Mister Ruffles

WHITTIER, Iowa (AP) - A wild turkey who lived life in the fast lane near this eastern Iowa town has died doing what he did best - chasing cars.

The turkey, called Chuck by some and Jake by others, showed up more than a year ago and starting harassing drivers by standing in the road with his feathers ruffled.

Neighbors say the turkey was run over Jan. 31 by a car flying through town that no one recognized. They buried him.

``At least you can't say he lived a dull life,'' said Shirley Hadenfeldt, who lives nearby. ``There's a lot of people who slow down looking for him who don't realize he's gone.''

She said Chuck apparently didn't want to bite the hand that fed him. He'd stand aside for farm tractors.

``But let it be a car or semi and he'd be right out there after them,'' Hadenfeldt said. ``I don't know what possessed him.''

Hadenfeldt said, sadly, it's been a lot quieter on her stretch of road since Chuck died, and the three hens he attracted ``are nowhere around.''