Free as a bird

Retiring Penn College Police Chief Chris E. Miller made a parting rescue during a noontime stroll with his wife on Thursday, leading an imperiled bird on a "chirp walk" to safety.

"We went for a walk at lunch and came upon a mama killdeer, squawking loudly and standing next to a storm drain," Wendy A. Miller said. "Sure enough, her baby was down in the drain." The chief got in touch with General Services horticulturist Brooke M. Barton, who arrived with a piece of equipment to pull up the drain grate and a ladder for Miller to descend.

"After some effort – and many trips up and down the ladder – Chris finally trapped the baby in a traffic cone. Baby and mama were happily reunited," she added. "The interesting part is that they saved the same baby (they think) from another storm drain two days ago. We’re praying that she stops leading the baby around storm drains. She had four and now only has this one left!"