June 15, 2017

Man Struck By Lightning While Sitting At Desk

Rochester, NY (AP) A New York business owner says he’s ``just happy to be alive’’ after being struck by lightning while sitting at his office desk.

Nick Gemayel tells WHEC-TV in Rochester he was inside his auto repair shop on Monday when severe thunderstorms rolled across the area. He says he saw a bright flash of light from the office’s light switch, heard a loud crack and then the lights went out. Gemayel says it was a few minutes before he realized his left hand was blistering from getting hit by the bolt that arced through the light switch. Gemayel was treated at a hospital and released.

Family Held Prisoner By Bobcat Inside Their house

Washington Township, NJ (AP) Police in New Jersey say a bobcat cornered a mother and her two young children in the bathroom of their home, prompting a police response.

The Morris County family called police Wednesday evening to report that a bobcat had somehow gotten into their home.

NJ.com reports officers opened all of the doors and windows in the house to coax the bobcat into leaving.

Washington Township police Sgt. Robert Oranchak says the bobcat left after about an hour.

He says it didn’t appear to be sick or rabid. The animal did not make any contact with the family or the officers.

Driver Flees Crash With Hydrant Stuck To Car

Parsippany, NJ (AP) New Jersey authorities say a driver fled the scene of an accident with a fire hydrant stuck to his car and then tossed it in the trash.

Parsippany police say the motorist drove off after his car struck the hydrant and a mailbox Tuesday. Police followed a trail of water from the scene to a township home, where they found the car and the hydrant. The driver was found in a nearby diner.

Police say 27-year-old township resident Domingo Moreno has been charged with criminal mischief, hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence, and was turned over to federal immigration officials. It wasn’t known Saturday if he’s retained an attorney. Police are investigating the cause and other details of the crash.

Girl Uses ‘Hunger Games’ To Rescue Friend With Leg Wound

Gloucester, MA (AP) A 12-year-old Massachusetts girl used what she learned about creating a tourniquet from ``The Hunger Games’’ to rescue her friend.

The Gloucester Times reports Mackenzie George was playing in a Gloucester marsh with friends June 3 when she slipped and cut her calf open. Megan Gething jumped in to action and tied a pair of shorts around her friend’s leg to slow blood loss, using a tip she learned from the young adult science fiction novels. Megan says all that was going through her mind was helping ``Kenzie.’’

The injured girl was transported to a hospital, where doctors were able to rule out muscle or nerve damage following surgery.

Mackenzie’s father says doctors expect a complete recovery in a month. The Georges say they’re thankful for Megan’s help.

Goose Poop Leaves 17 With Crappy Disneyland Day

Anaheim, CA (AP) Seventeen people had a crappy day at the Happiest Place on Earth.

They enjoyed the Disneyland just fine. But they were hit by a mass of droppings from a flock of geese.

It was dramatic enough to bring police and firefighters to the Magic Kingdom.

The Anaheim Police Department says they answered a call that guests had been hit with fecal matter, but determined it was from a flock of geese that flew over and no crime occurred. Eleven adults and six kids were hit, but none were hurt.
Police say all guests are now healthy and happy.

Man Ordered To Remove Clamshells Because Of Stench

Tiverton, RI (AP) A Rhode Island man has been given until the end of the week to get rid of the unwashed clamshells he used to pave a road that neighbors complained give off a sickening stench.

The Tiverton man’s neighbors say the smell has been making them ill for about two weeks. The putrid smell is caused by the meat on the shells decomposing. Video shows maggots crawling all over the road.

A Tiverton police officer hand-delivered a cease-and-desist order to the property owner on Friday. Town officials say he could be charged with a misdemeanor if he does not comply. The property owner has refused to comment.