Thursday, July 03, 2014
Letter containing apology for not writing sooner eventually delivered after 83 years
A letter written in 1931 by a school teacher in Houlton, Maine, to her mother 150 miles away has finally been delivered 83 years later.
The nine-page letter, written in ink in luxuriant cursive, was penned by then 23-year-old Miriam McMichael, a school teacher, to her mother, Dollena McMichael, who lived in Pittsfield, Maine.
Miriam’s niece and Dollena’s granddaughter, Ann MacMichael, 69, said part of the irony of the mystery letter is her aunt’s apology for taking so long to write to her mother, with whom she was very close.
“One of the best parts for me of what she wrote was that she apologised for not writing sooner, as she knew her mother had been anxiously waiting all week for a letter - which, as we know, was never received,” Ann MacMichael said. “She said ‘I’m just getting around to write. I imagine you have been anxiously waiting for a letter all week. I have no excuses, but that I just didn’t get to it and there are lots of things to tell you, too.’” She said postal officials in Pittsfield found the letter in the morning mail and contacted Skowhegan Postmaster Bill Sylvain, knowing that McMichaels - and MacMichaels - had moved to Skowhegan some 40 years ago.
Sylvain delivered the letter by hand to Red MacMichael, a retired lawyer and District Court judge, who handed it over to his sister, Ann, who lives in Cornville. She noted that the spelling of the family surname had changed over the years. “Red called me and said the postmaster came to Red’s last week and he had this letter and he said ‘Do you know who this is?’” Ann said on Tuesday. “Red said ‘Sure, it’s my grandmother,’ so he left it with Red.” Both women - Miriam and Dollena - have since died.
Michelle Rowell, a clerk at the Pittsfield post office, said she found the letter in remarkably good shape while hand-sorting incoming mail. “As I was sorting I came across it - it appeared to be old, but it was in really good condition,” Rowell said. “It had a two-cent stamp on it. I knew it was old and the handwriting was old.” The price of a US Postal Service stamp went up to three cents in July 1932. Rowell said she can only guess how a letter mailed 83 years ago could suddenly turn up in her morning mail. She said it probably slipped “neatly” into some old sorting equipment somewhere along the line, but she does not know where. Neither does Ann MacMichael, who said it is a mystery how the letter finally made its way into circulation.
“One of the best parts for me of what she wrote was that she apologised for not writing sooner, as she knew her mother had been anxiously waiting all week for a letter - which, as we know, was never received,” Ann MacMichael said. “She said ‘I’m just getting around to write. I imagine you have been anxiously waiting for a letter all week. I have no excuses, but that I just didn’t get to it and there are lots of things to tell you, too.’” She said postal officials in Pittsfield found the letter in the morning mail and contacted Skowhegan Postmaster Bill Sylvain, knowing that McMichaels - and MacMichaels - had moved to Skowhegan some 40 years ago.
Sylvain delivered the letter by hand to Red MacMichael, a retired lawyer and District Court judge, who handed it over to his sister, Ann, who lives in Cornville. She noted that the spelling of the family surname had changed over the years. “Red called me and said the postmaster came to Red’s last week and he had this letter and he said ‘Do you know who this is?’” Ann said on Tuesday. “Red said ‘Sure, it’s my grandmother,’ so he left it with Red.” Both women - Miriam and Dollena - have since died.
Michelle Rowell, a clerk at the Pittsfield post office, said she found the letter in remarkably good shape while hand-sorting incoming mail. “As I was sorting I came across it - it appeared to be old, but it was in really good condition,” Rowell said. “It had a two-cent stamp on it. I knew it was old and the handwriting was old.” The price of a US Postal Service stamp went up to three cents in July 1932. Rowell said she can only guess how a letter mailed 83 years ago could suddenly turn up in her morning mail. She said it probably slipped “neatly” into some old sorting equipment somewhere along the line, but she does not know where. Neither does Ann MacMichael, who said it is a mystery how the letter finally made its way into circulation.
Possibly depressed runaway tortoise slowed down traffic
A possibly depressed, 150-pound tortoise named Plato made a break for it and escaped from her owner’s Santa Fe home before being corralled on Tuesday morning by animal control officers on Old Santa Fe Trail, where he was backing up traffic.
The 15-year-old African spurred or sulcata tortoise was likely searching for her granddaughter Lola, who was visiting from San Diego and left on Sunday, Plato’s owner told Santa Fe police.
YouTube link.
“She (the owner) says the tortoise loves 8-year-old Lola who sings to him and feeds him kale,” police said. “Plato even lets her ride on his back and gets depressed when she leaves.”
Plato was found at about 10:30am and returned home. Police said that Lola was overjoyed to hear officers had been able to return Plato back to his home and she can't wait to visit him and grandma again.
The 15-year-old African spurred or sulcata tortoise was likely searching for her granddaughter Lola, who was visiting from San Diego and left on Sunday, Plato’s owner told Santa Fe police.
YouTube link.
“She (the owner) says the tortoise loves 8-year-old Lola who sings to him and feeds him kale,” police said. “Plato even lets her ride on his back and gets depressed when she leaves.”
Plato was found at about 10:30am and returned home. Police said that Lola was overjoyed to hear officers had been able to return Plato back to his home and she can't wait to visit him and grandma again.
Lady allegedly chased younger friend with cane and knife after he rejected her sexual advances
A 56-year-old Florida woman was arrested after her 25-year-old friend told police officers that she chased him around with a cane and a knife after he rejected her sexual advances.
The man, Crue Finley, told St. Lucie County Sheriff’s investigators he was hanging out with Elizabeth Highley at her Jensen Beach home on June 16. They were drinking wine. Finley said Highley wanted to have sex with him, but that he rebuffed her amorous advances. He said she got angry and lost control, grabbing a cane and a hunting knife and chased him around.
Finley flagged down a deputy in the parking lot of a nearby convenience store and said a woman was chasing him with a knife and was going to kill him. The deputy saw Highley run into the parking lot with a knife in one hand and what appeared to be a broken walking cane in the other.
The deputy told her to drop the weapons and get on the ground, which she did. Finley said he’s friends with Highley. He said she started pursuing him with the knife and cane after he rejected her lovemaking proposition. Highley was arrested on a felony aggravated assault charge. Highley smelled of alcohol and didn’t appear to care that she was going to jail, according to the arrest report.
The man, Crue Finley, told St. Lucie County Sheriff’s investigators he was hanging out with Elizabeth Highley at her Jensen Beach home on June 16. They were drinking wine. Finley said Highley wanted to have sex with him, but that he rebuffed her amorous advances. He said she got angry and lost control, grabbing a cane and a hunting knife and chased him around.
Finley flagged down a deputy in the parking lot of a nearby convenience store and said a woman was chasing him with a knife and was going to kill him. The deputy saw Highley run into the parking lot with a knife in one hand and what appeared to be a broken walking cane in the other.
The deputy told her to drop the weapons and get on the ground, which she did. Finley said he’s friends with Highley. He said she started pursuing him with the knife and cane after he rejected her lovemaking proposition. Highley was arrested on a felony aggravated assault charge. Highley smelled of alcohol and didn’t appear to care that she was going to jail, according to the arrest report.
Men swam through flood waters to save stranded fox cub
Two metres of water didn't stop a couple of men from Saskatchewan, Canada, swimming through a field to save a stranded fox cub.
Colin Graham lives near the village of Welwyn, about 250 kilometres east of Regina, which was hit hard with rain on the weekend. Some areas got 100 to 200 millimetres.
"All of our crops here are under a lake pretty much," Graham said. Since this spring, Graham has been watching a family of foxes on his property. "[They] have been sitting out on this rock pile near our house for all spring," he said. "My sister wondered what happened to the foxes, so we drove out there and there was just one rock sticking out of the top of the water."
On top of that rock, Graham noticed one young fox stranded on what he estimated was about eight feet of water. "One guy I was with, Jordan Olson, suggested that we should probably just go out there and swim and get it," Graham said. While the fox stranded on the rock pile was probably about 75 metres away, Graham and Olson dived in rescue the animal.
"When I first got there, he had a little bit of energy and he bailed off the rock and into the water and tried to swim away," Graham said. "But I was able to catch up to him." Graham said the fox was not a lot bigger than a kitten. "We put it in the back of my truck and our house is right close there so we took it home, dried it off, and got it warmed up," he said. "Then we were driving later and we saw the mother out there so we took him back. They're reunited," Graham added, laughing. "I saw them running around the other day."
"All of our crops here are under a lake pretty much," Graham said. Since this spring, Graham has been watching a family of foxes on his property. "[They] have been sitting out on this rock pile near our house for all spring," he said. "My sister wondered what happened to the foxes, so we drove out there and there was just one rock sticking out of the top of the water."
On top of that rock, Graham noticed one young fox stranded on what he estimated was about eight feet of water. "One guy I was with, Jordan Olson, suggested that we should probably just go out there and swim and get it," Graham said. While the fox stranded on the rock pile was probably about 75 metres away, Graham and Olson dived in rescue the animal.
"When I first got there, he had a little bit of energy and he bailed off the rock and into the water and tried to swim away," Graham said. "But I was able to catch up to him." Graham said the fox was not a lot bigger than a kitten. "We put it in the back of my truck and our house is right close there so we took it home, dried it off, and got it warmed up," he said. "Then we were driving later and we saw the mother out there so we took him back. They're reunited," Graham added, laughing. "I saw them running around the other day."
Married woman who bombarded nine-year-old boy with love letters escapes prosecution
A 30-year-old French school worker sent nearly two dozen love letters to a nine-year-old boy in which she told of her desire to run away with him and have his children, reports on Tuesday said. The boy’s parents are outraged after the married woman got off with a warning.
It was Christmas Eve 2013 when the parents of a then nine-year-old boy in south-western France discovered he had an admirer, though it was not a primary school classmate.
Rather the parents found a trove of passionate love letters written on a child-like pink or blue stationery to their son, by a 30-year-old woman who worked at the local school and community recreation centre in the town of Bassillac.
“In his room there was a pile of letters. Twenty-three to be precise,” the boy’s mother, who didn’t provide her name, said. “She even went so far as to ask him to run away with her.” The letters, which began in the summer of 2013, also evoked the real kisses she had exchanged with the boy and her desire to have four children with him. She went on to recount the troubles in her married life and even arranged a meeting with the boy outside school hours. Though the boy went to the rendezvous with the woman, it’s unclear if there was ever any sexual contact between the two. The child's parents reported the inappropriate relationship to local police immediately, but certain questions remain unanswered because the boy refused to talk to investigators. “Our son was interviewed,” the mother said.
“But he was petrified. He couldn’t say anything to the police.” From there investigators talked to the unnamed school worker, who admitted everything, the local prosecutor Anne-Claire Gallois told the boy’s parents. However, the worker couldn’t explain why she had taken a romantic interest in the child. Psychiatrists ruled out mental health problems. “A mental health exam was carried out on her and didn’t reveal any mental anomalies or any particular dangers,” the prosecutor wrote in an email to the family. The prosecutor ultimately decided not to file charges against the school worker and instead issued her a warning. At the same time the woman's bosses fired her. “That’s not enough for us,” the mother said. “She stole his childhood. In one year, we’ve seen his behavior change completely. Mathéo has become atrocious, unmanageable, very aggressive.”
The boy has been seeing a psychiatrist since the start of the year and the family met recently with the prosecutor in an effort to persuade her to reopen the case. The prosecutor reportedly said he could pursue the investigation if the boy provided new evidence of law breaking. For the family’s lawyer the case has been permeated by a double-standard for sexual abuse. “If it was a man who’d done this, would they have handled the case in the same way? I don’t think so,” said lawyer Nathalie Landon. “What kind of parent could tolerate these acts?” The family now refuses to let their son ride his bike alone in their town, where the woman still lives. In fact they have had to change their routine, including avoiding a certain bakery, out of fear they will run into the woman. And now they have plans to move house. “We don’t have the money to move, so we are going to have to take out a loan,” the mother said. “But we don’t have a choice, we have to protect our son.”
“In his room there was a pile of letters. Twenty-three to be precise,” the boy’s mother, who didn’t provide her name, said. “She even went so far as to ask him to run away with her.” The letters, which began in the summer of 2013, also evoked the real kisses she had exchanged with the boy and her desire to have four children with him. She went on to recount the troubles in her married life and even arranged a meeting with the boy outside school hours. Though the boy went to the rendezvous with the woman, it’s unclear if there was ever any sexual contact between the two. The child's parents reported the inappropriate relationship to local police immediately, but certain questions remain unanswered because the boy refused to talk to investigators. “Our son was interviewed,” the mother said.
“But he was petrified. He couldn’t say anything to the police.” From there investigators talked to the unnamed school worker, who admitted everything, the local prosecutor Anne-Claire Gallois told the boy’s parents. However, the worker couldn’t explain why she had taken a romantic interest in the child. Psychiatrists ruled out mental health problems. “A mental health exam was carried out on her and didn’t reveal any mental anomalies or any particular dangers,” the prosecutor wrote in an email to the family. The prosecutor ultimately decided not to file charges against the school worker and instead issued her a warning. At the same time the woman's bosses fired her. “That’s not enough for us,” the mother said. “She stole his childhood. In one year, we’ve seen his behavior change completely. Mathéo has become atrocious, unmanageable, very aggressive.”
The boy has been seeing a psychiatrist since the start of the year and the family met recently with the prosecutor in an effort to persuade her to reopen the case. The prosecutor reportedly said he could pursue the investigation if the boy provided new evidence of law breaking. For the family’s lawyer the case has been permeated by a double-standard for sexual abuse. “If it was a man who’d done this, would they have handled the case in the same way? I don’t think so,” said lawyer Nathalie Landon. “What kind of parent could tolerate these acts?” The family now refuses to let their son ride his bike alone in their town, where the woman still lives. In fact they have had to change their routine, including avoiding a certain bakery, out of fear they will run into the woman. And now they have plans to move house. “We don’t have the money to move, so we are going to have to take out a loan,” the mother said. “But we don’t have a choice, we have to protect our son.”
Underwear-slashing woman did so as a cry for help
A serial fraudster has admitted slashing more than £5,000 worth of Victoria’s Secret underwear with scissors in order to collect thousands of pounds in dodgy refunds.
Patricia Phillips, 52, was caught at Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent, in April at the end of a three month spree during which she scammed four different branches of the famous lingerie chain.
Phillips, of Stondon Massey in Brentwood, Essex, stole display items from the Greenhithe outlet as well as stores in Sheffield, New Bond Street and Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford. She would cut them with scissors before searching out identical items in the shop and damaging them as well.
Staff were then unable to offer her a straight swap when she fraudulently presented the display items for a refund. Prosecutor Lynda Huppatz told Dartford Magistrates’ Court that Phillips viewed her actions as a “cry for help”. Mrs Huppatz said: “She entered the stores to buy her daughter something then sort of went blank and did what she did. She is disgusted with herself and her actions and told police she needs to be punished for what she has done. She told officers it wasn’t about the money but was some sort of cry for help since her daughter passed away, her marriage broke up and with the stress of her job, charity work and worrying about her other daughter.
“Watching the CCTV of the incidents made her feel sick.” Phillips damaged £5,025.50 worth of stock in order to claim £1,666 in refunds following her first offence at Victoria’s Secret in New Bond Street on February 14. On that day she shredded five pairs of designer swim pants and two angel runway gowns worth £698.50. In one day alone on March 22 she destroyed £1,192 worth of underwear at New Bond Street, claiming £298 of it in refunds. Phillips was caught on April 16 at Bluewater after slashing two gowns worth £215 each.
The assistant manager became suspicious when Phillips presented one of them at the till claiming an item had previously been put aside for her to exchange it for but none could be found. After police were notified Phillips collapsed with chest pains and an ambulance had to be called. Victoria’s Secret’s UK loss prevention officer managed to track down five other similar crimes – two at New Bond Street, one at Sheffield and one at Westfield. Phillips sobbed as she pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal damage to property and four of fraud by false representation at the different stores. Magistrate Robert Chapman adjourned sentencing until later this month pending a further pre-sentence report.
Staff were then unable to offer her a straight swap when she fraudulently presented the display items for a refund. Prosecutor Lynda Huppatz told Dartford Magistrates’ Court that Phillips viewed her actions as a “cry for help”. Mrs Huppatz said: “She entered the stores to buy her daughter something then sort of went blank and did what she did. She is disgusted with herself and her actions and told police she needs to be punished for what she has done. She told officers it wasn’t about the money but was some sort of cry for help since her daughter passed away, her marriage broke up and with the stress of her job, charity work and worrying about her other daughter.
“Watching the CCTV of the incidents made her feel sick.” Phillips damaged £5,025.50 worth of stock in order to claim £1,666 in refunds following her first offence at Victoria’s Secret in New Bond Street on February 14. On that day she shredded five pairs of designer swim pants and two angel runway gowns worth £698.50. In one day alone on March 22 she destroyed £1,192 worth of underwear at New Bond Street, claiming £298 of it in refunds. Phillips was caught on April 16 at Bluewater after slashing two gowns worth £215 each.
The assistant manager became suspicious when Phillips presented one of them at the till claiming an item had previously been put aside for her to exchange it for but none could be found. After police were notified Phillips collapsed with chest pains and an ambulance had to be called. Victoria’s Secret’s UK loss prevention officer managed to track down five other similar crimes – two at New Bond Street, one at Sheffield and one at Westfield. Phillips sobbed as she pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal damage to property and four of fraud by false representation at the different stores. Magistrate Robert Chapman adjourned sentencing until later this month pending a further pre-sentence report.
Chicken rescued after being found wandering outside KFC restaurant
A chicken has been rescued after being found wandering outside a KFC restaurant in Clackmannanshire.
The ISA Brown chicken was discovered roaming around on Clackmannan Road in Alloa on Monday.
The bird, who has been named Peggy, is now in the care of the Scottish SPCA's Edinburgh and Lothians animal rescue and rehoming centre. Kirsty McQuade, animal rescue officer, said: "Peggy is missing a lot of feathers and isn't in great condition.
"At this stage we don't know how she came to be there. She could have strayed from home but we also have to consider that she may have been abandoned. Clackmannan Road is very busy and Peggy could easily have been run over, so we're really glad she was rescued.
"Anyone who can help us with our inquiries should get in touch as soon as possible. We'll look after Peggy and find her a loving new owner if she can't be returned home. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the SPCA."
The bird, who has been named Peggy, is now in the care of the Scottish SPCA's Edinburgh and Lothians animal rescue and rehoming centre. Kirsty McQuade, animal rescue officer, said: "Peggy is missing a lot of feathers and isn't in great condition.
"At this stage we don't know how she came to be there. She could have strayed from home but we also have to consider that she may have been abandoned. Clackmannan Road is very busy and Peggy could easily have been run over, so we're really glad she was rescued.
"Anyone who can help us with our inquiries should get in touch as soon as possible. We'll look after Peggy and find her a loving new owner if she can't be returned home. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the SPCA."
Suspected love rat dumped by both of his girlfriends
Two ladies took their revenge on an alleged love rat by publicly dumping him with a banner over the A1 in Tyne and Wear yesterday morning.
The poster read: “Steve Frazer you’re dumped by both of your girlfriends,” and was seen by thousands of people commuting into Newcastle and Gateshead.
The two women apparently created the enormous poster and hung it from a bridge on the northbound carriageway between the Bowes incline and the Angel of the North, but it was later removed. It is understood the pair decided to take matters into their own hands after meeting, and commissioned the huge red-and-yellow sign with photographs of themselves and of Mr Frazer.
In one picture, the alleged two-timer is pictured, while in the other photo to the right hand side of the message, the two women have posed for a selfie together. The pair bear a striking resemblance to each other, with both having long dark straight hair.
The poster read: “Steve Frazer you’re dumped by both of your girlfriends,” and was seen by thousands of people commuting into Newcastle and Gateshead.
The two women apparently created the enormous poster and hung it from a bridge on the northbound carriageway between the Bowes incline and the Angel of the North, but it was later removed. It is understood the pair decided to take matters into their own hands after meeting, and commissioned the huge red-and-yellow sign with photographs of themselves and of Mr Frazer.
In one picture, the alleged two-timer is pictured, while in the other photo to the right hand side of the message, the two women have posed for a selfie together. The pair bear a striking resemblance to each other, with both having long dark straight hair.
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