Death notices just miss the bronze in Helena

You can't judge a book by its cover, but can you judge a city by what its citizens read?

Here are the most read stories from the Helena Independent Record on 2007-11-09:

Crosstown crossover (1086)
Reeder's Alley (620)
Talent search finalists to compete Saturday (397)
Funeral notices (373)
Veto override gives state water projects green light (371)
Kalispell-area woman fined in septic tank drowning (286)
Guard working to fill junior officer ranks (276)
State youth lead in wrong way (245)
Special Olympics, special friends (227)

For comparison, here are the most read stories from the Seattle PI:

· New details in grisly Italian slaying
· Roosevelt girls' coach Resler ousted
· Please hold: Businesses want to hear your order, not your call
· Amanda Knox and the Internet: Are we being fair?
· City looks too eager to scrap Memorial Stadium

And here are the most read stories from the NY Daily News:

1. I killed her with a yoga stick
2. Tejada third option for Yanks
3. Despite offer, Jorge plays hardball
4. JUST LET IT BE, CRIES PAUL EX
5. Mets to work on rotation
6. Maid stumbles in L.I. 'slave' trial
7. A-Rod ratings boost is remote chance
8. Saved from oncoming train
9. Bodega owner took slice outta crime
10. Murder in Manhattan jewelry store