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Published: Aug. 21, 2008 at 6:00 AM
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Police: Grandma left kids in car at casino

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Police in Hallandale Beach, Fla., said a grandmother has been arrested after she left her two grandchildren in the car while she gambled inside a casino.

Investigators said Jeanne Shahan left the children, a 14-year-old-boy and a 2-year-old girl, in her car with the windows rolled up for at least an hour and 15 minutes while she gambled at the Mardi Gras Casino, WFOR-TV, Fort lauderdale, Fla., reported Wednesday.

"The children seem fine," said Daniel Adkins, a representative from the Mardi Gras Casino. "We brought them inside and they both cooperated, gave us the name of who they were here with and we were able to locate the grandmother."

Shahan was charged with two counts of aggravated child neglect.

Authorities did not say into whose custody the children were released.


Emu appears in Alabama man's yard

CHUNCHULA, Ala., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- A Chunchula, Ala., man says an emu, a large Australian bird, mysteriously appeared one morning in his front yard.

Greg Ritchie said the ostrich-cousin showed up in his yard Tuesday and thus far he has been unable to determine the bird's origins, WALA-TV in Mobile, Ala., reported Wednesday.

"He showed up yesterday around 11:00 and has been here since," Ritchie said of the emu. "Just trying to keep him here and keep him out of the highway and getting injured."

Ritchie said he has been feeding the emu cracked corn and keeping it at a distance with a rake. However, he said he is worried the big bird will wander onto the highway before he can find its owner.

"He's been around for two days now. Hopefully he'll still be here when the owner comes to claim him," he said.


114-year-old cairn held time capsule

QUINCY, Mass., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Workers taking apart a cairn in Quincy, Mass., said they discovered a time capsule they believe was from when the rocks were first piled 114 years ago.

The masonry team working to restore the structure said they found a box inside the Abigail Adams Cairn that was inside a brick-lined chamber at the landmark's center and covered with a slab of granite, the Quincy Patriot Ledger reported Wednesday.

The time capsule was taken to the historical society at the Adams Academy to determine the best way to open the soldered-shut metal box.

"Usually it's everyday materials; it's not like we're going to find the secret of the ages in there or anything like that," said Ed Fitzgerald, director of the Quincy Historical Society. "Purely things of historical interest, not anything of value. No one is going to put their diamonds in there."

However, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch expressed excitement at the find.

"What started as sort of a mundane project has now got some excitement to it,'' he said. "I'm anxious to see what kind of items would be included. It's kind of fascinating."


Police chase monkey in Tokyo subway

TOKYO, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Tokyo police have chased a monkey out of a subway station, marking the third time a monkey has been spotted inside the city this month, authorities said.

The spectacle of a monkey, usually in the mountains and hills outside of the city, perched atop the arrivals and departures board at one of Tokyo's busiest subway stations led many commuters to gather and take cell phone pictures of the animal while police roped off the area, CNN reported Wednesday.

About 30 police officers wielding green nets and tarps attempted to trap the monkey, but the spry simian jumped into the assembled crowd and outran the pursuing officers outside the station.

Monkeys were previously spotted in Tokyo Aug. 12 and Monday, but authorities said they do not know whether all three sightings were of the same animal.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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