Police said a Dallas woman was threatened with a knife in a fight that allegedly started when a friend rubbed her butt with a finger. A police report states 22-year-old Laquita Mattox was sitting on her friend’s bed in a Dallas apartment Thursday when her friend rubbed her finger on Mattox’s buttocks. According to the police report, Mattox broke her friend’s bed, angering the woman and starting a fight. Police said the friend picked up a butcher knife and asked Mattox if she was “ready to die.” However, Mattox had no visible injuries when police arrived. It wasn’t clear just how Mattox, using her rear end, caused the bed to break…and we probably don’t want to know.
County Gives Up On ‘Wildman Road’ Signs
An Ohio county has given up on replacing the frequently stolen signs for a rural thoroughfare named “Wildman Road.” Greene County Engineer Robert Geyer said the signs vanish as quickly as they put them up, probably to decorate bedrooms, garages and dorm rooms. He said the unusually named road is “out in the boonies,” making the signs easy to swipe.
The $69 Hot Dog
A New York restaurant has created a $69 Ball Park hot dog, which includes duck fois gras among its toppings. The Serendipity 3 restaurant said the pricey wiener, which measures 12 inches long, was created in honor of the July 23rd National Hot Dog Day. “It’s not your typical Ball Park hot dog,” co-owner Joe Calderone said. “It’s 12 inches of beef perfection, grilled in white truffle oil, and placed in a pretzel bun that is toasted with white truffle butter and then topped with duck fois gras and black truffles.” The hot dog set a record for price when Trudy Tant, of South Carolina, became the first to pay $69 for the frankfurter.
Police Pays Admission To Make Arrest
Authorities in Indiana said a sheriff’s sergeant had to pay a $5 admission fee to get into the LaPorte County Fair so he could make an arrest. Sgt. Mike Kellems was called to the fairgrounds Friday to arrest a person that another deputy - who was at the fair on his off-time - recognized as wanted on a felony warrant. However, workers at the fair, which used a private security firm instead of the sheriff’s department for the first time this year, insisted the deputy had to pay $5 admission. Under the new rules, deputies have to pay admission unless called to make an arrest. It wasn’t clear why the attendants insisted Kellems pay. The fair’s general manager says common sense got overlooked.
Biting Great-Granny Stops Thieves
Police say a great-grandmother in Daytona Beach bit an assailant and was dragged several feet hanging on to the getaway car of a couple who had snatched her purse. Police said 73-year-old Patricia Robertson was accosted at a gas station over the weekend by a man and woman who grabbed her purse and tried to speed off. Robertson said she bit the man hard enough to draw blood and hung on to their truck when that failed. A bystander who saw the attack called 911 and followed the assailants, updating police until they could apprehend the couple. Robertson said she’s sore and almost lost a tooth, but she’s thankful for the Good Samaritan’s help.
Man KOs Gas Meter
Fire officials in Middletown, Ohio, said a man hitting a punching bag accidentally knocked out his gas meter, causing a natural gas leak that resulted in the evacuation of nearby homes. When the man hit the meter Tuesday evening, it fell off the wall and gas spewed out. Officials said it was an “extremely dangerous situation.” Officials said the house could have blown up and at least three neighboring homes could have suffered major damage. People living along two streets in the area were told to leave their homes. One person was taken to a hospital complaining of nausea. It took Duke Energy about an hour to dig underground to where they could turn off the gas.
Bear Eats Bear In Home
A black bear walked into a New Hampshire home through an open door, ate two pears and a bunch of grapes, took a drink from the family fishbowl and grabbed a stuffed bear on his way out the door. Mary Beth Parkinson said the bear apparently took advantage of the open outside door to get into her kitchen Tuesday in Laconia. She thinks the garage door going up scared the bear enough that it ran inside the house.
Mom Accused Of Toilet Toothbrush Tampering
A long-overdue bathroom cleaning led to a toothbrush tampering accusation in Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania. Justin Novack, 26, called police July 18th and claimed his mother had put feces on his toothbrush. Investigators say Deborah Woist, 52, had decided to tidy up a bathroom inside her home because it hadn’t been cleaned in two months. The problem came when she used her son’s toothbrush for the job and later returned it to its holder. Officers issued Woist a citation for harassment.
Indian Man Grows Ear Hair 11 Inches
The Indian man who holds the Guinness World Record for longest ear hair, 5.2 inches, said he wants to update the record with his current length of 11 inches. Radha Kant Bajpai, 55, of Kanpur, said he achieved the record five years ago and has since far surpassed his own “ear-ccomplishment.”
Trial Delayed Due To Defendant’s T-Shirt
A Cincinnati judge delayed a misdemeanor criminal damage trial because he found the defendant’s “Chucky” T-shirt inappropriate for court. Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard told William Morse, 28, Monday that his T-shirt featuring the killer doll from the “Child’s Play” films – bearing the tag line “Say goodbye to the killer” – was not appropriate court attire. When Morse told the judge he had just woken up prior to the 11 a.m. court appearance, the judge said he could have spent “5 minutes” picking out a more appropriate wardrobe. The trial was delayed and Morse was told he would be held in contempt of court if he was not properly dressed for the occasion the next time he appears in court.
The Yard Sale KING
Antique shopper Rick Norsigian paid $45 back in 2000 for 65 glass negatives that he bought at a yard sale in southern California. The man who sold him the negatives said he got them at a salvage warehouse in Los Angeles. It turns out the negatives are the works of the famed photographer Ansel Adams and worth at least $200 million! Art appraisal expert David W. Streets believes the photos were taken between 1919 and the early 1930s, long before Adams became nationally recognized in the 1940s. Norsigian, who has spent the last decade trying to prove the worth of his discovery, is now ready to cash in by selling original prints of the photographs to museums and collectors.
Fake Nun In The Big Apple
A woman dressed as a nun has been hitting up diners for contributions in New York’s Little Italy. But Mindy LeGrand isn’t really a nun. The New York Post reports LeGrand begged for five hours on a recent Saturday afternoon. Later, she pulled off her habit and skirt, lit up a cigarette and walked off wearing a pink tank top and brown shorts. Nick Mesce, owner of Giovanna’s Ristorante Italiono says they’ll ask the non-nun to leave if she comes around again.
Man Sentenced For Stealing Library’s Tarantula
A Westminster, Maryland, man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for stealing a spider from a public library. Staff at the Westminster library called police on May 19th after they discovered Chili Rose, a Chilean Rose tarantula at the information desk, had disappeared. Witnesses told authorities they saw a man with the spider bragging about swiping it. The judge also sentenced one of the men to four years in prison for violating his probation in a 2007 assault case.
Not-So-Granny Pot
A package addressed from “Grandpa Henderson” in San Diego, California, to “Grandma Henderson” in Talladega, Alabama, aroused suspicions among Talladega postal inspectors, who contacted the Talladega County drug task force. A drug-detection dog singled out the package, and law enforcement officers waited for someone to pick it up. When three men picked up the package on Saturday, they were stopped after they left the post office, and officers found more than 6 pounds of marijuana in the package. All three have been charged with trafficking in marijuana.
Zedonk Born
A zedonk, a rare cross between a donkey and a zebra, is attracting attention at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Dahlonega, Georgia, after being born there about a week ago. The animal, which has a zebra father and donkey mother, has black stripes prominently displayed on her legs and face. C.W. Wathen, the preserve’s founder and general manager, said the foal has zebra instincts. Wathen said she sits up instead of lying on her side like a foal, as if she’s staying alert for predators. Donkeys and zebras don’t usually mate, but zedonks turn up occasionally.
The Croc That Wouldn’t Leave
Authorities in the Florida Keys said a young crocodile that returned twice after being removed from a yard may be headed for a captive facility. Lindsey Hord, crocodile-response coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said the 8-foot-long croc, nicknamed Crocodolly, returned to the yard in Islamorada on Plantation Key twice after being taken away. Hord said the female crocodile will likely be taken to a facility if she’s caught a third time.
Drug–Cheeseburger Trade Fails
Authorities in Florida said a McDonald’s customer who was short on cash tried to trade marijuana and prescription drugs for cheeseburgers. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said Alexander Lemke, 20, broke into a neighbor’s home Friday and stole their 2005 Toyota Solara. Deputies said Lemke took the car to a nearby McDonald’s drive-thru, where he attempted to trade pills and marijuana for cheeseburgers. McDonald’s employees called authorities and deputies arrested Lemke a few minutes later. Lemke was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license and eight drug-related charges.
Students Set Water Balloon Fight Record
Students at a Utah university set a world record for the world’s largest water balloon fight, with 3,927 participants and 120,232 balloons. Organizers of the Brigham Young University event in Provo said their Friday fight had 25 more participants and 1,021 more balloons than the previous record holders, students from the University of Kentucky. The organizers said they spent 48 straight hours filling water balloons.
Benedictine Nuns Signed To Decca Records
The same record label that signed Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse has now signed a group of French Benedictine nuns. Decca Records conducted a worldwide search for female Gregorian chant performers. The winners were the nuns in the south of France. Their debut album comes out in November.
Robbers Scared Off
Police in Ypsilanti, Michigan, say a man scared off a couple of would-be robbers by pretending to be an undercover cop. The 26-year-old went to a park sell a video game system. One of the bandits pulled out a gun and demanded the electronics. The victim told investigators he pretended to be an undercover cop to scare the men away. It worked. Police are still looking for the suspects.
Sand Castle King
Frank Russo is the king of sand castles. The Long Island man took first prize in the annual sand sculpting contest on Coney Island in New York City. Russo’s winning sand castle was six feet high and is his third-straight win. He says he’ll use the $400 prize to take his wife out for their anniversary.
Starbucks Baby
Police in Colorado Springs say a 42-year-old woman walked into the restroom at a Starbucks, gave birth and then walked out without telling anyone. Someone noticed blood in the bathroom and called for help. Paramedics found the woman and newborn outside the coffee shop. Both mother and baby are in good condition.
Other Uses For Railroad Spikes
A Poplar Bluff, Missouri, woman used a railroad spike to fend off an intruder early Friday morning. Stephanie Molina was at her apartment when a man began shouting outside her door, “Jerry, you owe me money.” Molina said she doesn’t know anyone named Jerry. Glen Waltman kicked in the door, grabbed Molina and hit her. That’s when she picked up the spike and nailed Waltman. Police followed the blood trail to Waltman’s apartment, which was in the same building. He was arrested after struggling with police.
‘Deer Magnet’
A Conrad, Iowa, teen has earned the nickname “Deer Magnet” after hitting five deer in the past year. Seventeen-year-old Kacee Larson said her string of bad luck began last July when she was driving home from her job at an ice cream shop. She saw the deer about a second before hitting it. Larson’s second collision happened a few months later, while she was driving to church. After Larson hit her fourth deer, her pastor’s wife advised her to start praying before she got into a vehicle. Larson says she was doing just that Friday when she hit her fifth deer. The crash totaled her minivan.
Clown Bank Robber
Authorities in Swissvale, Pennsylvania, said a man robbed a bank wearing clown pants, a woman’s wig, and fake breasts. Dennis Hawkins was sitting in a parked car covered in red dye from an exploding packet in a bag of money when he was arrested Saturday. Police said he robbed the bank using a toy BB gun he had shoplifted from a store prior to the bank heist. He then ran to a nearby service station, where he jumped inside a car belonging to a woman who grabbed her keys and ran. She called police, who found Hawkins sitting in the car.
Professor Gets ‘Foiled’
A science professor at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, returned from vacation to find a very shiny office. Professor Scott Bur’s students had covered his office in aluminum foil – from his computer screen to the chairs, ceiling and floor. Books and pens were individually wrapped, as were the phone, a ball cap, a bottle and the coffee maker. Bur said it’s a sort of tradition among his research group. That last time it happened, his office was decorated as a fairy princess, with pink fabric and bows covering everything.
‘Skateboard Bandit’ Hits Second Bank
A San Diego bank robber dubbed the “Skateboard Bandit” struck a second time Friday night, FBI officials said. The man, who carries a skateboard during his robberies, held up a Wells Fargo bank in the Torrey Highlands neighborhood north of San Diego. FBI officials say they believe the suspect robbed a Comerica Bank in San Diego’s Old Town on July 21st. In both instances, the robber demanded money from tellers after showing them a handgun.
Bugged Book
There was more than inspiration in a copy of the book “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” Authorities in Santa Barbara County, California, say a woman was secretly videotaped with a camera hidden in the book. Investigators say the bugged book was on the shelf in the woman’s bedroom. Deputies busted Donald Lee Bedford and seized his computers. A sheriff’s spokesman says the hidden camera had recorded the woman and her boyfriend in “various states of undress.” Bedford is apparently a friend of one of the woman’s relatives.
Baseball Wedding
There’s a diamond in bride-to-be Jaclyn Valvoda’s future – a baseball diamond. She and Brandon Smith will be married on Roosevelt Field in Mason City, Iowa, July 31. Smith played there while going to Mason City High. Smith said it was his fiancée’s idea to have a baseball field wedding. On the big day, both the bride and groom will be escorted out to the pitcher’s mound by their parents. Then they’ll walk to home plate where the ceremony will take place.
Turn Yourself Into A Butter Sculpture
How would you look as one of those butter sculptures at a state fair? A Facebook app allows you to butter-fy yourself. The Midwest Dairy Association has created an app where you upload a photo and put it into one of six butter personalities, including a dairy princess and a baseball player called Butter Up. You can then add it to a postcard and post it to your wall.
AKC Dog Mistaken For Coyote, Set Loose In Wild
Copper, a female American Kennel Club-registered Shiba Inu dog disappeared from her back yard on July 3rd in Frankfort, Kentucky. Her owner, Lori Goodlett put up posters and a police officer recognized Copper as an animal that he took to a local shelter. A shelter worker later called the police back saying that they needed to remove the animal because “coyotes” weren’t allowed in the shelter. The police department turned Copper loose behind a home improvement store after consulting with a wildlife expert who said coyotes were nuisance animals and should be returned to the wild or killed. Police and volunteers are helping Goodlett search for her pet.
Darth Vader Robs Bank
A bank robber dressed as “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader made off with an undetermined amount of cash after pointing a handgun at startled tellers inside a Chase bank branch on Long Island. Detectives say the man walked into the bank shortly before noon Thursday wearing a full head mask and a blue cape. He was also wearing camouflage pants and toting a handgun instead of a light saber. The suspect was last seen running across a parking lot.
Pot Painting
An 80-year-old Georgia man says he discovered more than $4,000 worth of pot while getting ready to resell a painting he bought five years ago at auction. Gordon Clement of Cherokee County bought the painting at a post office auction and was coming back from a failed attempt to resell the artwork for $25 at another auction when a family member felt something moving inside the frame – “Four pounds of marijuana inside the picture frame. I didn’t know what to do,” Clement said. He decided to take it home and call his lawyer for advice but said he was a nervous wreck on the drive back knowing he had so much of an illegal substance. Clement called his lawyer and then the police, who estimated the pot be worth $4,800.
Sandwich Pants-Stuffer
Police in Spartanburg, South Carolina, arrested a woman who allegedly stuffed a McDonald’s sandwich into her pants and then complained she never received it. Police said Lori Shannon Turner received two sandwiches Sunday morning and quickly shoved one of them down her pants. Employees told police Turner claimed she was shorted a sandwich and demanded another free of charge. She started screaming at workers when they refused. A deputy arrived around 10:30 a.m. and noticed Turner smelled strongly of alcohol and had a large grease stain on her pants. She denied concealing anything in her clothing until a female officer was called for a search. Turner then removed the sandwich from her pants. She was arrested and charged with public disorderly conduct.
Baby Born In Police Parking Lot
Police in Massachusetts got an unusual early morning call from panicked parents whose baby was being born in the police department parking lot. Officer Michael Casaletto responded to the early Sunday morning call to the parking lot of Malden City Hall Plaza, where police headquarters is located, and found Rosalina Williams giving birth in a car with the help of her husband, Lewdorsey Williams. “I just helped, as the mother and father did most of the work,” Casaletto said. The mother and baby, Adrianna, were taken to a local hospital.
Police Drop Teen’s Lunch Theft Charge
Milwaukee police have dropped a theft citation against a 15-year-old accused of stealing a chicken nugget meal from his school cafeteria. Police said the case against Adam Hernandez, who was handcuffed, photographed and fingerprinted after Shorewood High School officials accused him of stealing the lunch, was dropped with the agreement of the school principal. Hernandez, who had been scheduled to go to trial yesterday, said he didn’t steal the food – it was given to him by a friend enrolled in the free lunch program. The police chief said, “It shouldn’t have gone this far. There are other means and methods to handle this kind of situation.”
Fattest Woman To Give Birth To Be Crowned
A 600-pound New Jersey woman has been declared the Fattest Woman in the World To Have Given Birth by Guinness World Records. Donna Simpson, who gave birth in Akron, Ohio, 3 years ago when she weighed 532 pounds, said she will be officially named the record holder during a September ceremony in New York. Simpson said she has since grown to 600 pounds and dreams of reaching 1,000 pounds. Simpson said thousands of people pay $15 a month to view photos and videos of her performing housework and eating in various states of undress down to her bra and panties.
Skinny Dipping Charges Dropped
Utah prosecutors have decided to drop charges against eight people charged with swimming without their swimming suits. The skinny dipping incident happened at Diamond Fork Springs in Spanish Fork Canyon. Authorities admit a U.S. Forest Service sign wasn’t clear whether skinny dipping is illegal. The sign warned people to use discretion in removing their clothes. Prosecutors decided the misdemeanor case wasn’t worth taking to trial. That ambiguous sign has since been taken down.
Laptop Accidentally Sold For $5 At Thrift Store
The manager of a Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, thrift store is seeking the return of her laptop that was accidentally sold for $5. Sandra Bechthold said she was shocked when she learned her 2-year-old Dell Inspiron and case were sold on July 12th. Bechthold had to do some work offsite that day, leaving the Women’s Center Thrift Store in the hands of one staffer and a group of volunteers. Bechthold said she doesn’t know how her laptop ended up on the floor for sale. A volunteer said she decided on a $5 sale price because she once saw a laptop with no software sold for that amount. Bechthold has placed a classified ad offering to buy the computer back.
Hero Pizza Deliveryman
Ordering a pizza may have saved a Lakewood, Colorado, man’s life. George Linn’s wife said her husband had just gone into cardiac arrest Friday when the pizza deliveryman knocked on the door of their home to bring their order. Kami Linn said she opened the door to “some burly-looking dude” and immediately asked for help. The deliveryman, Chris Wuebben, happened to be a paramedic recently returned from Iraq. Kami Linn said Wuebben performed CPR on her husband and revived him. Other paramedics who later arrived then took over. George remains hospitalized in ICU.
Ch-Ch-Chia Pet-Like Sound Wall?
The state of Ohio plans to build a sound barrier made out of soil and plants in its attempts at muffling highway noise in an eco-friendly manner. A spokesman for the state transportation department says the 12-foot-high wall will be like a Chia Pet. Workers will water bags filled with soil and seeds and watch it grow. The noise wall will be built this fall. It will span 400 feet along a westbound stretch of I-70 near Columbus. Wisconsin tried a similar idea. It built a sound wall made out of just forms fill with soil and plants, but removed it in 1996 after part of the barrier collapsed.
Man Sues Over Rodent Blasting
A Cottage Grove, Oregon, man has filed a $146,000 lawsuit against a pest control company, claiming he suffered hearing loss when a worker used explosives to remove rodents on his neighbor’s property. Michael Lester’s complaint alleges the unnamed Cynergy Pest Control worker was negligent in failing to warn neighbors, and then disregarded Lester’s warning to stop the blasts that were so strong his doors and windows rattled. Lester said he suffers from constant ringing and buzzing in his ears.
$250K Wedding Gift
An engaged bride-to-be from Ballwin, Missouri, says she’ll use most of her $250,000 winnings to pay off the mortgage on her home instead of planning an extravagant wedding. Tracie Rogers, 29, says Robert Russell, her fiancé of 9 1/2 years, recently bought her a scratch-off lottery ticket. She won $5. Russell bought her a second ticket and threw in another five bucks for a $10 scratch-off. That turned out to be a lucky decision. Tracie won $250,000! She says the windfall couldn’t have come at a better time. She’s unemployed and Russell was laid off last year. The couple canceled a previous wedding date because of financial trouble. The couple has been together for 12 years and shares a home with five pets.
Cuffed Man Escapes From Cop Car
Police in Altamonte Springs, Florida, say a man who was handcuffed and in the backseat of a cop cruiser somehow managed to open the door and escape. He had been complaining he was claustrophobic and couldn’t breathe. The arresting officer opened the windows slightly for 19-year-old Ridgh Genesis Achille, who had been arrested Friday night on a shoplifting charge. On the way to the jail, he somehow managed to open the door and run away.
Shoe Tree Scorched
A fire has destroyed one of Priest Lake, Idaho’s, most famous landmarks. The famous “Shoe Tree” caught fire late Thursday night, burning thousands of shoes hanging from the branches and nailed to the trunk. The ol’ cedar tree is still standing but officials with the Idaho National Forest say it’s completely destroyed and will likely die. Forest service officials say lightning is not the cause of the fire and they are now investigating. The forest service is asking for people to not start a new “shoe tree.”
Man Says Ankle Monitor For Lohan
Border agents say a New York man tried to explain away the ankle monitor he was wearing while returning from Canada by claiming it was a show of support for Lindsay Lohan. Customs and Border Protection officers say they found the bracelet around Eugene Todie’s ankle July 9th after he tried to re-enter the United States using someone else’s passport. Todie is on probation for criminal contempt and not allowed to leave the country. Officials say Todie told them a probation officer friend gave him the bracelet to wear to show his support for Lohan, who’s had to wear one. Todie appeared in federal court Tuesday on misuse of a passport and lying charges and must return July 20th.
Woman Makes Up Carjacking, Car-Sex Crash
Authorities say a Vineland, New Jersey, woman lied twice to cover up the theft of a laptop computer, claiming first that she was carjacked and then that her car crashed because she was having sex. Authorities say 23-year-old Sarah Blasse initially told police Saturday that she broke her arm during a carjacking. She later claimed her car crashed into a tree while she was performing a sex act on a man she had picked up. Authorities says Blasse and her boyfriend actually stole a laptop from a car and slipped away from pursuing police in her car, but then crashed and attempted to set the vehicle on fire. Blasse and Henry Goode Jr. face charges including arson, burglary and hindering apprehension.
Tweezers Thief
A Washington State man facing theft and assault charges told deputies he didn’t even need the tweezers he tried to steal. Pierce County deputies said Troy Montgomery, 48, walked into a pharmacy last Friday in Gig Harbor and placed a pair of the store’s tweezers in his pocket. Montgomery threw the tweezers and tried to leave when a store employee confronted him and said she was calling police. Deputies said Montgomery shoved a pharmacist that was blocking the door, knocking him to ground and causing a 3-inch cut to his arm. Shoppers took Montgomery to the ground and detained him until deputies arrived. When Montgomery was asked whether he wanted to answer questions about the incident, he told deputies, “Not really. Besides being stupid, I don’t even need the thing. About the dumbest thing I ever did.”
Paper Offers Blagojevich Ringtones
An Illinois newspaper is offering free ringtones made from former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s profanity-laced rants on telephone calls secretly recorded by the FBI. The Springfield State Journal-Register is offering free mp3 and iPhone format ringtones made from the embattled former official’s wiretapped phone calls, including the infamous November 5, 2008 call with former aide Doug Scofield during which Blagojevich described President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat as “golden” paired with the f-bomb. The ringtones can be downloaded at the newspaper’s Web site, www.sj-r.com.
Couple To Celebrate 71st Wedding Anniversary
A Sorrento, Florida, couple with eight children, 26 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren are marking their 71st wedding anniversary. Ramon and Gertrudis Cordero, age 93 and 90, married July 19, 1939, in the Puerto Rican village of Vega Alta. They are planning to celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary tomorrow with a large party with family members and close friends.
Counterfeit $100s In Spanish
It’s a pretty good bet that a hundred dollar bill is counterfeit if it’s printed in Spanish. Police in a Washington suburb arrested a man on drunken driving charges and found three phony $100s on him. Prince William County, Virginia, authorities say the DUI charge led to the arrest of a second man who had 59 of the phony Benjamins in his house. The counterfeit bills had a phrase in Spanish that roughly translates to “lucky ticket.” Police say the Secret Service has seen more than 100 such notes worldwide. One of the suspects told investigators he brought them from Peru.
Superman In Philly
Superman is flexing his muscles in the City of Brotherly Love. The latest DC Comics issue of Superman has the superhero in Philadelphia. It’s part of a year-long series that takes the Man of Steel to various cities defending the powerless. But Superman could use a little help in the ways of Philly. In the issue, he orders a “Philly cheese steak sandwich.” Robert Lefevre, manager of the Brave New Worlds comic book store in downtown Philadelphia, says no one says that. The comic also puts Superman in the city’s “South Side.” Lefevre says maybe the writers were thinking of Chicago.
Dog Honking Over Heat
A vet said a dog trapped in a car on a 90-degree day in eastern Pennsylvania honked the horn until he was rescued. Nancy Soares said the chocolate Labrador named Max was brought to her animal hospital last month after he had been in the car for about an hour while his owner had gone shopping. When she realized what was going on, she gave Max cold water and wet him down with towels before rushing him to the vet hospital. Dr. Soares said Max was hot and panting but suffered no serious injuries, only heat exhaustion.
Job Applicant Steals From Tip Jar
Police in Valparaiso, Indiana, said two teens were arrested when one of them stole money from a tip jar in an ice cream shop after they filled out job applications. A clerk at Pat’s Ice Cream Parlor told police the boys, ages 15 and 16, filled out the applications Friday afternoon. She said she was filing the applications when she heard change clattering, then saw one of the boys grab the dollar bills from the tip jar and run out. The employee chased the boy and caught him. He turned over the money he stole, $2. Police said the other teen claimed he didn’t steal any money, but gave the clerk his own cash to avoid getting in trouble. Both boys were arrested on preliminary theft charges.
Truck Driver Choking On Pork Rinds Crashes
A Washington State Patrol trooper says the driver of a FedEx tractor-trailer rig choked on some spicy pork rinds, lost control of his truck on an interstate and jackknifed before coming to a stop in a muddy ditch. Edward Sutherland was driving his rig southbound from Blaine, near the Canadian border, Monday when he began choking and veered from the southbound lanes across the median into northbound lanes of Interstate 5. The truck didn’t hit any vehicles. The 42-year-old driver suffered minor injuries and will be ticketed.
Crash Leaves Scared Pet Monkey Atop Pole
Police said a truck crash in Ohio left animal carcasses all over a road and the driver’s pet monkey stranded atop a utility pole. The State Highway Patrol said the truck was hauling carcasses for a meat processing plant late Monday afternoon. The truck flipped while in a curve on a road in Medina County. The frightened monkey scampered up the pole after the accident. Troopers said the truck driver was OK. The monkey had to be coaxed down from its perch. The meat plant sent another truck to pick up the carcasses. No charges have been filed. The crash is still being investigated.
Man Crashes Car While Taking Off Shoes
Pennsylvania State Police said a man trying to take off his shoes while driving crashed his SUV. He was charged with careless driving. Troopers said Jordon Rauder, 20, was driving in North Newton Township Wednesday afternoon when he decided he wanted to take off his shoes but didn’t want to pull over to do it. Rauder crossed into oncoming traffic before slamming on the brakes and hitting a guardrail. The SUV flipped on its roof and Rauder suffered minor injuries.
Geriatric Robber
New York police said a geriatric robber with a cane and an oxygen tank fired three shots at a clothing store before fleeing empty-handed. The man, believed to be in his 70s, announced a stickup at 9 p.m. Friday at high-end clothing store Sarar. He fired off a round at a fleeing customer and two rounds at the manager, but none of the bullets hit anyone. One bullet did tear through eight suits and came to rest in the jacket pocket of the ninth. The suspect fled in a black Cadillac, police said.
Website For Matchmaking Parents
A New York woman said her failed efforts to find her 31-year-old son his dream woman led her to create a matchmaking website. Geri Brin, who created www.faboverfifty.com, said she added a “Date My Single Kid” section to the site to help parents who want to find the perfect mate for their single children. Brin said 20 like-minded parents and their adult children have already signed up for the free service.
2010 Redneck Games
The Redneck Games kicked off in East Dublin, Georgia, Saturday afternoon with the ceremonial lighting of the “Redneck Torch,” a staff made out of empty Budweiser cans and equipped with a gas line and mini gas tank. Organizers of the 15th Redneck Games said thousands of people turned out to watch and participate in bobbing for pigs’ feet and other games. The organizers said the Redneck Games, which began as a parody of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and now serve as a fundraiser for the Lions Club, typically draws 5,000 to 7,500 people, with huge crowds on hand Saturday for a version of horseshoes using toilet seats and an “armpit serenade.”
Hermit Crab Race
Hermit crabs dressed as Greek gods, World Cup players and newlyweds were the stars of Virginia’s ninth annual Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge in Virginia Beach. Organizers of the event, which featured several races followed by the Miss Curvaceous Crustacean Beauty Pageant, said 182 hermit crabs in costumes and decorated shells participated Saturday. Ernest Mihalopoulos of Pittsburgh had the top crab, named Dr. Zeus. Sarah Katz, 10, of Rockville, Virginia, won the beauty contest with a hermit crab disguised as a blue-shelled chef at a Crab Cakes restaurant.
Facebook Aids In Long-Lost Ring’s Return
An Auburn, Maine, woman said a stranger who found her class ring, which was stolen 28 years ago, tracked her down on Facebook to return the item. Michelle Bilodeau said the pink Edward Little High School Class of ‘83 ring was stolen her junior year of high school. She didn’t think she would ever get it back, but then her Facebook account received a message from Angie Foster. Foster said she found the ring while working at a roller skating rink as a teenager and began searching for the owner about 15 years ago. Foster was able to find out Bilodeau’s name by calling the school, but she was unable to find out any other information until she got on Facebook.
No Habla Foils Robbery
San Diego police said an attempted robber fled the crime scene when a convenience store clerk pretended she couldn’t speak English. Investigators said the suspect walked into a 7-Eleven store about 4:30 p.m. Sunday and pointed a gun at the clerk. When the clerk pretended she couldn’t understand English, the frustrated robber fled with no money in a late-model green Ford sedan.
Microwaved Squid
Police in Reno, Nevada, say a squid left cooking in a microwave is the suspected culprit of noxious fumes that left two apartment dwellers queasy. Authorities don’t know if the squid was put in the microwave as a prank or act of cruelty. But they believe the critter was put in the microwave by burglars. Two residents got sick from the fumes.
Golf Course Landing
A pilot ran out of fuel and had to crash-land Sunday on a Southern California golf course. Pilot Phil Samuelian of Pasadena said he was forced to land near the driving range and clubhouse at the Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills. Samuelian hit a golf cart before his Cessna came to a stop. But a couple of duffers in the cart didn’t let a plane crash spoil their day. They bailed from the cart just before the plane hit – then finished their round.
Metrobus Joyride Ends With Tree Crash
Police in Washington, D.C., are trying to determine how a teenage impostor managed to take a city bus for a joy ride, picking up passengers before crashing the vehicle into a tree. William Jackson, 19, somehow obtained a Metrobus driver uniform and faked his way behind the wheel of a bus at a depot in Bladensburg, Maryland. Police said Jackson took the bus Friday afternoon and followed its scheduled route, picking up several passengers along the way. Police said Jackson drove the unsuspecting, paying passengers for about 4 miles before crashing the bus into a tree. He then fled on foot before being apprehended by police. The passengers aboard the bus also fled. Jackson was arrested on charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle and fleeing an accident.
Police Blow Up Corn And Tuna
An unattended suitcase found at a park in suburban New York was blown up by police as a precaution last Thursday, although the bag’s contents turned out to be harmless. The bomb squad investigating a red suitcase discovered in Veterans Park in Nanuet, New York, took X-rays of the package. The X-ray showed three cylinders inside with something that looked like tools and wires. So they cleared the area and blew it up. A closer examination found the suspicious items were a can of corn and two cans of tuna. The tools were a can-opener and some pliers. “More than likely, some homeless guy lost his dinner,” one officer said.
Tortoise Shows Up 4 Years After Disappearing
A New Hampshire couple says a 25-pound pet tortoise has reappeared four years after escaping from its pen. Mike and Christine Wellington say their African spur thigh tortoise named Lucy escaped from their greenhouse business in Brentwood. But on Friday, the Wellingtons received a call from a neighbor who lives about a half mile up the road who told them that Lucy had reappeared. The Wellingtons say they’re certain the tortoise is theirs because of the unusual protruding bumps on its back.
Clumsy Robber
A Daytona Beach, Florida, robbery target had her escape fall in her lap – literally – when a clumsy robber dropped his gun in her lap. Carol Costello, 69, was leaving a Walmart store when a car blocked her way and a passenger with a gun jumped onto the hood of her car. The robber smashed a large hole in the windshield of Costello’s car with the gun, which fell from his hand and landed in Costello’s lap. She pointed it at the assailant, who ran back to his car. As the robbers’ car drove away, Costello was able to write down its license plate number. The would-be robber also dropped his cell phone, which included photos that allowed Costello to identify him to police.
Mooners Drop Trou For Amtrak Trains
About 100 people gathered in Laguna Hills, California, for an annual ritual of “mooning” passing Amtrak passenger trains. A group including grandmothers, bikers, housewives and even couples making a date of it took up positions along the tracks Saturday for the daylong “Mooning of the Amtrak” celebration. The event was tamer than in years past because of a heavy police presence. Authorities shut the event down in 2008, saying witnesses reported seeing completely nude people doing nasty things together. It was the first time the event had been closed down in its 30-year history.
Skinny-Dippers Strip For World Record
More than 100 skinny-dippers squeezed into a pool at a Los Gatos, California, nudist resort hoping to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. “We’re all here because we’re dedicated to acceptance and mutual respect,” said Lupin Lodge owner, 72-year-old Glyn Stout. Saturday’s event capped Nude Recreation Week, coordinated by the American Association for Nude Recreation. At exactly noon, participants had to be nude in an American Association for Nude Recreation-sanctioned site. In 2009, 13,648 people skinny-dipped, setting a record. Guinness World Records officials won’t be able to confirm this year’s tally for at least another month.
Woman Jailed For Sending Text Threats To Herself
An Orange County, California, woman has been sentenced to a year in jail for sending hundreds of threatening text messages – to herself. Prosecutors said Jeanne Mundango Manunga told police her former boyfriend and his sister-in-law were behind the threats. Manunga was sentenced Friday. She was convicted in May of three felony counts of false imprisonment by fraud or deceit and two misdemeanor counts of making a false police report. Prosecutors said Manunga started sending the threatening messages to herself after she and her former boyfriend ended their relationship in 2008. Manunga was put on probation for three years and ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution.
Man Set Fire To Friend’s Fake Leg
New Mexico authorities say a 47-year-old man’s friends set his prosthetic leg on fire after he lost a bet, causing him to suffer severe burns to his buttocks and lower back. Dona Ana County deputies found the man naked on the side of U.S. Route 70 with his prosthetic leg in flames. Deputies learned that the man and his friends were drinking last Monday and bet that whoever drank the least would be set on fire. The man told investigators that he drank the least, six beers, so his buds set him on fire. He said his friends ignited his prosthetic leg, with the flames spreading upward. The one-legged man took his clothes off because of the pain and his friends decided to take him to the hospital, but they freaked and dumped him off on the side of the road and left.
Octopus Picks World Cup Winners
Paul the octopus is one lucky sea creature. The octopus, also known as the “Oracle of Oberhausen, has successfully predicted the winner of six World Cup matches so far. Now, Paul has forecast the winner of Sunday’s championship match. And rather than go out on a limb – or all eight of them – the octopus is sticking with the favorite, picking Spain over the Netherlands. Handlers of the 2 1/2-year-old octopus – a resident of the Oberhausen Sea Life aquarium in Germany – usually makes predictions in games played involving Germany. But because of Paul’s recent worldwide fame and demand for his pick for the final, his handlers made an exception. Officials put a mussel inside each of two clear plastic boxes bearing the national flags of the teams in his tank. Paul then makes his choice by opening the lid with his tentacles and devouring one of the treats. But Paul’s predicting has come without controversy. Animal rights group PETA wants him freed. Many Germans want him cooked and eaten.
Firefighters Robbed Of Their Dinner
Chicago firefighters said someone broke into their firehouse while they were on a call and stole food from them. Fire Lt. Frank Burens said firefighters were away from the Engine 26 house Tuesday on a bogus call about a crash on an expressway. They returned to find a rear window had been forced open and the screen removed. Nothing was taken except the food the firefighters had planned to make for dinner.
Firefighters Robbed Of Their Dinner
Chicago firefighters said someone broke into their firehouse while they were on a call and stole food from them. Fire Lt. Frank Burens said firefighters were away from the Engine 26 house Tuesday on a bogus call about a crash on an expressway. They returned to find a rear window had been forced open and the screen removed. Nothing was taken except the food the firefighters had planned to make for dinner.
Black Bear Camps In Downtown Tree
A black bear made a surprise stop in downtown Sisters, Oregon. Craig Derksen, a teacher from Singapore visiting Sisters, was sitting under a tree Wednesday reading when someone screamed, “Bear!” A black bear ran by him and up a tree. With more than 100 people watching, agents from the Department of Fish and Wildlife tried to coax the bear down with barbecue sauce and cantaloupe. The bear eventually climbed down, roamed through the downtown area and then headed out of town.
9-Year-Old Girl Gets Stuck Inside Chimney
A 9-year-old Connecticut girl who climbed to the roof of her house and attempted to crawl back inside through the chimney was rescued after getting stuck. The girl climbed up a house painter’s ladder Wednesday morning, walked across the roof and tried to climb down the chimney. She almost made it to the fireplace before getting stuck in the flue. Family members heard her cries for help and called rescue workers. After about 20 minutes, the girl was able to wiggle herself down through the hole and out the fireplace. She was not injured.
Cows Like Shakespeare
Workers at a British farm have discovered cows exposed to a theater group performing renditions of a Shakespeare play increased milk production by 4%. Farmers at Pleasant Farm, near Maidstone, England, said the Changeling Theater Co.’s rendition of Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor” caused the cows to increase their milk yield the most.
Man Arrested For The 154th Time
Paul Baldwin should have his Miranda rights memorized by now. He’s been arrested 154 times. Baldwin’s latest arrest was Monday in Kittery, Maine, for allegedly stealing two 18-packs and a 12-pack of beer from a convenience store. Baldwin’s criminal record includes eight trespass notices, 75 citations, four Social Security aliases and convictions for thefts, receiving stolen property, arson and criminal mischief.
Maggots On A Plane
Instead of snakes on a plane, it was maggots. A U.S. Airways flight was just about to leave Atlanta for Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday when maggots started falling from an overhead bin, where there was a container of spoiled meat that a passenger had stuffed into a carry-on. The plane returned to the gate, where passengers got off and crews cleaned up the mess. The flight then continued to Charlotte, where the plane was taken out of service and fumigated. The man who had the spoiled meat was put on another flight.
Tasered Granny Sues
An 87-year-old granny is suing El Reno, Oklahoma, after police used a stun gun on her while she was lying in bed hooked up to an oxygen machine. Lona Varner’s grandson called 911 and told the dispatcher that his grandmother “wanted to end her life.” Officer Thomas Duran said Varner pulled a kitchen knife from under her pillow and threatened to stab and kill him if he tried to take her from her home. Another officer used a stun gun to subdue her. She’s asking for at least $75,000 in damages.
Please Don’t Fire During The 4th
DeKalb County, Georgia, leaders are asking citizens to sign a pledge to refrain from firing guns into the air in celebration of the Fourth of July. The initiative follows the death of 4-year-old Marquel Peters, who died on New Year’s Eve when a stray bullet pierced the roof of his Decatur church and struck him in the head. The boy was sitting next to his mother during a midnight church service. Authorities never determined who fired the shot, but believe it was a New Year’s Eve reveler.
Walmart Worker Fired For Smoking Legal Marijuana Sues
A Michigan man has sued Walmart for firing him after he tested positive for medical marijuana he was using legally to treat pain from an inoperable brain tumor and sinus cancer. Joselph Casias, 30, said he was fired late last year after five years of employment at Walmart in his hometown of Battle Creek, Michigan. Casias began using pot on his oncologist’s recommendation after Michigan voters had approved medical marijuana use in 2008. He tested positive after he had twisted his knee at work, under a Walmart policy requiring tests for all employees injured on the job.
Crazy Leprechaun On The Loose
Police in Boulder, Colorado, are looking for a man dressed as a leprechaun who dashed between cars in a supermarket parking lot. The leprechaun pretended to shoot at people with his fingers as he dashed around between the cars on Wednesday. Officers still haven’t found the leprechaun, or his pot of gold.
Man Gobbles Down 5-Pound ‘Lebron’ Sandwich
New York is hungry for LeBron James, and one Brooklyn fan can prove it. A New York Knicks fan has become the first to devour a deli’s 5-pound sandwich named for possible future team member LeBron James. Brian Seiken, 50, was the first to successfully take on the Carnegie Deli’s foot-high “LeBron MVP” sandwich, devouring the rye bread, turkey, pastrami, corned beef, brisket, American cheese, lettuce and tomato sandwich in 36 minutes and 33 seconds on Sunday. “LeBron, I did this for you, now do the right thing and sign with the Knicks,” Seiken said of the Cleveland Cavaliers player. Sandy Levine, manager of the deli, said more than 200 people have attempted to eat the sandwich, but no one was able to finish it in one sitting before Seiken did it.
Gold And Diamond Stilettos
A British jeweler has created a $155,000 pair of stiletto heels made almost entirely of gold and diamonds. The Eternal Borgezie Diamond Stiletto shoes, designed by Christopher Michael Shellis for jeweler House of Borgezie, are made of gold and more than 2,200 individual diamonds. Shellis said, “The result is not so much a shoe, but rather a fine piece of jewelry that can be miraculously yet practically worn as the ultimate feminine adornment.”
Salmon Vodka
An Alaska distiller said it took him about 50 tries to perfect a recipe for smoked salmon flavored vodka. Toby Foster of Wasilla said the salmon vodka is available at Alaska bars and restaurants as well as some locations in the lower 48. Foster hopes his creation will increase his business. The distillery said it is currently marketing the beverage as an ingredient for Bloody Marys as opposed to drinking it straight out of the bottle.
Couple Steals $2,000 From Jail
A couple has been charged with stealing nearly $2,000 from a central Pennsylvania jail by using a routing number from a check the female suspect got from the jail after her release last year. Police said a 61-year-old man and his 51-year-old wife used the routing number to use the Blair County jail account to pay their utility bills. They also allegedly transferred $179 to the man’s bank account. The woman got the routing number when she received a check for $6.95 to reimburse her for money remaining in her inmate expense account after her release on theft charges in October. The couple pleaded not guilty and face a preliminary hearing on July 13th.
Showering Burglar
Authorities in Roswell, Georgia, arrested a man accused of breaking into a home and taking a shower yesterday. The homeowner arrived at her house to find someone taking a shower. The woman talked to the man while he was in the shower, then called police. The unidentified man insisted he was the “Duke of Germany,” which he said gave him the right to take a shower in the woman’s home. He was arrested and taken to jail.
Mother Charged For Phony Letter About Son’s Job
A Paducah, Kentucky, woman’s attempt to get her son out of jail on bond was foiled over a misspelling. Court officials became suspicious when the mother presented a letter allegedly from Wagner Moving and Storage. The woman knew bond for her son would be lowered if he had written proof of a job. But the company name was misspelled and when investigators checked it out, they learned the woman had asked for a letter from the company but was denied. She was jailed Tuesday on a charge of evidence tampering. Her son was charged with receiving stolen property.
Men Face Assault Charges After Dog Doo Dispute
Three Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, men face assault charges after they allegedly attacked an off-duty police officer in a dispute over dog poop. Brothers Matthew Stauffer, 33, and Daniel Stauffer, 31, allegedly attacked Officer John Doll earlier this month. Investigators said the Stauffers confronted Doll about his dog’s doo, even though Doll had already bagged it. According to court documents, Doll identified himself as an off-duty officer before wrestling two men to the ground before a third man attacked him. Police charged the Stauffers and 25-year-old Noah Coburn with aggravated assault, conspiracy and public drunkenness.
Seattle Writer Wins Bad Fiction Contest
A Seattle author has won a contest to create the worst opening sentence to start a book. Molly Ringle won the 28th annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, a bad-writing contest sponsored by San Jose State University. Ringle won with this opening sentence: “For the first month of Ricardo and Felicity’s affair, they greeted one another at every stolen rendezvous with a kiss – a lengthy, ravenous kiss, Ricardo lapping and sucking at Felicity’s mouth as if she were a giant cage-mounted water bottle and he were the world’s thirstiest gerbil.”
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