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.
Local Writer to Write Again!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
It’s a truly terrible thing, the human mind. It’s capable of such joy, but also such inward rage. Few understand this better than an author. Writer’s block is akin to being stabbed to those who live for the printed word. For some, it’s a near-death sentence, frustrating beyond all measures. Some authors have given up on the profession after experiencing such a miserable pain of being unable to finish a story; such a fate has befallen one writer in the Five States.
We do not know his or her name. Only that they published in Blackwater under merely, “An Author.” They published a book many years ago about life in the wilderness, a surprisingly successful book. They wrote many more stories on various subjects, life, history, and simpler topics. They eventually just stopped, only noting that words did not come freely anymore.
Many people probably do not remember this unknown writer; it has been years since a book from them reached shelves. Now, they sent a note to a local paper, saying they are writing again. Like a stuck river, the mind occasionally can flow freely without explanation. Let us hope the results are good for us, and for them.
New surveys of Gaptooth Breach prove fruitless
By Jose Chavez
For several weeks assessors have been investigating Gaptooth Breach for possible reopening. Advancements in mining technology led to the hope that the mine previously thought to be depleted could offer new profits. Assessors have decided that the mine is not worth opening. According to a report filed early this week, the mine does show some promise of further exploitations using new technologies. However, the gang presence in the area limits the opportunity. “Any gain in revenue will be mitigating by the security needs of the area, as local law enforcement has no interest in security beyond the town of Tumbleweed,” the report read. The report ends weeks of hope that Tumbleweed would see a revitalization. In response to the repot, Sheriff Sam Freeman rebuked accusations that he has no interest in safety beyond Tumbleweed. “If I had the resources I’d secure the entire region, but I don’t,” said Sheriff Freeman, “and it seems these rich men aren’t interested in providing the resources either.”
Lawsuit filed against federal government over lake closures
By Jane Duran
A group of fisherman have hired an attorney to file a lawsuit to reopen Ambarino lakes. “While my clients understand the need for safety, they demand their rights be respected,” said their attorney, Elias Nettleton, “these public spaces are for the people and the government needs to figure out how to meet its goals while respecting the people’s rights.” The lakes of Ambarino have been closed by order of Special Agent Rice Philips as part of the Executioner investigation. One of the group’s points of contention is that the man believed to be the Execution is currently under arrest, making the lake closures unnecessary. “If the government is so confident in its arrest in regard to the Executioner, then why keep the lakes closed?” Mr. Nettleton asked, “maybe they aren’t so confident?” The government has no responded to the lawsuit yet.
Bounty hunter taken out in ambush
By Odell Clifton
A pair of bounty hunters had just completed a routine capture. They rode into Strawberry to turn the wanted man in when disaster struck. After the bounty hunter carrying the target crossed the bridge, their partner began crossing. A shot was heard and an explosion followed. “Someone shot what must have been dynamite on the bridge,” said a deputy, “though nobody saw it get placed.” The bounty hunter was launched into the air and off the bridge into the river. “I suppose it was good for them to be blasted into water,” said the town doctor, “at least it helped reduce the burns.” The ambush was for naught, however, when the other bounty hunter managed to get the bounty to the Strawberry Sheriff’s Office. The pair stayed in Strawberry for a few days while the town doctor tended to the wounds of the dynamite victim.
The ambushers were not found, having fled before a posse could be organized to catch them.
Attorney for the man accused of being the Executioner promises a rigorous defense
By Adam Parvey
Though Gibson Smith was arrested quietly, an anonymous source spilled the beans and informed one of my colleagues of the arrest. Absolem Thornburg, an attorney with a reputation for taking over cases assigned to public defenders, announced that Mr. Gibson Smith is now his client. “My client, Gibson Smith, stands accused of the heinous crime of murder,” Mr. Thornburg said, “yet the only link to the murder is a relationship with the victim, no evidence that connects them to the crime itself and I find that outrageous!” Special Agent Rice Philips, who is in charge of the Executioner investigation, condemned the leak about the arrest but praised Mr. Thornburg for the role he plays int he justice system. “I understand the public wants information, but sometimes things must be done in secret for your safety,” said Special Agent Philips, “that said, I respect Absolem Thornburg for the difficult task he has, to give the guilty a rigorous defense such that we can be sure, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that we have the right man.”
Mr. Thornburg distributed pamphlets this week in major cities in the Five States that detailed the lack of evidence against this client. According to Mr. Thornburg, the government has failed to connect Mr. Smith to any other known victim of the Executioner. Further, Mr. Thornburg has gathered over a dozen witness statements that confirm Mr. Smith has not left Tumbleweed in several weeks. “My client has been at home for the last two weeks at least,” Mr. Thornburg said, “and so it is impossible for him to be the murderer known as the Executioner, and moreover, Gibson Smith has never set foot in Ambarino!”
Absolem Thornburg announced that his next step is to file for a speedy trial. “I plan to get a trial started sooner rather than later,” Mr. Thornburg said, “if the prosecution wanted more time to build a case they should not have made an arrest, a bit of caution and they would have realized what I know to be true, Mr. Gibson Smith is an innocent man.”
Jailbreak in Valentine!
By Emery Cosberry
Outlaws assaulted the Valentine Sheriff’s Office this week and broke out a man being held for robbery. The assault happened in the early morning hours on Tuesday. According to witnesses, the outlaws walked into the Sheriff’s Office and immediately shot the deputy at the desk. A few deputies on patrol quickly took defensive positions outside of the Sheriff’s Office but hesitated when one of the outlaws opened the door holding the dead deputies body in front of them. “One of the deputies stood up and aimed as the door opened, but didn’t shoot ’cause they saw a deputy there,” a witness said, “but that deputy wasn’t standing natural, he was dead.” The brief hesitation was all the outlaws needed. A shot was fired and one of the deputies fell. The rest of the outlaws charged out of the Sheriff’s Office firing wildly in all directions.
The group ran south, running through the sheep pens. Deputies gave chase but were held back by the outlaws, who would pause to fire back at their pursuers. The outlaws managed to jump onto a departing train to escape. Valentine deputies and a few townsfolk formed a posse and gave chase. The train was stopped at Cornwall Tar & Gasoline but the outlaws were nowhere to be found. Witnesses on the train said the group jumped off before they reached Cornwall Tar & Gasoline and fled north. The posse searched for them and found some evidence. “We found a location that appeared to have been a small camp with the tracks of several horses,” said one deputy, “we believe they hid the horses here, timed the breakout to align with the train departing and then fled on horse back after making it back to their camp.” A trail was followed north some ways but eventually the trail became muddled with the trails of other travelers as it reached the main roads. Only two deputies were killed and no other injuries reported.
Drunk saved at the docks
By Aloysius Levron
A cowpoke nearly died this week after drinking a bottle of antique alcohol. A dock worker noticed the traveler pull out a strange looking bottle. “I saw real quick it wasn’t what you get at the saloons,” the worker said, “so I was a bit fascinated by it.” The witness said the cowpoke downed the entire bottle in one go, then stumbled around for a bit before tumbling off the dock and into the water. The worker did not hesitate when they dove into the water after the drunkard and managed to pull them out. A few stiff hits in the chest and the drunk cowpoke spit out water and began breathing again.
“Folks don’t realize that a lot of these old, antique liquors are much stronger than what they are used to,” said a local bartender, “older they get the stronger they become.” The much stronger alcohol then affects the drinker in a ways they are not used to. Eventually the nearly drowned cowpoke came to their senses, though, as they walked away without ever thanking the dock worker, it seems like they did not realize how in danger their life really was.
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Who Shall Remember Historians?
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
Who remembers history? Well, the historian does, for they write and record the events around them. But who remembers the historian, one might ask. Documenting the life and death of numerous great people is like writing with lightning; it’s difficult and often altogether impossible, yet many try all the same. But those who do the writing are rarely remembered for their task. From Herodotus on down, few historians are given much remembrance.
The person who records a battle may be remembered, the soldier who fought it. But not the man who writes what that soldier’s story tells in a grander narrative. It’s not a profession where fame and glory sprout; it’s quite the opposite. Long hours into the night, documenting what is and what isn’t provable, only to publish and shuffle away into the corner of a library.
How does one change this? Historians themselves do not know, biographies of great men are common, of those who wrote about great men far less. Perhaps all we can do is remember that behind every word, is a human being struggling to best understand a complex subject. We shall be eternally grateful to these lost souls for shining a spotlight on so many other people than themselves.
Halloween ends and Thanksgiving preparation begins!
By Frederick Vannesse
The end of the year is a rapid progression through multiple holidays for Americans. The day after kids are taken door to door seeking candy, spooks and ghosts are immediately forgotten and Thanksgiving is embraced. Across the nation Americans are already preparing by purchasing table settings and preordering food from their local grocer and farms. In a few weeks time the entire nation will smell like turkey and pie. And if that feast is not enough, a Christmas feast will be just around the corner! What a time to be alive!
Students form a football club in Italy
By Ivy Seager
Students from the Massimo d’Azeglio Lyceum school in Turin, Italy have formed their own football club. The team is called Sports-Club Juventus. The name Juventus referring to the youth of the student created team. The team will play competitively against other teams in Italy. Despite the youth focus on the team there is high hopes that they will be competitive. What the team may lack in experience it makes up for in energy and tenacity, so say its members.
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