PAWN SHOP
MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED
By Angie Perez

Sheriff Waid apprehended dangerous career criminal Gibson Burch Tuesday evening at the Bowl-A-Rama Bowling Alley. Burch was found on the floor unconscious with a handgun nearby. A custodian was discovered dead at the scene, another victim of the madman, who authorities believe is linked to several safecracking burglaries throughout the tri-county area. Outside the bowling alley lay the body of the gunman's wife, Debra Burch, apparently shot to death by her husband.

Gibson Burch, 35, has a lengthy police record and is the prime suspect in the murder of an elderly pawnshop owner earlier this month in Lowell County. Sheriff Waid proudly noted, "this lunatic will be behind bars for a very long time thanks to my deputies' unwavering commitment to stopping crime and protecting the public."

LOST BOY
FINDS HIS WAY HOME

By Gena McGuiness

"We're happy to know he's with a loving family member and look forward to him coming back to visit," so says Martha Kent of 12-year-old Ryan. A few days ago, while driving Route 90, Kent literally ran into the lost boy when Ryan dashed out onto the road. Rushed to the hospital, Ryan suffered only minor cuts and bruises but claimed to have no memory other than his name. With no evidence of head injuries, doctors assessed his temporary memory lapse to traumatic shock. Unable to contact next of kin, hospital administrators and the Kents were in a quandary over what to do with the youngster. "We weren't going to let him stay in the sheriff's juvenile cell until Child Services could come for him," says Jonathan Kent, "so we brought him home with us."

It wasn't long before the Kents discovered Ryan's story. Orphaned after the death of his mother, Ryan became the charge of his allegedly abusive stepfather, Gibson Burch, and Burch's unconscionable partner, Debra Burch. A modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, the lawless couple is responsible for several armed robberies, the last ending in the death of elderly pawnshop owner Jules Casey. But the crime spree came to a deadly end last night with the murder of Debra Burch, allegedly shot point blank by Gibson, and the arrest of Gibson himself.

Ryan has now found a new home with a distant aunt in Edge City. "She's a nice lady. I knew it before she even said a word," says Ryan, "but I sure will miss Mr. and Mrs. Kent and Clark. He's a real superhero."

MUTINY IN THE COUNTY
Sheriff's Deputies Fed Up with Waid's Failures, Threaten Action

By Christopher James Beppo

As Smallville's per capita crime rate starts looking more like that of a major American city, grumblings about the job performance of Sheriff Mark "Wink" Waid are being heard not only in the shops and cafés around town but within the Sheriff's office itself. While rookie Deputy Elizabeth Christine remains loyal to Waid, the unofficial word is that both Deputy Cub Johannsen and Deputy Ethan Miller are preparing to challenge Waid in the next Lowell County election. Deputy Gary Watts hasn't publicly weighed in on the controversy, but he is rumored to be disgruntled as well and contemplating action of some sort.

"I'm not ruling it out, I'll put it that way," Johannsen comments when questioned about his campaign plans. But patrons at The Kregburn Tavern just outside of town, where Johannsen and his buddies on the force are regulars, express things differently. "Just yesterday, old Cub was in here mouthing off about how Wink handled things over at the alley. Something about how the only way Wink could get a collar these days is if the perp gets smashed by a bowling ball."

From an objective standpoint, Sheriff Waid's success rate has been less than stellar in recent months. The lawman's team has often arrived only after mayhem has occurred, such as the scene at the Bowl-A-Rama, where two people were killed and a third was knocked unconscious before the authorities even stepped in. Miller was more willing to go on the record with his criticism of Waid. Telling the Ledger that Waid should have made headway into the string of safecracking burglaries in recent months, Miller said that Waid might have been able to prevent the violent culmination at the alley. "We were on this guy's trail for ages, but no arrest was made," Miller said. "Now we have two dead bodies and another blotch on our record. There's an old saying about shutting the barn doors after the horses get out--it's just humiliating is all. We show up at the Summers house--there's a car on the roof and the kid is laid out. We speed over to Luthor mansion--he's okay, but the attacker's knocked cold. It always seems like we get there five minutes too late, and someone's already done the job for us and split! I swear, it's like we're the freakin' Keystone Kops sometimes."

The besieged Waid did not return telephone calls to his office and home. But a longtime friend commented that the stress of all the unusual occurrences in Smallville has taken its toll on the health of the four-term sheriff. "I wouldn't be surprised if Wink sat out the next campaign. Let these guys take the job if they want it so bad. There's something seriously wrong in this town--don't make a difference who's the sheriff, it's just plain crazy around here."

One thing's for sure: Sheriff Waid had better pull off a major crime fighting coup soon, or it will be a moot point whether or not he wants to stay on the force--at least three of his close colleagues will see to that in the next election.

MOBILE MEALS DELIVERS FOOD AND SMILES TO HOUSEBOUND

By Kathy Romita

For some residents of Lowell County, Mobile Meals provides the only warm food they'll eat all day. When people are unable to cook their own meals, this local charity steps in and takes care of the food preparation. And Mobile Meals delivers the hot meals to the front door--sometimes to the bedside--of the recipient.

Bill Ross explained, "When my brother, Dale, and I started this project 15 years ago, we and our wives just fixed some lunches in our own kitchens and then dropped them off to neighbors who were sick or elderly. We were afraid these people weren't eating right, so we fed them. After a while, word got around and our client list really took off. That's when we knew we needed help and formed this organization."

The nonprofit agency receives monetary and food donations as well as a grant from the county. Local farmers and residents drop food off at the central food bank warehouse where volunteers sort through the items for storage. Mobile Meals employs three people, a facility coordinator and two cooks. The charity depends on its many volunteers to pack the food and deliver it. "I've been a part of Mobile Meals for almost five years now," said local farmer Martha Kent. "The rewards are immediate when you deliver the food and spend a little time with our clients. They are so very grateful," Kent added.

While most of its recipients are elderly, Mobile Meals also delivers to a few people who are temporarily shut-in. "I was down with the flu, and they brought me hot soup for both lunch and supper. They were so good to me that now I volunteer and deliver lunch one day a week," commented Bobby Bradley.

"I really look forward to the visits. It's not just the food, which is delicious, it's the companionship too. Some weeks, those volunteers are the only people I see," related Mrs. Sykes, whose home is a regular delivery drop. Hank Cryzis, the facility coordinator, remarked, "I can't say enough about our wonderful volunteers. They make this ship sail. And they just keep coming! Almost every week a new face steps into my office to help."

For more information about Mobile Meals, contact Hank Cryzis at 555-0171.