By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Beloved pup's fate in Iraq becomes international cause
Army Sgt. Gwen Beberg isn't having an easy year in Iraq. When the Spring Lake Park, Minn. native bonded with an abandoned puppy found whimpering in a burning trash heap in Baghdad, she wanted to make sure the black-and-white mutt named Ratchet made it home with her.
In the shadow of nation's largest mall, a wildlife refuge
Every evening, deer come out of the woods and knock the bird feeders outside Charlie Blair's office off their stands so they can eat sunflower seeds. A wild tom turkey has been hanging around, too, preening and attacking his reflection in the window.
