Chicken found on Scott Street

Doug Anderson thought the sweltering heat had finally gotten to him Saturday morning after spotting a chicken on the loose in downtown Fort Frances.
“It was around 11 a.m. when I looked out the window and noticed a crowd of people gathering on the street,” the co-owner of Betty’s on Scott Street said Monday.
“And a chicken had come into our alcove at the store. A red chicken,” he noted.
Betty’s staff took the chicken in and put it in a box, hoping someone would come by claim it that day.
“We had no idea where it came from. We called the police, but they don’t do chickens. Neither does the bylaw department,” Anderson quipped.
Despite being talked about on the street that day, and even a “chicken found” report on the radio, no one claimed the runaway fowl.
The chicken was kept at the store until about 5:30 p.m., when it was taken to Dwayne McKay’s house by employee Diane Mattson.
“He has white chickens so if anyone claims the chicken, they should be able to pick it out,” said Anderson.
He added the staff is eager to find the chicken’s owner. “We’re really curious as to where it came from,” Anderson remarked.
“But when someone does come to claim the chicken, they have to describe [it] in detail—we don’t want just anyone getting it,” he chuckled, adding his sister, Cheryl Armstrong, tried to pull a Kentucky-fried fast one by him with a prank phone call once she heard about the wayward winged one.
Anyone missing a red chicken can call Betty’s at 274-9565 or McKay at 274-7212.
Regardless of the chicken’s ultimate fate, Anderson said the whole experience shows you just never know what will happen in downtown Fort Frances.
“It was exciting. My retail career is complete,” he laughed.