Art Weathers was found dead by Chief Burley this morning at Walden Pond, victim of an apparent freak accident.  According to the Chief, “I thought I would drive out there this morning and talk to Art about the beaver dam.  I don’t have any jurisdiction on his property, but I was hoping to convince him to leave it alone for awhile.  Some of the townspeople were getting too riled up.  As I walked up to the pond I could see that a big tree had fallen on Art’s backhoe, so I assumed he wasn’t there.  When I got closer I saw that Art was in the driver’s seat and was crushed by the tree.  Immediately I called for the paramedics, and they got there as fast as they could but there was nothing they could do.”

“While the paramedics were taking care of him, I walked around the pond looking for whatever I could find.  The fallen tree had been chewed down by beavers.  Their teeth marks were clear on the stump.  It was weird.  Art wanted to destroy the beaver dam, and the beavers got him.  I know that beavers are just beavers and this was a freak accident, but it gave me a chill anyway.”

Art is survived by his son John and two grandchildren, Susan and John, Jr.  Funeral arrangements will be announced later in the week.