Thursday, October 30, 2014
Residents unhappy about mothball-lined driveway
Residents of a Florida neighbourhood say a woman with "400 or more" mothballs lining her driveway is causing a health hazard.
Dana Nicol of the Mandarin neighbourhood in Jacksonville said a neighbour's driveway is lined with mothballs, some in bags and others loose.
"It started off with just a few and now it's got over 400 or more," Nicol said. "She drives back and forth and crushes them up with her car to make them stink even more." Neighbour Kim Bristol said she filed a complaint with the city, accusing the neighbour of causing a health hazard.
"I've talked to nearby neighbours and we're suffering symptoms from the mothballs," Bristol said. "Respiratory, coughing, headaches and it's not just adults. It's also affecting the children. My own children included." A woman at the offending home said the mothballs are intended to keep dogs from defecating in her yard.
The Pet Poison Helpline classifies mothballs as having a "generally moderate to severe, life-threatening" effect on dogs and cats. City officials said an inspector visited the property on Oct. 23 and the investigation is ongoing.
There's a news video here.
"It started off with just a few and now it's got over 400 or more," Nicol said. "She drives back and forth and crushes them up with her car to make them stink even more." Neighbour Kim Bristol said she filed a complaint with the city, accusing the neighbour of causing a health hazard.
"I've talked to nearby neighbours and we're suffering symptoms from the mothballs," Bristol said. "Respiratory, coughing, headaches and it's not just adults. It's also affecting the children. My own children included." A woman at the offending home said the mothballs are intended to keep dogs from defecating in her yard.
The Pet Poison Helpline classifies mothballs as having a "generally moderate to severe, life-threatening" effect on dogs and cats. City officials said an inspector visited the property on Oct. 23 and the investigation is ongoing.
There's a news video here.
Naked man told police he felt a spiritual calling and had noticed strange things in the sky
A naked man spotted at an intersection in Port St. Lucie, Florida, told police he felt a “spiritual calling” to be outside in his birthday suit and that he saw “strange things in the sky.”
When police encountered Keith Berfield, 56, at about 10:48 pm on Oct. 17, the only thing he had on was “a large metal ring around his testicles,” according to recently released records. Asked why he was outside naked, Berfield said he felt a “spiritual calling.” He said he’d been “called” to his back porch and further “moved” or “called” outside where he noticed “strange things in the sky.”
“The defendant (Berfield) could not describe what he meant by strange things but stated that he has been seeing this for the past several days and that standing in the driveway naked with officers was deja vu,” the report states. He started rambling about a “spiritual initiation,” and investigators suspected he may be under the influence of drugs. He told police he had “meth and weed” in his home, which was nearby.
Police and Berfield went in his residence, and Berfield put on some underpants. Investigators found a variety of drugs, including suspected LSD, methamphetamine and marijuana. Berfield was taken to the hospital, and police asked him again why he was outside naked. He said he’d been on drugs and wasn’t really sure why. Berfield, of Port St. Lucie, was arrested on seven felony and two misdemeanour drug-related charges.
When police encountered Keith Berfield, 56, at about 10:48 pm on Oct. 17, the only thing he had on was “a large metal ring around his testicles,” according to recently released records. Asked why he was outside naked, Berfield said he felt a “spiritual calling.” He said he’d been “called” to his back porch and further “moved” or “called” outside where he noticed “strange things in the sky.”
“The defendant (Berfield) could not describe what he meant by strange things but stated that he has been seeing this for the past several days and that standing in the driveway naked with officers was deja vu,” the report states. He started rambling about a “spiritual initiation,” and investigators suspected he may be under the influence of drugs. He told police he had “meth and weed” in his home, which was nearby.
Police and Berfield went in his residence, and Berfield put on some underpants. Investigators found a variety of drugs, including suspected LSD, methamphetamine and marijuana. Berfield was taken to the hospital, and police asked him again why he was outside naked. He said he’d been on drugs and wasn’t really sure why. Berfield, of Port St. Lucie, was arrested on seven felony and two misdemeanour drug-related charges.
Kitten freed after getting head stuck in wheel
Two Sheriff's Animal Control officers from Martin County, Florida, helped rescue a 10-week-old kitten that got itself in a tight spot.
The officers, Heather Belknap and Michele Thonney, said they couldn't believe their eyes when they found the kitten’s head lodged in the hole of a car wheel.
At first the officers said they weren’t sure if they were able to set the animal free unharmed, but they worked slowly and managed to dislodge the kitten without causing injury.
The kitten is now being cared for at a local veterinary hospital, and is likely to be up for adoption soon, said a post on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
The officers, Heather Belknap and Michele Thonney, said they couldn't believe their eyes when they found the kitten’s head lodged in the hole of a car wheel.
At first the officers said they weren’t sure if they were able to set the animal free unharmed, but they worked slowly and managed to dislodge the kitten without causing injury.
The kitten is now being cared for at a local veterinary hospital, and is likely to be up for adoption soon, said a post on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
Stolen sheep found in woman's bedroom
A woman has been arrested after a flock of sheep which was reported missing was found in an outside room used as a bedroom on her property in Thabong, Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, said Free State police.
The room had a bed and a wardrobe in it, said police spokesperson Malebo Khosana. The woman was questioned about why the 12 sheep were there and she failed to give an explanation.
"She was arrested and the sheep were confiscated by the police," Khosana said. A farmer in Virginia had reported that 23 of his sheep were stolen. Police searched the area and five of them were found grazing in a nearby veld.
The sheep in the veld and the ones discovered in the women's bedroom were positively identified as the farmer's sheep through their markings. It was unclear what had happened to the five others which were still unaccounted for. The woman was expected to appear in court soon.
The room had a bed and a wardrobe in it, said police spokesperson Malebo Khosana. The woman was questioned about why the 12 sheep were there and she failed to give an explanation.
"She was arrested and the sheep were confiscated by the police," Khosana said. A farmer in Virginia had reported that 23 of his sheep were stolen. Police searched the area and five of them were found grazing in a nearby veld.
The sheep in the veld and the ones discovered in the women's bedroom were positively identified as the farmer's sheep through their markings. It was unclear what had happened to the five others which were still unaccounted for. The woman was expected to appear in court soon.
Vicar seeks ban on farting baby commercial
A vicar in Norway was outraged and has called for a ban on a cinema commercial trying to promote baptism using a farting, rapping baby. The offending advert was aired to encourage more people to baptise their children.
Helge Helgesen, a vicar from Stavanger, has demanded the advertisement be banned. The Tjensvoll church vicar said: “This is, to say it mildly, one of the worst ways of representing the baptism ritual of the church that I have ever seen.”
Norwegian religious organization “Aksjon dåp” (“Baptism aid”) of Stavanger are behind the 30-second video clip that is now shown in cinemas in Rogaland. The purpose, claim its producers, is to “show the richness and blessing of baptism”.
YouTube link. Vimeo link.
Helgesen demanded to have the ad removed immediately and said: “Someone has completely lost their mind. Because I feel it is only offensive to what we stand for as a church.” PR expert Jarle Aabø backed Helgesen and said the baby in the advert “sounds like a drunkard living under a bridge drinking methylated spirit.” Aabø added: “I think this is nothing to laugh about.”
Helge Helgesen, a vicar from Stavanger, has demanded the advertisement be banned. The Tjensvoll church vicar said: “This is, to say it mildly, one of the worst ways of representing the baptism ritual of the church that I have ever seen.”
Norwegian religious organization “Aksjon dåp” (“Baptism aid”) of Stavanger are behind the 30-second video clip that is now shown in cinemas in Rogaland. The purpose, claim its producers, is to “show the richness and blessing of baptism”.
YouTube link. Vimeo link.
Helgesen demanded to have the ad removed immediately and said: “Someone has completely lost their mind. Because I feel it is only offensive to what we stand for as a church.” PR expert Jarle Aabø backed Helgesen and said the baby in the advert “sounds like a drunkard living under a bridge drinking methylated spirit.” Aabø added: “I think this is nothing to laugh about.”
Man brandished knife at party-goers after being accused of taking too much stuffing from buffet
A man from Llandderfel in Gwynedd, Wales, brandished a knife at terrified party-goers in a row over buffet food.
Craig Peter Stewart of Hen Ysgol threatened a man who he claimed insulted him while he was helping himself to food from a buffet table laid out for a birthday party at Llandderfel Hall, near Bala in the early hours of Sunday, 24 August.
Stewart, 31, pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing a knife when he appeared before Dolgellau magistrates last Thursday. The court heard that police were called to the hall at around 2.10am. Stewart said he had been “insulted” at the party by a man who made reference to the amount of stuffing he was taking from the buffet.
After leaving the party, the court heard, an intoxicated Stewart ret urned wearing different clothes with a hood, and carrying a large bread knife, a kitchen knife and a paring knife from his home, which was just 200 yards from the hall. When officers arrived on the scene they found Stewart being restrained by two fellow party-goers.
In defence, Stewart claimed he returned to the party with the knives as he “wanted more food” and there was “no cutlery on the buffet table”. And he said he had changed his clothes because he was feeling cold. But the prosecution labelled his version of events as “fantastical”. Stewart will be sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, 6 November, after Dolgellau magistrates declined jurisdiction. He was released on conditional bail until the hearing.
Stewart, 31, pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing a knife when he appeared before Dolgellau magistrates last Thursday. The court heard that police were called to the hall at around 2.10am. Stewart said he had been “insulted” at the party by a man who made reference to the amount of stuffing he was taking from the buffet.
After leaving the party, the court heard, an intoxicated Stewart ret urned wearing different clothes with a hood, and carrying a large bread knife, a kitchen knife and a paring knife from his home, which was just 200 yards from the hall. When officers arrived on the scene they found Stewart being restrained by two fellow party-goers.
In defence, Stewart claimed he returned to the party with the knives as he “wanted more food” and there was “no cutlery on the buffet table”. And he said he had changed his clothes because he was feeling cold. But the prosecution labelled his version of events as “fantastical”. Stewart will be sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, 6 November, after Dolgellau magistrates declined jurisdiction. He was released on conditional bail until the hearing.
Police seek thieving couple who walked out of store carrying table
A couple were caught on CCTV walking into a store and moments later leaving with a £299 table.
West Midlands Police have released CCTV footage of the theft in a bid to trace the pair.
The footage shows the pair walk inside the Next store in Arena Park, Coventry, on the afternoon of October 9.
YouTube link. West Midlands Police original video.
The man, wearing a flat cap, takes a photograph frame off the table before less than a minute later the woman helps him to pick up the piece of furniture. They can then be seen to carry it through the front doors and out to the car park.
West Midlands Police have released CCTV footage of the theft in a bid to trace the pair.
The footage shows the pair walk inside the Next store in Arena Park, Coventry, on the afternoon of October 9.
YouTube link. West Midlands Police original video.
The man, wearing a flat cap, takes a photograph frame off the table before less than a minute later the woman helps him to pick up the piece of furniture. They can then be seen to carry it through the front doors and out to the car park.
Garden ornaments banned after elderly residents row at sheltered housing complex
Garden ornaments have been banned at a sheltered housing complex in Wales after police had to be called to stop months of rows between elderly residents.
Swansea council said the dispute concerning the communal garden at Waverley Close in Clydach had provoked threats and intimidation.
One 80-year-old man had to be taken to hospital after suffering an angina attack after an argument. South Wales Police confirmed residents had been "spoken to". Now Swansea council has said all ornaments must be removed from the shared garden.
A letter to residents from a Swansea Council housing team leader said: “Over a period of time officers have responded to issues raised by residents, which included threats, intimidation, accusations of theft, financial inconsistencies and damage to the communal areas. While this type of behaviour is inappropriate and unacceptable, officers have been working with those involved in order to reach a satisfactory outcome without success.”
It added: “Regrettably, however, after careful consideration as landlords of this complex, it has been decided that all structures, ornaments of any descriptions must be removed from the communal areas with immediate effect. I am sorry that the behaviour of a small minority of residents has resulted in this decision being made. However, there is no other option available to us as landlords to ensure the health and well-being of all residents.”
One 80-year-old man had to be taken to hospital after suffering an angina attack after an argument. South Wales Police confirmed residents had been "spoken to". Now Swansea council has said all ornaments must be removed from the shared garden.
A letter to residents from a Swansea Council housing team leader said: “Over a period of time officers have responded to issues raised by residents, which included threats, intimidation, accusations of theft, financial inconsistencies and damage to the communal areas. While this type of behaviour is inappropriate and unacceptable, officers have been working with those involved in order to reach a satisfactory outcome without success.”
It added: “Regrettably, however, after careful consideration as landlords of this complex, it has been decided that all structures, ornaments of any descriptions must be removed from the communal areas with immediate effect. I am sorry that the behaviour of a small minority of residents has resulted in this decision being made. However, there is no other option available to us as landlords to ensure the health and well-being of all residents.”
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