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Was It Even A Poll?

We’re asking because Adeline Hallewell shot it out of the park with this one, putting the likes of Kent Usea and Shea Shails to shame. Not to mention Helen Harman whose support had surprisingly significantly less voters and the lowest voter turnout. To have such amazing numbers, we’re all left to wonder what Selectwoman Hallewell secret actually was. Was it really the outreach? And who were her supporters? Because as far as we can see, it’s nothing but shady business. Whether it’s an issue of voter turnout or the youth really making their voices known compared to their seniors, perhaps the promise of new ideals just wasn’t as promising as a certain someone previously thought.

Are we all creatures of habits then, Creekers?

At any rate, we’d like to congratulate our new Selectwoman Adeline Hallewell on her win. You did it! Yay!

And Sue, if you’re reading this, this means it got passed the editors: should we starting taking bets on how long the n00b will last before her seat suddenly vacates too?

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Historical Society Exhibit Hit by Vandalism

The Friends of Ashkent Creek historical society was left devastated after several photographs from the town’s centenary year and beyond were destroyed in what has been described as a bizzare act of vandalism.

The photographs had been collected for a local history exhibit where residents were encouraged to send photographs from the past hundred years to be digitized as part of an upcoming celebration of the town’s founding. The images were hoped to become part of a display honoring Ashkent’s rich and interesting history since the time of the first settlers in 1770.

Security onsite reported a disturbance at the location where several voices could be heard, but were unable to locate anyone on the premises besides themselves at the time of the incident. At the time of the tampering security guard Trevor Wilks stated,“there was a lot of commotion from one of the back rooms. Me and Tony thought there was some event going on for staff or something, but we get there and there’s nobody in there, total silence. They were fast.” The damage incurred is estimated to be extensive with many images altered beyond repair. A number of images including now outdated Sepia and Polaroids were left blank while others appear to have been altered with subjects either digitally altered from the image or removed. Exhibit Curator Margaret Hayes donated several family photographs dating back to the early 19th century came to the exhibit to find all of them had been affected. "I don’t understand it. We had a number of items taken in a medium that doesn’t exist anymore. It would be difficult for anybody to doctor them. However it was done this doesn’t appear to be the work of an amateur. If I didn’t know any better it looks like the people in them just up and moved.”

Theories include the use of either bright light or chemical means although there is as of yet no evidence of any foul play and the images were kept in a windowless exhibition room at the time of the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.

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PARTIAL POWER RESTORATION

While most of Ashkent Creek are down for the count and lightning is still actively darting everywhere above in the sky at all hours of the day, downtown the Bend is the first area to report power restoration without the reliance on backup generators.

Still no explanation or answer for an immediate or near distant fix. In the meantime, Took’s General Store is advertising a sale on all candles and flashlights; batteries and lighters sold separately and not included in any discounts.

#article

Festival Fever Hits Music Fans

Words By Katie Wells

Music fans at Bright music festival have been reported to have suffered from exhaustion and collapse last week with some blaming the seasonal high temperatures and others as mass hysteria at the close of the festival. One death occurred and dozens of audience members were hospitalized for dehydration and exhaustion following last week’s musical events in what has been in part blamed on poor crowd control and the possibility of unknown narcotics. Packed crowds and stalls hampered efforts for emergency services to gain entry at the time of the incident, leaving medical team members unable to reach affected concertgoers with onsite for a number of days leaving first aid crews taking on the task of treating those affected.

Patients who had been in attendance at the music event claim to have been compelled to remain at the concert and were unable to stop dancing until they became incapacitated. Many are being treated for a number of conditions caused by the incident including heart attack, stroke, and exhaustion. Medical teams were left baffled and blamed a form of mass hysteria for the incident which left audience members unable to stop dancing at the event. The distribution of an unknown substance or a form of food poisoning at the event has also not been ruled out as a probable cause.

The last reported case of this kind of Dance Mania was documented in 16th century France where a village was believed to have suffered from a form of mania and hysteria causing them to dance fervently over the period of six days to one month which left a number of fatalities.

Event organizers released a statement, “Bright Music Festival takes every precaution to ensure our events are as safe and family friendly as possible including searches on entry for banned substances and will investigate this incident thoroughly to ensure it never happens again at any of our venues and wish those affected a fast recovery.”

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Councillor Resigns Following Blood Supply Scandal

Words by Katie Wells

Ashkent Creek Councilman Paul Emerson has been rocked by scandal following leaked information. The Councillor is understood to be linked in connection to the disappearance of several instances of missing blood supplies and donations to Ashkent Creek General Hospital. An as of yet unnamed source contacted the paper, linking the Councillor’s involvement to an article posted several months earlier about the case leading some to speculate that he may have been involved in their illegal sale.

This news follows the Councillors recent resignation, earlier today citing exhaustion and a desire for change. Last year Emerson successfully campaigned for a regeneration project in an effort to clean up aspects of the town which had been due to take place by 2025. It is understood that these plans have now been shelved pending investigation.

Photographs have also emerged, appearing to show Emerson engaging in bizarre liaisons at a local Amnity Road establishment, Teeth. The photographs appear to show Emerson and two unknown individuals who appear to be shown biting the Councillor. However, these are yet to be confirmed as genuine by experts.

Councilman Emerson was invited to comment, but declined. His aide, Claire Moses, released a statement on his behalf saying “Mr Emerson has worked tirelessly for several years for the betterment of the town, including drives and initiatives that have seen drastic improvements to the lives and well-being of residents he has served. At this time we ask that he and his family be given privacy while we get to the bottom of these heinous accusations.”

#artcile

False Reports Prompt Prank Calls Crackdown

Words by Katie Wells

Emergency services this week have faced an influx of “bizarre and unusual” public calls claiming to have sighted humanoid creatures across the area in what has been described as an unfounded waste of police time.

Several reports to police and emergency service numbers have emerged with reports detailing supposed sightings of a seven foot tall figure on Burns Road in the early hours of yesterday morning with at least three other similar reports of a large grey humanoid creature within the dense fog in the hours that followed. Police units were sent out to the area but no evidence of any suspicious activity was found. Theories behind the odd surge in these prank calls include visual distortions due to the fog and it is also believed that several animal attacks in the last week may have fuelled wild speculation among college and high school campuses, sparking some form of hysteria.

The increasing calls have prompted officials to deliver the following statement amid the growing reports. “We have become aware of a growing number of prank calls in the past week about these supposed sightings. These calls take valuable time from our emergency services and can cost lives. Anyone found to be making these kind of prank calls will face a fine and criminal prosecution.” Fines for prank calls include a one thousand dollar fine and up to a one year prison sentence.

#article #the thick of it potw

Caution Urged as Winter Fog Worsens

Words by Katie Wells

The met office has released a further weather warning into next week and residents have been urged to use caution on the roads and surrounding areas due to poor visibility after a dense fog continues to cause disruption. The fog which arrived late Wednesday evening appears to have rolled in from the coast this week has already been the cause of several accidents.

Local residents are being asked by officials to remain at home and abstain from making journeys unless absolutely necessary. Motorists have also been urged not to travel to avoid accidents after one motorist has yet to be found when he and his car failed to return from a morning commute to the nearby town of Bangor.

Kevin Farrell, 49, was reported missing on Friday afternoon and efforts to locate him were scaled back due to safety fears for rescuers. It is believed that Farrell may have come into difficulties as the fog obscured local landmarks and road markings and his car may have left the road. Police and rescue services located his vehicle close to Ironwood Forest and Torrance street with the driver side door open and no sign of a struggle, but it is believed that he may have suffered an injury, attempted to seek help and lost his way. The search will continue for Farrell during the limited daylight hours and local law enforcement have asked the public to avoid the area to assist in the search.

#article #the thick of it potw

Mysterious Activity Turns Local Officials Around on their Heads

Words by Stuart Jacobson

Local resident Ase Martha, 49, was found dead at the scene after being seen in Dark Score Lake last night.

A witness stated that he found her submerged by the shore when they were “out jogging around the lake, like I do every weekend. I didn’t notice anything strange until I started along the Eastern shore. From the smell, I assumed an animal had died, so I was keeping an eye out for a body. That’s when I saw her. Her hair was all tangled and matted up. I thought it was seaweed at first, but it was too blonde.” He went on to say that “she was all stitched up in the middle, but I didn’t see any blood around her. I don’t think I’ll ever get that image out of my head.”

Martha was a secretary for a local grief counselor, and according to her son Stefan, was a “kind, dedicated mother and worker” who “leant a listening ear and tried to help anyone she could.”

Her family confirmed that her ring, which belonged to her recently-deceased husband, Rikard Martha, was missing from her person. The victim’s family urge any other witnesses to step forward with any information. “She never took it off, even to sleep,” said her daughter Natalie Martha. “I don’t think it just fell off. If anyone finds it, please return it to us.”

The incident may be linked to a string of disappearances and fatalities around the area in past weeks. However, the state of Mrs. Martha’s body is different than those previously discovered, as she did not appear to have died in the water.

Despite warnings and efforts to keep curious spectators away during ongoing investigations, a mandatory curfew has been implemented around that area at seven o’clock on the weekdays and nine o’clock on the weekends, lifting at six in the morning until further notice; police will also be surveilling along Dark Score Lane, Dark Score Lake and Jericho Hill. If anyone is found entering either of those locations after curfew, individuals are subjected to a $200 fine.

Local officials have yet to release an exact cause of death but have told us that her appendix appears to have been removed post-mortem. Police request that anyone to contact them if they have information as well as to report any more strange and suspicious sightings near and around Dark Score Lake.

#article #submission

Drowning of Olympic Hopeful Sparks Calls for Lake Dredge

Words by Katie Wells

Local resident Brad Peyton, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene after drowning while swimming in Dark Score lake late yesterday morning.

Local officials are still unclear as to the exact cause of death. One witness on the scene who did not wish to be named described his attempt to reach Mr Peyton. The witness stated that there had been little sign of struggle in the moments prior to the accident as he fished nearby in his canoe. The self-described avid fisher stated that Peyton was in the centre of the lake when he began to call for help. He “rowed on out and the kid kept telling me something had him then went under. I tried to get him to take the end of my fishing rod to grab hold. I felt something grab on and went to pull him on up when he resurfaced a little away. Whatever got caught on the pole let go and I reached again, but it was almost like somebody was pulling him and anything in there down.” He later described the water as being disturbed and turbulent. “I don’t know if it was some sort of gas bubble or an animal or something, but the kid had no chance soon as he went under.”

Peyton is understood to have completed and won several swim team competitions in the past year and had been undergoing training to secure a place as an Olympic competitor. The victim’s mother described her son as a “champion swimmer and a ‘confident, outgoing, loving son and friend” who “had a lifetime of potential ahead of him.”

Representative, Sybil Alcott released a statement on behalf of the town council stating “Our thoughts are with the family of Brad Peyton and would like to take this time to express our sympathies. At this time it is too early to comment. Our dedicated law enforcement department will need time and space to determine the cause of this awful tragedy.”

Locals near the area describe numerous calls for action to be taken at the location due to the numbers of fatalities in and around the water. Sally Waterman who owns a property near the location claims there have been an increasing number of occurrences including the disappearance of a frequent runner at the location who was later recovered from the tree tops two years prior.

The incident has sparked new fears over the safety of the lake and surrounding land. This Follows a campaign ran by residents in the surrounding properties for action to be taken to dredge the lake which was rejected by the Town Council last year with a vote of eight to four. When this newspaper reached out to the council they declined further comment. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Stolen Bloodmobile Sightings Linked To Missing Persons

Words by Katie Wells

Reports have resurfaced that Bloodmobile taken from Ashkent Creek General Hospital in November 2011 has been sighted in locations across town in the guise of a hospital run blood donation drive.

A string of previous incidents have been reported over the years, with an earlier sighting taking place on Burns Road in the early evening of October 27th 2015. Several members of the public have been understood to have entered the vehicle to donate blood, but did not exit. One witness stated in January 4th 2013 that she saw three of her friends enter the vehicle together. “I’m not great with medical stuff, so I waited outside for them. They were in there for a half hour when the motor started up and I thought they’d come on out, but I just saw these pair of hands wearing gloves reach out and slam the doors. The thing took off with them in it.”

This newspaper understands that at least ten missing persons cases were linked to sightings of the van in a number of areas across town. The case remains under investigation and police and local law enforcement have described the vehicle as having no visible license plates, a tinted windshield and rusted doors.

In recent weeks sightings of the vehicle with recognizable but outdated Hospital insignia have been increased across town and the public are urged not to approach the vehicle, but to take note of those inside and report any sightings to the police.

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Notice from the Ashkent Creek Aquarium and Zoo

The Ashkent Creek Aquarium and Zoo is closed until further notice, due to massive destruction on our premises. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

ATTENTION PLEASE AND THANK YOU

/* Start firmware download */ send[0] = 0x75; send[1] = (start >> 0) & 0xff; send[2] = (start >> 8) & 0xff; send[3] = (cksum >> 0) & 0xff; send[4] = (cksum >> 8) & 0xff; send[5] = 0; if (rcx_sendrecv(fd, send, 6, recv, 2, 50, RETRIES, use_comp) != 2) { fprintf(stderr, "%s: start firmware download failed\n", progname); exit(1); } /* Transfer data */ addr = 0; index = 1; for (addr = 0, index = 1; addr < len; addr += size, index++) {

{Authorizing....}

{Authorizing...}

Are you sure Milton? How will we know if

Do I just type it here

Please do forgive this heinous intrusion, but I must have your attention. I shouldn’t be doing this but good gracious Zeus, I must warn you all that we are facing an event over town that will have seismic consequences. I am a representative of the Scribe Council, working along three other individuals to bring this information, without the permission or knowledge of our currently missing, or perhaps missing for the past nine months, leader.

These new “portals”, openings in reality if you will, rare as they are – I’ve never seen anything- are appearing anywhere and everywhere, we have no means of tracking their appearance, but they carry tremendous danger. Anyone in their vicinity directly in the path of whatever lies inside them. Things, creatures that lie beyond may cross and those who are taken through may be lost to us.

Over the past millennium we only have records of a handful of such appearing, and never multiple in such close spatial and temporal proximity - except of course that one time in the Cong that is not relevant let me type. Few of those who have entered one have ever returned, and many horrors lie beyond, unrelated to anything one might have witnessed in Ashkent Creek or Ashford River. Closing these portals is possible and is quintessential. Some accounts refer to legendary weapons destroying them, others refer to the sacrifice of a person’s life. There are other, less substantiated accounts of methods involving powerful healing spells, making a sacrifice of power or thine own nature to seal it, or possibly by pouring the blood of 3-13 enemies into it. Be aware that many of these methods involve dangerous proximity to the portals, which may result in individuals being pulled into the portal as it closes, and all mention if not specify huge personal costs.

If they are not closed, however, there is little predicting how catastrophic this may be.

We are investigating further methods as we go but as two scribes have already been lost into one such portal, progress is understandably slow.

Leave no children unattended, and thank you very kindly for your time.

#Article

Security Guard Campus Disappearance

UMAC Security Guard Mike Teller was reported missing on Monday evening after failing to return home from the facility.

Police looking into the case reported that he had not clocked out of the building that evening or checked in with other members of staff leading to the belief that he did not leave the location. Staff at the university arrived at work to find all lights in the building had been switched on and all doors opened. Security footage also showed Mr Teller behaving ‘erratically’ and looking over his shoulder as though he may have been followed. His disappearance is being treated as suspicious.

After a sweep of the campus and surrounding area by police no sign of Teller has been found. Those close to Teller state that his disappearance and behavior prior to the disappearance was out of character and have requested that anyone with information about Mr Teller’s whereabouts to contact the Ashkent Creek Police department.

#article

Fireworks at the Docks!

Happy Independence Day! While we are closed, we have this reel of information to keep you up to date this July 4th.

Most of the released tigers have been safely returned to temporary enclosures, although their future is unclear as their subspecies has been reported extinct for a century, although several local sources insist there are still 286 left in captivity. There are still a couple remaining loose, so authorities ask that citizens exercise extreme caution and report any sightings to police immediately.

There will be a fireworks display at the docks tonight starting at 10 pm! While the docks are stable, after the incident a few years ago parents have been asked to keep their children close and on dry land as the display is shown. There will be several opportunities to eat as barbeques and pie stands will be hosted on boats and trailers throughout the event. Police have requested that only alcohol purchased at the venue is consumed.

In other news, local baker called Jenna Alberts has gone missing. 22 year old Alberts was reported missing after missing three days work and neighbors reported that her flat had been broken into. While police are investigating all possibilities, it does not currently appear to be a robbery, nor were there any signs of injury from either Alberts nor her assailant. An appeal for information was sent out by Mallory Jenkins, who had fostered Alberts after her single father passed away eight years ago. If you have any information, please contact [here.]

There has been a drastic surge in the number of pets reported missing or stolen recently. People are advised to keep pets inside and windows locked when they aren't watching their animals. Increased reports of strays are also a reason to keep children close at the moment, as feral animals may carry several diseases. Please report any animals to animal protection services and keep distance from them.

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Car Accidents Across Town

Car accidents have been occurring today all across town. It would appear as though someone tampered with all of the mirrors, even the rear-views inside of vehicles.

We advise people to stay away from driving if possible until this situation is resolved. If you must drive, be cautious and do not rely on your mirrors.

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BREAKING NEWS: POWER OUTAGE

An unexpected power outage has occurred on Landing Road, rendering the Police Station, Ashkent Creek Morgue, and other surrounding buildings without power. Current cause is unknown. Updates for when power will be restored will come as soon as possible.

#article #submission

WHAT ABOUT THE SNOWMEN

We advise our readers to avoid trying to pet them. One of our esteemed journalists died doing just that, just for the sake of a good story. Damn it, Jack.

#Anonymous #asks

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