Post insane / odd / unique news releases here

[LWM]

Woman allegedly leaves son alone, goes for drive (June 20th, 2010 @ 2:18pm)

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A woman was accused of leaving her 6-year-old son home alone at night while she drove to a city an hour to the east. Authorities said the 39-year-old mother drove to Medina late Wednesday, and the boy called 911 when he woke up early Thursday and became scared when he could not find his mother.

Authorities said the mother told deputies she couldn't sleep so she went for a drive.

The woman was charged with felony abuse or neglect of a child, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison upon conviction. Her bond was set at $1,500 cash.

[LWM]

Mo. man's sign against Democrats torched twice (June 20th, 2010 @ 2:39pm)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri man who had the side of a semi-truck box trailer professionally painted with a sign assailing Democrats says he put the trailer in a cornfield along a busy highway because he wanted people to see it. The sign, next to U.S. 71 about an hour south of Kansas City, reads: "Are you a Producer or Parasite. Democrats - Party of the Parasites."

A lot of people have seen David Jungerman's sign, and someone clearly has not liked it. It's been torched twice, first on May 12, then about a week later. Then an empty farm house that Jungerman, 72, owns was also set on fire, The Kansas City Star reported.

"Things are getting a little out of hand out there," said Chief Deputy Justin Moreland of the Bates County Sheriff's Office.

Jungerman has posted a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for the fires, which have left the sign harder to read and the trailer tires burnt to nothing.

Jungerman said he should have been more clear that he wasn't taking aim at local Democrats.

"They're more conservative than many Republicans," he said. "I should have put an ad in the paper to explain that. No, I meant the national Democrat parasite base that is sucking this country dry.

"The ones that just take from the government and not give anything back."

And to be sure, local Democrats don't want to be linked to the fires. Jungerman has every right to speak his mind, said Kay Caskey, a Bates County Democrat and wife of longtime state Sen. Harold Caskey.

"Obviously our country is in disarray now because of economics, jobs and foreclosures," she said. "We are hurting as a country. But there are too many people who want to tear it down instead of build it up. Yes, there is anger out there, and we are a long way from Washington.

"This man has a right to do what he did, but around here some people might wonder at what point do you cross the line?"

Jungerman says he's not even a die-hard Republican. He voted for Claire McCaskill when she won a U.S. Senate seat in 2006. He put the sign out to make a point.

His problem now is that corn is looking good, and soon it will obscure his trailer sign from highway traffic.

"Well, I would have pulled it out of there by now if they hadn't burned the tires off," he said.

[LWM]

NY vacuum salesmen charged with damaging mattress (June 20th, 2010 @ 4:10pm)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Two vacuum salesmen didn't exactly close the deal at a recent home demonstration in central New York. State police charged the Syracuse men with a misdemeanor after a $1,300 Sealy latex foam mattress was damaged. Trooper Andy Davis said the damage occurred during a demonstration Monday at a home in Richfield Springs. Davis wouldn't elaborate on what was done to the mattress.

Davis said the men were both at the home when police arrived and were trying to save the situation. They were charged with reckless endangerment of property.

The mattress owner is looking for reimbursement.

[LWM]

Pirates seek record, not booty, at Calif. festival (June 20th, 2010 @ 6:56pm)

VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) - Yo-ho-ho, how many pirates can there be?

That's the question this weekend at the fourth annual Northern California Pirate Festival in Vallejo.

Festival-goers are seeking to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the most costumed pirates in one place. On Saturday, nearly 2,300 pirates had registered. But the festival's official count wouldn't be out until after the event ends Sunday.

Festival spokesperson Shannon Damnavits says each pirate has to wear a red wristband, stand in one place for 10 minutes and be photographed. Guinness then certifies the count.

The current titleholder is Brixham, England, where 1,722 costumed pirates were recorded.

[LWM]

Blonde, pony-tailed burglar found bed just right (June 20th, 2010 @ 8:48pm)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A blonde, pony-tailed burglar ate some food, drank some alcohol, tried on clothes and then found the bed in a New Zealand home just right.

But upon finding a modern-day Goldilocks asleep in his bed, the homeowner in the southern city of Christchurch exercised an option The Three Bears didn't: He called police.

In court Monday, 39-year-old Vanessa Joy Long pleaded guilty and said she blacked out and doesn't remember what happened June 5. The judge ordered a probation report to see if Long was suitable for home detention and could pay for her misdemeanors.

The damage was estimated at 1,500 New Zealand dollars ($1,064).

She was released on bail for sentence on Sept. 1.

[LWM]

NC man hollers 'Summertime' to win title (June 21st, 2010 @ 5:40am)

SPIVEY'S CORNER, N.C. (AP) - A North Carolina man who won the National Hollerin' Contest says he almost disqualified himself by going over the four-minute time limit.

The Fayetteville Observer reports that Tony Peacock of Siler City won the 42nd annual contest Saturday in Spivey's Corner in central North Carolina. His hollerin' rendition of the popular Gershwin tune "Summertime" got him the title.

Peacock says he had to cut short his last holler because he had only two seconds left.

The winner of the contest gets bragging rights and opportunities to perform at events and on television.

Participants competed in several categories: men's national hollerin' contest, ladies callin', conch shell blowin', whistlin' and junior and teen hollerin'.

[LWM]

Rat suspected of starting fire in Yakima (June 21st, 2010 @ 7:04am)

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - A rat is suspected of starting a fire at the Veterans of Foreign War building in Yakima.

KAPP-TV reports that investigators discovered a rat had chewed through an electrical cord. The rat apparently caught fire and ran to its nest, igniting flammable items.

The fire last week spread quickly through the building, damaging several rooms and war memorabilia.

The fire department says damage could exceed $1 million.