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.
Fives States population rapidly drops after short increase fueled by residents returning and immediately fleeing the region
By Adam Parvey
After months of a slow but steady decline in population, a rebound offered hope. “We’ve been tracking the folks coming and leaving and two weeks ago, for the first time we saw more folks coming than going,” announced the BHTNC. For nearly a year the population has been held steady by the arrival of new residents, who partly made up for long term residents who fled the state. The surge in population experienced two weeks ago, however, was believed to be the result of returning residents. “Many folks coming in said they were returning after several months away,” the BHTNC said, “which gave us a tremendous amount of hope!” However, that hope seems short-lived. Just a week after the surge, the BHTNC noted an increase in the number of people leaving the state. Of those that stopped to be interviewed as to why they were leaving, the vast majority were in fact long time residents who had returned but had not found, “enough change to the Five States to keep them here.”
“I’ve been here since the beginning, when it was all still wild and empty,” said one the travelers on their way out of the region, “I heard that the Five States was finally getting real support and reaching its potential, I was mistaken.” A common complaint was that everything “new” was simply more of the same. “Why should I stay here if it is still more profitable to do all the same things I’ve always done?” another exiting cowpoke asked, “I’ve done it all and I’m tired.” The cowpokes fleeing the Five States did not have a universal idea of what to do now that they decided the Five States was not for them. Some said they would “go outside for awhile,” others said “play something else,” and still others said they will, “return to the single player.” The only thing these responses had in common is that none of them made any sense and the cowpokes who said them immediately forgot what they had said. Those who still call the Five States their home are worried that if new arrivals do not pick up that the Five States may be on a path to a slow death.
Man claims to have reached heaven from Pike’s Basin bridge
By Jose Chavez
For over a year, many had claimed that Pike’s Basin was the holiest place in all of the Five States. According to several cowpokes, a bridge over Pike’s Basin was the only place in the world where one could visit heaven. This not so well kept secret eventually earned the attention of authorities, who investigated the bridge. According to the investigators, nobody was actually going to heaven, they were falling of a defective bridge and hallucinating from likely concussions. The BHTNC then provided funds to repair the bridge to ensure that nobody would be hurt there again. Several travelers made their way to the “heavenly bridge” only to report no visits to heaven. As a matter of fact, no reports of accidents occurred near the bridge either. However, this seems to have changed this week when one cowpoke says he managed to “reawaken the conduit to heaven.” He claimed to have floated among the clouds for several moments before opening his eyes and being back on solid ground. While the claims could not be verified, many travelers are already returning to the bridge for an experience of their own.
Mystical object found in Ambarino?
By Delphia Atwood
A cowpoke traveling in the cold snowy mountains of Ambarino came across an odd object floating above the snow. “It was a white cube, perfectly formed just floating in the air,” the cowpoke said. The picture provided above is unclear, but the cube form can clearly be seen. It was described as floating several feet above the ground. It did not emit any type of noise or odor, according to the man who found it. He found that he was unable to disrupt its floating, even when he waved his rifle underneath the object. After several minutes of observations, he felt strange and took a picture before leaving. A posse of investigators returned to the area later only to find that there was no floating white cube. The picture the man took being the only evidence, investigators have determined it is impossible to identify what he saw.
Another ‘devil’ spotted, this time in Blackwater
By Odell Clifton
Two weeks ago a horned ‘devil’ was spotted in New Austin, which worried many when the ‘devil showed up outside Armadillo. This week, another ‘devil’ has been spotted, but this one looks much different. The ‘devil’ was spotted in Blackwater, where residents tried to distance themselves. “More than once folks crossed the street to avoid crossing the devil’s path,” said a witness. Where the previous ‘devil’ was described to be very animalistic, including large horns that appeared to be like a ram’s horns, this ‘devil’ looks more otherworldly. “The monster’s face was as red as blood,” said a resident. There was disagreement whether the “Blackwater Devil” had horns. “I’m quite sure it had small black horns potruding from its forehead,” said one witness, “I mean, the devil always has horns, right?” A shopkeeper who got a close look when the Blackwater Devil walked into their store said there were no horns. “If I had to say, I am quite sure it was a mask!” the shopkeep said. Aside from the red face, the Blackwater Devil wore dark clothing and was armed with at least two pistols. Blackwater law enforcement left the Blackwater Devil along, saying, “it’s not illegal to be the devil, or wear a mask, whichever is true of this individual.” In fact, the Blackwater Devil was not linked to any crime in the region, though some unverified witness accounts claim a fire at a nearby farm was started by the Blackwater Devil exhaling too close to dry grass.
Cornwall Kerosene & Tar attacked as the sun rises
By Donna Deshner
No stranger to attacks, Cornwall Kerosene & Tar is a heavily guarded facility. The guards, however, were caught off guard as they finished their morning coffee and were greeting with gunfire. A gang of outlaws swiftly took out the perimeter guards, forcing a retreat of employees. Many employees fled away from the facility while others ran into the comfort of the solid building that has withstood several attacks. The gang of outlaws, who witness claim were led by Jonathon “Scarface” Rogue, were using long arms and explosives to suppress the defenders. Local lawmen from Valentine arrived and managed to end the outlaw Rogue’s siege. Twelve dead bodies were found, with ten belonging to the defending guards and lawmen and two belonging to Rogue’s gang. Four guards were injured and was Scarface Rogue himself, who was last seen fleeing northeast.
Emerald Ranch the target of “chicken raids” on Thursday
By Emery Cosberry
All day Thursday, Eugene Wegner, claims cowpokes arrived at his ranch just to kill and skin his chickens. Wegner has long complained about his livestock being killed, skinned, and sometimes just sedated and left vulnerable. This is the first time he has complained of chickens being the target. New Hanover authorities have looked into the claims and found plenty of evidence of mutilated chickens but no evidence of the culprits. Mr. Wegner arranged for new shipments of chickens to arrive throughout the day, but each new batch was killed and skinned like the others. Witness statements led to the conclusion that this was a highly organized attack. “Based on the statements we received each attack was done by different folks, sometimes alone, sometimes in groups, and without any known connection between groups,” said an investigating lawman. The motive for the attack is unknown but by Friday, the chicken raids were no longer occurring.
Witness in Saint-Denis Trial Assassinated!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
Albert Mumfre is a low-level criminal, usually dealing in extortion or blackmail. It’s long been rumored that he is connected to the Saint-Denis mafia, and last month he was arrested in Blackwater on several accounts of blackmail. He had been caught sending Black Hand Letters to several local businesses. This presented a unique opportunity for the law in Lemoyne’s most important city. After applying a lot of pressure, Mumfre agreed to testify in court against several associates. Unfortunately, the long distance from Blackwater to Saint-Denis meant the likelihood of an ambush from angry Mafiosi was high.
Still, the rewards were astronomically high, so an attempt was made early this week. At least ten policemen and three US marshals were tasked with protecting an armored prison wagon. The trip was expected only to take a day. When the wagon was reported three days late, a search party was sent out to locate the wagon. They found it on Friday night, and the worst fears were sadly realized. The entire posse had been murdered; most were riddled with bullets. Mumfre suffered the most; his body was found hanging from a tree with most of his internal organs exposed and cut out.
Authorities don’t need to be told who was responsible. Odds are it was an entire posse of Saint-Denis’s worst, or a hired gun like Myra Rose Hart. Regardless, it’s just another setback to getting justice in the criminal underworld. A task that progressively feels like scaling Everest.
Policeman under investigation following after rescuing cowpoke and then shooting him
By Emeline Vickroy
A Saint Denis policeman responded to a strange scene that unfolded right in front of him. One cowpoke randomly tackled another cowpoke, then proceeded to hogtie him in the mud. The policeman quickly moved into action, untying the helpless cowpoke, who happened to be dressed in all white. However, this action earned the policeman the ire of the attacker, who immediately started shooting at the policeman. The lawman quickly fell back while wildly firing his sidearm, when the once hogtied cowpoke stood back up. The attacker was then quickly taken down, as the formerly hogtied man joined the gunfight. The man in white’s swift shooting no doubt saved the lawman’s life according to multiple witnesses. However, the event was not quite over. The policeman shot and killed the man in white, who he had just rescued moments before. “He killed another man!” the policeman yelled at shocked witnesses, “I couldn’t let that murder stand!” Witnesses say that the policeman shooting the man in white was unnecessary, as he was clearly just defending himself. Witnesses confronted the policeman but no further violence occurred. Saint Denis authorities are promising a full investigation into the incident.
WANTED!
Investigators: Travel the Five States and report on what is going on.
Writers: Write the stories investigators find!
Photographers:
To take photographs to be used in the Herald.
Can also do all three!
Rhodes residents stunned by “Voodoo magic”
By Mathilde Orry
Noted Chickasaw tracker Akanowa was spotted in Rhodes doing the impossible. While riding through town, a wagon hurried to cut her off. Instead of turning her horse or just stopping, Akanowa rode forward. Witnesses gasped as they readied themselves to watch a tragedy unfold. However, Akanowa’s horse went through the wagon. “I couldn’t believe my eyes,” said a witness, “the horse just kept on moving as if the wagon wasn’t even there!” In one fluid movement, Akanowa left her horse and was suddenly on the wagon standing next to the driver. “It seemed to take him a moment to figure out what happened, ” a witness said of the wagon driver, who finally pulled his wagon to a stop. Akanowa calmly got off the wagon and said nothing to the stunned wagon driver before riding off and continuing her business. While many were stunned, a lesser known fact about Akanowa is that in addition to being Chickasaw, she also claims bayou heritage on her father’s side. As a result, some have wondered if Akanowa is some type of Voodoo priestess with the explainable display.
Popular Apple Now Sold in Five States!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
Depending on where you live, the state of Michigan is either a wonderfully relaxed state, a decent place of living, or dreadfully dull. But there is one aspect everyone agrees on, the apples grown there are pretty tasty.
It’s not known why Michigan Apples are consistently ranked as the best apples in the nation. Perhaps it’s the colder climate and the freshwater from the Great Lakes, or maybe something about the soil? Regardless, there is something quite special about these fruits that drives people crazy.
A typical bunch of apples can go for a couple of dollars; Michigan Apples tend to go for upwards of 15 dollars or more. They are usually quite hard to find outside the native state, but shipments to major cities like New York have become more common. Starting earlier this month, those rare apples have been arriving in places like Saint-Denis port and Blackwater. Food markets are where they usually end up, with stall owners yelling out, “MICHIGAN APPLES! TEN DOLLARS!”
Unsurprisingly, they sell out by the barrel; even a spoiled batch is being sold for quite a tidy sum. It shows that if you’re told something is great your entire life, you will stop at nothing to get it. It just so happens that these apples are living up to expectations.
Shocking revelations regarding the US actions during the Spanish-American war
By Frederick Vannesse
A report delivered to Congress has been leaked and created a fair bit of controversy. During the Spanish-American war, authorities in the US Army denied aid to locals and to captured soldiers who did not offer a full surrender. The report detailed situations in which the locals and captured soldiers were no longer in a position to resist the US, but were left to starve if they did not personally surrender. The incidents were learned about as a result of captured Spanish soldiers being returned to Spain in a “state of malnutrition.” While some have admitted that prisoners of war are not treated in friendly ways, there is an expectation to at least feed them. Representatives for the US Army have not commented on the reports, but an unnamed Member of Congress is said to have accused the army of “creating an even more hostile environment for soldiers of future wars,” by not showing prisoners a minimum standard of respect.
French automobile manufacturer introduces first vehicle in Japan
By Ivy Seager
Panhard et Levasson, a French automobile manufacturer made history by selling its first vehicle in Japan, which also happens to be the first vehicle to be available in the country. The model being sold in Japan is the first to offer a better developed transmission and therefore, promises a smoother ride than any other motor vehicle available. The state of the art motor vehicle is set to sell for 3,500 francs. Panhard believes their vehicle will be the standard for decades to come, not just in Japan but beyond. Other manufacturers are likely to make attempts to get their own vehicles into the Japanese market, but Panhard’s head start may prove to be too much for other manufacturers to overcome.
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