City of Mesquite Municipal Judge Detra Hill had the unique honor of ceremonially pardoning a turkey at Mesquite ISD's Vanguard High School on Nov. 16 in honor of Thanksgiving. The fortunate fowl, named Mehmed, belongs to Elizabeth Baker, a counselor at Vanguard. Clinton Elsasser, dean of students at Vanguard, served as turkey wrangler for the pardoning ceremony. Judge Hill reminded students assembled for the ceremony that the turkey – not the bald eagle -- was founding father Benjamin Franklin’s suggestion for the national bird and wished them a Happy Thanksgiving.