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rocky kidnapped

Giant Bear Kidnapped... By Kris Casavant Whistler's first kidnapping of 1999 ended peacefully this week, with Rocky, mascot of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, returned unharmed. On Jan.

Giant Bear Kidnapped... By Kris Casavant Whistler's first kidnapping of 1999 ended peacefully this week, with Rocky, mascot of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, returned unharmed. On Jan. 5 Rocky, the bear who has sat as a faithful employee to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for the last several years, was hoisted from his position outside the store by an unknown bear-napper. The chocolate factory had made numerous attempts to locate Rocky and his bear-nappers. No ransom note or phone call listing demands was received. Rocky was seen late on the night of Jan. 5 by a local witness who claimed the bear was riding the bus to Alpine Meadows, sitting next to a man with Conga drums. Rocky was not seen again for several days. The chocolate factory posted letters which offered a sizeable reward — an ice cream cone every week for life — for any information leading to the safe return of the oversized bear and the arrest and conviction of the bear-nappers. After nearly a week, some information on Rocky's whereabouts finally surfaced. He was spotted at a bus stop on Mountainveiw in Alpine Meadows, deserted by his former bear-napper, stripped naked of his T-shirt and chef's hat and soaking helplessly in the rain. Fortunately, a conscientious citizen recognized the bear and dropped him off at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory early on the morning of Jan. 11. The anonymous rescuer declined the reward. The bear-nappers remain at large. It is recommended by R.M.C.F. officials that stuffed animals of all kind be kept under careful watch for the time being.