Saturday, July 19, 2014
Rural community fight housing development with sign warning of noisy, smelly animals having sex
Residents in a rural Florida community are upset about a proposed housing development coming to their front door. They claim it would impact their lives and those of potential buyers. One has even put up an attention-grabbing sign talking about the noise, smell, and other activities animals will be doing.
The residents of Englewood say the project, which would bring 80 homes just doesn't fit with the neighbourhood.
Englewood resident Sue Young raises sheep, chickens, horses, even peacocks to name a few. There are around 20 mini farms in the neighbourhood, starting with five acre lots on up. "We are hobby farms. People come to see our animals. We raise our own animals." She also runs a dog kennel and grooming business there. She’s one of several residents that are concerned with a new plan on the 40 acres across from her dirt road – a development being called Tromble Bay. Currently the land is zoned for around eight homes. Those who own it are looking for much more.
"They want to put 80 homes on what used to be an equestrian farm. We just don't want to be changed in the zoning. We are farms, and Englewood should have farms." The Youngs have even posted a sign to let everyone know exactly what farms entail. The sign is a reminder that 'animals make funny sounds, smell bad & have sex outdoors.' “People like it. Nobody is offended," says Young. She says it's meant to catch some eyeballs and meant as a warning. They’re concerned that once those in a gated community move in, they'll work to get rid of the annoyances around them. "It's like moving next to an airport and complaining about the traffic patterns.
"If you move next to a farm, we have animals that make noises and they smell. A lot of people enjoy them but they are not meant for everybody." At a recent neighbourhood meeting held by representatives with the development, neighbours in other nearby communities also spoke out over concerns about drainage and the overall impact. Neighbours say the current five-acre mini estates are a part of the area's initial plan called Englewood Gardens. However, the proposed development is within Sarasota County's future land use for the property: two residential units per acre. Susan says they were able to stave off a smaller plan to develop the same property years ago, and are hoping for the same. "The commissioners listened to the neighbours and we are hoping they will again." Sarasota County commissioners will have the ultimate say on whether the property can be rezoned. No date has been set.
Englewood resident Sue Young raises sheep, chickens, horses, even peacocks to name a few. There are around 20 mini farms in the neighbourhood, starting with five acre lots on up. "We are hobby farms. People come to see our animals. We raise our own animals." She also runs a dog kennel and grooming business there. She’s one of several residents that are concerned with a new plan on the 40 acres across from her dirt road – a development being called Tromble Bay. Currently the land is zoned for around eight homes. Those who own it are looking for much more.
"They want to put 80 homes on what used to be an equestrian farm. We just don't want to be changed in the zoning. We are farms, and Englewood should have farms." The Youngs have even posted a sign to let everyone know exactly what farms entail. The sign is a reminder that 'animals make funny sounds, smell bad & have sex outdoors.' “People like it. Nobody is offended," says Young. She says it's meant to catch some eyeballs and meant as a warning. They’re concerned that once those in a gated community move in, they'll work to get rid of the annoyances around them. "It's like moving next to an airport and complaining about the traffic patterns.
"If you move next to a farm, we have animals that make noises and they smell. A lot of people enjoy them but they are not meant for everybody." At a recent neighbourhood meeting held by representatives with the development, neighbours in other nearby communities also spoke out over concerns about drainage and the overall impact. Neighbours say the current five-acre mini estates are a part of the area's initial plan called Englewood Gardens. However, the proposed development is within Sarasota County's future land use for the property: two residential units per acre. Susan says they were able to stave off a smaller plan to develop the same property years ago, and are hoping for the same. "The commissioners listened to the neighbours and we are hoping they will again." Sarasota County commissioners will have the ultimate say on whether the property can be rezoned. No date has been set.
Couple conserving water amid drought could face fine for brown lawn
A Southern Californian couple who scaled back watering their lawn amid the state's drought received a warning from the suburb where they live that they might be fined for creating an eyesore - despite emergency statewide orders to conserve.
Michael Korte and Laura Whitney, who live near Los Angeles in Glendora, said on Thursday they received a letter from the city warning they had 60 days to green up their partially brown lawn or pay a fine ranging from $100 - $500 (£58 - £292).
"I don't think it's right for us to start pouring water into our lawn in the middle of July during a drought," said Whitney.
"We're kind of in a quandary about what to do." The letter, bearing the official symbols of Glendora and its police department, came the same week that statewide water regulators passed emergency drought restrictions for outdoor water use. Those regulations, to take effect this August, require cities to demand cutbacks in water use, and empower them to fine residents up to $500 for overwatering their lawns. California is in the third year of an extreme drought that is expected to cost the state an estimated $2.2 billion and more than 17,000 agricultural jobs.
Democratic Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency in January. In Glendora, City Manager Chris Jeffers said the city did encourage conservation, but that Korte's and Whitney's lawn was in such bad shape that it was reported as possibly abandoned. "We were responding to a complaint that we received of a possible abandoned property," Jeffers said. "Crews visited and determined it was not abandoned, but not kept. The landscape was dead and there were large areas of just dirt." Instead of citing the couple, he said, officials opted to leave a letter explaining that conserving water did not mean abandoning the landscape.
YouTube link.
"Conservation does not mean neighbourhoods need to deteriorate because property owners want (the) landscape to die or go unmaintained," he said. Glendora's action provoked a strong response from state environmental officials, who said such moves undermined conservation efforts. “Throughout the state, Californians are making serious efforts every day to cut their water use during this extreme drought," said Amy Norris, spokeswoman for the California Environmental Protection Agency. "These efforts to conserve should not be undermined by the short-sighted actions of a few local jurisdictions, who chose to ignore the statewide crisis we face."
"We're kind of in a quandary about what to do." The letter, bearing the official symbols of Glendora and its police department, came the same week that statewide water regulators passed emergency drought restrictions for outdoor water use. Those regulations, to take effect this August, require cities to demand cutbacks in water use, and empower them to fine residents up to $500 for overwatering their lawns. California is in the third year of an extreme drought that is expected to cost the state an estimated $2.2 billion and more than 17,000 agricultural jobs.
Democratic Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency in January. In Glendora, City Manager Chris Jeffers said the city did encourage conservation, but that Korte's and Whitney's lawn was in such bad shape that it was reported as possibly abandoned. "We were responding to a complaint that we received of a possible abandoned property," Jeffers said. "Crews visited and determined it was not abandoned, but not kept. The landscape was dead and there were large areas of just dirt." Instead of citing the couple, he said, officials opted to leave a letter explaining that conserving water did not mean abandoning the landscape.
YouTube link.
"Conservation does not mean neighbourhoods need to deteriorate because property owners want (the) landscape to die or go unmaintained," he said. Glendora's action provoked a strong response from state environmental officials, who said such moves undermined conservation efforts. “Throughout the state, Californians are making serious efforts every day to cut their water use during this extreme drought," said Amy Norris, spokeswoman for the California Environmental Protection Agency. "These efforts to conserve should not be undermined by the short-sighted actions of a few local jurisdictions, who chose to ignore the statewide crisis we face."
Body mistaken for mannequin thrown away
For the second time this year, someone in the Tampa Bay area of Florida has mistaken a body for a mannequin and thrown it away.
It happened in St. Petersburg this spring when a security guard trashed the body of an elderly woman who had jumped to her death from her 16th-floor apartment.
And it happened in Spring Hill on Thursday when two workers hired to clean out a house believed the body of a man who hanged himself in the garage was a mannequin used for a prank. One of the men took the body to a dump, where county workers became suspicious and called deputies.
"It was obviously very unusual and very hard to believe," Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said at a news conference on Thursday evening. Sheriff's officials said Israel Lopez, 50, and Adam Hines, 36, were hired to clean out the vacant house at 6527 Treehaven Drive. The house was in disarray, Nienhuis said, similar to an episode of Hoarders. Dead rodents filled the house and the workers believed that was the source of a foul smell, he said. While cleaning, the men saw what they both believed was a mannequin hanging from the ceiling in the garage.
"Both individuals as well as the property owners believed the lifelike mannequin was a distasteful Halloween-like hoax left by the former renters," sheriff's officials said in a news release. The men cut the body down, placed it in a pick-up along with other refuse, and hauled everything to the West Hernando garbage transfer station. There, county employees became suspicious. Shortly before noon on Thursday, they called the Sheriff's Office and reported that a body had possibly been disposed at a nearby dump. Deputies arrived and confirmed their suspicions.
While deputies investigated, Lopez returned to drop off another load of garbage. County officials recognized him and notified deputies. Nienhuis said Lopez and Hines made an honest mistake and all the evidence indicates that no crime was committed. "I think it's important to realize that … most people, they either have seen someone who has very recently passed … or they see them at a funeral home," Nienhuis said. "Obviously, this body was not anything close to either of those. It was somewhat mummified." Deputies identified the dead man as Jeremy Allen Witfoth, 33. Sheriff's officials said he was a previous renter, and it appears hanged himself sometime in the past several weeks.
You can watch Sheriff Nienhuis' news conference here, and there's news video here.
"It was obviously very unusual and very hard to believe," Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said at a news conference on Thursday evening. Sheriff's officials said Israel Lopez, 50, and Adam Hines, 36, were hired to clean out the vacant house at 6527 Treehaven Drive. The house was in disarray, Nienhuis said, similar to an episode of Hoarders. Dead rodents filled the house and the workers believed that was the source of a foul smell, he said. While cleaning, the men saw what they both believed was a mannequin hanging from the ceiling in the garage.
"Both individuals as well as the property owners believed the lifelike mannequin was a distasteful Halloween-like hoax left by the former renters," sheriff's officials said in a news release. The men cut the body down, placed it in a pick-up along with other refuse, and hauled everything to the West Hernando garbage transfer station. There, county employees became suspicious. Shortly before noon on Thursday, they called the Sheriff's Office and reported that a body had possibly been disposed at a nearby dump. Deputies arrived and confirmed their suspicions.
While deputies investigated, Lopez returned to drop off another load of garbage. County officials recognized him and notified deputies. Nienhuis said Lopez and Hines made an honest mistake and all the evidence indicates that no crime was committed. "I think it's important to realize that … most people, they either have seen someone who has very recently passed … or they see them at a funeral home," Nienhuis said. "Obviously, this body was not anything close to either of those. It was somewhat mummified." Deputies identified the dead man as Jeremy Allen Witfoth, 33. Sheriff's officials said he was a previous renter, and it appears hanged himself sometime in the past several weeks.
You can watch Sheriff Nienhuis' news conference here, and there's news video here.
Couple surrender to police following baby dinosaur model theft
Two people accused of stealing a dinosaur model worth $10,000 from a North Carolina museum have turned themselves in.
According to the N.C. Department of Public Safety, 21-year-old Logan Todd Ritchey, of Raleigh, and 21-year-old Alyssa Ann Lavacca, of Holly Springs, turned themselves in to State Capitol Police on Thursday morning.
The suspects are accused of stealing a $10,000 replica of a baby Edmontosaurus from the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences on Monday. Surveillance video showed a man jumping over the barrier of the Prehistoric North Carolina exhibit, taking the dinosaur model, and putting it in a woman's bag. Officials said a male dropped off a bag near the rear service entrance of the museum after business hours on Wednesday. That bag contained the dinosaur model stolen on Monday.
According to the N.C. Department of Public Safety, Ritchey and Lavacca are charged with two felony counts of theft or destruction of property of public libraries, museums, etc. Ritchey was being held on a $2,000 secured bond and Lavacca was released on an unsecured bond. "I doubt these two individuals realized the seriousness of tampering with artifacts and exhibits in a public museum," said State Capitol Police Chief Glen Allen.
YouTube link.
"North Carolina's Museum of Natural Sciences and Museum of History are premier facilities known throughout the nation. Thousands of North Carolinians and tourists visit regularly to enjoy exhibits and programmes that offer opportunities to get up close and personal with science and history. We want to help preserve that experience for everyone." Police said an item worth less than $1,000 was also stolen from the Museum of History. That item has been recovered as well.
The suspects are accused of stealing a $10,000 replica of a baby Edmontosaurus from the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences on Monday. Surveillance video showed a man jumping over the barrier of the Prehistoric North Carolina exhibit, taking the dinosaur model, and putting it in a woman's bag. Officials said a male dropped off a bag near the rear service entrance of the museum after business hours on Wednesday. That bag contained the dinosaur model stolen on Monday.
According to the N.C. Department of Public Safety, Ritchey and Lavacca are charged with two felony counts of theft or destruction of property of public libraries, museums, etc. Ritchey was being held on a $2,000 secured bond and Lavacca was released on an unsecured bond. "I doubt these two individuals realized the seriousness of tampering with artifacts and exhibits in a public museum," said State Capitol Police Chief Glen Allen.
YouTube link.
"North Carolina's Museum of Natural Sciences and Museum of History are premier facilities known throughout the nation. Thousands of North Carolinians and tourists visit regularly to enjoy exhibits and programmes that offer opportunities to get up close and personal with science and history. We want to help preserve that experience for everyone." Police said an item worth less than $1,000 was also stolen from the Museum of History. That item has been recovered as well.
Licence renewal for silent disco refused following complaints that it is too loud
The city of Salzburg in Austria has refused to renew a licence for a silent disco clubbing event in the Volksgarten after complaints that it was “too loud and wild”.
At a silent disco people listen to music on wireless headphones, broadcast via a radio transmitter. Those without the headphones hear no music, giving the effect of a room full of people dancing to nothing. However the Mayor of Salzburg, Heinz Schaden, said it was still too loud for residents.
“Especially at the weekends the young people are staying up until 4am and later. In the summer people want to sleep with their windows open, and the noise - even from a silent disco - is keeping them up,” he said. Werner Purkhart, who’s been running the silent disco for the past four years, is not happy.
"I have seen not a single police car pull up outside the silent disco - so there can’t have been that many complaints. It seems unfair to shut down an institution like the silent disco just because of some rumours,” he said. Members of the city council are to meet with the silent disco team and if the city refuses to renew the licence Purkhart plans a “silent demonstration”.
At a silent disco people listen to music on wireless headphones, broadcast via a radio transmitter. Those without the headphones hear no music, giving the effect of a room full of people dancing to nothing. However the Mayor of Salzburg, Heinz Schaden, said it was still too loud for residents.
“Especially at the weekends the young people are staying up until 4am and later. In the summer people want to sleep with their windows open, and the noise - even from a silent disco - is keeping them up,” he said. Werner Purkhart, who’s been running the silent disco for the past four years, is not happy.
"I have seen not a single police car pull up outside the silent disco - so there can’t have been that many complaints. It seems unfair to shut down an institution like the silent disco just because of some rumours,” he said. Members of the city council are to meet with the silent disco team and if the city refuses to renew the licence Purkhart plans a “silent demonstration”.
Cherry picker used to rescue possum-chasing dog stuck 30 metres up tree
Archie the Jack Russell didn't let a 30-metre tree climb put him off the scent of a possum.
But the 2-year-old pooch hadn't quite thought through his escape plan.
Owner Louise Blair says she came home and heard the sound of Archie yelping, something not uncommon on their 35-acre Huapai property in west Auckland, New Zealand.
''We have a few dogs and they go off hunting for possums in the bush. But I heard him yelping when I got home on Wednesday,'' Blair said. ''My husband went out to look for him and found Archie stuck up a pine tree. We didn't know what to do. 'The tree was too difficult to climb and ladders couldn't reach far enough. 'I phoned the SPCA who told me to ring the emergency services.
"They said they couldn't do anything and to call animal welfare. I called Auckland Council animal control and they couldn't do anything either. All the people I talked to thought it was funny, but no-one could help.'' Blair said she started to get a little nervous because she didn't want Archie to try and jump. ''Then I had a thought to get a cherry-picker. We phoned the nearest company Prolift Access Hire.
YouTube link.
''They came rushing down with an enormous cherry-picker and helped us get him out of the tree. It was really neat of them.'' Blair said Archie must have been up the tree a fair while before they found him because the first thing he did when he was brought back to ground was take a very long wee. ''Archie seemed to be fine afterwards. I don't think the experience will stop him from chasing possums up trees.''
''We have a few dogs and they go off hunting for possums in the bush. But I heard him yelping when I got home on Wednesday,'' Blair said. ''My husband went out to look for him and found Archie stuck up a pine tree. We didn't know what to do. 'The tree was too difficult to climb and ladders couldn't reach far enough. 'I phoned the SPCA who told me to ring the emergency services.
"They said they couldn't do anything and to call animal welfare. I called Auckland Council animal control and they couldn't do anything either. All the people I talked to thought it was funny, but no-one could help.'' Blair said she started to get a little nervous because she didn't want Archie to try and jump. ''Then I had a thought to get a cherry-picker. We phoned the nearest company Prolift Access Hire.
YouTube link.
''They came rushing down with an enormous cherry-picker and helped us get him out of the tree. It was really neat of them.'' Blair said Archie must have been up the tree a fair while before they found him because the first thing he did when he was brought back to ground was take a very long wee. ''Archie seemed to be fine afterwards. I don't think the experience will stop him from chasing possums up trees.''
Girl injured by sausage-thieving seagull
A seagull left a young girl covered in blood after snatching a sausage from her mouth.
Five-year-old Burgh Kemp was sitting on the the beach at Woolacombe, north Devon, when the bird swooped out of the sky, took off with half of her sausage in its beak, and left her face covered in blood.
Burgh is now terrified to return to her former favourite spot in case she's attacked again.
Burgh’s mother, Louise Kemp, from Barnstaple, said the family were enjoying a picnic on the beach on Friday evening. She said: “Seagulls are always hanging around trying to get at people’s food but I’ve never seen anything this vicious. We saw it standing on the beach and thought it was doing that usual seagull thing of standing around, hoping we’d throw it a few bits.
“We thought it would go away when it realised it wasn’t going to get anything.” But far from leaving the family in peace, the gull took to the sky and flew at the head of the unsuspecting child. “She let out an almighty scream,” said Louise. “There was blood everywhere, on my jeans and shirt, which traumatised Burgh even more. The seagull stood around as if it was mocking us, hoping to get the rest of the sausage.“
“There was a lot of blood on Burgh’s bottom lip, even though it wasn’t a deep cut.” Louise packed up the picnic and took Burgh to hospital, where her injury was found not to be serious. “Luckily that area heals quickly but it could have been much worse,” said Louise. “What if it had been her eye? “She said she didn’t want to go back to Woolacombe but we’ll get over it and try to avoid turning it into a major issue.”
Burgh’s mother, Louise Kemp, from Barnstaple, said the family were enjoying a picnic on the beach on Friday evening. She said: “Seagulls are always hanging around trying to get at people’s food but I’ve never seen anything this vicious. We saw it standing on the beach and thought it was doing that usual seagull thing of standing around, hoping we’d throw it a few bits.
“We thought it would go away when it realised it wasn’t going to get anything.” But far from leaving the family in peace, the gull took to the sky and flew at the head of the unsuspecting child. “She let out an almighty scream,” said Louise. “There was blood everywhere, on my jeans and shirt, which traumatised Burgh even more. The seagull stood around as if it was mocking us, hoping to get the rest of the sausage.“
“There was a lot of blood on Burgh’s bottom lip, even though it wasn’t a deep cut.” Louise packed up the picnic and took Burgh to hospital, where her injury was found not to be serious. “Luckily that area heals quickly but it could have been much worse,” said Louise. “What if it had been her eye? “She said she didn’t want to go back to Woolacombe but we’ll get over it and try to avoid turning it into a major issue.”
Rejected baby monkey has become best friends with Jack Russell puppies
A baby drill monkey being raised by a zoo keeper has
become best friends with his two Jack Russell puppies.
Simon Jeffrey decided to raise Mubi the monkey, after her mother rejected her at Port Lympne animal park in south-east England.
YouTube link.
Now, puppies Daisy and Ian are keeping the 2-month-old monkey company whilst she is being looked after.
African drill monkeys are an endangered species, whose population has dropped to around 3,000 in the wild. Simon believes that Mubi will eventually be able to rejoin her family in the animal park.
Simon Jeffrey decided to raise Mubi the monkey, after her mother rejected her at Port Lympne animal park in south-east England.
YouTube link.
Now, puppies Daisy and Ian are keeping the 2-month-old monkey company whilst she is being looked after.
African drill monkeys are an endangered species, whose population has dropped to around 3,000 in the wild. Simon believes that Mubi will eventually be able to rejoin her family in the animal park.
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