Readers' interests were wide ranging last week as there was no single burning question or issue. Other than those listed above, of course.
Here's a quick look at the week that was.
Top Five Stories
1. Motorcyclist killed in collision on Deadwood Avenue
A fatal motorcycle accident that shut down one of Rapid City's busiest streets in the middle of a work day pushed news of the tragic death of Tyrell Weber to the biggest story of the week on www.rapidcityjournal.com. The second motorcycle fatality of the week in our region and the Sturgis motorcycle rally less than a month, Weber's death provided a sobering reality to the summer driving season in the Black Hills area.
2. Citizen formally complains about singer Toby Keith's bus driver
OK, all the pertinent information may have been in the police report of a bus allegedly speeding through the construction zone near Sturgis that has already claimed one life this year. And the story has almost all of the key information, sans the one bit of barely news we all want to know: Was Toby on the bus?
Hey, I'm not a Toby Keith fan (I knew only one of his songs in a poll earlier in the week), and it doesn't make a lick of difference to the events, but it's what I want to know.
3. Pactola surges after Sunday rain storm; flooding closes roads
It's rare that any amount of flooding, no matter how small, is good news. But don't tell marina owner Dave Fisher that.
A Sunday night downpour near Rochford forced Rapid Creek to overflow its banks and closed roads in the area, but it also gave a shot of relief to Pactola, which has shrunk after years of regional drought.
For Fisher, that meant having to move his fuel tanks to higher ground, work that he was more than happy to undertake. And for Black Hills resident who have grown weary of the Hills drying out in recent years by mid-June, this spell of rain is unexpected but certainly welcome.
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/07/04/news/local/doc486e4edcbbf3b509118020.txt
4. Bear sighting reported in Spearfish Canyon
The number of bear sightings in the Black Hills in recent years are about as frequent as mountain lion sightings were in the 1980s - rare, but we figured they were there.
If the black bear follows the path that the mountain lions did, Bear Country U.S.A. might not be the only place we go to see the lumbering animals.
5. Family suffering from loss of son on mission to save lives
Let me just say that Cameron Jordan's family's fearlessness will most certainly save lives.
This compelling story by Kayla Gahagan chronicles the difficult journey of Rene Hatcher after her son committed suicide last year and the decision she has made to help other teenagers with thoughts of suicide.
Hatcher's story is tragic and inspirational all at once, and one can only hope that those that read it will take it to hear.
Top Five Videos
1. Fireworks Light up the Night at Rushmore
Always popular, the fireworks at Mount Rushmore is one of www.rapidcityjournal.com's biggest events - in particular, visually - each year.
2. Deep Rising
Big rains brought some flooding and some relief to the central Black Hills.
Highlights from the lead up to the fireworks at Mount Rushmore on July 3, which bring people from all across the nation to celebrate our country's birthday.
4. Black Bear Center of Police Stakeout
Apparently, all this talk of bears interests people watching videos, too, even if it wasn't from here in the Hills.
Improvements made at one of the most beautiful locations in the Black Hills (my wife and I got married there nearly 14 years ago, so I know of which I speak) are captured here on video by photo editor Ryan Soderlin. It's great to see the improvements, but it's also great just to see the falls themselves running so well this time of year.
Rapid Reply of the Week
This reply to the story of Renee Hatcher and her family's life after the suicide death of her son inspired a number of comments like the following.
Reader on 07/10/2008 08:34:13 said:
"Oh Lord I know what this family is living with. I had a friend, not just a friend but someone who may have been closer to me than my only brother when growing up. My friend Craig and I were inseperable from the 6th grade on. Growing into adulthood we remained very close, even though I moved 400 miles away. We were best men for each others weddings. We were there when each of our children were born. He came up here when my middle child was born and I was their when his second was born. He had a wonderful job, I thought a wonderful life. One morning I got a call from his wife, saying he killed himself. It was like losing my brother.This has been almost 20 years ago and I still have this hole in my heart. Every time I go back home to visit my family, I stop and visit Craig at the cemetary. I have always had questions, questions that only Craig could have answered. His kids stay in touch and they too still have questions. My heart goes out to this family. Not only because they lost a son and brother, but because even though it has been said there are signs. Sometimes there are no signs. God bless this family, and seek help. It is out there."
How should the U.S. proceed in Iraq?
Set a withdrawal schedule
858 Votes, 63 percent
Stay as long as it takes
514 Votes, 37 percent
Editor's Pick
Tinbu.
OK, the name doesn't tell you much, but perhaps you've noticed those little icons in the upper right quadrant of the home page, just below the blue navigation bar. It's a new service that the Journal is offering that offers some quick information readers might not find elsewhere on the site, such as a daily horoscope, lottery numbers and gas prices.
And speaking of gas prices, I will be on vacation throughout next week as we visit old friends in Montana and Idaho, so there will be no Fives columns through next week.
