Man Robbed Of $10,000 Win At Casino

A 62-year-old Chicago man was robbed of more than $10,000 he had won at a casino less than 30 minutes earlier. The victim, an immigrant who speaks little English and lives in low-income housing in Chicago’s Chinatown, was returning from a trip to the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, just after 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning when the robbery happened. His son, William Chan, said his father “parks his car in the parking lot. He’s 20 steps from the front door. He gets out of his car, and all of a sudden, someone comes rushing out and wraps his arms around his neck… Then a second guy comes up with a gun.” The men told him not to move and demanded all of his money, including the nearly $10,000 he had just won. The robbers hit Mr. Chan in the forehead and fled. Paramedics treated him on the scene and he was not seriously injured.

20-Foot-Tall Bovine Impounded

A St. Paul, Minnesota, man says the city hasn’t returned his 20-foot fiberglass cow because it’s bolted to an impounded trailer for which he doesn’t have a title. Police said the trailer and the larger-than-life, black-and-white cow had been parked near Norb Anderson’s home when it was towed to the city’s impound lot November 18th. Anderson, 77, says he wasn’t home when the trailer and cow were towed and they were gone when he returned November 23rd. The lack of title was an oversight, Anderson said, and he didn’t abandon the $22,000 cow. “You think somebody just leaves a cow in front of my house?” he asked. The owner of the cow and trailer will have to pay more than $600 in towing and storage charges, officials said. Someone has since claimed ownership and the police department is trying to verify it. Police said people had complained about the cow when it was parked in the street. Anderson says he didn’t mean to upset the neighbors and he’s known as “the cow guy” who rents the cow to businesses for use in advertising.

Wife Fights Dirty

Deputies in Vero Beach, Florida, said they arrested a woman accused of “firmly” grabbing one of her husband’s family jewels and holding on for about 2 minutes during an argument. The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said the husband of Maryann Scott, 49, told deputies he had been planning to file for divorce and he hid a ring he had given Scott, valued at about $15,000. The man said Scott became upset when he refused to tell her the location of the ring and she pulled a knife on him, saying “she was going to kill him and that he was going to tell her where he had hidden her ring.” Deputies said the husband told them Scott “firmly grabbed his left testicle and refused to let go.” Police said the woman held on to it “for about two minutes or more before he was able to get her to let go.” Deputies said Scott took a picture of his injuries and there were apparent “red marks/bruises….in the photograph.” Scott was arrested on a battery charge.

Pricey Purse

A Dallas auction house said a Hermes Diamond Birkin handbag set a world record by fetching $203,150 at auction. Heritage Auctions said the Hermes Exceptional Collection Shiny Rouge H Porosus Crocodile 30cm Birkin Bag with Solid 18 karat White Gold & Diamond Hardware fetched the record price for a publicly auctioned handbag at the December 6th auction.

Man Steals $1,125 In Sex Enhancers

Pennsylvania police arrested a man accused of breaking into a convenience store and stealing $1,125 worth of sexual-performance enhancement products. Leola police said officers responded to a call about a burglary at a Stop N Go Mini Market at 2:49 a.m. Monday and discovered a front glass window had been broken and 63 packets of sexual-performance enhancement products had been stolen. “The packets have interesting names like Kaotic, Kryptonite, 8 Balls and Bangkok Chill,” police Lt. Todd Umstead said. “Many of them list ‘Horny Goat Weed Extract’ as an ingredient. You can’t make this up.” Robert Elmer Kieta, 29, was pulled over a short time later while driving a Ford Explorer, the same type of vehicle seen driving away from the scene. Police said his hand was bleeding and they noticed shards of safety glass and a hammer in the vehicle. A backpack in the SUV was found to contain the stolen products, police said. Kieta was arrested on a burglary charge and was jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail.

World’s Oldest Dog Dies

The Japanese owner of the canine certified as the world’s oldest living dog by Guinness World Records said the dog has died at the age of 26 years, 9 months. Yumiko Shinohara of Sakura said Pusuke, a male crossbreed, died Monday afternoon after refusing to eat in the morning and appearing to have difficulty breathing. Shinohara said Pusuke died only a few minutes after she arrived home from running errands. “I think (Pusuke) waited for me to come home,” she said. The dog, which had aged to the equivalent of 125 years in human terms, was certified in December 2010 as the world’s oldest living dog.

Police Seek ‘Chewbacca’ Gunman

Police in Florida are searching for a man who wore a Chewbacca mask when he and a pair of young men were involved in a shooting. West Palm Beach Police responded to a report of a shooting November 30th, and a woman who witnessed the incident said the Chewbacca-masked shooter was driving a car with two men, later identified as Jodeci Lamar Window, 19, and Mario Johnson, 21. The pair pulled up to a home and began shooting at Kyle Roney. The witness said Roney, who was on the front stairs of a home and was not injured, is suspected by a local gang of being involved in a drug theft. Police said Roney did not cooperate with the investigation. The witness picked Window and Johnson, who were not masked, out of a photo lineup. They were arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

O.B. Finally Apologizes To America For Tampon Shortage

As reported earlier, o.b. tampons issued an oddball, tongue-in-cheek apology in the form of a customizable video for the many months that their products were off store shelves. But that apology – and the coupon that came with it – was only available to Canadian shoppers. Now, o.b. has attempted to remedy the problem by putting the apology video on its U.S. website, http://obtampons.com/apology. And it also comes with a coupon that you can print out. However, while the Canadian coupons could just be printed straight from the screen, the U.S. version requires viewers to install and use a “coupon printer” from Coupons.com.

Top 5 Things You Can Learn From Snowmen

5. Wearing white is always in style.

4. Getting outside in the winter is good for your health.

3. Accessories don’t have to be expensive.

2. Don’t get too much sun!

1. If you’re a little bottom heavy, that’s okay!

Egg Nog Theft

Someone in Pittsburgh has a need for nog. Police are looking for a crook who smashed into a state liquor store and swiped two bottles of alcoholic egg nog. The break-in was caught on surveillance video. Police are investigating.

FAA Chief Resigns After DUI Arrest

J. Randolph Babbitt has resigned as head of the Federation Aviation Administration, just days after he was charged with drunken driving in Virginia. Babbitt was arrested Saturday night in Fairfax. At his request, he was put on administrative leave Monday by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. He announced his resignation yesterday. “Serving as FAA administrator has been an absolute honor and the highlight of my professional career,” he said. “But I am unwilling to let anything cast a shadow on the outstanding work done … by my colleagues.” LaHood – who initially learned of Babbitt’s arrest through a police press release 36 hours after it occurred – said yesterday he had told Babbitt he was “very disappointed with the way that I learned about this.” However, LaHood praised Babbitt as “a dedicated public servant and outstanding leader.” Babbitt, 65, has been head of the FAA since 2009. He served previously as chairman of the agency’s Management Advisory Council, was an Eastern Airlines pilot for 25 years and was president of the Air Line Pilots Association.

Worker Fired For Reporting Abused Dog

A baggage-handling firm says it’s investigating a woman’s firing for insisting an abused dog at Reno-Tahoe International Airport be taken to a veterinarian. Lynn Jones, who worked at the airport for independent baggage-handling firm Airport Terminal Services, said the dog about to board a plane last month appeared to be starving and was covered with scars. She said a supervisor told her to allow the dog onto the plane and when she resisted, he told her: “You’re done. Go home.” The company said it was taking the matter “extremely seriously and commends this employee’s situational awareness and her desire to raise the concern on behalf of the canine involved.” An ATS spokeswoman said the firm was reviewing the roles of all employees involved in the incident. Jones said she returned to the airport after her firing and saw airport police and Washoe County Animal Service workers taking the dog from the airport to a veterinarian for treatment. The dog was allowed to fly three days later, authorities said. After the incident, Jones said, her employer deactivated her security badge and refused to return her phone calls.

Tennessee Home Burns As Firefighters Watch – Again

A Tennessee couple has lost everything after their home burned to the ground as firefighters watched and did nothing. Vicky Bell said she called 911 when her mobile home in Obion County caught fire. Firefighters responded but did not put out the blaze because she does not subscribe to the local fire service. Rural residents who want fire protection can get service from the nearby town of South Fulton, but they must pay a $75-a-year fee. The last time this happened, the city of South Fulton received a lot of heat nationwide for the policy. South Fulton Mayor David Crocker said that if the city’s firefighters responded to people who didn’t pay there would be no incentive for anyone to subscribe. He said firefighters will help when people are in danger, regardless of whether they have paid. The homeowners – who are staying for a couple of nights at a local hotel, courtesy of the Red Cross – had no insurance on the property.

Michigan Teachers Removes ‘Gay’ From Christmas Carol

A traditional Christmas carol is in the middle of a controversy at an elementary school in Michigan. The music teacher decided to change the lyrics to “Deck The Halls” because one particular word had the students laughing. The teacher at Cherry Knoll Elementary School removed the word “gay” – changing the verse to “Don we now our bright apparel” rather than “gay apparel.” Principal Chris Parker said some students “had been snickering at the lyrics to ‘Deck The Hals’,” so she changed them. Parker says when he found out about the lyric change, he immediately had a chat with the teacher. Many parents thought the teacher’s decision to change the lyrics was completely inappropriate. Some said they were now taking time to explain to their children that gay is not a bad word.
(Do you think the teacher should have changed the lyrics, or left them alone?)

Drunk Driver Crashes Into DUI Checkpoint Center

A North Carolina man is facing criminal charges after driving his Camaro into a local DUI mobile command center Sunday morning at 2:45 a.m. Police say they suspect 21-year-old Douglas Shane Southard was driving under the influence of alcohol. The “Booze It and Lose It” mobile command center is set up at various checkpoints across the state to keep drunk drivers off the road.

Welfare Couple Livin’ Large

A Seattle chiropractor and his wife live in a $1.2 million waterfront home and have spent the past eight years flying to Moscow, Paris, Israel, Turkey, Mexico and the Dominican Republic – all while collecting more than $100,000 in welfare. The U.S. attorney’s office is suing David Silverstein and Lyudmila Shimonova, accusing them of filing false claims and demanding they pay back more than $135,000 in federal housing assistance dating back to 2003. Prosecutors are also seeking tens of thousands of dollars in fines. In gaining Section 8 housing assistance, Shimonova claimed that she lived alone with her two children and that her household assets were less than $5,000. Silverstein received the monthly benefits of $1,272 as Shimonova’s purported landlord. Shimonova also received benefits under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, as well as Social Security cash reserved for people who can’t work due to age or disability and whose assets fall below a certain threshold. The investigation included surveillance of the three-bedroom, 2,300-square-foot home on Lake Washington, during which agents observed his black Jaguar parked there.

Disarmed Grenades Found In Woman’s Luggage

Authorities at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey discovered five disarmed grenades in the luggage of a woman seeking to board a flight to Belgium, the Transportation Security Administration said. The TSA said baggage screeners found the grenades while X-raying the woman’s checked luggage on Saturday. A TSA spokeswoman said the woman surrendered the items to authorities without incident and was then allowed to board the flight. It’s not clear why the woman was carrying the grenades.

Professor Is Dumpster-Diving Urban Robin Hood

Jeff Ferrell, a professor of sociology at Texas Christian University, is an urban Robin Hood, although what he gives away is not stolen goods but instead goods from dumpster diving. The prof sifts through dumpsters and gives away the vast majority of his haul to the needy or friends. He has also managed to furnish his living room with what’s leftover. And becaue Ferrell, 57, gathers the goods on a bicycle, most of his finds are from dumpsters near his home. “I think it’s appalling on the level of just sheer waste and full landfills,” he said. “I think it’s also profoundly disturbing given the level of need in our society.”

‘Shroom Sham

A man’s attempt to sell some bogus “magic” mushroom landed him behind bars. Jayson Hartman was trying to pass off some shredded shiitake and porcini mushrooms as the psychedelic variety when officers broke up the sale last month, according to police in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Hartman allegedly admitted he chopped up store-bought mushrooms then bagged them in an attempt to pass them off as the illegal variety. Investigators said the sale was broken up after police received a call about a suspicious vehicle outside a grocery store on November 8th. Police said they recovered a receipt from the car showing a $30 purchase of the pseudo psychedelics. Hartman had arranged to meet his alleged buyer through Facebook. Hartman was arrested Friday and charged with violating state drug laws. He’s being held on $40,000 bail.

Gold Krugerrands Dropped In Salvation Army Kettles

The Salvation Army received some unexpected and very generous donations in Frederick, Maryland, last week. Five gold South African Krugerrands were dropped in four kettles in the city Thursday. The coins were gifts from Matt Lerner, owner of the Frederick Coin Exchange who bought them for $9,000. Lerner grew up in Frederick and said it’s important to give back to the community. He also had fun trying to sneak the gold coins into the kettles unnoticed. Meanwhile, an anonymous donor dropped a $20 gold coin into a kettle belonging to the Southwest Florida Salvation Army. It’s the seventh straight year someone has dropped the coin into donation pots with a note that read, “In loving memory of Mimi.”

Men Arrested For Beer Bottle Chucking

Police in Florida arrested two men who threw beer containers from atop a parking garage – while an officer was on the sidewalk below. Gainesville police said an officer was flagged down about 12:15 a.m. Sunday by a witness who said two men were throwing beer containers from the fifth level of the parking garage. Officer Jeremiah Kelly said a full beer bottle exploded on the sidewalk between him and the witness while they were talking next to the parking garage. Gregory Michael Byerly, 21, and Peter Claibourne Hansinger, 22, were arrested and charged with one count each of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault.

Mother Of Six Trades House For Used Minivan

A mother living in Detroit has traded in her four-bedroom home that was once home to Diana Ross and the Supremes for a 2006 minivan. LaWanda Flake, a 36-year-old, disabled mother of six traded in her four-bedroom, three-bath house, located in one of the city’s better neighborhoods and valued at $96,000 for a 2006 Chevrolet Uplander with 85,000 miles, valued at between $5000 and $8,500. Flake said she posted the house offer on Craigslist because she needed a new car in order to get her children to school on time because the city’s bus system was proving unreliable. Flake and her six children have relocated to a three-bedroom home nearby that she was able to purchase on a $4,000 land contract. Flake purchased her former home last year at a foreclosure sale for $3,600, nowhere near its six-figure retail value. The house reportedly has several thousand dollars worth of needed repairs waiting for the new owners.

9-Year-Old Suspended For Calling Teacher ‘Cute’

A 9-year-old boy was suspended from school for two days for sexual harassment last week after he called his teacher “cute,” his mother says. Chiquita Lockett of Gastonia, North Carolina, said her son, Emanyea, shouldn’t have been sent home from Brookside Elementary School. “It’s not like he went up to the woman and tried to grab her or touch her in a sexual way,” Lockett said. “So why would he be suspended for two days?” The Gaston County school district said it couldn’t discuss the incident beyond confirming that Emanyea was suspended for “inappropriate behavior” after making “inappropriate statements.”

Carjacker Foiled By Victim’s Texting

A text message helped foil a carjacking early Saturday morning in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Antonio Jackson, 27, was charged with charged with first-degree kidnapping and two counts of armed criminal action. Police said two women were leaving a Christmas party at a bar just after midnight when Jackson walked up to them and demanded money. When the women said they didn’t have any, he forced them to drive to an ATM. As they were leaving, a friend of the women pulled up alongside them and asked if they were OK. The man told police one of the women gave him a strange and worried look, but said they were fine. The man then text-messaged one woman who replied “No, call cops.” The man called 911 and followed the car they were in until police stopped them.

Man Stuck In Snowdrift For Three Days

A 52-year-old Nome, Alaska, man is back home after spending three days trapped in his Toyota Tacoma when he hit a snowdrift. Clifton Vial said he decided to drive along a northbound road to see how far it would take him Monday night, and he found himself stuck in a snowdrift more than 40 miles out of town with only tennis shoes, jeans and a $30 Sears jacket to keep himself warm. Vial said he periodically turned the truck on for heat and radio, but mostly stayed warm using a fleece sleeping bag liner and bath towels wrapped around his feet and legs. He said he had nothing to eat but a few cans of Coors Light, which he consumed by removing the tops and digging the frozen contents out with a knife. Rescuers finally arrived Thursday with a Snickers bar and an orange soda. Vial, who wasn’t noticed missing until he failed to show up for work on Tuesday, said his wife and daughter had been out of town.

Woman Sues Over Smelly Car

A Michigan woman may not have expected that new-car smell when she bought a used vehicle, but says she certainly didn’t expect the odor of a dead body. In a lawsuit filed in Oakland County Circuit Court, Margarita Salais of New Baltimore alleges the dealership’s staff sold her a 2006 Ford Expedition last March without telling her it once held a dead body. “They bought the car while it was still cold out in March,” her attorney said. “The warmer it got, the worse the smell got.” Salais said when she brought the car back to the dealership someone told her the smell came from a dead animal. She said she filed a claim with her insurance company, whose investigators determined odor was of human origin. The insurance company later learned the car had been stolen three times, something Salais said the dealer also failed to tell her. Her efforts to return the car were fruitless and now she wants $25,000 plus court fees.

Robber Picks Wrong Victim

An alleged armed robber in Chicago picked the wrong victim, getting into a tussle that left him wounded, bruised and in cuffs. Anthony Miranda, 24, faces charges including discharging a weapon during a robbery, after allegedly approaching a 33-year-old man sitting in a car and asking for a light before pulling a gun and demanding his valuables. The victim complied and the gunman ordered him out of the car. That’s when the driver grabbed for the gun and during the ensuring struggle, Miranda shot himself in the ankle. The victim, who held his assailant until police arrived, told officers he is a mixed-martial arts competitor. Miranda, who was on parole for a burglary conviction, was jailed in lieu of $350,000 bail.

Teacher Scrooge

A teacher in Nanuet, New York, has apologized after telling her whole classroom the truth about Santa Claus. Leatrice Ann Eng, 58, was forced to call each of the children’s parents to give her apologies for explaining that Santa Claus is not real. Eng was teaching her class of seven and eight-year-olds about the North Pole, when a student said that it is where Santa Claus lived. The teacher then proceeded to tell her class that Santa does not exist, and that it was their parents who left them presents in their stockings. Annoyed parents have since dubbed her as a “real-life Scrooge.”

Lobster Tag Lost In ‘Perfect Storm’ Hops Atlantic

A tag from a lobster pot that was swept off the New England sea floor two decades ago during what came to be known as “The Perfect Storm” has washed up 3,000 miles away in Ireland. The pot that held the tag with Cohasset lobsterman Richard Figueiredo’s name on it was one of hundreds he lost when the vicious storm on the Atlantic Ocean struck off New England in 1991. Rosemary Hill of Waterville in County Kerry found the tag on a beach last year, but the beachcomber put it aside with other beach souvenirs. Last week, she decided to try to contact Figueiredo and found him through his son Rich’s Facebook account. Figueiredo was stunned the worn tag had weathered the long trip after the storm, which was made famous by Sebastian Junger’s book “The Perfect Storm,” the basis for a Hollywood movie about a rugged crew of New England fishermen caught in the storm. Figueiredo and Hill spoke for the first time Thursday, when she offered to mail the tag back to him. But Figueiredo told her to keep it. “The meaning it has over there is what matters,” he said. “I am honored that she has put so much enthusiasm into this. What’s happening now is a gift to me.”

Weed And Whoppers

Authorities say a central Florida man was arrested after jokingly trying to buy drugs at a Burger King drive-thru. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said 32-year-old Shawn Porter and a friend placed an order for “blunt and some herbs” at a Deltona Burger King Thursday night. A cashier smelled marijuana coming from their car and jotted down the license plate of the car, and then a supervisor called 911. A deputy located Porter’s house by running the tag number and was waiting when Porter arrived home with a Burger King bag in his hand. The deputy reported finding 28 grams of marijuana in the car. Porter was charged with drug possession and held on $1,000 bond.

Dead Raccoon Assault

Police in Vermont say a woman who might have been angry about a dead raccoon left on a street took its bloody carcass to City Hall and angrily slammed it against the building’s doors. Burlington police say the woman left the raccoon’s body outside City Hall before walking off one morning two weeks ago. Police say the woman faces a possible vandalism charge. They also say her actions created a public health hazard. They’re seeking the public’s help in identifying the woman and have released a description and surveillance photo of her.

Thieves Target Toilet Paper At Diner

An Albuquerque, New Mexico, restaurant employee says he’s now seen it all after three men left his diner with rolls of toilet paper and were nabbed in the parking lot by police. Burgers, Dogs and Wings employee Josh Flannery-Stewart said he was immediately suspicious of the men when they came in Saturday because they weren’t talking and appeared “messed up.” The three went into the bathroom and emerged carrying about a dozen rolls of toilet paper. They got in a car in the parking lot, but didn’t get far. Albuquerque police apparently already had the trio under surveillance and quickly surrounded the car and arrested them. The toilet paper was returned to its rightful owner.

J&J Really, Really, Really Sorry For Removing O.B. Tampons

It looks like Johnson & Johnson’s O.B. tampon brand has bowed to an outcry from loyal users of its Ultra product to return it to store shelves in the U.S. and Canada. And it’s doing so with this rather humorous, over-the-top personalized musical and video apology. Just visit http://obtampons.ca/apology, enter in your name and you will get a video of a charming man singing specifically to you about how really, really, really sorry he is for doing this you. Your name is also written in the sky, in rose petals, and tattooed on the man’s arm. At the end of the video, a coupon is offered. O.B. is only apologizing to Canadians at the moment.

Escaped Prisoner Caught In Toilet

An inmate who escaped during a prison van ride was at large for 6 hours before police dogs caught his scent in a portable toilet, Illinois State Police said. Cesar Sanchez, 37, who is serving a seven-year sentence for burglary, got out of a moving transport van near Lockport, Illinois, Friday and was believed to have hitched a ride on the back of a delivery truck. Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas said the delivery truck investigators think Sanchez used in his getaway was traced to a business where video surveillance records showed Sanchez dismounting the truck. After police dogs picked up his scent in a storage lot for portable toilets, police using infrared technology in a helicopter established he was hiding in one of the toilets. Sanchez, who was handcuffed during the prison van ride, may have kicked the van door open, authorities said.

Stick Shift Foils Carjackers

Two would-be carjackers in St. Petersburg, Florida, had to make a getaway on foot because they were unable to drive a stick shift. The robbery occurred at about 1 a.m. Friday at a business with a locked gate. The victims were a man who had dropped off a work truck there and his girlfriend, who had come to pick him up driving her manual transmission Nissan. The couple told police two men approached them as the man returned to the car after locking the gate. One of the men pointed a gun at them and told them to get out of the car and hand over their money and cellphone. The men got into the car and tried to drive away but were foiled by the stick shift. They ran off with a cellphone but without the car.

Shoplifted Candlelight Steak Dinner Foiled

A Florida man faces theft charges after allegedly trying to walk out of a store with the makings for a candlelight dinner stuffed down his pants, police said. Collier County sheriff’s deputies said Dannial Ashley, 31, was charged with retail theft after employees of a supermarket saw him trying to make off with four steaks and some candles. Ashley tried to run off without his loot, but was chased down by the grocers. He was was later released on bail pending further proceedings.

Coin Car

A United Arab Emirates man said it took him 3,000 hours to coat his 1998 Chevrolet Camaro in 33,000 of the country’s coins. Tariq Javaid, a Pakistan native who has lived in Dubai since 1999, began gluing the coins to the car on October 15, 2010, and attached the last piece of currency last week so the car would be completed in time for National Day celebrations today. “I requested my friend who works in a bank to arrange for the coins. All the coins used in this car are brand new,” Javaid said. Javaid, who used all denominations of coins for the car, which he dubbed “Pride of the Emirates,” said he hopes his feat makes it into the Guinness Book of World Records. The coins are worth approximately $5,700.

Officer Faces Firing Over Santeria Plan

A Florida police officer is arguing to keep her job after she and another city employee planned to use a Santeria practice to change the city manager’s mind. North Miami Beach Police officer Elizabeth Torres is scheduled to plead her case Monday before City Manager Lyndon Bonner. She and office manager Yvonne Rodriguez allegedly tried to recruit a City Hall janitor in August to sprinkle birdseed in and around Bonner’s office as part of a Santeria practice aimed at changing the official’s mind about cutting the city’s police budget. Torres, who was turned in by the janitor, said the practice, which she learned from family members, was only meant to help Bonner change his mind, not cause any physical harm. Rodriguez has been terminated by the city. The police chief recommended Torres receive a formal letter of reprimand and a 240-hour suspension.

Frosty Costume Causes Four 911 Calls

A North Carolina man whose one-man parade in a Frosty the Snowman costume yielded four 911 calls said he never meant to frighten anyone. Jeffery Acker, who donned the top section of an inflatable snowman Sunday and strolled through downtown Vanceboro while carrying a 4-foot candy cane, said his walk was meant to be inspire holiday spirit, not fear. “Christmas is everything to me. I love it,” Acker said. “It was never an intention to be scary.” Acker is not accused of any illegal activities and Police Chief William Turner said he has “more important” things to investigate.

Bad Santa

Authorities in Florida are searching for a bus passenger who sang profane songs and used a rock to smash the windshield while wearing a Santa hat. Deputies are working to identify the young man, who the Broward County Transit bus driver said boarded the vehicle with a friend Friday in Lauderhill and began singing profanity-laced songs loudly during the ride. The passenger repeatedly refused the driver’s request to stop using profanity on the bus and allegedly continued to curse at the driver while exiting the vehicle. Deputies said the man picked up a rock outside of the bus and threw it at the windshield, smashing the glass. The sheriff’s office said it received a clear image of the man, believed to be in his late teens, from bus security cameras.

Naming Rights To Creek Offered On eBay

The naming rights to a creek in Kalona, Iowa, will be put up for bid on eBay, town officials said. The creek is currently called West Drainage Ditch, but most people in town refer to it simply as “the crick.” The idea was hatched by Dan Ehl, editor of the Kalona News, as a way to raise money for the city. City council members said they will consider any name as long as it’s appropriate – the name will be subject to government approval. Funds from the winning bid will go toward replacing sidewalks to provide better access to schools, parks and areas that children frequent as part of the city’s Safe Route To Schools project.

Clerk Scares Off Robber

Police in Manchester, New Hampshire, say a masked bandit pointed a gun at a store clerk and demanded money. But the crook was scared off when the clerk pulled out an ax handle. According to authorities, the 50-year-old cashier at the ATM Market also yelled out his store was being robbed. His cries were heard by workers at a garage next to the store. They chased the suspect, but he got away.

Burrito Lockdown

A New Mexico county jail was under lockdown earlier this week because of a burrito. Officials say a guard smuggled in some Mexican food for a prisoner, who was caught eating the burrito. Prison authorities were concerned the burrito run was just a rehearsal for smuggling something a lot more serious. But nothing else was found. The guard was fired.

Highway Cash

Police in Pennsylvania say people who grabbed flying cash could face criminal charges. A bank van spilled more than $100,000 in Upper St. Clair, just southwest of Pittsburgh. The money was blowing in the wind and people stopped their cars to grab the flying bills. Police are investigating why the door of the Fidelity Courier Service van opened. The company is offering a reward for the return of the money. Authorities say there will be a two-week grace period for thieves to turn in money they stole.

Dog Shoots Hunter In The Butt

Authorities in Box Elder County, Utah, said a hunter was wounded in the buttocks when his dog jumped on a 12-gauge shotgun, causing the weapon to fire a round of birdshot. Robert Cottingham was duck hunting with his son and brother-in-law at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Sunday morning when the incident took place. While the hunting crew was retrieving a wounded duck from the water, a 12-gauge shotgun was left resting inside the hunting boat they were using. Cottingham says that the dog was in a marshy area of the lake and jumped back into the boat, he hit the 12-gauge and it discharged and shot him from about 6 feet. Cottingham says some of the blast was absorbed by a duck decoy onboard and that decoy may have saved his life. Cottingham was taken to the hospital to have 27 birdshot pellets removed from his backside. Several could not be taken out. He’s expected to make a full recovery.

Apocalypse 2012? Not So Fast

We may need a 2013 calendar after all. A German expert says an ancient Mayan tablet doesn’t predict the end of the world on December 21, 2012, but it does say a Mayan God will return on what’s interpreted as that day. He presented his findings at a conference in Mexico on Wednesday. But there’s still some wiggle room on just what the Mayans were saying. The stone tablet is cracked and the end of the passage is almost illegible.

Man Accidentally Gives Away Life Savings In Donated Suit

An elderly Illinois man accidentally gave away his entire life savings when making a clothing donation to his local Goodwill. The 80-year-old man, who didn’t trust banks, kept his life savings of $13,000 sewn inside the lining of one of his suits. He is currently appealing for the money’s return so that he can care for his wife, who has Stage 4 cancer. A Goodwill spokeswoman said the charity has searched the Moline store where the man made his donation but could not find the suit in question. Goodwill employees are also searching through bins of donated clothes transported from the Moline facility to a regional warehouse in Iowa City. The man’s daughter, who says he is remaining anonymous because he is “devastated and embarrassed” by the story, is offering a $1,000 reward for the suit’s new owner to return the cash.

Rent Your Own Airbus

Air travel can be a hassle these days, but Virgin America is offering one solution: For a mere $60,000 you can rent one of their planes – presumably with a pilot and crew – to fly anywhere the airline flies (except Mexico) with up to 145 of your friends. That works out to about $410 per person. The flight would take you on a full-size Airbus A320, complete with in-flight Wi-Fi, seatback entertainment systems, and in-flight meals and drinks. You also get to name the plane you fly on. Get all the details at www.giltcity.com, under “Leisure.”

Shootin’ With Santa

An Arizona gun club is giving families the chance to take Christmas card photos with Santa Claus in front of firearms-themed backdrops. The Scottsdale Gun Club said families can come in during the Santa and Machine Guns event, scheduled for December 10th, and have photos taken with jolly old St. Nick in front of backdrops ranging from an $80,000 Garwood minigun to common pistols. “I think it’s going to be all in fun from those who support the second amendment and those who don’t. Whether you’re a gun advocate or not, you should have a lot of fun with it,” gun club member Richard Jones said.

Man Searches For Opera-Singing Parrot

A New York man searching the city for his missing parrot said the bird “has a huge vocabulary and loves to sing opera songs.” Allen Kirson said Captain, his green and yellow Amazon parrot, flew off his shoulder while he was riding his bike in the Brooklyn borough’s Kensington neighborhood Friday. Kirson said the parrot has become a local celebrity, performing at homes for seniors and children’s hospitals.

Bar Installs Urine-Controlled Video Games

A London bar has installed a video game above its men’s room urinals that the game’s designer says is the world’s first to be controlled by urine flow. The Exhibit bar said the 12-inch screens feature games including simulated skiing, fire extinguishing and a trivia challenge. All of the games are controlled by the player aiming his stream. The games give players codes at the end of rounds to allow them to enter their scores at online leader boards. Game designer Gordon MacSween said the games have proved to be a boon for advertisers who have seen sales of their products rise since they were installed as well as helping the bar owners prevent damage to their bathrooms. “Because people are having a laugh, there’s a lot less vandalism – people tend to get less angry,” he said.

Great-Grandma Wins Big At Bingo

An 81-year-old Sunrise, Florida, woman said her family can look forward to an extra-special Christmas after she won a $53,367 bingo jackpot. Mary Ferrone, who has eight children, 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, said she and a friend decided to play November 21st at the Seminole Casino Hollywood, where she hit the $53,367 jackpot with only 47 numbers called. Robert Dearstine, director of marketing for the casino, said Ferrone had more than half of the called numbers among the 48 on her card.

Christmas Thief On The Loose

A New Hampshire Christmas tree salesman said someone stole 19 of his highest quality trees. David Gouette of Maggie D’s Garden Center in Laconia said the trees were untouched when he visited the lot at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, but he returned two hours later to find a portion of the fence surrounding the trees had been pushed down and 19 of the most expensive trees, Balsam firs and Frazier firs, had been taken. “Whoever took them knew what they wanted,” Gouette said. Police are asking anyone who spotted a truck at or near the business Thursday to contact officers.

Firefighters Free Man From Chimney

Firefighters in Lubbock, Texas, rescued a man who became stuck in his chimney after locking his keys inside his home. Officials said the 22-year-old man, whose name was not released, attempted to enter his home through the chimney early Monday while his wife and child waited outside. The man became stuck in the flue and his wife called 911 just prior to 1:30 a.m. Firefighters lowered a rope down the chimney and pulled the man back up to the roof.

Robber’s ‘Bomb’ Was Toy Penguin

Authorities in Arizona said a woman who claimed to be concealing a bomb under her shirt while robbing a service station was actually holding a toy penguin. Yavapai County sheriff’s deputies said Andri Jeffers, 26, claimed to be concealing a bomb under her shirt last Thursday when she demanded money from a clerk at a Chevron Station in Dewey-Humboldt. Investigators said Jeffers eventually fled the store when the clerk refused to cooperate and deputies identified the suspect from security camera footage and her license plate number, which was taken down by the clerk. Jeffers was arrested Thursday evening. Deputies said she admitted to the incident and they learned the object she was holding beneath her shirt was a toy penguin. She was arrested on one count of attempted robbery and was later released on bond.

Exploding Tofu

Baffled fire investigators in Portland, Oregon, say they don’t know the cause of an explosion that occurred in a woman’s kitchen after she finished cooking tofu. Paul Corah, spokesman for Portland Fire & Rescue, said firefighters responded to an apartment building shortly after 8:15 p.m. Sunday and found a woman crying outside. The woman, who had a light burn on her hand, told investigators she had been cooking tofu when the explosion, which blasted a 4-by-6-foot window out of the building, occurred as she was rinsing off the pan. Corah said natural gas is not suspected to have been behind the blast. “We’re scratching our heads,” he said. “We’re all baffled.” The blast caused an estimated $15,000 in damage to the building.

Man Repays Money He Stole 60 Years Ago

An elderly man recently left an envelope with $100 in it on a Sears service counter in Seattle with a note that said he’d stolen money from a Sears store in the late 1940s. Not only did he pay back the amount he took, he included interest. The man hand-delivered the envelope and was spotted on the store’s security cameras. His identity is unknown, however, and Sears will not show the footage. “The note read: “During the late [forties] I stole some money from the cash register in the amount of $20-$30 ... I want to pay you back this money in the amount of $100 to put in your theft account.” “I think his conscience has been bothering him for the past 60 years,” said Sears manager Gary Lorentson. In a gesture of continued goodwill, Sears will put the money toward helping needy families during the holiday season.

Airport Birth

A spokesman for a Maryland airport said a woman gave birth on the floor of a concourse restroom shortly after exiting a plane that had just landed. A spokesman for Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport said police and firefighters responded to the call about a woman in labor at 2:20 p.m. Sunday. The woman gave birth on the bathroom floor with the help of an officer. The mother and newborn boy were taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie, where the child was said to be healthy. The spokesman said the child was the first baby he could recall being born at the airport.

Man Batty Over Batman Memorabilia

A man living in Indianapolis has amassed a collection of almost 1,600 pieces of Batman memorabilia, which he keeps in his own Batcave. Kevin Silva’s obsession with Batman began when he was 5-years-old in 1966, the year ABC’s live-action “Batman” TV series debuted. Silva has been collecting Batman memorabilia ever since. Within his collection is a Batman lunchbox he carried to kindergarten. Silva’s collection spans all decades and reincarnations of the Caped Crusader, but the 1960s ABC series is most heavily featured. In his basement, also known as the Batcave, Silva has a red Batphone, which sits under glass, just like it did in Commissioner Gordon’s office on the show. He also has a Gotham City phone book, reportedly an actual prop from the show. A recent appraisal for insurance purposes estimated the collection’s value at six figures, but Silva said he doesn’t plan on selling anything in the near future. Silva isn’t the only collector in his family. His daughter, Kaylaigh, 25, buys Marilyn Monroe-related items, while her brother, Dylan, 21, collects memorabilia of the rock band KISS.

Who Knew? Fighting Is ‘What Redneck People Do’

Police in Palm City, Florida, said a man arrested for brawling with his son informed officers on the habits of rednecks. Police said that on November 20th Mark Thomas Wach got drunk in his yard and begin shooting his lawnmower. One of the bullets hit his 18-year-old son’s porch. Wach then begin shouting and complained that his son’s mother wasn’t paying child support. When the son managed to wrestle the gun away, Wach returned with a 12 gauge shotgun and started pointing it at his son. The son once again managed to wrestle the weapon away and called police. Police had to use a tazer on Wach three times to calm him down. Wach didn’t understand what the hubbub was all about, explaining to officers that “fighting is what redneck people do.” He was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic assault with a firearm and domestic battery.

Public Bucket List

A New York art project with a half-block stretch of plywood is allowing passersby to inscribe their own endings to the sentence “Before I die… .” The wall, accompanied by a placard explaining the project and baskets of chalk for participants to write down their hopes, has gathered the dreams of hundreds of people whose wishes range from wanting to “become a WNBA player” to a desire to “stop the guns.” New Orleans artist Candy Chang erected the wall at the site of a future Shake Shack, which sponsored the art project. The wall, which was erected eight weeks ago, is scheduled to be taken down today.

Chargers Kicker Seen Urinating On Live TV

San Diego Chargers kicker Nick Novak had an embarrassing moment during a game against the Denver Broncos when footage of him urinating was aired on TV. CBS cut to footage of Novak on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, which was tied 13-13 at the time, to accompany a conversation about the kicker between booth announcers Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts. However, instead of seeing the kicker preparing for the possibility of a field goal attempt, viewers were treated to the spectacle of Novak relieving himself next to the team’s bench while someone held a towel to give the kicker a small amount of privacy. Novak later missed a 53-yard field goal and the Broncos took the game by 3 points.

You Can Now Buy Dunder Mifflin Paper

You can now buy actual paper from Dunder Mifflin, the paper company at the center of NBC’s “The Office.” Staples-owned Quill.com has struck a deal with NBC to sell Dunder Mifflin copy paper, at $35 for a carton of 10 reams. Basically, you’re buying a box with the Dunder Mifflin logo and slogans like “Our motto is, ‘Quabity First’” and “Get Your Scrant on.” NBC will reportedly receive about 6% of the revenue from Dunder Mifflin paper sales.

Kale Vs. Chikin

It’s kale versus Chikin. Vermont folk artist Bo Muller-Moore makes T-shirts with the slogan “eat more kale.” He says he wants to promote the benefits of local farming. But Chick-fil-A contends consumers might confuse “eat more kale” with their trademarked phrase, “eat mor chikin.” Muller-Moore says he’s not backing down from the “eat more kale” fight with the big corporation.

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Ohio Puts 200-Pound Third-Grader In Foster Care

An Ohio third-grader weighing more than 200 pounds has been taken from his family and placed into foster care after county social workers said his mother wasn’t doing enough to control his weight. The 8-year-old is considered severely obese and at risk for diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The Ohio Health Department estimates more than 12% of third-graders statewide are severely obese. The removal of the Cleveland child is the first state officials can recall of a child being put in foster care for a strictly weight-related issue. Lawyers for the mother say the county is overreaching in taking the child. They say the medical problems the boy is at risk for do not yet pose an imminent danger to his health. 

Man Arrested For Watching Child Porn On Flight

Police arrested a Salt Lake City, Utah, man for allegedly watching child pornography while on a Delta flight to Boston. Grant Smith, 47, was taken into custody as soon as the plane landed. He’s been charged with possession of child pornography and could face additional charges. Another passenger saw Smith’s choice of in-flight entertainment and took a cellphone photo of him watching the video. The passenger then alerted the flight crew to the incident and also emailed a family member so that they could contact police. Investigators said Smith, an engineering professor at the University of Utah, was seated in the first class section at the time. Smith, a father of two young children had come to Boston to attend a conference for the Material Research Society meeting at the Hynes Convention Center.

‘Competitive Shopper’ Pepper Sprays Black Friday Shoppers

A woman who allegedly fired pepper spray at other customers during a Black Friday sale has surrendered to authorities, Los Angeles police said Saturday. Police said the woman who allegedly caused minor injuries to 20 shoppers at a Los Angeles-area Walmart turned herself in Friday night. The woman could face battery charges. The attack took place about 10:20 p.m. Thursday shortly after doors opened for the sale. The store had brought out a crate of discounted Xbox video game players and a crowd had formed to wait for the unwrapping. Valle says the woman began spraying people in order to get an advantage. Police had referred to the incident as “competitive shopping.” The incident was among those nationwide in which violence marred the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season. In New York, crowds reportedly looted a clothing store in Soho. At a Walmart near Phoenix, a man was bloodied while being subdued by a police officer on suspicion of shoplifting a video game. There was a shooting outside a store in San Leandro, California, shots fired at a mall in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a stabbing outside a store in Sacramento, New York.

FBI Arrests 7 In Amish Haircut Attacks

Federal authorities have arrested seven men in Ohio on federal hate crime charges in hair-cutting attacks against the Amish. Authorities arrested the men Wednesday morning at their compound in eastern Ohio. Authorities say members of a breakaway Amish group forcibly cut the beards and hair of several Amish men and women in recent months. Among those arrested were the breakaway group’s leader and three of his sons. Forcibly cutting hair is highly offensive to the Amish, who believe the Bible instructs women to let their hair grow long and men to grow beards and stop shaving once they marry.

Robertson Asks If Mac ‘N’ Cheese Is ‘A Black Thing?’

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson has stuck his foot in his mouth yet again. “The 700 Club” founder showed a clip of Condoleezza Rice the day before Thanksgiving. When Robertson’s host, Kristi Watts – who is black – asked what dish the former secretary of state had to have on Thanksgiving, Rice replied macaroni and cheese. Watts reacted enthusiastically, adding “Sister, that is my dish.” “What is this mac and cheese, is that a black thing?” Robertson asked Watts in bewilderment. Watts replied, “It is a black thing Pat. ...The world needs to get on board.” Robertson has a history of making controversial statements. He said Haiti was cursed one day after a devastating earthquake and that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease is justifiable.

Passenger Punches JetBlue Flight Attendant

An off-duty New York City police officer subdued and handcuffed an intoxicated passenger who punched a flight attendant Sunday during a scuffle aboard a JetBlue flight. Officer Anibal Mercado intervened after Antonio Ynoa of Brooklyn punched the flight attendant in the face on a flight from the Dominican Republic to JFK. About 30 minutes before the plane was set to land, the flight attendant approached Ynoa and told him to stop drinking duty-free alcohol. Ynoa got mad and punched the attendant in the face. Officer Mercado said he felt he had to do something.

Northwestern Named Most Vegan-Friendly College

Northwestern has earned the title of Most Vegan-Friendly College in America for the second year in a row in a competition sponsored by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Students voted online at www.peta2.com. NU was able to defend its reign through four rounds against 32 other colleges and universities in the small school category. peta2 Division Manager Marta Holmberg said when the competition began six years ago, peta2 saw only “basic options” offered at schools across the country. Because NU offers options such as tofu french toast, country-fried seitan steak and vegan mashed potatoes, she said the University adapted to the needs of students. She added NU’s own dining halls report that over half of the students choose these alternative options every day.

‘Frosty The Snowman’ Arrested

A man in a “Frosty the Snowman” costume was arrested Saturday during the annual Christmas parade in Chestertown, Maryland, accused of scuffling with police and kicking a police dog. Police said 52-year-old Kevin Michael Walsh became agitated when a dog-handling officer tried to escort him away from the crowd. Walsh said he has dressed as Frosty in the parade for at least 10 years and that he was wrongfully arrested. He says an officer hassled him after he remarked about the police dog’s presence. He says he became agitated only after getting arrested. Walsh was released on his own recognizance.

Man Drives Forklift Into Home

Florida authorities arrested and charged a man with attempted murder after he allegedly drove a forklift into an occupied trailer multiple times. Police said John Miller was attempting to evict the tenants Tuesday afternoon from the mobile home he owns in Apopka. He allegedly drove the forklift into the home several times despite being told by a female tenant there were still people inside. Miller was taken to jail on attempted-murder charges. No one was injured during the incident.

Man Charged In Campus Undie Thefts

Police at Florida Gulf Coast University arrested a 36-year-old man accused of stealing around 35 pairs of women’s underwear in two incidents. FGCU Police Chief Steven Moore said Cody Lee White of Cape Coral is believed to be behind a pair of October incidents, stealing 15 pairs of underwear in one incident and 20 pairs of underwear in the other. White told officers he has a sexual fetish for women’s underwear and would regularly steal the clothing items from campus laundry rooms. He said he would later discard the items. White was charged with misdemeanor counts of loitering and petty theft. He was released after posting $1,000 bond.

Police Nab Day-Care Bunny Thief

Police in Wisconsin arrested a 20-year-old student accused of stealing a rabbit from a daycare facility inside a church. Appleton police said Lawrence University student Theodore Benner of Chalfont, Pennsylvania, allegedly broke into the Memorial Presbyterian Church about two blocks from campus on November 13th and stole the rabbit named Twinkle from a room used for daycare during the week. Police responded to a medical call in Brenner’s dorm four days after the burglary and an officer recognized a caged rabbit in Brenner’s room as matching the description of the missing bunny. The rabbit was returned to the daycare facility and Brenner was arrested on charges of burglary and possession of marijuana. He was released after posting a $2,500 cash bond.

Time Off For Losing Weight

A Florida man earned nine days off of his 29-day jail sentence by losing 25 pounds during his stay behind bars. George McCovery, 37, who had been convicted of driving with a suspended license, accepted a deal from Lake County Judge Donna Miller to spend his first 20 days in jail losing weight and then have a day removed from the remainder of his sentence for each pound he had shed. “It’s not easy to lose weight. I thought he’d lose 5, maybe, 6 pounds – not 25,” Miller said. “It’s like (sentencing) someone in a drug case. I’d much rather have them stop doing drugs than send them to jail. I hope I can help.” McCovery, who went from 345 pounds to 320 pounds, said he received encouragement from detention deputies. He said he was also helped by the bland jail food and the desire not to disappoint Miller. “She gave me a chance to prove myself, and I didn’t want to let her down,” he said.

Toast Argument Lands Sister In Jail

Authorities in Florida arrested a 21-year-old woman who allegedly attacked her sister during an argument over toast. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said Maria Victoria Acevedo walked into the kitchen of her home around 1:40 p.m. Sunday and became enraged when she saw her 16-year-old sister using her bread to make toast. Investigators said the sister apologized, but Acevedo was not satisfied and struck the younger girl twice in the head with a 6-inch metal cooking pot, pulled her hair and slammed her head into the ground. The sister fled into her bedroom and sent a Facebook message to a cousin asking her to call for help. The incident was witnessed by the third sister, deputies said. Acevedo was charged with domestic battery and released from the jail without bond.

Bridal Fashions Shown At Former Prison

The old, imposing prison in Ohio where the movie “The Shawshank Redemption” was filmed has become a hotspot for weddings, and now hosts an annual bridal show. Organizers of the Glamour in the Slammer Bridal Show at the closed prison said nearly 40 vendors turned out to display their wares. Nearly 500 people attended Sunday’s event at the Mansfield Reformatory to view the latest bridal fashions. Susan Nirode, operations manager for the former prison, said the venue has hosted four previous Glamour in the Slammer shows and the reformatory is completely booked for 2012 weddings.

3 Plead Guilty In Toilet Paper Scam

Three South Florida salespeople face up to 20 years in prison for conning elderly people into buying unnecessary septic products. Christopher Lincoln, Mary Moore and Joseph Nouerand pleaded guilty in federal court last week to conspiring to commit wire fraud. Authorities said the three worked for FBK Products of West Palm Beach and told their victims they needed to buy the company’s special products to avoid ruining their septic tanks. During phone sales, salespeople for the FBK Products claimed the company was affiliated with the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, federal prosecutors said. Victims were also told they needed to buy special soap, detergent and toilet paper or their septic tanks would not pass federal inspections. Prosecutors said the company made about $1 million from more than a dozen victims nationwide. Lincoln, Moore and Nouerand will be sentenced in February. Three other suspects are awaiting trial.

No Charges For Phoenix Jones

Seattle prosecutors said self-proclaimed “superhero” Phoenix Jones will not face assault charges, but they said the man is “no hero.” City Attorney Pete Holmes said “proof problems” prevented him from filing misdemeanor assault charges against Jones – aka 23-year-old Benjamin Fodor – in connection with an October 9th incident when he allegedly used pepper spray on a group of people. “However, Mr. Fodor is no hero,” Holmes said, “just a deeply misguided individual.” “He has been warned that his actions put himself in danger, and this latest episode demonstrates that innocent bystanders can also be harmed,” the prosecutor said. Fodor claimed he was breaking up a fight in the incident. Police said they were unable to interview two of the four victims as they fled the scene.

Security Guard Terrorizes Little Girl

They’re cracking down hard on shoplifters these days, even four-year-olds. A security guard at a Safeway in Everett, Washington, told a little girl and her father that she would face charges and be banned from the chain after she allegedly grabbed a package of dried fruit, ate some, and put the package back on the shelf. The little girl was also forced to sign a paper acknowledging that she wasn’t allowed in Safeway stores any more. Safeway says it’s appalled by the guard’s actions and has dismissed him. Store officials also apologized to the girl’s parents.

Turkey Crashes Into Restaurant On Thanksgiving

The last thing you’d expect a turkey to do on Thanksgiving is try to fly into a restaurant. But that’s apparently what happened last Thursday in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, where police say a wild turkey crashed through a plate glass window at an empty restaurant. It didn’t survive. Police suspect the turkey was roosting in a nearby tree and went out for its morning flight; wild turkeys can fly short distances. Its collision with the window set off the restaurant’s alarm.

More Victims Of Botched Butt Surgery By Fake Doc Come Forward

Several possible victims have come forward alleging a woman posing as a Florida doctor and promising buttocks enhancement pumped their behinds with a toxic concoction of cement, superglue and flat-tire sealant, state health officials said yesterday. Oneal Ron Morris – who was born a man and identifies as a woman – was arrested Friday after nearly a year on the lam and charged with practicing medicine without a license with serious bodily injury. Authorities say a victim figure paid Morris $700 for the injections in 2010. The victim suffered permanent scarring around the injection sites. Shortly after the surgery, she went to the hospital, but left because she was too embarrassed to tell doctors what happened. The victim required multiple surgeries and had a 24-hour home health aide for an extended period of time, the Department of Health said. Officials said several possible victims have since come forward alleging Morris performed similar procedures resulting in life-threatening injuries. Morris has since been released from jail on a bond. Her lawyer says she is innocent of the charges. Authorities said Morris may be part of an underground plastic surgery ring in South Florida.

Man Using Turkey Fryer Fries Himself

Thanksgiving has three times as many cooking fires than an average day, but even a turkey fryer can be safe with proper precautions, a physician says. Dr. Thomas Esposito of the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine said injuries from turkey fryers are rare, but when they occur they can be devastating. Serafino Alfe was deep-frying turkeys for an annual fundraiser dinner recently and ended up at the Loyola Burn unit with third-degree burns after tripping on a piece of cardboard under the fryer. “Thirty quarts of hot oil poured over my leg and I basically fried myself,” Alfe said. “We were using the older fryers that do not have a secure lid and the gallons of hot oil just splattered out everywhere.” Alfe said he will undergo surgery on his injured leg today. To prevent a turkey fryer fire, Esposito advises:

• Never use a fryer if impaired with alcohol or drugs.
  
• Use newer fryers with sealed lids to prevent oil spills.
  
• Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
  
• Place the fryer in an open area away from all walls, fences or other structures and never under a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, deck or other structure that can catch fire.
  
• Slowly raise and lower the turkey to reduce hot-oil splatter and to avoid burns.
  
• Never cook in short sleeves, shorts or bare feet. Wear goggles or glasses.
  
• Turn off the fryer if the oil begins to smoke.
  
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Water can cause oil to spill over, creating a fire or explosion.
  
• Don’t overfill fryer with oil.
  
• Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
  

• Do not use a water hose to douse a turkey fryer fire.

Half-Naked Man Drives Jeep Up Steps Of War Memorial

Police say a man wearing an American flag drove a Jeep up the steps of the War Memorial yesterday. The man was taken into custody about 30-minutes after the incident began. He was being checked out by medics. Firefighters responded and put a small fire on the steps. Several police cars were also at the scene. The man was naked from the waist up and wrapped in a flag, yelling at police. He apparently drove his Jeep to the top of the steps. It wasn’t immediately clear what the man was protesting.

Husband For Sale On Craigslist

A Logan, Utah, woman listed her husband for sale on Craigslist “just for fun” because of the amount of time he spends playing video games. Alyse Baddley said her war veteran husband Kyle has spent so much time playing “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare,” she decided to list him for sale on the site. Alyse said her mother-in-law even encouraged her to do it. Alyse said she received several responses within hours of posting “One husband to the highest bidder” on Craigslist. She said, “Someone even offered a blue bag of Skittles.” Kyle, who said he finished the game within a few days, said he has enjoyed reading the responses with Alyse.

Drunk Driver Calls 911 On Himself

Authorities in Wisconsin said a 21-year-old man called 911 to report himself driving drunk and ask to be taken to jail. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said the man called 911 prior to 9 p.m. Sunday and told the dispatcher he was driving drunk and wanted to be arrested. The man complied with the dispatcher’s instructions to pull his vehicle over. Officers found him and granted him his wish.

Burglar Leaves Himself Logged Into Facebook

Police in Georgia are searching for a burglary suspect who left himself logged into Facebook on his victim’s computer. Gwinnett County police say Trevor Jones, 34, left his car running in the driveway of a home he burglarized near Norcross on November 15th. Homeowner Stephanie White returned while he was still inside and took his keys and wallet from the vehicle. White drove to the end of the street and saw Jones flee with items from her home. Investigators say Jones broke into a second home in the neighborhood later in the day and left himself logged into Facebook on the victim’s computer. White’s digital camera was discovered in the second victim’s home. Jones, who was on parole for a previous burglary charge, was being sought on charges of burglary, criminal trespassing and parole violation.

Good Karma

A Florida couple awarded $15,000 to a 19-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer who tracked down an iPhone thief because he “seemed to be a super kid.” The St. Cloud couple, who asked not to be named, said they read in the newspaper about how Aaron Wood used his iPhone’s iCloud technology to track down the device on his iPad after it was lost during a church carnival and confront the person who had the phone. The couple said they decided to do something to help Wood, who suffers from cerebral palsy. “He seemed to be a super kid. He’s a pretty sharp boy,” the man said. The man and his wife gave Wood two checks totaling $15,000. “It isn’t going to hurt us any,” the man said. “When we die, whatever little bit we have, somebody else is just going to throw it away, so why not use it now and help someone who needs it.”

Case Dropped Against Man With Rubber Ax

Ohio prosecutors have dropped an inducing panic charge against a man who carried a rubber prop ax into a bar before Halloween. Akron City Prosecutor Doug Powley says he reviewed the case against 42-year-old Bill Morrison and determined that, the “situation did not warrant a criminal conviction.” Morrison was arrested October 16th and spent a night in jail after a woman saw him with the ax under his coat and called 911. The ax had red paint on it to simulate blood. Morrison has been a Hollywood makeup artist and has worked on Halloween haunted house attractions. He told police he was taking the costume ax to sell to a friend.

Woman Tries To Smuggle Drugs In Hollow Bible

Deputies in South Carolina say a woman used two hollowed-out Bibles to try to smuggle weapons, drugs and a cell phone to a prison inmate. Authorities began investigating 28-year-old Shareca Latoya Jones earlier this month after a package mailed to Lieber Correctional Institution was returned to a post office in Lancaster. Inside the package were two Bibles containing razor knives, a cell phone, ecstasy pills and more than 28 grams of cocaine. Deputies identified Jones as the person who mailed the package from a Kershaw post office. Authorities found a loaded handgun, drugs, cell phones and cash in her car. Jones is facing drug and contraband charges. She was released from jail on bond.

John Cage Concert Marks 10 Years Of Playing

Ten years down and 629 to go in what’s billed as the world’s longest concert. A 639-year performance of John Cage’s “As Slow as Possible” started in September 2001 at a church in the German town of Halberstadt. The first year was silence. So far, there have been 11 chord changes. The next one isn’t scheduled until July. The current note sounds a bit like a dial tone. You can follow the music at www.john-cage.halberstadt.de.

Pepper Spraying Cop

The latest internet craze is a video of a University of California, Davis police officer who casually swept a line of campus protesters with pepper spray. The heavy-set, mustachioed officer was captured on video dousing the faces of sitting Occupy protesters. Now he’s known as the Pepper Spraying Cop. Digitally altered photos show the cop spraying everyone from Jesus at the Last Supper to The Beatles. You can check it out at http://peppersprayingcop.tumblr.com.

Man Threatens To Blow Up Store Over Sold Out Video Game

Police in Aurora, Colorado, say a man threatened to perform his own modern warfare after he learned “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” was sold out at a local Best Buy. Cops say 31-year-old Lomorin Sar was arrested early yesterday morning after he threatened the employees at the Best Buy. Witnesses told police Sar became angry and irate with the customer service desk shortly after midnight after they told him the video game he allegedly pre-ordered earlier in the day was no longer in stock. Witnesses say Sar threatened store workers, asking when they were leaving and allegedly saying he would shoot them in the parking lot. Sar also told employees he would blow up the store. He left the store and was pulled over after employees alerted the police. He was issued a summons for disorderly conduct.

Granny Reels In 849-Pound Marlin

An 85-year-old Australian woman said she “didn’t feel 85” when she reeled in an 849-pound marlin off the north coast of Queensland. Connie Laurie, a grandmother who said she has been fishing all her life, said she was on a fishing charter trip during the weekend off the coast of Cooktown when she caught, and then released, the hefty marlin. “I certainly didn’t feel 85 when I was bringing it in, I was too busy concentrating on keeping it on and getting it into the boat,” she said. “I try to stay active and as I said, I’ve always loved fishing and I want to continue doing it down on the Gold Coast.”

Burglar Caught Twice In Same Night

Florida officials said a burglar was caught in the act twice in the same night and left some blood behind at one of the crime scenes. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said Peter Studley, 52, allegedly broke into the manager’s room Saturday at the Vanguard Motel, where he had been staying for about a month, and was caught taking money and valuables by the manager, who recognized him. Studley fled and allegedly broke into a work van parked outside a cabinet business and was again interrupted when the owner arrived. Deputies said they found Studley had smashed a window and left behind droplets of blood. A deputy spotted Studley walking along Ridgewood Avenue a little less than two hours later and he was arrested on two counts of burglary and two counts of criminal mischief.

School’s Darth Vader Purchase Questioned

Florida state lawmakers are questioning a university’s decision to spend $10,000 on items including statues of Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper. State Sen. Paula Dockery said University of South Florida Polytechnic regional Chancellor Marshall Goodman’s decision to spend the money on the statues of the “Star Wars” characters, as well as a statue of E.T. and a replica of Captain Kirk’s chair from “Star Trek” marks “another example of questionable expenditures at a time when we’re trying to stretch education dollars across all the various needs that we have,” Dockery and state Sen. Mike Fasano asked Goodman last week for an audit after he was accused of mismanaging the school’s money. The university said the sci-fi items were purchased to “encourage inspiration beyond conventional thought” for business students.

Deer Crashes Into Taco Restaurant

The manager of a Georgia restaurant said a deer shocked diners when it crashed into the eatery through a window. Adam Buckner, manager of the Taco Mac Windward in Alpharetta, said the deer crashed into the restaurant about 3:15 p.m. Sunday and walked out when a server opened the door to the patio. Buckner said, “The deer didn’t even hurt itself. One of its antlers came off, but antlers fall off and grow right back.”

Lonely Wife Threatens To Bomb Airplanes

Authorities in Florida say a woman threatened to blow up planes when police refused to help her with her husband’s work schedule. Lee County Port Authority Police said Soraya Evette Billinge, 36, called from her cellphone and told the dispatcher she was upset about her husband working nights because she doesn’t like being home alone. Billinge, who said her husband works for Delta Airlines at the airport, became upset when the dispatcher told her police could not help with her problem. “OK I blow up, I blow up 10 planes,” she allegedly said before hanging up the phone. Billinge was arrested and is facing felony charges. The airport is remaining mum, only saying that her husband does not work for the TSA nor the port authority.

Woman Finds, Reclaims Stolen Bike

A Colorado woman discovered her stolen bike for sale online, met the seller for a test ride and two-wheeled it home. Boulder police said an 18-year-old man was arrested on investigation of theft. The woman had reported her black Trek 1.2 bicycle stolen Saturday but discovered it for sale on Craigslist not long afterward. She met with the seller, asked for a test ride, rode it to her vehicle where she stashed it away and drove off, police said. The owner then called authorities, who arrested the seller.

Bridge Dangler

A dangling protester left commuters hanging. Authorities say fired county worker Michael Davitt drove onto New York’s Tappan Zee Bridge Monday and stopped his van. According to Rockland County deputies, Davitt lowered a rope ladder and climbed down, then sat in a harness for more than three hours. He had a banner accusing local officials of a “cover-up” and “retaliation.” Traffic was backed up for hours. Davitt eventually jumped into the water and tried to swim away. He was picked up by a police boat.

Man Swaps Jail Costume For Real One

A Pennsylvania man dressed in a Halloween jail costume ended up arrested and in a real jail uniform. Gregory Moon, 22, was arrested on Halloween and arraigned in court still wearing black-and-white striped prison pajamas. The Washington County Jail soon replaced his costume with a bright-orange jumpsuit. Moon was arrested for possessing a stolen handgun and for yelling insults at an officer early Monday morning. Police responded at about 2:45 a.m. to a disturbance and a car stuck in front of an apartment in Donora. When police arrived, Moon’s roommate, Anthony James “Jinx” Law, ran away while Moon stood in the doorway in his prison uniform shouting insults and profanity at the police officer. Police say they arrested “Jinx” after he allegedly fought with officers, and then nabbed Moon on a warrant for allegedly possessing a stolen gun.

Cleaning Woman Ruins Million Dollar Artwork

An overzealous cleaner accidentally destroyed a piece of art worth more than $1 million when she removed what she thought was a “stain” from the installation. Martin Kippenberger’s “When it Starts Dripping from the Ceiling” remains in place at the Ostwall museum in Dortmund, Germany, despite the damage sustained earlier this month when a cleaner scrubbed away the painted puddle beneath a rubber trough placed under a stacked tower of wooden slats. The work by Kippenberger, a German-born artist who died in 1997, was on loan to the museum from a private collector who agreed that it should remain on display despite the incident. In the meantime, insurance adjusters are assessing the damage. It has not yet been decided whether the patina would be restored, or if the artwork would be left in its newly “cleaned” condition.

Man Pays Off Mom’s 1954 Parking Ticket

A parking ticket issued 57 years ago in downtown York, Nebraska, has finally been paid off. The fine was a whopping 10 cents. Police Chief Don Klug said that a man walked into the station last week with the ticket and payment – mounted and framed. The man, who didn’t give his name, said he found the ticket among his mother’s things and wanted to settle the debt. The ticket was issued on July 13, 1954, to a vehicle licensed in Oklahoma. The man told Klug that he believed his mother was visiting York at the time and probably lost track of the citation. Klug says he plans to hang the framed ticket on the wall of his office.

Couple Steals Police Car For Sex

A man and woman charged with stealing a police car left running outside a Florida convenience store apparently wanted it for a quickie sexual encounter. Alexander Pratt, 59, and Clara Pearson, 53, both Lake Worth residents, were charged with grand theft auto. They allegedly grabbed a Honda Civic belonging to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office that was being used by plainclothes detectives from the auto theft division. The couple didn't get far in their new wheels, police said. They were pulled over and arrested not far away. Pratt told officers he was not sorry for his actions because he was eager to “have intimate relations with Pearson.”

African Vulture Escapes Florida Zoo

A male white-backed African vulture escaped from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida after a device to restrict its ability to fly broke. Zoo officials say the vulture flew the coop after a restrictive band on its wing broke Thursday. Zoo staff tracked the bird to a tree on the grounds, but were unable to recapture it before it flew off. Officials say they can’t remember a bird ever escaping from the zoo before. The vulture, named Hodari, arrived at the Jacksonville Zoo in 2006 from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. Zoo officials asked birdwatchers to contact the zoo if the bird is spotted. Although he’s not aggressive and does not pose a threat to people or animals, officials say he should not be approached by the public.

Helicopter Hits House, Crashes Into Yard

A helicopter hit the roof of a West Palm Beach, Florida, home before crushing part of a car and crashing into a yard. A small, rented helicopter clipped Nedra Obradovich’s roof and landed in her front yard Saturday afternoon. No one was seriously injured in the incident. Obradovich, the pilot and a passenger of the helicopter, walked away from the crash, although the pilot and passenger were taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution. Obradovich said that if the helicopter crashed a few feet in the wrong direction, it would have landed on her house. The FAA said it appeared the helicopter’s engine had failed. The helicopter was about 700 feet in the air before it crashed.

Formerly Missing Moon Rock To Go On Display

A once missing moon rock will go on display at an Arkansas museum after the first of the year. Governor Mike Beebe made the announcement last week. The moon rock was given to the state following the 1972 Apollo 17 mission. But it was somehow misplaced. It was recently discovered in a box of papers donated by former President Bill Clinton. That moon rock, and another from the first lunar landing, will be shown together at the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock.

Lucky Wedding Date

If 11 is a lucky number – you can’t get luckier than 11-11-11. Officials in the marriage license bureau in Las Vegas are getting ready for an expected November 11th wedding rush. It also falls on the Veterans Day holiday weekend. Clark County Clerk Diana Alba says she’s adding staff to handle the expected crowd. The biggest day ever for Vegas marriage licenses came on another supposedly lucky day – 07-07-07. More than 4,300 marriages licenses were issued on that date.

SETI Search Urged To Look For City Lights

Researchers should consider looking for city lights outside the solar system in the search for extraterrestrial life, two astronomers say. Avi Loeb of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Edwin Turner of Princeton University say they’re going on the assumption aliens would use Earth-like technologies and that any intelligent life that evolved in the light from its nearest star is likely to have artificial illumination that switches on during the hours of darkness. “Looking for alien cities would be a long shot, but wouldn’t require extra resources,” Loeb said. “And if we succeed, it would change our perception of our place in the universe.”

Seattle ‘Superhero’ Loses Day Job

Phoenix Jones, a self-proclaimed Seattle superhero by night, says he has been fired from his day job teaching autistic children. Jones received a letter dismissing him from his job with the Washington state Department of Social and Health Services because of his crime-fighting actions at night. “It basically just said that effectively immediately, I was no longer able to work with disabled or autistic children,” Jones said. “The reason is because I was put on a list of people who interject themselves into dangerous situations and some government agency put me on that list.” The letter came after Jones was arrested for assault in October for using pepper spray on a crowd to break up a fight. No charges were filed against Jones in the incident. The masked superhero said he plans to keep the streets safe during the day until he finds a new job.

Royal Drawers Pull In $14,973

A Scottish auction house said a pair of bloomers once worn by Queen Victoria sold for $14,973, far more than the expected $4,791. Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull said the silk bloomers were sold to an anonymous bidder as part of an auction of royal memorabilia belonging to the Forbes family. An oil painting of Queen Victoria and her servant, John Brown, who received the painting from Victoria, sold for $231,993 at the auction.

Lawn-Chair Balloonist To Fly In Iraq

A Bend, Oregon, man known for traveling 235 miles in a lawn chair lifted by balloons is planning a two-man journey over Baghdad. Kent Couch was contacted by Fareed Lafta, known as the Iraqi “superhero,” about the flight in Iraq. Couch and Lafta came up with the idea for a double-chair launch to break more records on November 15th, during the Youth Talent Conference in the “Green Zone” of Baghdad. “We’re going to have two guys on one platform,” Couch said. “So we’ll have two lawn chairs connected, and we’ll launch with twice as many balloons.” Couch said they’ll travel 400 miles at 25,000 feet, with oxygen tanks, breaking his elevation record. He said he has one fear – inadvertently floating into Iran.

Divorced Groom Sues To Recreate Wedding

A New York man suing the studio that photographed his wedding said he is dissatisfied and wants to recreate the event, despite the fact that he is now divorced. Todd Remis, who is suing H & H Photographers in State Supreme Court, said he wants the $4,100 he paid the studio to photograph his 2003 wedding refunded and an additional $48,000 to fly friends and relatives to the city and recreate the event for another photographer to document. Remis, who filed his lawsuit in 2009, one year after separating from wife Milena Grzibovska, said the photographers failed to take any pictures of the couple’s first dance and the bouquet toss. He said the pictures that were taken were “unacceptable as to color, lighting, poses, (and) positioning.” H & H owners call the case “an abuse of the legal system.

Mouth-To-Beak Resuscitation

An injured Oregon eagle is getting a new home after being saved by a veterinarian. The bird was hit by a car last summer and the vet revived the eagle by giving it mouth-to-beak resuscitation. The eagle, named Patriot, was nursed back to health. But it will never fly again. The eagle has landed at the Blue Mountain Wildlife Center, where it will have a permanent home.

Airport Dweller Ends 80-Day Stint

A 29-year-old Canadian man is ending his 80-day stint living at Vancouver’s International airport today. Jaegar Mah won the Live@YVR contest, which was created to celebrate the airport’s 80th birthday. He moved in August 17th and has been spending his nights at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel. During his 80-day “vacation,” Mah has learned of the inner workings of an airport, including which VIP lounges will feed him and which have the best snacks. Mah has been documenting his stay on Facebook, blogs and Twitter, all with a digital camera. “I want to devote my life to telling stories,” he says. “You could call it some kind of journalism.” While in the airport, Mah visited its wildlife operations center as well as the dentist, where he found out he had five cavities. Mah says now that his stay is over he is looking forward to doing his own laundry and being able to buy bunches of bananas or apples – anything in bulk rather than the airport’s preferred single-servings.

Teens Trapped In Shopping Cart Call Cops

Two teenage girls were joy riding in a shopping cart in Sweden when they found themselves stuck in the cart and in the middle of nowhere. Emergency services in the small tourist town of Ed said they were surprised when they received a call Saturday night from two girls asking for help getting out of a shopping cart. The girls were in a remote area of town when they spotted the shopping cart and decided to climb inside. Unfortunately, they soon discovered that they were wedged in so tight they couldn’t get enough leverage to get out. They were stuck in the cart for about an hour before help arrived.

Booby Suit

Current and former employees of a Swedish lingerie chain said their union is planning to sue over name tags listing their bust circumference and cup size. The workers at Change stores in Sweden said they are required to list the information on their name tags and wear them at all times while working. “We have dirty old men coming into the shop looking at my cup size. Why should everyone get to know that? Guys selling underwear don’t have to show their size,” one employee said. Change CEO Susann Haglund said listing the employees’ sizes was an idea from workers and was optional. However, workers said they were told the tags were mandatory and they are issued demerits if they are not wearing them with all information visible when mystery shoppers come into the store.