Wyoming police to dole out money for good deeds
A good deed could turn into a $50 tip from Jackson law enforcement officials who will dole out donated money ahead of the holidays.
Jackson Hole News and Guide reports that Teton County Sheriff Jim Whalen says anonymous donors have contributed enough for deputies, officers and troopers to give $50 to $100 gifts.
Whalen said the money could be given out for almost anything, including good drivers or people who are simply down on their luck. He said the cash gifts are about spreading goodwill. Donations last year helped officials run a similar effort.
Whalen said all of this year’s donors were Jackson Hole residents. The area has a number of wealthy residents who own large estates.
(AP)
Zillow values Santa Claus’ North Pole home at $656,957
A popular real estate listing company added a listing for a famous but sadly “off market” home — Santa Claus’ house at the North Pole. Zillow.com added the listing last week for Santa’s home, which the real estate website estimates to be worth $656,957, or $3,228 per month to rent.
The site says St Nick’s North Pole abode was built in 1822, and underwent its last renovations in 2013. The house is said to encompass 2,500 square feet on a 25-acre lot.
The listed “features” of the home include Santa’s Toy Workshop, Reindeer Stables, River Rock Fireplace, and a Sleigh Parking Garage.
“A toy-lover’s paradise nestled on 25 idyllic acres at the North Pole — perfect for spirited reindeer games,” the listing reads.
“The home, constructed in the 1800s of gorgeous old-growth timber logged on site, is steeped in Old World charm but offers modern-day amenities, thanks to a 2013 renovation.” Zillow tweeted the home is expected to stay “off market” for the time being. “We don’t anticipate Santa moving any time soon,” the company wrote on Twitter.
(UPI)
Parrot appears in Oregon owner’s booking photo
Authorities in Oregon said a man’s pet parrot ended up making a guest appearance in his mug shot when he brought the bird with him to court.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Craig Buckner made an appearance at the Courthouse Complex in Hillsboro on November 28, and he told deputies when he was taken into custody on the judge’s orders that he hadn’t expected to be jailed, so he had brought his four-year-old macaw with him and instructed the bird to wait for him on a tree outside.
Buckner told deputies the parrot, named Bird, was very well-trained and would not leave the tree without his permission. Deputy Shoana McKelvey went outside to check on the macaw and found it to be in distress with crows circling overhead. McKelvey accompanied Buckner outside to retrieve Bird, which then appeared with the suspect in his booking photo and was allowed to wait with Buckner until a friend could pick up the bird and care for it while Buckner works to resolve his case.
“This was Buckner’s pet. He has had this bird since it has been hatched. I could just tell how concerned he was when he went into custody; this bird is so special to him,” McKelvey told KPTV.
“Our sheriff’s office has very strong core values of doing the right thing. I also have very strong moral values of treating all people with compassion no matter what role I am taking. Buckner was already in a stressful position and did not need the additional stress and worry of his loved pet, Bird. Bringing the two together brought me joy and brought relief to Buckner and safety to his bird,” she said in a sheriff’s office news release.
(UPI)
Pilot spells out ‘hello’ with his flight path
A pilot in Germany used his plane to spell out a special message through a digital representation of his flight path. The pilot of the Robin DR400/180 Regent aircraft flew a path outlining the word “hello” in a cursive font in the flight path shared on Flightradar24.
Flightradar24 provided a light green representation of the unidentified pilot’s flight, displaying his message online. He took 37 minutes to complete the complex flight pattern over Germany’s Niedersachsen region. The pilot has created various other aerial works of art, including a large flower pattern. Flightradar 24 commented on its website: “Drawing objects on Flightradar24 has reached a new level.”
(UPI)
‘Grinch’ caught opening post office packages
looks like a Florida man was lacking some Christmas spirit. The man is being accused of being a Christmas Grinch after authorities say he broke into a post office and tried to steal packages.
Francis Keller, 56, was arrested by the Boynton Beach Police Department and charged with burglary. Police say they found him inside a post office work room using scissors to open packages.
Police said Keller, a former postal employee for 30 years, gained entry using an old security code for the door.
Authorities also said Keller was extremely intoxicated when he was found beside a cart full of open packages. According to police, he told officers he was planning to steal valuable items to buy crack. Records show Keller was being held in the Palm Beach County jail. It wasn’t known if Keller has a lawyer.
(AP)