Famous Rooster Missing - Fowl Play Suspected

Mo, a one-year-old buff-white rooster residing in Marathon's Old Town district is missing a presumed dead. Mo recently received national notoriety when featured in the Associated Content article entitled "How to Stop a Rooster from Crowing". Mo's human, Jimbo noticed Mo's absence on Friday, January 5^th. An Old Town-wide search for the famed rooster has failed to provided any leads into the cause of the disappearance. Rumors of fowl play have caused a group of local citizens to band together in an effort to find the truth behind Mo's disappearance.

The, Citizens offering chickens kindness society (COCKS) is being formed with their rumored motto to be, "Nobody licks our COCKS". COCKS, is planning a 24-hour boycott of Dion's Quik Chik fried chicken to highlight their cause. During the boycott, "I like cocks", buttons will be passed out to new members in exchange for a small donation to the friends of Mo committee.

While roosters have special protected status in Key West, they do not have the same legal protection in Marathon. The large outpouring of sympathy to Jimbo and a scheduled 5:00 AM candlelight vigil is helping bring sorely needed attention to the plight of Marathon roosters. The vigil will be held tomorrow morning behind the former Old China restaurant in Old Town.

While Mo was a neighborhood icon, he did have individuals in the area that very jealous of his crowing ability and procreative talents. One suspect is being watched closely by Jimbo and the COCK society, but has yet to tip his hand. Tensions in the small Old Town neighborhood are high. Hopefully this incident will not develop into a full-scale free-range war.

Citron, the previous head rooster of the neighborhood, before being displaced by Mo was asked to comment. Citron declined comment having nothing to crow about. Citron, who has been living in Big Pine Key for the last six months and is not considered a suspect in the disappearance.

Mo was a fine example of Cock-dom and a credit to roosters everywhere. Due to several raccoon attacks, Mo's devoted hen JB, and twenty offspring passed last summer. Daughter Bo, son Joe and his close friend and human Jimbo survive Mo. If you have any information that may lead to the arrest and conviction of Mo's kidnapper/murderer, please contact COCKS, Old Town Marathon. All information will be keep confidential. The friends of Mo are raising a small reward fund through donations.