The week after the main session of the legislature ends has traditionally been amongst the slowest in the newsroom. Or at least it seems that way.
Of course, these are not traditional times. Caught in the midst of a rugged recession, the bad news seems to roll in regularly and we're there to catch it. Last week was extraordinary in this way, and our top stories and most commented stories reflect that.
Two of the biggest stories of the week were two major employers - Coca-Cola and Rapid City Regional Hospital - who had to adjust their work force to deal with the demands of a contracting economy.
That being said, there are plenty of other less-than-dismal news out there as well. The Miss Rapid City contest was in town last weekend, the State A boys basketball tournament this weekend.
And in the farthest reaching story we've had in awhile (news Web sites worldwide picked up this little tale), a 71-year-old man refused to be a victim of a robbery attempt, fending off a knife-wielding robber with nothing but an ice scraper and a whole lot of spunk. As one commenter said on one of the sites that picked up the story, "He forgot the old saying Don't bring a knife to an ice scraper fight."
Needless to say, there wasn't much of a fall off or post-session hangover this year. As usual, the news marches on. Here's a look at some of the week's best and most read, most viewed and most commented upon.
Top Five Stories
1. Rapid City Regional employees get pay cut, personal leave frozen
One time we ran a story about a dress code change at Rapid City Regional and it was the top story of the three-month period. So, you can imagine there were a few people logging on to a story detailing some of the measures the hospital is taking to deal with the recession. Needless to say, the mandatory pay cut and the loss of paid personal leave by hospital employees is big news, especially considering that Regional is one of the largest employers in the Rapid City area.
2. Police: Septuagenarian sends would-be robber running to girlfriend's house
My personal favorite, the story about a 71-year-old man who was so mad that he wasn't going to take it anymore and chased a would-be knife-wiedling robber back to the assailant's girlfriend's home was a huge hit with readers as well. The fact that it was picked up by Fark.com didn't hurt either. The comments there may be slightly more racy than the Journal site, but also much funnier. If you get a chance, check it out.
3. Governor signs ban on smoking in bars, casinos
For the first two hours after the story broke on the Journal site shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, we averaged more than one Rapid Reply a minute on this story alone. That's a hefty pace for us, and it illustrates how tuned in readers are to this subject. While Gov. Mike Rounds' signing of the bill is a watershed event, the issue may not be over as ban opponents plan their next step. Then again, the issue could be over.
4. Coca-Cola plant lays off workers
Few stories have created a talk about town like this one. In a time when there are layoff stories and bad economy stories every week, the Coca-Cola story rose to people's attention for a couple of reasons. But one key reason is that the bottling plant in west Rapid City insisted they didn't have layoffs. Instead, officials said, they were simply "right sizing." My question is: Is there a place you can go to collect a check after being right-sized or do you get to stand in the unemployment line like all those that have been laid off?
5. Blast 'pretty well destroyed' auto shop
Kaboom! A huge explosion in the early hours of Saturday morning completely leveled a North Rapid auto shop. Night editor Pat Dobbs, manning the desk post-print schedule picked up word on the scanner of the explosion and managed to go and get the story for those who were awakened by the enormous blast that was reportedly heard from as far away as Rapid Valley. It's at times like these that the Web site comes in really handy as the story didn't appear in print until Sunday morning, but faithful Journal readers could go on and get the scoop by 4 a.m. Saturday.
Top Five Videos
1. Miss Rapid City Pageant 2009 8-16-09 (Part 2)
Highlights from the annual Miss Rapid City Pageant were captured on video by online editorial assistant Crystal Hohenthaner. With Miss South Dakota Alexandra Hoffman and Rapid City's Jared Eben hosting the annual event, there was plenty of musical entertainment through the night. Still, bar none, the most entertaining part is watching the young girls show off their talent.
2. Miss Rapid City Pageant 2009 8-16-09
Close behind in the most viewed video of the week is a clip of Hoffman, who finished 15th in the Miss American contest, displaying some of her vocal talents on a popular Carrie Underwood song, "Jesus Take the Wheel."
Vivid images from a tragic situation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Ryan Soderlin provides the camera work and editing on this video depicting the plight of a herd of horses semi-abandoned and struggling to survive. Shannon County Sheriff Jim Daggett talks about the herd's plight, but it is the image of malnourished horses that strike the deepest chords here.
Coach Matt Rama explained his strategy for the State A boys basketball tournament in Rapid City and the chances his Red Cloud squad has in the tournament. Unfortunately, the Crusaders were knocked off in their first-round matchup against Sisseton
5. Raw Video: 'Top Model' Tryouts End With Riot
Move along, nothing to see here. Well, kind of. Thousands of thin, styled beauties making a bum rush on the door's of "America's Top Model" tryouts is caught in this raw AP video. A few people were arrested, a few injured, but for the most part, just another day in the fashion biz.
Top Rapid Reply
There were plenty to choose from this week, but my favorite came on a story about the prospects of a Barack Obama-Rush Limbaugh debate. There are those who dismiss the idea directly, but it is always interesting to think about such oddball propositions.
Still, one of the best analogies I've seen in awhile was put forth by one reader.
Another Opinion on 03/16/2009 10:49:21 said:
"Rush Limbaugh] is to political debate what professional wrestling is to sports in America."
How true, how true. And I'll be tuned in again today as I head to lunch.
Top Poll of the Week
The ladies, and the legend, have it in this week's top poll. What I'm left wondering, though, is where is the love for Deadwood's first mayor, E.B. Farnum?
Besides Al Swearengen and Wild Bill Hickok, who is your favorite Deadwood character?
Seth Bullock
617 29 percent
Sol Star
35 2 percent
E.B. Farnum
53 2 percent
Preacher Smith
90 4 percent
Calamity Jane
1220 57 percent
Jack McCall
136 6 percent
Editor's Pick
Jeff Budlong, assistant sports editor in charge of online, tackles his first major project, and it's a good one. This week's Class A boys basketball tournament wraps up Saturday, and who will be left standing is anybody's guess.
Meanwhile, check out the great work that the Journal sports team is putting forth.
 Title: 2009 Class A boys state tournament
Date: March 15th, 2009 The 2009 Class A boys state basketball tournament at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center |
