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.
Hunter Lost to Tall Trees Bears!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax – Lead Correspondent
Did your mother ever warn you about playing in the woods? She certainly did for me: not to go off and pick berries without her, and especially not to go outside after dark. Such warnings are not just the paranoid thoughts of a concerned mother, but a dire warning of what dwells behind those trees. Not demons or monsters, but the dreaded bear.
A local hunter in Blackwater by the name of Gilbert evidently did not heed those words; he set out to hunt some bears last week in Tall Trees, a densely packed forest well known for its frighteningly large bear population. Well, he set off with a buffalo rifle and a day’s worth of food; he never came back.
This morning, what was left of him was found near a hiking trail. Around him were several rotting bear carcasses. Best we can tell, he had found a bear and shot it dead, only to alert another bear. He fought this one as well, yet the bears kept coming. He eventually ran out of bullets, and well, you can use your imagination after that. Police in Blackwater are considering making it an arrestable offense to hunt in Tall Trees without a group; it’s just too dangerous.
Sheriff leaves tracked outlaw outside jail after pungent arrest
By Alois Burditt
Residents of Tumbleweed found an unusual sight outside the local jail this week when a captured outlaw was discovered chained by the ankle near the building rather than confined within a cell. According to deputies, the prisoner had recently been delivered by a bounty hunter who employed specialized tracking arrows during the pursuit. The arrows, increasingly discussed among hunters and trackers across New Austin, are said to utilize powerful scent compounds derived from animal glands. When lodged in a fleeing target, they leave behind a strong odor that can be followed over considerable distance. Witnesses reported that the captured outlaw arrived with two such arrows protruding from his person, and while the shafts were removed upon arrival, the lingering scent reportedly remained difficult to ignore.
Sheriff Sam Freeman was said to have reached the limits of his patience after the odor settled throughout portions of the jail. Several visitors described the smell as powerful enough to announce the prisoner’s presence long before he came into view. Rather than subject deputies and prisoners alike to the lingering stench, Freeman reportedly ordered the outlaw chained outside the jail until arrangements could be made for transfer to another jurisdiction. Townsfolk passing through Tumbleweed spent much of the week exchanging jokes at the prisoner’s expense, though some questioned whether the desert heat was an appropriate place to leave a man awaiting transport. The sheriff’s office declined to comment beyond confirming that the prisoner remained secure and was eventually collected without incident. By the time the transfer wagon arrived, many agreed that the smell had become nearly as notorious as the outlaw himself.
Stolen wagon recovered after pursuit through Ambarino
By Jane Duran
A wagon stolen earlier this week from an Ambarino family was successfully recovered yesterday following a search reportedly organized by local resident Hamish Sinclair. Upon learning of the theft, Sinclair is said to have hired a capable cowpoke to track down the missing wagon and those responsible for taking it. The recovery was ultimately successful, though not without bloodshed. According to accounts gathered by the Herald, the thieves were killed during the recovery, bringing the matter to a decisive end. While some of the wagon’s contents were missing by the time it was returned, the family expressed relief that the wagon itself and the majority of their belongings had been recovered. Residents familiar with the case noted that thefts in the northern territories often leave victims with little hope of seeing their property again, making the wagon’s return a welcome outcome despite the losses sustained along the way.
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Arrow storm shattered above Blackwater in marksman’s latest feat
By Odell Clifton
The mysterious trick shooter who has captivated Blackwater over a month now added another astonishing chapter to his growing legend this week when he reportedly shot a volley of arrows from the sky before they could return to earth. Witnesses gathered along an open stretch near town where several local bowmen agreed to participate in the exhibition. At a signal, the archers loosed their arrows high overhead, sending a dozen shafts climbing into the afternoon sky. Before the crowd could fully follow their ascent, the marksman drew his revolver and fired in rapid succession. Spectators described a series of sharp cracks echoing across the plain, followed moments later by a rain of splintered wood. “The arrows just exploded,” one witness told the Herald. “Pieces of them came drifting down all around us.” Another swore he never saw the shooter take proper aim, claiming the revolver seemed to point itself wherever it was needed. By the conclusion of the display, not a single intact arrow returned to the ground.
As impressive as the performance proved, the growing fascination surrounding the marksman’s firearm has only deepened. Admirers continue to flock to Blackwater in hopes of witnessing feats that many experienced shooters consider impossible, while rivals have begun appearing with increasing frequency at his exhibitions. Several gunslingers reportedly challenged the man after the show, each looking to make their own fame. Witnesses noted that the trick shooter declined the challenges while appearing increasingly possessive of the weapon, refusing all requests to inspect it and keeping a hand near the holster whenever strangers approached. One attendee remarked that the performer seemed less interested in applause than in ensuring the revolver never left his side. Perhaps it is just part of the show, the aura of mystery that keeps folks coming for more.
Strange figure in white sparks fear and fascination in Valentine
By Donna Deshner
Valentine has spent the better part of the week arguing over a creature that several residents insist briefly appeared inside Smithfield’s Saloon before vanishing back into the night. The account began when a bounty hunter entered the establishment and reportedly came face to face with what he later described as a demon. Witnesses described a figure slightly taller than an ordinary man, possessing unusually long limbs and a dark face resembling a skull rather than flesh. The figure was said to be dressed entirely in white, a contrast that made its blackened visage appear all the more unsettling beneath the saloon lamps. Patrons recalled an uncomfortable silence falling across portions of the room as the stranger stood among the crowd. One local gambler claimed the thing carried “an expression that didn’t belong on any living man.” A photograph was reportedly taken during the encounter, though examination of the image has thus far provided no clear answer as to the figure’s identity.
As stories spread through town, explanations have become increasingly divided. Skeptics maintain the figure was likely a man wearing an elaborate costume designed to frighten onlookers or attract attention. Others reject that theory entirely, insisting there was something unnatural about the visitor’s presence. Several townsfolk described feeling uneasy simply standing near it, with one ranch hand stating that “the room felt colder when it looked my way.” No disturbances, threats, or crimes were reported in connection with the appearance, and the mysterious individual departed without incident. Nevertheless, conversations in Valentine continue to revolve around the photograph and the question of whether residents witnessed an eccentric traveler, a carefully crafted hoax, or something far more difficult to explain.
Saint Denis police arrest Lockburn amid bayou killing inquiry
By Mathilde Orry
The questions raised by last week’s Herald report concerning the death of outlaw Cecil Buck have now led to dramatic developments in Saint Denis. Witnesses reported that no fewer than a dozen policemen converged upon bounty hunter Tom Lockburn in the city this week, placing him under arrest on suspicion of murder. The arrest reportedly followed multiple witness statements alleging that Lockburn intentionally caused Buck’s death by forcing him into alligator infested waters in the bayou. Despite the sizeable police presence, observers stated that the encounter remained peaceful. “I think them policemen were a bit more tense and nervous,” said a dock worker who witnessed the arrest. “Lockburn seemed well, rather calm.”
The arrest has ignited fierce debate throughout Saint Denis. By week’s end, dozens of residents had gathered outside the Saint Denis Police Station carrying signs and calling for Lockburn’s release, with several demonstrators describing the bounty hunter as a hero rather than a criminal. Much of the sympathy appears tied to longstanding allegations that Buck had killed a dog prior to his death, an accusation that spread rapidly following earlier reports. Protesters argued that Buck had received the justice he deserved, while critics warned that allowing personal vengeance to replace the courts would set a dangerous precedent for the city. As crowds assembled outside police headquarters, officers maintained a visible presence and declined requests for comment beyond confirming that Lockburn remains in custody pending further proceedings.
Federal inquiry closes after checkpoint blunder
By Adam Parvey
Federal authorities have formally concluded their investigation into the recent exchange of gunfire between special investigators examining private bounty contracts and revenue agents stationed at a roadside checkpoint, determining that the incident was the result of an accident. Officials declined to elaborate on the specific findings that led to the conclusion, though the ruling effectively closes a matter that had drawn considerable embarrassment across multiple federal offices. The agent looking into private bounties that was wounded during the confrontation remains on medical leave. As reported previously, both parties had maintained that they believed themselves to be acting properly at the time of the encounter, with investigators insisting they identified themselves and revenue agents claiming they were responding to suspicious behavior from armed riders approaching their cordon.
Questions nonetheless remain regarding how federal personnel came to mistake one another for threats. An anonymous source familiar with the ongoing examination of private bounty operations informed the Herald that investigators assigned to such inquiries are often required to conceal their identities in order to protect both the integrity and confidentiality of their work. While no official statement connected that practice to the shooting, the explanation may help account for some of the confusion surrounding the encounter. For now, authorities appear eager to put the affair behind them, though no clear indication has been provided as to what changes, if any, will be implemented to prevent a similar misunderstanding between federal agencies in the future.
The Five States Herald 