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Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Dog and cheetah make the odd couple
Wildlife Safari in Winston has rare animals from across the globe - like rhinos, lions and even an Anatolian Shepherd. And the rare thing about the Anatolian Shepherd female at Wildlife Safari is not her breed, but her roommate - who just happens to be the fastest predator on earth.
"It's a very popular question of why we have a dog and a cheetah out there and it's a common practice that a lot of institutions across the United States are doing right now in an effort to tell this very conservation story," said Dan Brands, Curator at Wildlife Safari.
As a single birth cheetah cub, Sanurra was abandoned by her mother, which opened the door for these two to be brought together.
"Rather than let Sanurra grow up alone we were able to bring in a dog as a sibling, basically like her sister, and they have been together ever since," said Sarah Roy, cheetah supervisor at Wildlife Safari.
This odd pairing was no accident, as an Anatolian Shepard is very protective and that natural instinct could be the key to saving the wild cheetah population. While these roommates may be considered the odd couple at Wildlife Safari, caretakers says it's like nothing they've ever seen.
"When we take the dog for her daily walk, the cheetah sits on her house and waits for the dog to come back and if we take Sanurra down to the village for the day, Ellie cries and whines for her cheetah to come back, so they do miss each other," said Roy.
With news video.
"It's a very popular question of why we have a dog and a cheetah out there and it's a common practice that a lot of institutions across the United States are doing right now in an effort to tell this very conservation story," said Dan Brands, Curator at Wildlife Safari.
As a single birth cheetah cub, Sanurra was abandoned by her mother, which opened the door for these two to be brought together.
"Rather than let Sanurra grow up alone we were able to bring in a dog as a sibling, basically like her sister, and they have been together ever since," said Sarah Roy, cheetah supervisor at Wildlife Safari.
This odd pairing was no accident, as an Anatolian Shepard is very protective and that natural instinct could be the key to saving the wild cheetah population. While these roommates may be considered the odd couple at Wildlife Safari, caretakers says it's like nothing they've ever seen.
"When we take the dog for her daily walk, the cheetah sits on her house and waits for the dog to come back and if we take Sanurra down to the village for the day, Ellie cries and whines for her cheetah to come back, so they do miss each other," said Roy.
With news video.
Man flips police the bird, then sues them
One man is taking lone, one-fingered stance for what he calls the people's "right to dissent."
Robert Ekas says he flipped the bird at two Clackamas County sheriff's deputies on two separate occasions last month.
Both deputies pulled him over, and one of them issued him two tickets. Those tickets were later tossed out, but it appears for Ekas, the battle is not yet over.
The man has filed a complaint against the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, alleging deputies are trying to "retaliate against and chill citizens' First Amendment free speech rights."
"It's a right for every citizen to say, 'I don't like the way things are going so I'm not going to go along with the program,'" Ekas said.
Ekas said he was inspired by a Pittsburgh man who won a $50,000 settlement after being cited for flipping off an officer last year.
Robert Ekas says he flipped the bird at two Clackamas County sheriff's deputies on two separate occasions last month.
Both deputies pulled him over, and one of them issued him two tickets. Those tickets were later tossed out, but it appears for Ekas, the battle is not yet over.
The man has filed a complaint against the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, alleging deputies are trying to "retaliate against and chill citizens' First Amendment free speech rights."
"It's a right for every citizen to say, 'I don't like the way things are going so I'm not going to go along with the program,'" Ekas said.
Ekas said he was inspired by a Pittsburgh man who won a $50,000 settlement after being cited for flipping off an officer last year.
Man survives car crash but dies after urinating on power line
A man was killed when he accidentally urinated on a downed power line after a car crash, US authorities believe.
Roy Messenger was not seriously hurt after he collided with a power pole on Friday and called a relative to pull his car from a ditch, Dave Pimentel, the Grays Harbor County sheriff's deputy said. However, family members found 50-year-old Messenger electrocuted when they arrived.
Mr Pimentel said Messenger apparently urinated into a roadside ditch but didn't see the live wire. The urine stream likely served as a conductor, allowing the electricity to reach his body.
Mr Pimentel said there would be an autopsy, but burn marks indicated the way the electricity travelled through Messenger's body.
Roy Messenger was not seriously hurt after he collided with a power pole on Friday and called a relative to pull his car from a ditch, Dave Pimentel, the Grays Harbor County sheriff's deputy said. However, family members found 50-year-old Messenger electrocuted when they arrived.
Mr Pimentel said Messenger apparently urinated into a roadside ditch but didn't see the live wire. The urine stream likely served as a conductor, allowing the electricity to reach his body.
Mr Pimentel said there would be an autopsy, but burn marks indicated the way the electricity travelled through Messenger's body.
Police arrest parents who left son during jewellery store robbery - Update
Police say they've arrested the man and woman who robbed a Philadelphia jewellery store on Saturday and left their four-year-old son behind as they got away.
The couple were arrested together in a motel in Roosevelt Boulevard. John Benson, 47, and Sheakia Stubbs, 31, are charged with robbery, child endangerment, and attempted murder.
South Detectives captain Laurence Nodiff says the pair had their four-year-old son with them on Saturday when they grabbed more than a dozen rings worth about $50,000 and ran from the "Platinum and Ice" jewellery store.
The store owner chased them until, according to police, Stubbs slashed him in the neck with some sort of sharp object. The couple ran away, leaving the boy behind. The store owner required nearly a dozen stitches.
DHS is caring for the boy whom Nodiff says helped track down the suspects. "The child, as a result of a debriefing by the Special Victims Unit, was able to give us some information to help us locate the parents."
Police say Benson has 24 prior arrests, and Stubbs three.
Previously.
The couple were arrested together in a motel in Roosevelt Boulevard. John Benson, 47, and Sheakia Stubbs, 31, are charged with robbery, child endangerment, and attempted murder.
South Detectives captain Laurence Nodiff says the pair had their four-year-old son with them on Saturday when they grabbed more than a dozen rings worth about $50,000 and ran from the "Platinum and Ice" jewellery store.
The store owner chased them until, according to police, Stubbs slashed him in the neck with some sort of sharp object. The couple ran away, leaving the boy behind. The store owner required nearly a dozen stitches.
DHS is caring for the boy whom Nodiff says helped track down the suspects. "The child, as a result of a debriefing by the Special Victims Unit, was able to give us some information to help us locate the parents."
Police say Benson has 24 prior arrests, and Stubbs three.
Previously.
College campus divided over Bible for porn campaign
It's part of a campaign called 'Smut for Smut' sponsored by the student group, 'Atheist Agenda.' "We are comparing their religious text to pornography.." says group member Carlos Morales.
Collecting more than just the bible, this group accepts anything containing religious text. In return, students ages 18 or older receive pornography.
Atheist Agenda leaders say porn is no worse than what's written in some parts of religious texts.
"I don't understand how that equals at all .. to the word of God .. they're definitely opposites ... " says Monica Coronado, a University of Texas - San Antonio freshman.
Coronado is one of the many students joining hands, denouncing the group's message. "Honestly God isn't just about killing people .. he's about really righteousness .. I just wanted to explain.."
The debate spurs plenty of emotion from both sides, but some students took a different approach, supporting neither side, saying the debate accomplished nothing.
With news video.
Collecting more than just the bible, this group accepts anything containing religious text. In return, students ages 18 or older receive pornography.
Atheist Agenda leaders say porn is no worse than what's written in some parts of religious texts.
"I don't understand how that equals at all .. to the word of God .. they're definitely opposites ... " says Monica Coronado, a University of Texas - San Antonio freshman.
Coronado is one of the many students joining hands, denouncing the group's message. "Honestly God isn't just about killing people .. he's about really righteousness .. I just wanted to explain.."
The debate spurs plenty of emotion from both sides, but some students took a different approach, supporting neither side, saying the debate accomplished nothing.
With news video.
Angry parents burn down Philippines school
A group of angry parents have burnt down their children's school in the Philippines after the pupils weren't given as much food as they had been promised.
Only charred walls remained at Gaib Elemetary School in Masbate island province after it was torched in the middle of the night.
Police chief Ed Benigay said: "It was done by some disgruntled parents who reportedly got mad at some teachers over perceived discrimination in the school's nourishment programme."
Photo from here.
Nobody was injured in the arson attack, because the building was locked up for the night, but school records were destroyed.
The parents accused the school of not handing out enough rice, which had been pledged under a new Government scheme aimed at boosting school attendance.
Under the "Food for School" proposals, every student in certain impoverished areas is supposed to be given 1kg of rice every day. The attack has left almost 150 students aged between five and 10 without a classroom.
Only charred walls remained at Gaib Elemetary School in Masbate island province after it was torched in the middle of the night.
Police chief Ed Benigay said: "It was done by some disgruntled parents who reportedly got mad at some teachers over perceived discrimination in the school's nourishment programme."
Photo from here.
Nobody was injured in the arson attack, because the building was locked up for the night, but school records were destroyed.
The parents accused the school of not handing out enough rice, which had been pledged under a new Government scheme aimed at boosting school attendance.
Under the "Food for School" proposals, every student in certain impoverished areas is supposed to be given 1kg of rice every day. The attack has left almost 150 students aged between five and 10 without a classroom.
Theology student jailed for burning bush
A theology student has been jailed in Croatia after he caused £30m damage after he he set fire to a thorn bush that kept pricking him.
Jure Erceg was jailed for 15 months after a court in Erceg heard that he started the blaze on Velebit mountain in 2007 to seek revenge on the bush.
Erceg told the court that he lost his temper with the bush after it repeatedly pricked on his way to and from Zadar Faculty of Theology.
"It was an accident. I only wanted to get rid of that bush but it spread so quickly I couldn't put it out. It pricked me every morning and every night," he said.
Erceg and his father tried to call firemen by mobile-phone, but it had no signal. Psychiatrist Vera Klaric told the court that Erceg was not an arsonist.
Experts said he devastated nearly 500 acres of protected land in Paklenica national park, killing countless wild animals and birds.
Jure Erceg was jailed for 15 months after a court in Erceg heard that he started the blaze on Velebit mountain in 2007 to seek revenge on the bush.
Erceg told the court that he lost his temper with the bush after it repeatedly pricked on his way to and from Zadar Faculty of Theology.
"It was an accident. I only wanted to get rid of that bush but it spread so quickly I couldn't put it out. It pricked me every morning and every night," he said.
Erceg and his father tried to call firemen by mobile-phone, but it had no signal. Psychiatrist Vera Klaric told the court that Erceg was not an arsonist.
Experts said he devastated nearly 500 acres of protected land in Paklenica national park, killing countless wild animals and birds.
Pakistani opposition leader accused of electricity theft
Officials of Pakistani opposition leader Nawaz Sharif have been accused of stealing electricity as he addressed a night rally to denounce corruption.
Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party has been accused by various newspapers of siphoning off power to provide lighting for the Lahore rally. They say that it was done by extensive use of illegal connections.
Mr Sharif - who was making a speech against corruption at the time - has denied being personally responsible.
Television footage showed that metal hooks had been illegally connected to live wires to secure the electricity supply for the rally.
Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party has been accused by various newspapers of siphoning off power to provide lighting for the Lahore rally. They say that it was done by extensive use of illegal connections.
Mr Sharif - who was making a speech against corruption at the time - has denied being personally responsible.
Television footage showed that metal hooks had been illegally connected to live wires to secure the electricity supply for the rally.
Hindu holy man 'runs Delhi prostitution ring'
Police in the Indian capital Delhi are investigating a popular Hindu "holy man" whom they accuse of running a prostitution ring from his temple.
Shiv Murat Dwivedi is accused of supplying prostitutes in the wealthy areas of south Delhi and the city's five-star hotels. Police say he was arrested on Friday by undercover officers posing as clients.
Six women were arrested with him including, police say, an aspiring Bollywood actress and a BA air hostess.
This video is VERY LOUD. And it's not in English, though I'm sure you'll get the gist.
A spokesman for British Airways said the company was investigating if one of those arrested was a current or former member of staff, but had no information yet.
The police say that Shiv Murat Dwivedi was arrested twice before in the 1990s before changing his appearance and identity, and re-emerging as a self-styled holy man.
He reportedly claimed a following of more than 100,000 people, including leading politicians.
Shiv Murat Dwivedi is accused of supplying prostitutes in the wealthy areas of south Delhi and the city's five-star hotels. Police say he was arrested on Friday by undercover officers posing as clients.
Six women were arrested with him including, police say, an aspiring Bollywood actress and a BA air hostess.
This video is VERY LOUD. And it's not in English, though I'm sure you'll get the gist.
A spokesman for British Airways said the company was investigating if one of those arrested was a current or former member of staff, but had no information yet.
The police say that Shiv Murat Dwivedi was arrested twice before in the 1990s before changing his appearance and identity, and re-emerging as a self-styled holy man.
He reportedly claimed a following of more than 100,000 people, including leading politicians.
Pet eats tickets for dog training show
An East Lothian couple worried they would be refused into a dog training show after their pet ate the tickets have been told they can go. Mike Evans, 58, from Prestonpans, bought the £40 tickets for next week's Cesar Millan's "dog whisperer" show but eight-months-old Isla chewed them up.
Mr Evans said he did not know whether to laugh or cry when he found the Labrador had damaged the tickets. The online booking agent has now agreed to replace the tickets.
Mr Evans said Nottingham Arena refused to print new tickets because he bought them online. He said he had been worried officials would refuse them entry as, although he has tried to stick the tickets back together, the bar code has been badly damaged.
He said: "She has never touched the mail before. It is the ultimate irony, we don't know whether to laugh or cry." However when the tickets arrived, along with other mail which Islay did not touch, she ripped them to small pieces. Mr Evans said he felt Islay, who is due to stay with a relative while they are away at the 10 March event, did not want them to go.
Mr Evans said he did not know whether to laugh or cry when he found the Labrador had damaged the tickets. The online booking agent has now agreed to replace the tickets.
Mr Evans said Nottingham Arena refused to print new tickets because he bought them online. He said he had been worried officials would refuse them entry as, although he has tried to stick the tickets back together, the bar code has been badly damaged.
He said: "She has never touched the mail before. It is the ultimate irony, we don't know whether to laugh or cry." However when the tickets arrived, along with other mail which Islay did not touch, she ripped them to small pieces. Mr Evans said he felt Islay, who is due to stay with a relative while they are away at the 10 March event, did not want them to go.
Surfers ride once-a-decade tidal wave
A once-in-a-decade tidal wave surged down the River Severn yesterday morning carrying a horde of surfers relishing the rare natural phenomenon. The Environment Agency classified the wave as a top-rated five star event on the stretch of river that boasts the second highest tide in the world.
Joanne Hillman, of the British Surfing Association, said board enthusiasts had been competing to take the longest ride on the Severn Bore since the 1960s. “It’s pretty dangerous with trees and debris in the water so only skilled surfers take on the Bore,” she said.
“It must be one of the toughest surfing challenges in the world because the key is to ride the wave for miles. Most surfers would struggle to last the distance.”
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said the most powerful waves were seen roughly once every ten years. The phenomenon is caused by the funnel shape of the estuary, which narrows as it moves inland from the Bristol Channel thereby forcing the water level to rise.
“Large spring tides come a couple of times a year but when Atlantic tidal levels combine with the right river conditions you have these more powerful Bores,” she said.
The Bay of Fundy, located between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada is the only place in the world to have recorded a larger rise between low and high tide. On the Severn the difference in any one day can be more than 14.5 metres.
Joanne Hillman, of the British Surfing Association, said board enthusiasts had been competing to take the longest ride on the Severn Bore since the 1960s. “It’s pretty dangerous with trees and debris in the water so only skilled surfers take on the Bore,” she said.
“It must be one of the toughest surfing challenges in the world because the key is to ride the wave for miles. Most surfers would struggle to last the distance.”
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said the most powerful waves were seen roughly once every ten years. The phenomenon is caused by the funnel shape of the estuary, which narrows as it moves inland from the Bristol Channel thereby forcing the water level to rise.
“Large spring tides come a couple of times a year but when Atlantic tidal levels combine with the right river conditions you have these more powerful Bores,” she said.
The Bay of Fundy, located between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada is the only place in the world to have recorded a larger rise between low and high tide. On the Severn the difference in any one day can be more than 14.5 metres.
Three hens and cockerel peck fox to death after it breaks into coop
A gang of four plucky chickens hatched a murderous plan to take revenge on a fox terrorising their coop — and pecked him to death.
The fearsome four was led by a cockerel called Dude and included his three hens — Izzy, Pongo and Pecky.
Owner Michelle Cordell, 43, said she was dumbfounded when she found the dead fox in the coop in her garden when she went to collect eggs.
The chickens launched their attack after a number of their pals had been picked off by a prowling fox.
Describing the scene of the crime, Michelle said: "The little table, in the corner of the coop, which the chickens perch on, had been kicked over and was lying next to the fox's head.
"It seems they kicked over the table and knocked the fox out, then pecked it to death."
There are more photos here. Update: News video here.
The fearsome four was led by a cockerel called Dude and included his three hens — Izzy, Pongo and Pecky.
Owner Michelle Cordell, 43, said she was dumbfounded when she found the dead fox in the coop in her garden when she went to collect eggs.
The chickens launched their attack after a number of their pals had been picked off by a prowling fox.
Describing the scene of the crime, Michelle said: "The little table, in the corner of the coop, which the chickens perch on, had been kicked over and was lying next to the fox's head.
"It seems they kicked over the table and knocked the fox out, then pecked it to death."
There are more photos here. Update: News video here.
Bible student jailed in road rage knife row
A bible student who threatened a dustman with a knife during a road rage incident has been jailed for 15 months. Simon Luke, 35, of Polsue Way, Tresillian, Cornwall, overtook a line of six vehicles when he was late for an appointment, Truro Crown Court heard. When refuse collector Treve Stoddern confronted Luke at traffic lights, the bible student pulled out a knife and Mr Stoddern received cuts to his hands.
Judge Stephen Wildblood QC told Luke: "This was knife crime. There was no reason for you to take the knife with you out of your car." Mr Stoddern said he intended to give Luke a piece of his mind because "he had driven so dangerously and could have killed someone", but Luke accused Mr Stoddern of being "super aggressive".
Defence lawyer Piers Norsworthy said Luke's behaviour was caused by frustration, but he was not a violent man. "He made an awful error, a big mistake, the injury caused was by his reckless not deliberate actions," he said. "He was frustrated behind a dustcart and the beeping horns and Mr Stoddern's behaviour in the cab."
Luke, who has no previous convictions, was described in court as a "sincere Christian man" and a "kind and compassionate man" by his bible college friends. The judge, sitting in Exeter Crown Court, ordered Luke to pay his victim £500 compensation, even though he accepted there had been some provocation.
Judge Stephen Wildblood QC told Luke: "This was knife crime. There was no reason for you to take the knife with you out of your car." Mr Stoddern said he intended to give Luke a piece of his mind because "he had driven so dangerously and could have killed someone", but Luke accused Mr Stoddern of being "super aggressive".
Defence lawyer Piers Norsworthy said Luke's behaviour was caused by frustration, but he was not a violent man. "He made an awful error, a big mistake, the injury caused was by his reckless not deliberate actions," he said. "He was frustrated behind a dustcart and the beeping horns and Mr Stoddern's behaviour in the cab."
Luke, who has no previous convictions, was described in court as a "sincere Christian man" and a "kind and compassionate man" by his bible college friends. The judge, sitting in Exeter Crown Court, ordered Luke to pay his victim £500 compensation, even though he accepted there had been some provocation.
Speeding couple both pay penalty after forgetting which one of them was driving
A millionaire couple who said they had forgotten which of them was driving a speeding car were both penalised.
Jayne and Ian Oliphant-Thompson called it "immoral" to keep quizzing them after their Land Rover was clocked at 40mph in a 30mph zone.
Photos from here.
The couple, 43, of Exton, Devon, were fined £1,280, including costs, and each given six points by Exeter JPs.
The penalty would have been just £60 and three points if one had accepted blame. Prosecutor Philip Alcock said: "Even couples need to know who was driving."
Jayne and Ian Oliphant-Thompson called it "immoral" to keep quizzing them after their Land Rover was clocked at 40mph in a 30mph zone.
Photos from here.
The couple, 43, of Exton, Devon, were fined £1,280, including costs, and each given six points by Exeter JPs.
The penalty would have been just £60 and three points if one had accepted blame. Prosecutor Philip Alcock said: "Even couples need to know who was driving."
Hoarder wins right to keep untidy mess in garden
A Surrey man who is hoarding tonnes of rubbish in his garden has won the legal right to keep it there.
Mole Valley District Council ordered Richard Wallace to clear up the mess at his home in the village of Westcott near Dorking.
But the 59-year-old successfully appealed at the crown court, claiming an "Englishman's home is his castle".
Photo from here. With more photos.
The council said it was "disappointed" by the court's decision and was considering its next steps.
Mr Wallace's back garden is strewn with old cars, household waste, building materials and front doors.
He said: "I tend to hoard things because I want to retain some of them and they need to go somewhere. The house has got slightly overloaded and it tends to spill outside."
Video.
Mole Valley District Council ordered Richard Wallace to clear up the mess at his home in the village of Westcott near Dorking.
But the 59-year-old successfully appealed at the crown court, claiming an "Englishman's home is his castle".
Photo from here. With more photos.
The council said it was "disappointed" by the court's decision and was considering its next steps.
Mr Wallace's back garden is strewn with old cars, household waste, building materials and front doors.
He said: "I tend to hoard things because I want to retain some of them and they need to go somewhere. The house has got slightly overloaded and it tends to spill outside."
Video.
Firefighters 'left woman to die' after health and safety memo
An inquiry into the death of a woman who fell down a mine has heard she lay for six hours because safety rules banned firefighters from rescuing her. Alison Hume, 44, fell about 40ft into the shaft in Galston in July 2008. A fatal accident inquiry into her death is being held at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.
It has been told that fire crews could not aid Ms Hume because regulations stated their equipment was for saving themselves, not members of the public. The 44-year-old solicitor, who worked with the Renfrewshire legal firm McCusker McElroy and Co, was discovered by her daughter and eventually freed by mountain rescue experts. She died after suffering a heart attack just as she was brought to the surface.
Christopher Rooney, the first senior fire officer at the scene, told the FAI that it would have been possible to pull her from the shaft had it not been for a health and safety memo. Solicitor Gregor Forbes asked Mr Rooney: "On the basis of the manpower and equipment you had available, is it your view it would it would have been possible for the firefighters to have brought the person to the surface before the mountain rescue team?" Mr Rooney, 51, replied: "Yes, I believe so."
The now retired fireman said the memo was circulated around Strathclyde Fire and Rescue stations in March 2008 - just four months before the tragedy. Mr Rooney agreed with Mr Forbes, representing Ms Hume's family, that the restrictions placed on the crews that night prevented them from acting as they may otherwise have done.
See also: Firefighter arrested after 'spooked' cows killed farmer.
It has been told that fire crews could not aid Ms Hume because regulations stated their equipment was for saving themselves, not members of the public. The 44-year-old solicitor, who worked with the Renfrewshire legal firm McCusker McElroy and Co, was discovered by her daughter and eventually freed by mountain rescue experts. She died after suffering a heart attack just as she was brought to the surface.
Christopher Rooney, the first senior fire officer at the scene, told the FAI that it would have been possible to pull her from the shaft had it not been for a health and safety memo. Solicitor Gregor Forbes asked Mr Rooney: "On the basis of the manpower and equipment you had available, is it your view it would it would have been possible for the firefighters to have brought the person to the surface before the mountain rescue team?" Mr Rooney, 51, replied: "Yes, I believe so."
The now retired fireman said the memo was circulated around Strathclyde Fire and Rescue stations in March 2008 - just four months before the tragedy. Mr Rooney agreed with Mr Forbes, representing Ms Hume's family, that the restrictions placed on the crews that night prevented them from acting as they may otherwise have done.
See also: Firefighter arrested after 'spooked' cows killed farmer.
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