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.
The New Year brings new hope.
By Nick McCrary
The Five States community was devastated when the alliance of private business moguls known as the BHTCN broke up, announcing better investment opportunities elsewhere. Then, the formal authorities in the Five States announced that no new investments in the Five States would occur. The economic state of the Five States would be maintained, but no new jobs would come as public officials shifted investment just like private actors chose to do. For many, these announcements created a downward spiral. “I had already been a little down,” said one cowpoke, “to know that the future in these parts would be so bleak, it was too much to bear.” However, there was a vocal group of cowpokes who saw the despair as temporary at best.
“Too many ‘sky is falling folks,’ around here,” said another cowpoke, “investments were only being held off for the year, not forever.” For this group, hope is just around the corner. “A new year means new opportunities,” said another, “and hopefully that means new frontier pursuits!” If the positive folks are right, then there is a lot to hope for in the new year. While it remains to be seen whether or not new investments will be made, these new optimism may be just what the Five States needs. “I am more excited today than I was when I first entered the Five States,” said another cowpoke, “I think I’ll finally get to own a ranch, maybe two!” The powers that be better take notice. Now is the perfect time to recommit to the Five States and show that the future is bright.
‘Death Eaters’ say they will take over New Austin in the new year
By Wylie Frey
A group of former bounty hunters have switched sides. They say the justice system is flawed and not worth working for. And while they are wearing masks, they are not vigilantes. “We will no longer bring the villains of the world to justice because justice is false,” said one of the group members while robbing a train in Cholla Springs, “instead, we will bring real order to villainy across the Five States by leading it properly!” To mock their old jobs, the group wears gear exclusive to bounty hunters. The skull and snake motifs that once sent fear into outlaws now used to stoke the fear of innocent folks. The group has come to calling themselves the ‘Death Eaters.’ “We call ourselves the Death Eaters because we don’t fear death, we embrace it, we eat it for every meal,” said one of the nameless leaders according to multiple witnesses, “we are sustained by death.”
In addition to the skulls and snakes, members of the group are known to dress in nearly all black. Though a few accent the dark colors with bright colors. “One of these fellas robbed a train, in a gold skull mask and gold buckles all over his arms,” said a New Austin Ranger who investigated the train robbery. The Death Eaters were seen riding away, the man with the gold buckles standing out in the distance. Pursuit was immediately ended when a Death Eater sniper fired on deputies pursuing them. One of the deputies was killed, another injured. Travelers should be weary of anyone wearing the skull and snake design proudly.
Nearly a dozen bodies found buried in Ambarino
By Caylen V. Hornby
Posses of explorers spread out across Ambarino this week when the storm let up a bit. While it was still considered risky to travel an Ambarino at the time, several reports of missing travelers encouraged the explorers to get out there. “There was always the risk that we’d become victims ourselves, but we were cautious and relied on our collective experience,” said one explorer, “more importantly, we knew time was short and we wanted to act quickly, while some missing folks might still be alive.” The would be rescuers were quickly dashed. “We found folks pretty quickly, buried in snow just off the roads,” said one explorer, “unfortunately, everyone we found was dead.” By the 5th dead body, the group became disheartened, then the winds picked back up. “We knew hope was lost as the storm gathered its strength once again,” said one of the leaders of the expedition, “it was time for us to go before we end up under the snow.” The other groups all gathered together in Valentine, where they tallied a total of 10 dead bodies found. An 11th victim was alive when they found them, but just barely. They did not survive the trip into Valentine however. With the storm expected to continue for a few more days, authorities have reiterated their advice of staying in during the stormy weather.
Johnny Reb and Billy Yank fight their Final Fight!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
The Civil War ended over 40 years ago. But for some, old wounds never heal, and burning hatred still stings. William Adamson was a Blackwater native who took up arms in the name of the Union in 1861. He rose to the rank of major by war’s end, and led militia forces in Tennessee and even in West Elizabeth.
John Burr was also from Blackwater, but his loyalties were to the south and his idealist beliefs in the planter class. He joined up in 1862 and finished as a sergeant.
Both of these men came home resenting each other. They had barely known each other prewar, but they seemed to know quite a bit after the war. They fought verbally and occasionally with fists in bars. Police got very well acquainted with the two of them. It’s a genuine surprise it took them this many years to finally finish this feud.
We don’t know what triggered the final confrontation; all we know is that they stepped out into the graveyard near the town, and drew. Burr had his old service LeMat, Adamson a Navy. Both fired, and both fell to the ground. Adamson was hit in the shoulder, Burr dead center in the chest. Adamson is expected to recover; albeit without any feelings in his right arm, Burr is to be buried tomorrow. What was accomplished and what was learned cannot be discerned. The scars of that war will likely continue to fester, for years to come.
Ghosts of the Past Linger on Forgotten Battlefield
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
Bolger Glade, site of the infamous battle of Scarlett Meadows so long ago. Its hallowed ground, the very Earth soaked with the blood of Lemoyne citizens for miles. It’s not an easy place to walk even in the best of times, and many people have reported strange goings on in the worst of times.
On cold stormy nights, gunfire can still be heard from time to time, alongside screams of the fallen and cries of the wounded. Do the dead still speak their final words from that awful day in August of 1864? The hushed voices reportedly still recall General Quincy Harris’s controversial commands to his officers to keep on charging. In these orders, Major Harold Wilkinson and Major Henry Smith were shot dead by Union soldiers. Union captain Fredrick Willis famously said of these assaults, “I had seen the dreadful carnage of Antietam and Gettysburg, but I had seen nothing that can compare to this. This is not war; this is murder.”
The Confederates ultimately held on, but only just. General Harris was considered a great hero that day, but perhaps the dead see him as something else. Visitors to the battlefield have also reported spectral men cursing the infamous general for his cruelty and cowardice. What is the truth to these events and the sightings that continue to this day? Impossible to say, the pain of memory can often cloud the mind and make one see things, but of history, I say this. I personally think Harris was a coward and a monster; if the dead do still walk those grounds, then on this, we can agree.
Christmas peace ended with pile of bodies in Smithfield’s Saloon!
By Donna Deshner
Last weekend the Five States was at peace. Christmas had come and brought good spirit among even the most tormented of souls. However, the peace would not last. And as one would expect, the peace ran out in Valentine after a few drinks. The rowdy Smithfield’s crowd was deep into their drinking when one a misunderstanding turned into unnecessary violence. One fellow bumped into another and the two started shoving each other. The shoving match quickly grew beyond the original two folks, as they were pushed into others. Witnesses said someone pulled out a knife and suddenly everything got tense. A drunk woman then responded to the knife by saying, “knife, you brought a knife, well here’s my gun!” She pulled out a pistol and emptied all the bullets into one of the other patrons.
Soon everyone in the saloon pulled out their guns and the gunfight was on. A single gunslinger proved victorious, killing everyone else, including multiple deputies that arrived on scene. The survivor fled before they could be arrested. The bodies had literally piled up before the survivor was ran off. It may have been the bloodiest killing in Valentine history, but the townsfolk were not terribly put off. “I ain’t leaving, you get used to the violence,” said one. “I don’t even know if that qualifies as real violence,” said another. “Most deadly? Really? I think the new year will top that!” said another, almost with a strange sense of pride. In the end, the deaths added up to over two dozen people, though somehow, the Valentine population stayed exactly the same.
Stagecoach driver wanted in Saint Denis after collision
By Emeline Vickroy
An unidentified stagecoach driver is being sought out be the Saint Denis Police Department following a collision. A witness described the collision. “One fellow came riding his horse like he was running from the law!” said one witness, “and he ran right into a fellow driving a stagecoach and it wasn’t pretty for the man on the horse.” The horse rider was flung from his horse and then hit the frame of the stagecoach hard. “It looked like he just bent around that bar!” a witness exclaimed. The man appeared motionless as his body began to slide off the stagecoach. To add to the man’s sorrows, the stagecoach driver ran the fallen horse over! “I think it was the horse rider’s fault, he came around that corner too fast,” said a witness, “but the stagecoach driver could have stopped instead of running a horse over!”
As the stagecoach continued on, the injured man stood up, stretching their back. The witnesses said they were all surprised that the man could stand at all. Fortunately, the horse survived the collision as well, though it will need rest and treatment. Saint Denis police are looking for the stagecoach driver. Though they stated that they are not seeking to arrest the man, they do have questions to help determined legal liability.
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!
Surprise blizzard forces travelers to take refuge in the barns of strangers
By Lucien Privitt
Meteorologists were among the stunned folks in the Five States when a massive blizzard hit the region. Most places had very low visibility. Even in places like Saint Denis, where light is provided through a mix of electricity and gas, saw folks shelter in place due to viewing conditions being poor. “I meant to talk to the market, but I could not see my own hand because of the thick snowfall,” one resident said. Though in cities and towns, residents had a quick escape. For those who call the land their home, things were not so easy. “My camp is warm enough, my tent has a roof, but well, no front wall so the snow just came right in,” said one traveler. With not shelter from the storm he gathered his horse as near as he could to the fire to wait it out. Others, had a more secure solution. One that required just a bit of trespassing.
“I found some empty stables in a barn and took my horse into one,” said one traveler, “I had some food and water, enough for the night and we managed to stay warm until the storm passed.” Barn owners across the Five States reported spotting activity in empty stables. No charges were filed, as far as I can tell. One barn owner said, “I looked in and saw a woman just laying down alongside her sleeping horse, having escaped the blizzard, I saw no reason to send her away in the storm.” When the storm lifted, strangers exited barns leaving little trace behind. “I found an apple core, but just as like it could have been mine than anyone else’s,” said another barn owner. No reports of deaths as a result of the blizzard have been reported, however, search parties are forming for people lost in the northern reaches of the region.
Local warnings go unheeded, several end up dead
By Frederick Vannesse
Another new year has come and once again authorities are warning Americans to leave their guns in their holsters. “Every year folks celebrate by shooting into the air,” said a state lawman from California, “and every year we find folks killed by those bullets because of gravity, which folks just don’t understand!” He explained that what goes up will eventually go back down. “Bullets only have so much velocity to carry it you see,” the lawman said, “so when you shoot it straight up and it loses that velocity, it drops back down on some poor unsuspecting soul who could be miles away!” By early this morning it was already confirmed that at least 3 people were reported killed or wounded from a falling bullet. While it seems like a pretty simple warning that is easily heeded, the appeal of firing guns wildly in the air appeals to many during the new year. One shooter said, “hell I shoot into the air all year long, so why not today?” He was promptly arrested for shooting within the boundaries of a city. No doubt more reports of individuals wounded by falling bullets will come in.
American claims to visit the future in Europe
By Ivy Seager
Seamus Martin set out to do something he believed was clever. He saved money all year to travel from his home in New Hampshire to Europe on New Year’s Eve. Upon arriving he waited for midnight and then, he started making phone calls. He called home, where midnight had not yet come, and exclaimed that he had made it to the future. “I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying,” said one of Seamus’ friends, “something about making it to the future and how everything was the same.” Several of Seamus’s friends quickly grew frustrated with what they described as “endless bragging about a whole lot of nothing.” When one of his friends asked how Europe was, Seamus said, “I don’t know, haven’t explored, just waited to call you from the future, because you’re stuck in the past and I am not!” While it is easy to dismiss the claims of traveling to the future, Seamus will have a difficult time convincing his loved ones that his endeavor was anything but a waste of time.
The Five States Herald 