Yesterday we took a look at the top videos of 2008. Tomorrow we will look at the most read stories of 2008. Today, the mirror is turned back at The Fives as we look at the most read columns of the past year.

In looking back at 10 months worth of The Fives, one thing becomes immediately clear: The most interesting of the columns are the weekly look backs at the top stories, videos, polls, Rapid Replies and the such.

Of the 10 most read columns this past year, six were week in reviews.

The Friday columns give readers the most detailed views of what other readers see as the most interesting or newsworthy events of the past week. And they allow those too busy to take in everything on the Web site - which includes about everyone - a way to see if they missed anything important.

Here's a quick look at the top 10 of The Fives.

1. The Fives: A short course on Russell Means in the public eye

A quick Google search will show that this column not only is the most read on the Rapid City Journal site, it has also been reprinted the most on other sites, many of them focusing on Native American issues.

It also produced the most immediate response, if not by Rapid Reply, then by my e-mail inbox here at the Journal.

The thing about Russell Means is that people tend to have an immediate reaction to him. Love him or hate him, there are few people who have a measured response to the man.

And that being said, it was fascinating studying Means' long history of activism for American Indian rights, one that is far ranging, seemingly contradictory at times, frustratingly uneven and simply impressive.

2. The Fives: Was Toby Keith on the bus? Will the rain fill up Pactola? And was that really a bear?

The highest ranking week-in-review column in July featured a wide variety of subjects, including a citizen complaint against country music singer Toby Keith's bus driver, reports of a bear in the Black Hills and a motorcycle fatality on Deadwood Avenue.

But the thing that most likely sent this column up the most read chart was its inclusion of the top videos, which included the very popular "Fireworks Light up the Night at Rushmor," the 13th most popular of the year.

3. The Fives: Blizzard, blizzard, blizzard

Timing is everything.

As a monster spring storm moved into the region, readers checked in to get their news. On the way there, they checked in with this week in review column that included, in addition to weather warnings, recaps on a turkey hunter who accidently shot two hikers, the first combat fatality from Ellsworth Air Force Base in the war on terror and a great video by videographer Tim Appel on a young violinist with ties to the Hills.

4. The Fives: South Dakota for sale, from Sturgis rally campgrounds to really bad license plates

The Fives meets eBay.

I suspected this column might get about 200 readers, but it turned out to be one of the most popular of the past year.

A simple review of some of the South Dakota merchandise for sale on the popular online auction site brought out a few interesting nuggets, including a buffalo hunt for sale.

Who knew?

5. The Fives: Hells Angels, police walking and taking in a bath in the Burger King sink

August is the motherlode of news in the Black Hills, and the same holds true for the Fives. This week in review was remarkable for simple recapping perhaps the richest week of news in 2008.

The top five stories, in descending order, were a Hells Angels member being shot by an off-duty police officer at the Sturgis motorcycle rally, Pine Ridge police officers walking off the job, an investigation against a local church youth group leading to no charges, a fatality on the historic Fort Pierre to Deadwood Trail Ride and a trucker being injured after striking a house that was being moved.

And that didn't include the videos, which included some good rally coverage and a national video featuring Burger King employees recording themselves taking a bath in the restaurant's sinks.

6. The Fives: Cabela's and Wal-Mart and DM&E, oh my!

A cursory update of five business - local and otherwise - and their moments in the news certainly brought out the readers.

All I can say is that when Jay Allen and Bear Butte finish at the bottom of your list, you're going to get some interest.

7. The Fives: Hey, is there some kind of convention going on in Sturgis?

Rally week is the busiest week not only on local highways, but the information highway leading into www.rapidcityjournal.com, as well.

This recap of rally week was surefire winner.

8. The Fives: Stranded motorists, tragedy beneath the bridge and trouble at Wal-Mart

Once again, weather related content wins out at The Fives.

A powerful blizzard in early November brought out readers, and readers came back to see what the biggest stories of the week were.

Most were weather related, including the collapse (again) of the roof at the Spearfish Wal-Mart and the tragic death of a Black Hills Workshop client beneath the Sixth Street bridge.

The column also likely benefitted because it included four of the top 10 videos of the year in its top videos of the week, including the video featuring Fisher Price's cuddle and coo doll that some believe is subliminally advocating adherence to Islam.

9. The Fives: A big drug raid, an icon passes and mountain lions back in the news

Variety and the inclusion of mountain lion in the headline helps those week in review columns as well.

10. The Fives: Waist deep in the greatest blizzards of all time

One of the few times I felt I needed to qualify my list by basing it off other people's list, this look at some of the worst blizzards of the past 120 years or so certainly got people's attention.

Of course, when you're cleaning up after five feet of spring snow drifts, it should.