Missing Pumpkin "No Longer Funny"

Where is he?

Jackson, NH – More than 5 days after papers were filed declaring Longfellow (the unofficial mayor of Jackson’s Pumpkin People) officially missing, friends and investigators have turned up little evidence to aid in the speedy return of the celebrated figure to his native New England village.
Lodge Lady Cathi Belcher, one of the owners of the family owned Lodge at Jackson Village, was understandably upset over the disappearance of the long-time Lodge resident. Belcher said she had ‘little to go on’ in the mystery of his inexplicable disappearance.”

“He’s always so happy, he is a breath of fresh air to all who know him,” Belcher lamented. Although she didn’t rule it out entirely, Belcher said she did not believe there was any foul play involved. “There isn’t a hardened criminal alive who would ever hurt a hair on his head,” she said. “He does have a darker side, though, especially as autumn’s end approaches, but No, he would never go off without telling us unless it was for a really good reason.”

Chamber of Produce Director Kathleen M. was still in shock and couldn’t be reached for comment, but the Chamber’s website has posted an all-out Pumpkin Alert as well as a Hotline open for anyone with information of his whereabouts. The pumpkin Police Chief has reiterated for the record that ‘Harboring a pumpkin on the run during an active investigation is a criminal offense.” He raised the Situation to “Orange” considering the severity of the situation.

“I know some people think this is funny,” lamented the visibly distraught Lodge Lady, alluding to some of the cruder comments she’s heard around town. “A stranger even came up to me in the grocery store the other day, and with a wicked grin asked me if I’d had any good pumpkin pie yet this year.”

“That’s just plain mean. We really miss him terribly. I just want him to come home.”

Former (retired) Fish and Game chief Henry Mock of Jackson had the first encouraging news to date. “This isn’t the first time a Pumpkin Person has gone missing,” he said. “I remember back in 1997, one disappeared for the better part of 3 weeks. It turned out he was actually down at the local cider mill, doing some “research” on a keg of hard cider. I have every reason to hope that this crisis will also have a happy ending.”

If anyone catches a glimpse of Longfellow, please take a photo of him for official verification and email it to: Longfellow@ilovethelodge.com. His friends and relatives in Jackson need him home by October 1st.