No turkeys fall on Arkansas festival this year

[October 11, 2011]  YELLVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Turns out turkeys don't fly.

The Baxter Bulletin (http://bit.ly/oaNN9V) reports that attendees at the Turkey Trot festival in Yellville were disappointed when no turkeys dropped from planes on Friday or Saturday.

The turkey drop is a mainstay of the event in northern Arkansas, though organizers don't sanction it. Supporters say the turkeys can fly just enough to descend safely, but animal-rights advocates call it cruel.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals posted a $5,000 bounty for information leading to an arrest. The Federal Aviation Administration said any pilots dropping turkeys could lose their licenses.

People at the festival wore "I am the Phantom Pilot" T-shirts, and at least one sign offered a $10,000 reward for the arrest of the PETA employee who came up with the $5,000 bounty.

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Information from: The Baxter Bulletin, http://www.baxterbulletin.com/

[Associated Press]

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