Go ask Alice: wildlife has taken over

This column does not actually entail the exploits of the sports world but it does elaborate on some very strange events that have been taking place right here in our neighborhood located in the suburbs of our home in Hermitage.

Perhaps some of these oddities have occurred in the neighborhood of some of our friends. If so, please keep them to yourself as I have enough trouble keeping up with my own problems and strange events.

It all started quite a few years back with a turkey named “Harry,” a supposedly wild turkey who continually harassed the citizens of our street.

Harry would stop traffic on the road, just stand there until the drivers would stop their autos while he inspected the car from top to bottom before he would move on.

He was seen poking his head into the back seat of cars while the women were unloading groceries in the driveway. Then, to top things off, he would even fly up on the window sills of homes and take a peek to see just what was going on. He was what they called a “Peeping Tom”.

Bowling nights

That’s what they said about Harry. So after that one, we had a bout with those brazen squirrels who made a habit of going bowling almost every night on our roof which is located just over our bedroom.

Do you know what it’s like to lie awake at night waiting for the next ball to be rolled down the alley? And people used to say how cute they were.

They never had to get up in the wee hours of the morning and drive 35 miles to work each day. Did they?

If they did, I’m quite sure the squirrels wouldn’t look so cute any more. I have second thoughts now when I see that television commercial where the two squirrels are giving it the old “high five” after dodging the tire of an auto on the highway.

Not all of the neighborhood happenings have been frustrating.

Pride and joy

One that was pure enjoyment was made by “Pete” the snow-white bunny who appeared one afternoon in the front yard when I returned home from work.

Now Pete and I became great friends. Every day I returned home from work, I would give Pete a call and he would come out of the woods and run right up to me. Often times, he would sit on my shoes.

So I would head into the house and get him some carrots. It got to be that when I came home, I didn’t have to call him anymore, he was there waiting for me. When friends would stop by the house, I would ask them, “Want to see a white bunny?”

They were shocked when Pete would come out of the woods and sprint right up to me.

This routine lasted for about two years before Pete disappeared, never to be seen again.

I also thought that Pete had been dropped from an auto and the owner no longer wanted to keep him.

Wacko Woodpecker

So this brings us up to another charming dilemma in the suburbs of Hermitage. I call this one the case of the “Wacko Woodpecker.” This guy is a downy woodpecker who thinks he’s some kind of a musician, maybe a drummer.

I was working in the garden earlier this year when I heard this awful strange sound noise coming from near the house. It sounded like one of my neighbors, Matt, trying to unsuccessfully get his lawnmower started. A short time later, I walked towards the house and the noise became much more distinct.

I looked upward and there on my television antenna was this wacko woodpecker pecking away with the beat of a symphonic orchestra. I bet his beak was blunt after that session, however, for several days now I can pick up his music from other antennas in the surrounding homes. He thinks he’s good. I think his routine is better than bowling balls rolling down the roof.

I’ll keep you informed of any more wildlife wonders that take place in the neighborhood. There’s bound to be others.

Weaver’s back

Scott Weaver had served as basketball coach at Reynolds High School from 1990 to 1998.

Well, he’s back in his former position now and anxious to get started.

The former Raiders coach was recently named to the post at a recent meeting of the school board.

Weaver takes over for Jeff Gibson, who resigned after leading the Raiders to back-to-back winning seasons, including a 16-8 mark last winter.