Bad weather. It looks like it might stick around, which is bad news for commuters, but generally good news for us.
We've recently launched a new service that we can use during times of inclement weather to alert readers to school closings throughout the Black Hills. Eventually, we hope to expand it to closures of businesses, roads and other events.
One of the main reasons why- according to statistics over the past month, anway - is that weather looks to be where it's at. Well, that and crime stories. And high school sports. And politics.
But you get my drift (pun intended).
Anyway, here's a look at the week that was, with weather, crime, politics and more.
Top Five Stories
1. Infant's death investigated
No word yet on the cause of death of a 7-month-old baby, but such stories strike right at the hearts of readers as a stark reminder that life is fragile.
2. Bishop exhorts parishoners to avoid sin of racism
Politics. Religion. Rabid bloggers. This story has it all. Of course, the topic of communion and who is or isn't allowed to take it isn't anything new. But with the past election still fresh in our memories, the local bishop's willingness to speak out on extremely sensitive topics proved a lightning rod for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
3. Woman who died under bridge was Workshop client
We still don't know how Delores Mesteth ended up under the Sixth Street bridge in a howling blizzard with no winter clothes, but we do know a lot more than before this story.
A client of Black Hills Workshop, she had disappeared sometime after leaving with a cousin the previous Saturday, Nov. 1. She was reported missing the following Monday, and her body was found beneath the bridge after the Thursday, Nov. 6 blizzard.
A few answers; still, a lot of questions remain.
4. Convicted kidnapper Tory Teigen charged with murder
The culmination of prosecutor efforts in which several people were charged as being accomplices to murder, Tory Teigen's return to the Hills to face first degree murder charges and, if convicted, possibly the death penalty, certainly got readers attention.
The victim, Troy Klug, has never been found. But in the lead up Teigen being charged with murder, others charged in connection with his disappearance have testified seeing his dead body.
Teigen is already serving a 100-year sentence on the kidnapping charges, but if these charges stick, that virtual life sentence could be converted into a real death sentence.
5. I-90 conditions improve, but travel slow going
Did I mention that weather is a big draw to readers? What looked like was going to be just a windy day turned into something more when the snow began to fly last Friday and created whiteout conditions along Interstate 90 between Rapid City and Spearfish.
Officials even had to shut down the Interstate briefly after several accidents in the Tilford triangle - including two law enforcement vehicles getting hit by drivers - made the roads impassable.
Top Five Videos
1. House Fire In Rockerville (Nov. 14, 2008)
A $400,000 house going up in smoke in the community just south of Rapid City had viewers tuned in.
2. Deadwood: Cleanup After 4 Foot Snow
Oh, yeah, did I mention people liked stories, videos and story about weather?
Considered the champions of snow removal in South Dakota, Deadwood street crews found themselves in an unusual situation late last week still cleaning up a blizzard from the previous week.
3. Little Mommy Doll Says What?
Held over for a second consecutive week, this video exploring the question "What the heck does that doll say?" was still pulling viewers from all over the nation. The story of the Fisher-Price cuddle and coo doll and whether it utters a pro-Islamic message continues to roll on nationwide.
4. Pastor's Sex Challenge Begins
The unusual story of a preacher in Texas who is challenging his married couples to "get busy" once a day for at least a week likely brought a few raised eyebrows from viewers, but it did bring in the viewers. What really made this video work was the interviews with the couples and their explanation of what brought them to church and what they thought of the pastor's message.
A feature that once ran in the print edition moves to online, and with strong results so far.
Rapid Reply of the Week
What can I say? I'm a softy when it comes to lists, and this comment on a story about a magazine featuring the Black Hills as a vacation resort had me giggling aloud with nobody in the room. The comment is a reaction to a quote in the story that there were plenty of "soft adventures" to partake in throughout the Black Hills.
Soft Adventure on 11/19/2008 05:15:23 said:
"Anyone have any idea what "soft adventure" is? I've got a top ten, in no particular order:
10. Walking to the mailbox during the winter
9. Trying to drive on area roads after a snowfall
8. Cutting across other people's fairways/lawns with the golf cart
7. Throwing caution to the wind and eating the ENTIRE pork chop during their 4 p.m. supper.
6. Skipping a day of Paul Harvey and risking not being up to date with the latest in Bose and Husqvarna technology
5. Camping out all night to be first in line just like that Glenn Miller concert back in '39, only now it's for the early-bird buffet.
4. Tipping over displays at Sears because the store has run out of collared sweatshirts.
3. Two simple words: Slot machines.
2. Purchasing a new purse that doesn't smell like a mixture of double-mint gum and decades-old Kleenex.
1. Going to Wal-Mart outside of that 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. window when it "looks safe."" (from IP: 147.92.2.50 Source - Edit)
Poll of the Week
So, apparently it isn't just the economy readers have a skeptical view on. By the way, did I mention that readers seem to gravitate toward weather stories and videos? That now extends to polls.
How bad do you believe this winter will be?
Milder than normal
121 5 percent
About average
709 28 percent
Worst of it may be over
171 7 percent
One of the harshest in the past five years
1550 61 percent
Editor's Pick
Pet of the Week
A new weekly feature at the Rapid City Journal will be the Pet of the Week video.
With new online editorial assistant Crystal Hoenthaner picking up more and more video responsibilities, this will be a regular for her and for readers heading into the holiday season and beyond.
The print version of the Pet of the Week disappeared about a year ago with a reorganization of the Black Hills Journal page, but we're hoping that these brief videos will help save the lives of a few more pups, kits and other animals at the Humane Society of the Black Hills.
