Man whose vintage Les Paul was stolen finds same guitar on auction site 8 years later

Man’s stolen guitar shows up on eBay 8 years later

MILL VALLEY, Calif. – The owner of a vintage Gibson Les Paul Special stolen eight years ago has found the guitar after it finally resurfaced on eBay.
Doug Duncan never gave up looking for the 1957 guitar after it was stolen in rural Minnesota. The 57-year-old musician … Read more >>.

Ga. man files court petition to allow him to change his name to Saint Jody Almighty Bedrock

Ga. man wants to change his name to a Saint

MACON, Ga. – Shelby Marwan Heggs of Macon admits he’s been a sinner, but hopes his past won’t keep a judge from allowing him to become a Saint. Heggs, who has convictions for drunken driving and marijuana possession, has filed a court petition that would allow …. Original article  : Ga. man files court petition to allow him to change his name to Saint Jody Almighty Bedrock.

Doctors shot two rounds of laser blasts to remove worm from Iowa man’s eye

Doctors use lasers to remove worm from man’s eye

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Doctors rushed a Cedar Rapids man into a treatment room after they found a worm had taken up residence in his eye. John Matthews said he sought medical help after he noticed two spots obscuring his vision in his left eye. Several specialists …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Doctors shot two rounds of laser blasts to remove worm from Iowa man’s eye.

Firefighters say big-screen television left outside apartment complex likely caused blaze

Firefighters: TV left in sun likely caused blaze

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A big-screen television left outside in the sun this week was blamed for a fire that caused minor damage to a Springfield apartment. Assistant Fire Chief Randy Villines called the blaze “bizarre” and said mirrors inside the projection TV likely bounced and concentrated sunlight enough … Original source on Gaea Times at : Firefighters say big-screen television left outside apartment complex likely caused blaze.

South Dakota businessman wants refunds for people ticketed after caught on red light cameras

South Dakota man wants red light camera refunds

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A Sioux Falls businessman wants the city and Redflex Traffic Systems to pay back the money to people ticketed after getting caught on their red light traffic cameras.
The Argus Leader reports that I.L. Wiedermann, who sued the city over the automated system’s constitutionality in …. Source article  : South Dakota businessman wants refunds for people ticketed after caught on red light cameras.

Police say Oregon woman robbed bank, then picked up daughters at elementary school

Police: Oregon woman robbed bank, picked up kids

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Police in southern Oregon say a woman charged with robbing a bank in Grants Pass stopped to pick up her children at school on the way home.
The Grants Pass Daily Courier reported a woman walked into an Umpqua Bank branch shortly after 2 p.m. …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

NY men accused of trying to steal cooking grease from NJ restaurant

Men accused of trying to steal cooking oil in NJ

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. – Two New York residents are accused of trying to steal used cooking oil from a New Jersey restaurant. Police said they caught Youngil Kim and Byung Ho Choi sucking 700 gallons of grease from two storage tanks behind a Five Guys Burgers … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : NY men accused of trying to steal cooking grease from NJ restaurant.

What a waste: Pa. man sues township claiming free speech rights were violated over sewer sign

Lawsuit: Pa. township’s vulgarity rule is garbage

PALMYRA, Pa. – A central Pennsylvania man accused of violating a township ordinance on vulgarity says the rule is a load of garbage.
David Kliss has filed a federal lawsuit against East Hanover Township claiming officials trampled his First Amendment rights by issuing him a zoning violation over signs he …. Read the original article  : here.

Cambridge, Mass., parking tickets do more than impose fines, they suggest yoga poses

Parking ticket? Try yoga bends, Mass. city says

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Drivers annoyed by parking tickets in Cambridge, Mass., are getting some calming advice from city officials – try yoga.
The city’s parking tickets include instructions on the reverse on how to bend into some simple yoga positions.
The city, which is home to Harvard and MIT, printed …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Boulder to pay $10,000 to man arrested for addressing City Council in his boxer shorts

Boulder to pay $10,000 to man arrested in skivvies

BOULDER, Colo. – The lawyer for a Colorado man who was arrested for addressing the Boulder City Council in his boxer shorts said the city has agreed to pay $10,000 to settle his civil rights claim.
Attorney David Lane said Seth Brigham accepted the deal Tuesday. In exchange …. Original article  : Boulder to pay $10,000 to man arrested for addressing City Council in his boxer shorts.

Phone glitch results in Kansas residents activating tornado sirens by calling wrong number

Kansas residents activate tornado sirens by phone

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Kansas authorities say a phone glitch is to blame for the mistaken sounding of tornado sirens in recent weeks, causing confusion and even panic among some residents in and around Hutchinson. At first, officials suspected there was water on the phone lines or perhaps insects. But …. Source article  : Phone glitch results in Kansas residents activating tornado sirens by calling wrong number.

Shivering horses get indoor exercise place in Wyoming town; no heat but protection from wind

Shivering Wyoming horses get indoor exercise place

BAIROIL, Wyo. – Humans aren’t the only ones who can use an indoor place to exercise during Wyoming’s harsh winters.
The town of Bairoil (BAYR’-oil) has an 80- by 120-foot barn where people can give their horses a workout in bad weather.
The Rawlins Daily Times reports the barn has no …. Original source  : Shivering horses get indoor exercise place in Wyoming town; no heat but protection from wind.

Authorities say man urinates on the side of Mich. police station, then walks in

Cops: Man urinates on police station, walks in

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Authorities said a man urinated on the side of the Royal Oak police station, and then walked inside one afternoon last week. Lt. Gordon Young told the Detroit Free Press that “after urinating, the suspect entered the station in an attempt to file a … Read : Authorities say man urinates on the side of Mich. police station, then walks in.

Canadian goose shooting interrupts ‘preach at the beach’ Mass in Massachusetts

Goose shooting interrupts ‘preach at beach’ Mass

HINGHAM, Mass. – The rector of a Hingham church said parishioners trying to hold a post-Mass picnic at the town’s beach were interrupted by a Canadian goose being shot in front of them. The Rev. Timothy Schenk of the St. John the Evangelist Episcopal church said that the church …. Read the original article  : Canadian goose shooting interrupts ‘preach at the beach’ Mass in Massachusetts.

NC prison officials say inmate tried to smuggle flip-style cell phone in his rectum

Guards find cell phone inside NC inmate’s rectum

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina prison officials said an inmate from Raleigh tried to smuggle a cell phone into prison in his rear end. Court documents obtained by The News & Observer of Raleigh show that 25-year-old Eric Chambers was charged after setting off metal detectors at Central …. Original source  : NC prison officials say inmate tried to smuggle flip-style cell phone in his rectum.

Elderly Kentucky woman survives after her house explodes while trying to light gas stove

Elderly Ky. woman survives after house explodes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Fire officials say an elderly woman was treated and released from the hospital with minor injuries after her house exploded while she was lighting her gas stove.
Officials said a corroded gas line had caused natural gas to leak into the house. When the woman who lived …. Original source  : Elderly Kentucky woman survives after her house explodes while trying to light gas stove.

ND Supreme Court says bank’s $12K in overdraft fees reasonable; Customer wrote 842 bad checks

ND Supreme Court upholds $12K bank overdraft fee

BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota’s Supreme Court said a bank acted reasonably when it charged a customer almost $12,000 in overdraft fees. Lynette Cavett of Enderlin said the fees were “unconscionable.” But a judge ruled the Quality Bank of Fingal disclosed the fees and Cavett paid them for … Read : ND Supreme Court says bank’s $12K in overdraft fees reasonable; Customer wrote 842 bad checks.

Man arrested after picking a fight with his pet parrot on a Michigan street

Man arrested after picking fight with pet parrot

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A 49-year-old Jackson man has been arrested in Ann Arbor following a fight with the pet parrot carried in his backpack. Police told Annarbor.com for a story Wednesday that witnesses reported the colorful bird was shaken so violently that its feathers were scattered.
Three 911 …. Source  : Man arrested after picking a fight with his pet parrot on a Michigan street.

Moroa boa missing since August found by surprised driver who drove over the reptile

Missing Maroa boa found by surprised driver

MAROA, Ill. – An out-of-its-element boa constrictor missing in central Illinois’ corn and soybean country since late last month has been found. Unfortunately for the snake, it was found by a surprised driver who accidentally drove over the reptile.
Maroa police officer Bill Koonce told the Decatur Herald & Review …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Pittsburgh-area man pleads guilty to collecting dead dad’s benefits, $341,000, since 1985

Pa. man collected dead dad’s benefits since 1985

PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh-area man collected more than $341,000 in federal railroad pension benefits on behalf of his father, even though his father died in 1985. Sixty-eight-year-old Richard Burns, of West Mifflin, will be sentenced Jan. 21 after pleading guilty Tuesday to theft of government funds.
Burns’ father was … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pittsburgh-area man pleads guilty to collecting dead dad’s benefits, $341,000, since 1985.

A real page-turner: Historian stops UK traffic after book-laden truck overturns on highway

UK book halts traffic after truck turns over

LONDON – Andrew Marr’s latest book is, literally, stopping traffic.
Boxes containing 15 British tons (16.8 U.S. tons) worth of the journalist’s history volume “The Making of Modern Britain” have been strewn across a busy English road after an accident.
Thames Valley Police said Wednesday that a truck carrying books …. Source article  : A real page-turner: Historian stops UK traffic after book-laden truck overturns on highway.

Ore. bank robbery suspect claim posted on Facebook, brother pleads for him to surrender

Ore. bank robbery suspect claim posted on Facebook

PORTLAND, Ore. – An Oregon bank robbery suspect the FBI has nicknamed the “Where’s Waldo Bandit” has popped up on Facebook to claim responsibility for the crime.
The Oregonian reported one of the FBI’s bank surveillance photos of the suspect in the Tuesday robbery in Tualatin appeared on the …. Read the original article  : Ore. bank robbery suspect claim posted on Facebook, brother pleads for him to surrender.

Fla. man who sued McDonald’s after claiming burns from exploding chicken sandwich settles

Fla. man settles McDonald’s suit over hot sandwich

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Florida man has settled his $2 million lawsuit against a McDonald’s restaurant in southwest Virginia that allegedly served him a chicken sandwich that exploded with hot grease. Terms of the settlement entered Friday in Alexandria were not disclosed.
The long-running case began in 2005 when … Read : Fla. man who sued McDonald’s after claiming burns from exploding chicken sandwich settles.

Peru grave robbers hold skull of candidate’s late father hostage, demand he drop out of race

Peru thieves nab mayor’s dad’s skull ahead of vote

LIMA, Peru – Foes of a small-town mayor in Peru said they have dug up the skull of his late father and won’t give it back unless he drops out of next month’s election. Police in San Cristobal said unknown thieves unearthed the remains of Juan Vizcarra … Read : Peru grave robbers hold skull of candidate’s late father hostage, demand he drop out of race.

Man gets frightening look at frontier justice, passing out with head in museum display noose

Man survives passing out with head in museum noose

DODGE CITY, Kan. – An Arkansas man got a frightening look at frontier justice when he passed out with a display noose around his head during a trip to a Wild West-themed Kansas museum, officials said.
Police in Dodge City, Kan., have declined to release the name of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Man gets frightening look at frontier justice, passing out with head in museum display noose.

Walla Walla city attorney says toy store purple octopus mural violates sign code

Is Walla Walla purple octopus mural art or a sign?

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The city of Walla Walla doesn’t like the mural of a giant purple octopus that was painted on the front of a downtown toy store. City Attorney Tim Donaldson said it violates the city’s sign code. He’s recommending that the city council … Original source on Gaea Times at : Walla Walla city attorney says toy store purple octopus mural violates sign code.

NH woman rescued from swamp says her history of sleepwalking may explain ordeal

NH woman rescued from swamp says she sleepwalks

MOULTONBOROUGH, N.H. – A 60-year-old New Hampshire woman who was found by police in a heavily wooded swamp on Tuesday said her ordeal began over the weekend and said her history of sleepwalking might explain it.
Ellin Vincenti of Tuftonboro told WMUR-TV on Wednesday that she remembers saying goodnight … Read more >>.

Nebraska’s ‘toilet-paper bandit’ pleads guilty, faces 1-to-20 years in prison

Nebraska’s ‘toilet-paper bandit’ pleads guilty

LINCOLN, Neb. – The so-called “toilet-paper bandit” has pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in Lincoln. Sentencing is set Oct. 28 for 29-year-old Joshua F. Nelson, of Lincoln. Nelson made his plea Wednesday in Lincoln County District Court after an agreement with prosecutors, who had lowered the charge and dismissed a weapons …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Nebraska’s ‘toilet-paper bandit’ pleads guilty, faces 1-to-20 years in prison.

Here, kitty kitty: Stubborn feline perched in Michigan tree for week and a half

Out on a limb: Cat stuck in tree for about 10 days

TEXAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Talk about a stubborn kitty. A cat has been sitting in a tree outside the home of a Kalamazoo County couple for the past week and a half. Pam Cameron said the feline “meows constantly” from its perch in the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Montana woman fends off backyard bear attack with zucchini from garden

Montana woman fends off bear attack with zucchini

FRENCHTOWN, Mont. – A Montana woman fended off a charging bear on her back porch early Thursday by using the first weapon she could reach – a piece of zucchini.
The woman was stirred after midnight by a tussle in the backyard of her home near Frenchtown, Missoula County … Read more >>>.

Montana woman fends off backyard bear attack with a zucchini from her garden

Mont. woman fends off bear attack with zucchini

FRENCHTOWN, Mont. – Police say a Montana woman used an unlikely weapon to fend off a charging bear – a zucchini.
Missoula County Sheriff’s Lt. Rich Maricelli says a 200-pound black bear attacked the woman’s 12-year-old collie just after midnight Wednesday on the back porch of her home about …. Read the original article  : here.

Maine science teacher seeking home for surplus exotic animals from Smithsonian’s collection

Maine teacher seeks home for Smithsonian creatures

BANGOR, Maine – A Maine teacher who received a bunch of exotic stuffed animals from the Smithsonian Institution is looking for a permanent home for the creatures.
The collection, including a pair of lions and two dozen other creatures, was donated to Nokomis Regional High School science teacher Howard Whitten … Read more : Maine science teacher seeking home for surplus exotic animals from Smithsonian’s collection.

114th Birthday Celebrated by the Oldest Man in the World

MINNESOTA (GaeaTimes.com) — Walter Breuning, born on September 21, 1896 claims to be the oldest man of the world. Today he turns 114 year old and is celebrating the day with great enthusiasm.
The so-called oldest man was born in Melrose (Minnesota). He took service in Great Northern Railway in 1913 and thereafter moved to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 114th Birthday Celebrated by the Oldest Man in the World.

Ohio robber hits church volunteer with pepper spray, steals $2K in bingo money

Ohio robber uses pepper spray, steals bingo cash

BATAVIA, Ohio – Police said a man blasted pepper spray into the face of a 66-year-old church volunteer in southwest Ohio, then stole $2,000 in bingo proceeds. Police said the man was leaving St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church with funds raised through bingo games when he was accosted …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ohio robber hits church volunteer with pepper spray, steals $2K in bingo money.

Aye Carumba! Bart Simpson statue stolen from outside Massachusetts restaurant

Aye Carumba! Mass. Bart Simpson statue stolen

HOLBROOK, Mass. – Aye Carumba! A Bart Simpson statue has been stolen from outside of a Massachusetts restaurant.
The three-foot tall, 75-pound ceramic statue sitting on a park bench outside of Leggos in Holbrook disappeared sometime Sunday, and management is having a cow.
Owner Astrit Gorezi says the statue, which was … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Aye Carumba! Bart Simpson statue stolen from outside Massachusetts restaurant.

Ga. official: Make street names less fun to stop theft; Green Acres, Mary Jane Lane popular

GA leader: Boring names will stop rural sign theft

DARIEN, Ga. – A rural Georgia county is losing about 550 street signs a years to thieves and a commissioner says he has a solution: Make the names boring.
McIntosh County Commissioner Mark Douglas serves a rural county about 60 miles south of Savannah. He says signs marking … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Ga. official: Make street names less fun to stop theft; Green Acres, Mary Jane Lane popular.

Paint misbehavin’: Wyoming man tries to avoid Taser by dousing himself with paint

Wyoming man douses himself in paint to avoid Taser

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A Cheyenne man who doused himself with white latex paint in hopes of avoiding a police Taser was hit with the stun gun anyway.
The Taser chase happened Sept. 16, when Cheyenne police went to Brian Mattert’s house on a domestic violence call. The Wyoming …. Original article  : Paint misbehavin’: Wyoming man tries to avoid Taser by dousing himself with paint.

Handcuffed woman swipes Texas patrol car and leads police officers on 100 mph highway chase

Cuffed woman steals cruiser, leads 100 mph chase

PORT ARTHUR, Texas – A handcuffed woman was accused of swiping a Port Arthur police car and leading officers on a chase at speeds topping 100 mph. Police Chief Mark Blanton told KFDM-TV that nobody was injured in Friday’s chase involving a woman arrested on a trespassing charge …. Read the original article  : here.

Couple moves Cleveland wedding saying plans dampened by event’s manmade waterfall

Couple: Wedding threatened by Ohio event waterfall

CLEVELAND – Some couples honeymoon near waterfalls. One couple complains their wedding was nearly ruined by a manmade waterfall in Cleveland. Larry Graham and Amy Lauer said they got a permit 10 months ago to hold their ceremony Saturday in a park south of downtown. But the bride- and … Original article on : Couple moves Cleveland wedding saying plans dampened by event’s manmade waterfall.

Clerk Pa. adult book store foils robbery, tells suspects with toy ‘get a real gun’

Adult store clerk foils women ‘armed’ with toy gun

DUNCANSVILLE, Pa. – Police said two women who tried to rob a central Pennsylvania adult book store with a toy gun didn’t fool a clerk, who told them to “get a real gun.” Authorities said 28-year-old Shannon Cheripka, of Glasgow, and 26-year-old Angela Crook, of Coalport, attempted …. Source article  : Clerk Pa. adult book store foils robbery, tells suspects with toy ‘get a real gun’.

Oakland commuter trains briefly halted after poodle gets off car, disappears down tunnel

Runaway poodle disrupts Oakland commuter trains

OAKLAND, Calif. – A runaway poodle is to blame for a morning delay on some commuter trains in Oakland.
Bay Area Rapid Transit agency spokesman Linton Johnson said traffic heading in and out of the Lake Merritt station was halted for five to 10 minutes Thursday morning when the pooch got …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Oakland commuter trains briefly halted after poodle gets off car, disappears down tunnel.

Here, kitty kitty: Stubborn feline perched in Michigan tree for week finally comes down

Out on a limb: Cat stuck in tree finally descends

TEXAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Talk about a stubborn kitty. A cat perched in a tree outside the home of a Kalamazoo County couple finally came down Thursday after cooling its, um, paws for the past week and a half. The feline was about 50 to 60 …. Read the original article  : Here, kitty kitty: Stubborn feline perched in Michigan tree for week finally comes down.

Connecticut man charged with stealing town park flag, hoisting stuffed hippo toy in its place

Police: Conn. man stole flag, put up hippo toy

WATERBURY, Conn. – Call it the case of the flying hippo.
Connecticut police say a man stole an American flag from Waterbury’s Town Plot Park and hoisted a stuffed hippopotamus toy in its place.
Twenty-three-year-old Jeffrey Kovic, of Waterbury, was arrested and is being held in lieu of $100,000 …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Connecticut man charged with stealing town park flag, hoisting stuffed hippo toy in its place.