Q: I saw a story where a veteran of the war in Iraq was cited by an Ohio town for owning 14 ducks. What were the criteria was for banning his ducks?
—Gerald Wade, Stockbridge
A: Darin Welker, a 36-year-old disabled veteran, was cited June 23 for having farm animals inside the village limits of West Lafayette, Ohio, a misdemeanor.
A 2010 village ordinance states: no “chickens, turkeys, ducks, live poultry or fowl of any kind, horses, ponies, cows, calves, goats, sheep, or live animals of any kind except dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, birds or mice shall be kept in the Village. No person shall keep or harbor rabbits which cause inconvenience or annoyance to persons of ordinary sensibilities by smell, unsightly housing, or trespass, or which cause damage to the property of others.”
Welker said the ducks are part of his therapy for wounds he received in Iraq and his PTSD. His court date is scheduled for Sept. 24, but the Coshocton Tribune newspaper in Ohio reported on Aug. 1 that his lawyer said West Lafayette might “back down on its stance” with Welker and reconsider the ordinance.
Q: Is there a list of native Georgians who are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame? Can you publish that?
—Marion Harris, Monroe
A: Six members of the Baseball Hall of Fame were born in Georgia, according to their Hall of Fame bios.
They are: Ty Cobb (Narrows), Josh Gibson (Buena Vista), Johnny Mize (Demorest), Jackie Robinson (Cairo), Bill Terry (Atlanta) and Frank Thomas (Columbus). Cobb was a member of the first class in 1936 and Thomas was inducted this summer.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
