Post insane / odd / unique news releases here

[LWM]

Sweet-tooth burglar grabs cookies from Fla. store (June 14th, 2010 @ 12:32pm)

OCALA, Fla. (AP) - Police are searching for a burglar who stole a box of cookies from a north Florida discount store. Police said the thief took a box of Oreo Cakesters from the Dollar General store early Friday morning. The cookies are valued at $2.50. Surveillance footage shows a man entering the store after breaking a glass door.

According to the Ocala Star-Banner, the same store was targeted by a burglar in February. In that incident, the suspect made off with snack cakes and other items.

[LWM]

Cops bust woman, 74, for pouring mayo in book drop (June 14th, 2010 @ 1:14pm)

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Police said a 74-year-old woman arrested after pouring mayonnaise in the Ada County library's book drop box is a person of interest in a yearlong spree of condiment-related crimes of the same sort. The woman was arrested Sunday at the library, moments after police said she pulled through the outside drive-through and dumped an open jar of mayonnaise in the box designated for reading materials.

The woman was released from the county jail and faces a misdemeanor charge of malicious injury to property. Police did not disclose a motive.

Boise police said the woman is under investigation for at least 10 similar cases of vandalism since May 2009. Library employees have reported finding books in the drop box covered in corn syrup and ketchup.

[LWM]

Va. officials find goat shoved in woman's trunk (June 14th, 2010 @ 6:28pm)

BEDFORD, Va. (AP) - Authorities said a regional drunken-driving checkpoint led to the discovery of a goat, bound and shoved in the trunk of a car. The Bedford Sheriff's Office said the car, driven by 32-year-old woman, pulled up to the checkpoint on Friday night when deputies heard noises from the trunk.

When asked what was in the trunk, the driver said she bought a goat from a farmer to give to the four passengers in her car, who are from Kenya but reside in Lynchburg. The goat was panting heavily and animal control officers said the temperature in the trunk was 94 degrees.

The woman told deputies she is from the United Kingdom and transporting goats in this manner was acceptable there. She was charged with cruelty to an animal and released.

[LWM]

NY barkeep famed for flaming liquor stunt arrested (June 14th, 2010 @ 6:28pm)

NEW YORK (AP) - A barkeep whose flaming liquor show was featured in "Real Housewives of New York City" has been arrested for performing the fiery feat. Authorities said undercover fire marshals arrested the barkeep about 2 a.m. Sunday after he set alight Apotheke's bar top, where he had poured various liquors. Chief Fire Marshal Robert Byrnes said the stunt sparked a "huge fireball."

Fire officials said the flames created a danger for the dozens of people at the Chinatown bar.

The 40-year-old man was described as a "cocktail artist" on the bar's website. He told The New York Times that he is a mixologist, not "a pyrotechnic maniac."

The bartender was arrested on two counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

[LWM]

Mass. town can't unload house near landfill (June 15th, 2010 @ 10:44am)

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) - A Massachusetts town has lowered the price of a home it's trying to sell because there's barely been a sniff of interest.

The four-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot home on 2.4 acres of land is right next to Northampton's landfill. When potential buyers find out about it, they back away.

Northampton's Board of Public Works bought the home as part of a legal settlement with the previous owners, who frequently complained about the landfill's odor.

The home went on the market about a year ago for nearly $479,000. When it didn't sell, the price was lowered to $375,000. Board Chairman Terry Culhane said the price was slashed again to $290,000 last week.

Culhane tells The Republican of Springfield he'd be surprised if someone doesn't bite now.

[LWM]

Hoo-wah! Rejoice amid scent of a 'corpse flower' (June 15th, 2010 @ 11:29am) Policy >> Talk About It EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The "corpse flower" is alive at Michigan State University. But it won't last forever.

The 5-foot-tall Amorphophallus titanum that flowered Friday for the first time in 15 years is expected to finish blooming Tuesday.

Mike Grillo, a Ph.D. student, tells the Lansing State Journal that the randomly flowering plant "looks like something meaty that's dead" and seduces flies and carrion beetles by emitting a pungent perfume akin to the putrid smell of rotting flesh. Portions of its large leaves are blood-colored burgundy.

About 500 visitors have viewed the plant, which naturally grows in equatorial rainforests on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Grillo said the plant will lie dormant for several months before regrowing.

[LWM]

Pet waste removal worker finds $58 in dog poop (June 15th, 2010 @ 12:12pm)

ST. LOUIS (AP) - This is why your mother says to wash your hands after handling money: A St. Louis worker found $58- packed in dog poop. Steve Wilson works for DoodyCalls Pet Waste Removal. On a recent call, he noticed money sticking out from doggie doo. Wilson wasn't sure what to do, but eventually pulled out the bills, sanitized them, placed them in a plastic zip-locked bag and returned them to the customer. It turned out to be $58.

The company said the money was torn, but the serial numbers were identifiable, which means the bills could be returned to a bank and replaced with new money.

The Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists says Wilson is the first person in his profession to find and report money in dog poop.

[LWM]

NY police dog finds parole violator 1st day on job (June 15th, 2010 @ 11:06pm)

NEWBURGH, N.Y. (AP) - A new police dog has learned an old trick- tracking down a parole violator outside New York City on its first day on the job.

Bloodhound Tank Tebow (TEE'-boh) is handled by Officer Curtis Hahne (hayn) in Newburgh, 60 miles north of New York.

Tank was donated to police Monday and began his career with the officer Tuesday. Two hours later police were dispatched to an apartment complex on a tip the parole violator was there. But by the time police arrived the man had disappeared.

Police say Tank followed the man's scent into a commercial area, through woods, across streets and into another apartment complex several blocks away. They say the man surrendered without incident.

Tank is certified by the National Police Bloodhound Association. He'll also be used to find missing people

[LWM]

La. cabbie accused of extorting 10 percent tip (June 16th, 2010 @ 5:46am)

KENNER, La. (AP) - Authorities in the New Orleans area say a cab driver is accused of locking a Texas tourist in his cab and demanding a 10 percent tip on a $33 airport fare.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office says in an incident report that 37-year-old Sohail Kahn was booked with extortion and false imprisonment, and the New Orleans Taxicab Regulation Bureau also seized his permit.

Kahn could not be reached for comment Wednesday by The Associated Press because he has no listed phone number.

The Times-Picayune quotes the incident report as saying the passenger, a 57-year-old woman from Bellaire, Texas, called 911 from her cell phone after arguing with the driver for a half-hour.

[Sal-XK]

Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-NC) Assaults Student on Washington Sidewalk