Military recruiters have the most luck in rural America — including Missouri and Illinois. But, per-capita, Menominee County, Wis., has had more Army soldiers than any other county in the nation.

Bird line suggestions:

• Marching orders
• Uniform decision
• Uncle Sam wants you
• Crying Uncle…

The fireworks Friday night were fantastic! And there will be a few more this weekend, along with other fun things to see and do.

Bird line suggestions:

• Seeing stars
• Boomtown
• Snap, crackle, pop
• Big bang
• O, say can you see?

Today’s Bird line: What a blast!…

It’s Independence Day! And for the Fourth we have fun things to do, fireworks displays and photography tips. Don’t forget to post your photos, too — I can’t wait to see ‘em!

Bird line suggestions:

• Revolutionary idea
• Old Glory
• The spirit of ‘76
• Red,…

With the current high gas prices, high grocery prices, high everything prices, how do you curb that urge to shop? Many shoppers — including the Weatherbird — are turning to smaller items.

Bird line suggestions:

• Not buyin’ it
• Two cents’ worth
• On the…

The death of the minivan may be upon us. Ford gave up. GM is expected to give up next year. And Chrysler just closed its minivan assembly plant in Fenton.

Bird line suggestions:

• Car wreck
• Stow and go
• Tanks for the memories
• Not so hot…

Chrysler will lay off 2,400 people when it closes its plant in Fenton. Related industries and business will feel the effect, too.

Bird line suggestions:

• Van go
• Minivan, maxi debt
• End of the line?
• Switching gears
• Downshifting
• Line editing

Today’s Bird line: Assembly not required…

Miller’s relationship with Milwaukee is a lot like Anheuser-Busch’s relationship with St. Louis: Potentially rocky.

Bird line suggestions:

• Miller low-life
• Miller Lite’s out
• Last call for Milwaukee
• Changes brewing
• Another stein mess
• At lager-heads

Today’s Bird line: SAB story

If InBev buys Anheuser-Bush — Calm down! I said if! — what will that mean for the local craft brewers?

The copy desk has come up with a lot of beer-related Bird lines recently, and keep coming up with more…

Archbishop Raymond Burke has been appointed to head the Vatican’s supreme court.

Bird line suggestions:

• Moving up
• Rome improvement
• Higher calling
• Judgment day

Today’s Bird line: Burke’s law
(Which, I admit, I didn’t get right away, but was a 1960s TV show and was revived in…

Anheuser-Busch made it official yesterday, and rejected InBev’s takeover bid saying it was “financially inadequate and not in the best interests of Anheuser-Busch shareholders.”

Bird line suggestions:

• Draft dodger (This was almost the Bird line, but it didn’t match up…