Watercooler Stories

Officials: Lawnmower case sensationalized

SANDUSKY, Ohio, June 2 (UPI) -- City officials in Sandusky, Ohio, say they would support dropping charges against a man arrested for refusing orders to stop mowing an overgrown park.

John Hamilton, 48, was charged with persistent disorderly conduct and obstructing official business after being arrested Thursday morning by police who said he refused to stop mowing Central Park.

City officials, including ex officio Mayor Craig Stahl and City Manager Matt Kline, authored a news release Saturday saying national media outlets that had picked up on the story did not tell the city's side of events, the Sandusky Register reported.

"The sensationalized story of man mowing the grass at one of our parks has taken on a life of its own," the release stated. "Sensationalism in journalism is irresponsible. The process should not be politicized. Unfortunately, this situation seems to be going down that path."

Kline and Stahl said allowing private citizens to mow public land without the city's approval raises liability issues. The release said citizens should consult with City Hall before taking on a project involving parks or other public property.

The release said city officials "support the prosecutor's office and will support whatever decision is made, including the dropping of the charges."

The Register said public reaction has almost universally favored Hamilton, with some residents on local Web sites discussing the possibility of protesting in his defense.

Hamilton, who has pleaded not guilty, is due back in court Aug. 3.

Police: Baby-selling online post a hoax

TAMPA, Fla., June 2 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said an online posting purporting to offer an unwed mother's 18-month-old child for sale has been found to be a hoax.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokesman J.D. Callaway said the 19-year-old woman who authored the Craigslist.com posting visited a Sheriff's district office Sunday to assure authorities there was no actual baby for sale, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported.

Callaway said a photo the woman uploaded to accompany the posting was "not her real child." He said the Sheriff's Office is looking into whether any laws were violated and no charges have yet been filed in the case.

The spokesman said the woman, whose name was not released, has a young child but authorities said they do not believe there is any reason to be concerned for the child's safety.

"It was just a hoax," Callaway said. "She saw a bunch of items listed on Craigslist, and she thought she'd make a fake one as a joke."

More than $250,000 found on roadside

SYRACUSE, N.Y., June 2 (UPI) -- Police in Syracuse, N.Y., say an antique shop owner found more than $250,000 in plastic bags beside the street outside his business.

David Jenks, owner of the Syracuse Antique Exchange said the store was open past its usual 5 p.m. closing time Friday due to a charity event and he discovered the bags of cash when he went outside to his car, The (Syracuse) Post-Standard reported.

"I was walking out to my car for a clean shirt when I saw bags of trash on the side of the road," Jenks said.

Jenks said he realized the bags were full of money when he attempted to move them. He said he put the money into a pair of mail bins with the help of a barber from the business next door.

He said each cash bag included deposit slips from stores at Carousel Center.

"It's the most amount of money I've ever seen in my life," Jenks said. "I'm so glad I was here tonight. I was happy to return the money."

Police said the money is believed to have come from a Brinks armored vehicle and officials at the company were trying to determine how the money wound up on the roadside.

Electric cars park free in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, June 2 (UPI) -- Officials in Cincinnati have revealed plans to allow drivers of all-electric vehicles to park for free -- a program that will benefit at least eight locals.

The parking program, part of the Green Cincinnati Initiative, began Monday and will allow electric vehicles displaying city-issued stickers to park without charge next to city parking meters and in four downtown parking garages, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

City officials said an informal survey of residents found eight all-electric vehicles in the city. There may be a few unknown others tooling around town, as well.

Councilman David Crowley, who spearheaded the effort to adopt the program, said it sends an important message.

"It's all about the symbolism at this point," Crowley said. "This is a concrete step of some economic value to people willing to invest in all-electric vehicles or who drive them. It puts us in a leadership role."