RB-049 Nature's Vacuum Cleaner

Ranger Bill and weather bureau forecasters Mel and Mike try to get a weather observer system organized in Knotty Pine, with no success. The town's residents refuse to believe that a tornado or anything as dangerous will strike in secluded Shady Valley. To make matters worse, radio announcer Bart Sneed mocks Bill and the weathermen whenever their warnings don't produce a dangerous storm. What will it take to convince the people of Knotty Pine that they need an early warning system?

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Snow Buries Rockies

An unexpected, heavy snow buried most of the Rockies Thursday and Friday bringing daily life in Knotty Pine to a temporary halt until roads and sidewalks could be cleared. Several feet of snow fell in the upper elevations of the Shady. Several inches to a foot of snow fell in the tri-county area. State and local road crews have been working around the clock to open snow-clogged arteries. All Knotty Pine schools were closed Friday. Most other schools in the county were closed as well. Ranger Bill Jefferson and his men aided in road clearing. Ranger snow plows, road graders, and of course their Big Brutes worked all day Friday.
One BIG benefit for Knotty Pine from all of the snow is the early opening of the Big Six Lodge as well as all of its ski runs and trails. Residents can either drive directly to the lodge for a day in the snow or they can ride the lodge's new buses and be taxied to Big Six from either City Hall or from the public parking lot adjacent to Ranger Headquarters.

RB-048 The Man Who Understood

Ranger Angus McClain can't or won't control his pain and anger when his son Steve is hit by a car and killed. Angus becomes even more enraged when a judge rules Steve's death an accident. Wes Morgan, the driver of the car that hit Steve, is so sorry for Steve's death and is very understanding of Angus and his pain. Bill can neither neither comfort nor control Angus. Will a tombstone for Steve's grave be the key to Angus' mind and heart?

Knotty Pine GAZETTE- Churches Aid Pacific

The churches of Knotty Pine have begun a project to aid the victims of the disasters that have damaged homes and cities all across the Pacific this last week. In roughly a week's time, three separate natural disasters have struck. A hurricane blasted the Philippines. A tsunami damaged the islands of Sumatra. And at least two major earthquakes shook Indonesia just northwest of Indonesia's famous 1883 super-volcano Krakatoa.
Knotty Pine Church and Park Road Church had each separately decided to send donations to the Red Cross for the Philippines. The Philippine hurricane became the topic of discussion at ranger headquarters when Ranger Bill Jefferson and his crew heard about the tsunami and quakes in the Pacific. The rangers soon realized that their various churches were planning to aid the Philippines in the disaster. The rangers made some phone calls. Soon their pastors and elders were exchanging information. Representatives of each church in town met at Knotty Pine Church yesterday and finalized plans to send aid and donations to the Red Cross. The first donation will go out to the Red Cross this Monday.

RB-047 The Broken Promise

For the last couple of years, elderly Ezra Newcomb has allowed a hot rod club use the edge of his property as a drag strip for their cars. Ezra is getting too old to run his ranch. So Ezra sold his land to Todd Stone, a wealthy easterner. Ezra made Todd promise to keep the drag strip open for the hot rods. But Todd immediately broke his promise and fenced off the drag strip from the boys. Ezra will move heaven and earth to open the track for the dragsters, but he can't do it alone. So Ezra calls Ranger Bill for help. What can Bill do to make Todd keep his promise and help Ezra keep his promise to the boys?