Free Republic

LOCHIEL, Ariz. - Members of an armed citizens patrol seized about 280 pounds of marijuana Tuesday and Wednesday from smugglers crossing a ranch owned by The Nature Conservancy. About 13 volunteers for the group, called Ranch Rescue, have been working near Lochiel since Saturday in their first mission aimed at surveillance, rather than cleanups at border-area ranches. An official of The Nature Conservancy said Wednesday night the group was unaware Ranch Rescue members had been operating on the San Antonio Ranch, about 65 miles south of Tucson. Tom Collazo, the director of conservation for the conservancy's Arizona branch, said the...

Newspaper carrier kills gunman at Birmingham store The Associated Press 10/8/02 1:50 PM BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- A newspaper carrier filling racks at a convenience store became a hero to the clerk by gunning down a robber who had put a shotgun to the clerk's head. Sam Harper, 43, was filling racks with Monday's edition of The Birmingham News when he saw a man put on a wig, burst into the store screaming and aim a shotgun only inches away from clerk Tom Burtnett. Harper grabbed his gun, went inside and fired. "I just reacted," Harper said. "It was total...