Q&A on the News
Q: How did the ponies on the Outer Banks fare during Hurricane Irene? -- Mike Smith, Marietta
A: They made it through Hurricane Irene just fine, an employee with Wild Horse Adventure Tours in Corolla, N.C., told WRAL-TV in Raleigh. Jennifer Old told the station that the wild ponies are "very resilient" and know "the right places to hide." She added that drivers from her company said they didn't spot any injuries among the horses. The horses that roam the Outer Banks are believed to be descendants of horses left behind by 16th century Spanish explorers.
Q: Recently, a helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan, killing more than 20 Navy SEALs and other military personnel. There is a photograph of a pet dog lying down near the casket of one of those SEALs. The SEAL was an Iowa football fan who named the dog Hawkeye. Isn't there supposed to be a ceremony where Hawkeye leads the Iowa football team onto the field? Also, what happened to the dog? -- William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch
A: Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, who was from the northern Iowa town of Rockford and named his Labrador retriever Hawkeye, will be honored at one of two Iowa home football games in November, university athletic department officials have said. There hasn't been a decision regarding what role Hawkeye will play in the events, the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette reported on Sept. 5. Tumilson was one of 30 Americans killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 6 and photos of Hawkeye lying at the flag-draped coffin were shown by media outlets and spread on the Internet. Hawkeye was adopted by Tumlison's friend, Scott Nichols, who kept the dog while Tumilson was deployed, ABC.com reported. A Fort Bragg spokesperson says Hawkeye's adoption was what Tumilson desired, according to The Gazette.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
