Headline News

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This thread is reserved for articles published by HRN employees

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Horrific Scene Outside HRN Offices

Tragedy came to Redwood last night, as the offices of the Harper Rock News stood witness to the scene of one man's violent and bloody death. Around nine o' clock p.m., a woman called in a report of a possible homicicde to the Harper Rock Police, after discovering the body of an unidentified man in a black 2012 Toyota Camry, right outside the building which houses the Harper Rock News. Police state that at this time the identity of the victim remains unknown. Police have also refused to release the name of the witness who made the emergency call to 911, and who police say is now under protective custody. Other witnesses on the scene provided graphic descriptions of wounds to the unknown man's throat, which may have resulted in his death.

Harper Rock Police representatives have stated they will do everything they can to find the killer. Other sources inside the department have stated that there are currently no leads, and that the case will more than likely be added to list of unsolved murders which seems to grow daily here in Harper Rock.

If you feel you may have information which could help identify the victim of this horrific attack, please call the number below.

The article is accompanied by two photographs, one showing the vehicle, and one showing the victim, still in his car, with his throat torn open.

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Doctors Puzzled Over Possible Outbreak

Several doctors in Harper Rock have recently questioned whether we are seeing a new strain of viral meningitis spreading through the Harper Rock community. Various medical clinics around town have seen a sharp increase of patients complaining of symptoms such as sore or stiff neck, lethargy, and dizziness. While symptoms in some patients have seemed to have cleared up within just a couple days, others have demonstrated chronic, or repeat, symptoms regardless of treatment. In some cases, these symptoms have abated for up to months at a time before mysteriously reappearing.

"It's really bizarre," said one doctor at Groom Memorial Hospital, who agreed to speak to the Harper Rock News on the condition that he remain anonymous. "This strain of meningitis, if that's what it is, is acting like nothing we've ever seen. The only thing which is consistent are the symptoms of stiffness or soreness of the neck, loss of energy, and occasional dizziness or lightheadedness. Otherwise, it seems to come and go from patients seemingly at random."

Further evidence that this is a relatively new strain of the virus is evidenced by the fact that documentation of these symptoms in Harper Rock only goes back about 3 to 4 years. In other words, before 2011, there was no evidence of this particular virus occurring in Harper Rock.

Some doctors have expressed concern that the virus could be related to the outbreak that has forced the government to quarantine the entire neighborhood of Gambondale. However, Dr. Jerry Fisk, who owns a free clinic in Newborough, disagrees with this prognosis. "Though both outbreaks seem to have occurred at the same time, I've seen patients with these relatively mild symptoms come and go. If it was in any way related to what is happening in the QZ, the whole city would be under government shutdown. Whatever this is, thankfully, it doesn't seem to go much beyond these symptoms."

Doctor's at Groom Memorial have meanwhile expressed confidence that with further case studies, they will be able to get to the bottom of Harper Rock's mystery virus.

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Drug Bust Results in Additional Injuries

A drug bust in a Stag Heath neighborhood, an area commonly know as among locals as "the slums," went from bad to worse last night when a witness to the crime was stabbed at the scene by an unknown assailant. Police were in the process of arresting Anthony "Crazy Legs" Faro, a drug dealer with known ties to the Lionelli crime family, when an altercation broke out between two men who were witnesses on the scene. At that point, police say, one of the combatants was stabbed in the stomach. His assailant fled and has not been apprehended at this time. The victim has been identified as Nesmith "Smithy" Johnson. Mr. Johnson is currently in stable condition at Harper Rock General Hospital. Police have placed an armed guard on his room, and one source within the Harper Rock Police Department has stated that Mr. Johnson has several oustanding warrants for breaking and entering and assault, and will be placed under police custody and arraigned when it is determined that he is well enough to stand trial.

Though the ultimate result of the stabbing was that another criminal has been identified and arrested by the HRPD, police representatives say they are disturbed by the possibility that this may been either vigilante justice or a retribution from a rival gang. Police have asked any other witnesses at the scene of last night's arrest to help identify Mr. Johnson's assailant, so that he may be brought to justice. Inquiries may be directed to the Harper Rock Police Department.

The article is accompanied by two photos. One is of a man being placed into the back of a police cruiser with the caption Anthony Faro is taken into custody by Harper Rock police officers. The other is a close up of a large, red-faced man, with the caption "Smithy" Johnson, moments before being stabbed by an uknown assailant.

[Mona McGee]

Day Of Chaos Remembered

Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, left, and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, right, were killed in unrelated attacks within days of each other in October 2014. A ceremony to mark a year since their deaths was held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa Thursday morning. (Canadian Press)

A crowd of about 2,000 people — including hundreds of soldiers, government officials and citizens — gathered at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa on Thursday to honor the two soldiers killed on their home soil last year, and to pay tribute to the families still adjusting to life without them and the first responders who stepped in to help.

"It's been one year. We continue to grieve, we continue to heal," said Gov. Gen. David Johnston in his speech to mark "a painful anniversary."



The killing of 24-year-old Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the memorial on Oct. 22, 2014, and the sounds and images of gunfire ringing through the halls of Centre Block as security staff and frightened parliamentarians raced through corridors, climbed out of windows and locked themselves in meeting rooms to escape the gunman, shocked the country and received media coverage worldwide.

Just two days earlier, 53-year-old Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was struck and killed in a targeted but unrelated hit and run in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

"We remember them, and we honor their service to Canada," Johnston said. "Their duty was to defend us and to bravely stand on guard for their country. Ours is to remember their sacrifice, and to remember why they served."

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Mysterious Plane Crash Located

Authorities have finally located the site a plane crash that was reported weeks ago by several witnesses in the Bullwood area. A small plane was said to have been seen descending into the woods outside of Harper Rock sometime around 9 p.m. on the night of October 2nd. Within twenty minutes of the plane crash, a second explosion was heard by bystanders coming from the vicinity of where the plane was said to have been seen passing below the tree line. Despite the fact that the crash was called in immediately by several witnesses. a source inside the Harper Rock Police Department has stated that they have been unable to organize a concentrated search effort up to this point due to limited resources within the department.

A Forest Service officer is said to have been the one to have finally located the wreckage of the plane yesterday afternoon and called it in to Harper Rock police. The plane has been identified as being a single engine model, probably a Piper Malibu. The wreckage is badly burned, and all identifying markings have been destroyed. No black box or other recording device was recovered from the wreckage. One body has been discovered at the scene. Police have stated that identification of the victim is impossible at this time due to the severity of burns and decomposition since the time of the crash, however they can verify that the victim was not the pilot of the plane, due to the fact that the body was securely strapped into the plane's passenger seat.

Harper Rock Police are asking that anyone with further information about the possible whereabouts of the plane's pilot please call the hotline number listed below.

The article is accompanied by two photos showing various pieces of plane wreckage that were recovered by the police.