5-year-old mayor loses re-election in Minnesota
A 5-year-old boy’s run as mayor is over in a tiny tourist town in northern Minnesota. Robert “Bobby” Tufts lost his bid for a third consecutive term as mayor of Dorset last week. Eric Mueller, a 16-year-old from Mendota Heights, Minnesota, won when his name was drawn from the ballot box during the annual Taste of Dorset festival. Bobby was only three when he was first elected mayor in 2012. Dorset, about 150 miles northwest of Minneapolis, has no formal city Government and a population ranging from nine to 28.
“It was fun, but it’s time to pass on the vote,” said Bobby. Then he suggested his little brother get a shot at some point: “I’m gonna let James do it. He’s two years old.”
People can vote as many times as they like in the “election” — for $1 a vote — at ballot boxes in stores around town. The proceeds go toward organising the festival.Bobby said he was proud of his efforts to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley in Fargo, North Dakota. One of his other major acts was to declare ice cream top of the food pyramid.
(AP)
Heiress Adopts Dog None Wanted
An aging labrador retriever, that walked 30 miles back to a Kansas family that didn’t want her, has found a home with an heiress in Florida.
Kelsey loyd, with the Chautauqua County Animal Shelter in southern Kansas, says the dog, named lady, was adopted twice, but the first family said the old dog didn’t get along with other pets. A second family adopted her 30 miles away, but lady escaped and walked back to her previous home.
KWCH-TV reports that lady’s life changed recently when Helen Rich saw her story on Facebook. Rich is an heiress to the Wrigley gum company and owns an animal shelter in Florida.
She sent an assistant to Kansas in a private jet to pick up lady. The dog arrived in Tampa last week.
(AP)
Man has last laugh, Writes His Own Comical Obituary
A man in Pennsylvania had the last laugh when he wrote his own obituary. Kevin McGroarty from West Pittston, who was described by his friends as “the life of the party,” passed away on July 22 this year. He left behind an obit posted to legacy.com that started with the line: “McGroarty achieves room temperature!” McGroarty added that “he enjoyed elaborate practical jokes, over-tipping in restaurants, sushi and Marx Brother’s movies.” As for kids, he wrote, “McGroarty leaves behind no children (that he knows of).”
The 53-year-old worked in advertising and penned the 500-word obituary a year before his death, after suffering for years from various health issues. Before his passing, McGroarty gave the obituary to a friend, who passed it along to the Times-leader newspaper in Wilkes-Barre. His friends were not shocked to see his final punch line, given his playful nature.
The legacy.com post quickly got the country’s attention, with thousands of shares and hundreds of comments.One final tech note on McGroarty’s obituary was his reminder to friends: “Please, don’t e-mail me, I’m dead.”
(Yahoo)
Man Almost loses Genitals In Pitbull Attack
A New Mexico man almost lost his genitals to a dog bite when a 40 kg mixed breed pitbull attacked his eight-year-old daughter and he intervened to rescue her, police said last week. Authorities say the dog named Stitches bit the girl in the face, puncturing her cheek. Her 35-year-old father, who was not named, moved quickly to save her.
Police say it then attacked him, latching onto his groin. “When we got on the scene the man was bleeding severely and holding his groin,” said Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Simon Drobik, who was among the officers that responded. “It was really bad.”
He said fire department paramedics rushed the man to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where his wounds were listed as severe lacerations and partial detachment of the genitals.
The eight-year-old was treated at the scene and released to her mother. The family told the police they recently inherited the house and Stitches from the man’s grandfather, who passed away. They said they had only moved in three days before the attack.
Animal control officials removed the dog from the property. They said it will be held for 10 days during which the family can reclaim it, otherwise it will be put up for adoption.
(Reuters)