In this week's episode Montana puts on her forest ranger hat, and tells us all about the origin of Smokey Bear. Sadly, it isn't all just catchy slogans and cute cartoon bears. There's war and burned animals that helped create the longest running public service announcement campaign in United States history. Only you can prevent wildfires, so be careful when you smoke this week's cocktail.

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Bear

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitan_Gap_Fire

https://danr.sd.gov/Conservation/docs/Education/history-of-smokeybear.pdf

https://siarchives.si.edu/history/featured-topics/pictures/smokey-bear

https://www.stateforesters.org/smokey-bear/

https://foresthistory.org/research-explore/us-forest-service-history/policy-and-law/fire-u-s-forest-service/smokey-bear/

https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/idc015901.pdf

https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2019/12/31/how-tribal-fire-crew-rescued-real-smokey-bear

This week the Gals bring you their monthly unsolved cases. Samantha covers a case that could potentially be solved already, Montana covers the disappearance of Asha Degree, a 9 year old who went missing from her home in the middle of the night.

Resources:

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/asha-degree-missing-child-investigation-combined-reward-fbi-cleveland-county-sheriff/275-c3b47b5e-b533-48a8-8b80-a61ef6bbc54c

https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/fbi-charlotte-search-for-asha-021324.mp4/view

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Asha_Degree

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/20th-anniversary-of-asha-degree-disappearance-021420

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article219720915.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20180815033502/https://jetmag.com/news/iquilla-degree-where-is-my-daughter/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/asha-degree

https://www.wnct.com/on-your-side/crime-tracker/cold-case-files/cold-case-files-the-disappearance-of-asha-degree/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/north-carolina-asha-degree-disappearance_n_66031499e4b006c3905722ca

https://web.archive.org/web/20050211091418/http:/shelbystar.com/news2001/_disc4/00000ff3.htm

https://www.wcnc.com/video/news/crime/authorities-make-significant-progress-in-the-search-for-asha-degree/275-bbe1ebee-2530-4d4d-80d7-1f13722426ea

Come one! Come all! to the amazing world of Reaper Tales. This week we bring you those who can walk on the ceiling, inside horses, and a lot of fires for some reason. Grab your roasted peanuts and cotton candy and settle in to hear all about the history of the circus.

Resources:

http://www.historyofcircus.com/#google_vignette

https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-story-of-circus?srsltid=AfmBOooNAGMHLSdlWcKYOxkrMXs3qv1RkEUAstLy_EFdLGxQtjXSnY0_#slideshow=58613815&slide=0

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/americas-big-circus-spectacular-has-long-and-cherished-history-180962621/

https://www.theatreinparis.com/blog/the-evolution-of-the-circus

https://circushalloffame.com/history-of-the-circus/

http://www.circopedia.org/Giuseppe_Chiarini

In this weeks episode the gals each bring a very different amusement park to talk about. One seems to be cursed to never truly open again. While the other may be haunted by it's tragic past. Hope you like heights, and steer clear of the cold swing in the park.

Resources:

https://www.wvlakeshawnee.com/faq/history/

https://visitmercercounty.com/places/lake-shawnee/

http://lostamusementparks.napha.org/Articles/WestVirginia/Lake%20Shawne%20Amusement%20Park.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/FAQ_Answers-g59480-d12311371-t6139346-Has_anybody_actually_gotten_good_evidence_that.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Town_Village

https://www.wltx.com/article/features/ghost-town-maggie-valley-north-carolina/101-799ee85d-28d5-4c06-a092-84cf18eada81

https://screamscape.com/html/ghost_town_in_the_sky.htm

In this week's episode Montana tells us about the wrongful conviction of Marcellus Williams. A man who is scheduled to be put to death on September 24, 2024. Please go to the first link in our resources to sign the petition to stop this execution.

Resources:

https://innocenceproject.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-marcellus-williams-an-innocent-man/

https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-27/how-overzealous-prosecution-and-racial-bias-result-in-unjust-death-sentences-in-missouri

https://apnews.com/article/missouri-death-row-hearing-marcellus-williams-ceb2b400859cd053ce8c9717dfdf07b5

https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/court-sets-hearing-for-marcellus-williams-to-present-dna-evidence-before-execution-date/

https://themip.org/clients/marcellus-williams/

https://innocenceproject.org/who-is-marcellus-williams-man-facing-execution-in-missouri-despite-dna-evidence-supporting-innocence/

https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/06/28/the-end-of-the-innocence-railroading-marcellus-williams-to-death-row/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-1998-felicia-gay/26014664/?locale=en-US

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/death-penalty-case-marcellus-williams-dna-evidence-murder-lisha-gayle-missouri/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Felicia_Gayle

https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-1998-felicia-gay/26014664/

https://www.injusticewatch.org/archive/2019/marcellus-s-williams-saved-from-execution-with-mere-hours-to-spare/

Hello Reaper Pal's! In this week's episode the gals are actually on a break. Fret not though, our wonderful producer, Kelsey has curated a mash up of some of our funniest outtakes and bloopers over the year for you. We'll be back next week with a special episode. Until next time, We love you. We mean it. K bye.

In this week's episode both the gals bring a different scandal to the podcast. Samantha didn't fully follow directions, but she still managed to bring a story so entertaining Montana couldn't help but interrupt constantly. Montana's story will leave you wanting to steer clear of a certain county just North of Asheville.

In this week's episode we wrap up our first ever Black Widow that was so "successful" she needed a two-parter.

Resources:

Bodies of Evidence, The Shocking True Story of America’s Most Chilling Serial Murderess…From Crime Scene to Courtroom to Electric Chair, by: Chris Anderson and Sharon McGehee

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22944-pica

https://militaryjusticeforall.com/tag/bobby-joe-morris/

https://murderpedia.org/female.B/b/buenoano-judy.htm

https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/pensacola/2023/05/12/judy-buenoano-very-scary-people-features-pensacola-florida-black-widow-murdered-james-goodyear/70207250007/