Saturday, March 21, 2015
Mother and son arrested in $100,000 toothbrush theft scheme
A mother and son from Apopka, Florida, are the suspected ringleaders of an unusual theft scheme.
Police say Clint Curtiss, 44, and Mary Curtiss, 64, led a group they say is responsible for stealing more than $100,000 worth of toothbrushes in the past year. The thefts happened at Publix, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS stores throughout Central Florida.
Police say the ringleaders stole electronic toothbrushes worth more than $100 and would then visit other stores to buy replacement heads. They then altered receipts to make it appear they had also bought the toothbrushes. Employees would process the return and give the Curtisses their money back.
But investigators believe the toothbrush theft operation may be much larger, and the thefts started in 2011. Clint and Mary Curtiss both face charges of racketeering and conspiracy to engage in racketeering. They were arrested on Tuesday and remain in the Orange County Jail.
Police say Clint Curtiss, 44, and Mary Curtiss, 64, led a group they say is responsible for stealing more than $100,000 worth of toothbrushes in the past year. The thefts happened at Publix, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS stores throughout Central Florida.
Police say the ringleaders stole electronic toothbrushes worth more than $100 and would then visit other stores to buy replacement heads. They then altered receipts to make it appear they had also bought the toothbrushes. Employees would process the return and give the Curtisses their money back.
But investigators believe the toothbrush theft operation may be much larger, and the thefts started in 2011. Clint and Mary Curtiss both face charges of racketeering and conspiracy to engage in racketeering. They were arrested on Tuesday and remain in the Orange County Jail.
Outrage over restaurant sign featuring bull with extra-large genitalia
A new sign at Barista’s Restaurant in Hurricane, Utah, featuring a bull’s extra-large male anatomy, is sparking outrage within the community.
The sign, which was erected last Saturday across the street from Hurricane High School, is prompting fierce backlash from angry residents who are calling the sign offensive and inappropriate, saying the depiction of the bull’s genitalia is blatantly overdone.
“It looks terrible,” Hurricane City resident Denise Mackelprang said. “I could see the bull, but not the details of the sex. It’s R-rated to me, especially with young school kids seeing it and talking about it.” Several residents said they think the bull would look good if it were anatomically correct and the dimensions and proportions were appropriate throughout – more bull and less genitalia. “The giant bull is awesome,” Hurricane City resident Angel Janell said.
“The giant, weird testicles and penis are not even anatomically correct … that is my issue.” Barista’s Restaurant owner Stephen Ward said the real issue Hurricane City residents are having is with him and not the sign. “If I put Pinocchio up there, its nose would be too big,” Ward said. “It’s me. It’s me. It’s not the bull. It’s not the restaurant. They don’t like me. But you know what, where does it say in the world, in the Constitution, that they can prevent me having the right to do legal commerce in the United States?
“That is my God-given right.” Ward said he went through all the proper steps to have the sign approved by Hurricane City before having the sign installed. Hurricane City Planning Director Toni Foran confirmed the sign was approved by the city before it went up. “We saw a depiction on a piece of paper probably about 3 inches tall that, you know, may not have had exactly the same proportions,” Foran said. Many Hurricane residents are now planning to attend the next Hurricane City Council meeting to express their concerns about the sign.
“It looks terrible,” Hurricane City resident Denise Mackelprang said. “I could see the bull, but not the details of the sex. It’s R-rated to me, especially with young school kids seeing it and talking about it.” Several residents said they think the bull would look good if it were anatomically correct and the dimensions and proportions were appropriate throughout – more bull and less genitalia. “The giant bull is awesome,” Hurricane City resident Angel Janell said.
“The giant, weird testicles and penis are not even anatomically correct … that is my issue.” Barista’s Restaurant owner Stephen Ward said the real issue Hurricane City residents are having is with him and not the sign. “If I put Pinocchio up there, its nose would be too big,” Ward said. “It’s me. It’s me. It’s not the bull. It’s not the restaurant. They don’t like me. But you know what, where does it say in the world, in the Constitution, that they can prevent me having the right to do legal commerce in the United States?
“That is my God-given right.” Ward said he went through all the proper steps to have the sign approved by Hurricane City before having the sign installed. Hurricane City Planning Director Toni Foran confirmed the sign was approved by the city before it went up. “We saw a depiction on a piece of paper probably about 3 inches tall that, you know, may not have had exactly the same proportions,” Foran said. Many Hurricane residents are now planning to attend the next Hurricane City Council meeting to express their concerns about the sign.
Police officers helped rescue skunk with head stuck in dog toy
When a skunk got into a sticky situation on Monday, two police officers from Plover, Wisconsin, went to the rescue.
Combined, Officer Nate Shulfer and Officer Andrew Hopfensperger have worked in law enforcement for more than 10 years.
Over that time, they say they've seen a lot of things, but never imagined they'd help rescue a skunk with a dog's toy stuck on it's head. The officers say they received a call reporting a skunk walking in circles in Plover. The officers say they found the skunk in a nearby parking lot.
The officers did not hesitate in helping the animal. "I figured I'd try to grab my Big Easy, it's for opening cars, and try to pop the ball off," said Shulfer. "But it was unsuccessful." After several failed attempts, the officers called the professionals. Absolute Wildlife Control in Plover gave the officers a live trap.
Before long, the skunk was captured. The owner of Absolute Wildlife Control says wildlife experts took over once the police captured the skunk. The owner said it took the experts a very long time to remove the dog toy, but the skunk was very healthy and released back into the wild.
With news video.
Over that time, they say they've seen a lot of things, but never imagined they'd help rescue a skunk with a dog's toy stuck on it's head. The officers say they received a call reporting a skunk walking in circles in Plover. The officers say they found the skunk in a nearby parking lot.
The officers did not hesitate in helping the animal. "I figured I'd try to grab my Big Easy, it's for opening cars, and try to pop the ball off," said Shulfer. "But it was unsuccessful." After several failed attempts, the officers called the professionals. Absolute Wildlife Control in Plover gave the officers a live trap.
Before long, the skunk was captured. The owner of Absolute Wildlife Control says wildlife experts took over once the police captured the skunk. The owner said it took the experts a very long time to remove the dog toy, but the skunk was very healthy and released back into the wild.
With news video.
Fire extinguisher factory engulfed by flames
A building on Chicago's Southwest Side that contains a fire extinguisher manufacturing business went up in flames just after 9:30pm on Thursday and was quickly engulfed.
A portion of the building collapsed under the intense flames. The fire ultimately elevated to three alarms, requiring the help of 156 firefighters and 26 pieces of equipment.
A HazMat response was called because of the materials used to make fire extinguishers. A fire official said getting enough water to the structure proved difficult.
"We had one engine feed another engine to another engine until we got water on the fire," said 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner Charles Stewart III. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A portion of the building collapsed under the intense flames. The fire ultimately elevated to three alarms, requiring the help of 156 firefighters and 26 pieces of equipment.
A HazMat response was called because of the materials used to make fire extinguishers. A fire official said getting enough water to the structure proved difficult.
"We had one engine feed another engine to another engine until we got water on the fire," said 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner Charles Stewart III. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Man took fire vehicle to avoid row with girlfriend
A bricklayer in New Zealand took a council fire vehicle on a 400-kilometre (250 mile) joyride as a way to avoid a confrontation with his partner.
Gary Yaxley and his girlfriend were having "a very emotional and vicious domestic" at a rural property at Patoka, near Napier, on October 28, Napier District Court was told on Wednesday.
Yaxley, 27, pleaded guilty to dishonestly taking a Hastings District Council fire utility vehicle, valued at $20,000 and painted in rural fire colours with lights on the top. The vehicle was kept in a shed on the property. Its keys were kept in a location known to locals. His lawyer, Phil Jensen, said he took it to get away from the situation at home.
Mr Jensen told Judge Tony Adeane Yaxley his client took the vehicle because he had been taught the best way to deal with a domestic argument was to "get out when you can". He returned it the next day, used but unharmed. "She [his girlfriend] wanted him to pay for the petrol. He said he would but he didn't, so she's gone and had him charged so she can get the $100 reparation," Jensen said.
Yaxley had previously attended a domestic abuse course that advised him to get away from such situations. "Whilst it wasn't the most appropriate way to do it, that was his motivation." Judge Tony Adeane sentenced Yaxley to 80 hours' community work, ordered him to undertake a course on living skills, and to pay $100 reparation.
Yaxley, 27, pleaded guilty to dishonestly taking a Hastings District Council fire utility vehicle, valued at $20,000 and painted in rural fire colours with lights on the top. The vehicle was kept in a shed on the property. Its keys were kept in a location known to locals. His lawyer, Phil Jensen, said he took it to get away from the situation at home.
Mr Jensen told Judge Tony Adeane Yaxley his client took the vehicle because he had been taught the best way to deal with a domestic argument was to "get out when you can". He returned it the next day, used but unharmed. "She [his girlfriend] wanted him to pay for the petrol. He said he would but he didn't, so she's gone and had him charged so she can get the $100 reparation," Jensen said.
Yaxley had previously attended a domestic abuse course that advised him to get away from such situations. "Whilst it wasn't the most appropriate way to do it, that was his motivation." Judge Tony Adeane sentenced Yaxley to 80 hours' community work, ordered him to undertake a course on living skills, and to pay $100 reparation.
Cheating in exams taken to new levels in India
Cheating in exams is fairly common in the Indian state of Bihar, but new images show just how large-scale and blatant the practice is.
Many students smuggled in textbooks and notes into the examination centres despite tight security - and parents and friends scaled the walls of test centres to pass on answers to students during the current secondary school examinations.
The examinations, held by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), began on Tuesday and are scheduled to go on until 24 March.
YouTube link.
Officials say more than 1.4 million students are taking the tests. Most of the incidents of cheating this year have been reported from Saharsa, Chhapra, Vaishali and Hajipur districts.
Many students smuggled in textbooks and notes into the examination centres despite tight security - and parents and friends scaled the walls of test centres to pass on answers to students during the current secondary school examinations.
The examinations, held by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), began on Tuesday and are scheduled to go on until 24 March.
YouTube link.
Officials say more than 1.4 million students are taking the tests. Most of the incidents of cheating this year have been reported from Saharsa, Chhapra, Vaishali and Hajipur districts.
Giant prehistoric egg seized at Italian airport
An Italian man was caught trying to send a giant prehistoric egg worth more than €90,000 to the United States, Italian customs officials said on Thursday.
Authorities at Bergamo Airport in the country's northeast discovered the egg, which measured 50 centimetres in length and 75 centimetre in diameter, in a parcel destined for Los Angeles.
The egg is thought to be from a so-called "bird elephant", or "Aepyornis Maximus", an emu-like creature weighing half a tonne. The bird lived on the island of Madagascar during the Pleistocene era, which ended 12,000 years ago.
The sender said that his wife was Madagascan, and he had received the egg as a wedding gift. "You can find eggs like this everywhere (in Madagascar) for a few euros. My wife collects them, her family has a few of them," he said. The man could face a jail sentence and €5,000 fine for trying to export a cultural item without permission.
Authorities at Bergamo Airport in the country's northeast discovered the egg, which measured 50 centimetres in length and 75 centimetre in diameter, in a parcel destined for Los Angeles.
The egg is thought to be from a so-called "bird elephant", or "Aepyornis Maximus", an emu-like creature weighing half a tonne. The bird lived on the island of Madagascar during the Pleistocene era, which ended 12,000 years ago.
The sender said that his wife was Madagascan, and he had received the egg as a wedding gift. "You can find eggs like this everywhere (in Madagascar) for a few euros. My wife collects them, her family has a few of them," he said. The man could face a jail sentence and €5,000 fine for trying to export a cultural item without permission.
Council defends video of 'pooing' dog owner
A council in Northern Ireland has defended using a video of a man apparently defecating in the street as part of an official campaign against dog fouling.
Newry and Mourne District Council produced the advert featuring an actor dropping his trousers at the entrance to Newry City Hall.
In a statement, the council said it accepted the video uses shock tactics. But described it as "an innovative approach" to raising the serious public health issue of dog fouling. The footage is accompanied by a song with the lyrics: "Who let the dogs crap?" It ends with a message to dog owners that said:" Stop! You wouldn't crap in the street. Why let your dog crap on Newry and Mourne?"
In a statement, a council spokesperson said: "Over the years Newry and Mourne District Council has adopted different educational and enforcement campaigns and despite this, dog fouling remains a major issue amongst elected members and the general public. The council took the decision to release this video as an innovative approach to raising the issue of dog fouling and the need for responsible dog ownership.
YouTube link. Original Facebook video.
"It is accepted that this video is using shock tactics to address this serious public health issue but the council believes this is a means to an end." The spokesperson said the overall response to the video so far was "very positive". They said the council was "being commended for adopting such a novel approach".
In a statement, the council said it accepted the video uses shock tactics. But described it as "an innovative approach" to raising the serious public health issue of dog fouling. The footage is accompanied by a song with the lyrics: "Who let the dogs crap?" It ends with a message to dog owners that said:" Stop! You wouldn't crap in the street. Why let your dog crap on Newry and Mourne?"
In a statement, a council spokesperson said: "Over the years Newry and Mourne District Council has adopted different educational and enforcement campaigns and despite this, dog fouling remains a major issue amongst elected members and the general public. The council took the decision to release this video as an innovative approach to raising the issue of dog fouling and the need for responsible dog ownership.
YouTube link. Original Facebook video.
"It is accepted that this video is using shock tactics to address this serious public health issue but the council believes this is a means to an end." The spokesperson said the overall response to the video so far was "very positive". They said the council was "being commended for adopting such a novel approach".
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