It's no surprise that a pair of bad accidents topped the news at rapidcityjournal.com, especially when one of them led to the death of 6-year-old siblings.

But that wasn't the only thing that made waves with readers here. There was the jail inmate that died at Rapid City Regional Hospital. And news that Pizza Ranch was coming to town. And Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin making a swing through town, talking about - what else? - health care reform. And don't forget the Central States Fair in full swing.

Yup, the online news as a veritable gumball machine - or, if you prefer, a box of choc-o-lates - was in full swing. That is, diversity remains the one constant that keeps readers coming back to the site.

The only difference is, you don't need to stick a nickel into the site before it pops up. Just a click.

But I digress. Here's a quick look at the top stories, videos, reader comments and polls from the past week.

Top Five Stories

1. Three die in two rollovers

A pair of tragic, fatal accidents Monday - one from the north, the other from the south - captured readers attention over the past week.

First came the word of two Belle Fourche men who were killed when the 2000 Ford Expedition they were riding in rolled on Camp Crook Road. Then came word that a 6-year-old girl died after being ejected from a vehicle involved in a one-vehicle accident south of Hot Springs. Later in the week, her 6-year-old brother died and their father faced charges of vehicular homicide and DUI.

2. Death of Pennington County jail inmate under investigation

The death of Native American activist Huron "Jake" Red Dog while in custody of Pennington County authorities was certain to attract more than a few readers.

Red Dog had been involved in a fight on Aug. 13 was taken into custody by responding officers when it was discovered he was on probation and had been drinking. He was taken to Rapid City Regional, treated, released and then taken to Pennington County Jail. Four days later, he developed complications, was taken to Sioux San Hospital to be treated and then returned to the jail. Later in the day on Aug. 17, he was taken back to Sioux San and then transferred to Rapid City Regional, where he later died from the infection.

3. Rescuers carry injured woman two miles through rugged part of Custer State Park

My back hurts just reading this headline.

An unidentified woman who wasn't seriously injured but wasn't able to walk out of a rugged area of the park on Tuesday required a search and rescue crew to hike in about three hours to get her to a waiting ambulance.

4. Pizza Ranch to build near Menard's

No surprise that this is one of the top stories of the week.

Really, you ask. Well, yeah, really. Not that it was completely unexpected, or that it will necessarily be the best attended restaurant ever - though I suspect it will do well. It's just that I've never lived in a city that gets so excited about new restaurants, chain or otherwise.

5. Wandering child leads to drug arrest

Three inches of a story from the other side of the state certainly caught readers' attention. Of course, when that story is about how a baby sitter suspected of smoking pot allows the 3-year-old she is watching to go wandering around an apartment complex at 1 a.m. in the morning, well, I certainly need to read that story.

Top Five Videos

1. The Beat 8-24-09

The week to week winner (except during the Sturgis rally), this week's was high drama. Or, I guess, low drama, as a pair of sisters fighting in public have to be separated by authorities, one by use of pepper spray.

As you can guess, it isn't pretty.

2. Central States Fair Kicks Off

The only thing that could have made this video better is if it had about 30 seconds of pig wrestling footage. Like Christopher Walken and Blue Oyster Cult, I imagine Ron Jeffries speaking to the Fair folks, "Pig wrestling. I've got the fever, and the only remedy is more pig wrestling."

Or something like that.

3. Rep. Herseth Sandlin Responds

The state's lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives made a visit to the Journal Editorial Board, speaking on a number of topics, but almost all of them related to health care reform. Among her most animated responses was to a question about comparisons made to President Obama's bill - which she has opposed, at least in part - to the Indian Health Services.

4. Family Says Disputed Runner Clearly a Woman

With a headline like that, how can you help but not watch the video. Caster Semenya is a track superstar in South Africa, but her appearance - and the amount of testosterone in her body - has some wondering whether she should be running with the boys or girls.

5. Raw Video: Dramatic Pool Rescue

Crews in Key Biscayne, Florida freed a young girl after her hand got caught in a pool drain. The dramatic rescue was caught on tape.

Rapid Replies of the Week

I don't know if the story about Cheyenne school officials considering pushing back the start time of school to let teen students get a little more sleep had any single great reader reply, but the string is high entertainment.

Read the full string by clicking here. Below is a small sample of some of the Rapid Replies.

Sounds Great wrote on Aug 20, 2009 9:07 PM:

" I should move there and teach in the district…extra sleep sounds GREAT. "

Great idea wrote on Aug 20, 2009 8:31 PM:

" This is a great idea. It will prpare them to NOT show up for work on time when they have finished their schooling. "

Ed wrote on Aug 20, 2009 3:01 PM:

" Many countries around the world have school on Saturday.

I am not so sure about graveyard, but a second shift certainty isnt unreasonable. Doesnt Central have different start/release times? Just adjust the start times a few hours further apart.

As for 10 on/10 off, no. But that does hit close to something you failed to hit upon. Its sacrilege I know. Almost illegal just to mention it, but Ill say it anyway, YEAR ROUND SCHOOL. I mean if you really want emulate the workplace do away with yet another outdated 100-year-old practice. "

- - sigh - - wrote on Aug 20, 2009 2:20 PM:

" I have a different perspective being one of those "lazy irresponsible teens" you refer to. How about cutting back on the homework so we can do extracurriculars after school without working on homework into all hours of the night. "

Poll of the Week

The most popular poll of the week is attached to perhaps the biggest news of the week, the death of longtime politician Ted Kennedy. And the results should have been somewhat predictable.

First, it lists five answers, but there really are only two: was he good, or was he bad. Secondly, the answer will be, for most people answering, completely political. And lastly, those who have the strongest opinions - which, in modern day politics, tend to lean to the negative side - would certainly vote in the negative.

Or, it could be that scandals are what Ted Kennedy's lasting legacy will be.

What will Ted Kennedy's longest lasting legacy be?

Health care

165 11 percent

Care of the poor

157 10 percent

Civil rights

158 10 percent

Being a liberal target for conservatives

110 7 percent

Scandals

960 62 percent

Editor's Pick

Three Minute Drill

The Rapid City Journal's version of the sports reporters is back with the three man drill, a quick look at the Hills area high school football scene. It may not have the technical glamour of its ESPN counterpart, but it is pretty entertaining.