Josie's Notebook

 WARNING! SPOILER ALERT! THIS NOTEBOOK IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY READ GREAT NEWS TOWN.

Great News Town was just the beginning. It changed my life, that's for sure. Now that you've met us -- the staff of the Daily News -- you're part of the family. We'll all be back in each sequel -- One Shoe Off and the upcoming Full Moon Friday --  but a lot happens behind the scenes, between the books. That's where this notebook comes in. I'll keep notes of what's going on. Stuff you won't read in the books. Secret stuff. Check back often.


BECKY JUDD: When the the will of Ben Davis was read on Nov. 15, 1984, he had left his farm and farmhouse to Becky Judd, one of our reporters. Becky grew up in a Chicago housing project and had never grown as much as an African violet. She considered selling the property. The Thompsons from the neighboring farm couldn't afford to buy the land, but they offered to farm it. They raise corn and soybeans and split the profits with her. The income is too good to turn down and more than enough to pay the taxes. Becky moved into the old farm house. Three bedrooms is much more than she needs, even now that she's got a boyfriend (super spoiler alert! I'm not saying who!). Even Old Ben hadn't used the upstairs bedrooms in more than 20 years. She decided to start with remodeling the first floor -- a big  kitchen, living room, dining room and bedroom. She spends her weekends steaming off wallpaper and painting. The bedroom is now a bright apricot color with white trim and turquoise accents. Looks like a tropical retreat! She kept Ben's old brass bed but forked over her savings for a new mattress. She invited the whole newsroom out for a barbeque last summer. The bedroom shines like a jewel, in sharp contrast to the dark dining room and the mismatched living room. She's planning to fix those next. Stay tuned!



MALCOLM JONES: His trial was set for March 4, 1985, in Peoria, Ill., since no one thought he could get a fair trial in Cade County. Right off the bat he fires his court appointed attorney and represents himself. He denied all charges. The artist's sketch published in the Daily News showed a suspect without a goatee, so he brought in several family members who testified that he had worn a goatee for years and therefore could not have been involved in most of the summer's killings. Since he was arrested at the pottery shop, he claimed he had stopped by when he heard the women screaming. By the time he got inside, he said, the women were dead and the killer was gone. Sure, I identified him, but he claimed I was  hysterical when he got there. He said one of my eyes was swollen shut, so there was no way I could identify anyone. The jury deliberated one hour and found him guilty of the four deaths in the pottery shop. He was sentenced to death. The conviction is being appealed.
As a sidelight, I gave up trying to make pottery. I just can't look at a pottery wheel anymore.