Watercooler Stories

Couple discover lotto win 45 days later

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 7 (UPI) -- A California man says he found an old lottery ticket in his wife's car that turned out to be worth $198,468.

The Orange County couple, who asked to remain anonymous, said the woman purchased a Mega Millions ticket at a Fountain Valley, Calif., liquor store only to leave it in her car and quickly forget about it, The Orange County Register reported Wednesday.

The woman's husband said he was cleaning out her ca 45 days after the drawing when he came across three old lottery tickets. He said he decided to take them to a local retailer to see if they were worth any money.

"One ticket was worth $1, another was worth $3, and when the retailer told me that one was worth $198,468, I couldn't believe it. I ran home to tell my wife," the man said.

The ticket matched five of the six numbers required to win the March 21 jackpot.

The woman said she already has plans for at least some of the money.

"My husband told me that he wants me to get rid of everything in my closet and treat myself to a new wardrobe," she told lottery officials.

Police: San Diego school blast a prank

SAN DIEGO, May 7 (UPI) -- San Diego authorities say a small explosion at a middle school was caused by a 12-year-old who said the blast was a prank.

Police said the Wagenheim Middle School student admitted to constructing a homemade device containing dry ice and placing the item in a school trash can, where it detonated at the start of the day, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. Investigators said the student implicated four other boys.

Authorities said the device caused more noise than damage -- it created a loud boom, but the trash can contained the blast and remained intact after the detonation.

School spokesman Jack Brandais said students were sent to the playground while bomb safety experts ensured the school was safe.

"This is purely precautionary," he said.

Robbery suspect warded off with broom

SOMERSET, Pa., May 7 (UPI) -- Police said a broom-wielding customer at a Somerset, Pa., Dollar General Store fought off an attempted robber who was armed with a knife.

Pennsylvania state police alleged Jarrad Tall, 32, pulled out a knife at the store Tuesday evening and demanded money from employees, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday.

However, a quick-thinking male customer grabbed a broom and struck the suspect until he fled the store and drove off in a waiting car.

Investigators said witnesses gave them the license plate number on the getaway car and Tall was arrested after troopers found the vehicle parked in the Roof Garden Trailer Park.

Tall was arraigned on multiple charges, including robbery, and taken to the county jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Underwear condom pockets earn award

HELSINGBORG, Sweden, May 7 (UPI) -- A team of Helsingborg, Sweden, high school students has won a national award for its invention -- men's underwear with pockets for condom storage.

The three young men -- who founded the company Sooner Than Already There -- were given the national Young Enterprise award at a Tuesday ceremony in Stockholm, The Local reported Wednesday.

The students said they have sold 350 pairs of the underwear, which they designed to help combat unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

"A little mistake can have major consequences. It's important to have a condom at the ready when it's needed. It's no use if it's in your jacket pocket," said Nick Larsson, one of the students who received the award.

Larsson and his partners said they are working on a possible deal to get their product into stores.

"We're going to focus on this for a year instead of going to college," said another member of the group, Michael Simby.

The men said their next step is to create a pair of women's underwear with similar pockets for condoms.