Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Neighbours brawled over feeding ducks
A South Florida man is home from the hospital after he says he was attacked by a neighbour when he told him to stop feeding a Muscovy duck and her ducklings. The incident occurred at around 4pm at the Park City West mobile home on Sunday. David Lawn says he is not a fan of people feeding the ducks. "These things are just defiant. They are spoiled by these, I don't know what's wrong with these people but they have to have the affection of them," said Lawn.
Lawn said for several months he has asked his neighbour, Quinten Putnam, to stop feeding the Muscovy ducks. On Sunday, Lawn said Putnam was feeding a duck and her ducklings. Lawn asked him to stop feeding the ducks. Putnam became angry and struck Lawn several times in the face, chest and kicked him on his side. "When he's on top of me and he's pounding with the heel of his hand," said Lawn. "Then he jumped on me .... and I couldn't really stop him."
Witness Eddie Eppler was in the neighbourhood and called police immediately. "Just punching him in the face continually. I mean, I thought the guy was unconscious," said Eppler. Police arrived on the scene and arrested Putnam. He suffered several non-life threatening injuries. Lawn, who is over 65 years old, was taken to the hospital.
Putnam appeared in bond court on Monday. "Allegedly, you tackled him because he didn't want you feeding the ducks, and allegedly you struck him several times in the face after you pinned him on the ground, then got up and kicked him in on the side," said Broward County Judge John Hurley. Putnam is being held on a $1,500 bond. Hurley ordered Putnam, who had a large bandage on his head, to stay 50 feet away from his neighbour.
With news video.
Lawn said for several months he has asked his neighbour, Quinten Putnam, to stop feeding the Muscovy ducks. On Sunday, Lawn said Putnam was feeding a duck and her ducklings. Lawn asked him to stop feeding the ducks. Putnam became angry and struck Lawn several times in the face, chest and kicked him on his side. "When he's on top of me and he's pounding with the heel of his hand," said Lawn. "Then he jumped on me .... and I couldn't really stop him."
Witness Eddie Eppler was in the neighbourhood and called police immediately. "Just punching him in the face continually. I mean, I thought the guy was unconscious," said Eppler. Police arrived on the scene and arrested Putnam. He suffered several non-life threatening injuries. Lawn, who is over 65 years old, was taken to the hospital.
Putnam appeared in bond court on Monday. "Allegedly, you tackled him because he didn't want you feeding the ducks, and allegedly you struck him several times in the face after you pinned him on the ground, then got up and kicked him in on the side," said Broward County Judge John Hurley. Putnam is being held on a $1,500 bond. Hurley ordered Putnam, who had a large bandage on his head, to stay 50 feet away from his neighbour.
With news video.
Man without trousers arrested in Waffle House after starting conversation about his private parts
A North Carolina man was arrested on Saturday after police say he sat in a booth at a Rock Hill Waffle House without his trousers and later struck up a conversation with two patrons about his private parts.
At about 1am, a Rock Hill police officer working overtime at the Waffle House noticed Ryan Christopher Smallwood, 26, of Fayetteville sitting in a booth, “flipping the bird” at a restaurant customer. Smallwood’s trousers were dropped to his ankles, the officer reported, though he still had his boxers up around his waist.
The officer ordered Smallwood to pull up his trousers, warning him that any further inappropriate behaviour would result in police asking him to leave the Waffle House. Smallwood pulled his trousers back up and the officer walked back across the restaurant. Not much time later, the officer overheard Smallwood talking about his private parts to two other people sitting at the bar.
The officer told Smallwood he could either leave the restaurant or face arrest. Smallwood argued back, claiming he did nothing wrong. When Smallwood made no indication that he would leave, the officer placed him under arrest, charging him with public disorderly conduct.
At about 1am, a Rock Hill police officer working overtime at the Waffle House noticed Ryan Christopher Smallwood, 26, of Fayetteville sitting in a booth, “flipping the bird” at a restaurant customer. Smallwood’s trousers were dropped to his ankles, the officer reported, though he still had his boxers up around his waist.
The officer ordered Smallwood to pull up his trousers, warning him that any further inappropriate behaviour would result in police asking him to leave the Waffle House. Smallwood pulled his trousers back up and the officer walked back across the restaurant. Not much time later, the officer overheard Smallwood talking about his private parts to two other people sitting at the bar.
The officer told Smallwood he could either leave the restaurant or face arrest. Smallwood argued back, claiming he did nothing wrong. When Smallwood made no indication that he would leave, the officer placed him under arrest, charging him with public disorderly conduct.
Man stole toilet cistern from Subway shop as his family placed their order
Police are looking for a man who stole a toilet cistern from a Subway restaurant in West Seattle on Sunday night. They say the man and his family walked into the shop at around 7:45pm.
But while the family were placing their order, the man went into the bathroom and took quite some time - so much time, that the wife knocked on the door and asked him what was taking so long. The family eventually left the restaurant without him.
A short time later the man emerged from the bathroom carrying a large, black plastic bag and quickly left. An employee walked into the bathroom to find the toilet cistern missing, the sink still running and stuffed with paper towels, and to top it all off, the bathroom key was missing.
Several witnesses at the scene provided enough information about the thief to where police have identified a suspect, and their theft detectives are working on the case. According to police, the cistern was worth $500.
But while the family were placing their order, the man went into the bathroom and took quite some time - so much time, that the wife knocked on the door and asked him what was taking so long. The family eventually left the restaurant without him.
A short time later the man emerged from the bathroom carrying a large, black plastic bag and quickly left. An employee walked into the bathroom to find the toilet cistern missing, the sink still running and stuffed with paper towels, and to top it all off, the bathroom key was missing.
Several witnesses at the scene provided enough information about the thief to where police have identified a suspect, and their theft detectives are working on the case. According to police, the cistern was worth $500.
Kitten rescued from burning house resuscitated by paramedics using a baby’s oxygen mask
A dedicated fireman and two quick-thinking paramedics were all that stood between Smoky the kitten and an early demise after the six-week-old became trapped in a burning house in New South Wales, Australia, last Friday.
The tiny, grey fur-ball, was discovered under a bed by a fireman and carried unconscious from the burning Nowra home at around 11.10pm.
Sooty and suffering from smoke inhalation, the kitten, nicknamed Smoky by his rescuers, needed urgent help. "The fire officer gave the kitten some rescue breaths before signalling to us and placing the kitten on the ground. He then ran back into the building," paramedic with NSW Ambulance, Kim Saunders, said. "At first, we didn't know what to do. I thought, 'I'll give it some oxygen and see what happens'.
"So we put on a paediatric mask with some oxygen, dried the kitten off and wrapped him up. After about 15 minutes he came to and actually started purring. At one stage his head popped off the mask but he put it back in, so he must have been enjoying it." The occupants of the house, who had been visiting people down the street, came home to discover the kitten had been saved. "We took the kitten over to her. You could still feel it purring through the towel. She gave it a little kiss," Ms Saunders said.
It was the third time Ms Saunders, a paramedic of 15 years, has played hero to one of our four-legged friends this year. She saved a puppy from running onto the highway at South Nowra on New Year's Eve and rescued a labrador puppy from foxes only two weeks ago. "My sister is a former veterinary nurse - she says I missed my calling," she said. Paramedic Nick Gibson, also at the scene, is a fellow animal lover and volunteer with Wildlife Rescue South Coast.
There's an audio interview with Ms Saunders here.
Sooty and suffering from smoke inhalation, the kitten, nicknamed Smoky by his rescuers, needed urgent help. "The fire officer gave the kitten some rescue breaths before signalling to us and placing the kitten on the ground. He then ran back into the building," paramedic with NSW Ambulance, Kim Saunders, said. "At first, we didn't know what to do. I thought, 'I'll give it some oxygen and see what happens'.
"So we put on a paediatric mask with some oxygen, dried the kitten off and wrapped him up. After about 15 minutes he came to and actually started purring. At one stage his head popped off the mask but he put it back in, so he must have been enjoying it." The occupants of the house, who had been visiting people down the street, came home to discover the kitten had been saved. "We took the kitten over to her. You could still feel it purring through the towel. She gave it a little kiss," Ms Saunders said.
It was the third time Ms Saunders, a paramedic of 15 years, has played hero to one of our four-legged friends this year. She saved a puppy from running onto the highway at South Nowra on New Year's Eve and rescued a labrador puppy from foxes only two weeks ago. "My sister is a former veterinary nurse - she says I missed my calling," she said. Paramedic Nick Gibson, also at the scene, is a fellow animal lover and volunteer with Wildlife Rescue South Coast.
There's an audio interview with Ms Saunders here.
Thieves robbed dead woman at French funeral home
Burglars stole jewellery from a dead woman's fingers and around her neck as her body lay in a French funeral home. The body of a woman in her eighties was robbed of two rings and a necklace at a funeral home in the south-eastern French town of Rives on May 7th.
Unbelievably, it was just the first of two crimes involving the deceased woman.
After the first burglary her family transferred her body to another funeral home, where thieves once again tried to enter the building. Her family have been left outraged and wounded by the transgressions. “It’s horrific,” the niece of the woman said. “They stole her jewellery, that I had lovingly left with her. She had her wedding ring, two rings and a gold necklace.
“Never could I have imagined that such a thing could happen. If even after death you can’t be in peace. It’s a profanation. They touched her. They pulled [the rings] off her fingers. I want families to know that people go to steal from their dead [relatives]. I will do all I can to stop these bastards. People who do that are not even human beings.”
The niece added: “My aunt had an extremely difficult end. I thought that she would rest in peace. It’s unacceptable that people are capable of breaking into funeral homes. It’s not about the jewellery. I don’t care about that. I don’t care about money. All I care about is her honour and to find out who did this.” Police are investigating the burglaries and have not said whether they believe the same thief or thieves was responsible for both funeral home break-ins.
After the first burglary her family transferred her body to another funeral home, where thieves once again tried to enter the building. Her family have been left outraged and wounded by the transgressions. “It’s horrific,” the niece of the woman said. “They stole her jewellery, that I had lovingly left with her. She had her wedding ring, two rings and a gold necklace.
“Never could I have imagined that such a thing could happen. If even after death you can’t be in peace. It’s a profanation. They touched her. They pulled [the rings] off her fingers. I want families to know that people go to steal from their dead [relatives]. I will do all I can to stop these bastards. People who do that are not even human beings.”
The niece added: “My aunt had an extremely difficult end. I thought that she would rest in peace. It’s unacceptable that people are capable of breaking into funeral homes. It’s not about the jewellery. I don’t care about that. I don’t care about money. All I care about is her honour and to find out who did this.” Police are investigating the burglaries and have not said whether they believe the same thief or thieves was responsible for both funeral home break-ins.
Pigeons halted exams at Bangor University
Hundreds of students will have to re-take their exams after pigeons swooped into the exam hall.
Bangor University have apologised to 224 law students after the two birds disrupted examinations at Pritchard Jones Hall on Tuesday morning.
Kyle Gauvin, an Exchange Student from the University of Maine, who was there for the 3110 International Law of Human Rights exam said : “There were two pigeons that somehow got in the room and they were on top of the organs in the back of the room and would not just shut up. I guess a few people complained and then they ended the exam.”
A Bangor University spokeswoman said students taking other papers were relocated and continued their exams. She added: “First year and third year students following modules in public law and international law were those mainly affected.
“Bangor University has apologised to the students concerned and in addition to rescheduling the exams, has assured students that they will not be disadvantaged as a result of this disruption. The pigeons left the hall before the afternoon exam session, which went ahead as planned.” A likely cause of the pigeons being in Pritchard Jones Hall appears to be some missing windows.
Kyle Gauvin, an Exchange Student from the University of Maine, who was there for the 3110 International Law of Human Rights exam said : “There were two pigeons that somehow got in the room and they were on top of the organs in the back of the room and would not just shut up. I guess a few people complained and then they ended the exam.”
A Bangor University spokeswoman said students taking other papers were relocated and continued their exams. She added: “First year and third year students following modules in public law and international law were those mainly affected.
“Bangor University has apologised to the students concerned and in addition to rescheduling the exams, has assured students that they will not be disadvantaged as a result of this disruption. The pigeons left the hall before the afternoon exam session, which went ahead as planned.” A likely cause of the pigeons being in Pritchard Jones Hall appears to be some missing windows.
Mirrors removed from public toilets to stop feisty swallows from attacking themselves
Officials at the National Arboretum in Gloucestershire have taken the unusual step of removing all the mirrors from the public toilets because feisty swallows keep fighting their own reflections in there.
The Forestry Commission said male swallows that live in the trees at the Arboretum in Westonbirt, near Tetbury, believe they are seeing off rivals for their mate and their territory if they catch a glimpse of themselves in the mirrors.
Paul Cody, the head of visitor attraction at Westonbirt, said there were five nests nearby and the mirrors will be removed until October when things calm down a bit.
“We have taken the decision to remove the toilet mirrors to prevent the resident swallows from injuring or causing unnecessary stress to themselves,” he said.
The Forestry Commission said male swallows that live in the trees at the Arboretum in Westonbirt, near Tetbury, believe they are seeing off rivals for their mate and their territory if they catch a glimpse of themselves in the mirrors.
Paul Cody, the head of visitor attraction at Westonbirt, said there were five nests nearby and the mirrors will be removed until October when things calm down a bit.
“We have taken the decision to remove the toilet mirrors to prevent the resident swallows from injuring or causing unnecessary stress to themselves,” he said.
Dead Christmas trees planted on beach in bid to prevent erosion to be removed following criticism
Some dead Christmas trees planted on a beach in Cornwall in a bid to prevent erosion are to be removed after criticism of the scheme.
About 100 trees were set in sand at Porthtowan in the hope that dunes would form around them.
A community group said the move failed to create any dunes and the sight of the trees was damaging tourism.
Cornwall Council said it would reduce the number of trees and partially bury those being kept. The trees were planted in January, with Cornwall Council claiming they would act as wind traps allowing marram grass to grow and hold sand together. Residents were told the trees would be covered with up to 2m (6ft 6ins) of sand.
But, by the start of the holiday season, rows and rows of dead conifers were still sticking out of the ground. Members of the Porthtowan Dunes Community Group had planned to remove the trees which they described as an "eyesore". However, the council said it would take action against the group if they did "to prevent such unauthorised interference" as the trees were on land owned by the Liberal Democrat/Independent-led authority.
The council said it will remove all but two rows of trees, which would be packed into a tighter area and partially buried. It said: "These actions look to continue to protect the vulnerable front of the dune by utilising some of the Christmas trees in a few tighter packed rows covering a smaller overall area of the dune. The trees will be partially buried but with some left above the ground to continue to trap wind blown sand and to help to protect and enhance the area as an important natural sea defence."
Cornwall Council said it would reduce the number of trees and partially bury those being kept. The trees were planted in January, with Cornwall Council claiming they would act as wind traps allowing marram grass to grow and hold sand together. Residents were told the trees would be covered with up to 2m (6ft 6ins) of sand.
But, by the start of the holiday season, rows and rows of dead conifers were still sticking out of the ground. Members of the Porthtowan Dunes Community Group had planned to remove the trees which they described as an "eyesore". However, the council said it would take action against the group if they did "to prevent such unauthorised interference" as the trees were on land owned by the Liberal Democrat/Independent-led authority.
The council said it will remove all but two rows of trees, which would be packed into a tighter area and partially buried. It said: "These actions look to continue to protect the vulnerable front of the dune by utilising some of the Christmas trees in a few tighter packed rows covering a smaller overall area of the dune. The trees will be partially buried but with some left above the ground to continue to trap wind blown sand and to help to protect and enhance the area as an important natural sea defence."
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