Tuesday, November 04, 2014
Mexican jumping beans caused bomb scare
A US postal worker delivering mail in Carlsbad, California, reported a "ticking" package to authorities and it turned out to be something entirely unexpected.
Several homes were evacuated and residents were warned to stay away as investigators blocked a street at around 3:20pm on Saturday to investigate the ticking package, Carlsbad police Lt. Greg Koran said.
When the package was opened, the feared bomb turned out to be nothing more than Mexican jumping beans, police said. It took the San Diego Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit three hours to determine the package was safe. No one was injured and no property was damaged.
"It was a little funny and made a serious situation humorous, but it is sad that police had to waste their time on a toy," a neighbour said. Mexican jumping beans, also known as frijoles saltarines in Spanish, are pods with larva of a small moth inside. When they heat up, the pods move.
With news video.
Several homes were evacuated and residents were warned to stay away as investigators blocked a street at around 3:20pm on Saturday to investigate the ticking package, Carlsbad police Lt. Greg Koran said.
When the package was opened, the feared bomb turned out to be nothing more than Mexican jumping beans, police said. It took the San Diego Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit three hours to determine the package was safe. No one was injured and no property was damaged.
"It was a little funny and made a serious situation humorous, but it is sad that police had to waste their time on a toy," a neighbour said. Mexican jumping beans, also known as frijoles saltarines in Spanish, are pods with larva of a small moth inside. When they heat up, the pods move.
With news video.
Man faces jail sentence for buying winning lottery ticket from his place of employment
Four months after buying a lottery scratch-off ticket that won him $900, a man from Winchester, North Carolina, now faces the propect of a jail sentence.
Authorities say Mickey L. Stone, 36, violated state law by buying that winning ticket at the Winchester liquor store where he was employed.
Stone was charged this week with unlawful purchase of a lottery ticket by an employee, a misdemeanor carrying a maximum one-year jail term.
According to a report filed by Michael Bare, an investigator for the Hoosier Lottery, Stone bought the Diamond Mine scratch-off ticket at Hughes Pic-A-Pac, on June 6. At the time, Stone had worked at the store for about a year, the report said. The winning ticket was redeemed at Hoosier Lottery's headquarters in downtown Indianapolis on June 24. Interviewed by Bare at the liquor store in late July, Stone at first maintained he had bought the winning ticket in Huntington.
"I reminded Stone that, when the lottery ships tickets to one of its 4,400 retailers, they are in an inactive or inert state," Bare wrote. "In order for tickets to be recognized by the computer system, they must be activated. This can only be done at the lottery terminal in the store to which the lottery tickets were sold by the lottery." Stone eventually admitted that he "purchased the ticket at his place of employment," the investigator wrote, and "verified that he knew that it was illegal to have done so."
The Hoosier Lottery investigator told Stone that returning his winnings "might influence" a decision on whether a criminal charge was filed. "Stone suggested that he might make payments to the lottery, but I declined that idea," he added. Stone was not arrested this week after the charge was filed against him, in Randolph Superior Court, by Prosecutor David Daly's office. He will receive notice of an initial hearing in the case set for Nov. 12.
According to a report filed by Michael Bare, an investigator for the Hoosier Lottery, Stone bought the Diamond Mine scratch-off ticket at Hughes Pic-A-Pac, on June 6. At the time, Stone had worked at the store for about a year, the report said. The winning ticket was redeemed at Hoosier Lottery's headquarters in downtown Indianapolis on June 24. Interviewed by Bare at the liquor store in late July, Stone at first maintained he had bought the winning ticket in Huntington.
"I reminded Stone that, when the lottery ships tickets to one of its 4,400 retailers, they are in an inactive or inert state," Bare wrote. "In order for tickets to be recognized by the computer system, they must be activated. This can only be done at the lottery terminal in the store to which the lottery tickets were sold by the lottery." Stone eventually admitted that he "purchased the ticket at his place of employment," the investigator wrote, and "verified that he knew that it was illegal to have done so."
The Hoosier Lottery investigator told Stone that returning his winnings "might influence" a decision on whether a criminal charge was filed. "Stone suggested that he might make payments to the lottery, but I declined that idea," he added. Stone was not arrested this week after the charge was filed against him, in Randolph Superior Court, by Prosecutor David Daly's office. He will receive notice of an initial hearing in the case set for Nov. 12.
Man used bulldozer in attempt to alter course of river
The Washington attorney general says a man used heavy machinery to fill and alter the course of the Tahuya River near his home without permits.
William Cayo Sr. reportedly conducted hydraulic actives in connection with altering a channel of the river.
The AG says Cayo used an excavator and bulldozer to fill the river channel near his home in attempt to redirect the river. According to biologists, nearly 3 1/2 miles of river bed were moved to fill the active channel.
Unpermitted work can damage the riverbed and kill fish. A property owner can work with the county and other agencies to develop an effective hydraulic or shoreline under state law.
Cayo is charged charged in Mason County District Court with violation of the water pollution control act, violation of the shoreline management act, and conducting unpermitted hydraulic activities. The Tahuya River is a popular salmon run.
The AG says Cayo used an excavator and bulldozer to fill the river channel near his home in attempt to redirect the river. According to biologists, nearly 3 1/2 miles of river bed were moved to fill the active channel.
Unpermitted work can damage the riverbed and kill fish. A property owner can work with the county and other agencies to develop an effective hydraulic or shoreline under state law.
Cayo is charged charged in Mason County District Court with violation of the water pollution control act, violation of the shoreline management act, and conducting unpermitted hydraulic activities. The Tahuya River is a popular salmon run.
Woman arrested for stealing blind man’s car
Police in Vernon, Connecticut, arrested 33-year-old Laura Michaud on larceny charges after she stole a car from a blind man.
According to police, 8 months ago Michaud swindled a visually impaired acquaintance and stole his car. She then signed the vehicle’s title and other paperwork over to her, and registered the car in her name.
Detectives immediately started working on the investigation, and she was arrested on October 30 after a judge issued a warrant for her arrest.
Michaud is being held and is charged with Larceny in the 3rd degree, False Statement in the 2nd Degree, Forgery in the Second Degree, and Motor Vehicle Certificate Fraud.
According to police, 8 months ago Michaud swindled a visually impaired acquaintance and stole his car. She then signed the vehicle’s title and other paperwork over to her, and registered the car in her name.
Detectives immediately started working on the investigation, and she was arrested on October 30 after a judge issued a warrant for her arrest.
Michaud is being held and is charged with Larceny in the 3rd degree, False Statement in the 2nd Degree, Forgery in the Second Degree, and Motor Vehicle Certificate Fraud.
Donkey barber keeps family tradition alive
Mohammed Mahmoud is a donkey barber in Egypt's capital city, Cairo - an expert in trimming and styling horses, camels, mules, sheep, goats, dogs - and donkeys.
It's a unique trade, but for Mahmoud it's a family tradition, passed down through the generations from his grandfather. He is a third-generation qassasseen, the Egyptian Arabic term for animal barbers.
Regular trims keeps the animals cool in the summer months and owners often request their initials being clipped into their flanks. Mahmoud charges around 20 to 30 Egyptian pounds per customer (£1.50 - £2, $3 - $5).
YouTube link.
Each job usually takes him less than 30 minutes - depending on the order and how sensitive the animal is. But it can be dangerous work. He's lost a fingertip, broken his teeth and has various other scars from plying his trade over the years.
It's a unique trade, but for Mahmoud it's a family tradition, passed down through the generations from his grandfather. He is a third-generation qassasseen, the Egyptian Arabic term for animal barbers.
Regular trims keeps the animals cool in the summer months and owners often request their initials being clipped into their flanks. Mahmoud charges around 20 to 30 Egyptian pounds per customer (£1.50 - £2, $3 - $5).
YouTube link.
Each job usually takes him less than 30 minutes - depending on the order and how sensitive the animal is. But it can be dangerous work. He's lost a fingertip, broken his teeth and has various other scars from plying his trade over the years.
Man who taxied plane to pub faces charges
A man who taxied his light plane down a main street in Western Australia's Pilbara region and parked it outside a pub is expected to be charged.
Newman Police sergeant Mark McKenzie said the plane had its propeller running, its wings removed and was being steered by foot pedals on Friday. The man parked the plane outside the Newman Hotel and was then interviewed by police.
"It was a pretty stupid thing to do," Sergeant McKenzie said. "Kids were coming home from school. It could have been very ugly. All he needed was one gust of wind ... because without the wings, it's not stable. People think it was a bit of a laugh but it was very dangerous and we're not very happy with it."
Sergeant McKenzie said police had examined the Road Traffic Act but would likely charge the man under the Criminal Code. "I would assume there would be an offence under the Criminal Code that may fit the bill. I'm confident that he will be charged with something soon."
Newman Police sergeant Mark McKenzie said the plane had its propeller running, its wings removed and was being steered by foot pedals on Friday. The man parked the plane outside the Newman Hotel and was then interviewed by police.
"It was a pretty stupid thing to do," Sergeant McKenzie said. "Kids were coming home from school. It could have been very ugly. All he needed was one gust of wind ... because without the wings, it's not stable. People think it was a bit of a laugh but it was very dangerous and we're not very happy with it."
Sergeant McKenzie said police had examined the Road Traffic Act but would likely charge the man under the Criminal Code. "I would assume there would be an offence under the Criminal Code that may fit the bill. I'm confident that he will be charged with something soon."
Canal closed after narrow boat hired for stag party became stuck in lock
A section of the Kennet and Avon Canal in Bath has been drained as work has begun to remove a boat which got stuck in a lock at the weekend.
The 69-foot boat became stuck near Widcombe at around 2pm on Saturday afternoon.
It is believed the boat had been hired for the weekend for a stag party but it is not known how many people were on board at the time
No one is thought to have been hurt in the incident. The canal boat was fully submerged in lock number ten at Widcombe. The only visible part of the vessel was the stern. Cans of drink and a life ring could be seen floating in the lock. The Canal and River Trust spokesman, Joe Coggins, said the trust was working on how to remove the boat from the canal lock.
He said: "We got the call about a boat that had tried to go through the lock. It has got stuck on the sill at the back of the lock. As the water has gone out of the lock the front of the boat has also gone down but the back has remained stuck on the sill tipping the boat over. Everyone got off the boat safely, which is the important thing in situations like this.
"We have now closed the canal. We have put pollution mats in the lock to soak up any diesel. We are now looking at the best way to get the boat upright, out of the water and get the canal open again. We are working with local boaters who have had their travel plans disrupted by this."
No one is thought to have been hurt in the incident. The canal boat was fully submerged in lock number ten at Widcombe. The only visible part of the vessel was the stern. Cans of drink and a life ring could be seen floating in the lock. The Canal and River Trust spokesman, Joe Coggins, said the trust was working on how to remove the boat from the canal lock.
He said: "We got the call about a boat that had tried to go through the lock. It has got stuck on the sill at the back of the lock. As the water has gone out of the lock the front of the boat has also gone down but the back has remained stuck on the sill tipping the boat over. Everyone got off the boat safely, which is the important thing in situations like this.
"We have now closed the canal. We have put pollution mats in the lock to soak up any diesel. We are now looking at the best way to get the boat upright, out of the water and get the canal open again. We are working with local boaters who have had their travel plans disrupted by this."
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