The finger was on the button of the cancellations module on the Journal home page this week as the first winter weather advisory of the season went out from the NWS.

Generally speaking, that means active times here at the Journal. Beyond the obvious school cancellation notices, it's generally some of the best read and viewed stories, videos and photo slideshows that we have each year.

The great thing about the fall, though, is that the weather is at the "interesting" stage mostly and not so much the "threatening" stage. That allows room for plenty of other interesting news, such as this past weekend's annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup.

It also allows for other breaking news to make waves with readers, such as Black Hills Power's request to increase rates by 26 percent.

And it allows room for less than breaking news, such as high school sports, Native American issues concerning land in the Black Hills and the top story of the week, South Dakota's own superjackpot winner Neal Wanless deciding to use a fraction of his winnings to buy 23 square miles of land in the northern foothills of the Black Hills.

Here's a more complete look at the week in review.

Top Five Stories

1. Mission rancher uses lottery winnings to buy Hills area ranch land

Welcome, neighbor! Folks in the rural reaches of Butte and Meade counties (of which there is much) have a new neighbor after Powerball jackpot winner Neal Wanless plunked down nearly $10 million for 23 square miles of ranch land in the region.

If you recall, Wanless had said in his initial news conference after winning the $232.1 million jackpot (of which he received a lump sum of about $88.5 million after taxes) that his dream was to buy a bigger ranch so he could go on longer rides with his horse, Eleanor.

I don't think Eleanor's complaining.

2. Snow predicted for the Black Hills, snow showers Thursday on the Plains

It's not like we don't expect snow in October. It's just that a relatively cool summer that was preceded by a relatively cool (and sometimes snowy) spring had many Hills area folks hoping that El Nino would bring his warm winds back to the region.

Regardless, even with the 60 mph winds, the snow was largely relegated to the Northern Hills and not in amounts that would require too much back breaking shoveling.

3. Black Hills Power looks to increase rates by more than 25 percent

It's not like readers don't expect power rates to rise. The demand for electricity has certainly grown considering the more technology dependent we have become over the years.

Still, when the latest request for an increase is 26.6 percent and many a South Dakotan is still licking their wounds from the Great Recession, it's a bit jarring for most readers in our area, especially for a company that has been growing at breakneck pace the past couple of years.

That being said, the rate request is simply the beginning of the process and won't take place immediately. BHP must still go through the PUC, and as one company official said, the rate would be the equivalent of rates paid by BHP customers in 1995 when the rate is adjusted for inflation.

4. Sioux leaders work on Black Hills lands proposal for Obama

A new twist on an old theme, Native American leaders are hoping to make headway with what they see as a sympathetic White House in efforts to regain at least some land in the Black Hills.

While the days of the Bradley Bill and the return of the Black Hills to the Lakota seem like ancient history, the new efforts revolve around plans to give back federal lands in the Hills to Native Americans as a sort of a compromise to the long-standing battle over the 19th century treaties between the U.S. government and the tribes.

5. Suspect in reservation stabbing death dies

The man wanted for the stabbing death of a woman in Wanblee this past summer himself turned up dead this past weekend, ending a tragic series of events that leaves more than one family grieving.

Joe Red Willow died Saturday. He had been under investigation but never charged for the July 13 stabbing death of Lisa American Horse on July 13.

The status of the investigation is not known.

Top Five Videos

1. Mobile Home Tips Near Elk Vale Road

Call it the harbinger of bad weather, or at least, wintry weather.

High winds tipped a trailer home off a semi near Elk Vale Road Tuesday morning.

As multimedia producer Tim Appel and I discussed the video before he ran out to shoot it, it had all the makings of a Journal "hit" - home being moved, bad weather, police. To the surprise of neither, it was easily the most watched video of the week.

2. First Snow Hits

A storm system brings the first snow to Black Hills area.

One word: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

3. Buffalo Roundup

One of the shoulder season's biggest tourist draws, the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup is more than a show for visitors to the Hills. Craig Pugsley, Visitor Services Coordinator talks visitor numbers and why the roundup is essential.

4. Herd Manager: What It Takes

More from the Buffalo Roundup, Chad Kremer, Buffalo Roundup herd manager, talks about the ride and what it takes.

5. Raw Video: Spider Bugs Pope

Not since Arachnophobia or Charlotte's Web has a spider stolen so much time in the public view.

A surprise on the Journal's most popular video list, this spider that appeared on the pope's white robes as he addressed politicians and diplomats in Prague last weekend might not have bothered his holiness much, but it gives me the hebee jebees.

Rapid Replies of the Week

Stories about foul weather generally bring out the surliest of Rapid Repliers. However, when it's the first snow of the season, it seems that they are considerably more cheerful and in some cases, downright optimistic.

Here's a sampling on one of the most read stories of the week.

Hope the weather forecast is right wrote on Sep 29, 2009 8:56 PM:

" I love the snow and cooler weather and since I don't have the money to go to Alaska, I will welcome an early snow. Sorry for all of you that are not looking forward to the weather. Keep in mind that it will be gone soon so we all win. "

In the Immortal words of G. W. Bush wrote on Sep 29, 2009 4:35 PM:

" Bring it on! "

yes wrote on Sep 28, 2009 9:26 PM:

" I wish it snowed all year round. That would be fantastic "

FINALLY wrote on Sep 28, 2009 5:03 PM:

" something to kill the grasshoppers. "

hunter wrote on Sep 30, 2009 6:14 AM:

" Its going to be a great weather for opening rifle elk season… "

Poll of the Week

From the looks of this week's most popular poll, it seems that a good number of Rapid City Journal online readers don't agree with President Obama's desires to lengthen school days and/or the school year.

It wouldn't be the first thing they disagree on, and it probably won't be the last.

To improve education in the U.S., should the school year be extended?

Yes 37 percent

No 63 percent

Editor's Pick

First off, a disclaimer. In last week's column, I previewed the new rapidcityjournal.com. So when Wednesday rolled around, many a dumbfounded reader was probably looking pretty hard for the changes.

No need to worry, the overhaul has been postponed to later in October.

In the meantime, there are some new things going on the site, including an expansion of our live chats.

This past week, Blogmore moderators Kevin Woster and Jerry Steinley held their inaugural live chat with PUC commissioner Dusty Johnson. It was a pretty solid back and forth with Dusty, and you can check it out by clicking here.

This week, the Blogmore duo will allow readers to fire off questions to Matt McGovern of RePower America, one of the key groups behind President Obama's energy bill and a proponent of Cap & Trade.

Be sure to tune in to Mount Blogmore at noon Tuesday for the chat.