RB123 - River of Fire

RB123 - River of Fire - Officers O'Roark and Ryan are walking the night beat along the docks on the Shady River. The smell of fuel oil stops them in their tracks. The pipeline over the Shady has sprung a huge leak! The river is covered with a solid layer of the fuel oil. The slightest spark could set the river on fire or even cause an explosion. Things go from bad to worse when a bad lightening storm strikes. Bill, the safety forces, and the pipeline company may not be able to handle this disaster.

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Forest Feedings

Chief ranger Bill Jefferson tells the GAZETTE that his rangers will continue feeding the buffalo, deer, and elk herds in Big Pine National Forest for the next several weeks. Continued heavy early spring snows have covered the Shady Mountains and Shady River Valley will deep snow making it difficult for wild animal populations to find food and shelter. Rangers will use trucks and airplanes to deliver hay to these herds. Also because of these late snows, ranger crews must wait several weeks to perform spring border surveys of the forest. Crews will be sent out as needed to clear out fire hazards along the borders and trails of Big Pine. Farmers and ranchers affected by these border surveys will be given extra time to make their lands clear and safe for fire crews.

Dick Anthony, Ranger Bill organist

I was able to find some used vinyl record albums by Ranger Bill organist Dick Anthony or with him as the organist. These are all available used on Amazon.com or possibly through your local record store: Beyond the River by the Melody Four Quartet with Dick Anthony organist ($19.50) The Dick Anthony Singers: To Tell the Untold Story ($15.99) Pinnacles of Praise by Bill Pearce and Dick Anthony ($13.97) My Song by Dick Anthony ($9.99) Dick also published a short book called Dick Anthony's Musical Meditations. That is also available on Amazon.

What are Desert Rats on Ranger Bill?

The term "desert rats" is the subject of several Ranger Bill stories. RB-127 "The Adventure of the Tarnished Gold," RB-164 "Freddy's Story," and RB-005 "Burning Sands," are among several stories that refer to these desert rats. In all of these adventures, desert rats are those old-time prospectors who mined or panned for gold in the hills, rivers, and streams. Most of the time these men worked long and hard in the desert sun looking to get rich. Some were able to eek out a living on the gold they found, often squandering what little they earned on riotous living.

RB-122 A Prisoner on Ice Island

Knotty Pine's city council wastes time debating how to pay for a fence that is critically needed to keep kids off the ice flows on the Shady River. Two boys do get stuck on an ice flow, and that flow is heading for a drop into a deep gorge! Bill must find some way to safely reach and rescue the boys!