METROPOLIS HOSTAGE
CRISIS HITS HOME
Lionel Luthor, Assistant Held Hostage

By Angie Perez

A break-in occurred Sunday afternoon at the LuthorCorp Tower in Metropolis. Four armed perpetrators identified as Nicky Taylor, Jessica Bishop, Dave Kern and Earl Pyne seized control of the corporate headquarters, holding Lionel Luthor and his assistant, Martha Kent, hostage until nightfall.

Apparently, the would-be thieves targeted the vault in Luthor's private office. According to a responding officer, the suspects destroyed the vault door and attempted to steal the contents but could not get out of the building, which was surrounded by Metropolis' elite SWAT unit. Metropolis P.D. had been alerted to the robbery in progress by CEO Lionel Luthor, who secretly triggered a state-of-the-art electronic panic button.

After quickly setting up a mobile command center, the police--its SWAT team ready to storm the building--tried to negotiate with the suspects. During the tense standoff that lasted over five hours, Kern and Pyne were killed, perhaps during a scuffle when power was cut to the tower. Bishop and Taylor surrendered to authorities without further incident. Sources close to the investigation report that the teenage son of Martha Kent played a key role in the rescue, but Mrs. Kent refused to comment.

When questioned about the valuables inside his safe, Luthor responded, "My confidential files and property are of no concern to anyone. What's of greater consequence is that these criminals were stopped dead in their tracks, and my assistant and I were unharmed."

MEDICAL CENTER
WELCOMES DOC

By Kathy Romita

Dr. Helen Bryce recently joined the staff of Smallville Medical Center. The Metropolis native is the daughter of highly respected plastic surgeon Stanley Bryce who is well-known for treating the Metropolis rich and famous.

The younger Bryce received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and also attended its prestigious medical school. She interned at Metropolis General where she specialized in general medicine. Fellow SMC attending physician Dr. Kenneth Ruddzehn is thrilled to be working with Dr. Bryce. He remarked, "It can be difficult to find a physician who's willing to practice small-town medicine, especially in a rural area--with all of the farm accidents. But Dr. Bryce is settling in quite well.

Bryce received rave reviews from other staffers as well. "She's a no-nonsense physician," stated Randi March, a registered nurse. "She expects a lot from her team and absolutely abhors incompetence. I like that." Dr. Bryce plans to hold health seminars for Smallville residents on topics such as women's issues, prostate problems, prenatal care and diabetes. Bryce said, "I like the feeling of community in this town. One doesn't get that type of energy in a big city. I also look forward to meeting people outside of the hospital setting. I really want to contribute to Smallville."

THE BLOOD STRIPE AND THE FORGOTTEN VICTIM

By Christopher James Beppo

A week has gone by since news of Private Whitney Fordman's passing stunned and saddened Smallville. With all but a few of Smallville's citizens beginning to return to their regular routines, perhaps it's time to address two minor elements of the tragedy that have been brought to the Ledger's attention through numerous letters to the editor.

To go deeper into what happened means putting aside all skepticism and accepting the possibility that a troubled female teen somehow duped everyone into believing that she was the returning war hero, as dozens of witnesses still insist. Tina Greer, a mental asylum escapee, must have possessed phenomenal imitative abilities--but she apparently couldn't tell one Marine Corps uniform from another.

Since "Whitney" strode proudly down the hall of Smallville High School during a congested midmorning class change, there were several eyewitness descriptions of his crisp dress blues, complete with a distinctive red band down the trouser legs. The only problem is that the "blood stripe" is an honor that is reserved for noncommissioned officers and enlisted Marines who serve as corporal and higher, and we know from Fordman's military records that he had not yet risen past the rank of private first class.
But of course Greer's crimes go way beyond disrespecting an entire branch of the United States military with her careless attempt to cobble together a credible outfit. She brutally assaulted at least three people during her subsequent rampage.

One, a military envoy originally reported to have been a lieutenant but now identified as Captain Joshua McNulty, died instantly. Another, Mrs. Betty Fordman, Whitney's mother, survived but remains traumatized beyond words. And a third victim, Smallville High School student Pete Ross, who became a target of Greer's rage for unknown reasons, never received any public notice. In fact, his battered and unconscious body was not found until many hours after the incidents took place, and apparently no one even realized he was missing.

Ross, youngest member of the Ross' Creamed Corn dynasty, got into a violent altercation with Greer in the hallway of the high school shortly before her demise and was knocked out by a serious blow to the head. "Yeah, I'm okay everybody, thanks for asking," commented Ross wryly after being treated and released from Smallville Medical Center. "Lucky thing Mr. Jeeps [an SHS custodian] found me while making his rounds. If it had been a Friday night, I might still be lying there when the homeroom bell rang on Monday morning!"

SHERIFF ETHAN HONORED

By Jim "Slim" Bradlee

Praising the dedication, commitment and high degree of professionalism of Lowell County's law enforcement personnel, Kansas Sheriff's Association President John Calhoon of Atchison County has named Ethan Miller the first recipient of the Sheriff Waid Award of Excellence in Service to the Community.

The Waid Award was created earlier this year by the K.S.A. board of directors in the name of retired Sheriff Mark "Wink" Waid, who was on the force in 1989 when the meteors hit and who guided Smallville through some of its most turbulent times following the storm.

In accepting the award, Ethan pointed out the recent reduction of crime and mayhem in his jurisdiction. "When I came on, there was some seriously weird stuff happening in Smallville. It was almost like we had a 'freak of the week' for awhile there. But now, apart from that construction site business and some trouble at the high school, I think you'll agree that things have definitely calmed down around here. I'm very proud of that."

Ethan was born and raised in Smallville, attending Smallville High School during the heyday of its fabled sports program, and he still counts many alumni of the school among his closest friends. After graduating from Barton County College and the Sheriff's Academy, he moved up through the ranks while serving as secretary/treasurer of the K.S.A., eventually landing what he called a "plum assignment" as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Waid in Lowell County.

"Ethan had some pretty big shoes to fill," commented Calhoon during the dinner ceremony at the Sportsman's Lodge. "Old Wink, well we all know what he contributed to this town over the years, and there were some folks who said nobody could ever match him. But in the short time Ethan has been on patrol, he has held himself to nothing but the highest standards. Mark my words, you'll never hear of any kind of scandal where Ethan's concerned."