Last week was beyond weird. The public clamor for stories and photos about the mystery creature in Turner was so intense, the Sun Journal Web site couldn’t keep up and crashed. The switchboard was busy with media requests from around the world, and researchers and experts in all things mysterious kept up a steady stream of offers to help identify the beast.

As the week wore on, interest intensified.

There’s a local group that regularly gathers to hunt these creatures across the state. They’ve never been successful in their hunt, but do report seeing animals with glowing eyes in Maine’s woods.

People report seeing a blonde creature in Poland very similar to the one photographed by Michelle O’Donnell. If there’s two, there’s probably more.

On Saturday, a group of people had planned to search the woods for whatever skull remained of the beast in an attempt to sell it on eBay. The closest place that sells dry ice is Elm Ice and Oil in Falmouth – hope they stocked up before the search.

London’s BBC called for a live radio chat at 10 a.m. Friday, seeking a detailed description of what the Brits have concluded is a dog-rat mix.

“Do they have mates?”

“Do they have babies?”

“How many animals has the monster killed?”

BBC DJ Danny Kelly was full of questions and commentary.

“If you type in ‘monster’ and ‘Maine’ you get thousands of images. I must say, this is the ugliest creature I’ve ever seen in the United States, next to your president, that is,” said Kelly.

Oh, those Brits and their cutting humor.

– Judith Meyer
Merchandising the beast?

Admit it. All week, you’ve been calling friends around the country to brag about the mystery creature stalking the Maine woods. You love that dead, unidentified beast and you want a way to celebrate it. Put away those thoughts of getting a tattoo, friend. There’s an easier way.

A graphic artist in Ventura, Calif., has designed a logo in honor of the “Maine Mutant” after following the story from across the country. Now, you can proudly display your adoration for the infamous critter. You can get his drooling, tongue hanging, eye-popping image on a coffee mug or on a T-shirt in a variety of colors.

Artist Mike Lemos said he was inspired to come up with a depiction of the creature after learning about it through a cryptozoology Web site. Order one now for friends and family and get your Christmas shopping done early. Few things will delight that special someone in your life like the face of a snarling beast.

http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?sid=45742

– Mark Laflamme
Devil dog, in prose

Larry Bisbee took his creativity in finding talented people from all over the state and used it to write a poem taken straight from the headlines.

“Turner Nights” pokes fun at the hoopla surrounding the discovery of the unknown animal found by the side of Route 4 last weekend: Part of the poem goes:

“With claws like ‘Horns of the Devil’

eyes with a burning glow

when you’re traveling down to Turner boys,

you’d better not go slow…

Yes, kids are locking doors

Curling up with fright

‘Cause vicious eyes are glowing

During Turner nights…

‘Cause there’s a momma and a poppa

maybe even more

Still crossin’ there at twilight

Right there on Ol’ Route 4….

Bisbee, operator and promoter of Countryfolk Music Theatre in East Dixfield, has even greater plans for his 13-stanza poem. He hopes to set it to music to the tune of, or close to, “The Werewolves of London.”

– Eileen Adams
Another Eretzian

The Auburn School Department is hiring a new math teacher at Edward Little High School with a familiar last name: Tara Eretzian.

Tara is the daughter of Barbara and David Eretzian of Turner, both educators.

Barbara is Auburn’s school superintendent who started her career as a teacher. David is the longtime principal of Franklin Alternative School.

Tara graduated from Plymouth State College in 2001. She’s held several positions in Auburn schools, including working as a special education technician and coaching in track and field, and skiing.

– Bonnie Washuk
Brittany’s ‘warm fuzzies’

While at Camp Susan Curtis last week, Brittany Mitchell, 11, of New Vineyard, gave me a furry little ball with eyes and wings.

“It’s a warm fuzzy,” she said.

“You give warm fuzzies to people and give them a compliment. I think you look very pretty today,” she said while placing the warm fuzzy in my hand.

Brittany then told of the warm fuzzy legend. A long time ago in a valley people lived happily.

“They didn’t need televisions, radios, CD players to be happy. They all had warm fuzzies and had a bag to carry them in,” Brittany said. They gave out warm fuzzies and compliments often to people. “They were nice to each other.”

One day a wicked witch came to the valley and changed that. The witch warned the villagers if they gave their warm fuzzies away, they’d have none for themselves. People started avoiding each other so they could keep their warm fuzzies.

The giving stopped.

Generations later a great-great-grandmother told children about warm fuzzies. “They looked around and found some still alive,” Brittany said. They started giving them out. “Now the tradition lives on.”

The moral of the story, Brittany said, is: “You should always be caring, giving compliments and helping people to be happy.”

– Bonnie Washuk

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