MONTHLY JAMESTOWN GAZETTE
July 15, 10 NE

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the second issue of The Monthly Jamestown Gazette. This month, we've added several new regular columns to our newspaper, including a Letters to the Editor section, Birth Announcements, Engagement Announcements, an Alliance News Section, an expanded cartoon section, a crossword and puzzles section, a poetry section, and a Children's Jokes section. People from all over the Alliance are encouraged to submit their letters, jokes, puzzles, comic, classifieds*, poems, and announcements by post to:

Jamestown Gazette
Newspaper Office Box
Theater/Library, Museum
Jamestown, Virginia

* Please note that there is a nominal charge for classifieds of one round of ammunition per 50 words.

This month, Bailiff Andrew Davies returns as our illustrator and to contribute what will become his regular three-panel comic, "Jamestown Blues." Seaman Apprentice Bobby Kirkman also offers a new comic this month, "The Walking Dead," and we hope the comic section of the Gazettte will continue to grow. Assistant Tavern Manager Trisha Davies once again brings us her Gossip Column, and Sheriff Earl Carter provides the crime report. Kelly Coleman, our new foreign correspondent, brings us Alliance News. Yukimo Ito again provides us with her gorgeous handwriting in copying the gazette for circulation.

Volunteers to help Yukimo copy the paper, to help proofread drafts, and to help conduct interviews are solicited. Your reward for working on the paper is the satisfaction of knowing you contributed to the community, plus one free drink at Linda's Tavern to celebrate publication each month.

Sincerely,
Connie Alvarado
Editor and Chief Reporter

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

My husband Jerry and I enjoyed reading your paper in the Hilltop Library. We even read it aloud to our eldest child, who was mesmerized by news of this larger world beyond his own front door. I hope you continue to produce regular issues, and we'll look forward to reading each and every one. May I suggest you add a gardening column?

Sincerely,
Nabila Cooper, Hilltop

Dear Nabila,

Thank you for your kind words. We intend to continue producing the paper monthly. A gardening column is an excellent idea. Would you consider contributing one? If so, just mail it to the address in the "Letter from the Editor" section.

Sincerely,
The Editor

SUSAN LAWSON ACQUITTED OF MURDER
by Connie Alvarado, Editor and Chief Reporter
Court sketches by Bailiff Andrew Davies

In the most significant trial since the mutiny of 7 NE, on June 25, 10 NE, Susan Miller Lawson was acquitted of first-degree murder charges regarding the suspicious death of her late husband, retired Naval officer Jeffrey Lawson. The trial was a painstaking process, with two full days of jury selection followed by a multi-day trial and two more days of deliberation. "We were considering calling it a hung jury," Judge Annette Berringer told reporters, "but the jury did finally return a verdict."

In the wake of the trial, the acquitted has resumed her maiden name of Susan Miller. Ms. Miller reported that she was "relieved by the verdict and devastated to have been considered capable of such a heinous crime in the first place. I loved my husband very much, but God must have decided it was simply his time. The horror of that night, of having to put down the cannibal shell of my own husband, will forever live in my memory."

The case ignited controversy due to the reported mishandling of evidence by one of the sheriff's deputies. "The issue has been addressed," Sheriff Earl Carter told reporters, "and the deputy in question has been relieved of his position. New safeguards have been put in place for dealing with evidence in the future in the event of a death, no matter how innocent the appearances of that death. All deputies have received additional training on how to respond to such incidents in the future." When asked what he thought of the verdict, Sheriff Earl replied, "The jury has made its decision."

"Justice was done," defense attorney Jim Campbell declared. "The prosecutor's case was full of holes, and the handling of the evidence was faulty from the start. I'm pleased to see that the citizens of Jamestown did not allow a miscarriage of justice to occur."

Prosecutor Marc Washington was understandably less enthusiastic about the verdict. "I think we presented an excellent case, given the circumstances," he told reporters. "Although I might not agree with the verdict, the process was allowed to operate according to law, and everyone involved in the trial did their jobs to the best of their ability. Every man and woman must have his or her day in court."

Word on the street remains divided. "She got off scot free!" Seaman Jeffrey Reedus exclaimed. "We've got a black widow living in our midst. I wouldn't go to sleep around her." Ensign Norman Lincoln agreed: "I don't care how long a man has gone without the comforts of a woman. Any man who responds to her classified ad has a death wish."

Others felt Ms. Miller was falsely accused. "She's not an unattractive woman," fisherman Scott Hurst noted, "but she's very ordinary looking, over fifty, and, well, in the movies, black widows are always…well, you know…voluptuous. I can't see her just blowing a hole through her husband's chest. And I can't blame her if she wants a little companionship soon after her husband died. It's a lonely world. I might be willing to buy her a drink myself and help her celebrate that acquittal."

Others remained more skeptical. "I don't know," said farmhand and young mother Olivia Myers. "I think it must have been a very hard decision for a jury. I don't know if she did it or not. But having to sentence someone to death or banishment without being absolutely certain they did? I certainly couldn't do it."

NEW COUNCIL ELECTED
by Kaitlyn Conner, Cub Reporter

Jamestown's fourth annual council elections were held on July 1, 10 NE. The Jamestown Council was created after the Mutiny of 7 NE, when a transition council was elected to serve temporarily and draft a new charter for the town before the first annual elections were held in July of 7 NE. Currently, according to the latest adopted rules, council members may serve a total of eight, one-year terms, while the mayor, who is chosen from among the elected council members, may serve a total of four, one-year terms.

This year, citizens of Jamestown had the opportunity to choose from a slate of twelve candidates. While Jamestown has a history of favoring incumbents in council elections, there was a surprise upset this year. Town veterinarian Dr. Carolyn Taylor, who has served on the council since the transition, lost her seat this election. This upset, along with the decision of incumbents Farm Manager Gunther Hamilton, Deputy Thomas Mayfield, and Commander Witherspoon not to run again, left room for two brand new members, who are serving their very first terms. The new council consists of the following nine members:

Garland Bennett Barron (4th consecutive term, not counting the transition)
Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad (4th consecutive term, not counting the transition)
Deputy Carol Dixon (3rd consecutive term)
Shannon Barron (2nd non-consecutive term)
Captain Arnold McBride (2nd consecutive term)
Building Manager Inola Chotka Smith (2nd non-consecutive term)
Madame Linda Cartwright (2nd consecutive term)
Lieutenant-Commander Carlos Alvarado (1st term)
Assistant Farm Manager Raul Dominguez (1st term)

"I think people want diversity on the council," said head miner Roger Murdoch, who has been spearheading the lithium mining project. "We don't need three medical professionals. Ibrahim's a doctor, Raul's an apothecary – we don't need a veterinarian, too. And Carolyn's been on the council a long time now. A little change was in order. Now we've got a doctor, a deputy, a gardener, a builder, two navy men, an ex-sheriff, a businesswoman, and an assistant farm manager who's also an apothecary. All an all, a fine, diverse slate, I'd say. Now if we could just get a miner on there."

"I'm kind of surprise Raul made the cut," beekeeper Timothy Cohan said. "The boy's a hard worker, no question. A jack of all trades, really. I supposed he'd make a fine councilman. But he's gone away to the Hilltop one-third of the year. What if a big issue comes up while he's gone? And it's a damn shame Gunther Hamilton stepped down. He's always around, and he knows his farming. Raul's just an assistant. We need the farm manager on there! I don't know what Gunther was thinking, stepping down. Did he really think his wife would win a seat if he did? Well, she didn't."

Others disagreed. "Raul's thoughtful and self-disciplined," said Deputy Santiago Dominguez. "He may only be in his early twenties, but he has experience well beyond his years. He'll be a much-needed fresh voice on that Council, someone with his finger on the pulse of the younger generation. And he's at least as smart as his father."

Some citizens expressed concern that two members of the Barron family were elected to the council. "We don't want a family dynasty in Jamestown," Ensign Chandler Morgan insisted. "That's not what we're about. This isn't the Kingdom, which – I might add – collapsed."

Others were more favorable to the election of the husband-wife team. "Look," said farmhand Seth McDermitt, "Garland's one of the most competent men in Jamestown. Everyone knows that. Jamestown wouldn't have made it after the Mutiny of 7 NE if not for his leadership. Everything would have gone to – excuse my French, can you print this? Shit. Everything would have gone to shit without him. There was no question he was going to be reelected. And Shannon, well, she's gorgeous. I mean not that that's why I voted for her, mind you! It's just…she did a good job during that one other term she served. She understands people, you know? She gets them. When you go to an open town hall meeting, she listens to you. Even when she's voting against what you applied for, it's like she gets you. And her kids are what? Five and three now? Almost three? It's not like she has a baby to wrestle at home anymore. So…yeah. I think it's fine."

Daycare manager and part-time preschool teacher Sherry Amelio commented on the demographic make-up of the council: "It seems more balanced between men and women now. Four women, five men." Fisherman Sean Bernthal disagreed, "Jamestown is sixty-five percent men. The council shouldn't be fifty percent women. Forty-five percent women? Forty-whatever percent women. Whatever. It's out of whack."

The Fourth Jamestown Council was officially installed on July 3. The Jamestown Council is the primary body responsible for reviewing and adopting changes to the charter, entering or exiting alliances, drafting and approving treaties, maintaining and reviewing the communal inventory, allotting rations, setting schedules for use of common areas, approving expeditions, assigning and re-assigning jobs, reviewing housing requests, developing guidelines, overseeing the security of Jamestown, and, if necessary, declaring war. The Council also appoints, as needed, the farm manager, fishing manager, construction manager, head judge, the captain of the Jamestown Navy, and the sheriff.

"There's a lot of work ahead of us," councilwoman and deputy Carol Dixon said. "And I'm looking forward to a productive year of growth for our great town."

GARLAND BARRON RE-ELECTED MAYOR
by Connie Alvarado, Editor and Chief Reporter

On July 2, Garland Bennett Barron was re-elected mayor of Jamestown for his fourth and final term. Mayor Barron first joined the Jamestown Council in May of 7 NE, when it was still in its transition phase. At that time, he was elected chairman by a unanimous vote of the mayor's position was created in July of 7 NE, and Mr. Barron became the first person to serve as mayor of Jamestown under the new charter.

According to the Jamestown Charter, a mayor can serve a total of only four, one-year terms, and so Mr. Barron will not be seeking re-election next year. "I might still seek a term on the council, however," Garland Barron told reporters. Council members may serve up to eight terms. "I haven't decided yet."

The mayor is charged with numerous detailed duties, and to help him with that task, he appoints a lieutenant mayor. This year, Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad was appointed to the position. He replaces former Lieutenant Mayor Carol Dixon.

When asked how she felt about the displacement, Deputy Dixon replied, "Garland approached me privately about his decision prior to the appointment and explained his reasons for the selection. I understand his rationale, and I'm grateful for the opportunity I received last year to learn the ropes. I feel confident that if I am elected at some future day to the position of mayor, I'll be well equipped to handle my responsibilities."

When asked about his selection, Mayor Barron replied, "So far, only three people have expressed interest in running for mayor at a future date – Dr. Ahmad, Dr. Taylor, and Deputy Dixon. Dr. Taylor was not re-elected to the council this year, so naturally I couldn't appoint her. Deputy Dixon has already served a term as lieutenant mayor. So I thought was important to give Dr. Ahmad an opportunity. That way, whichever one of them is elected next year will have had adequate experience and training in the job that they'll assume. Of course," Mayor Barron hastened, "anyone who is elected to the council may run for mayor next year, whether or not he or she has served as a lieutenant mayor."

The rest of the council members, when interviewed about whehter they would consider throwing their hat in the ring for mayor next year, were noncommittal. "This is my first term," the handsome Lieutenant-Commander Carlos Alvarado told this reporter. "We'll see how it goes."