ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – An Ashwaubenon celebrity is looking to avoid ending up on a dinner plate this Thanksgiving.
Smoke the Turkey has been called the unofficial Mayor of Ashwaubenon. Perhaps a fitting moniker for a bird that often leisurely strolls the village’s streets as if he owns them.
But Commander Randy Tews with Ashwaubenon Public Safety warns motorists if you take a corner too fast and smoke… Smoke… you’ll have some explaining to do.
“He has a large fan base of probably close to over 3,000 followers,” says Commander Tews. “So he has a lot of eyes on him daily.”
Actually, “Smoke the Turkey – Mayor of Ashwaubenon” currently has around 3,100 members on Facebook.
And Smoke has even transformed from local celebrity to an international, well-cultured bird.
“This bird is worldwide now,” explains Commander Tews. “We’ve got some stuff from Iceland, we’ve got some stuff from Australia.”
With that much attention, no one wants to see Smoke “disappear” this Thanksgiving.
“I don’t think anybody would want to risk taking him out of the picture anytime soon,” he says.
Smoke stands about 4 feet tall and weighs around 20 pounds. He’s been known to frequently hang out on the village’s west side.
Officials are making their best guesses on how Smoke will celebrate Turkey Day.
“I think Smoke on Thursday will probably wake up and do his morning duties and probably take an afternoon nap,” Commander Tews says. “Then get up and do his afternoon duties and hopefully get through the day unscathed.”
And Smoke’s tendency to impact the flow of traffic has village officials wondering if he’s created a position for himself.
“If he keeps directing traffic in the morning and afternoon we might have to put him on our payroll,” says Commander Tews.
