Tackleford Cormorant

The **Tackleford Cormorant** is a local newspaper in Tackleford. Both Shelley Winters and her sister Erin Winters have worked as reporters for it. Its front page logo (as of 2005) proclaimed it to be "Strictly Local since 1972"[1], but they in fact have archives going back much earlier, at least to 1960[2]. This paradox had been cause for quite some speculation among Bobbinsverse fans, until John Allison explained in the annotation of this strip that this merely refers to the year the Cormorant abandoned ill-fated attempts to become a nationwide newspaper.

More recently, the Cormorant got purchased by the Tongus Media Group, a company that, according to one of their representatives, is "all about the #content generation".[3]

## Employees of the Cormorant:

**Paula Scruggs** - The chief editor, and mother of Carrot Scruggs.[4] Doesn't take it lightly if you refer to her as "triangle head" or "old pyramid head". Became Local Editor of the Year in 1990 [5], retired during the 2010s.[6]

**Shelley Winters** - Got fired due to an unannounced leave of absence for nine months. [7]

**Erin Winters** - Until she got hired by the *New Scientist* in London*.*[8]

**Mike Savage** - The acting editor when Paula isn't there [9], as such inherited her position after her retirement.[10] Has been working at the Cormorant since 1984.[11] Once unsuccessfully tried to convince his coworker Shelley to have a cup of tea with him and "compare notes".[12]

**Ted Cooper** - Had been covering "The Great Tackleford Show" since 1970, until Shelley and Mike were assigned to this job. Kept coming into the office even nine months after his retirement.

**Smithy** and **Ken** - Two employees active during Erin's tenure. Erin preferred going out to search the Night Hero over staying in the Cormorant's office with "Smithy's fishing tales and Ken's muscle rub smell".[13]

**Jack Finch** - Was an intern during *The Case of the Unwelcome Visitor*.[14]

**Charlotte Grote** - Offered her services as a citizen journalist one week after Paula's retirement.[15] Got the same desk as working place that Shelley and Erin had previously.[16]

**Linton Baxter**, **Sonny Craven**, and again **Jack Finch -** roped in by Lottie in order to assist her.[17]

**Mildred Haversham** - additionally pulled in by Lottie in order to serve as supervising editor.[18]

### The Wall of Fame

The Cormorant also has a **wall of fame**, honoring former employees who, according to Mike Savage, had "gone on to greater things". They seem to be arranged in an upper and a lower row, perhaps corresponding to their position when they left the Cormorant. Aside from Shelley and Erin, others found on this wall are:

**Claude Arbuthnot** - Specialized in political intrigue. The "1970" beneath his name may indicate that this is the year in which he left the Cormorant.

**Dolliver** and **Prentiss** (first names possibly **Tom** and **Clythis**), whom Mike describes as having been in a romantic relationship. They seemed to have left at some time in the 1980s.

Another woman who left even after Erin, in 2014. Her name seems to start with a "**J**". (**Jasmine**?)

Two people people ending the top row, who look like they could be Ted Cooper and Paula Scruggs.