RB075 Rabies Scare

Bill and Henry find a sick animal on the road. It's a wolf with rabies. Bill must shoot the wolf to protect townsfolk from the dread disease. The boys must rush to find and rescue young jogger Don who is being attacked by a fox with rabies. Then Bill must protect the grade school nearby and find a way to get the children safely home. More rabid animals appear near the school. Bill has all kinds of problems getting the school children to safety. See how Don finds a way to help Bill and rescue the children.

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - planting and digging

Farm News - Planting
Farmers are busy plowing their fields and planting the seed that will yield this year's grain and vegetable crops. The state department of agriculture tells the GAZETTE that 41% of planting has been completed statewide. Farmers in the north end of the state are behind the average because of wet and cool conditions there. The south portion of the state is generally dry and warmer. South farmers are ahead of the average.
Dairy farmers surveyed across the state seem pleased over recent prices for milk and cheese. Knotty Pine area dairymen are planning to increase their herds or hold herds' sizes steady.
None of the local fruit growers in the tri-county area are planting new trees, except to replace old or damaged trees.

Blue Mountain - Digging
Work has begun on the long-anticipated Blue Mountain Tunnel. A railroad track was laid from the main spur east of Knotty Pine to the north side of Blue Mountain. Workers for Big Rock Mining Co. have blasted a entry hole roughly 10 feet into the face of the mountain. The company's tunnel boring machine (TBM) "Big Alice" is expected to begin boring inside the blast hole this week. Big Alice arrived at Blue Mountain by train weeks ago. The TBM came in sections that had to be bolted together for boring. Big Rock president Sam Flemming tells the GAZETTE that Alice's assembly is now complete and she is ready to start digging this week.

Knotty Pine Area Photos

If you like this shot of a local resident, a mountain lion, then stop by our Ranger Bill page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=60851447435). I have posted some shots of last winter's "bit of snow" near Knotty Pine, some other KP residents, and the mountain grandeur of the Rockies. Also there is a photo of the ranger school from the "Ranger Factory".

RB074 The Ranger Factory

Ranger Bill is off to the Ranger School but not to take refresher classes. Bill is taking over for Monty Westfield, commandant of the school, while he is on vacation. Monty has three recruits with fears they can't overcome. Monty is hoping Bill can help these three young men with their problems. Bill has just a month to work with these three while running the ranger school. Will Bill have the time and patience to accomplish everything Monty has for him? Will our recruits make it or drop out of ranger school? Join Bill for all the action and excitement this week.

Knotty Pine Gazette extra - Lost Canyon discovery

Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson and his men have uncovered the mystery of Lost Valley the GAZETTE reported Easter weekend. Hikers and campers near Lost Valley reported seeing what appeared to be huge flying squirrels or bats or even ghosts flying at high speeds near the cliff walls. Lost Valley is home to retired Dr. Margrave and the region's few families of bald eagles. The valley is famous for it's strong "ghost winds" of Indian lore.
Rangers Investigate Sightings
Ranger Bill sent two of his best rangers Stumpy Jenkins and Gray Wolf to the valley to investigate the sightings. The rangers saw no bats or ghosts but did find signs that someone had been on some cliffs and camping there as well. Ranger Bill called the Army's Lt. Larson, who does areal patrols north of Knotty Pine. Lt. Larson informed Ranger Bill that many army parachutists were using suits that look like bat or flying squirrel suits.
Sky Divers Seen
After making several phone calls, Ranger Bill discovered that a couple of sky diving/base jumping organizations were indeed using Lost Valley for jumping on occasion. The Big Sky Jumpers invited Ranger Bill and his men for a demonstration of their skills. The divers showed and explained the use of the bat suits (also known as squirrel suits or birdman suits). Then they showed the rangers their latest gear, strap-on carbon fiber wings similar to hang glider wings. These new wings give the jumpers a longer glide times and the ability to travel many miles before landing.
Ranger Bill told the jumpers that they would need permits to jump in Big Pine Forest or anywhere in his ranger district from now on. The jumpers had been unaware the Lost Canyon region was part of the national forest district.