Free Republic

LANCASTER - A fundraising poker run has been set for the Veterans Day weekend to help a local veteran who was catastrophically wounded when his M-1 Abrams tank was blown up in Baghdad. Jerral Hancock, 22, was trapped in the tank - which was hit by a powerful explosive - and paralyzed from the chest down, losing his arm and almost all mobility. The attack occurred on Memorial Day 2001, which was Hancock's 21st birthday. Registration for the Nov. 8 event starts at 8 a.m. in front of MGS Custom Motorcycles, 104 East Ave. K-4, just off Division Street. Riders...

Boats collide during 'poker run'; 5 dead JUDI BOLAND Associated Press WILLIS, Okla. - Steve Dover was vacationing at Lake Texoma when he saw two speedboats boats take off for a poker competition. They never returned. Dover said he knew something had gone wrong when he saw the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and other emergency vehicles. The boats collided during the High Roller Poker Run on Saturday. Four people died at the scene and two were flown to the hospital, where one later died, according to the patrol. "There was just floating debris," Dover said. "We've seen life vests, we've seen...

VANCOUVER, Wash. - Washington State Patrol troopers pulled over Porsches, Ferraris and even a Lamborghini on Interstate 5 this weekend as more than 50 drivers, many in luxury cars, set out on a five-day rally that involves driving from city to city to collect poker cards. The 2005 Players Run began in Seattle and has stops in Ashland, Ore., San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego en route to Las Vegas. Drivers, who pay $9,800 to participate, collect playing cards along the way until they have enough for a poker hand. After they reach Las Vegas on Wednesday, they're treated...