Saturday, June 21, 2014
Woman denies sexually assaulting boy
A 35-year-old Wyoming woman appeared in district court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to charges that she twice had sexual contact with a boy in Billings, Montana, once when he was about 10-years-old in 2011 and again about a year later. Appearing before Judge Mary Jane McCalla Knisely, Bonnie Lynn White entered not guilty pleas to two felony counts of sexual assault.
According to prosecutors, White is facing six similar counts involving three victims, including the victim in this case, in other jurisdictions. Charges against White in Big Horn County, Wyo., were sealed by court order, according to the Big Horn County Clerk of Court’s office. Knisely allowed White, who has posted on $50,000 bond, to return to Wyoming. As requested by Senior Deputy Yellowstone County Attorney Brett Linneweber, the judge ordered White to pay for and use GPS monitoring. “It appears she has been going by the victim’s house since bonding out,” Linneweber said.
“You are to have absolutely no contact with the alleged victim,” Knisely told White. “I’m going to add the additional condition that there is no contact with anyone under the age of 18,” the judge added. According to charging documents, the alleged victim, who is now 13 years old, disclosed the contact to a counsellor in February. In a March interview with an investigator in Lovell, Wyo., the boy said that White pushed him onto a bed, pulled off his clothes and fondled him while he was in Billings in January 2011 for a friend’s birthday party.
The boy said that White threatened to hurt him and his family if he told anyone. He also told the investigator, according to prosecutors, that White again fondled him about a year later when she took him and others to a water park in Billings. He said that White again threatened to hurt him and his family if he told anyone. “Multiple children have made independent disclosure of being sexually assaulted by the Defendant,” charging documents say. White’s trial date is yet to be scheduled. Felony sexual assault carries a prison sentence of between four and 100 years.
According to prosecutors, White is facing six similar counts involving three victims, including the victim in this case, in other jurisdictions. Charges against White in Big Horn County, Wyo., were sealed by court order, according to the Big Horn County Clerk of Court’s office. Knisely allowed White, who has posted on $50,000 bond, to return to Wyoming. As requested by Senior Deputy Yellowstone County Attorney Brett Linneweber, the judge ordered White to pay for and use GPS monitoring. “It appears she has been going by the victim’s house since bonding out,” Linneweber said.
“You are to have absolutely no contact with the alleged victim,” Knisely told White. “I’m going to add the additional condition that there is no contact with anyone under the age of 18,” the judge added. According to charging documents, the alleged victim, who is now 13 years old, disclosed the contact to a counsellor in February. In a March interview with an investigator in Lovell, Wyo., the boy said that White pushed him onto a bed, pulled off his clothes and fondled him while he was in Billings in January 2011 for a friend’s birthday party.
The boy said that White threatened to hurt him and his family if he told anyone. He also told the investigator, according to prosecutors, that White again fondled him about a year later when she took him and others to a water park in Billings. He said that White again threatened to hurt him and his family if he told anyone. “Multiple children have made independent disclosure of being sexually assaulted by the Defendant,” charging documents say. White’s trial date is yet to be scheduled. Felony sexual assault carries a prison sentence of between four and 100 years.
Indian police formed investigative team to hunt thieves who stole two jackfruits from MP's tree
It was a complaint of theft from the residence of a Member of Parliament that made the Delhi Police form a special team to investigate the crime. Soon after the complaint came in, police dispatched a team from its fingerprints bureau and one from its crime investigating department to Janata Dal United’s Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Prasad’s bungalow.
On reaching the bungalow, they were directed to the garden. They were there to probe the case of two missing jackfruits. A senior police officer said, “The MP’s personal assistant called the police station to report the theft. When a team of officers reached the spot, it was found that two jackfruits were missing from the tree, which had nine fruits. The MP reportedly noticed it in the morning and alerted his personal assistant who in turn informed police.
“Based on a complaint from his PA, we have registered a case of theft and are investigating the matter. More than 10 officers scoured the garden for clues that would lead them to the culprit(s). Fingerprints were lifted from the garden and the backyard to establish the path that thieves might have taken. Close inspection of the crime spot and investigations led us to a trail of footprints. The footprints, measuring approximately six inches, appears to be those of children who may have jumped the fence to steal the fruit.
YouTube link.
“The fingerprints and footprints that were lifted from the spot have been sent to the forensics department for examination,” the officer added. The investigators have been asked to be on their toes to catch the accused. Investigators later questioning security guards, servants and drivers. CCTV footage from outside the MP’s bungalow and his backyard was also examined. However, the fate of the missing fruit remains unknown, and investigators fear the worst. “They must have been cooked and eaten,” said one officer investigating the theft. “The two jackfruit weighed 10 kg each,” he said, giving details. The thieves must have been hungry, he guessed.
On reaching the bungalow, they were directed to the garden. They were there to probe the case of two missing jackfruits. A senior police officer said, “The MP’s personal assistant called the police station to report the theft. When a team of officers reached the spot, it was found that two jackfruits were missing from the tree, which had nine fruits. The MP reportedly noticed it in the morning and alerted his personal assistant who in turn informed police.
“Based on a complaint from his PA, we have registered a case of theft and are investigating the matter. More than 10 officers scoured the garden for clues that would lead them to the culprit(s). Fingerprints were lifted from the garden and the backyard to establish the path that thieves might have taken. Close inspection of the crime spot and investigations led us to a trail of footprints. The footprints, measuring approximately six inches, appears to be those of children who may have jumped the fence to steal the fruit.
YouTube link.
“The fingerprints and footprints that were lifted from the spot have been sent to the forensics department for examination,” the officer added. The investigators have been asked to be on their toes to catch the accused. Investigators later questioning security guards, servants and drivers. CCTV footage from outside the MP’s bungalow and his backyard was also examined. However, the fate of the missing fruit remains unknown, and investigators fear the worst. “They must have been cooked and eaten,” said one officer investigating the theft. “The two jackfruit weighed 10 kg each,” he said, giving details. The thieves must have been hungry, he guessed.
Firefighters rescued flock of sheep that had fallen into pit filled with bituminous resin
At around 5.00pm on Thursday, firefighters in the northwestern Romanian city of Dej were called to private land where a flock of sheep had fallen into a pit filled with bituminous resin.
The firefighters intially tried to keep the sheep's heads above the resin so that they could breathe.
Then they started the actual saving of the animals, which were sinking into the bitumen.
YouTube link.
The rescue operation was extremely difficult as the sun-melted tar stuck to shoes of the firefighters. After approximately three hours all nine sheep were saved.
The firefighters intially tried to keep the sheep's heads above the resin so that they could breathe.
Then they started the actual saving of the animals, which were sinking into the bitumen.
YouTube link.
The rescue operation was extremely difficult as the sun-melted tar stuck to shoes of the firefighters. After approximately three hours all nine sheep were saved.
Burglar who stole ice lollies and beer caught after leaving his false teeth at the scene
A burglar who helped himself to a stash of ice lollies and beer was caught by police after leaving his false teeth at the scene in Mirfield, West Yorkshire.
The teeth were discovered by Steven Pickles, 58, who found them down the side of a freezer in his garage.
Steven said: “The garage wasn’t locked so he had sneaked in and helped himself to the beer and ice lollies. I reported it to police at the time and a few days later I went in the garage and found a set of false teeth down the side of the freezer.”
Leeds Crown Court court heard Justin Stansfield, 38, was a heroin addict and had been searching for items he could sell. But because of his drunken condition told he only had a hazy recollection of the events which happened on May 19. He was jailed for 16 months.
The teeth were discovered by Steven Pickles, 58, who found them down the side of a freezer in his garage.
Steven said: “The garage wasn’t locked so he had sneaked in and helped himself to the beer and ice lollies. I reported it to police at the time and a few days later I went in the garage and found a set of false teeth down the side of the freezer.”
Leeds Crown Court court heard Justin Stansfield, 38, was a heroin addict and had been searching for items he could sell. But because of his drunken condition told he only had a hazy recollection of the events which happened on May 19. He was jailed for 16 months.
Nature reserve forced to install special bird feeder in bid to outfox acrobatic vixen
Wardens at a Teesside nature reserve
have been forced to install a special feeder for an acrobatic fox, to stop it
stealing the birds' food.
The vixen regularly jumps up, unhooks and carries off seed containers from the feeding stations at RSPB Saltholme. To cut down losses of the expensive bird feeders, wardens have been filling water and juice bottles with seed. These are targeted and removed by the vixen, which has cubs, and the others are left behind for the birds.
The assistant warden Dean Heward said: "People often don't realise that foxes eat such a wide variety of food. Yes, they eat prey items such as voles, mice and birds, but they also eat brambles in the autumn, and are regular visitors to the feeding stations around the reserve where they munch on seeds."
YouTube link.
He added: "There's really no point in trying to stop her from taking food from the feeding stations. Foxes are well known for being clever, so we put up 'her' feeder and she leaves the others behind for the birds."
The vixen regularly jumps up, unhooks and carries off seed containers from the feeding stations at RSPB Saltholme. To cut down losses of the expensive bird feeders, wardens have been filling water and juice bottles with seed. These are targeted and removed by the vixen, which has cubs, and the others are left behind for the birds.
The assistant warden Dean Heward said: "People often don't realise that foxes eat such a wide variety of food. Yes, they eat prey items such as voles, mice and birds, but they also eat brambles in the autumn, and are regular visitors to the feeding stations around the reserve where they munch on seeds."
YouTube link.
He added: "There's really no point in trying to stop her from taking food from the feeding stations. Foxes are well known for being clever, so we put up 'her' feeder and she leaves the others behind for the birds."
Bus users criticise too high timetables installed in bid to improve passenger information
Leicester City Council bosses have said they fitted bus timetables too high for anyone to read as part of a Government-funded drive to improve information for passengers.
A city council spokesman blamed the shape of the lamppost and admitted several had been fitted "far too high up" around the city in recent weeks.
Contractors working for the authority have installed new signs at more than 100 bus stops around Leicester in the past two weeks. "The cases – funded by the Department for Transport to improve bus information for passengers – are designed to fit neatly on to bespoke bus stop poles," a council spokeswoman said. "In a handful of locations, however, lampposts double as bus stops.
"Because of the shape of the lamppost, these information cases had to be fixed far too high up to be of use." The council spokesman said workers would now be going out to lower the offending timetables. "We'll be asking our contractor to find a solution, so that the cases can be displayed in the proper way – and at the proper height," she said. Local resident Howard Parker said: "I can't believe how ironic this is.
"It is a laudable intention to try to improve the information to passengers but they have achieved the opposite. Anyone can see that the timetables are too high up," he said. "Who knows what the people thought as they fitted the things. They must have realised what they were doing." Keith Myatt, spokesman for Arriva Bus, said the firm had fitted its own timetable at the stop but it had been replaced by the council. He said: "The council is fitting these timetables in these cases as part of a strategy to provide better information for passengers. Our cases were half the size so I think they were trying to make things better with bigger cases."
Contractors working for the authority have installed new signs at more than 100 bus stops around Leicester in the past two weeks. "The cases – funded by the Department for Transport to improve bus information for passengers – are designed to fit neatly on to bespoke bus stop poles," a council spokeswoman said. "In a handful of locations, however, lampposts double as bus stops.
"Because of the shape of the lamppost, these information cases had to be fixed far too high up to be of use." The council spokesman said workers would now be going out to lower the offending timetables. "We'll be asking our contractor to find a solution, so that the cases can be displayed in the proper way – and at the proper height," she said. Local resident Howard Parker said: "I can't believe how ironic this is.
"It is a laudable intention to try to improve the information to passengers but they have achieved the opposite. Anyone can see that the timetables are too high up," he said. "Who knows what the people thought as they fitted the things. They must have realised what they were doing." Keith Myatt, spokesman for Arriva Bus, said the firm had fitted its own timetable at the stop but it had been replaced by the council. He said: "The council is fitting these timetables in these cases as part of a strategy to provide better information for passengers. Our cases were half the size so I think they were trying to make things better with bigger cases."
Council ordered removal of knitted bunting because it was causing lampposts to lean
Health and safety bosses ordered knitted bunting in a town on the Tour de France route to be taken down as it was causing lampposts to lean.
The bunting, featuring yellow, green, white and polka dot jumpers to represent the winners’ jerseys in the race, had been hung in Masham, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, by Harrogate Borough Council following an appeal by the authority to decorate the district.
Over six months, hundreds of schoolchildren, women’s institutes, craft groups and knitters from as far afield as Australia and the Arctic Circle created 23,453 jumpers for the display.
But a month after the bunting was hung in the town’s Market Place, and less than three weeks before 20,000 visitors are expected to visit Masham to see the race, residents and traders were stunned to see hundreds of the knitted jumpers being taken down by tree surgeons. North Yorkshire County Council, which owns the lampposts, said it had asked the borough council to remove the bunting on safety grounds. It is believed the weight of the bunting increased after rain, causing lampposts to lean.
Tessa Klemz, manager of Masham Community Office, said: “It’s health and safety gone crazy. Sheep do not fall over when they get wet, so why should lampposts?” A borough council spokesman said an inspection of the lampposts had revealed damage to the base of one of them and called for ideas where the bunting could be displayed. He said: “We are now looking to see what options are available to have them re-fixed in Masham, so that residents can actively support the imminent arrival of the Tour de France.”
A county council spokesman said: "Following Harrogate Borough Council’s erection of bunting in Masham we noticed that the lighting columns were leaning and in the interest of safety we asked the council to take them down as a matter of some urgency. We welcome bunting on buildings, or between trees, but it cannot be hung between lampposts for the safety reasons." Mrs Klemz said aghast traders and residents salvaged the bunting and had hung it outside their shops and homes to ensure the volunteers’ work would still be seen, but that it was not as visible as it had been.
But a month after the bunting was hung in the town’s Market Place, and less than three weeks before 20,000 visitors are expected to visit Masham to see the race, residents and traders were stunned to see hundreds of the knitted jumpers being taken down by tree surgeons. North Yorkshire County Council, which owns the lampposts, said it had asked the borough council to remove the bunting on safety grounds. It is believed the weight of the bunting increased after rain, causing lampposts to lean.
Tessa Klemz, manager of Masham Community Office, said: “It’s health and safety gone crazy. Sheep do not fall over when they get wet, so why should lampposts?” A borough council spokesman said an inspection of the lampposts had revealed damage to the base of one of them and called for ideas where the bunting could be displayed. He said: “We are now looking to see what options are available to have them re-fixed in Masham, so that residents can actively support the imminent arrival of the Tour de France.”
A county council spokesman said: "Following Harrogate Borough Council’s erection of bunting in Masham we noticed that the lighting columns were leaning and in the interest of safety we asked the council to take them down as a matter of some urgency. We welcome bunting on buildings, or between trees, but it cannot be hung between lampposts for the safety reasons." Mrs Klemz said aghast traders and residents salvaged the bunting and had hung it outside their shops and homes to ensure the volunteers’ work would still be seen, but that it was not as visible as it had been.
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