Sunday, December 07, 2014
Woman banned from bingo club for erratic driving is desperate to be allowed back
A 70-year-old woman from Alamogordo, New Mexico, is banned from her local bingo hall, and she’s been fighting it for nearly two years.
“I enjoy playing bingo, what is there else to do?” Evangeline Shelland said she’s played bingo at the Fraternal Order of Eagles club since 1985.
But in January 2013, a supervisor called her into the office. “It’s indefinite, I cannot attend Eagles bingo,” Shelland said.
She said management told her they’d received letters from people stating she’d been driving erratically in the parking lot.
Shelland denies the accusation, and claims she’s never been shown any evidence of wrong-doing. “I was hurt of course, you know, I was hurt and I’m still hurt, because I don’t think it’s right,” Shelland explained. Since the ban, she’s written letters in an attempt to get answers both to the club, and to the Attorney General’s Office. A representative from the Attorney General’s Office responded, saying “while we sympathise with your desire to play bingo, we do not have any jurisdiction over this issue and are unable to force them to allow you on their premises.”
Shelland said the supervisor that kicked her out no longer works at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and she doesn’t understand why nearly two years later, she’s still not allowed back in. A supervisor at the club wouldn’t comment, saying it’s a private matter. The only correspondence Shelland received from the Eagles is a letter dated June 2013, stating “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone” and the decision stands.
YouTube link.
The club is private, but they allow the public to play bingo. “What am I? Am I not public?” Shelland exclaimed. Since she’s retired, Shelland says bingo has been a social outlet. She feels her rights are being violated. “I mean we’re retirees, we don’t have nothing to do but go to the bingo,” Shelland said. “If somebody’s got something against me, tell me to my face.” Shelland maintains the club never showed her proof she did anything wrong. The club say there’s more to the story, but they refuse to elaborate.
Shelland denies the accusation, and claims she’s never been shown any evidence of wrong-doing. “I was hurt of course, you know, I was hurt and I’m still hurt, because I don’t think it’s right,” Shelland explained. Since the ban, she’s written letters in an attempt to get answers both to the club, and to the Attorney General’s Office. A representative from the Attorney General’s Office responded, saying “while we sympathise with your desire to play bingo, we do not have any jurisdiction over this issue and are unable to force them to allow you on their premises.”
Shelland said the supervisor that kicked her out no longer works at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and she doesn’t understand why nearly two years later, she’s still not allowed back in. A supervisor at the club wouldn’t comment, saying it’s a private matter. The only correspondence Shelland received from the Eagles is a letter dated June 2013, stating “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone” and the decision stands.
YouTube link.
The club is private, but they allow the public to play bingo. “What am I? Am I not public?” Shelland exclaimed. Since she’s retired, Shelland says bingo has been a social outlet. She feels her rights are being violated. “I mean we’re retirees, we don’t have nothing to do but go to the bingo,” Shelland said. “If somebody’s got something against me, tell me to my face.” Shelland maintains the club never showed her proof she did anything wrong. The club say there’s more to the story, but they refuse to elaborate.
Man accused of swapping furniture with his neighbours' while they were away
A man from Lakewood in Pierce County, Washington, is accused of drunkenly swapping furniture with his neighbours while they were away.
The man and his friend pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to residential burglary.
The Lakewood couple, who had gone away for the weekend, returned on Monday to their apartment and found a recliner and TV stand that didn’t belong to them, as well as empty beer bottles and pizza boxes.
Missing was their love seat, matching chair and ottoman, a cushion for a papasan-style chair, a king-sized mattress from the bedroom and a carpet-cleaning machine. Also missing were pots and pans, dishes, food and military-issued equipment. Tracking the thieves seemed pretty straightforward for police: One left behind a traffic citation stating his name and address; the other left a pizza receipt that had his information. Police spoke with both men, one of whom lived in a neighbouring apartment.
The first man said he’d entered his neighbour’s apartment because the door was open. He said the neighbour had mentioned the couple might be moving, so he figured they’d abandoned their furniture. He said he drunkenly decided to switch it with his own, calling his friend for help. He showed officers where the property was, and police found the living room set, four pillows, two floor lamps, two end tables, a TV stand and an inflatable couch with an air pump.
There also were three blankets, an iron, a large picture with an ornamental frame, a floor fan, the military equipment, a black stand with four shelves and a plastic container with three drawers and various items inside. Finally was the papasan chair, a rectangular wall mirror, an ironing board and a box of women’s shoes. The first man’s friend, whose name was on the pizza receipt, admitted ordering the food, but denied taking stuff from the apartment. Police found a cover to a crawl space in the apartment was completely off, leading them to believe that’s how the thieves got in.
Missing was their love seat, matching chair and ottoman, a cushion for a papasan-style chair, a king-sized mattress from the bedroom and a carpet-cleaning machine. Also missing were pots and pans, dishes, food and military-issued equipment. Tracking the thieves seemed pretty straightforward for police: One left behind a traffic citation stating his name and address; the other left a pizza receipt that had his information. Police spoke with both men, one of whom lived in a neighbouring apartment.
The first man said he’d entered his neighbour’s apartment because the door was open. He said the neighbour had mentioned the couple might be moving, so he figured they’d abandoned their furniture. He said he drunkenly decided to switch it with his own, calling his friend for help. He showed officers where the property was, and police found the living room set, four pillows, two floor lamps, two end tables, a TV stand and an inflatable couch with an air pump.
There also were three blankets, an iron, a large picture with an ornamental frame, a floor fan, the military equipment, a black stand with four shelves and a plastic container with three drawers and various items inside. Finally was the papasan chair, a rectangular wall mirror, an ironing board and a box of women’s shoes. The first man’s friend, whose name was on the pizza receipt, admitted ordering the food, but denied taking stuff from the apartment. Police found a cover to a crawl space in the apartment was completely off, leading them to believe that’s how the thieves got in.
RIP Frank and Louie, the world's oldest two-faced cat
The world's oldest cat with two faces has passed away at the age of 15.
Frank and Louie, a Guinness World Record holder, passed away at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuft's University in Grafton, Massachusetts, on Thursday morning, owner Martha "Marty" Stevens of Worcester said.
Ms. Stevens said Frank and Louie had been "a little down" recently and she was administering some fluids, but on Thursday morning it appeared the cat was getting sicker and she raced to Tufts. As she was pulling together a funding plan for the cat's medical care, the clinic called and told her Frank and Louie was critically ill.
Frank and Louie during happier times.
YouTube link.
When she arrived, the cat was euthanized after veterinarians told her he was probably suffering from a "really bad cancer." While she is devastated, Ms. Stevens said she knows the cat initially had no chance at all after being brought into the clinic to be put to sleep in September of 1999. Janus cats, feline with two faces, typically don't live more than a few days and are often rejected by their mothers.
Frank and Louie, a Guinness World Record holder, passed away at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuft's University in Grafton, Massachusetts, on Thursday morning, owner Martha "Marty" Stevens of Worcester said.
Ms. Stevens said Frank and Louie had been "a little down" recently and she was administering some fluids, but on Thursday morning it appeared the cat was getting sicker and she raced to Tufts. As she was pulling together a funding plan for the cat's medical care, the clinic called and told her Frank and Louie was critically ill.
Frank and Louie during happier times.
YouTube link.
When she arrived, the cat was euthanized after veterinarians told her he was probably suffering from a "really bad cancer." While she is devastated, Ms. Stevens said she knows the cat initially had no chance at all after being brought into the clinic to be put to sleep in September of 1999. Janus cats, feline with two faces, typically don't live more than a few days and are often rejected by their mothers.
Pirate map in a bottle found in Panama 22 years after it was dropped into the sea in Sweden
A pirate map in a bottle has been found in Panama - 22 years after it was posted in Sweden.
In 1992 brother and sister Erik and Lina Runestam, with their friend Christoffer Hogstrom dropped a letter in the sea in Hunnebostrand.
It was found in November by Leonard Pearson, who lives in Panama.
He said he used Google Translate to help him read the message and sent a reply, hoping it would reach the kids who wrote the message in a bottle. Erik said: "My memory is a bit blurry because I just turned six that summer. We wanted to make it look old school so we burned the edges of the paper and we wrote a message saying we were in desperate need of help, saying we were stranded on a desert island."
Erik remembers being excited about sending the message in the bottle. He added: "Our dad told us we should wait until the wind was blowing off land because it might go as far as England, so we were a bit excited about that. It would have travelled north of Denmark, through the English Channel to cross the Atlantic. Our hopes weren't that high to even get to England." Erik had lost touch with his childhood friend Christoffer - they hadn't spoken for 10 years.
So Erik was very surprised when Christoffer sent a photo of the letter with a reply from Panama. The letter, dated 6 November 2014, reads: "Bueno dias. I have found this message in a bottle at Playa del Dragos, Bocas del Toro. I used Google Translate, and it seems the message is in Swedish? I hope that the address is correct and that this letter reaches the kids who sent the message." Erik said: "I really want to tell Leonard that it has reached us and we're no longer kids but he didn't post a return address so we're trying to find him."
He said he used Google Translate to help him read the message and sent a reply, hoping it would reach the kids who wrote the message in a bottle. Erik said: "My memory is a bit blurry because I just turned six that summer. We wanted to make it look old school so we burned the edges of the paper and we wrote a message saying we were in desperate need of help, saying we were stranded on a desert island."
Erik remembers being excited about sending the message in the bottle. He added: "Our dad told us we should wait until the wind was blowing off land because it might go as far as England, so we were a bit excited about that. It would have travelled north of Denmark, through the English Channel to cross the Atlantic. Our hopes weren't that high to even get to England." Erik had lost touch with his childhood friend Christoffer - they hadn't spoken for 10 years.
So Erik was very surprised when Christoffer sent a photo of the letter with a reply from Panama. The letter, dated 6 November 2014, reads: "Bueno dias. I have found this message in a bottle at Playa del Dragos, Bocas del Toro. I used Google Translate, and it seems the message is in Swedish? I hope that the address is correct and that this letter reaches the kids who sent the message." Erik said: "I really want to tell Leonard that it has reached us and we're no longer kids but he didn't post a return address so we're trying to find him."
Serbian minister hit on head by giant ice chunk during interview
Serbia's energy minister escaped serious injury on Thursday when he was hit on the head by a heavy chunk of ice.
Aleksandar Antic was touring an eastern area hit by a recent cold snap when the block of ice fell from an overhead power line.
He was saved by his helmet, which was flung from his head and was revealed to have split open.
YouTube link.
Power was restored to some 5,000 people in the municipality of Majdanpek later in the day.
Aleksandar Antic was touring an eastern area hit by a recent cold snap when the block of ice fell from an overhead power line.
He was saved by his helmet, which was flung from his head and was revealed to have split open.
YouTube link.
Power was restored to some 5,000 people in the municipality of Majdanpek later in the day.
Wooden spoon rebel prepared to go to prison for her sins
The owner of a health food shop in Graz, Austria, who is refusing to comply with health and safety guidelines and stop using wooden spoons and chopping boards has said that she is willing to spend two and a half days in prison rather than pay a €550 (£435, £$675) fine.
Ushij Matzer (59), owner of the first and oldest organic shop in Austria, also cooks daily meals for 70 children who attend local kindergartens. She and her husband Rupert opened their shop in 1979. She has said that she only cooks lacto-vegetarian food (including dairy but no eggs), which contains less potentially harmful bacteria.
She also said that it was wrong that the Graz health department had classified her business as having a large kitchen, as it is only a two-person operation. She added that a fine of €550 was ridiculous, as she only makes €1,400 (£1,100, $1,720) a month. According to EU health legislation she should be using plastic utensils, as they are easier to clean and disinfect.
However, Matzer refuses to use plastics as she believes they cause health problems. “I can’t serve the children food which might contain traces of plastic,” she said. Josef Herk, the president of the Styrian Chamber of Commerce, said that local businesses increasingly face bureaucratic problems and that “with all due respect for health and safety… I would willingly spend two days with Mrs Matzer in prison as a symbolic gesture”.
Ushij Matzer (59), owner of the first and oldest organic shop in Austria, also cooks daily meals for 70 children who attend local kindergartens. She and her husband Rupert opened their shop in 1979. She has said that she only cooks lacto-vegetarian food (including dairy but no eggs), which contains less potentially harmful bacteria.
She also said that it was wrong that the Graz health department had classified her business as having a large kitchen, as it is only a two-person operation. She added that a fine of €550 was ridiculous, as she only makes €1,400 (£1,100, $1,720) a month. According to EU health legislation she should be using plastic utensils, as they are easier to clean and disinfect.
However, Matzer refuses to use plastics as she believes they cause health problems. “I can’t serve the children food which might contain traces of plastic,” she said. Josef Herk, the president of the Styrian Chamber of Commerce, said that local businesses increasingly face bureaucratic problems and that “with all due respect for health and safety… I would willingly spend two days with Mrs Matzer in prison as a symbolic gesture”.
Family surprised to find kangaroo swimming around in their backyard pool
A kangaroo has given a family a thrill in north Adelaide, Australia, taking an early morning dip in their new swimming pool.
Early on Tuesday morning the Hughes family found the roo swimming around with their two border collies.
YouTube link.
They tried for almost an hour to coax the animal out of the water before it eventually hopped out the pool.
Even then it decided to hang around in the backyard of their Evanston Park home for another few hours before bounding through the garage and out onto the street.
Early on Tuesday morning the Hughes family found the roo swimming around with their two border collies.
YouTube link.
They tried for almost an hour to coax the animal out of the water before it eventually hopped out the pool.
Even then it decided to hang around in the backyard of their Evanston Park home for another few hours before bounding through the garage and out onto the street.
Repentant burglar arrested after being caught returning laptop he'd stolen from wrong house
A repentant burglar who stole a laptop from the wrong house was caught after he returned it, a court has heard.
Gareth James, 41, broke into a house in Brecon, Powys, Wales, believing it was the home of someone who owed him £400.
But when he opened the laptop he stole, he saw the wrong name on the screen, Merthyr Crown Court was told. James, of Llanfaes, near Brecon, admitted burglary and was jailed for four months, suspended for a year. Prosecutor Rachel Knight told how James confessed to a barmaid at the Boar's Head pub about his crime.
Miss Knight said: "He told her he had done something stupid. He felt embarrassed he had gone into the wrong house." James told her he had gone into the house thinking that the occupier owed him £400 for building work but his only intention was to keep the laptop until he paid up.
But when he saw the wrong name he realised he had gone into the wrong house. He was caught and arrested when he went back to return the laptop, letting himself in through an open door. Sentencing him, Judge Richard Twomlow jailed James for four months suspended for 12 months with supervision and ordered him to complete the thinking skills programme.
But when he opened the laptop he stole, he saw the wrong name on the screen, Merthyr Crown Court was told. James, of Llanfaes, near Brecon, admitted burglary and was jailed for four months, suspended for a year. Prosecutor Rachel Knight told how James confessed to a barmaid at the Boar's Head pub about his crime.
Miss Knight said: "He told her he had done something stupid. He felt embarrassed he had gone into the wrong house." James told her he had gone into the house thinking that the occupier owed him £400 for building work but his only intention was to keep the laptop until he paid up.
But when he saw the wrong name he realised he had gone into the wrong house. He was caught and arrested when he went back to return the laptop, letting himself in through an open door. Sentencing him, Judge Richard Twomlow jailed James for four months suspended for 12 months with supervision and ordered him to complete the thinking skills programme.
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