A pair of investigation over possible assaults under vastly different circumstances dominated the readers interest over the past week.

The biggest story of he week without question was the ongoing investigation of a potential assault last week that left 17-year-old Rapid City Central student Cody Yellow Thunder fighting for his life in a Rapid City hospital.

The second was the ongoing investigation into a shooting Aug. 9 at a Sturgis Bar that put a Hells Angels member into the hospital with two gun wounds at the hands of an off-duty Seattle police sergeant.

Both stories got plenty of hits, and both left about as many questions as they did answers.

Here's a quick look at the week that was.

Top Five Stories

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/09/16/news/top/doc48d016ed666cd718675068.txt"> 1. Police know who assaulted now paralyzed teen

Perhaps the single element that most readers focused on in the ongoing story about Cody Yellow Hawk was whether police would be able to identify the person who may have broken his neck and left the teen paralyzed from the neck down.

That was answered earlier this week when police said that through interviews at the scene and at least three videos of the altercation, they knew who it was.

However, they still haven't said whether the person - likely also a juvenile - would be charged.

2. Assault charges dropped against off-duty cop who shot Hells Angels member

In the case of a barroom shooting during the Sturgis motorcycle rally, we've known for weeks that charges have come down against at least five Iron Pigs members and the Hells Angels member who landed in hospital after being shot twice by one of the former's members.

However, it's the dropping of charges - in particular, the assault charges against Ron Smith, the man who fired the gun that injured the Hells Angels member - that caught readers interest here.

Now, the five Iron Pigs members - all police officers or firemen - face only misdemeanor charges. The Hells Angels member who was the person shot and who, according to Meade County State's Attorney Jesse Sondreal, started the fight that led up to the shooting, is the only person left facing assault charges.

3. Lead-Deadwood school employee fired, in jail

It has been a rough couple of months for the Lead-Deadwood School District. First there was the story about the school secretary charged with embezzling from school funds, and now there's this.

Wade Mackey, the school's technology director, was arrested for stalking a Belle Fourche woman and was fired last week by the school district.

4. Athletic community loses a leader Friday

The Hill City school system also lost a key figure last week, but in a much more tragic way. Longtime activities director Cory Ginsbach died Friday night returning home from the Hill City-Lead-Deadwood football game.

Ginsbach was diagnosed with Lou Gerhig's disease last year, and his passing at age 49 was remembered as a selfless individual who was a great friend and great role model.

5. Police cite four in underage alcohol sting

It doesn't matter when we run it, the alcohol sting story always draws strong reader interest.

Top Five Videos

http://videos.rapidcityjournal.com/p/video?id=2178420"> Teacher of the Year

It's always interesting to hear what inspired individuals to excel in their chosen professions, but it's even more interesting when they end up going into the same profession as their inspiration.

North Middle School's Jackie Swanson sat down for a short interview with videographer Tim Appel earlier this week, and while the video isn't necessarily dramatic or shocking, it was easily the most popular over the past week.

Aftermath of Ike Leaves Thousands Homeless

Weather, even when it isn't our own, is always a popular topic on www.rapidcityjournal.com. With Hurricane Ike wiping out Galveston and making its way inland, readers kept a close eye on its developments and the devastation left behind

Week In Review

Another installment of our video look back at the week that was last week grabbed viewer's attention. As a sidebar, there won't be a week in review video this week, but check back next week at its regularly scheduled time.

DAV Building Gets Makeover

Sometimes, good news is real news. When a group of Ellsworth Air Force Base airmen got together to gussy up the local DAV, we were there to cover the event and interview some of the volunteers.

Fireworks Light up the Night at Rushmore

Readers of The Fives made this the fifth-most viewed video of the week, even though it's more than two months old.

In a column about good, raw video available online shot on location from spots around the Hills had many readers checking out for a second time the fireworks display this past July 3 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Top Rapid Reply

I knew when I posted the story of a possible pit bull ordinance is Sturgis that there would be plenty of commentary. There were few moderate views in the scores that rolled in, the following being one of the rare.

anonymous on 09/18/2008 08:54:25 said:

"This is a quote I found from a discussion about this issue in another city/state. I thought the author made some very good points.

"I lived in a city with breed restrictions. I don't think it worked to stop the problem of aggressive dogs, since a quick check on line

indicates they're considering more. Breed bans seem like a bandaid on the problem. It doesn't really get at the source of the infection. Yesterday dobermans, today pits, tomorrow…? It seems we could better address the very real issue of public safety by targeting back yard breeders who perpetuate bad genes, targeting people who use their animals for aggressive purposes (e.g. dog fighting), beefing up staff and resources available to animal enforcement (so they can actually follow up on complaints) and enforcing the leash and licensing laws for EVERYONE.""

Top Poll

With all the "bad" news leading the story counts, it was great to see that readers still look at South Dakotans as at least "Midwest nice."

Rate how 'sociable' South Dakotans are.

Sunshine and daisies

208 (9 percent)

Midwest nice

1223 (55 percent)

Somewhat reserved

475 (21 percent)

Back off, buddy

338 (15 percent)

Editor's pick

Our photographer's work can get lost on the Web site sometimes, but they do truly amazing work.

My favorite this week is Seth McConnell's photographic essay on work to preserve Mount Rushmore. The photos give one the rare opportunity to see what it looks like atop the popular destination.