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.
Coyotes from California, Fast-Growing Pet?
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax – Lead Correspondent
You may gaze at the humble coyote and see nothing but a pest, barely larger than some dog breeds, only strong enough to steal your food instead of take your life. They ruin crops, some livestock, and overall waste your time, it’s also a popular pet in Lemoyne!
Traders from California have been increasingly selling California Valley Coyotes in the markets of Saint-Denis and in the farmlands, advertising them as the pet of the coming century! Trained as well as a dog, brave and strong enough to fight off rabbits and other animals with minimal effort. You and I may scoff at such pitches as the works of snake oil salesmen, vultures who prey on the feeble, yet the results speak for themselves.
At night in packed apartments, one can easily hear the howl of a coyote trapped in a hallway, crying out for a pack that it will never form. Missing dog cases have risen significantly, with the most likely culprit being coyotes, who are only trained to act like coyotes. Yet, most who have purchased them do not regret it, and sellers pour in each and every day. Sometimes you can only explain a grift so much to the common clay of the West, before you realize you are simply wasting your breath.
Gunfight is ended by a single swing of a knife
By Jose Chavez
Chaos erupted in Thieves’ Landing when a gun battle broke out between rival groups, sending residents scrambling for cover, but the fight came to a shocking halt when a lone woman stepped into the fray armed with nothing more than a knife. Witnesses swear she killed four men in a single sweeping motion, dropping them where they stood before the echo of gunfire had even faded. The sudden, brutal display stunned the remaining gunmen so completely that many lowered their weapons on the spot, choosing to walk away in silence rather than risk meeting the same fate. A quick ending for a gun battle in a lawless settlement.
Avalanche claims mountain path, but no lives reported lost
By Jane Duran
High in the frozen ridges of Ambarino, trappers reported finding a herd of elk driven to panic by an enormous avalanche that thundered down from the peaks. The roaring slide buried a wide stretch of forest and blocked a key mountain trail, leaving travelers stranded on either side and forcing some to turn back through blizzard conditions. Cabins in the area shook under the force, and a few hunters narrowly escaped being swept away in the snow and timber. Though no deaths have yet been confirmed, the destruction has raised fears of more avalanches to come. Locals whisper that the mountains seem restless this season, as if nature itself is warning folks to stay away, and many are choosing to put off hunting and trading trips until the danger passes.
Ruined lumber leads to dispute
By Odell Clifton
In Blackwater, a heated dispute erupted on the docks after a shipment of lumber bound for construction was found mysteriously soaked through and ruined, as if it had been left adrift in the lake. Merchants accused rival suppliers of sabotage, while dockhands swore they saw no tampering, only the lumber floating strangely on its own before sinking. The quarrel quickly drew a crowd, with fists nearly flying, until lawmen stepped in to separate the groups. The mystery of the ruined shipment remains unsolved, leaving business owners on edge and whispering of sabotage, curses, or worse. The ruined lumber was left on the dock.
Is magic responsible for man’s escape?
By Donna Deshner
Near the hills west of Valentine, a man claimed to have subdued a outlaw wanted for thefts and disturbances across New Hanover. He cornered him near the road, threw his rope, and managed to hogtie him after a brief struggle. Certain he was secured, he paused to catch his breath, only to find himself suddenly tumbling to the ground. In a matter of seconds, the ropes that had bound the alleged outlaw were gone, and now he was the one trussed up, his own lasso wound tight around his wrists and ankles.
The man stood free, calm as ever, and gave him a sly grin before calmly walking away. Those who later heard the tale scoffed at first, but the man swore no knife or trick could explain what happened. Rumors quickly spread through New Hanover that the fugitive was no ordinary outlaw but someone with strange, unholy power—able to turn bindings against his captors with a glance. Whether witchcraft or cunning sleight of hand, he remains at large, and his legend only grows.
Fried frog legs so popular the item gets sold out all across Saint Denis!
By Emeline Vickroy
In Saint Denis, a new craze has taken hold: fried frog legs. Once a humble dish, they have become the latest sensation in the city’s dining rooms, with restaurants boasting of their tender flavor and frying them up as fast as they can be served. Demand soared so quickly that supplies ran dry, leaving kitchens without stock and customers clamoring for more. By week’s end, every frog leg in the city had been bought up, leaving hunters, fishermen, and cooks alike scrambling to keep up with the appetite of Saint Denis.
Desperate to satisfy their clientele, several restaurant owners banded together and announced a bounty—offering gold nuggets for every sack of frogs delivered to their doors. Word of the reward spread swiftly, drawing trappers and even children with nets into the swamps and bayous to cash in. Already, the backwaters are alive with lantern light and the splashing of eager hunters, as the race for frogs becomes as fierce as any gold rush.
Fossil hunting becomes a popular hobby among common folks, much to the annoyance of professionals
By Ivy Seager
Across the Five States, fossil collecting has surged in popularity, with common folk scouring hills, rivers, and plains in hopes of unearthing bones from long dead beasts. Townsfolk bring in wagonloads of curious rocks and skeletal fragments, proudly claiming them to be remnants of giants or lizards from another age. While museums and traveling shows happily purchase certain finds, most are little more than misidentified stones or animal bones, leaving professionals frustrated. Learned collectors and scholars complain that genuine discoveries are being damaged or lost in the rush, with amateurs smashing apart valuable specimens just to prove their supposed knowledge.
The conflict between professionals and the public grows sharper each day. Scholars in Saint Denis argue that the craze has turned serious study into spectacle, with science overshadowed by showmanship and tall tales. Yet the lure of money remains powerful, as showmen and restaurateurs pay for “fossils” no matter their authenticity, fueling even more reckless digging. With tempers rising and more people staking claims over fossil-rich land, experts warn that unless order is restored, the pursuit of ancient knowledge may soon collapse into nothing more than another frontier brawl.
The Five States Herald 