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.
Despite backlash, rereleased boardgame proves popular among board game enthusiasts
By Adam Parvey
When the powers that be in the Five States announced officially funding a rerelease of an old board game, residents were not thrilled. The consensus seemed to be that new investments in the Five States were more worthwhile than rereleasing an old boardgame without any improvements. However, the rerelease is already looking like a hit. A lot of Five States residents never had the opportunity to play the original version of Red Dead and started with the campaign Redemption II. The II in the name did not deter boardgame fans from picking up the game for the first time. Those fans now have the opportunity to play Redemption with a brand new coat of paint on the boardgame’s figurines and those fans are eager to express their happiness.
Thankfully, the Five States is still a mostly friendly place. Even disappointed residents have embraced the new players’ happiness. “I would have preferred new jobs here, I played Redemption so many times, hell I beat Revolver long before folks played Redemption,” said one resident, “so while I ain’t getting much myself from this release, it has been nice seeing other folks enjoying the experience for the first time.” For many, vicariously experiencing Redemption for the first time has been an interesting experience. “It may not be what I wanted,” said a long time resident, “but it’s what we got and sometimes all you can do is appreciate it.”
Rachel Polanski brought to justice
By Jose Chavez
Wanted for aiding and abetting in the robbery and murder of a rancher, Rachel Polanski has been on the run for weeks. Her partner, who has not been identified, remains on the run as well though the most recent sightings have suggested the two were traveling alone. Investigators believe that the murder was unplanned, but when the safe was unable to be opened safely and the rancher woke up to burglars, violence became necessary for escape. Polanski was identified as the rancher who was killed was her employer and other ranchhands were able to identify her. Her partner remains at large but she was captured and brought into Tumbleweed to be detained.
Sheriff Freeman said that Polanski looked tired and ragged. “I don’t think life on the run was good for her, she certainly wasn’t meant for it,” Sheriff Freeman said. In addition to her poor health, she had several bruises on her face that were consistent with a beating. Polanski herself said the bounty hunter who captured her beat her senseless. The bounty hunter was no longer in Tumbleweed when I learned of the story, but Sheriff Freeman explained bounty targets are often brought in a bit rough. “Can’t always bring down a man, or woman, so easy when their freedom is at stack,” Sheriff Freeman said, “so I can almost understand criminals’ desperation, almost.”
Hot springs death ruled a murder
By Jane Duran
The Cotorra Springs sees its fair share of death. In the Five States where death is around nearly every corner, The Cotorra Springs is home to a significant amount of deaths. People come to the Springs believing that bathing in the Springs can heal them of various ailments. The Cotorra Springs do not have healing properties but they are very hot, hot enough to kill those who soak in them for too long. This week a body was found floating in the Springs and as usual, it was fished out by travelers. The death suddenly became suspicious however when it was discovered that the victim was shot in the back of the head.
Investigators of the serial killer called The Executioner arrived at the location soon after learning about the dead body. The quickly determined this killing was part of The Executioner investigation and taken over investigating in the area. For now, all that is officially known about the victim is that they are male and they were killed by a gunshot wound to the head. However, my anonymous source says that the victim matches the description of a missing person reported in Valentine. The name is being kept secret but I was told the man was reported missing by his wife three days before he was found dead.
Murder Most Foul with Wheellock!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
The town of Strawberry is mostly quiet this time of year. A few guests check in at the hotel, look around for a good photo, and leave. This week, someone checked in, and will never check out due to a specific clockwork device.
Francesco Clemente is a diplomat from Guarma who was staying in Strawberry before heading to a meeting. He went to bed at about one in the morning two nights ago. Sometime in the middle of the night, a loud crashing noise was heard, but nobody entered his room. Come morning; he was found dead in his bed; a large head wound was the cause of death.
What perplexes the local law the most is that the weapon used to kill Clemente, a wheellock pistol found on the nightstand, was recently fired. The wheellock is from almost 500 years ago; nobody uses it; it makes a flintlock pistol look like an automatic machine gun. Nobody remotely knows where someone got such a firearm, or who fired it at the diplomat. Murder in the bedroom with an ancient gun, like any miserable board game, it doesn’t make sense.
Murder at O’Creagh’s ruled self defense
By Donna Deshner
A man was arrested after a witness reported him killing another man. The witness described the attacker as beating the man, drowning him in water, and then stabbing him to death while he was still drowning. The attacker did not deny the charges and in fact, confirmed that he did all of those things, but for good reason. “The man attacked me and so I responded in kind,” the man said. He explained that he had never seen the man but the attack came the just as he threw a huge muskie back into the lake. The Annesburg Sheriff was in disbelief until a witness showed up to set the record straight.
“I saw the whole damn thing from start to finish, clear self defense,” said the witness, “but later while camping I saw that man being taken toward Annesburg by lawmen.” The witness explained that he finished his meal and picked up his lunch before heading to Annesburg. “Glad I got there when I did,” the witness exclaimed.” As it turns out, the witness was an Annesburg resident with a honorable reputation. Isaac Williamson has been remarked as the type of man who cannot tell a lie and so his word carries weight in Annesburg. The sheriff released the fisherman and decided to not press charges.
Woman says cheating husband has run off
By Aloysius Levron
A woman has filed a missing persons report, though she has no interest in finding the missing person. “He ain’t really missing anyway, I kicked him out,” the woman said, “caught the bastard cheating with some harlot!” The woman said her husband is not exactly missing, but he is no longer staying at her home. She filed the missing person report as a means of claiming the home and other belongings the couple shared. “He done ran off with a woman and so I made him run all the way off,” she yelled, “I don’t need him but as he abandoned his home, I do need it transferred to me.”
A search will be conducted, according to Lemoyne authorities. If he is not found, his home and property will be transferred to his next of kin, should no will be found. The man could have filed for divorce, in which case, he would likely not have to pay anything. But according to neighbors, his wife left little choice, chasing him out while swinging a machete. Friends of the man do not know his whereabouts, or at least are not forthcoming with any information if they do have it. It is expected he will be found soon, likely living with his mistress.
Who is to head the Red Cross?
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
A president can appoint people to numerous cabinet positions for various personal and political positions. There are also plenty of roles within the government that the president cannot control. Lastly, there are positions not appointed, but can be influenced in one way or another. President of the American Red Cross is one such position.
Founded decades ago by a nurse during the Civil War, it’s a highly respected position for humanitarian work, including on the international stage. The current president is still the founder, Miss Clara Barton, but she’s getting old, and plenty of notable members feel a more realistic and less idealistic individual would be a better fit.
President MacAlister cannot directly pick the next Red Cross president, but his words carry much weight and would likely influence who ultimately gets the position. He has a wide range of options, from more Civil War veterans to government officials to nurses from the war with Spain. A recently popular Czech nurse from Chicago is an odds-on favorite, but anything is possible. It’s also possible Barton might be able to hang on for a couple more years.
The organizational structure of the Red Cross hardly feels like the place for political backstabbing and maneuvering, but in America, truly anything is possible.
Hurricane hits California
By Frederick Vannesse
California is often thought of as a fair weather state, as the desert region has few in the way of natural disasters. Outside of earthquakes, California has rather tame weather. However, this weekend a hurricane formed in the Pacific Ocean and headed toward California. The storm is expected to break down into a tropical storm, with much lighter winds but still heavier storm weather than Californians are used to it. Flooding and wind damage are expected and residents have been warned to prepare for the worst.
Automobile Club of Great Britain expands membership
By Ivy Seager
Automobile popularity is on the rise not just in the U.S., but all over the world. The Automobile Club of Great Britain was founded just two years ago and membership continues to grow. The club offers benefits to automobile owners, such as discounts on repairs and insurance, which helps protect the automobiles and the driver in the case of an accident. Membership is still low in the larger picture, however, membership does make up a large percentage of automobile owners in Great Britain.
The Five States Herald 