Friday, May 16, 2014
Possible home explosion turned out to be just a messy house
Firefighters responding to a possible house explosion in Calgary, Canada, on Tuesday arrived to find an unusual situation. Crews were called to a home along Sanderling Hill N.W., Sandstone Valley, at around 4:30pm by someone driving through the area.
“[They] saw the debris on the front yard, and assumed that it was an explosion,” says the Calgary Fire Department’s Paul Leblanc. It turns out the house was packed with personal belongings and garbage.
“This is a house that is normally like this, and has been looked at by bylaw [officers] a few times” explained Leblanc. “Basically it’s a person who has a messy front yard.”
The house was so full of garbage that firefighters actually donned hazmat masks to inspect it. Firefighters say the homeowner wasn’t in the house at the time. “We’ve assessed the house; we’ve gone through and made sure there is nobody in the home,” says Leblanc. It’s unknown if the homeowner will face bylaw charges.
With news video.
“[They] saw the debris on the front yard, and assumed that it was an explosion,” says the Calgary Fire Department’s Paul Leblanc. It turns out the house was packed with personal belongings and garbage.
“This is a house that is normally like this, and has been looked at by bylaw [officers] a few times” explained Leblanc. “Basically it’s a person who has a messy front yard.”
The house was so full of garbage that firefighters actually donned hazmat masks to inspect it. Firefighters say the homeowner wasn’t in the house at the time. “We’ve assessed the house; we’ve gone through and made sure there is nobody in the home,” says Leblanc. It’s unknown if the homeowner will face bylaw charges.
With news video.
Bizarre home invasion as woman was sitting on toilet caught on audio recording
A Florida woman was attacked in her home while she was sitting on the toilet.
It happened during the day on Friday in Lehigh Acres. A woman forced her way through the door, threatening the family.
Barbara Retz says she heard the pounding on the door first and realized someone was trying to break in.
Her husband was at the door, defending their home. "All of a sudden I hear him yelling. And I can hear him trying to corral one of my dogs, which are large breed dogs," Retz said. Her husband grabbed one great dane by the collar, while trying to keep Kathleen Schwan from charging inside. "I'm trying to call 911," Retz said. But Barbara's signal failed. So instead, she grabbed her phone and hit record.
"I'm on the toilet and my bathroom door is just getting kicked in," Retz said. For minutes, the couple says they struggled to get Schwan out as their dog went on the defence. "The dog bites her on the ankle, she falls, hits her mouth and she started bleeding everywhere and she's spitting it everywhere," Retz said. Schwan is facing a felony of burglary with assault or battery.
YouTube link.
The suspect’s sons say their mother was drunk but that she didn't break in. "I didn't hear her busting in the door or anything," said Kyle Schwan. "My mom’s not a violent person. She's not the kind of person who just goes into somebody’s house and does that," Schwan said. Investigators say Schwan became combative at the hospital as well. They asked that she undergo an evaluation. She’s currently in the Lee County Jail.
Her husband was at the door, defending their home. "All of a sudden I hear him yelling. And I can hear him trying to corral one of my dogs, which are large breed dogs," Retz said. Her husband grabbed one great dane by the collar, while trying to keep Kathleen Schwan from charging inside. "I'm trying to call 911," Retz said. But Barbara's signal failed. So instead, she grabbed her phone and hit record.
"I'm on the toilet and my bathroom door is just getting kicked in," Retz said. For minutes, the couple says they struggled to get Schwan out as their dog went on the defence. "The dog bites her on the ankle, she falls, hits her mouth and she started bleeding everywhere and she's spitting it everywhere," Retz said. Schwan is facing a felony of burglary with assault or battery.
YouTube link.
The suspect’s sons say their mother was drunk but that she didn't break in. "I didn't hear her busting in the door or anything," said Kyle Schwan. "My mom’s not a violent person. She's not the kind of person who just goes into somebody’s house and does that," Schwan said. Investigators say Schwan became combative at the hospital as well. They asked that she undergo an evaluation. She’s currently in the Lee County Jail.
Teenager caught 3-foot, 40 pound 'river monster' on flooded street
Monday night's rains brought a lot of flooding to North Royalton, Ohio, and according to Jeremiah Sawyer, it also brought a "river monster" onto the streets.
"The neighbours they pointed out, they saw, like bubbles and stuff moving around over here. Then eventually we saw the fish actually surface and we saw how big it was," said Jake, his 16-year-old son. Jake decided to rescue the fish. "Hillbilly fishing," he added.
Raw video.
YouTube link.
The fish, which appeared to be about 3-feet-long and weigh about 40 pounds, was a white amur, which can grow up to 80 pounds. "Right here, I managed to get it trapped in this corner, and I just kind of went like this, and it got stuck up here, and I just kinda grabbed my hands around it and just lifted it up," said Jake.
News video.
YouTube link.
"And I had this whale of a giant fish. ... My arms were falling asleep once I was walking back. It was a good 40 pounds." After taking photos, Jake walked the fish back to the pond beyond his home. "Our basement got flooded, and we were still were able to make it an enjoyable night considering," said his dad, Jeremiah.
"The neighbours they pointed out, they saw, like bubbles and stuff moving around over here. Then eventually we saw the fish actually surface and we saw how big it was," said Jake, his 16-year-old son. Jake decided to rescue the fish. "Hillbilly fishing," he added.
Raw video.
YouTube link.
The fish, which appeared to be about 3-feet-long and weigh about 40 pounds, was a white amur, which can grow up to 80 pounds. "Right here, I managed to get it trapped in this corner, and I just kind of went like this, and it got stuck up here, and I just kinda grabbed my hands around it and just lifted it up," said Jake.
News video.
YouTube link.
"And I had this whale of a giant fish. ... My arms were falling asleep once I was walking back. It was a good 40 pounds." After taking photos, Jake walked the fish back to the pond beyond his home. "Our basement got flooded, and we were still were able to make it an enjoyable night considering," said his dad, Jeremiah.
Wallaby-eating python interrupted dinner party
A snake eating an unfortunate marsupial brought cheer to a dinner party in Australia's Northern Territory.
Pravina de Beer was hosting a dinner party at her Katherine home when some arriving guests told her of the live nature programme on the road outside her home. “They said that there was a big python trying to eat a kangaroo outside,” she said.
The 25 guests, colleagues of de Beer's who had assembled at her home for a farewell get-together, rushed outside to witness the captured marsuipial's final breaths. “I had some guests from New Zealand on holiday and they couldn’t believe it,” Ms De Beer said
“It started eating at 5pm and we went back at 8.45pm and they were both gone.” Ms De Beer said that Katherine was a hotbed of wildlife activity. “There’s a lot of kangaroos around here, and snakes too,’ she said. “Last year, I had a baby goat and a snake ate it under my home.”
Pravina de Beer was hosting a dinner party at her Katherine home when some arriving guests told her of the live nature programme on the road outside her home. “They said that there was a big python trying to eat a kangaroo outside,” she said.
The 25 guests, colleagues of de Beer's who had assembled at her home for a farewell get-together, rushed outside to witness the captured marsuipial's final breaths. “I had some guests from New Zealand on holiday and they couldn’t believe it,” Ms De Beer said
“It started eating at 5pm and we went back at 8.45pm and they were both gone.” Ms De Beer said that Katherine was a hotbed of wildlife activity. “There’s a lot of kangaroos around here, and snakes too,’ she said. “Last year, I had a baby goat and a snake ate it under my home.”
Australian Education Minister denies dropping the C-bomb in parliament
Australia's Education Minister Christopher Pyne has denied dropping the C-bomb in parliament on Wednesday.
Video footage from Question Time shows Mr Pyne insulting the Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, with some people suggesting Mr Pyne said: “You’re such a c**t.”
YouTube link.
The minister’s office has said Mr Pyne actually said: “You’re such a grub.” “He said grub,” Mr Pyne’s media spokesman said. “He knows what he said, and he said grub.”
Mr Pyne was asked to withdraw the comment by Speaker Bronwyn Bishop. “The Minister will refer to people by their correct name,” the Speaker said. “I will, Madame Speaker. I withdraw,” Mr Pyne responded.
Video footage from Question Time shows Mr Pyne insulting the Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, with some people suggesting Mr Pyne said: “You’re such a c**t.”
YouTube link.
The minister’s office has said Mr Pyne actually said: “You’re such a grub.” “He said grub,” Mr Pyne’s media spokesman said. “He knows what he said, and he said grub.”
Mr Pyne was asked to withdraw the comment by Speaker Bronwyn Bishop. “The Minister will refer to people by their correct name,” the Speaker said. “I will, Madame Speaker. I withdraw,” Mr Pyne responded.
Falling coffin injured six mourners at funeral
Six funeral-goers in southern Spain were taken to hospital after their loved one's coffin fell on them.
About fifty people attended the funeral of a 73-year-old, who died on Monday.
Mourners at the funeral in the Andalusian city of Ronda left the cemetery with more than just a tear in their eye when the platform being used to put the coffin in the upper tier of niches collapsed.
The casket, which was around two metres above ground level, fell on top of the mourners. Several relatives of the deceased also suffered anxiety attacks caused by the traumatic accident.
About fifty people attended the funeral of a 73-year-old, who died on Monday.
Mourners at the funeral in the Andalusian city of Ronda left the cemetery with more than just a tear in their eye when the platform being used to put the coffin in the upper tier of niches collapsed.
The casket, which was around two metres above ground level, fell on top of the mourners. Several relatives of the deceased also suffered anxiety attacks caused by the traumatic accident.
Schoolboys invited to fight sexism by wearing skirts
School authorities in western France have caused a stir by inviting male pupils to take a stand against sexism by wearing skirts.
Education chiefs in the city of Nantes, western France, have decided to take an unusual stand in the battle against sexism and inequality. On Friday schoolboys at 27 lycées in the city have been given the option of ditching their trousers for the day and replacing them with a skirt.
The move, that has been named 'Lift the Skirt' (Ce que soulève la jupe) which was the idea of pupils themselves, has been sanctioned by the city’s education chiefs and therefore by the Ministry of Education.
For those boys who prefer not to take up the option of flashing their legs in front of classmates, they can wear a sticker supporting the event, which reads “I am fighting against sexism, are you?”
Education chiefs in the city of Nantes, western France, have decided to take an unusual stand in the battle against sexism and inequality. On Friday schoolboys at 27 lycées in the city have been given the option of ditching their trousers for the day and replacing them with a skirt.
The move, that has been named 'Lift the Skirt' (Ce que soulève la jupe) which was the idea of pupils themselves, has been sanctioned by the city’s education chiefs and therefore by the Ministry of Education.
For those boys who prefer not to take up the option of flashing their legs in front of classmates, they can wear a sticker supporting the event, which reads “I am fighting against sexism, are you?”
Furious woman superglued her hands to council office desk in housing row
A furious woman superglued herself to a council office desk over a housing row.
Sharon Powers was stuck for 90 minutes and had to be freed by paramedics.
She said she whipped out the Superglue as a “last resort” during a row at Erdington Customer Service Centre in Birmingham.
“I was desperate to sort things out and I said I would glue myself to the desk if I didn’t get anywhere,” the 45-year-old said.
“I had some glue at home so I popped it in my bag before I went to the office.
“The staff said they couldn’t do anything – so I glued my hands to the desk. I was crying and very upset. Staff called a manager and Googled how to unstick me – they found they would need acetone, butter or warm soapy water. But the ambulance service arrived and unstuck me.” Sharon was treated at the scene but did not need hospital treatment. She has been locked in a long wrangle with the authority over her parents’ housing problem.
Her mum and dad, pensioners John and Jean Attwood, lost their home when he retired as caretaker at Kingstanding’s Hawthorn Primary School after 30 years. They have spent the last six weeks moving from house to house staying with various relatives. Sharon claimed the authority had repeatedly botched the couple’s bids to move into a three-bedroom house – and had now told them they only qualified for a flat or maisonette. Sharon’s sister-in-law, who joined her at the council’s Sutton New Road offices on Tuesday, added: “She was at her wits end. First John and Jean were told they could have a house, then told they couldn’t.
“The housing department had a year to prepare for this, but instead let them go homeless these last five or six weeks. It is a really shabby way to treat someone who worked for the council and just wants a peaceful retirement.” A council spokesman said: “Mr Attwood contacted us in 2011, when he made a housing application, but since he couldn’t give us a date when he would need accommodation, we could not process his application. He contacted us again in February this year and the family has been assessed as a priority homeless case. They have been bidding for properties but have been unable to find a suitable property in their desired area. We will contact the family again now and re-assess their situation.”
“The staff said they couldn’t do anything – so I glued my hands to the desk. I was crying and very upset. Staff called a manager and Googled how to unstick me – they found they would need acetone, butter or warm soapy water. But the ambulance service arrived and unstuck me.” Sharon was treated at the scene but did not need hospital treatment. She has been locked in a long wrangle with the authority over her parents’ housing problem.
Her mum and dad, pensioners John and Jean Attwood, lost their home when he retired as caretaker at Kingstanding’s Hawthorn Primary School after 30 years. They have spent the last six weeks moving from house to house staying with various relatives. Sharon claimed the authority had repeatedly botched the couple’s bids to move into a three-bedroom house – and had now told them they only qualified for a flat or maisonette. Sharon’s sister-in-law, who joined her at the council’s Sutton New Road offices on Tuesday, added: “She was at her wits end. First John and Jean were told they could have a house, then told they couldn’t.
“The housing department had a year to prepare for this, but instead let them go homeless these last five or six weeks. It is a really shabby way to treat someone who worked for the council and just wants a peaceful retirement.” A council spokesman said: “Mr Attwood contacted us in 2011, when he made a housing application, but since he couldn’t give us a date when he would need accommodation, we could not process his application. He contacted us again in February this year and the family has been assessed as a priority homeless case. They have been bidding for properties but have been unable to find a suitable property in their desired area. We will contact the family again now and re-assess their situation.”
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