The Broadway Brewing Company of Denver makes a whole line of beers featuring cartoon canines on colorful bales by Ralph Steadman; the canines appear in various states of angst. Flying Dog, a dark amber malty ale, features a frantic pup sporting multicolored mechanical wings on the label. A long, dry, hoppy finish that's a pale ale hallmark further distinguishes the beer. Otherwise, it tastes a bit more like a German bock. And while it does have this split personality, it would be a pretty good brew to quaff while digging into a plate of hot wings.

For those with the odd fruitcake hanging around that won't be eaten this year, or from last year's Christmas or even from 2001, they can mail them to Buffalo, N.Y. Fruitcake Amnesty Campaign is a public service to collect and consume all uneaten fruitcakes and organizers from the Buffalo Food Bank have designated a special 30,000-square-foot warehouse in anticipation of the fruitcake influx. Fruitcake recipients from throughout the United States are free to mail all unopened, uneaten fruitcakes to Buffalo, no questions asked. Most of the fruitcakes will be distributed to those in need, but some will be featured in the first-ever officially sanctioned fruitcake- eating contest, according to the Food Bank of Western New York, which hopes other food donations will be made along with the fruitcake.

12-17-03
Mississippi - Tunica County Sheriff Jerry Ellington, accused of taking kickbacks from stolen drug money and strong-arming bail bondsmen, has been charged with failing to appear for a court hearing.

Rankin County prosecutor Richard Wilson said Ellington was arrested on Dec. 9 after he didn't show up for a court hearing regarding an extortion charge filed against him earlier this year. He was being held in the Rankin County jail.

Ellington was charged in July in a four-count federal indictment.

State prosecutors have joined federal authorities in accusing Ellington of taking kickbacks.

Ellington lost his re-election bid in the Democratic primary on Aug. 5.

If convicted, he faces a combined maximum sentence of 60 years in prison and $1 million dollars in fines on the federal charges. Ellington would face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine on the state charge.

After his indictments, a judge permanently stripped Ellington of his duties.

Ellington has not been allowed to perform his official duties or enter the sheriff's department. He has kept his title and paycheck. Elected officials can only be removed from office if convicted of a felony.

A federal Grand Jury in Martinsburg, has indicted two Hedgesville, W.Va., men and two Martinsburg men following a federal investigation into drug and gun activity by members of the Warlocks Motorcycle Club.

Gerald Guynes, 53, and Clyde Newill, 42, both of Martinsburg, and Kirk Hutzler, 45, and Gary Lee Murphy, 49, both of Hedgesville, were indicted on Dec. 8, Joseph Mott, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney based in Roanoke, Va., said in a news release.

The men were taken into custody in July by agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in connection with a two-year investigation of illegal gun and methamphetamine distribution practices in parts of six states, including West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle.

An ATF spokeswoman alleged in July that all of the men taken into custody - 10 in the Eastern Panhandle - were either members of the Warlocks Motorcycle Club or associated with it.

Wakulla Springs - Over 100 acres were added to the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone through the State’s premier land conservation program, Florida Forever. The acquisition adds further protection to Florida’s largest freshwater spring and the miles of underground caverns carrying water below. The acreage serves as a primary recharge area for the Floridan aquifer, which supplies most of the region’s drinking water.

“Conserving land around Florida's springs safeguards the quality of water feeding these unique underground systems,” said Secretary Struhs. “Increasing protection for our valuable natural resources benefits our environment, economy and quality of life.”

Connecting Wakulla Springs State Park with the Apalachicola National Forest, the 8,023-acre Wakulla Springs Protection Zone Florida Forever Project conserves habitat for wildlife and recreation while also protecting one of the largest and deepest artesian springs in the world. With this important addition just 11 percent of the protection zone remains for acquisition

From the Field: Montana Department of Livestock resumes harassment of our last wild buffalo.

Since a bull buffalo was shot near the Yellowstone Park border on November 25, only a few buffalo have been outside of Yellowstone's borders for short time periods.  But this week, one older bull found a sweet little spot outside the Park on Cougar Creek.  He had been grazing peacefully there for the past three days until this morning when Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) agents on snowmobiles found him.  Beginning around 11 AM, two MDOL agents on snowmobiles began chasing our buffalo friend east toward the Park boundary. "They chased him for nearly thirty minutes through knee-deep snow," said Amy, a BFC volunteer who was with the buffalo when the operation began.  The buffalo eventually reached the relative safety of Yellowstone National Park.

Buffalo bulls do not have the biological capacity to transmit brucellosis to cattle.  Neither are there any cows within forty miles of the Cougar Creek area.  This unnecessary stress caused by the Montana Department of Livestock under the guise of protecting the livestock industry is an example of the cruel and inhumane treatment of Yellowstone bison every year at the gateways to America's first National Park.

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