Watercooler Stories

Two accused of tending huge pot farm

EPHRAIM, Utah, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Authorities said they have arrested two men accused of tending a large marijuana farm discovered by hunters near Ephraim, Utah.

Michael Root, a supervisory special agent for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said agents counting the seized plants had reached 9,000 and they "didn't think they were halfway done," The Salt Lake Tribune reported Tuesday.

He said sheriff's deputies who arrived at the farm discovered two men with backpacks full of marijuana in the field of pot.

Blind band marches toward Rose Parade

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The Ohio State School for the Blind said its marching band has become the first blind band to be invited to participate in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

School officials said the 17-member band will become the first blind band to perform at the New Year's Day event in 2010, The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported Tuesday.

"I think this will generate more kids in the band," Music director Carol Agler said.

Rose Parade music committee chairwoman Stacy Houser said the band is among 21 chosen from across the United States to participate in the 2010 Rose Parade.

"A blind marching band is such an incredibly unique thing," she said. "We're hoping it'll be an inspiration throughout the country."

Possible land mine found in backyard

GLENDALE, Wis., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Police in Glendale, Wis., said residents packing up the belongings of a Vietnam veteran discovered what appeared to be a land mine in the home's backyard.

Officers said the residents had carried the object out into the driveway then phoned emergency services after fearing the device could explode, WISN-TV, Milwaukee, reported Tuesday.

Police warned neighbors of the situation Monday night while bomb squad officers inspected the object and ultimately determined it posed no danger.

Bomb squad called for box of chocolates

CEDARVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- A suspicious package that led to a bomb squad investigation at Ohio's Cedarville University turned out to be full of chocolates, authorities say.

University spokesman John Davis said local authorities, including the Dayton Police bomb squad, were called to the school Monday after a staff member discovered a package in the Dixon Ministry Center that bore no label except for gibberish writing, the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News reported Tuesday.

Davis said a group of students came forward after a campus-wide e-mail was sent out about the package and told officials the box of chocolates was hidden in the building as part of a game.

The spokesman said the investigation has been turned over to local authorities.