Man Castrates Beer-Drinking Goat Mayor

— -- L A J I T A S, Texas — He really got their goat, police say.

Jim Bob Hargrove stands accused of attacking and castrating Clay Henry III, the horned, cloven-hoofed mayor of the small West Texas town of Lajitas.

But Hargrove is charged with animal cruelty, not attempted murder, because Clay Henry is a goat.

The mid-sized gray farm animal was elected mayor in 2000, following local tradition. Mayors Clay Henry I and Clay Henry Jr. were also goats. They each achieved fame primarily for drinking beer.

The office doesn't come with any legal powers, local officials note, but the mayor does get his share of free beer from admiring townspeople and visitors.

Police say Hargrove attacked Clay Henry III because he became jealous when he saw the mayor drinking a beer on Sunday, when the region's blue laws prevented alcohol sales.

"He kept saying, 'You know I oughtta go castrate that goat,'" Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson said, relating eyewitness accounts.

"And the next morning the goat was found lying with its testicles cut off."

Hargrove was charged with felony animal cruelty, and faces trial later this month.

Clay Henry made a full recovery after local ranchers sutured his wounds.

"He's doing fine," Dodson said. "He's still drinking beer."

Bad Call

A K R O N, Ohio — Jim Martin called police to ask for help. He got a half-hour lecture instead.

Martin phoned Akron authorities Aug. 1, asking to speak with a supervisor about a complaint regarding gang activity.

"The call-taker unfortunately — instead of allowing him to speak to a radio room supervisor immediately — basically got into a discussion," said Lt. Sylvia Trundle, a department spokeswoman.

"Unfortunately it just got into a discussion of very many issues, none of which were appropriate."

Martin had met with police earlier that day to discuss gang and drug activity in his neighborhood. He called back and asked for a supervisor in order to find out why no arrests had been made.