THE FORT VALE TRIBUNE / INTERNET EDITION
Local
Reports and notices from around Fort Vale.
local
By Peter Parkour · Tribune staff
Fort Vale Telephone Co. says its Mortel PMS-10 is operating within normal emotional parameters.
Fort Vale Telephone Co. announced Tuesday that local service had been restored following a brief interruption, an extended silence and what the company described as “a difficult conversation” with its equipment.
The notoriously unreliable utility runs on a small Mortel PMS-10 telephone switch. Technicians say the unit can handle the town’s calls, provided nobody makes a big production out of it.
local
By Peter Parkour · Tribune staff
An unusually selective series of break-ins leaves Fort Vale residents asking what the thieves wanted.
Break-ins in Fort Vale homes have produced an unusual inventory of losses: mattress labels are missing, while cash, jewelry and televisions have reportedly been left in place.
The pattern has attracted the attention of private investigator Wong Gai. He believes the small government warnings attached to the mattresses are central to the case. He has offered a larger explanation for why someone would want them gone.
religion
By Peter Parkour · Tribune staff
A reported shortage leads to another collection, amplified music and more figures to reconcile.
Missing church donations have prompted an accounting inquiry by Betty and a separate attempt by private investigator Wong Gai to obtain a confession from the congregation.
Gai insisted the inquiry should take place under the roof where the money disappeared. He then turned to a competitive giving event, saying contributors’ behavior could tell him more than their explanations.
local
By Peter Parkour · Tribune staff
The department is checking a sighting while withholding agreement on what was seen.
A prank that left Wong Gai alone in the woods has led to a police search after the investigator reported seeing a large, hairy figure move between the trees.
The men who arranged the snipe hunt had already left, according to Gai’s account. They were involved in the prank; the later sighting is his report.
local
Community notices · Tribune desk
A notice from the police bulletin concerning the recent break-ins.
Residents discovering disturbed bedding or missing mattress labels are asked to preserve the affected area while the break-ins are investigated.
The absence of missing cash or jewelry does not settle the question of unauthorized entry. Moving a mattress to look for additional clues may also move the clues already there.
local
By Peter Parkour · Tribune staff
Two parts of the woods account have been traveling together.
The men who arranged Wong Gai’s snipe hunt can account for the prank. Gai can account for what he says he saw after they left. Those statements cover different portions of the evening.
Our initial report described a search following Gai’s sighting. It did not identify the prank’s organizers as corroborating witnesses. Their intention to mislead him is relevant background, but it does not establish the identity of the later figure.
local
Community desk
Book boxes, supper volunteers and notices for the local calendar.
SATURDAY MORNING — Community book exchange. Readers bringing books are asked to use boxes they can carry themselves. Damaged boxes and loose pages cannot be included on the display table.
SUPPER VOLUNTEERS — The church-supper noticeboard is collecting names for setting up tables and washing dishes. This ordinary volunteer notice is separate from reporting on the donation inquiry.
