Wife of lowest-paid governor takes up a waitressing job
The waitress bounded with a cup of chowder and a plate of fish and broccoli. It was Ann lePage’s first double shift at McSeagull’s, a bustling restaurant touting double-wrapped bacon scallops and views of Boothbay Harbor.
The wife of Maine Republican Gov Paul lePage had kept a low profile for the first few weeks of her summer job. But then her husband told a crowd at a recent town hall that his wife took a job to “supplement” his $70,000 salary, the lowest of any US Governor.
The lePages live in the Augusta Governor’s mansion and bought a $215,000 Boothbay home two years ago. The Governor recently tried but failed to increase his successor’s salary to $150,000, above the nearly $135,000 average for all 50 State Governors in 2015.
Ann lePage said being a waitress is “something I’ve always, always wanted to do.” Her daughter lauren made $28 an hour last summer at McSeagull’s. lePage said she spent years taking care of her mother, who long suffered from scleroderma and passed away in October. Now it’s time to follow through on her interest, lePage said.
(AP)
Texas city council votes to oust cat
A North Texas city council has started a cat fight by voting to oust the furry mascot of the city’s public library. The governing council of the Fort Worth suburb of White Settlement voted 2-1 to give the library 30 days to find a new home for Browser the cat.
The ex-shelter cat has been a library fixture for six years. But council member Elzie Clements moved at a June 14 council meeting for the tabby’s removal.
Mayor Ron White, who has no vote on the council, tells the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the vote was a tit-for-tat after a city employee wasn’t allowed to bring a puppy to work at City Hall. Ex-council member Alan Price said Browser’s supporters will petition for a reprieve in November’s elections.
(AP)
Man interviews potential wives for 48-year-old son
The father of a Salt lake City businessman is setting up interviews for women interested in marrying his 48-year-old son, nearly a week after taking out a newspaper ad announcing the search.
Baron Brooks tells the Spokesman Review newspaper that his father, Arthur Brooks, took out the $900 ad in the Coeur d’Alene Press recently. He called the advertisement “embarrassing” but said he’d let his 78-year-old father go forward. The ad lists criteria for potential applicants, including age, height and political views. It instructs interested women to contact the elder Brooks at an Idaho resort Friday for interviews Saturday. When reached there, Arthur Brooks said he won’t be answering any questions about the search until Sunday.
(Yahoo)
Gambles wins second lottery jackpot with same numbers
The Illinois lottery announced a man with the appropriate surname Gambles won the drawing for the second time — playing the exact same numbers. larry Gambles, 65, of Matteson, won a $1,050,000 lucky Day lotto jackpot prize by matching all five numbers in the June 7 drawing.
Gambles said his numbers, 01-06-12-14-25, have proved lucky for him in the past — including a previous lotto drawing. “Nine years ago, I won $50,000 playing the numbers from the jerseys of my high school basketball team. I’ve been playing the same numbers ever since. I can’t believe they paid off again!” Gambles said.
The retired school administrator offered some advice for other lottery jackpot hopefuls: “Pick your favourite numbers and stick with them. It worked for me!”
(UPI)
Bride’s hair on fire at wedding party
A Tennessee wedding took an unexpected turn when a sparkler held by a guest caused the bride’s hair to burst into flames.
The video, filmed at a wedding in Munford, Tennessee, shows the bride and groom exiting the ceremony under a canopy of sparklers held over their heads by wedding guests.
The bride passes too close to one of the fireworks and ends up with the back of her head in flames. The flames are extinguished and the happy couple try their exit again — this time making sure to tell guests to hold the sparklers high up in the air.
(UPI)
Man puts live vampire bats into his mouth
An environmental activist in Brazil released a video showing him shoving two living vampire bats in his mouth.
Arteval Duarte, an activist known for filming bizarre stunts aimed at raising awareness of deforestation and other environmental issues, appears in the video carefully placing the bats in his mouth in Jacunda, Brazil.
Duarte then opens his mouth and the apparently uninjured bats fly away. His previous stunts included placing snakes in his mouth and being suspended in a wooden box that was set on fire.
(UPI)