helped in those efforts, giving the Rapid City man a pardon for Cordes' involvement with Dakota Safari.

4. Authorities: Death of woman outside her home being investigated as homicide

Suspicions were already high among many rapidcityjournal.com readers over the death of Laura Moore and the time it took for local authorities to release a report on the woman found dead outside her East Watertown Street home early this month.

Those suspicions were confirmed when the Pennington County Sheriff's Office and Rapid City Police Department reported last Friday that Moore had died of blunt force trauma to her head and that her death was being investigated as a homicide.

5. Former Rapid City dealer faces fraud charges

Dan Nelson. Automobiles. Fraud charges.

All back in the news again.

Top Five Videos

1. Ali Nowotny's hair journey

The courage portrayed by Ali Nowotny is admirable in all its forms, and her determination to be part of the state champion St. Thomas More cheer squad is simply inspirational.

Kristina Barker's accompanying video to the print story is one of the best we've had on the site and should be required viewing.

2. Pet Of The Week

This weekly feature is quickly growing in its popularity. Taking the place of the previous print edition feature, this one outdoes its predecessor in that it is in color and it is moving pictures instead of those of the static variety.

3. In A Rush (11-25-08)

Rapidcityjournal.com viewers get their first look at the new facility at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.

4. Three Arrested For Assault

While this short video didn't give viewers an opportunity to see the BB gun vandals, it did let them hear how police were able to catch them and put them in jail.

5. Japanese Man Makes Mexico Airport Home

Hey, wasn't this a Tom Hanks movie?

Rapid Replies of the Week

There is no doubt that the issue of Leonard Peltier's conviction and subsequent life sentence in federal prison for the 1975 murder of FBI agents Ronald Williams and Jack Coler is amongst the most divisive, long standing issues that has ever come out of Indian County.

Books have been written, movies have been made and the story of Peltier has been passed from one generation to the next, but the hard feelings on both sides of the matter remain as entrenched as they did more than three decades ago.

So, when we posted a story this week about Peltier's family still working to free the man once touted as the only American on Amnesty International's political prisoner list, the responses were as we expected - strong and divided.

Prison Blues on 11/27/2008 11:58:49 said:

"Peltier deserves a release and full pardon on the very same day that the FBI agents come home and share a long awaited Thanksgiving day dinner with their families…"

Lakota Winyan 08 on 11/27/2008 11:16:17 said:

"From reading the previous comments, it seems everyone was there at the scene of the crime. Everyone wants to be Judge and Jury. Personally I would have to say this particular case is plain ole injustice, based on lies committed by the FBI.

I feel sorry for Peltier, sitting out all these years when the real murderer is probably walking among us or maybe even dead by now at the hands of the US Gov't. Either way, only our Creator knows what happened and who the real murderer is….My prayers to the Peltier family, good luck, be strong!"

brian on 11/27/2008 09:08:27 said:

"Didnt Peltier claim on 60 Minutes he knew who the real killer or killers were but he being a warrior he didnt and wouldnt reveal their names? If you're innocent LP start naming names or rot in prison, period.

cb on 11/27/2008 06:11:14 said:

"He is old and sick let him out he is no longer a threat."

Poll of the Week

Former Journal writer and assistant sports editor Jeff Easton once shared with me how he had a confrontation with a neighbor when we were both working in Spearfish. The flap came up after he caught said neighbor cutting down a tree in the yard of the apartment he was renting.

It seemed so odd and I could scarcely imagine what these folks might look like. I mean, what kind of person would go over to their neighbor's yard and begin cutting down trees. It was hard to imagine them walking over with an ax in one hand without imagining them with a banjo in the other.

That is, until this week's poll. Apparently, the type of folks who would go over to their neighbor's house and cut down a tree in their neighbor's yard is the type of person who answers the rapidcityjournal.com daily poll.

When is the appropriate time to get your Christmas tree?

When they're on sale

351 27 percent

When I have help and a truck

319 24 percent

When it's warm

181 14 percent

When the neighbors are gone

467 35 percent

Editor's Picks

The aforementioned video of Ali Nowotny and her battle with a golf-ball size tumor is a remarkable story, and photographer Kristina Barker captured in Nowotny's own words her courageous journey as she prepares for brain surgery in December.

Nowotny's "hair journey" as she prepares to the inevitability that she will have to shave it all off for her surgery is a remarkable example of that courage.