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Sunday, March 14, 2010
Family dog returns after getting carried away by bird
Some kind of large bird picked up Poppy the 3-pound chihuahua in Columbia, South Carolina .
"It kind of looked like he was in both of his talons and the bird was flying up and he was looking down and whining," said Tim Todd.
The family spent hours searching the nearby streets and neighbourhoods for Poppy, but they couldn't find him. That made it hard to get to sleep.
"It was a very sleepless night because everything that kept going through my mind was my little dog being torn apart and it was hard to imagine that he was going through that," said Tim's mother, Elizabeth.
After a night of tossing and turning, relief showed up right at the front door as Elizabeth's dad was leaving for work. It was Poppy, running to Elizabeth's arms. "I just broke down in tears because my little Poppy was back," said Elizabeth.
Poppy was in one piece, despite being a little dirty and scratched. "He just wanted to love on someone," said Tim. "Miracles still happen," said Elizabeth. "Prayers get answered even for little dogs."
With news video.
"It kind of looked like he was in both of his talons and the bird was flying up and he was looking down and whining," said Tim Todd.
The family spent hours searching the nearby streets and neighbourhoods for Poppy, but they couldn't find him. That made it hard to get to sleep.
"It was a very sleepless night because everything that kept going through my mind was my little dog being torn apart and it was hard to imagine that he was going through that," said Tim's mother, Elizabeth.
After a night of tossing and turning, relief showed up right at the front door as Elizabeth's dad was leaving for work. It was Poppy, running to Elizabeth's arms. "I just broke down in tears because my little Poppy was back," said Elizabeth.
Poppy was in one piece, despite being a little dirty and scratched. "He just wanted to love on someone," said Tim. "Miracles still happen," said Elizabeth. "Prayers get answered even for little dogs."
With news video.
Man arrested for wearing guinea pig on his head
A Virginia man has been charged with animal cruelty for skinning a guinea pig and making a head ornament out of it.
Charles Woodson, 40, of 405 E. Criser Road, Apt. 301, remains free on a $2,500 personal recognizance bond pending a March 23 return in Warren County General District Court.
Animal control officer Gerald L. Cubbage says in a criminal complaint form on file in court records that Woodson purchased the guinea pig from Noah's Ark Pet & Aquarium store in Front Royal.
"Charles Woodson was seen by neighbours wearing the skin of a guinea pig on his head," Cubbage says in the complaint form. If convicted of the class 1 misdemeanor, Woodson faces a maximum punishment of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Charles Woodson, 40, of 405 E. Criser Road, Apt. 301, remains free on a $2,500 personal recognizance bond pending a March 23 return in Warren County General District Court.
Animal control officer Gerald L. Cubbage says in a criminal complaint form on file in court records that Woodson purchased the guinea pig from Noah's Ark Pet & Aquarium store in Front Royal.
"Charles Woodson was seen by neighbours wearing the skin of a guinea pig on his head," Cubbage says in the complaint form. If convicted of the class 1 misdemeanor, Woodson faces a maximum punishment of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Fashion TV taken off the air in India for displaying model’s naked breast
A television channel that showed footage of a model’s naked breast as part of its coverage of a fashion show by the late British designer Alexander McQueen is to be taken off the air in India, according to government officials.
Fashion TV, which broadcasts internationally via satellite and cable systems, has been suspended for nine days, India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry said.
The offending programme, shown last September, depicted “women with nude upper body which was offending [sic] against good taste and decency”, a ministry statement said. “The visuals were found to be obscene, denigrating women and were not suitable for children and unrestricted public exhibition,” it added.
India, the most populous democracy in the world, remains a conservative society — much to the chagrin of media businesses that distribute risqué content. Last year the adult entertainment publisher and broadcaster Playboy said that it regarded the subcontinent as a potentially huge market but feared government restrictions.
Fashion TV, which broadcasts internationally via satellite and cable systems, has been suspended for nine days, India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry said.
The offending programme, shown last September, depicted “women with nude upper body which was offending [sic] against good taste and decency”, a ministry statement said. “The visuals were found to be obscene, denigrating women and were not suitable for children and unrestricted public exhibition,” it added.
India, the most populous democracy in the world, remains a conservative society — much to the chagrin of media businesses that distribute risqué content. Last year the adult entertainment publisher and broadcaster Playboy said that it regarded the subcontinent as a potentially huge market but feared government restrictions.
Teacher writes "Loser" on student's assignment
A North Carolina middle school teacher is in the hot seat over his controversial style of teaching.
Rex Roland teaches sixth graders at Enka Middle School in Candler, N.C. Patty Clement says her child was repeatedly bullied by Roland in class and she wants it to stop.
Clement says on a November vocabulary assignment Roland wrote the word "loser" after correcting the paper.
Just a few weeks ago, another graded assignment made its way home, and at the top of the page was the word "loser" underlined twice.
The Buncombe County School District released a statement saying that this is a personnel matter that's being looked into.
It's important to note that some parents defend Roland's teaching style saying its his way of relating to his students.
Rex Roland teaches sixth graders at Enka Middle School in Candler, N.C. Patty Clement says her child was repeatedly bullied by Roland in class and she wants it to stop.
Clement says on a November vocabulary assignment Roland wrote the word "loser" after correcting the paper.
Just a few weeks ago, another graded assignment made its way home, and at the top of the page was the word "loser" underlined twice.
The Buncombe County School District released a statement saying that this is a personnel matter that's being looked into.
It's important to note that some parents defend Roland's teaching style saying its his way of relating to his students.
Woman accused of stealing 500 rolls of toilet paper from hospital
A 36-year-old Maryville woman has been accused of stealing 500 rolls toilet paper from Blount Memorial Hospital over the course of several months late last year.
Melissa Patty, Gillenwater Road, allegedly admitted to security staff at the hospital that she took the toilet paper in October 2009.
Hospital administrators had agreed to give Patty four months to pay back the $213 worth of toilet paper, according to a Maryville police report.
However, the hospital contacted police on Tuesday and complained that Patty has not paid back the money. While Patty has not yet been charged with a crime, Blount Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Jessica Stith said the hospital plans to obtain a criminal summons against her.
Melissa Patty, Gillenwater Road, allegedly admitted to security staff at the hospital that she took the toilet paper in October 2009.
Hospital administrators had agreed to give Patty four months to pay back the $213 worth of toilet paper, according to a Maryville police report.
However, the hospital contacted police on Tuesday and complained that Patty has not paid back the money. While Patty has not yet been charged with a crime, Blount Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Jessica Stith said the hospital plans to obtain a criminal summons against her.
Entire staff of small-town paper quit to start rival paper
The entire staff of a small-town South Carolina newspaper has quit to start their own paper, leaving a 125-year-old news organization without a single employee.
Barry Moore, owner of the Manning Times, says everyone on staff at the paper quit on Monday.
Former Manning Times managing editor Cathy Gilbert said the new paper will be called the Clarendon Citizen. Gilbert will hold the same position at the Citizen.
Moore said the Times printed an issue this week and will continue to print papers. Volunteers are staffing the Times for the time being. "Last year was our 125th anniversary, and we hope for another 125 years," he said.
With news video.
Barry Moore, owner of the Manning Times, says everyone on staff at the paper quit on Monday.
Former Manning Times managing editor Cathy Gilbert said the new paper will be called the Clarendon Citizen. Gilbert will hold the same position at the Citizen.
Moore said the Times printed an issue this week and will continue to print papers. Volunteers are staffing the Times for the time being. "Last year was our 125th anniversary, and we hope for another 125 years," he said.
With news video.
Three dead after man walks in on threesome
A 50-year-old man flipped out and killed his girlfriend and two other men after walking in on them having a threesome at her Brooklyn apartment, police said. Hours later, the jilted lover admitted to cops he was so furious that he carved up the two mens’ bodies and dumped them somewhere in New Jersey. It is unclear whether three victims were shot or beaten to death.
The suspect spotted his 51-year-old girlfriend having sex with the two men shortly after midnight and left a voicemail with a friend saying he killed the three of them, cops said. The message, was passed on to cops, led them to the woman’s first floor pad at about 2 p.m. The suspect was found hovering over her dead body in a back bedroom. He admitted to the murders and was taken to the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville for questioning.
Regine Nole, a 46-year-old home attendant who lives across the street from the murder scene, said the suspect "didn’t look afraid or upset" when cops escorted him out of the building. He just put his head down and went into the police car," Nole said.
Nole said she heard from neighbours that the woman was "beaten to death." "She was dating more than one guy and just moved into this apartment three weeks ago," she said.
The suspect spotted his 51-year-old girlfriend having sex with the two men shortly after midnight and left a voicemail with a friend saying he killed the three of them, cops said. The message, was passed on to cops, led them to the woman’s first floor pad at about 2 p.m. The suspect was found hovering over her dead body in a back bedroom. He admitted to the murders and was taken to the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville for questioning.
Regine Nole, a 46-year-old home attendant who lives across the street from the murder scene, said the suspect "didn’t look afraid or upset" when cops escorted him out of the building. He just put his head down and went into the police car," Nole said.
Nole said she heard from neighbours that the woman was "beaten to death." "She was dating more than one guy and just moved into this apartment three weeks ago," she said.
'Abusive' teacher claims children too sensitive
An Australian teacher accused of verbally abusing students by telling one he should die believes he is being punished because modern kids are too sensitive. Former Doncaster Secondary College teacher Edward Wolf, who has 40 years' experience in education, said when he moved from an Altona school to the Doncaster school in Victoria, he believed the children had an air of "self-entitlement" and the student and parent population was like "Footscray with money".
Mr Wolf, who is facing misconduct charges before a Victorian Institute of Teaching disciplinary panel, said he used firm words with unruly students who disrupted class or left the classroom without permission. He denied telling misbehaving Year 10 pupils they were "idiots", but admitted telling one troublesome boy to "shut the f--k up" and another that "just because your dad wanted to get his rocks off, I have to deal with you".
Mr Wolf admitted kicking a student's table from under her feet because she refused to take them down from the desk when her dress and raised legs were "immodest". He also admitted telling a boy named Dyson, who refused to stop banging on a wall during class, to "do what your name says - die, son".
"Considering what they have said to me and other teachers, I don't see them as that sensitive," Mr Wolf said. "If you give it, you should be able to take it. Teachers only have words as a means to work with students and if those words are efficacious, then in that context I consider them appropriate." The VIT panel will hand down its findings on a date to be set.
Mr Wolf, who is facing misconduct charges before a Victorian Institute of Teaching disciplinary panel, said he used firm words with unruly students who disrupted class or left the classroom without permission. He denied telling misbehaving Year 10 pupils they were "idiots", but admitted telling one troublesome boy to "shut the f--k up" and another that "just because your dad wanted to get his rocks off, I have to deal with you".
Mr Wolf admitted kicking a student's table from under her feet because she refused to take them down from the desk when her dress and raised legs were "immodest". He also admitted telling a boy named Dyson, who refused to stop banging on a wall during class, to "do what your name says - die, son".
"Considering what they have said to me and other teachers, I don't see them as that sensitive," Mr Wolf said. "If you give it, you should be able to take it. Teachers only have words as a means to work with students and if those words are efficacious, then in that context I consider them appropriate." The VIT panel will hand down its findings on a date to be set.
Georgian prisoners can swap jail time for monastery
Officials in the ex-Soviet republic of Georgia have announced a scheme to let prisoners shorten their jail terms by spending time in a monastery instead.
The scheme for petty criminals has been proposed by the country's Orthodox Church and government officials.
It comes as prisoner numbers in Georgia continue to rise and so too does the popularity of the Church.
It is unclear how many prisoners will be allowed to become monks or if they have any choice in the matter.
In a joint statement, officials from the prisons ministry and the Church said they would work together to select the convicts they thought would benefit most from spending time in a monastery.
They said the purpose was to liberalise the criminal justice system, but the reality is that prisoner numbers are rising fast in Georgia. A report last year by a penal reform organisation said the incarceration rate had risen by 300% since 2004 and that jails were badly overcrowded.
The scheme for petty criminals has been proposed by the country's Orthodox Church and government officials.
It comes as prisoner numbers in Georgia continue to rise and so too does the popularity of the Church.
It is unclear how many prisoners will be allowed to become monks or if they have any choice in the matter.
In a joint statement, officials from the prisons ministry and the Church said they would work together to select the convicts they thought would benefit most from spending time in a monastery.
They said the purpose was to liberalise the criminal justice system, but the reality is that prisoner numbers are rising fast in Georgia. A report last year by a penal reform organisation said the incarceration rate had risen by 300% since 2004 and that jails were badly overcrowded.
Nigerian plane crashes during mock rescue exercise
A Nigerian plane taking part in an exercise aimed at testing disaster response operations has crashed in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt.
The air force plane - carrying dozens of officials - skidded off the runway as it was landing at the city's international airport.
Emergency workers on the ground who had been preparing to stage a mock rescue had to deal with a real accident.
The passengers and crew escaped with only minor injuries. "No life was lost but the aircraft was severely damaged," police spokeswoman Rita Inoma-Abbey said.
The air force plane - carrying dozens of officials - skidded off the runway as it was landing at the city's international airport.
Emergency workers on the ground who had been preparing to stage a mock rescue had to deal with a real accident.
The passengers and crew escaped with only minor injuries. "No life was lost but the aircraft was severely damaged," police spokeswoman Rita Inoma-Abbey said.
Britons arrested abroad will lose the right to a translator
Britons arrested in Europe will not have the right to demand a full translation of the charges they are facing, under proposals supported by the government. Britain has backed plans to "dilute" the rights of its citizens when extradited or caught up in criminal proceedings in other European countries.
Justice campaigners say anyone facing criminal allegations abroad under a European Arrest Warrant will be hit by the plan. The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe has accused Britain of pushing for procedures that do not provide proper protection for suspects.
The CCBE, which represents one million European lawyers, is concerned because the right to translation has been limited to only "essential" documents – a "formula which is too vague and open to abuse". Under EU legislation, British courts must allow a European Arrest Warrant extradition to take place even if there are concerns about the standards of justice in the country that they are being sent to.
Fair trial campaigners say people will be deported to countries such as Portugal, Hungary, Greece and Bulgaria where charges are made and trials held without an English translation allowing them to follow proceedings. The European Commission had proposed measures to ensure suspects must be shown a translation of all relevant documents. Viviane Reding, the European justice commissioner, said: "You cannot have a fair trial if the accused does not understand the language of the proceedings. EU citizens should never feel that their rights are weakened because they left home. Nonetheless, this is what can happen when people are sent abroad to stand trial."
But Britain has joined a group of 13 other governments which are trying to dilute the legislation. Britain has also supported a loophole that would allow a suspect to give up his rights without a lawyer present and without any written evidence, a move that could easily allow police officers to ignore the translation requirements altogether.
Catherine Heard, Policy Officer at Fair Trials International, said: "Under Europe's fast-track extradition system, we are expected to send our citizens across Europe to face trial without asking too many questions. As things stand, there is no guarantee that they will be treated fairly and our cases at FTI demonstrate that many aren't. Until reforms are introduced giving suspects basic rights like access to a lawyer and an interpreter, we will see many more cases of injustice."
Justice campaigners say anyone facing criminal allegations abroad under a European Arrest Warrant will be hit by the plan. The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe has accused Britain of pushing for procedures that do not provide proper protection for suspects.
The CCBE, which represents one million European lawyers, is concerned because the right to translation has been limited to only "essential" documents – a "formula which is too vague and open to abuse". Under EU legislation, British courts must allow a European Arrest Warrant extradition to take place even if there are concerns about the standards of justice in the country that they are being sent to.
Fair trial campaigners say people will be deported to countries such as Portugal, Hungary, Greece and Bulgaria where charges are made and trials held without an English translation allowing them to follow proceedings. The European Commission had proposed measures to ensure suspects must be shown a translation of all relevant documents. Viviane Reding, the European justice commissioner, said: "You cannot have a fair trial if the accused does not understand the language of the proceedings. EU citizens should never feel that their rights are weakened because they left home. Nonetheless, this is what can happen when people are sent abroad to stand trial."
But Britain has joined a group of 13 other governments which are trying to dilute the legislation. Britain has also supported a loophole that would allow a suspect to give up his rights without a lawyer present and without any written evidence, a move that could easily allow police officers to ignore the translation requirements altogether.
Catherine Heard, Policy Officer at Fair Trials International, said: "Under Europe's fast-track extradition system, we are expected to send our citizens across Europe to face trial without asking too many questions. As things stand, there is no guarantee that they will be treated fairly and our cases at FTI demonstrate that many aren't. Until reforms are introduced giving suspects basic rights like access to a lawyer and an interpreter, we will see many more cases of injustice."
Restaurant boss put in cell for stopping yobs
A restaurant owner was arrested and held in a cell for five hours for stopping two teenagers who had broken into his beer cellar. Sal Miah, 35, heard a noise in the cellar and when he investigated he saw two teenagers who fled but he pursued them to a park and dragged them back to the restaurant.
However, a gang of their friends began banging on the door and he pushed them away but when police officers arrived they claimed he had attacked them and Mr Miah was taken away. He was driven to the police station, held in a cell for over five hours and had his DNA, fingerprints and police photograph taken.
Mr Miah, who has run the Raj Poot Bangladeshi curry house in Crowborough, East Sussex, for 14 years, said: "I could not believe it - I had stopped a crime from happening and even delivered the suspects to police on a plate. But when they arrived they didn't seem interested in what had happened to my store room and all the beer these boys had tried to steal."
Officers released him go shortly before 4am after handing him a caution for assault and battery, which will stay on his record for five years. He added: "The system is a joke. How can a man who tries to prevent a crime in progress end up being the criminal? It's getting out of hand. People are living in fear of these kind of yobs but when you do take a stand and try and defend your home or your business you end up in trouble. He added: "It's the wrong way round. These boys told the police I had punched them and they believed them."
However, a gang of their friends began banging on the door and he pushed them away but when police officers arrived they claimed he had attacked them and Mr Miah was taken away. He was driven to the police station, held in a cell for over five hours and had his DNA, fingerprints and police photograph taken.
Mr Miah, who has run the Raj Poot Bangladeshi curry house in Crowborough, East Sussex, for 14 years, said: "I could not believe it - I had stopped a crime from happening and even delivered the suspects to police on a plate. But when they arrived they didn't seem interested in what had happened to my store room and all the beer these boys had tried to steal."
Officers released him go shortly before 4am after handing him a caution for assault and battery, which will stay on his record for five years. He added: "The system is a joke. How can a man who tries to prevent a crime in progress end up being the criminal? It's getting out of hand. People are living in fear of these kind of yobs but when you do take a stand and try and defend your home or your business you end up in trouble. He added: "It's the wrong way round. These boys told the police I had punched them and they believed them."
Devoted husband dies as he gives dying wife kiss of life
A devoted husband suffered a fatal heart attack as he fought to save the life of his dying wife. When Stewart Whitfield found wife Olga collapsed in the kitchen of their home in Tracey Avenue, West Boldon, he called 999, an inquest heard.
The 56-year-old tried desperately to resuscitate her, while being talked through life-saving procedures by an ambulance service controller.
But after a few minutes Mr Whitfield, a pipe fitter, stopped responding to the instructions. Seconds later paramedics broke into the house to find him slumped over his wife on the kitchen floor. Both were later pronounced dead.
Home Office pathologist Dr Peter Cooper said Mrs Whitfield, 61, had collapsed and died from an acute kidney infection.
Her husband, who had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure, succumbed to a heart attack as he fought to revive her. After a joint inquest, the couple's family described the married couple as "perfect together."
Mrs Whitfield's brother Ivan Hay, of West Boldon, said: "They were absolutely devoted to each other. They loved each other so much. In the end her death caused his death."
The 56-year-old tried desperately to resuscitate her, while being talked through life-saving procedures by an ambulance service controller.
But after a few minutes Mr Whitfield, a pipe fitter, stopped responding to the instructions. Seconds later paramedics broke into the house to find him slumped over his wife on the kitchen floor. Both were later pronounced dead.
Home Office pathologist Dr Peter Cooper said Mrs Whitfield, 61, had collapsed and died from an acute kidney infection.
Her husband, who had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure, succumbed to a heart attack as he fought to revive her. After a joint inquest, the couple's family described the married couple as "perfect together."
Mrs Whitfield's brother Ivan Hay, of West Boldon, said: "They were absolutely devoted to each other. They loved each other so much. In the end her death caused his death."
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