Mission Statement:
To endeavor to bring to all residents of the Five States the most current and important news from across the entire Five States region. Never yellow, the Five States Herald vows to serve only the people of the Five States, from New Austin to Lemoyne, free of charge now and forever.
Snow in the forecast for the Five States, yes, all of them
By Adam Parvey
As we approach the end of the year, meteorologists have predicted snow in the Five States. Civilizations have looked to the sky to predict the weather for as long as people could see. The theory behind weather prediction has become more accurate as meteorologists now employ what they call models. “We take what we know abou the weather and then fill in the gaps with mathematics,” one meteorologist told me, “it is complicated but we are getting better at it and refining our models every year.” As winter approaches, thick snow storms are expected to hit the Five States.
“I cannot explain it in a way you would understand,” the meteorologist told me, “but just know that soon the entire region will be coated in snow, including the desert state of New Austin.” When asked how severe it will be, they pointed to the past. About this time of year we always get heavy snowfall in this region. There have not been reports of significant damage or issues that result from the snow, though visibility is known to have a sharp decline. Traders and hunters alike find themselves in a situation where their trade is suddenly much more difficult than it was just weeks before. “Understandably, folks panic when they learn that the weather is about to decrease their ability to earn money,” said a meteorologist, “but they can plan for it, as it will likely be the exact same kind of storm and snow coverage as last year.”
Naturalist arrested for murder
By Jose Chavez
A naturalist killed a woman this week. The killer, a woman who has been in the Five States for over a year, admitted to committing the deed. “Yes, I killed her, but I challenge you to tell me she did not deserve it,” the woman said, “I can abide some hunting, but to trample small animals to death is just… cruel.” The naturalist said she spotted the woman while on horse back, riding back and forth just off the road. At first she thought the woman was exercising the horse, but then she saw the truth of it.
“I saw the snake, not moving, baking in the sun,” the naturalist said, “then the poor crushed armadillo and I realized they were riding back and forth, crushing small creatures.” The naturalist said at that point she knew what she had to do. She pulled out a rifle, took aim, and fired, killing them in one shot. She turned herself in. Though she believes she was justified, her actions violated the law and she will be prosecuted for murder.
Ambarino Rangers remain on high alert
By Jane Duran
Though the trial is over and Mrs. Emmaline Haven has been released, the Executioner is still at large. The prosecution maintains that they got it right, that Emmaline Haven is the killer. “We still believe Mrs. Haven is the Executioner, the jury got it wrong,” the Ambarino Rangers’ Office wrote in public statement, “and as such, we believe the killer is back on the loose and we will act accordingly.” The Rangers spokesman clarified that they will not be targeting Mrs. Haven, pointing out that they will just be keeping frequent patrols for the foreseeable future. “If the jury did get it right, then there is still a killer on the lose, “the statement continued, “so increased patrols and vigilance makes sense no matter what.” The Rangers will patrol main roads, lesser traveled paths, and bodies of water.
Treasure hunting group found dead, believed to have been murdered
By Odell Clifton
A group of known treasure hunters was found dead this week. The group was known to travel around the Five States searching for rumored treasure. A traveler left the main rode while riding back to New Hanover and saw the bodies. “I thought it was just folks sleeping at camp,” the man said, “but then I noticed they were too still and then I saw the blood.” Investigators arrived at the scene not long after. “We believe the killings were related to theft,” one investigator said, “all of their belongings were taken.” Late that evening a cowpoke was bragging about coming into several treasure maps. “I found six treasure maps today, can you believe it?” the cowpoke.
Lawmen could not confirm the origin of the treasure maps and so did not make any arrests. As of press time, the killer or killers remain unknown.
Exonerated of murder, Emmaline Haven is once again free
By Frederick Vannesse
The months long saga of the Executioner closes its most recent chapter. The Executioner is a serial murderer who targets men who have been unfaithful to their wives. Lemoyne resident Emmaline Haven was arrested for the murders. Mrs. Haven had originally been caught allegedly having dumped a body in an Ambarino lake. Later, her personal diary was used to show that she had significant disagreements with her husband over his infidelity and had even expressed the desire for him to be dead and for the unfaithful to be punished. The jury however did not find the evidence convincing and did not convict Mrs. Haven.
One of the reasons Mrs. Haven was ultimately exonerated of the crimes she was accused of was that the Executioner’s killings continued even after she was under arrest. Several men who were confirmed to being unfaithful were found killed in the same way as the Executioner’s previous victims. Prosecutors claimed the killings after Mrs. Haven’s arrest were just people copying her tactics and intentionally trying to confuse people. “Mrs. Haven, threw a cult of personality, drew other women to her cause,” prosecutors argued, “they copied her killings to cast doubt on her guilt.” The defense team countered this.
“Just think of how wild this is, that women who have no contact with Mrs. Haven would risk injury, their freedom, and their life to confuse future jurors,” said Mrs. Haven’s attorney, “it makes no sense and is clearly the prosecution grasping at straws to confuse jurors from the facts of the case.” Special Agent Rice Philips who led the investigation has been put on leave, but it is not confirmed that the mandatory leave is related to this case. Though this chapter is now closed, the story of the Executioner continues.
Local resident known as “The Boy” under investigation
By Donna Deshner
A man believed to be an outlaw known as the Boy has finally come under serious investigation. State lawmen in New Hanover have identified the Boy as a known outlaw, though they have never had sufficient evidence to charge him with a crime. “Despite his idiot persona, the Boy is quite smart,” a lawman said, “at least as it comes to crime, because he keeps himself close enough to give orders but far enough away to keep the stink off him.” This week that all changed. A man walked into the Valentine Sheriff Department and admitted to being an outlaw. “This fella walks in and says, ‘I’m an outlaw, arrest me, I’m a murderer and a thief many times over,'” a deputy said, “so we arrest him and sure enough, the man was indeed wanted.”
The criminal quickly started telling lawmen about the work he has done for the Boy. “This man starts telling us about horse thefts, jail breaks and prisoner breakouts, wagon thefts,” the deputy said, “many crimes we believed the Boy was involved with already.” The outlaw just kept rattling off jobs the Boy hired him for. Word spread quickly and the Boy exited the town. The outlaw said he was tired of the Boy’s promises. “This… boy… always promised to pay well and then would give me 12 bucks,” the outlaw said form behind bars, “I got over 100 thousand dollars, what is 12 dollars?” The Boy was last spotted near Flatline Station.
Turkey hunting reaches all-time high in Scarlett Meadows
By Mathilde Orry
The Rhodes town butcher has said his turkey stocks are quite low, lower than usual. “I sell lots of turkeys around this time of year but have had a hard time securing them this year,” the butcher admitted. He explained that he gets his stock by purchasing from hunters, with some hunting done himself. This year hunters have not brought many turkeys in to sell, nor has he been able to find many turkeys on his hunting trips. “I think most are just killing their own turkeys,” the butcher said, “and cleaning them up themselves so they just don’t need to buy them.” While this decline in business not ideal, he said he will survive. “It’s nice selling more turkeys every November,” the butcher said, “but even with less sells it’ll be alright, my other business, beef and big game meat and such, is doing well.”
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A Quiet Tree to Reflect
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax – Lead Correspondent
The mind wanders; that’s what it does when it faces calamity. It looks in all directions, and it ponders. I am sure many cowpokes have felt this way in times of grief; I understand it so much better now.
When I have time to myself, I find myself wandering over to a tree, I glance at it now and then when going to the market. It’s a large tree, all to itself, standing proud and tall despite withering decades of violence and cruelty.
At night, when I have nothing to do, I have occasionally walked out and sat under that tree. I am not a Buddhist or anything close, although I have heard stories of monks living in the Five States. But like those monks, I just close my eyes and rest beneath this tree, not looking for wisdom, but allowing my mind to just, wander. Many memories and thoughts have bounced around on those cold nights, I do not intend to share them, but I encourage anyone to try it. It will not bring you enlightenment, and it likely will not cure you of what makes the heart ache, but you will better know yourself.
The Five States Herald 