FORT COLLINS, Colo. -
Some suggested sky divers. Others, blimps, gliders and fishing hooks.
Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden says concerned citizens sent him plenty of suggestions last week on how to capture the large helium balloon that a Fort Collins couple said was carrying their 6-year-old son.
The boy, Falcon Heene, was later found at home in -what is now considered to be- an elaborate hoax orchestrated by his parents.
In an online newsletter Thursday, Alderden offers a peek at some of the 500 e-mails he received from around the world.
"What about using multiple helicopters and get a very large net and attach the corners to 3 or maybe 4 different helicopters and have them fly in front of the balloon and catch the balloon in the net?" one person wrote. "Then they can slowly lower the balloon to the ground."
Another was even more creative.
"This may sound a little simple, but years ago a little helium balloon floated to the top of our A frame house. I didn't know how to get it down. Oddly enough my son who was 10 at the time took a squirt gun and sprayed it with water. It floated slowly to the ground. So, a simple a safe solution put water on the balloon and it will weigh it down and safely return to the ground."
While Alderden says he received many constructive e-mails, others were not so helpful.
Some called him "Barney Fife," (from the Andy Griffith Show). Others called him gullible, fat and bald with an overinflated ego. Alderden concedes that he's fat and bald, but says he really doesn't enjoy the media attention.
"In fact, I'm pretty ticked off that I had to spend (last) weekend dealing with them instead of some quality time in the saddle," Alderden wrote.
"That said, sometimes the Sheriff just has to be the spokesperson instead of putting it off on the Press Information Officer. I did my best to put an end to the media circus."
Alderden appeared Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" Monday.
Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden says concerned citizens sent him plenty of suggestions last week on how to capture the large helium balloon that a Fort Collins couple said was carrying their 6-year-old son.
The boy, Falcon Heene, was later found at home in -what is now considered to be- an elaborate hoax orchestrated by his parents.
In an online newsletter Thursday, Alderden offers a peek at some of the 500 e-mails he received from around the world.
"What about using multiple helicopters and get a very large net and attach the corners to 3 or maybe 4 different helicopters and have them fly in front of the balloon and catch the balloon in the net?" one person wrote. "Then they can slowly lower the balloon to the ground."
Another was even more creative.
"This may sound a little simple, but years ago a little helium balloon floated to the top of our A frame house. I didn't know how to get it down. Oddly enough my son who was 10 at the time took a squirt gun and sprayed it with water. It floated slowly to the ground. So, a simple a safe solution put water on the balloon and it will weigh it down and safely return to the ground."
While Alderden says he received many constructive e-mails, others were not so helpful.
Some called him "Barney Fife," (from the Andy Griffith Show). Others called him gullible, fat and bald with an overinflated ego. Alderden concedes that he's fat and bald, but says he really doesn't enjoy the media attention.
"In fact, I'm pretty ticked off that I had to spend (last) weekend dealing with them instead of some quality time in the saddle," Alderden wrote.
"That said, sometimes the Sheriff just has to be the spokesperson instead of putting it off on the Press Information Officer. I did my best to put an end to the media circus."
Alderden appeared Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" Monday.
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