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(This news release for straylake.com was e-mailed and snailed to web sites and news outlets around the world. Please note that it not only calls attention to straylake.com. but also offers writers and reporters several ideas for feature stories.) Beer shortage looms in Stray Lake Bob Markwalter webmaster@straylake.com June 19, 2001 For immediate release Patrons of the Tipple Time tavern in Stray Lake are being urged to conserve beer until more breweries can be constructed to alleviate the shortage of suds in the city, and municipal employees have been ordered to cut their lunchtime consumption of booze by 50 per cent. This latest crisis in the mythical town will be met as usual by its citizens - with inanity designed to bring a laugh to readers of the Stray Lake Signal-Gazette, an on line newspaper of humor and satire. Created and designed by freelance writer Bob Markwalter, www.straylake.com chronicles the misadventures of a town that has alternating mayors, Blue the dog and Leroy Wertzbrimmer (the candidates finished in a dead heat and saw no reason for a recount). It is a place where the cloud that hangs over the sewage lagoon peels the paint from passing cars, the local university may call graduation on account of having no one eligible, and the Rev. Elijah Motorlips manages to sprain his tongue during a revival at the Candle Creek Church of the Freewheeling Apostles. Modeled loosely on "Run That By Me Again," a humor column Markwalter has written for more than 30 years, the Stray Lake Signal-Gazette is in its 16th month of publication. Markwalter writes all the stories for the paper, but said he has no trouble finding ideas. "I grew up in a small town where an eccentric character or situation seemed to lurk around every corner," he explained. "Stray Lake is just an exaggeration of that place. The people in Stray Lake try to get it right, but something always comes up. Take the time the parrot that was scheduled to testify in a lawsuit was instead served to the jurors for dinner. How did the chef know he was frying a material witness?" Markwalter said stories in the Signal-Gazette are often based on news and events from the wider world, but are never politically biased. "I hope there is some bite to the satire in the Signal-Gazette, but I try to be an equal opportunity thorn-in-the-side," he added. "So when the race for president came to a close with the candidates running neck and neck, the Signal-Gazette carried a column headlined, 'Race for village idiot too close to call.' Come to think of it, why do we use the same phrases to describe horse races and elections? Then again, maybe we'd better not go there." The people in Stray Lake include Lou, the bartender at the Tipple Time, where most of the town seems to gather at one time or another. "Lou is an amalgam of the bartenders I've known," Markwalter said. "He doesn't have much to say, but what he says usually has some sort of edge to it. I also like Juan de Fuca, the chef at the Tipple Time. His specialty is fried buzzard wings, and he has plans to open Juan's Wings franchises. One could be coming to a neighborhood near you." Markwalter concluded, "I hope the people who visit www.straylake.com have fun there, because I have fun doing it." (Most of the stories mentioned in this release can be found at www.straylake.com/releasestories.html) (This letter is one piece of a tri-fold brochure created for a dinner that is part fund-raiser, part honors banquet, and the place where this organization annually distributes funds. The brochure has gone into the mail to attract donors who will sponsor tables at the banquet.) Dear Friend, Great accomplishments start with dreams - and dreams are brought to fulfillment by unswerving dedication, preparation and plain hard work. Rudy Ruettiger has dreamed dreams and made them reality. In the process, he's shown us how we can make a difference in the lives of people everywhere. Rudy will be sharing his message of hope, determination and inspiration at the Smith Family Foundation's third annual Celebration of Champions tribute dinner. We urge you to join us as we honor individuals who have had an extraordinary impact on the lives of young people. When I founded the Smith Family Foundation five years ago, my dream was to encourage young people to be of service to others. I wanted them to discover the truth of our foundation's motto: "The Secret of Living is Giving." I've worked hard to make that dream come true and have been blessed with the help of my family and many friends. I've also learned anew the truth of that maxim, "Together we can move mountains." The people we will be honoring at the Celebration of Champions are "mountain movers." By being a part of this special evening, you will let them know you recognize they have made a difference in the lives of young people, and have encouraged those young people to do the same for others. This cycle of service is as old as time, as full of hope as the face of a trusting child, and bounded only by the dimensions of our dreams. Our mission at the Smith Family Foundation is to serve youth around the world. That's a tall order. But as Rudy advises, you have to dream big. We've made a good start at making a reality of our dream, of encouraging service, kindness, thought for others - in short: promoting Christian values. We have more work to do, of course, for so many young people are in desperate need of a beacon in the darkness of their lives. We hope you'll become a part of that work by joining us on September 25th. I look forward to seeing you. Sincerely, Gale E. Smith Founder and CEO (This is a short, straightforward piece designed to one of a number of articles in a collection that covers a larger geographic region.) Muskatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, on the Muskatatuck River just three miles from busy Interstate 65 midway between Indianapolis and Louisville, is a "continentally important" bird area where over 280 species have been seen. The 7,724-acre refuge is also home to a variety of other wildlife including white-tailed deer, raccoon, turkey, the rare (and harmless) copperbelly water snake, and river otters. Waterfowl seen regularly at Muskatatuck include wood ducks, Canada geese, great blue herons, great egrets, blue-wing teal, ospreys, cormorants, and sandhill cranes. Tundra swans and bald eagles are occasionally seen in winter, and a variety of year-round and migratory songbirds may be observed. The refuge has nine miles of road, and self-guided tour maps are available. There are eight hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty, the longest about four miles. The half-mile Chestnut Ridge Interpretive Trail is accessible to the physically challenged. The Myers Cabin and Barn, which were built about 1900, have been restored to give visitors an idea of what life was like near the river before the area became Indiana's first National Wildlife Refuge in 1966. The 78-acre Restle Unit of the refuge, north of Bloomington and about an hour from Muskatatuck, was dedicated in 1992. The Restle Unit is flanked by the Bean Blossom Bottoms Nature Preserve and the Restle Natural Area, both of which are owned by the Sycamore Land Trust. Endangered or threatened species which have been seen in the Restle Unit include the bald eagle, osprey, northern harrier, black crowned night heron, black tern, great egret, and crawfish frog. The unit is not open to the public but there is a public observation deck overlooking it. Muskatatuck National Wildlife Refuge is three miles east of the junction of U.S. 50 and I-65 on U.S. 50. The refuge is open seven days a week, sunrise to sunset, except during a controlled deer hunt in December and January when hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no admission fee. A visitors center near the refuge entrance offers interpretive pamphlets, information from volunteer staffers, and has a gift shop and one-way-glassed songbird viewing room with speakers connected to microphones placed outside. In addition to the controlled deer hunt, rabbit and quail hunting, and fishing, are permitted in-season in parts of the refuge. Some areas are open only to fishing and hunting activities. Horseback riding and bicycling are permitted except on hiking trails. Off-road vehicle use is prohibited. Camping, fires, and swimming are also not allowed. Several motels and a number of restaurants may be found at the junction of I-65 and U.S. 50 in Seymour. Camping is available about 20 miles from the refuge at the Muskatatuck County Park in North Vernon and the Starve Hollow Recreation Area in Brownstown. Contact information: Muskatatuck National Wildlife Refuge 12985 E. U.S. Hwy. 50 Seymour, IN 47274 Phone: (812) 522-4352 Fax: (812) 522-6826 E-Mail: R3RW_MSC@fws.gov Web site: http://midwest.fws.gov/Muscatatuck/ (These are a few short biographies that were part of the brochure mentioned above. The trick in this situation is usually to decide what to leave out, while being sure to include the essentials and keep the subjects happy. I have included a longer piece about the dinner's featured speaker, Danny Glover, to indicate how to work with a bit more space. All the biographies appeared in the brochure accompanied by pictures.) Danny Glover is known as a versatile screen actor, but he has worn director's and producer's hats, worked on stage and in television, and works for a variety of causes around the world. He speaks regularly to young people about the value of education and self-determination, supports and is a spokesman for literacy programs, and promotes human rights issues and economic development in Africa and the Caribbean. He has served on the board of Amnesty International, and is a supporter of numerous arts organizations. Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz is a tireless spokesman for families, community, and Christian values, and a fund raiser for worthy causes. His many NFL achievements and awards are matched by such community recognition as the Forty-Second Annual Ohio Governor's Awards for improving the quality of life for all Ohioans. He speaks regularly to high school students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, has assisted Christian missions to Mexico, and works with City Cure, an inner-city ministry. Walter E. Williams is perhaps best known for his syndicated newspaper column, but he is also Chairman of the Economics Department at George Mason University, the author of six books, and has written over 80 articles for both scholarly reviews and popular magazines. He has made scores of radio and television appearances, is an occasional substitute host for the "Rush Limbaugh" show, frequently gives testimony on policy issues before congressional committees, and has received numerous fellowships and awards. C. Dean Gregory entered his family's business at age 12, as a busboy and dishwasher at the Montgomery Inn. Today, as managing partner of the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, he says his duties still include bussing tables and washing dishes, but he also finds time for his family's tradition of community involvement. A 1999 recipient of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Tiffany Award, his community activities include the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation, American Cancer Society, and Childrens Hospital. Danny Glover's interests as an artist are as wide-ranging as the geography of his commitments to humanitarian causes. He has worked in stage, screen, and television as actor, producer, and director. He serves on the board and is a spokesperson for the Walden House, a drug rehabilitation center in his hometown of San Francisco. He serves as the first Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program, which focuses on eradicating poverty, regenerating the environment, creating jobs, and advancing the rights of women. And he finds time to read the poetry of Langston Hughes in "An Evening with Langston and Martin," a two man stage production with actor Felix Justice reading from the works of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Glover's long list of film credits includes Places in the Heart, the Lethal Weapons series, Beloved, The Color Purple, and To Sleep With Anger, for which he was also executive producer. He trained at the Black Actors Workshop of the American Conservatory Theatre, and has appeared in numerous stage productions, including Master Harold and the Boys. He has also been executive producer of several HBO films, including Buffalo Soldiers. Glover has won two NAACP Image Awards, three Cable ACER awards, an Emmy nomination, and is a member of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. He is also vitally interested in helping young people rid themselves of addictions, stay out of gangs and prison, and is a powerful spokesperson for literacy, education, and self-determination. He has served as spokesperson for the Coors Literacy Program and the VISA "Read Me a Story" campaign. He also works with the Transafrica Forum, which promotes the advancement of human rights and sustained economic development in Africa and the Caribbean, and he has served on the boards of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Glover also finds time to support many nonprofit visual and performing arts organizations and institutions of higher learning, and is currently on the boards of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame and the Robey Theatre Company. He has been Artist-in-Residence at New York University and has made numerous appearances at universities and colleges across the country. Since graduating from Franklin College of Indiana in 1968 with a BA in History & Political Science with a minor in Journalism, I have been a self-employed writer and editor. My credits include newspaper reporting, editing, composition, and column writing; public relations consulting and writing; business writing; advertising copywriting; television documentary writing and production; and web site design, construction, and content. I am experienced in Adobe Publisher, Quark Express, Newsedit Pro, Paint Shop Pro, and Homesite (an HTML editor). References are available on request. |