Turkey #3 Still Taunting Johnston Officials

By: Tim Studebaker

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JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) – They’ve been the talk of the town, and the saga isn’t over just yet.  It started with three turkeys running through traffic.  Now, one lone holdout has evaded capture yet again.

Johnston Mayor Joseph M. Polisena (D) says, "I’m hoping he’ll get the hint that we don’t want him around here and go somewhere else, but apparently that’s not working."

Turkey number three is still outsmarting authorities, forcing the town to call for backup more than a week after relocation efforts started.

Polisena says, "We’ve got Smithfield in today, we’ve got North Providence, and we’ve got of course Johnston."

Turkeys one and two have already found new homes in Snake Den State Park, but turkey 3 just doesn’t want to give up the urban life.  It’s still going rogue right near town hall, much to the chagrin of Mayor Polisena.  It even cornered a town employee in her car Thursday morning.

Polisena says, "He wouldn’t let her out.  When I went over to shoo him away, he kind of started walking fast toward me, but as I said I’m quick on my feet."

Later, the turkey was caught on camera peeking in on the employee through the window blinds at town hall.  After that, it watched over its territory from the top of a telephone pole.

Jokes aside, the mayor has a serious concern, here.

Polisena says, "Last week I saw a woman get out of her vehicle.  She was shooing him away because they were in the middle of 5 and 6 here.  There was another vehicle.  He couldn’t wait.  He pulled out of the line, and he almost hit the woman."

Efforts have been called off for now, but the mayor says they’ll keep trying.  He adds that it might come back because people have been feeding it.

Polisena says, "If I got a free meal every day at a restaurant, I’d be hanging out at the restaurant every day too."

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