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Thursday, October 01, 2009
Seven-year-old lobbies city council for duck crossing sign
A second-grader in Michigan has lobbied successfully on behalf of the duck population. Jessica Maladecki was concerned about a mother duck and her ducklings crossing a busy stretch of roadway. So much so that she gathered signatures and went before the town council to ask for a sign.
Jessica and her family spent a lot of time biking along Koppernick Road this summer and asked why there were no duck signs posted. She was worried about a family of ducks living near a roadside marsh, much too close to traffic. "We always see this mom on the side of the road with her babies," Jessica said. "I felt like they were going to just cross."
So seven-year-old Jessica started her crusade, going door to door gathering signatures. She collected four pages full to petition the city council to post duck crossing signs.
"She really brought a lot of positive energy to that council meeting," said Westland Mayor William Wild. "She actually had to stand on a chair so she could see over the top of the podium."
Duane Maladecki, Jessica's father, said the council was excited to have her present. "Everyone clapped for her, it was fantastic," he said. Sign crews went right to work to make the crossing signs and posting them in short order.
This second grader feels a huge sense of accomplishment. "People have been driving a lot slower," Jessica said. "I'm just so happy for her and the ducks."
With news video.
Jessica and her family spent a lot of time biking along Koppernick Road this summer and asked why there were no duck signs posted. She was worried about a family of ducks living near a roadside marsh, much too close to traffic. "We always see this mom on the side of the road with her babies," Jessica said. "I felt like they were going to just cross."
So seven-year-old Jessica started her crusade, going door to door gathering signatures. She collected four pages full to petition the city council to post duck crossing signs.
"She really brought a lot of positive energy to that council meeting," said Westland Mayor William Wild. "She actually had to stand on a chair so she could see over the top of the podium."
Duane Maladecki, Jessica's father, said the council was excited to have her present. "Everyone clapped for her, it was fantastic," he said. Sign crews went right to work to make the crossing signs and posting them in short order.
This second grader feels a huge sense of accomplishment. "People have been driving a lot slower," Jessica said. "I'm just so happy for her and the ducks."
With news video.
Bangladesh crowns top rat killer
A farmer has been crowned Bangladesh's champion rat catcher of 2009 after leading a team which he says killed more than 80,000 rodents in a month. Mokhairul Islam was awarded a colour television at a ceremony attended by 500 farmers and officials in Dhaka.
He said he had disposed of 83,450 rats - more than double the tally set for all of last year. The authorities launched the annual competition in an attempt to reduce the amount of crops eaten by rats.
Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world and experts say rats consume about 10% of its crops every year. Mr Islam - a wealthy farmer who owns about 300 acres of land and six poultry farms near the capital - said it was a great honour to receive the award.
He described rats as "the most feared enemy for farmers" and said he had mainly used poison to kill them. "Since killing the rats, I've saved loads of money on poultry feed and have better crops," the victorious 40-year-old said after collecting his prize.
Officials say Islam deposited the dead rodents' tails at the agriculture office Mrin Gazipur district where he lives. There were so many decaying tails that his figure of 83,450 had to be taken on trust.
"We couldn't count all the tails because of the stench," local agriculture official Abbas Ali said.
He said he had disposed of 83,450 rats - more than double the tally set for all of last year. The authorities launched the annual competition in an attempt to reduce the amount of crops eaten by rats.
Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world and experts say rats consume about 10% of its crops every year. Mr Islam - a wealthy farmer who owns about 300 acres of land and six poultry farms near the capital - said it was a great honour to receive the award.
He described rats as "the most feared enemy for farmers" and said he had mainly used poison to kill them. "Since killing the rats, I've saved loads of money on poultry feed and have better crops," the victorious 40-year-old said after collecting his prize.
Officials say Islam deposited the dead rodents' tails at the agriculture office Mrin Gazipur district where he lives. There were so many decaying tails that his figure of 83,450 had to be taken on trust.
"We couldn't count all the tails because of the stench," local agriculture official Abbas Ali said.
Propaganda leaflets kill Afghan girl
A box of information leaflets dropped by an RAF transport aircraft over Helmand province killed a young Afghan girl after it landed on top of her.
The crew of an RAF C130 Hercules had been flying over rural parts of the province as part of a leaflet campaign.
The boxes of leaflets weight 30-40lbs, but are supposed to break open before landing in order to avoid injury. Usually the leaflets are supposed to scatter in mid-air after the box opens in the sky, but on this occasion, according to defence officials, it failed to open.
The Ministry of Defence said the incident, which occurred on June 23, was "highly regrettable" and was investigating further. The girl, after being hit, was taken to a local hospital in neighbouring Kandahar, where she died despite emergency treatment.
"Normally, if a civilian is injured, for example, in crossfire, British soldiers will take him or her to the British field hospital at Camp Bastion where the best possible medical treatment is provided," defence sources said. "In this case, we didn't know about the girl until someone came forward later, after she had died, to tell us what happened."
An MoD spokesman said steps had been taken to make sure similar incidents do not happen again.
The crew of an RAF C130 Hercules had been flying over rural parts of the province as part of a leaflet campaign.
The boxes of leaflets weight 30-40lbs, but are supposed to break open before landing in order to avoid injury. Usually the leaflets are supposed to scatter in mid-air after the box opens in the sky, but on this occasion, according to defence officials, it failed to open.
The Ministry of Defence said the incident, which occurred on June 23, was "highly regrettable" and was investigating further. The girl, after being hit, was taken to a local hospital in neighbouring Kandahar, where she died despite emergency treatment.
"Normally, if a civilian is injured, for example, in crossfire, British soldiers will take him or her to the British field hospital at Camp Bastion where the best possible medical treatment is provided," defence sources said. "In this case, we didn't know about the girl until someone came forward later, after she had died, to tell us what happened."
An MoD spokesman said steps had been taken to make sure similar incidents do not happen again.
Faeces-covered nude man jumps into neighbour's pool
A Stuart man was drunk, naked and covered in faeces when he took a dip in his neighbour's back yard pool, authorities said. Robert Higgins, 21, was arrested on Saturday night on charges of burglary to an occupied dwelling, disorderly conduct and misdemeanor theft.
According to the arrest affidavit, Larry Foss told deputies he heard banging and then a splash coming from his enclosed pool area. When he turned on the outside lights, he noticed Higgins swimming in his pool.
Foss told deputies Higgins, who was completely naked, took a towel, broke through the screened area and ran away.
According to the affidavit, Foss found Higgins' shorts on his front porch, as well as human faeces in his pool, in the area around the screens and on the door handles.
Deputies said they used a K-9 to follow the scent of the shorts to a room in the back of a garage directly across the street.
According to the affidavit, Higgins told deputies he was drinking vodka shots and Coors beer. Higgins was being held at the Martin County Jail on $10,500 bond.
According to the arrest affidavit, Larry Foss told deputies he heard banging and then a splash coming from his enclosed pool area. When he turned on the outside lights, he noticed Higgins swimming in his pool.
Foss told deputies Higgins, who was completely naked, took a towel, broke through the screened area and ran away.
According to the affidavit, Foss found Higgins' shorts on his front porch, as well as human faeces in his pool, in the area around the screens and on the door handles.
Deputies said they used a K-9 to follow the scent of the shorts to a room in the back of a garage directly across the street.
According to the affidavit, Higgins told deputies he was drinking vodka shots and Coors beer. Higgins was being held at the Martin County Jail on $10,500 bond.
Woman eats goldfish after fight over jewellery
A Pasadena woman angered when her former common-law husband took back jewellery he'd given her returned the gesture, police said, taking goldfish from his apartment — then ate them.
The two had argued over jewellery he had given her but then took back, Pasadena Police Department spokesman Vance Mitchell said. When the man refused to return the jewelry, she took seven goldfish from his west Pasadena home in the 1100 block of Queens Road to her apartment, Mitchell said. The man called police.
Officers went to the woman's home to see if they could retrieve the fish. “She said, ‘They're in there,' and pointed to the kitchen,” Mitchell said.
Finding a plate with four fried fish, officers asked where the others were. The woman answered, “I already ate those,” Mitchell said.
Because the fish were bought when the couple lived together, they were considered community property, he said.
“There was nothing we could do,” Mitchell said. “If he wants to pursue it, it's a civil case.”
The two had argued over jewellery he had given her but then took back, Pasadena Police Department spokesman Vance Mitchell said. When the man refused to return the jewelry, she took seven goldfish from his west Pasadena home in the 1100 block of Queens Road to her apartment, Mitchell said. The man called police.
Officers went to the woman's home to see if they could retrieve the fish. “She said, ‘They're in there,' and pointed to the kitchen,” Mitchell said.
Finding a plate with four fried fish, officers asked where the others were. The woman answered, “I already ate those,” Mitchell said.
Because the fish were bought when the couple lived together, they were considered community property, he said.
“There was nothing we could do,” Mitchell said. “If he wants to pursue it, it's a civil case.”
Swedish parents emerge victorious in bid to name son 'Q'
Overturning two previous rulings by lower courts, the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court has awarded two parents from central Sweden the right to name their son Q. Parents of a Jämtland boy learned on Wednesday that they may now legally name their son Q, following a ruling by the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court (Regeringsrätten).
The couple had already been twice overruled in their battle to retain the quizzical first name, first by the county administrative court (Länsrätten) and later, by the administrative court of appeal (Kammarrätten).
The higher court grounded its decision in the fact that “it has not been proven that the name Q may cause offence, or that it may lead to discomfort for the bearer of the name [...] there is also no reason why Q is obviously inappropriate as a first name.”
Q's father, Rickard Rehnberg, expressed his relief at the Supreme Administrative Court's decision. “This has been going on for a while now,” he said. When asked why the name meant so much to them, Rehnberg replied:
“He's been called Q almost since day one. He listens to the name and can actually say his own name. And if you read the law, you are allowed to be named after a letter,” he said. “The law states that you shouldn't have the same name as a letter, but not that you can't. He is a unique child and we thought he should have a unique name – then Q popped up.”
The boy's full name is now officially Q Anbjörn Jackrapat Rehnberg, though it may be a while before the youngster is able to pronounce it.
The couple had already been twice overruled in their battle to retain the quizzical first name, first by the county administrative court (Länsrätten) and later, by the administrative court of appeal (Kammarrätten).
The higher court grounded its decision in the fact that “it has not been proven that the name Q may cause offence, or that it may lead to discomfort for the bearer of the name [...] there is also no reason why Q is obviously inappropriate as a first name.”
Q's father, Rickard Rehnberg, expressed his relief at the Supreme Administrative Court's decision. “This has been going on for a while now,” he said. When asked why the name meant so much to them, Rehnberg replied:
“He's been called Q almost since day one. He listens to the name and can actually say his own name. And if you read the law, you are allowed to be named after a letter,” he said. “The law states that you shouldn't have the same name as a letter, but not that you can't. He is a unique child and we thought he should have a unique name – then Q popped up.”
The boy's full name is now officially Q Anbjörn Jackrapat Rehnberg, though it may be a while before the youngster is able to pronounce it.
Man sentenced for lewd acts with inanimate objects
A 32-year-old Hellertown man who rubbed his pelvis on inanimate objects in a video store and trespassed in a Hellertown home could serve nearly two years in prison.
Judge Anthony Beltrami on Friday sentenced Rick C. Musgnung, of the 300 block of Spruce Street, to 11 to 22 months in Northampton County Prison for corruption of minors followed by 38 months of county probation.
Musgnung was given credit for time served. Musgnung also received probation on charges of open lewdness, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.
Musgnung was twice caught causing a disturbance at the 48 Hours Video store in Hellertown, court papers say. He rubbed his crotch on videos, objects and the floor and told the girl working at the store that she must attract a lot of business, papers say. Another time he simulated a sex act on a gumball machine, court papers say. He was also nabbed for entering the home of two girls he saw at the borough library. He was found by the girls in their living room petting the family dog.
During his sentencing, Musgnung said he never spoke to the girl at the counter at 48 Hours Video, but, “All the other stuff, yeah, I done the videos and everything else, yeah.” He also admitted to entering the home without being invited and to possessing the pipe.
Beltrami required Musgnung to receive long-term sex offender treatment and submit to regular drug testing.
Judge Anthony Beltrami on Friday sentenced Rick C. Musgnung, of the 300 block of Spruce Street, to 11 to 22 months in Northampton County Prison for corruption of minors followed by 38 months of county probation.
Musgnung was given credit for time served. Musgnung also received probation on charges of open lewdness, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.
Musgnung was twice caught causing a disturbance at the 48 Hours Video store in Hellertown, court papers say. He rubbed his crotch on videos, objects and the floor and told the girl working at the store that she must attract a lot of business, papers say. Another time he simulated a sex act on a gumball machine, court papers say. He was also nabbed for entering the home of two girls he saw at the borough library. He was found by the girls in their living room petting the family dog.
During his sentencing, Musgnung said he never spoke to the girl at the counter at 48 Hours Video, but, “All the other stuff, yeah, I done the videos and everything else, yeah.” He also admitted to entering the home without being invited and to possessing the pipe.
Beltrami required Musgnung to receive long-term sex offender treatment and submit to regular drug testing.
Prisoners raise puppies in jail
Prisoners in New York state high security jails are helping the community by raising puppies behind bars.
The inmates are training the dogs for a number of law enforcement programmes, including bomb sniffing.
The Puppies Behind Bars scheme also provides animals to help soldiers who have been wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.
There's another news video here.
The inmates are training the dogs for a number of law enforcement programmes, including bomb sniffing.
The Puppies Behind Bars scheme also provides animals to help soldiers who have been wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.
There's another news video here.
Woman files paternity claims against six prisoners
A pregnant woman has filed paternity claims against six separate inmates of a Romanian prison.
Mum-to-be Raluca Dionescu from Iasi says any one of the convicts she met while working part-time at the jail could be the father.
The prisoners - aged between 24 and 35 - will have to submit to blood and DNA tests.
Dionescu, who was employed as a cleaner at the prison near Iasi, admitted she had enjoyed steamy sessions with the inmates in the prison's laundry room.
She said: "I couldn't resist some of the men. I didn't think of them as criminals or the crimes that they committed.
"What I want now though is to find out which one is the father of my child. I don't know what will happen after that though, whether I, or the father, will want to bring up the child together."
Mum-to-be Raluca Dionescu from Iasi says any one of the convicts she met while working part-time at the jail could be the father.
The prisoners - aged between 24 and 35 - will have to submit to blood and DNA tests.
Dionescu, who was employed as a cleaner at the prison near Iasi, admitted she had enjoyed steamy sessions with the inmates in the prison's laundry room.
She said: "I couldn't resist some of the men. I didn't think of them as criminals or the crimes that they committed.
"What I want now though is to find out which one is the father of my child. I don't know what will happen after that though, whether I, or the father, will want to bring up the child together."
Shocks among London's lost and found
A samurai sword, a prosthetic arm and a coffin are just some of the bizarre items left behind on the capital's public transport system. The vast treasure chest of weird and wonderful items was unveiled at Transport for London's Lost Property Office.
The basement in Baker Street, central London, is celebrating 75 years of collecting items mislaid on overground and Tube trains, buses, cabs and coaches. And now they are showcasing the forgotten finds, including a stuffed fox, a puffer fish, a lawnmower, a park bench, WWII gas masks and even a home vasectomy kit.
The staff's fears over the contents of the coffin lessened when its "owner" was tracked down, who revealed it was used for theatrical purposes only. In fact, the office enjoys a very successful hit rate at finding the lost items' forgetful friends.
LPO's office manager Julie Haley said reuniting two urns of ashes with the relatives of the deceased was "particularly heart-warming". "It was an emotional moment for all of us. Having said that, all items are important to their owners and returning even the smallest of items can make a big difference," she said.
A pair of breast implants was also successfully returned.
However, the toothless man who came in one day asking for his dentures was less fortunate. He brought back what he had identified as his own set a few hours later, complaining of "rubbing".
With news video.
The basement in Baker Street, central London, is celebrating 75 years of collecting items mislaid on overground and Tube trains, buses, cabs and coaches. And now they are showcasing the forgotten finds, including a stuffed fox, a puffer fish, a lawnmower, a park bench, WWII gas masks and even a home vasectomy kit.
The staff's fears over the contents of the coffin lessened when its "owner" was tracked down, who revealed it was used for theatrical purposes only. In fact, the office enjoys a very successful hit rate at finding the lost items' forgetful friends.
LPO's office manager Julie Haley said reuniting two urns of ashes with the relatives of the deceased was "particularly heart-warming". "It was an emotional moment for all of us. Having said that, all items are important to their owners and returning even the smallest of items can make a big difference," she said.
A pair of breast implants was also successfully returned.
However, the toothless man who came in one day asking for his dentures was less fortunate. He brought back what he had identified as his own set a few hours later, complaining of "rubbing".
With news video.
Britain's 'oldest' burglar is jailed again
A Carlisle grandfather who in his life of crime has been sentenced to almost 41 years in jail was back behind bars for new offences. Richard Blaylock, who will celebrate his 78th birthday on Christmas Day, was given a two year four month sentence for a two opportunistic night-time burglaries he did at properties near Carlisle.
His defence solicitor Malcolm Dodds said Blaylock, who began offending as a teenager during World War Two in 1943, was in failing health which made it likely that he would die in jail. Blaylock - said to be Britain's oldest burglar - had earlier admitted burgling a house and an outbuilding at Great Orton, near Carlisle, on May 21.
The court heard how a police officer had spotted the pensioner leaving a pub, getting on to a bike, and cycling off away from Carlisle. Before riding off, he put on a pair of gloves and picked up a holdall, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson told the court.
Blaylock was stopped at 2.25am the following day and searched. By this time, said Mr Rogerson, the pensioner had with him a socket tool set which he’d taken from an outbuilding and a burgundy coloured sock, stuffed with items he’d taken from a house, including some cufflinks, a gold watch, and loose change.
Blaylock was also carrying various tools, including a pair of pliers and a screwdriver. At first, the pensioner told police he had been out to Great Orton to hunt for rabbits and foxes, but he later admitted his crimes and showed police the properties he raided.
Mr Dodds, mitigating for Blaylock, told the judge: “It’s a quite extraordinary case. It’s not often that your Honour will have a 77-year-old man in front of you in connection with allegations of house burglary.”
His defence solicitor Malcolm Dodds said Blaylock, who began offending as a teenager during World War Two in 1943, was in failing health which made it likely that he would die in jail. Blaylock - said to be Britain's oldest burglar - had earlier admitted burgling a house and an outbuilding at Great Orton, near Carlisle, on May 21.
The court heard how a police officer had spotted the pensioner leaving a pub, getting on to a bike, and cycling off away from Carlisle. Before riding off, he put on a pair of gloves and picked up a holdall, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson told the court.
Blaylock was stopped at 2.25am the following day and searched. By this time, said Mr Rogerson, the pensioner had with him a socket tool set which he’d taken from an outbuilding and a burgundy coloured sock, stuffed with items he’d taken from a house, including some cufflinks, a gold watch, and loose change.
Blaylock was also carrying various tools, including a pair of pliers and a screwdriver. At first, the pensioner told police he had been out to Great Orton to hunt for rabbits and foxes, but he later admitted his crimes and showed police the properties he raided.
Mr Dodds, mitigating for Blaylock, told the judge: “It’s a quite extraordinary case. It’s not often that your Honour will have a 77-year-old man in front of you in connection with allegations of house burglary.”
Thief makes his escape in electric wheelchair
A wheelchair-user who stole some clothes tried to flee shop staff in an electric invalid buggy. Steven Ribchester, 40, refused to stop when he was challenged by Marks & Spencer staff after rolling up clothing and leaving without paying.
They called police who caught up with him "speeding" along the pavement at 8mph in his electric wheelchair with M&S security running at his side.
An officer had to lift it off the ground for another to switch it off to stop him.
Ribchester, 40, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to stealing clothes worth £39. Blackburn magistrates fined him £90, which was set against time spent in custody.
Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said Ribchester was caught on CCTV stealing the goods. He added: "When staff tried to detain him he refused to stop and they said he 'made off at speed' in his wheelchair.
"They contacted police through the town centre radio link and officers in a marked police car caught up."
They called police who caught up with him "speeding" along the pavement at 8mph in his electric wheelchair with M&S security running at his side.
An officer had to lift it off the ground for another to switch it off to stop him.
Ribchester, 40, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to stealing clothes worth £39. Blackburn magistrates fined him £90, which was set against time spent in custody.
Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said Ribchester was caught on CCTV stealing the goods. He added: "When staff tried to detain him he refused to stop and they said he 'made off at speed' in his wheelchair.
"They contacted police through the town centre radio link and officers in a marked police car caught up."
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